Disclaimer: see chapter one

Chapter Twelve

"My daughter," Catherine lied to the Sheriff who had just walked in during her phone conversation with Grissom. "She had a nightmare."

"Just needed her mom, eh?" the Sheriff smiled.

"Yeah. What can I do for you?. Grissom's out on the case, he's - "

"I've spoken to Grissom." He looked past her to the desk where a tabloid newspaper lay open at the page he was there to discuss. "I see you've seen the morning paper."

"Yes, Sir. It's an interesting story."

"It doesn't really help keep up the charade we are trying to keep up."

"I know. I didn't know they were following us."

"Catherine," he began and then hesitated, looking very uncomfortable and unsure whether to continue.

"Sheriff, if there's something on your mind, just ask, I can probably calm your fears," Catherine said with a pleasant smile.

"Are you and Grissom involved?"

"Involved?"

"In a relationship?"

"No. I'm quite surprised that you're believing these stories, Sir."

"This one seemed plausible."

Catherine was quite shocked to hear that from him, and she also felt a happy shiver that another person had said there could be something between her and Grissom, but she didn't let any of these feelings show.

"Well, it's fiction. We were shopping, nothing else. It's interesting the twist they can put on an innocent shopping trip."

"But you were shopping together?"

"Yes. I don't recall that being forbidden. And somebody had to make sure I got something nice." The tone and look that accompanied the word 'nice' told the Sheriff that she wasn't impressed by what he'd said to Brass, but it was also subtle enough that she could deny having meant anything by it if necessary.

"Well it's probably best if you don't go out in public together, anywhere unnecessary. Just until Friday night's over with."

*****

"What?!" Grissom exclaimed as Catherine told him what the Sheriff had said. "That's ridiculous! He - "

"And this is why I asked him to let me tell you. I knew you'd start at him, and probably get suspended again."

"I think you're exaggerating."

"Didn't want to take the chance. Besides if I hadn't asked him, I'd never have got to see his face when I said: 'Let me deal with Grissom,' and winked at him." Catherine grinned.

"You didn't?!" Grissom asked in disbelief.

Catherine just widened her smile.

Grissom shook his head. "I give him cheek, I get suspended, you give him cheek."

"I don't give him hassle, Gil. That's why I get away with it."

"Like your promiscuity isn't giving him hassle lately!" Grissom smirked.

This time Catherine's eyes widened. "You're lucky I know you're joking!" she smiled, then she sat down in front of his desk and sighed wistfully. "I might start living vicariously through my tabloid self. She must be having more fun than I am. Two men at once?. I'd settle for one."

"Which one?"

Catherine looked at him and smiled. "Doesn't matter, I don't think she'd let me have either of them. So, I started reviewing the evidence. If we're missing something, it's very well hidden. Buried in fact, under three metres of solid lead."

Grissom looked at her, wondering what she was talking about.

"It was the only thing I could think of that would make it very difficult for us to dig up the clue. If Superman couldn't see through it, I imagine it's difficult to dig through."

Grissom leaned forward, putting his elbows on the desk, and his hands together. Then he said: "Catherine, maybe you should go home."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"I just need food. My point is, there really doesn't seem to be any clue at all. There are no prints on the letters except the ones we would expect to be there - Marc, Ryanne, the butler."

Grissom's eyes met hers. "Maybe - "

"No. You're not thinking - "

"Inside job."

"The butler did it?"

"He could have done. He's had a lot of free time lately since Marc sent all his staff home. Plenty of opportunity to visit internet cafes."

"But he had an alibi for the letters. We did check."

Grissom thought for a moment. "Perhaps he had help."

"Who?"

"The maid?"

"So now it's a conspiracy?. All the staff had airtight alibis. And what reason would they have to send death threats to their employer? He pays their wages. And they're pretty good wages too. I was considering a career change!"

"It was just a thought. We'll go over everything with a fine-tooth comb next shift. Wouldn't want to aggravate the Sheriff any further by running up unnecessary over time. Would you like to join me for breakfast?"

"You just love winding him up don't you!" Catherine exclaimed.

"Who?" Grissom feigned innocence.

"He specifically told us not to be seen in public and now you - "

"I was going to cook," Grissom stated.

"Oh. Well, thanks, but I need to see Lindsey."

"Okay. Another time."

"So I'll cook," Catherine smiled. "I'll see you shortly."

"I'll be right behind you."

*****

Grissom sat on a stool at the kitchen counter watching Catherine cook. She was standing in front of the stove, wearing casual black trousers and a strappy white top. Grissom couldn't help noticing how perfectly the clothes fit her figure, and how perfect her figure was. The slender lines of her body, the smoothness of her skin, the way her hair danced around her shoulders each time she moved her head. She was beautiful. It was something he had known for nineteen years, but since that kiss, he couldn't stop thinking about her.

"Grissom?" Catherine tried to stir him from the daze he seemed to be in. "Grissom?"

"Sorry. What were you saying?"

"Where was your mind?"

"Nowhere. Just thinking about the case."

Catherine eyed him suspiciously. "Really?. So why do you look so guilty?"

"I don't. Did you say something about pouncing on me?" Grissom frowned.

"So that's what you were thinking about?" Catherine teased. "I was telling you that I told Marc about the time that I pounced on you," she said, turning back to her cooking.

"You told him?!"

"He asked."

"He asked?. About an event only two people know about and are supposed to have forgotten."

She shot him a playful glare as she began to dish out the breakfast. "He asked about us."

"So did the Sheriff, did you tell him?"

"Yeah, he was fine about it. As long as it doesn't make it into the papers," she smiled as she put their plates down on the table.

"You're not funny," Grissom said, following her to the table and sitting down opposite her. "This looks nice."

"Thank you. Are you gonna eat it, or just look at it?"

Grissom glared and smiled at her before proceeding to eat.

"So? Does it taste as nice as it looks?"

"Yes it does."

There was silence as they both ate. After a couple of minutes Grissom looked up at Catherine. She noticed and also looked up, but he had returned to looking at his plate. So she did the same. A few seconds later, he did it again, so she looked up, but once again, he had turned away. The third time her eyes managed to catch his before he could look down.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine."

"Did you want to say something?"

Grissom shook his head. "No."

"Why do you keep looking at me?"

"Do I?"

"Yes. What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Do you not like it?"

"It's delicious."

"So what's with the looks?"

"Nothing."

"You don't want to tell me?"

"There's nothing to tell."

"Fine!" Catherine looked down at her plate, pretending to sulk.

"Catherine?"

She ignored him.

"Cath, it isn't going to work. You're not going to guilt trip me into telling you."

"I thought there was nothing to tell," she smirked.

"It's not important. I was going to speak, I changed my mind."

"Why?"

"Does it matter?"

"I suppose not."

They continued eating in silence, until Grissom glanced at Catherine again.

"That's it!" she exclaimed, dropping her fork onto her plate. "Tell me!"

Grissom laughed. "You're so beautiful when you're angry."

"Just when I'm angry?"

"It would be inappropriate for me to answer that."

"Oh, but it wasn't inappropriate for you to kiss me?!"

"So you remember that we kissed?"

"Of course I do!"

"Well why have you never mentioned it?"

"Why have you never mentioned it?"

"I asked first."

"I thought you wouldn't want me to mention it."

"Why would you think that?"

"Well, I know you're not good with people, or personal stuff, I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable. I saw you after Sara asked you out, you were totally flustered and didn't know how to handle the situation, I didn't want to put you in that position."

"That was different."

"How?"

"She asked me out. It wasn't a mutual feeling."

"And this is?"

"It felt like it."

"So why have you never mentioned it?"

"Because you never mentioned it."

"So why are you mentioning it now?"

"Because you mentioned it," he smirked.

Catherine thought for a second. "So I did. But you started this line of conversation. Why?"

"Because I don't believe myself when I insist that you don't feel the same way as I do. I need to hear it from you, so I can accept it and move on."

"Wouldn't that hurt?"

"Well, there's always a chance you do feel the same. This way hurts less than always knowing that I never took the chance," he shrugged. ". Erm, thanks for breakfast," he said, standing up.

"But you haven't eaten it. Where are you going?" she asked, following him out of the kitchen and towards the front door.

"I don't know what possessed me to say what I have just said. I'm going home before I say anything else."

"Is there something else you want to say?"

He stopped and faced her. "Can we forget this ever happened?"

"Like we forgot I pounced on you?" she smiled.

"No. Can we actually forget this?"

"No," she replied defiantly. "Not until I've had my say. Then if you still want to erase today from history. I'll try. Okay?"

Grissom nodded.

"Okay." She took a deep breath then began. "I can't say that I feel the same about you as you do about me - "

"Cath, is this really necessa - " he said sadly, looking down.

"Because you've never told me how you feel. But I can tell you that it was the most incredible kiss I have ever experienced, and I've wanted to do it again ever since."

He looked up to her in disbelief, and she smiled her dazzling smile.

"So, you still want to forget this conversation?" she grinned.

". Maybe not. Do you still want to kiss me?"

"Hell yeah," she laughed as he wrapped his arms around her and his lips crashed down onto hers.

TBC.