"Hey, Catherine, what's up?" Sofia sits on the stool next to Catherine in one of the glass lab cubicles.
"Sofia! Quite a surprise to see you in this early." Catherine looks up from the microscope and smiles at the blond detective.
"Actually it's nine forty five, not really that early." Sofia leans on the table with her elbow.
"And not that late too," quipped the older CSI, "so tell me, Sofia, why are you really here?"
Sofia sits up straight and looks at Catherine with a hurt look, "wow! Didn't expect that."
"O come now, Sofia. This is not a social visit, you want something. You come here mostly every night when you're not busy and what? Hang around with me? You're up to something."
"Geez, Catherine." Sofia reaches for one of the blank papers and starts folding it slowly. "What's wrong if I like talking to you? I mean you're the only female who actually answers back. Pointless to have a conversation with Sara, we have nothing in common. Besides, you and I get along well."
"Sofia, you never did this female bonding crap till like three weeks ago. Now since we're getting along so well, tell me." Catherine leans on the table facing Sofia.
"Catherine, I like talking to you. Nothing more, nothing less." Sofia starts to unfold the paper.
"Bull crap, either you're hiding something or you're up to something." Catherine snatches the paper from Sofia, "See? You're nervous, your folding and unfolding this paper when I asked you what you're up to. So spit it out."
"God, Catherine! Are you insane? This is why I have a hard time finding female friends, they always question my motives." Sofia stands up and heads to the door.
"Yeah, yeah. She's in the other lab." Catherine smiles as she adjusts the lens on the microscope.
Sofia froze, looks at Catherine, "what?"
"She'll be back, she sent some samples to Greg. Might be awhile coz you know Greg, he'll try to hit on her. Hell, he tries to hit on anything with boobs that walk in his lab." Catherine does not look up from the microscope.
"Uh, I don't know what you're talking about, Catherine." Sofia stands by the door flustered.
Catherine glances and smiles at the blond, "sit down, you're beet red. Come on and catch your breath."
Sofia marches in slow motion, pulls out the stool and sits.
"Hey, we're friends. I help you, you help me when I need it. How's that?" Catherine pats the hand of the blond bringing her out of her trance.
"How...how..." was all Sofia could say.
"You know the saying, 'the older you get, the wiser?' That's me. I'm older, so I'm wiser. What else?" Catherine grins at Sofia.
Sofa looks at Catherine and whispers, "no, really, how..."
"Hey, I'm a CSI. Trained to observe, find clues. So there. Still in the wiser department, huh." She leans closer to Sofia and whispers, "Plus, I see the look in your face when you see her."
Sofia leans back wide-eyed, "I do not!"
Amused, Catherine adds, "googly eyes, that's what Lindsey call it."
"I don't do googly eyes like a high schooler." replied Sofia in protest.
Catherine snickers, "Oh, sure...I get it. You just get a mushy look in your face. You sigh and tilt your head a bit and stare. Yeah... that googly eyes to me."
"Catherine!" The blond was obviously embarrassed.
"I know. This lab is the best vantage point to watch her. So, are you just going to watch or do something about it? Come on, confess." Catherine stands up and puts a hand on Sofia's shoulder.
"Catherine, I don't know. I don't know. This is new to me." Sofia looks up at the older CSI.
Catherine pulls the stool and sat next to Sofia. "You've never went out with a woman before?"
Sofia sighs, "I have, a few times. But that was a long time ago. And it was just dates. It's been awhile, Catherine. With the line of work were in it's hard to stay in a relationship for long."
"I hear you. It is hard." Catherine sits quietly and reflects of her own relationships in the past.
Just then Sara walks in the lab, shakes her head as she sees the two sitting quietly , "Hey, Catherine. You got the results of the blood splatter?"
"Huh? Oh, hi Sara. Yeah, I just need to print the results. It'll only take a second." Catherine stands up and and presses a couple of buttons on the computer, her back facing the brunette, "So Sara, how are you doing now?"
Sara shrugs her shoulders, "good. Are the results coming out now?"
"Yeah, it's printing. Hey, uhhh, after shift, you want to grab breakfast?" Catherine walks to the brunette and hands the paper.
Sara looks at Catherine and then at Sofia who sits there watching her, "no, thanks anyway. I'll be staying for awhile to finish up. So this is it?" Sara waves the paper, obviously looling uncomfortable being in the lab with the two.
"Yeah, I'll pass by in awhile to see your results on the fibers and we can compare it." Catherine looks at Sara with a smile.
Sara glances at Sofia, "I can do it by myself, Catherine. It's okay."
Catherine insists, "No, no. I'll drop by, okay?"
Sara shrugs her shoulders, "see you then." And walks out of the lab.
Sofia smiles and stands up, "wooo! I saw that, I saw that! Catherine, I am surprised!"
Catherine looks at Sofia, about to say something but no words formed.
"So," Sofia puts an arm around Catherine, "this is cool."
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about, Sofia." Catherine shakes her head still not understanding what the younger blond meant.
Sofia gives a long sigh, and with a bored look, "you and Sara."
"Me and Sara? So, we work together. I try to be friends. What's wrong with that?" Catherine walks around the table and collects her slides.
"I saw the way you two looked at each other. Hey, I may be younger, but I'm a detective. Trained to observe... and I really had fun obseving the two of you." Sofia chuckles.
"And, Miss Curtis, what are your obsevations?" The CSI puts the slides in a container and labels it.
"Damn! I never put a thought to it until now!" Sofia runs her hand through her long blond hair.
"What?" Catherine still oblivious of what the blond was getting at.
"The two of you. You like her, she likes you. There."
Catherine sighs, "Sofia, we don't like each other. Well, I try to but she shuts me out. See? I asked her for breakfast and she was quick to say 'no'. Plus we always argue, fuss and fight."
"I didn't know you liked... well, women," Sofia adds, "You've dated guys, jerks by the way, if I may say so bluntly."
"Catherine laughs, "they were jerks alright. But women? I never really did anything about it. I mean I never dated a woman before. Sara's the first one who actually is getting under my skin. I don't know what to do about it. So like you, all new to me."
"Okay, I understand. But..." Sofia leans on the table and folds her arms, "why in the world Sara? I mean she's pretty and brilliant but also a major pain in the butt!"
Catherine folds her arms across her chest, "you know? I don't know. Sara she's... she's intense. Highly intelligent, dedicated, cute as hell, a bitch at times but...I don't know why I think of her, want her. Why I have this need to be near her. To see her, watch her. Even if our simple conversation ends up in an argument, I come back for more. Crazy, huh."
"Nah, we're both attracted to women we sure want to get close to but don't know how." Sofia shrugs her shoulders.
"I feel like in high school, awkward."Catherine chuckles.
Sofia shares the humor, "I know. Acting like teenagers around the person we like. Duh!"
"So me and you? We need a plan." Catherine says.
Sofia leans closer to Catherine, "I'm listening."
---oOo---
reviews are so welcomed. it's 2:45am so mistakes are mine.