After work Mark and Catherine are in his apartment watching TV in bed.
Catherine mutes the TV and asks, "Can we talk?"
Mark rolls on his side to face Catherine and replies, "Sure babe."
Catherine rubbing her forehead says, "Sara and I didn't push you too far earlier did we? I know you're not exactly open about your past relationships and I've accepted that, but I just wouldn't ever want to push you into something you weren't ready to share. We were just all sharing and I think I may have pushed it too far. I'm sorry"
Mark responds, "You have nothing to apologize for. It's fine that I shared it with both of you. Sara chose me to tell something very personal about her and you … you are my girlfriend. We are supposed to share the most intimate details of our lives with each other. I trust you. I'm learning to share." Mark leans forward and kisses Catherine. He pulls away and jokingly says, "If conversations like this are ultimately going to lead to sex, I'm telling you all my secrets."
Catherine laughs and says, "Well I'll just have to get more out of you later."
Several hours later …
Mark is in the kitchen cooking breakfast for a still asleep Catherine and talking to Kerri on the phone.
"Kerri I have something to tell you," says Mark.
Kerri excitedly says, "You're engaged I knew it!"
Mark laughs and says, "You've been with Elizabeth almost 10 years and you aren't engaged why would I be?"
Kerri sighs sarcastically responds, "Fiiiiiiiiiine. What is your news then?"
Mark says, "I told Catherine about Andie."
Kerri a little confused asks, "Did I hear you correctly? You told Catherine about Andie? Andie the same person it took you well into the train-wreck of a relationship to tell me about? Andie the person Elizabeth doesn't know the whole story about?"
Mark replies, "Yes."
Kerri responds, "Ok you HAVE to tell me this story."
Mark says, "Not much to tell. Sara, Catherine, and I were sitting around at work talking about our first serious relationships and I shared."
Kerri asks, "Wait … you told Sara?"
Mark replies, "Look she entrusted me with her information, why can't I give her the same respect?"
Kerri still a little stunned says, "I'm not saying you can't. I'm just shocked. You're growing as a person and so is your relationship. I'm proud of you."
Mark says, "Yeah Catherine was all freaked out about it though after we got home. She thought she pushed me too hard. I calmly reassured her that she didn't. I said she is my girlfriend and we are supposed to share the most intimate details of our lives with each other. I trust her. I'm learning to share."
Kerri laughs and says, "I know I said this not long after you were in the explosion but, WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY BEST FRIEND?! Not that I don't like this new version of you, but if I would have known moving to Las Vegas and finding Catherine would have done this to you, I would have made you do it a long time ago."
Mark sarcastically says, "Haha. Well I have to go before I burn Catherine's eggs. Give Elizabeth my love."
Kerri says, "Talk to ya later."
Mark ends the call and goes back to finishing Catherine's surprise breakfast in bed. Mark is plating up Catherine's breakfast and heads toward the bedroom door. The door starts to open.
Mark says, "NO! Close the door!"
Catherine confused closes the door and asks through the door, "Um … what's going on?"
Mark talking fast says, "I'm trying to keep you from ruining the element of surprise. Now get back in bed and pretend to be surprised."
Catherine still confused fulfills Mark's request and gets back in bed.
After a few seconds Mark asks, "Are you in bed?"
Catherine replies, "Yes."
Mark says, "Alright I'm coming in. Act surprised!"
Mark walks in and graciously hands over the freshly made breakfast to Catherine and kisses her on the forehead.
Catherine smiles and says, "Thank you. This is so sweet!"
Mark says, "Yes, yes I know. Oh and I fully expect you to return the favor to me within 48 hours."
With that Catherine gives Mark a playful smack and thinks once again how did she get so lucky.
Later at the lab …
Mark and Sara walk into the DNA lab hoping to get results from Warrick and Wendy on the blood they found in the hidden basement.
Mark asks, "Hey Warrick do we have the results of the two blood stains in the basement from our case?"
Warrick turns to Wendy and asks, "Has that come up yet?"
Wendy says, "Yes, here it is. Turns out that blood was a mix of human and pig blood, but not enough to profile it. Almost as if it was diluted."
"Damn," says Sara.
Mark says, "I wonder what's with the pig blood, was the victim slaughtering pigs in his basement?"
Warrick chuckles and jokingly says, "Hey man I wouldn't rule it out."
Mark smiles and responds, "Yeah I know I'm in the big city now anything can happen."
Warrick says, "You catch on fast."
Sara looks at Warrick and asks, "How long are you on lab duty?"
Warrick replies, "I've bought myself at least a week."
Mark says, "I'm sorry man."
Warrick shrugs and responds, "Don't be man, it's my fault."
Sara jokes, "What are you guys gonna do kiss and make up?"
Mark says, "Haha. Well we better get back to it."
A few hours later …
Mark walks into Catherine's office and sinks into the couch and sighs heavily.
Catherine looks up from her report and says, "That doesn't sound good."
Mark sighs and responds, "I don't think Sara and I are going to solve this one. It has Cold Case written all over it. Every lead we come across is just another dead end."
Catherine smiles and jokes, "You do know you can't solve everything, right?"
Mark smiles and says, "Yes, I'm well aware of that. I would have just rather a Cold Case would have waited a little longer into my career here. I just don't want Bossman to look at this as something I should have solved."
Catherine gets up from her desk, shuts her office door and sits on the couch next to Mark. She says, "I doubt Gris will think that. Besides you are working with Sara, outside of Gil she's one of the smartest people I know. If there was something missing that you and your spectacular crime solving background didn't pick up on she would have found it."
Mark takes Catherine's hand in his and she lays her head on his shoulder.
Mark asks, "Are you almost ready? I figured you probably wanted to get some sleep before Eddie brings Linds home."
Catherine stands up taking Mark's hand and pulls him off the couch and they walk hand in hand out of the lab.
