A/N: Thanks for the lovely reviews!! You know I like them... Well, here is the next chapter. ENJOY!

Sara's POV

I open the door and inhale the fresh air deeply, in only a couple of minutes my life changed significantly. I'm standing outside HQ of the Las Vegas Crime lab pacing up and down next to my car. I shove one of my hands in a pocket of my jacket and find the one thing I need right now, I fumble with the box and retrieve a cigarette from it. I put it in my mouth and light it, I take a deep drag from it and exhale slowly savoring the calming effect it has on my nerves. I quit smoking years ago, but from time to time I need one.

After a couple more drags I'm calmer and think about what just happened… My day started so much easier than it's going to end. I woke up and did the same routine I do everyday until my phone rang just when I was ready for work. It was Grissom telling me he needed to see me as soon as possible. I got into my car and drove straight to the lab, I walked to his office after filling in the needed papers and excepting the visitor's pass, he told me Sam Braun was under investigation. He didn't give me many details, just something about a friend with some incriminating evidence against Sam. And because I'm one of Sam's business partners the LVPD wants to interrogate me about Sam's whereabouts. At first it was strange he called me to tell me that, I'm glad he informed me but he didn't need to. Sam already told me there was something going down. Then Grissom told me the reason he wanted to inform me about this, he's as concerned as Sam himself that Catherine will interfere the investigation and because she's my best friend he knew we wouldn't be able to see each other without endangering the investigation.

When I walked through the hallway I saw Catherine in the break room and some kind of magnetic power draw me towards her. I had to say hi, so I obeyed my legs and stepped into the break room without anyone noticing. They were too busy badgering Catherine about her "relationship" with me, it was rather cute seeing how much they care about her. She was explaining how we were just good friends and nothing more. Somehow the determination in her voice hurt me, I know we're just friends but hearing her tell that to her best friends with that much firmness in her voice cut through me like a knife through butter.

I made one of the worst decisions ever when I decided to walk into the break room and tease her a little myself. She stormed out clearly very upset with me, I followed her and her irrationality made her say some pretty harsh things making me angry and irrational as a result. We had an argument and she threw me out, I didn't want to leave I wanted to understand her and know why she was being so irritated and angry. She threatened to have me thrown out by security and I gave in and left her.

The moment I set foot in the hallway, I realized why she could so easily get under my skin and hurt me with just words. I love her! I have been in love with her without realizing it. I turned around and stormed back into her office. She had the cutest expression on her face, a mixture between anger, confusion and relief. Just looking at her had the strangest effect on me, my heart was trying to break out of my ribcage and my head was feeling too light, like I was high on something. I closed the distance between us and kissed her before she could do or say anything. It took her a mere second before she kissed me back, when we locked eyes I saw a range of different emotion swinging in them, lust definitely being one of them. I was unable to control my raging hormones any longer. I needed to feel her, touch her, pleasure her, hear her scream my name in pure bliss. A voice in the back of my head kept screaming that what we were doing was wrong, especially in her unlocked office, but I didn't care I ignored it.

We talked about it shortly afterwards but I left in time to avoid another argument, Catherine was not a happy camper when she learned her father was being investigated and she was kept in the dark about this. I doubt she's going to back off the case, she's too stubborn for her own good sometimes. Not thinking or even caring about the consequences her persistence could have. Not to mention how much harder this is going to be for us, if she really wants to help on the case even hands-off, we can't see each other for the duration of the investigation. I don't think she realizes this yet or maybe she does but also doesn't give a damn about that, Catherine Willows is a woman who likes to do as she pleases.

Damn I shouldn't have left her without talking to her! Hell, I shouldn't have fucked her on her desk either, not when it meant so much more than just a quick fuck. I'm berating myself and I think one cigarette isn't going to be enough to calm me. I take another one and light it. But the calming effect the first one had is lessened, I take a few more drags and put it out. Realizing it's useless. I know something that will help me, work! I sit behind my wheel but I lack the strength to turn the key in the ignition. I put my head against the steering wheel and give in to the emotions that are running through me. Soon after my cheeks are damp with tears and I'm sobbing uncontrollably. And the worst part is, I can't tell for the life of me why I'm crying.

After a couple of minutes I calm down enough to be able to drive safely, I start the engine and drive straight to the club. I wipe the tears from my face and check myself in the mirror to see if there are any remnants of the fact that I've been crying. When I'm satisfied with how I look, I get out of the car and walk to the back entrance of the club. I parked my car far enough away from the entrance, the fresh air helps me clear my head for the moment. Because I will need a clear mind if I want to avoid any accidents tonight. But no matter how clear I want it to be, it keeps wandering to Catherine and what's she thinking and feeling. I hope she got a case, so she won't have a lot of time to ponder on everything that's going on at the moment. I consider to give her a call a couple of times, but manage to find a reason to decide against doing it.

The night passes a lot slower than I wished for but when the club is finally empty, I let out a deep sigh I have been holding for God knows how long. I lock the club and walk to my home, fortunately I'm intoxicated enough to feel numb. I open my door after fighting with the key and keyhole for almost 5 minutes and put my jacket on the coat rack, only I miss it by a couple of inches and my jacket with all it's belongings, including my cell phone ends on the floor. I don't even try to pick it up, I leave everything where it is and walk into my bathroom after freshening up a bit I plop down on my bed and let sleep overtake me. I wake up after having a terrible dream, Catherine was working the Sam case against better judgment and when the case made it to court not Sam himself but Catherine was on trial. She was being accused of obstructing the investigation and withholding evidence, she was sentenced to prison for 10 years to set an example or some shit like that. Lindsey not being an adult yet was placed in Sam's care, no matter how hard Catherine cried and pleaded to place Lindsey in Nancy's care no one paid attention. I went to see Catherine in prison, we were talking about what she did and how stupid she has been and all of a sudden the room starts to spin and I find myself being on trial. I don't know why but I'm being accused of murder, I try to tell them I didn't do it but no sound leaves my mouth. It's like I'm not even there until the jury comes back with their verdict and the judge reads it to me GUILTY. Still I'm not able to defend myself or do anything, I want to run but it's like I'm nailed to the court bench. The judge gives me the death penalty and everything fades to black.

I rub my eyes a couple of times to wipe the sleep out of them and to wipe away that terrible dream, when my body is fully awake I become aware of how wet my shirt is. I pull it over my head and throw it with the rest of my laundry, I open my eyes completely but the spinning sensation I was anticipating isn't there. Seems like I don't have a hangover after all, I step into the shower and let cold water run over my head hoping it will wash away my disturbing thoughts. That was some nightmare it seemed so real. Maybe I shouldn't have drunk that much… The shower doesn't really help so I step out of it and begin to get dressed, after that I walk to my kitchen make tea and toast and enjoy my breakfast. It's still quite early I guess, I glance at the clock and see it's only 12, which means I barely slept 4 hours….

Again I think about calling Catherine but she's probably still asleep and there's no need to wake her. I wonder if she listened to me and didn't work the Sam case, which is very unlikely. Maybe I can call Grissom he can tell me if she did or didn't. I grab my cell phone and call his home number after a couple of rings he answers.

'Hi Gris, it's me. I was wondering whether Catherine worked Sam's case or not?'

'Good morning Sara, technically I'm not allowed to discus open cases with you…' Sleep is still evident in his voice. I wonder whether I woke him or he still needs to go to bed.

'I know and you know I know that, that's not what I'm asking… I'm just worried, did she?' I sigh.

'Relax Sara, I sent her away on a difficult case. It took her almost the entire shift to collect the evidence and bring it back to the lab. Warrick and I are working the Sam case and she asked questions but that's it…'

Somehow I don't believe she will leave it at that, probably she was just too tired to do more or maybe she will stay away from the case… 'Thanks Gris.'

'You're welcome.'

I close off the phone and feel a bit more relaxed but there's still a lot of doubt in my mind. For one I don't know how our relationship is at the moment, are we a couple or just friends who went physical… I didn't talk to her anymore and now I'm afraid to give her a call. A knock on my door brings me back from my thoughts, I open the door and see a rather small balding middle-aged man with a badge standing there. He introduces himself as Captain Brass and asks if he can come in for a moment. I step back and let him in, we walk towards the couch and I sit down, but he doesn't. He's observing his surroundings, trying to figure out what kind of person I am. His observation didn't help him much so he stares at me. I become rather nervous from his scrutinizing glance and open my mouth to say something when he says 'Miss Sidle, can I ask you a couple of questions?'

I nod. 'Sure.'

'How well do you know Sam Braun?' he brings out a notebook and a pen, he taps the notebook before looking up at me.

'We are business partners and I know his daughter Catherine.' I state calmly although just saying her name makes my heart beat faster.

'I see and what kind of business are the two of you doing.' he scribbles something on the notebook.

'He uses my club from time to time for one of his parties, other times he hires me to organize parties in his casino. He also thought me a thing or two about running a casino.' I'm not sure whether I should tell Captain Brass that Sam has asked me to run his business if something would happen to him. Maybe it's better to keep that to myself.

'How often do you see him?'

'A couple of times a month, 2 maybe 3. Mostly at a business meeting or a business party.'

'So you can't tell me more about what he does or where he goes to…' it's not a question and Brass sounds a bit disappointed.

I shake my head and say 'I'm sorry Captain Brass but I can't help you with that.'

He waves his hand 'Miss Sidle thank you for your time, if we need anything more I'll give you a call.'

I walk him to the door and close it after him. The rest of my day goes by less eventful, I still lack the courage to give Catherine a call and she still hasn't called me either. Maybe she's waiting for me or maybe she's still upset with me, I don't know. I still have to place some orders for the club and it seems I left all my paperwork in my office. Well I have time enough to walk over there and pick them up.

Arriving there something seems off, I glance around and notice the backdoor is partly open and I know it's still too early for one of the others to be here. Perhaps I forgot to close the place properly last night in my drunken state, I study the door and notice signs of forced entry meaning I didn't forget to lock up but someone forced his way inside. I open the door a little further with my foot so I can sneak in hoping to find out who did it and more importantly why… The place is still dark, the only light is shining in through the small windows, I almost hug the walls walking further in I don't want to destroy any evidence. I become aware of an iron-ish smell knowing that isn't a good sign. I put on the lights to get a better view and see a body lying near the bar, I don't need to check if they are still alive if the blood pool around the head is any indication, this person bled to death.

Walking closer I notice the person is male, I crouch down but the face is unrecognizable it's covered with blood and bruises. I grab a paper towel from the bar and grab his ID from inside his shirt pocket. It's also covered with blood making it hard to read it or see the photo clearly. Still holding it with the paper towel in one hand, I grab another one and wipe it a little. The name and face becoming clear to me.

'Holy shit.'

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