Disclaimers: They're not mine, but I promise I'll have them back by midnight.
A/N: All mistakes and British spellings are mine.

Propensity

Part One

I think I've had too much to drink. I think it's entirely possible the last drink I had was the 'one' from that 'one too many' line. I think Sara's had too much to drink too.

Still, we had a shitty case to deal with, a boss in a shitty mood and, well, just an all around shitty night. So I dragged Sara out with me, actually physically dragged her. She was hell-bent on going home to sulk, or brood, or get angry, whatever it is she does after a hard case.

But no, not today, I had other plans for her. I knew the case had gotten to her, happens to us all occasionally. And I don't like seeing her like that, so I decided not to let her have the chance.

I ignored her protests, told her she'd have a good time, and if not she could drink herself stupid and forget it for a while. She didn't agree, but she didn't get out of the cab I'd dragged her into either. That was enough for me.

So we sat, drinks in hand and talked. Not about any particular thing, just whatever happened to be on our minds. We danced for a while too, but mostly we talked.

She's hilarious when she wants to be. When she lets herself go, even just a little. That's happening a lot more lately, she's a lot more relaxed, and it shows. She seems happier. And that can't be bad.

It was Sara who decided we'd had enough. I asked if she wanted another drink. With a laugh and a shake of her head she dragged me up and said she wanted food.

So now here we are, in my living room, a half empty bottle of wine on the table, two half empty glasses next to it. I'm stretched out on the sofa and Sara's stretched out on the floor next to the sofa, a few pillows under her head. We're not as drunk as when we left the bar, some food and a slower rate of alcohol consumption have seen to that. So we're actually having conversations again. For a while there, it was slight disjointed babbles.

"Why are you on the floor?"

"I'm not sure." She shrugs. "Seemed like a good idea at the time. Either that or I fell and landed here." She laughs and I smile in response. While I'm not ashamed to admit that I love that sound, I'm not ready to think about why just yet.

Turning on my side to look down at Sara I decide it's time to quiz her a little. Last time we got drunk together we talked about past relationships and I shocked the hell out of her when I told her I was bi. I also quizzed her about Gil. This time it's someone else.

I have a few things I'm curious about and since the alcohol is making whatever has stopped me asking it before now seem unimportant, I figure now is as good a time as any.

"So, tell me, what's going on with you and Sofia?" I lean across and grab my glass as I speak; taking a drink and putting it back, settling down again to wait for her answer.

Her look is one of mild shock, mixed with amusement.

"What? Didn't think I'd bring that up, didn't think I'd noticed?" I question, grin firmly in place.

"Didn't think it would take you this long." She laughs. "I thought you'd have brought it up after two drinks."

"I didn't think about it till now." I say, and I hadn't.

"In answer to your question, nothing." She states as she sits up and takes a drink.

"Nothing? The way she acts around you, it doesn't look like nothing."

"Well, I didn't say that she was happy about there being nothing going on, or that she wasn't trying to change it." She smirks.

"Ah, I thought so. So what about you? Do you want there to be something between you?"

She shrugs as she takes another drink. "Honesty? I don't know. It would be nice to have someone. I just don't know if that someone could be her."

I wish she was like this more often. Open, less guarded. I like that we're talking, nothing is being taken the wrong way, no miscommunications. Just two friends talking. It's nice.

A thoroughly mischievous look crosses her face as she looks at me. "Usually, I like my blonde's shorter, with a bit more attitude."

I can't help chuckle at her. "Now that, Sara Sidle, could very easily be misconstrued as flirting."

She laughs for a minute before replying. "It could, couldn't it? But what if don't want anything misconstrued? What if flirting is exactly what it was?"

Sitting up properly and turning to her, wanting to see her face. I study her for a minute, trying to decide how serious she is. She isn't giving much away. But her gaze is unfaltering. As if she's daring me to acknowledge what she's just said, not pass it off as I joke, something that would be so easy to do. I could just laugh and ask another question, but something is stopping me doing that.

I'm not sure how to answer her though. Not sure I'm ready to face the consequences of that conversation, should we choose to have it.

Although, I've never been the type of person to hide from my feelings. I've always been more of a 'face it head on' type of woman. And I see no reason to change that now. All I need to do is figure out exactly what my feelings are. "So, tell me a little more about your type." I calmly state. Having no idea what I've just got myself into.

She smiles as she moves so she's kneeling in front of me. My heart rate picks up, suddenly I feel a little nervous.

"Well." She says as her fingers come up to brush across my cheek. Her voice is low and gravely. "She'd have to be confident." She doesn't make eye contact as she speaks, instead she watches her fingers move against my skin. Watches them as they trace along my jaw line. "Intelligent." Across my pulse point and down to my collarbone. "She'd have an amazing smile." My stomach muscles tighten as her fingers move to trace along the necklace I have on. Finally Lifting her eyes to mine "And blue eyes, I love blue eyes."

I can't speak, can barely breathe. I never realised just how beautiful her eyes are, and I find I can't look away from them.

Wordlessly her hands move to my legs, hooking her fingers behind my knees. I'm sure I've stopped breathing as she slowly parts my legs and pulls me so I'm flush against her.

Her gaze never falters, but she doesn't move. She's placed the ball in my court and it's up to me what, if anything, happens next.

Still unable to break eye contact. My eyes flick to her mouth and right now, I can think of nothing but how it would feel to kiss her.

I'm leaning in, closing the tiny remaining distance between us before I even realise I'm doing so. My eyes slide closed at the first touch of her lips on mine. It's a soft, almost chaste kiss and I pull back a little to gauge her reaction.

Her eyes are closed and she's leaning back in, blindly searching for more kisses. I have neither the will-power, nor the desire to deny her and my hands move to cup her face, wanting more contact this time.

I hear a contented sigh as our lips meet again, and realise it came from me. My hands move from her face, down to the back of her neck as hers slide around my waist.

She pulls back and this time it's me leaning back in, needing more.

I hear her whimper as our tongues meet and my grip on her tightens. The kiss is slow, intense and incredibly sensual. It suddenly strikes me that she must be intense in every thing she does. The thought quickly being pushed aside as I feel her touching me.

I don't notice her hands have moved until her fingers are brushing over my collarbone and up my neck. When her nails gently drag across the back of my neck I have no control over the low moan that escapes me.

Breaking our kiss, she lowers her mouth to my neck. Slowly kissing her way down. I realise I'm gripping her shoulders for dear life, trying to pull her as close as I possibly can.

The gasp that escapes me when she bites down gently seems to break the spell she has me in and it occurs to me exactly what is happening here. Or more accurately, what will happen if we don't stop soon.

If I'm going to stop this, I need to do it now. Before I give in completely.

"Sara." I'm a little shocked by how husky my voice sounds.

She doesn't stop. Just continues kissing me.

"Sara."

I get her attention this time. Her mouth trails back up my neck and she murmurs. "What's up?" Against my lips, before kissing me again.

Feeling myself once again starting to get lost in the kiss I slide my hands into her hair and pull away.

We're both breathing heavily and her eyes are still closed. I close mine too, to fight the urge to kiss her again.

"We shouldn't do this now." I tell her as soon as I get my breath back.

Her eyes open slowly and I fight the moan that threatens to escape me when I see the heat there.

"No. We shouldn't." She nods in agreement. Thankfully for me. Should she have tried to convince me otherwise, I know it wouldn't have taken much.

"We're drunk; we could be making a huge mistake. If we ever do this, I don't want it to be because we're drunk."

"Me either." She agrees and moves away from me, standing up. I miss the heat of her immediately and I'm tempted to pull her back to me.

"I'm gonna head home okay? If I stay, I won't be able to keep my hands to myself."

I'm not prepared for the affect that statement has on me. A shiver of arousal making its way through my body at the thought of me causing her to lose her ever present control.

When I stand to follow her to the door my legs are shaky.

"Thanks. For today, for not letting me go home and brood." She says as we reach the front door. "I'll see you at work?"

Her shift to casual conversation makes me think for a moment that I must have imagined the whole thing. She's talking as if we weren't just making out on my sofa. While my brain is still trying to take it in. Although I'm not even sure why I think she should be acting differently.

I'm about to reply, when she leans in and kisses me. The kiss is short, too short.

"Sorry, I know we said we shouldn't but..."

"Sshh, it's okay. Very okay."

She smiles before turning and opening the door and I watch her till
she's out of my driveway before closing it.

An hour later when I climb into bed my mind is filled with thoughts of Sara. I still can't take it all in. So we kissed. We weren't exactly sober though. I have no idea if it means anything. Although the more I think about it, the more I think I'd like it to mean something. To say I'm confused would be an understatement. I never in a million years
thought I'd ever be kissing Sara. Sure, I might have thought about it once or twice, but that's it. I've never felt the need to turn those idle thoughts into reality.

I'm not even sure why I let it happen, why I initiated the kiss. Yes, she made a pass at me, but I took it that step further. Why?

It seems the only thing I am sure about is that Sara and I need to talk tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

Feedback is gratefully received.