I'm making up for lost time. Please r&r. Thank you.

Previously:

"Goodnight, Catherine," he said, raising his hand to her arm, tenderly. Catherine's stomach suddenly started wriggling awkwardly at Grissom's touch. She realised after a few seconds that what she was feeling was nervousness. She wanted to go to the café so badly but knew they would go through all their arguments again, and she could not take that.

On a sudden impulse as Catherine said, "Goodnight, Gil," she gently snaked her arms around his waist and pulled him softly into a hug. She felt his hand slowly stroke the back of her head as she leaned against him, and felt a small stinging sensation in the corners of her eyes. It felt very much like a significant 'goodbye' hug. They both pulled away simultaneously and Grissom's hands cupped both of Catherine's cheeks. Their lips met for a few short seconds and then they parted. Catherine slowly turned and walked out of his office, with a silent tear rolling slowly down her cheek.

Chapter 21 – May 16th

May 16th – 8:35pm
Catherine's House

As soon as Catherine heard the click of the lock shut her in her house a sudden emotion overcame her, and, as much as she tried to prevent it, floods of tears leaked from her eyes and her sobs came in great gasps. She fell back against the door and sank to the floor, barely able to control herself. She didn't know why she was crying; she could think of no real reason. She slammed her fist on the floor as a new wave of sobs took over. Her throat was beginning to feel sore as her sobbing continued. She tried to think of any reason as to why she would be so upset. The drive home form work seemed pleasant enough, aside from her mind thinking of nothing but Grissom's goodbye all the way home.

Grissom. Grissom was why she was crying. How could anyone affect her so much? She had to pull herself together; after all, it wasn't as though she would never see him again. Taking several deep breaths and wiping her face, Catherine managed, after a few minutes, to control herself. She heaved herself up from the floor and stepped towards the hallway mirror. The face staring back at her was blotched red and stained with tears and with the odd bit of make-up that had run with the emotion. Annoyed with herself, she tried her best to clean herself up. After a while, when she was satisfied with her appearance, she made her way to the kitchen, dumped her bag on the table and commenced pouring herself a large glass of orange juice. After gulping the first half down, Catherine noticed as she placed the glass on the table that she had an answer message on her house phone. She felt a feeling of hope suddenly. Would it be from Grissom? Her finger reached the play button...

"You have one new message," came the usual computerised woman's voice.

Catherine heard the beep and waited through the pause.

"Hi, Cath, it's me," Eddie's voice came sailing through the speaker. Catherine noticed her disappointment that it wasn't Grissom. "Don't forget I'm picking up Lindsey from school today. How are you? Give me a call. Bye."

A second beep rang through the house as the message ended. One thought in particular sprang into her mind. This was the thought that she could now make it to Grissom's café with no difficulty. If she really wanted to go, she could have found a way; a babysitter for Lindsey; but now she had nothing to hold her back except her self-control, and currently that wasn't looking too powerful. She needed some sleep; maybe things would be different after a rest. She probably wouldn't be feeling quite as vulnerable as she did presently.

9:30pm
Grissom's Condo

Grissom had everything planned for later, apart from the most important thing. He could not guarantee that Catherine would show up, and he had a small, but horrible, nagging feeling that she was not going too. When they said 'goodnight' earlier, it felt strange and more upsetting than a 'goodnight' should feel; rather like it was a 'goodbye'.

He sank onto his couch, hearing the leather rub under him. He put his fingers to his temples and started massaging his head soothingly. The thought of Catherine sitting over him doing this for him came into his mind. He could even vividly imagine the smell of her perfume drift around him. His heart sank at the thought of Catherine now. He felt as though he had depended on her for years, and nothing he would ever do would make him want to compromise their remarkable friendship. But he has already done that, hasn't he? Things seemed to be going very well at work, so maybe it is not a lost cause. Her reactions today would be the decider... if she shows up.

2pm
Catherine's House

Woken up by a loud bang and a yell from the builders across her street, Catherine looked at her clock. She felt better than she did earlier, but then she noticed the time. Her stomach twisted as she realised now would be the time to decide. She won't go.

2:05pm
Grissom's Condo

Already up, showered and dressed, Grissom was almost on his way out of the house, silently begging for Catherine to make an appearance later. He wondered if she had already decided yet. After making several phone calls to check everything would go to plan, he made his way to his SUV.

2:15pm
Catherine's House

After trying desperately hard to get back to sleep and failing, Catherine decided to get herself a drink. She couldn't bare this. Grissom would be waiting for her and she wouldn't be there. Should she call him?

2:20pm
Grissom's SUV

Hearing the shrill ring of his mobile phone, Grissom's stomach turned, he knew it was Catherine.

"Grissom," he said, as he answered the phone.

"Hi, Grissom, it's Sara. I didn't wake you did I?"

"Sara?" Grissom's spirits were lifted.

"Yeh, I was just wondering if I can borrow that entomology book you lent me the other week."

"Oh sure, I'm not at home right now, I'll bring it into work tomorrow. That ok?"

"Sure. See you tomorrow."

As the phone lines disconnected Grissom's mood significantly improved. Even though there was still time for Catherine to call, she hadn't called him yet.

4:20pm
Little Café Somewhere In Vegas

Grissom had been waiting outside for twenty minutes. Catherine should have been there ages ago. She never did called him. Disappointment and sorrow flooded his mind as he made his way back to his SUV. Tonight's preparations had all been for nothing. Grissom entered the vehicle, sat in the driver's seat and felt the sides of his mouth become heavy and droop. With the automatic button on the dashboard Grissom wound down the window to let in a breeze and relieve him from the stifling air inside the SUV. He lifted his other hand to the keys in the ignition.

"Going somewhere?"

Grissom's eyes shot towards the figure standing outside his open window. Catherine looked so beautiful. Most of her hair was tied up with some sort of stick Grissom had no idea of, but the strands that were purposefully loose from the 'stick' were blowing around Catherine's face in the breeze.

"I didn't think you were coming," Grissom told her.

"Neither did I."

The couple smiled at each other affectionately and Catherine pulled the door open in order to allow Grissom to exit the SUV.

After having wound the window back up, Grissom got out of the SUV and stood opposite Catherine.

"Hi," he said, gently.

"Hi," she replied, with her usual smile.

Neither knew how they should behave. Should they greet each other with a kiss? It seemed to be a little late to do that. Grissom eventually held out his hand and Catherine placed hers in it. This touch exhilarated both Catherine and Grissom, and Catherine felt her stomach do several flips and skips. This was an unusual situation for them both to be in. They were not prevented from behaving like a couple and neither had any idea what the other was thinking or how this day would end.

As Catherine walked to Grissom's side and started towards the cafe, she felt a tug on her hand.

"Wait," she heard Grissom say, as he pulled her round to face him once more.

"What?" Catherine asked, as her breathing became a little more rapid than it should have been. Their proximity was very close and their heads were just centimetres away. Catherine felt what she had wanted to feel for a long while; Grissom's breath dancing over her face. His voice vibrated towards her once again.

"I've been wanting to do this for ages," he replied.

Grissom's lips came gently down towards Catherine's and he kissed her tenderly and lovingly. It was a long kiss and made Catherine's stomach wriggle with excitment as their bodies became as close as they could. After they pulled away, slightly breathless, Catherine whispered, with a smile,

"I'm glad you decided to do that," then continued, "but we're still in Vegas, Gil."

Grissom smiled back at her and replied, as he led her into the café, "I know, I just couldn't help it."

Inside the cafe was stylishly decorated, not at all what Catherine was expecting. Hand still in his, Catherine looked around. There were plaques all over the wall, one of which was very new and stood out greater than the others. Catherine stepped closer and read,

'Never doubt; never look back.'

Surprise covering all her features, Catherine turned to Grissom.

"Gil, why-"

"Ms. Willows?"

Catherine's head turned towards the direction of the voice. She saw a rather muscular looking waitress staring back at her.

"This way please."

Catherine hesitated in order to look at Grissom.

"How did she know who I was, Gil?" she asked Grissom.

Grissom shrugged then replied, "You'd better follow her, Catherine. She looks inhuman."

"Right," Catherine replied, as she walked past Grissom to follow the waitress.

As Catherine rounded a corner she had a feeling she knew where they were headed. On a table in the corner Catherine had seen a large bunch of purple tulips and one glass of red wine; not what you would normally expect from a cafe. The waitress led Catherine to this table and held out her chair for her; something else that Catherine wasn't expecting.

A few moments later, Grissom came over to the table and sat opposite Catherine.

"You're not drinking?" Catherine asked at the obvious appearance of only one glass of wine.

"Driving," came Grissom's answer.

"Uh huh. And what about my needing to drive my car home?" Catherine asked.

"You're car's not here anymore."

"What?" Catherine asked surprised.

"It's on its way back to yours as we speak... in safe hands," he added, after he saw the shocked look on Catherine's face. "Drink up. We won't be here for long."

As Catherine sipped slowly on her glass of wine, she very much began to feel like she was on some kind of high school first date. The conversation between her and Grissom was flowing very nicely; although both were avoiding all talk on the particulars of the current situation they were in, and Grissom was ignoring all of Catherine's questions about the plaque on the wall. As Catherine took the last sip of her wine, the muscular waitress came up to them and said to Grissom,

"We just got the phone call for you, sir. Everything is ready now."

"Thank you," Grissom responded. He stood up and, for a second time that night, held his hand out to Catherine. She took it, and, as Grissom pulled her up out of her seat, she asked,

"What's ready, Gil? What are you doing?"

Grissom ignored Catherine's question and he led her out of the café, hand still clutching hers.

The next chapter is the last (if all goes to plan). I'll try and make it a good'n for you guys. You all deserve it. Thanks for reading. Cath