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Part Fourteen

Okay Catherine think. How am I going to handle this? Yep, this would be me panicking and pacing up and down my office, since when do I pace?

"Hey, calm down." Sara says as she grabs my arm. "This is not a problem, we we're going to tell everyone today anyway."

"Yeah but I wasn't including him, by everyone I meant everyone but him."

She giggles at my explanation; I can't believe she's finding this funny.

"This isn't funny Sara." I say seriously.

"Look." She says as she cups my face in her hands. "So this wasn't part of the plan and yes it's taken us by surprise, but it was going to happen. So we'll deal with it together, just like we said we would."

I take a deep breath and let her calmness wash over me, she's right, this wasn't planned, but very little in my life has been.

"Besides, what's the worst that can happen? He shouts a little, we listen, and he tells us to keep it out of work. We agree."

I can see she's worried, she knows as much as I do that he has it in for her, but she's not letting it show and right now I'm grateful for her strength, even if it is just a front.

"Right. Let's go then." I say as I grab her hand and head to Ecklie's office.

We don't say a word as we head down the corridor and once outside his office I turn to Sara. She nods and knocks on his door.

"Come in."

I don't know why I feel so nervous; I'm usually the confident one.

We wordlessly enter his office and sit down; his eyes seem transfixed on our joined hands. I contemplate letting Sara's hand go for a second but decide I need some sort of connection with her right now.

"So care to explain what the hell is going on with you two?" He asks as his eyes dart between Sara and I. He doesn't give us the chance to answer. "Care to tell me why I just found you two making out like teenagers at work?"

Teenagers?

"We're together." Sara tells him. Just like that. She states the fact as if she'd told a million people, and I heard the pride in her voice as she spoke. I admit that even in these circumstances I want to smile at her tone.

I see anger cross his face as he looks at her. I'm starting to get the feeling this is not going to be as easy as Sara thought. I'm confused though, I fail to see why he would be angry.

"This is completely unacceptable." He states.

"Why?" I ask, finally finding my voice.

"For one, you're her superior..."

"No, I'm not a supervisor any more and even when I was, Sara was not on my team." I cut him off, there's no way he's going to pull that one.

"But you are her senior, if you're on a case together, you're lead, it is possible that your personal relationship could affect professional decisions."

Okay so he's starting to piss me off now.

"It hasn't for the past three months." I state.

"Three months!" He practically bellows.

"Yes, not that it's any of your business." Sara states. Having just got of a case that left her so emotional she really isn't in the mood for this. I need to make sure this is over with quickly.

Anger crosses his face again and I feel my stomach start to churn. She's managed to piss him off even more. He's blowing this totally out of proportion and I have no idea why.

"You both know work place relationships, while not strictly prohibited are not looked upon kindly and quite frankly I'm surprised at you Catherine."

Surprised at me? What the hell. He is so not getting away with that. "But work based relationships were fine when you asked me out? And you are sure as hell in a position to influence my career." I accuse.

I know I shouldn't be pissing him off even more but this is bullshit and he knows it.

"Okay. I tried to come to some compromise but it seems neither of you are willing to listen."

"Listen to what? What compromise? You're being an ass Ecklie and you know it. What is your issue here? The fact that we're both women or the fact that she turned you down in favour of me? Or is it just your issues with me?" Sara explodes at him.

Okay, so this situation is officially out of control. I need to do something.

"Sara, calm down baby please." I plead.

"No. I want to know why he's being an ass hole."

"That's it. You've just crossed the line Sidle. You may be able to speak to Grissom like that but I will not tolerate it. Consider yourself suspended without pay until further notice."

"Conrad, can't we just talk about this." I say quickly, trying in vain to get a grip on this situation.

"No, there's nothing to discuss. And as for your relationship, I won't tolerate it in my lab."

Tolerate? He won't tolerate it? What the fuck?

"You won't tolerate it?" I question, anger very clear in my voice. Why is he such a bastard? "Nobody is asking you to tolerate it; it's not going to change so you best find a way to deal with it." I say. Screw it all, there's no way I'm letting him get away with saying that.

"Work based relationships." He clarifies. "You work the same shift, whether you like it or not Catherine your opinion influences Grissom's decisions. Directly or indirectly you could have an impact on her career. That is what I won't tolerate."

"Bullshit Conrad." I fume. What the fuck is this guy's problem?

"This isn't open for discussion." He states.

"So put me on days. Problem solved." Sara states.

"There's no positions open on day shift, but you are both not working the same shift. Now if you'll excuse me I have a meeting. You'll have my decision on this within the next few days."

And with that he storms out of his office leaving Sara and I sitting in stunned silence.

Well, that went well.

- - - - - - - - - -

A few minutes later and neither of us have moved yet, we've just sat here trying to comprehend the huge mess we have just managed to get ourselves into.

"Catherine? Sara?" I hear from the office doorway, turning I see Gil looking concerned.

"Is everything okay?" He asks.

I glance at Sara; she looks as shocked as I feel.

"Gil, can you get the guys together and meet us in the break room in ten minutes? We need to talk."

"This has something to do with Ecklie just storming out doesn't it?"

"Unfortunately yes." I tell him.

"Okay, I'll see you both in a few minutes." He says with a nod, then turns and heads towards the lab.

I get up and close the door.

"Well shit." Sara says as she stands and turns to face me.

"That pretty much covers it." I reply.

"You're going to tell Grissom and everyone now?"

"Not if you don't want to." I say. I hadn't thought that she'd have changed her mind.

"No, I want to tell them, if we didn't Ecklie would, when they ask why I'm suspended. I just wish the circumstances were better. Before it was because we wanted to, because we felt it was time, now it's because someone else will if we don't."

"I know." I say as I walk towards her, wrapping my arms around her as soon as I'm close enough. It amazes me that no matter what situation I'm in, everything seems better when she's holding me. "We'll figure this out." I assure her. Although right now, I have no idea how.

"I'd kiss you but that's what got us into trouble in the first place." She smiles.

"Yeah, but we're already in trouble now anyway." I reply before giving her a quick kiss.

"So let's go tell the guys." She says, grabbing my hand.

"I have a feeling this will be a whole lot easier." I say as I follow her out of the room.

See look, not a cliff hanger in sight.

Thanks for reading.

Sam