Author's Note: As requested by mayfairmom, here's chapter two! Sorry it took me so long. :)


"Lady Heather," Gil grinned back. "It's lovely to see you."

The brunette dominatrix took a few steps to her left, allowing Gil room to enter. The usual noises of the dominion rang out; screams, cracking whips. It was all ordinary and Gil knew that. He wasn't surprised by them, but was stunned by Heather. She closed the door and turned around to smile at him yet again. Good God; no woman's smile had ever made him melt the way hers did.

"You do understand that you're lucky to have caught me?"

Gil nodded at once. "Yes, I do. One of your girl's told me that you no longer participate in session."

This time, it was Heather's turn to nod. As she did, a single strand of her shiny brown hair fell from behind her ear. She didn't bother to tuck it back into place. Her porcelain face turned from a grin to expressionless as she started to respond.

"That is correct. I usually just handle the paperwork. But when I heard that you had called, I decided it would be okay to make an exception."

Gil took one small step toward her. The step was small enough that they're bodies were still several inches away, but close enough to feel the raw and natural passion that seemed to be thickening as the seconds flew past.

"Why?" He inquired softly, not wanting to disturb the moment anymore than necessary.

"You're an old friend," Heather's tone matched that of the man before her. "I just thought it seemed like the nice thing to do."

Gil's boldness took over and he found himself reaching up to tuck the stray wisp of hair back into it's place. She didn't seem to mind in the least; if anything, she rather enjoyed feeling the gently touch of his skin upon her cheek. With a grin, he allowed his hand to return to his side.

"Heather, I'm very sorry if I've disrupted your evening." Gil's eyes gave away that he did mean his words. "But I'm hoping we could possibly have some tea and talk?"

The brunette smiled warmly, her combined but masked emotions of weariness, sadness, and ever so slight coldness all faded away. Finally, for what seemed like the first time in a very long while, Heather saw the Gil Grissom she had originally known.

"I believe tea would help this situation far more than a session could."

Both Gil and Heather were surprised by her statement, but they dismissed it. Walking up the stairs side by side, Gil couldn't help but notice his heart had stopped beating so horribly fast and he did not feel quite so pressured to follow the image he had created for himself. To top everything off, he couldn't stop himself from kindly taking Heather's hand in his own. She glanced at him, and it was very clear that he was a changed man. Whether that change was large or just starting to form was undeterminable at the moment; Heather knew she'd have the answer by the end of their evening.

As the tea was poured and the two sat down to sip their drinks, Heather was the first to realize one thing. They both had intentions that might not have been entirely honorable. Whether their intents were the same or not would be discovered later. And as a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, she also understood that the evening, no matter which direction it took, would finish being much more than tea.