Disclaimer: I am not connected in any way with the creators of any of the CSI shows. (I wish I was though, so Danny and Lindsay would get together already.) These are just my mind's version of the events that transpire on the show.
A few minutes after midnight, Stella reappeared in the break room, her face slightly flushed. She caught Lindsay and Jordan glancing at her suspiciously and she wisely averted her eyes from her friends' gazes until she could get herself under control.
Because the two women were occupied enough by studying Stella, neither of the pair noticed that Mac had quietly entered the break room several minutes after Stella did. However, he wasn't able to escape Danny and Flack's eagle eyes.
Stella was doubly grateful that Hawkes was currently distracting Cassie in the corner. The two were ensconced on a couch, talking quietly with Cassie curled up on Hawkes' lap. She watched as Hawkes gently pulled Cassie's head down to his shoulder and kissed her temple, running his hands comfortingly up and down her back.
Stella's heart went out to Cassie. Even from across the room, she could see that the poor girl was exhausted. She caught sight of Mac looking at the pair with a raised eyebrows and she swiftly went up to him to do damage control.
She laid her hand on his arm. "Let them be, Mac. Cassie's just tired." Mac looked at her and his face softened imperceptibly.
He replied, "Maybe Hawkes should just take her home so she can get some sleep."
Stella said, "I'll talk to him." She quickly approached Hawkes and Cassie. As she approached, she found Cassie's eyes drooping sleepily and Hawkes looked up at her.
"Hey, Stella," he said quietly. "I think I'm going to take her home. She's pretty beat."
Stella nodded sympathetically, "That's probably a good idea."
Hawkes gently woke Cassie up, "Cassie, sweetie, it's time to go." Cassie stirred sleepily and buried her face deeper into Hawkes' neck. "C'mon, Cass, let's get you home."
Cassie did wake up then and let Hawkes pull her to her feet. They quickly said their goodbyes and soon, they were in a cab and on the way to Cassie's apartment.
As she dozed in the car, Hawkes gazed at her sleeping face. She'd been working for two shifts straight. He'd been unable to convince her to go home. She had been adamant about finishing the samples that had been sent in and tiny lines of exhaustion were etched on her face.
He was relieved when the cab pulled up in front of Cassie's building. He quickly paid the cab driver and took Cassie into his arms. She was so tiny that it was barely an effort on his part.
Before long, they were in front of her door and Hawkes used his key to let them both in. He walked quickly into the bedroom and set his precious burden down on the bed. Cassie protested a little when he set her down and he gently whispered, "It's okay, baby. I'm just going to get you ready for bed." He disengaged himself from her and grabbed a nightshirt from her closet.
Hawkes stayed as detached as he could while he undressed Cassie and put the nightshirt on her. It didn't seem fair to cop a feel from his girlfriend while she was practically dead from exhaustion. But he couldn't help himself from caressing her smooth skin and placing a kiss on the smooth curve of her shoulder before he pulled the shirt over her.
After dressing Cassie, Hawkes stripped down to his boxers and pulled on a thin white shirt from his bag. He slid into bed beside her and she automatically curled into him, burrowing her face in his chest as he pulled her into the warmth of his body.
"Night, Sheldon," she murmured drowsily, letting sleep claim her completely.
"Night, Cassie," he answered, breathing in the scent of her hair as he closed his eyes and fell asleep, their combined body heat keeping them warm that cold night.
The next morning, Hawkes awoke to find Cassie grinning down at him.
When she saw that he was awake, she placed her arms on his chest and propped her chin up. She said in a husky drawl, "Morning, Doc."
Hawkes blinked his eyes. His lips curled into a grin at the relaxed look on her face and he answered, "Good morning to you too. I take it you slept well?"
Cassie nodded her head enthusiastically, "Mm-hmm." She gave him a soft kiss and said, "Thanks for getting me home last night, Doc."
Hawkes' hands found his way under her nightshirt and he started stroking her back, enjoying the feel of her skin. He answered, "My pleasure."
Cassie leaned down to nuzzle his neck, her lips and tongue tracing a moist trail down to his chest and Hawkes found himself waking up in more ways than one.
Cassie was distracted from her sensual exploration when Hawkes moved swiftly to flip her onto her back. He chuckled when she yelped in surprise and she felt the vibrations of his laughter in her body.
"Hey," she protested. "That was unfair. It's my turn!"
Hawkes raised his head and cocked his eyebrow at her. "How is it your turn?"
Cassie grinned saucily at him and she retorted, "Don't tell me you didn't cop a feel last night when you were undressing me."
To his embarrassment, Hawkes felt a flush climb his cheeks and he tried to defend himself. "Hey, for your information, I was being a perfect gentleman…"
He trailed off at the knowing glare Cassie shot him and he conceded. "All right, so I did cop a feel, but sweetie, can you really blame me?" he said, with a pleading smile on his face.
Cassie's insides melted at the way he looked adoringly at her and suddenly all she wanted to do was kiss him senseless. She gave in to the urge and pulled his head down to hers, gently nibbling at his lower lip.
Hawkes groaned low in his chest and said, "Okay, now you're in trouble."
Here's to 2006 and to the hope that the coming episodes with give us more D/L action.
Don't forget to review:D
