Disclaimer: I do not own CSI or it's characters. :( Property of CBS and such.
A/N: Alright people, here goes my second attempt at a fic! I had to get the other one completely out of my head before starting a new one. Hope you like, and please review! I have another chapter written, maybe I'll be evil like most of you and withhold it until I feel thoroughly reviewed... bwahahaha.... :)
__________________________________________________________
Catherine's heals beat loudly against the tile floor, the significantly slower rhythm from the one she'd created when shift began being the only outward sign of her exhaustion. The manila folder in her hand was the final barrier between her and sleep, and once she'd unloaded the offending report onto Grissom's desk, she could finally pack it in and call it a night.
Her destination in sight, Catherine noted the door to Grissom's office was slightly ajar, the light still glowing from within. In the past, it she wouldn't have given it a second thought. But lately, since he and Sara had become and item, Gil actually made the effort to leave at the end of shift, which technically ended about a half an hour ago.
Nearing the door, she could make out both Grissom and Sara's voices, though not their words. She wondered momentarily if maybe she shouldn't intrude, but it wasn't as though she was asking to join the party. She would hand off the report, and be on her way.
"Is there someone else?" Grissom's voice finally became audible as Catherine reached the door, though she was still out of sight.
Someone else for what? She wondered absent mindedly. Both parties were quiet as Catherine slowly pushed the door open, intending to make her presence known without startling them.
"Catherine," Sara finally said quietly, just as the strawberry-blond entered Grissom's line of vision. Catherine paused upon hearing her name, wondering if she'd managed to piss Sara off somehow, though being greeted by only the stick-straight brown hair on the back of Sara's head made it difficult to gauge her mood.
"Catherine," Grissom said, obviously addressing the woman in the doorway and not the one seated in front of him, though Sara was still oblivious to another presence in the room.
"Yea, Gil, Catherine," Sara replied, thinking he'd been questioning her. "Why, would it be easier to for you to swallow if it was one of the boys?"
What in God's name are they talking about? Catherine wondered, now feeling very much like she was intruding on something.
"Sara," Grissom started, still looking at Catherine.
"You can't even look at me now?" Sara interjected, sounding more upset.
"Sara," Grissom repeated.
"I'm sorry, you know?" she cut him off again, "I didn't want to hurt you, it's not like I fell for her on purpose!"
What?
"Sara…" Catherine spoke this time, her voice quiet, and face full of questions as Sara spun around to face her. Their eyes locked momentarily as Catherine watched the brunette's expression go from one of pure shock, to one blended with confusion, which gave way to embarrassment, and finally settled on sadness as Sara tore her eyes away and focused them on the floor.
Catherine's brow was furrowed, but not in anger. She imagined a similar series of emotions passed across her face, though for entirely different reasons. As Sara looked away, Catherine's feelings instead settled on concern and sympathy for the woman in front of her. Her mouth opened as if to speak, then immediately shut as she realized she hadn't the slightest idea what to say. The job had taught them how to handle any number of messy situations, but what in the world are you supposed to say when you walk in on a colleague of the same sex confessing to her boyfriend, who is also your best friend, that she's accidentally fallen for you? The "same sex" bit wasn't even an issue really. It was all the rest of it.
"Cat… I…" Sara started, her eyes still glued to the floor, though not appearing as though she actually saw what she was looking at. Her head shook slowly bath and forth as her mouth hung agape, until she finally pressed her lips together and swallowed hard, clearly unable to finish her sentence, assuming it had had an ending to begin with.
Catherine turned her own gaze to the folder she was now clutching tightly, feeling her emotions beginning to get the best of her as she watched her friend appear to be crumbling in front of her. How could she have missed this?
"Sara," Catherine said, finally finding her voice now that her eyes were averted, "I… I had no idea…"
With that Sara sprang up from her chair, flying past Catherine and out of the room. But not so quickly that Catherine could have missed the tears forming in her eyes.
"Sara!" Catherine called pleadingly to the retreating figure, causing Sara to break into a jog and disappear around the corner, rather than turn around and come back.
Turning her attention back to Grissom, Catherine felt a wave of guilt. She knew she shouldn't, she hadn't done anything, but she felt it anyways. They stared at one another, both at a loss for words. Finally remembering her reason for coming by to begin with, Catherine slowly approached him offering the report. He took it, placing it on his desk before tiredly rubbing his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Gil," she said softly, shaking her head. He offered her a reassuring smile, the best he could muster up, and a little nod, as she turned and made her way out of the office.
