Growing Pains

Chapter Seven

- Present Day -

"Stop moving Greg," Sara whispered as they were leaning against the door frame, eavesdropping on Catherine and Grissom's supposedly private conversation in the locker room.

"He should just ask her out," Greg replied and Sara glared at him. "Well, he has had a crush on her ever since high school." He defended with a shrug.

"Sound familiar." Sara retorted as Greg punched her lightly in the shoulder, making her loose her footing as she fell to the ground, into the threshold for the locker rooms.

When Sara looked up from the tiles she almost face planted she could see two pairs of dress shoes standing in the doorway, the ones belonging to a pair of slim black dress pants was tapping their foot incessantly at Sara's not so graceful appeared. When she looked up she was met by a smiling best friend and a very unhappy boss.

"You know," Catherine said breaking the silence. "The two of you would make a cute couple. I mean you already have so much in common." She snickered shooting an iced glare at Greg who was leaning his back against the wall, whistling, his eyes trying to focus on anywhere but the commotion happening in front of the locker room. "Don't try and be cute Sanders, I'm still pissed at your little slip yesterday."

"Actually, we both are." Gil chimed in, the seriousness in his tone made the young lab rat stop pretending and actually looked a bit intimidated.

Sara smiled, getting back on her feet as she brushed her pants with her hands, "Thanks, smart-ass." She replied to Catherine's comment and then glared at Greg, "Thank-you for pushing me on the ground Sanders, way to blow our cover."

"So, what were you two love birds talking about?" Greg piped up, wondering if it was the right time to be bold and daring, by the stares he got from all three of them it was evident it was still too soon. "Well, that's my que to split, later!" He called and took off down the hall.

"Ready to go to breakfast?" Gil said, as Sara raised an eye brow in suspicion to what was going on.

"For sure, catch you later Sara," Catherine said, following Gil, she grabbed her friends shoulder, a hint of excitement twinkling in her eyes, "I'll tell you all about it over coffee this afternoon." She whispered and then jogged to catch up with Gil before he suspected a thing.

Sara smiled, memories of high school coming back to her once more. It was a ritual for them two of them to always gossip about their latest dates over a hot chocolate and doughnut at the nearest coffee shop. She was happy that Gil and Catherine were finally, after many years of them being to scared to admit their true feelings with one another, were going on a date. Sara walked back into the locker room to grab her purse out of the bottom of her locker.

"You know," Greg started, coming back to the locker room now that the coast was clear, "If you were wearing a skirt right now, this would be the perfect position for me to see what underwear you have on."

Sara stood, slamming her locker door shut, her back still to the door, "Who said I'm wearing any." She stated and spun on her heel, brushing past Greg.

Greg stood still, mouth agape and eyes wide, "I'll hold you to that Sidle!" He screamed and could hear Sara laugh as she turned the corner.

-\-

Catherine and Grissom headed through the lab, nodding a good-bye to Judy their resident receptionist and out to the parking lot. Catherine smiled as she put on her brown shades to cover her eyes from the sun light that was out in full force now that it was seven in the morning. They both hopped into Gil's Tahoe, turning out of the lab parking lot and heading down the road towards their favourite diner. He kept glancing over at Catherine, noticing after a few moments that her hand was on his thigh, and she was not moving it any time soon. He enjoyed the close proximity of them together but it was also causing him to be distracted while driving. He tried to keep his mind focused on what he was going to talk about at breakfast, forgetting the physical need and want to clasp his hand around her's and just say I love you, I've always loved you not caring about the repercussions. She still had the same beauty she had back in high school, nothing about Catherine Willows had changed since the first day he met her in high school.

Catherine turned her head away from the window and smiled at Gil, seeing that his hands were gripping the steering wheel tight, to the point that his knuckles were turning white. She then looked down and noticed that her hand was on his thigh, subconsciously she had placed it there, a bad habit from sitting in the car all the time with Eddie when they were "happily" married. She quickly moved her hand away, wiping it on her pant leg feeling how moist it was with sweat. She smiled nervously, thankfully the tint of her sunglasses covered the embarrassment in her eyes. Gil turned into the parking lot of the diner, seeing that their were police cruisers there from some of the LVPD taking their morning coffee breaks. Both of them stepped out into the scorching morning heat, slamming their car doors shut and heading into the diner, the air conditioning feeling refreshing once more. Gil had to fight the urge to grab a hold of Catherine's hand and never let go as they walked inside, the little bell above the door jingling to announce their presence.

A waitress came up and greeted the two, grabbing two menus and showing them to a table in the back corner, away from the other customers and Police Officers at the bar sipping their java. Catherine and Gil didn't mind the solitude, it was better this way, especially if what both of them were screaming out in their heads was actually going to come out over breakfast. They took their respected seats, the young, bubbly waitress placing the menus down, walking away to get them both a cup of coffee.

"Sorry about Sara," Catherine stated as she glanced over the menu. "She's not usually like-"

"Greg" they said in unison and smiled at each other nervously over the brim of their menus.

A few moments of awkward silence had gone by, as the young waitress came back with their two cups of coffee a pot of coffee and took their orders, both of them ordering the "Hungry Man's Breakfast"; two pieces of toast, two eggs, bacon and sausage. Once the waitress got what they wanted and how they wanted their food done she left, and Catherine could not help but notice Gil staring at her butt as she swayed in her steps and the curls of her blonde hair bounced along her shoulders.

"So," Catherine huffed folding up the menu and placing it back on the table, seeing that he snapped out of his trance. "Why did you ask me to breakfast Gil?"

"I-I," he stuttered and then closed his eyes, clearing his throat. "I, I figured after shift you'd be hungry." He replied and Catherine frowned.

"Is that all?" She pried, knowing he was hiding something. He was never good at faking his way through anything. She could see that he was beginning to become uncomfortable. "Gil, we have been friends for more than fifteen years. You can tell me what's bothering you."

No I can't Gil thought and smiled, "I just thought you would want some breakfast that's all."

This was the most embarrassing moment of his life. He never knew it would be so difficult to tell someone that you love him or her and that the two of you should be together forever. How could he tell Catherine this, without sounding desperate? But, that was the truth. He was desperately in love with Catherine Willows and nothing would stand in his way from taking her. That is, accept his shyness, insecurity and lack of balls of course. Even though Gil may never be able to date Catherine, or kiss her, or marry her, he refuses to grant anyone else that privilege either. If he could only look at her from a distance than so should every other man, it only seems fair and logical, but far from the truth. Catherine had already been married once to Eddie, which was a whole other story and a trip down memory lane that he never really wanted to bring to the surface any more. She has also dated that guy from the Acid Drop and the building contractor she met on one of her cases awhile ago. She seemed to be able and willing to go out with any other man, besides him.

"Do you remember that time Sara, Warrick and Nick got into a fighting match with the cook of this restaurant?" Catherine asked trying to break the silence.

The waitress mumbled something as she left to go and give the cook their orders. Grissom and Catherine shrugged remembering that the waitresses here needed an attitude adjustment. That would be why he and the rest of the graveyard shift had stopped coming to this diner. Well that, and Sara getting into a fight with the cook. Sara had specifically asked for a veggie burger, meaning no meat. Well the cock gave her a regular burger and she pretty much lost it, it didn't help that on top of that she had a tough shift. The only two who were not blamed for the fighting match were Catherine and Grissom, almost being treated like they were the parents to three very unruly children.

"Yeah, I remember everyone staring at us as if we were taking care of three children looking like adults." Gil replied.

"Yeah, that was priceless."

"What-what's so funny?" Gil asked as he was staring at Catherine who was smiling at some memory. "Catherine, what is it?" He pressured.

"I was just thinking back to high school." Catherine replied and starting laughing again.

"High school? What made you think of high school?"

"Remember that time we went to the Rave out in the desert and you did all of those crazy things with Sara and I." Catherine explained, her smile widening as Gil's confusion worsened. "After the whole football fiasco when Jeff accidentally punched me in the face?"

"A rave? I don't remember a rave? I remember you getting punched in the face, and me I guess, rescuing you." Gil replied and felt a blush as she looked away from Catherine, noticing that she blushed too, "But not a rave out in the dessert."

Grissom couldn't remember the rave that Catherine had apparently committed to her memory. He wondered what exactly she meant by crazy things when it came to her and Sara? "What exactly was I doing with the two of you?" Grissom asked in a hushed whisper.

"Well I don't know if I should talk about some of this stuff in a public place." Catherine said with a wink and watched the horror flash across his face.

"Oh god," Grissom breathed as he folded his head in his hands. His cheeks were flaming red with embarrassment wanting to get out of here ASAP.

"If you'd like, I can refresh your memory somewhere else. Say your house?"

Grissom looked up from the tablecloth and stared at Catherine trying to make sense of what she had just said. It would not be the first time Catherine would be in his house, but it was the first time it would just be the two of them, and not work related. Before he could say a word Gil could tell that her eyes were reading his silence as a yes. Just then the waitress returned with their meals as both of them finished their breakfast in silence and naturally, as soon as possible.

T.B.C