Disclaimer: I don't own CSI/Sara/Cath/Any other character, they are the property of CBS/Bruckheimer. This is just me playing with someone else's toys. But don't worry, they are most certainly having fun and I promise to put them back unharmed when I'm finished. Seriously, no copyright infringement intended folks.

Authors Note: My word guys, thank you for the reviews and the love. I bet you don't all realise just how much they truly mean to me even though I've said it. In all seriousness, they do make my day! I've tried to get this chapter up faster for you because of your generosity so I hope it don't suffer too much. I apologise in advance to those of you (possibly all) who are expecting a little more from this chapter but well… the chicken aint cooked yet and I really don't want you all to end up with food-poisoning. ;-) Don't hate me, just know that your reward will be (I'll stick with the analogy here) the most succulent roast chicken ever.

Warning: This story contains sex between two consenting females. It has been rated M for its sexual content. If femmeslash is not your thing or you are not old enough to read this, don't go any further.

High-Five

Chapter 7

Bringing her arm up to her face Sara shielded her eyes from the sunlight peeking through the blinds. Sunlight? I slept? But? She realised she could no longer feel the limpet that had been pressed into her body in the early hours. She rolled over and took in the empty bed. Clambering to the other side she noticed there were no clothes on the floor, in fact there was no evidence to suggest Catherine had even been there except for two empty plates on a tray and the faintest lingering scent of her perfume. She filled her lungs with it, it made her smile. "God you know how to drive a girl to distraction don't you?" she whispered into the air.

The phone on the bedside suddenly sprang into life and Sara stretched an arm out behind her to answer it, without lifting her head.

"Hello?"

"You still asleep girl? It's nearly ten am."

"Yes."

"Well you need to get up. We have to check out by eleven."

"We do?"

"Yes we do. You have to get up."

Sara groaned into her pillow which too carried the lingering scent of Catherine. "How long have you been up?"

"I woke up about two hours ago and came back to my room to get showered and packed up. You know," she said with a giggle, "if I'd have realised we'd end up having a sleepover I'd have come in my pyjamas."

I very nearly did come in my pyjamas, Sara thought to herself. "Right I'm up. See you downstairs in a bit."

Sara yawned and rubbed her eyes as she sat on the toilet. She surveyed the luxury bathroom suite and smirked. All her Crabtree & Evelyn bottles had disappeared. CSI Willows had definitely been in here. Thanks Grissom, you got it right this time! As her thoughts returned to Grissom and Vegas she remembered the envelope. Yeah, sorry but you haven't done quite enough to negate the contents of that. She wrinkled her nose and busied herself in the task of getting up.

-- -- --

Catherine wheeled her trolley-case over to the reception desk and placed her cardkey on the counter.

"I'd like to check out. Catherine Willows, room 623."

"Of course ma'am," the girl grinned at her, "did you have a pleasant stay?"

"Yes it was very comfortable." Catherine acknowledged looking slightly unnerved by the girl's widening smile.

"I'm so glad. I trust you'll consider staying with us again when you're next in town. Now if you'll just sign here, you can be on your way."

"Is there anywhere I can leave my suitcase?" Catherine asked as she scrawled her signature. "We're not flying until this evening."

"Sure, we have luggage lockers just down the corridor behind you. Follow it to the end and turn to your right." She pointed to indicate her directions. Her smile could have blinded the sun.

"Thank you."

Catherine wondered if Abby the receptionist had been taking lessons in ebullience from Detective Duquesne. She safely stowed her case and returned to the lobby choosing to sit on a large squidgy sofa by the window. The Miami sunshine streamed through the glass and she closed her eyes content to simply bask in its warm rays.

Her mind flitted back to the exchange between Sara and Calleigh the previous day. The tension in the air, there had definitely been something in the way Calleigh had appraised the brunette's slim figure and the discomfort in Sara's stance. Then there was the comment about the scanner. If she didn't know better she'd swear it was a reference to… but hang on, did she actually know better? Sure she knew that Grissom had a soft spot for her younger colleague, she'd never seen him react to anyone quite like he did to Sara, well apart from Lady Heather. It was subtle, but having known him for years as a close friend she could see it clear as day. But had she ever seen Sara react to him? She realised she couldn't recall one single occasion. Then there was that jumped up EMT, what was his name? Hank, yeah he'd hung around the lab pining after a date with Sara for weeks and weeks until she eventually told him to get lost. And then there was her reaction when Nicky tried to set her up with one of his frat bros – priceless. Maybe, just maybe…?

Catherine suddenly recalled how she'd woken up that morning. At first she'd been unsure of her surroundings then had remembered she was in the hotel in Miami, which had pacified her for at least three whole milliseconds until she'd felt the warm body next to her or more accurately that she was practically lying on top of. Shit! Catherine's leg had been draped over Sara's and her arm had locked itself protectively around her waist. Catherine's face had been so close to Sara's neck that she'd been able to taste her on her lips.

Catherine felt herself shiver, flush and shake her head in her embarrassment as she recalled the moment.

She'd lain there not daring to move or even breathe. Her temperature had spiked and she'd felt distinctly like she was burning up. As soon as she'd established that Sara was still asleep she'd set about carefully moving herself, starting with her arm. That had been the easy part, her leg had taken a little more effort requiring her to freeze in mid-air for a fair number of seconds as Sara had stirred slightly and emitted a soft sigh before settling down again.

Once extricated, she'd shuffled backwards painfully slowly and lain back on the cool pillow, allowing herself to breathe again. After a couple of minutes and some steadying breaths she'd slipped out of the bed retrieved her tracksuit bottoms from the floor and redressed. She'd slid her feet into her trainers realising that of all the times she'd snuck out of a room in the morning, never once was it because she'd accidently snuggled up with a female colleague. Well there were first-times for everything!

Her eyes had come to rest on the sleeping form and she had been taken aback by just how serene and peaceful and almost childlike Sara looked when she slept. How super-corny and cliché. Yes, ok, maybe a bit cliché but true none-the-less. Sara Sidle was a woman used to battling for the victims, bringing the bad guys to justice, carrying the weight of the world and the responsibility somehow showed but while she slept all that had vanished, un-crinkled, lifted… my God, she'd looked positively beautiful!

Catherine shocked herself and she opened her eyes squinting against the bright light. Where was her mind taking her?

Had Sara and Calleigh been more than friends? Why did that thought make her stomach feel funny? Did that mean…?

"Morning!"

Yep – I left it there – I'm not mean, I'm just keeping that appetite of yours whetted. It will all make sense when you see how it plays out… I hope! I am on with chapter 8. Well at least playing out before my pen hits paper.

Until then, possible un autre revue?? Merci beaucoup ma petites. :-)