This is my translation of my german fanfiction. So please be nice. Many thanks to Summer Reign for helping me with everything and the great suggestions.

The agreement



There is a reference to a Grissom and Catherine relationship at the beginning. But otherwise it's fully and completely Sara & Grissom.

Around: Weeping Willows

Part 1

Grissom sparkled furiously: "You got mixed up with a stranger in a bar? I thought we would have left that type of thing behind us.

Catherine had dealt with Grissom in a lot of different situations. But this was new. "What do you mean? I simply wanted to feel something while having sex."

Grissom swallowed. "You could have told me. We have an agreement and, by your behavior, you could have endangered both of us. Besides, I thought you were satisfied with me."

Catherine inwardly moaned. Men. You have to tread carefully with their egos when it came to sex.

"We have an agreement to take care of each other's sexual needs. We both had our reasons."

"Sex is important for the human body. It's a good stress reliever", Grissom quoted.

"And you have convinced me of that. But it's simply not enough, sometimes. Sex can also include feelings. I miss that."

"There are feelings of friendship in our arrangement. But, looking at your behavior today, I'm not sure how strong those feelings are or if we should continue with this."

Catherine stiffened. "Please, Grissom, we know each other so long. Can't you forgive me?" Her tone sounded sad. She knew Grissom well enough to know that he would need a while to trust her again. But she had to try and with a small smile she added: "What do you want to do now? You know that the body gets used to regular sex and we've been having sex since Eddie's death. Your migraines have become much rarer since then."

Grissom knew that Catherine was right but still couldn't get over his concerns. "You could have thought of it before."

"Of course. I go to a bar and think about your migraines."

"Obviously not. I don't know what I'll do. Our arrangement was perfect, the same working hours, no jealousy, and discretion."

"Perhaps you should talk with Sara. All that also applies to her. Plus, she doesn't have any boyfriends to get in the way."

Grissom's look spoke volumes. "Sara would never do something like that."

"But I would. Thanks for the compliment."

Before Grissom could say anything else, Catherine retreated to the breakroom. She would talk to Sara. Just to get her general reaction to this type of arrangement.

Part 2

Sara was wondering what Catherine wanted. Since their quarrel the two didn't have breakfast together and her invitation came as a great surprise.

"What do you want Catherine?" she asked quite directly.

"Nothing special. Just wanted to talk with you a little bit. Between women."

"Catherine, we've never talked that way. What's this really about?"

"Sara, you simply should learn small talk. How are you? Do you have a friend? Where do you spend your vacation?"

"I see. No Catherine, I don't have a new boyfriend. And I never go on vacation. Why do you want to know this?"

Catherine decided to come directly to the point.

"Ok, I will tell you a story. Listen to me and then tell what you think. After Eddie's death I often felt very alone. Among other things I missed physical contact with men. Sex has always played a large role in my life. So a good friend offered me a solution for my problem: regular sex without obligation. Under the condition that one doesn't have any other sex partners. I agreed and we've had this agreement with small interruptions if we've had other partners. We had agreed to always be honest and I haven't been this week. Since then my friend is peeved and wants to revoke our contract. I hope, that he will change his opinion and perhaps later again ... you know."

Sara had listened to the small lecture almost breathlessly. She could hardly believe what she heard there. Who could this friend be? Catherine actually had only one friend- Grissom. But he would never do something like that.
"Sara, are you listening to me?" Catherine's voice interrupted her train of thought. Sara only nodded.

"I can imagine that you find the whole situation strange. But if you think about this, it has many advantages. Sex with good friends ..."

"Can break up a friendship", Sara interrupted her. „Why are you telling me this? I can't imagine your friend would like this."

"I simply feel responsible for this situation. And my friend wouldn't look around for another partner. So, I thought of you. Before you say no, try to weigh out the pros and cons. I have greatly benefited from this arrangement. You know I'm talking about Grissom?"

Sara nodded.

"You get along with him well. And I think that you don't see him with rose-colored glasses any more. And, in case you're wondering, he's really good in bed."

Sara blushed. She really had wondered about this and Sara was sure Catherine was a good judge in this area.

"You don't make any commitment. We have regular meetings in a hotel and have sex. No unpleasant situations the next morning, no regrets."
Typical Grissom, Sara thought.

"Have you talked to Grissom about me? Was this his idea?"

"I have mentioned your name but no, he hasn't sent me. I want to describe the situation and, if you aren't averse ..."

"I don't think Grissom would like to have your help in this thing. Your story is interesting and I will think about it. But I don't think you should press it. Please leave it alone. Grissom knows where to find me if he wants something of me. Can we talk about something else now?"

Part 3

Grissom couldn't get the conversation with Cath out of his head. How could she? As if there were no AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases.
She really had to know what could happen. The other thought was about Sara. He would have never thought to offer her such a contract. But Catherine had put it in his head. Perhaps he really should think about the pros and cons?
If he could get past the fact that he'd have Sara in his bed. He could love her in the night or day-- whenever they agreed to meet each other. On the other hand, maybe he would lose her confidence, her friendship. What would she think if he would make such a suggestion to her? There was only one way to find out. Grissom sighed as he reached for the telephone.

"Hi, Sara. It's Grissom. Can you come to my office tonight? Thanks."

Sara sat next to the telephone and tried no to guess why Grissom wanted to talk to her. The conversation with Catherine had shocked her. She would never have expected something between Grissom and Catherine. They behaved so normally. The thought of Grissom and Catherine in bed almost made her sick. Certainly every woman would be happy to have Grissom in bed. But Catherine spoke as if it was the most normal thing in the world. To Sara, sex was a very private and intimate act. Catherine probably had already experienced so much that she accepted sex with a friend as normal. This concept would probably match Grissom's philosophy but to her? But why think about this? Grissom would never ask her anyway.

Sara made her way to Grissom's office. She knocked carefully at the open door.

"Hi, you wanted to see me?"

See and more, thought Grissom.

"I wanted to ask you something and hope you will think about this. It's a little tricky and, I'm sorry if I overstep the limits. And I ask you as a friend, not as a boss. So you can say no without problems. OK?"

Oh god, Sara thought, he really wants to ask me. What shall I do?

"Sara, I don't know how to start. Do you have a boyfriend? I know I have no right to ask you this but if you have one we don't need to talk."

He was relieved as she shook her head. Strangely she was not surprised at all.
"Has Catherine spoken with you?"

Sara nodded.

"Oh I see... " Grissom fell silent. At least Sara didn't run away. "I hadn't expected her to work so fast, but now we can skip the formalities."

Sara remained quiet.

"What do you think ?" Grissom finally asked.

"About what? About the sex with Catherine, your agreement or her idea that I shall take her place?" Sara tried to keep her voice quiet and unexcited.

"For the record, I would never compare Catherine and you. Both of have such strong personalities, neither could take the place of the other. And I wouldn't want it that way, either."

"Grissom, all this is new to me. I don't know what to think. What do you expect from me?"

"I expect nothing, we would have this agreement. However, I am interested in your first reaction. I think it's important that you be open to the idea. If not, we should forget about it. "

He nervously looked at Sara. This was the way out which he could and wanted give her.

"I'm not against it. But what is if it doesn't work! I mean in bed."
Grissom gave a laugh and met Sara's shy look.

"Excuse me, do you really believe that ?"

Sara smiled and relaxed under Grissom look. He was right, but also not. She not only meant the sex.
"Do you think we can handle the situation?"

"Did you have the impression that there were problems between Catherine and me? Do you need more time to think about this? "

Sara shook the head. "No, I don't need more time. Please explain the agreement to me."

Grissom tried to remain calm. No high hopes. But this was simply terrific.

"I think, it is up to us to determine what we want. We could meet in the hotel."

"How frequently?"

"Oh, I don't know. With Catherine it was ..." This time Sara don't let Grissom finish.

"Before you go on, I have a condition: no comparisons with Catherine. And I don't want her to hear about this. How you manage this, I don't care. I just expect this from you."

Grissom nodded. "Do you have further demands?"

Sara thought about it. Demands no, expectations yes. But she couldn't voice them.

"I think if we know what we want it could work. I would suggest we try and see how it works."

This time she was the one asking. "And you don't want to think about it?"

Grissom shook the head. "No."

They looked at each other.

"Well, then we'll try it. I would prefer a hotel. If you want, I can take care of it?"

"Under no circumstances", replied Grissom. "I take care of the hotel. We both have a free day tomorrow. I know it is very sudden. But it gives us time we may need for the first time." Grissom looked apologetic. "I don't mean it that way."

"Don't worry. I get it. Well, then we see each other tomorrow. Now I should go before Catherine gets suspicious."

TBC