Caitlyn almost took his breath away as she walked nervously through the door of Mario's and scanned the tables. He knew that he could get her here; she could pretend that she wanted space but he knew different. She smirked as she spotted him, smoothed out her top and strode over, slipping into the seat across from him.

"I thought you had pizza?" she teased, eyeing the lonely soda gracing the table.

"Maybe I got bored and ate it all myself?" he smiled passing her a menu and asking the waitress for two fresh drinks.

"Maybe you were just using pizza as a lure" she snatched a breadstick from the basket on the table and raised an eyebrow in his direction. He didn't pretend not to notice the glint in her eye or the way she leaned onto the table ever so slightly so that his eyes were drawn to the neckline of her top and the way the tiny necklace dropped across the soft skin.

"I'm hurt Caitlyn I really am" he feigned offense, holding a hand to his chest and garnering himself a laugh from her mouth. "And anyway… I was the lure. The pizza was a bonus"

"Hmmm now I'm not sure about that Nicky; some of these pizzas sure sound delicious"

He quickly snatched the menu from her hands and shook his head at her teasing. "I say we go for the 'everything challenge'"

"I say you've been watching too much man vs. food. There's no way you can eat all that!"

It was with a defiant smile he ordered the challenge. A 24" pizza topped with, well, everything, including a side of fries and onion rings and a 45 minute time limit for the challenge to get the whole thing for free. It could almost be considered suicide.

When the waitress brought it over the ensemble took up the entire table and all eyes were on them. Not the best idea for their little inconspicuous date. While Nick tore into the pizza intending to rise to the challenge Caitlyn decided she would counter his little act of bravado by casually nibbling on an onion ring and being no help at all whatsoever. She sat back against the booth and watched with a smile until he looked up and raised his eyebrows.

"You're not going to help at all?"

"You know I recently started this new onion ring diet..." she smirked.

He tossed a massive slice of pizza in her direction with an eye roll.

"Eat. I'll make it worth your while!" she toyed with the slice in her hands, eyeing him suspiciously before taking a bite "that's more like it!"

"I hope my rewards will be ample Nick… and not food based" she smiled picking an anchovy off the pizza and throwing it on the plate in disgust.

"so, ice cream won't cut it?" she shook her head and locked eyes with him, her hair falling over her face and a small smile making itself known across her lips. He reached across the table and took her hand in his, stroking his thumb gently over the top. She drew breath but she didn't pull away, the expression in her eyes softened slightly as neither of them broke the eye contact. The flash of a camera broke the trance; it was customary for challenge entrants to have their picture on the wall. Either on the loser's side or the winner's side. It came as no surprise that the losing side was decidedly larger than the winning one.

They didn't even make it halfway through the pile of food when the time ran out; the staff ceremoniously stuck the photograph onto the wall and moved on to ridiculing the next challenge entrant. Nick eventually admitted defeat, throwing his napkin onto the pizza plate and waving the waitress over for the bill.

"You want to go for a walk?" he asked throwing some cash onto the plate and slipping his jacket over his shoulders. He held the door open and steered her outside into the humid air of night time in the city. The sound of the night time revelers was beginning to filter through the air signaling the start of the partying hours.

"I don't know if we should…"

She hesitated, glancing around the street for inspiration that would tell her what to do. Nick recognized that uncertainty, it was almost as though he could read her thoughts. She was worried that they wouldn't be able to suppress the undeniable attraction between them when they were away from the scrutiny of a restaurant.

Caitlyn's cell piped up and she slipped it out of her pocket with a frown, Greg's name was highlighted. It was certainly unusual to hear from him on Tuesday, he had broken his own cardinal rule; no phones.

"Having an awesome time –Don't wait up!"

With a sigh she switched off the phone and ran her hand through her hair. Nick was waiting patiently for her decision, watching her with that look that made her shiver. She bit down on her lip, trying desperately to solve the conflict between her heart and her head. In the end she reminded herself that Sara and Greg were having a great time, they were making the most of their sin free Tuesday and maybe she should do the same; so she slipped her hand into his and stroked his arm with a smile.

"Where are we walking to then?" she smiled as she let her head rest on his shoulder. His senses were suddenly assaulted by her. the feeling of her touch, the scent of her hair, the way her top sagged slightly so that from his viewpoint he was granted a small preview, he could imagine how her skin would taste free from the wine and the sorrow.

"I know a place" he grinned, steering her across the road and into a small park. It was so quiet there, the silence seemed to linger around them and push them closer together as though they were seeking solace in each other from the darkness. Suddenly Caitlyn stopped dead and squeezed his hand, he turned quickly and found himself standing toe to toe, gazing into her eyes. The moonlight shone in her eyes and cast shadows across her face.

"Nick… I"

He couldn't help himself; he cut her off with a kiss. The taste of her lips and the feeling of her body relaxing into his arms was intense; he could barely take a breath.

"Come home with me?" he whispered into her ear as he gently stroked her face. "Just once more"

Hesitation flashed in her eyes for a second and he thought she was going to say no. her hands rested on his shoulders, carefully drawing down his chest as they stood there bathed in the light of the moon. With a single look she conveyed her entire answer; her fingers expertly wound around his buttons and opened his shirt with a smile.

When she pulled him closer for a kiss he wound his fingers in her hair and pushed against her, she stumbled backwards until she collided with the trunk of a tree. His hands slid up the inside of her top. He loved the feeling of her silky skin under his touch, he loved how he could make Goosebumps appear along her spine as he traced a path up to her shoulders and then slowly back down again. The sigh escaping her mouth made him shudder with anticipation and he pressed against her with a little more haste and passion, he met her lips with a hunger and a sudden desperation.

"Nick..." she pushed him away and he wondered if she had second thoughts but she still had the fire in her eyes. "Not here, let's go"

Nick's apartment was on the other side of the park; he weaved across paths and in and out of trees as he pulled her behind him. When he got to his door he turned to her suddenly feeling nervous, this wasn't like last time. It wasn't a spur of the moment decision, it wasn't a case of passion and alcohol and misjudgment taking over. This was a conscious decision on both their parts. It was a whole different ball game.

"Are you sure about this?" he questioned, his keys dangling in the lock. She responded with a sultry smile and swallowing nervously she drew her hands across his chest and pulled him in for a kiss. He parted her lips and explored her mouth, stroking his hands along her spine again. His mouth followed her jaw to find the sensitive skin of her neck, he could make her tremble by dancing his mouth there and he took full advantage of that as he fumbled with the lock.

They stumbled back into the apartment without breaking contact, a sense of dejavu cast over him as the lamp clattered to the floor again when they breezed past. He pulled her with him as he fell back onto the couch, her legs immediately wrapping around him as he pulled at her top. The gold fabric peeled off her skin revealing an incredibly erotic red lace bra. He almost growled at the sight of it, her hands fumbling with his belt as he carefully pressed his tongue against the fabric.

Her body reacted immediately, her spine twisting and her hips bucking against him so that he hummed against her skin. His jeans found the floor and she stood above him to unbutton her own, the red lace of her panties peeking out and teasing him. His hands clenched in an attempt to maintain control, but it was futile and he grabbed her ass and pulled her to him. Pulling her jeans away letting them drop to the floor he traced kisses along the edge of her panties and slipped his fingers inside the fabric. She shifted on her feet and ran her fingers through his hair as he looked up and met her eye. He stroked his fingers over her as gently as he could bear, enjoying the fact that her eyes pressed closed, she bit her lip and her legs started to shake. A deep gasp escaped her mouth as he dipped his fingers inside, but he was teasing, her eyes whipped open again as he quickly withdrew and grinned up at her.

"Oh that's not fair" she hummed as she leaned down to take his lips to hers once more.

"What would you prefer?"

She threw herself against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him hungrily until he was pressed against the back of the couch with her legs on either side of him. He moved her hips with his hands making her gyrate against him until he was sure he was about to explode. In one swift movement he had regained control, his strong hands twisted her onto the couch and he was free.

she kneeled on the edge of the couch and he took up position behind her, his hand running the length of her body before tracing the path all the way back up again.

He leaned down to whisper in her hair as he entered her but the words didn't come as she gifted him a long low moan that made him quiver. His hand explored her body as he moved back and forth creating a rhythm that made her grasp the back of the couch in desperation. She arched her back and pushed against the fabric, her moans becoming increasingly uncontrollable.

He could feel the tension knotting in his stomach and wash all over his body as her muscles clenched around him. He wrapped his arm across her body and grasped her opposite shoulder as he took his final thrusts and groaned into her neck.

Her entire body trembled and she collapsed onto the couch, her hair clinging to her skin and her breaths making her chest move up and down. He lowered himself onto the couch and wrapped her in his arms, pressing a small kiss on her forehead. He couldn't help but breathe in the scent of her hair and pull her a little closer to him. Somewhere deep down he knew he hoped that she would stay here in his arms, he hoped they could fall asleep together and share a breakfast in the morning sunlight, he knew of course that wouldn't happen. He knew she would go home to Greg.

"Thank you" she whispered into his ear as she twisted around in his arms to look up at him.

"What you thanking me for!" the idea seemed ridiculous, like he had performed a service. It made him feel more used than the sex had.

"For everything, I…I really …like… our little dates"

Like. Such a non-committal word, such a flat word to describe something so passionate, it felt hollow as it hit his ears and swam around his brain. Not that he had expected her to love their dates or associate any kind of strong emotion to him, it was clear what these dates were about and love had nothing to do with it. On her part at least.

"Me too" he sighed.

She was already wriggling out of his arms and gathering her clothes, already feeling the haste to leave his side and return to the man she did love. At the time it had seemed like a brilliant idea, he thought he could easily detach himself from her. He thought that their Tuesdays could be a bit of fun, a pizza, a movie, a couple of drinks.

Like Greg and Sara they could enjoy each other's company without falling into bed together. He had been all wrong and he knew it would happen again. Next Tuesday they would smile and pretend it was just a friendly thing, they would go on their date and put on the façade but he knew they would inevitably end up in the same place. He would be watching her dress as she stole embarrassed glances at him and then he would watch her leave with the overwhelming sense of emptiness he now felt.

He walked her to the door somewhat grudgingly, she could feel it too. The atmosphere settled between them heavily all the unspoken regrets and longing's weighing heavily on their conscience.

"Same time next week?" he offered hopefully, both in an effort to break the tension and in an attempt to clarify his position in this particular scenario. She looked into his eyes as though she was pleading with him, asking him to understand how it felt.

"Nicky… I... I'm" he silenced her with a kiss for the second time that night as they stood at his door, she was about to disappear into the night, to sleep in another man's arms and probably not bear him a second thought and yet he felt an overwhelming need to reassure and comfort her.

"Same time next week Cait" he whispered as he pressed the door closed, he would take what he could get.

Xxx

Greg was struggling to get Sara to focus on anything for more than a few seconds. At first he had found it incredibly funny, he could literally make her do anything when she was like this and for a control freak like Sara that was saying something. He took advantage of her new impressionable mood for a while but as she sank deeper into drunkenness he got more and more sober.

He had already held her back from 3 poor unsuspecting women who had apparently looked at her funny, he had mopped up her tears over her husband and the fact that she felt old and he had listened to her declare her love for him and Nick and the barman and even Hodges. She had gone through a rainbow of emotions tonight and he felt exhausted going through it with her.

Now he was making a futile attempt at walking her home. Every time he took a few steps she would stop to give him another piece of her mind. Whether it was the piece was about world peace or the working hours in the lab or the amount of bugs in Peru he could never begin to predict but it certainly made the 3 block journey stretch on forever.

"I'm gonna phone my husband Greg" she slurred, fishing in her purse and somehow making it look like Mary Poppins' hat bag.

"No! that is a bad idea!" she waved the phone at him with a defiant smile and he snatched it out of her hands, returning the gesture but making a lot better progress than she did. She followed him as he waved the phone in front of her like carrot on a string and he suddenly found it hilariously funny. The shoe was on the other foot when he stumbled over a huge boulder and almost somersaulted onto the ground. Now it was Sara's turn to laugh, she tried to kick her discarded phone out of his reach but only succeeded in stumbling herself and landing squarely in Greg's lap.

"Aww you always catch me when I fall Greg" she smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. He tried to stand with her there but it failed miserably and in the end he had to worm his way out of her grasp and reach out his hand to help her up.

Apparently drunken Sara was now feeling frisky, as he pulled her to a standing position she wrapped her arm around his neck again and he had to turn his head so that she kissed his cheek. This was a bad situation, turning Sara down was bound to impact her already unstable mood and pursuing something with her, no matter how much his conscious and unconscious mind wanted him to, was wrong.

His mind was racing as he tried to come up with a solution, it may only be three blocks but the cab coming towards them was like a beacon of light and he flagged it down breathing a sigh of relief. He bundled Sara into the cab and the rest of the journey was relatively pain free, Sara pressed her head against the window and watched as the bright lights disappeared and gave way to streetlamps and well groomed lawns. A strange feeling of foreboding made itself known in her stomach as they pulled up outside her condo. The thought of facing another night staring at those same vacant walls, flicking through those same boring channels, waiting on that same apologetic phone call almost brought tears to her eyes. This had once been a home filled with so much love and laughter and somewhere along the way it had turned into a huge reminder of how lonely she was, of how empty it was.

She turned to look at Greg with tears straining her eyes. He didn't know how much their Tuesdays meant to her, it was the one day of the week that didn't remind her she was alone. The one thing she could count on was that she could go out with Greg and do anything and they would have fun, he would make her laugh, he would make her forget. But he always left her on her own at the end of the day; he always went home to Caitlyn.

Even thinking of her name left a bitter taste in her mouth, when she was sober she actually felt sorry for the girl but a cocktail of shots and wine and too many beers and she found herself contemplating jealousy. If it wasn't for Caitlyn he would probably spend the night with her, on the couch of course, but nonetheless she wouldn't be alone. If it wasn't for Caitlyn chances are their meetings wouldn't be restricted to Tuesday's, she would feel comfortable popping round unannounced with a 6 pack and a DVD. She wouldn't think twice about calling him at 2am just to find out what he was up to and Greg wouldn't have to think about these things either. There had been a change in him lately, especially in the past week; he wasn't so hands on anymore. He didn't casually swing his arm around her shoulders anymore or text her incessantly at all hours of the day. He didn't seek out her company like he used to. Caitlyn had changed a lot between them and drunk Sara didn't like it one bit.

"Where are your keys?" Greg questioned as they strode towards her door. She had been so lost in her train of thought she didn't remember leaving the cab or walking the short distance across the slightly less than Stepford wives standards lawn. She could just picture Grissom examining it with distaste if he ever did make it home.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" she grinned and stroked his face in what she hoped was a playful, friendly gesture but it really emerged as a clumsy almost slap while she struggled to stand upright without swaying.

"Well yeah, how else are you supposed to get home?" he snatched her purse from her hands and fished inside looking for her keys, emerging victorious and dangling them in front of her.

With a flourish she whipped the keys from him and concentrated all her energy on trying to get them into the tiny and possibly mobile lock, much to Greg's amusement it avoided her and he placed his hands on her waist to shift her out of the way. She stood up quickly, shocked by the sudden bodily contact and everything seemed to still.

It was like all the air had been sucked out of the world as they stood there locked in their eye contact. She didn't hesitate when she put her hands on his face but as she moved her lips to his she could feel the swarm of butterflies in her stomach turn into frenzy. The part of her mind that was slipping out of drunkenness was telling her how wrong it was to be kissing him, the only problem with that was how right it felt. When she was kissing Greg she found herself thinking about the fact that it felt natural and comfortable, it felt like it was destined to happen.

That alone shocked her more than kissing him did. That feeling planted a seed in her consciousness that she knew would be difficult to shake off. It could only grow and flourish and cause her problems she wasn't ready for. Neither of them were.

She had never even contemplated cheating on her husband before, the mere suggestion would have made her sick to her stomach but right now only one thought was occupying the space in her brain and it just so happened to be kissing Greg.