Speeding

Rating: It's okay for now.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or the songs used!

Summary: Sleep is for the weary. I'm not slowing down. Speeding 'cause it feels good.

N/A: Okay so... I haven't written a Grillows fic in a LONG LONG TIME. I'm almost done with Nursing school so I figured I'd start a Grillows fic that I can update whenever school starts to stress me out! This fic is based back in 1986 when Catherine was approximately 23 and Grissom should be around... 28, 29ish? I'm not too worried on the ages. I just know I wanted it set back in their college days. The timeline isn't going to be perfect and the characters maybe a little OOC, but who cares? :D I also decided to make Sam a part of Cath's life a little earlier on (you'll see what I mean at the end of the chapter). Other than that, I apologize for any grammar mistakes. Listen to Speeding by LIGHTS and Dreams by Fleetwood Mac. They inspired the fic! Enjoy and review!

1986

The bar downtown was packed tonight with people from her forensics class. The semester had just started and half of her graduating class was already drunk. It wasn't too late, only midnight, but she felt like she had been out forever. Swaying into the bar from the few drinks she had that night, she took a look around, waved to a few people she recognized and headed straight to the bar. Most of the bartenders had stopped what they were doing to flee to where she stood at the bar, but it didn't take her long to order a simple beer. She was a college student drinking on a budget; now wasn't the time to get fancy with alcohol.

There was a familiar song playing over the speakers above her when her friends caught up with her, hanging on her shoulder and whispering drunk nothings into her ear. The guy behind the bar placed the bottled beer in front of her with a wink as she went to hand him some cash. He shook his head and she gave him one of her famous Catherine Flynn smiles. Her friends laughed and pulled her away from the bar top, further into the crowd of people to find a table to sit at.

She comes into contact with a firm body and breaks away from her friends. They're so drunk, they've forgotten about her as they stumble blindly through the crowd of people. There's a pair of hands that steady her bare hips to keep her from tipping over. Her cropped shirt stops right below her breasts, exposing her toned abdomen, and she mentally curses herself for not choosing something a little more modest as she looks up into the stranger's warm eyes.

"Careful, now."

"I'm sorry," she manages over the loud music. "My friends… they lack manners." He looks back in the direction she's pointing, spotting a group of drunk girls taking shots with drunk guys.

"And an alcohol tolerance, it seems." She laughs… louder than she intended, and he smiles. He realizes he's still holding onto her hips and awkwardly lets his hands fall to his side. "I guess this is the part where I ask if I can buy you a drink."

She smirks, nods, and holds up the beer she had just gotten from the bar.

"If I would've bumped into you not five minutes earlier."

"Well then how about accompanying me to the bar?" She looks back at her friends, up at the man standing in front of her, and takes a sip of her beer. "I think they'll manage without you for a few minutes." She laughs and pushes him closer to the bar. They manage to grab a spot in the corner, just enough space for the two of them to comfortably talk. After his beer arrives, he holds it up in a manner for her to touch necks of the bottles in a "Cheers" type manner.

"I don't think I caught your name," she says, one hand on her hip and the other holding her beer.

"I don't believe you asked." She playfully rolls her eyes and holds out her hand.

"I'm Catherine." He watches her through the corner of his eye and takes a sip of his beer.

"Gil," he finally says, lightly grasping her hand and gently shaking. "You go to school here?" She nods her head.

"I'm going for Medical Science. You?"

"Entomology."

"Bugs?" There's a look of uncertainty coming from her beautiful face, but he just smiles and nods his head, then sips more beer. She watches as his eyes light up with excitement as he prepares to give his lecture on his little "friends".

"They're practically perfect. People may lie… but bugs can't."

"Right…" She stops him before he can go any further and he chuckles. "So what do you plan on doing with all that information?"

He's leaning against the wall of the bar and she can't seem to take her eyes away from him. She's itching to run her fingers through his dark, thick curls. And she can tell under the dark button-down that he's got on that his chest would be just as tempting to touch. Little does she know, the same thoughts are running through his mind.

"Ever hear of a crime scene investigator?" She nods her head and a smile plays out on her face.

"And now it all makes sense."

"It's what I do… the Entomology degree is just for fun."

"So all jokes aside, you're a genius?" He laughs again and realizes he's been doing it a lot… and that she's the cause of it.

"You don't need to be a genius to be a CSI." She narrows her dark blue eyes at him. "I mean, it helps…" She brings her hand up to playfully slap him on the shoulder. "We could use some bright minds… whenever you graduate; if you're interested, I mean." He's stumbling with his words as to not sound so desperate.

"I appreciate that. I'll hold you to it in May."

"Graduating?" She nods and finishes off her beer, then places the empty bottle on the bartop.

"Congratulations." He holds out his hand for her to shake, but she pushes it away.

"You'll save that for when it actually happens."

"I'm invited?" He follows her to the bar, standing close behind her. She can feel just how tall he is as he practically hovers over her. All she needs to do is slightly turn her head back and glance up to answer his question.

There's some movement further down the bar that seems to push a wave of people closer to them. He sticks his arms out protectively, both hands gripping the edge of the bar and enclosing her between the bar and his body. It nearly scares her at how effortless their chemistry is. She's not even fazed by the gesture, but finds it welcoming. Any other guy would've let her take the hit, but not this Gil Grissom. The drunken wave bounces off his arm and stumbles further into the den of the bar.

The bartender has walked up to them, paying close attention to what Catherine is about to say, but Gil leans in and nearly rests his chin on her shoulder to whisper into her ear. She fights the urge to arch her back into him, but instead, presses her back harder against him to encourage him to get closer to her ear so she can hear him.

"I'm buying." She can feel her face grow hot and the corners of her mouth are turning to show a grin. She holds out two fingers to the bartender and points to more draft beer.

There's a slower song that floats above the crowd coming from the speakers and she instantly recognizes it.

"I love this song," she calls back to him, waiting on their beers. She can feel the effect of the alcohol take over now and smiles when she feels his hands on her hips, slowly guiding them to the song in an effort to get her to dance. "I hadn't pegged you for the dancing type."

The bartender is back and Grissom tosses him a bill, nodding to keep the change. He takes the two beers, sets them down on a high top table, grabs her hand, twirls her once, and pulls her close to his chest. She throws her head back carelessly and laughs as all the other females in the bar sit back and watch in jealously. He tucks their joined hands against his chest and places one hand on her lower back to guide her. Her other free arm is wrapped around his waist and it confirms her suspicion about his toned body.

"Oh, thunder only happens when it's raining"

"I think we have an audience."

He's focused on only her and it nearly makes her melt. He pretends not to hear her and keeps their pace, slowly swaying around to her favorite song. It doesn't take long for the song to end and before she knows it, he's pulling away to grab their abandoned beers.

He slides back next to her, snaking his arm around her waist as he hands her one of the beers. Her friends round the corner and nearly bump into Catherine and Gil. One of her friends points to where his arm is and smiles.

"Did we miss something?"

"This is what happens when you leave me behind," Catherine answered back, taking a sip of her beer.

"You magically find your way into the arms of the most handsome guy here? Textbook." Her group of friends bust into a fit of school-aged giggles except for Catherine, who presses her lips together and tries to suppress her laugh. The boldest of the group extends her hand to Gil. "I'm sorry. That was rude of me. I'm Lauren."

"Gil." He accepts her apology and handshake, grinning like a fool as he does so.

"Well Gil... and Catherine." The rest of the drunken group giggles again and starts to make their way to the door. "We're headed to Marley's if you guys would like to join us."

It's the moment he's been dreading all night. The moment her friends come out from their corner, trying to drag her away from him only for them to never see each other again. Las Vegas was a big city. Even if he did meet her again, what were the chances that she'd even remember him?

"That sounds real fun and all, but I think I'll stay here with Gil."

He's too stunned to catch the look Lauren gives Catherine.

"Really. I'll be fine. Go on. I know where to find you guys," she waves Lauren off and watches as her friend catches up with the group she had come in with not too long ago. As soon as they're out of sight, she turns to Gil and places her hand on his chest. "I'm sorry about that. They're a handful."

"It's fine. They're quite entertaining, actually." They walk together to the back of the bar, where the music and roar of the crowd isn't so loud. "I just hope I didn't take away you're way home."

"My apartment is within walking distance. I'll be okay."

"I'll go with you when it's time." It's more of a statement than a question and she smiles.

"I'd like that."

It's nearly two o'clock in the morning when they finally leave the bar. The streets aren't as busy as they normally are, but he reaches around until he's found her hand anyway. She doesn't think twice and laces her fingers between his as she continues to lead him to her apartment.

"Did you have fun tonight," he asks, weary of her answer.

"I did! I haven't had a fun night like this in a long time. We need to do it again… soon."

"I agree." He can feel the small squeeze she gives his hand. The rest of the walk didn't take long like she promised. Within minutes, they were climbing the stairs to a luxury apartment that raised his curiosity. Who was this girl? "I… like your place."

"It's actually my father's… but thank you!"

It's something nicer than he could ever afford as a college student… hell, even now he'd still have trouble paying it off. They reach her door and he reads the gold-plated numbers.

249.

"I'd invite you in but…" She gives him one of the smiles he had grown to love during the night and he holds his hands up to let her know it's okay.

"Hey." He holds his hand out of her to shake. "It was fun and like you said… we'll do it again soon." She glances down at his outstretched hand and shakes her head. She takes a step forward and grabs his shirt with both hands, pulling his body flush against hers. She leans up on her toes and presses a sweet, innocent kiss to his lips.

He's frozen in place for what seems like an eternity, but she smiles into their kiss when she feels his hands steady against her hips. Their kiss deepens and her tongue shyly comes out to sweep across his bottom lip. He groans into her mouth and she pulls away before things get out of hand.

"Medical Science." The words don't make sense in that moment because he's still focused on the way her lips felt. "You know where to find me." And like that, she was gone.

He thinks about the words and then grins. The medical science buildings on campus. It was the first place he was checking Monday morning.

A/N: So there it is! Hopefully I can get the second chapter up soon! (If you guys would like another one). Sorry for any grammar mistakes! I hope you guys liked it! Review and let me know! Thanks!