Two days later, I'm back with an update, as promised.

Enjoy,

So ;)

Ps: Immi, thank you as always for your input.

Act 10: Catherine

"Seriously?" I laugh.

"Absolutely," Sara answers firmly.

"But she's a cartoon!" I point out with a big smile.

Sara and I are sharing breakfast together. She offered to invite me to breakfast and lunch for two weeks in return for my help on a scene; sure I had to work in a bin for a few hours but objectively I'm the winner in this story. I get to spend exclusive time with her, something I've come to appreciate greatly.

Sara has made a point to take me somewhere new each time, thus making our special time very special. It's funny how one can live in the same town for years and yet not know that many things about it, we tend to take habits and like the comfort they offer, but we forget to be spontaneous and go where we've never been, taste new things. Sara made me realized that there were still a lot of things I didn't know about Vegas.

Hanging around with her outside of work on a regular basis is awesome. I'm learning things about her, for instance I've found out that she's really lay back as a person, and even when things were good between us at work she was never completely relaxed because it's work and instinctively she always has her guard up; she's goofy and a bit dorky; she can be extremely confident talking about science or anything that has her interest, and then be adorably shy when it comes to interaction with people.

She has included Linds in three of those breakfasts, because she never said anything about them always being after work. She is not at ease with Lindsey, because I think she's afraid to do wrong; so she lets Linds take the lead, once a topic is found she follows without difficulties though.

I enjoy our discussions; they can be silly like they can be serious. And unlike what I've always thought, she is an open book, if she doesn't volunteer the information, she does answer any question I ask.

She is calm and has a tendency of interiorising her emotions whereas I'm feisty and let my emotions drive me through life; this is the main difference between us. It is surprising because after spending so much time on each other's throat I could have never guessed that we had so many common grounds.

"I know, but it's the point of a fantasy," she replies.

"Alright, that's a valid point," I pout with a nod.

"Of course it is. The essence of fantasies is that there are no limits whatsoever. It doesn't matter if they can never become a reality," she continues to argue. "As a matter of fact I don't think they should ever be translated into a reality because it ruins them."

"Wow, so you never try to enact your fantasies?" I frown.

"I can't do it with this one," she points out with a tilt of her head.

"Well duh, she's a cartoon so that's impossible."

"Which is what makes it perfect; she'll always be the ultimate fantasy of mine."

"Alright, let's back up a bit. You think that it's bad to try to translate your fantasies into a reality?" I ask before taking a sip of my orange juice.

"I'm not saying it's bad, but I think it's setting yourself for a constant disappointment."

"I disagree, I know I acted some of my fantasies and the results exceeded expectations."

"Yeah but how many times did it not live up to the fantasies? I mean, like I said, there are no limits and in your head you have control over everything. In reality? You don't have that much control and if the fantasy includes someone else, it's doomed from the start."

"Point taken. But you can't deny that if it doesn't live up to it in 90 per cent of the case it does in 10 per cent."

"I'm not denying it; I'm just saying that I prefer keeping them untouched. They're mine and I like to find solace in them when I need an escape or just to have a moment for myself," she shrugs.

"I don't necessarily agree, but I understand," I state. "Back on topic then, you're sticking your guns on this one?" I return to the original question which was 'if you could get a night with anyone, who would it be?'.

She beams. "Oh yeah," she nods eagerly. "Jessica Rabbit. She is, hands down, my ultimate fantasy as far as women go. I mean have you seen her?" she chuckles, then bites her bottom lip. "She is the epitome of hot and sexy with a dash of dangerous and yet is soft and caring. I'm ready to play patty-cake with her any day."

I laugh wholeheartedly at her behaviour. "Oh my… you're incorrigible," I wipe a tear from the corner of my eye.

"What? I'm serious!" she smiles.

"I don't think I'll ever watch that movie the same way again."

She sighs. "That dear Jessica…" she says with a dreamy expression, I shake my head in response. "Okay, what about you then?"

"Grissom," I reply immediately. She chokes on the orange juice gulp she had just taken – the other half of it is sharply expelled in a misty rain, and starts coughing so bad I'm expecting one of her lungs to pass her throat. She looks at me with wild – teary eyes (from all her coughing) – she makes an unintelligible noise that I translate as 'seriously?'.

I keep a straight face for 30 full seconds then just burst into laughing. She glares at me in reprimand. "You made my juice come out of my nose, you idiot," she chastises me but the smile is visible on her lips.

"You're expression was priceless," I laugh even harder. "Come on, it was funny," I plead when she growls at me. "Gross, but funny."

"I'll get you back for that one, smarty pants," she warns me with a chortle.

"Ooh, I'm scared," I counter with a wink. "No, seriously though, my fantasy is Ecklie."

She barely has time to swallow before coughing. She narrows her eyes at me then throws a napkin in my direction. "Shut up," she rolls her eyes.

We keep laughing until the end of the breakfast. By the time Sara stops in front of my house my lips are still firmly locked into a smile. I thank her for the breakfast and step out of the car. She calls me back though and when I turn around I see her joining me on my porch.

"Hum…" she clears her throats. She does her nervous dance again where she doesn't seem to know what to do with herself. I find her adorable when she does this. "Yeah, so, hum… I haven't forgotten that I owe you a fancy date."

My heart leaps unexpectedly. She said date, she said date!

A month ago we had a bad episode, namely me using some bet as an opportunity to get with her physically rather than taking my courage with both hands and admit to her that I was attracted to her and that the idea of more than friendship had crossed my mind. Once the whole thing was sorted it appeared that we both wanted the same.

However, even though she had said that she would probably ask me out, she never did and though sometimes I get the feeling that she meant it, I never brought it back up for fear of finding out that those words were just that, words spoken in a certain context. I never brought it up but I've really wanted it to happen.

And now…

Well it looks like she's decided to follow her words. Right, I need to keep it cool.

"A fancy date… that's right," I nod.

"Yeah," she beams. "I still need a few more days to perfect the night plan, but soon I should ask you out properly."

Happy dancing on the inside!

"Okay," I force my attention on the present. "I'm looking forward to it," I grin.

"Cool," she breathes out.

Was she really holding her breath?

We stay there staring at one another, smiling like lunatic, for several seconds, then she leans in slowly and rests her lips on my cheek, not too far from the corner of my mouth.

Oh.

Wow…

Her confidence comes back when she smiles at me with a wink. "Have a good day," she says before departing.

I wave back at her once she's set behind the wheel, and watch her until her car disappears. I get inside and lean against my front door.

I close my eyes and sigh deeply, biting my bottom lip. There's a freaking butterfly in my stomach, her kiss has burnt my cheek and sent a jolt to my whole body, I don't think I'll be sleeping anytime soon now.

Damn you, Sidle. I think you're working your way under my skin.

And that stupid smile won't come off.

I shake my head as I chuckle, making my way to my bedroom to get ready for sleep – provided I calm down enough to get some.

Damn it.

I shall be back soon.

Thanks for reading.