"What? Did you figure out that you couldn't run a forensics department in Costa Rica without me as your right hand?" Catherine Willows quips before catapulting herself back into her chair.
Despite himself, Gil Grissom finds himself shaking his head, chuckling at her attempt to lighten the mood. "You're incorrigible, Cath."
She flashes him his favorite smile, "Well, don't think that I'm just going to hand you over your old job back. It's good to be the queen."
"Don't worry," he assures her. "I meant it when I said that I was ready to leave CSI. I just wasn't ready to leave Las Vegas after all."
She mulls over his answer before finally bluntly asking, "Gil, where's Sara?"
He fidgets in his seat, "Still in Costa Rica. Let's just say that we both had a moment of clarity after I got there." Catherine raises her eyebrows. "And that it's better this way – for both of us."
She leans forward, resting her arms on her desk. "Gil, I'm so sorry," she says honestly.
He shrugs, "Like I said, it's better this way."
"What happened?" Catherine prods, her eyebrows knitted in concern.
"This," Gil replies, gesturing between the two of them. Seeing the confusion clouding Catherine's face, he continues, "I've never let anyone see my vulnerability, Cath. No one. No one knows my deepest darkest fears, thoughts or secrets. That is… except for you." Catherine opens her mouth to argue, but Gil cuts her off, "It's not because we've worked together for so long. That's not the reason and you know it. It's because you are the only one I let in. Ever. I never let Sara in even half as far I've let you in. Eddie was right all those years ago. You were, are, and always will be the first person I want to see and talk to in the morning and the only one I kiss good night."
"Gil," Catherine starts, unsure of her ability to speak coherent sentences.
"I know this isn't what you were expecting to hear, Cath. But you deserve to hear it. You have a right to know how I feel."
"How do you know I feel the same way?" she blurts.
He smiles gently at her, "I don't."
"Gil," she tries again, her head swirling.
"Catherine," he interrupts, leaning forward again, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. "Never doubt, never look back," he whispers before kissing her softly.