(disclaimer, spoilers and all the fun stuff see prev chaps)
a/n: thanks for the reviews. and please tell me what you think okay!
Chapter four: Let the games begin
"I really enjoy your company Catherine"
"I enjoy your company too. Um, sorry I can't invite you in, I have work in a few hours so ... I better get ready"
"That's okay. So, would I see you tomorrow?"
"I'm not sure about tomorrow, why don't you just hold that thought, I'll call you"
"Okay, bye Cath"
"Bye Chad"
Chad leaned on and lightly kissed her on the lips, Catherine was too surprised to react. Chad grinned, and Catherine was just looking at him still shocked, he ran back to his car and by the time Catherine snapped out of her surprised Chad was already in his car. She couldn't help but to smile, Chad is a very sweet and gentle man, she always thought of him as the kind that would probably ask her if he could kiss her before doing so, and that slight show of cockiness from him was really a surprise to her. "Men." Catherine sighed as she opened the door of her house.
It was unknown to her that Grissom was watching her from a distant, he has been waiting for her, but when he arrived she wasn't there so he decided to get some grocery first, when he arrived back, that's when he saw that 'other guy' lead Catherine towards her house, that light kiss and that little smile from Catherine didn't go unnoticed by Grissom either. So he grabbed his phone and dialed, "Hello"
"Hey Sara, it's Grissom"
"Hey"
"I think I'll take your offer"
A few hours later
"Warrick take Greg with you, Nick you're going solo, Sara you're with me ... Catherine, you're on call"
"Again!? Sara's been working doubles this week and I've been doing nothing, let her take a break and let me out of my misery"
Sara just glanced at Grissom, it really didn't matter to her coz she do agree with Catherine.
"This case involves a lot about bugs, Sara could really help me with it"
"You need someone's help about bugs?" Catherine stated sarcastically, Sara quickly follows Grissom who just rolled his eyes and left the room. "I can't believe even Greg gets to go out on the field and I'm stuck here!" Catherine muttered certainly not amused.
"Griss and Sara are surely working on a lot of cases" Nick commented, "Did you and the boss broke up because of Sara?" Greg asked as he looked at Catherine.
"Grissom and I have not broken up", Greg gasps and pointed a finger to Catherine accusingly, "You're cheating on the boss"
"What the hell are you talking about"
"A lot of people have seen you with that guy – "
"Grissom and I are on a time-out"
"Oh. So you're not officially broken up yet, gently letting go, I didn't know you were the type Cath, I've always thought of you as, the straight forward kinda girl"
"Gently letting go? What the hell are you talking about? You're spending too much time with Nick and Warrick"
"Cath – "
"Save it Greg! She's still under the spell of illusion of the time-out stage" Warrick jested which earned him a glare from Catherine. Greg and Nick headed out the break room, Warrick walked closer to his friend, he realized that his little joke though made Nick and Greg chuckle caused Catherine a sting. "Hey Cath, I was just joking, you know that right?"
"Yea, yea." Catherine managed to smile, and it is true, it was just a joke, everything is just a joke.
"Cath?"
"He doesn't even get jealous." Catherine blurted out and Warrick became puzzled, "I'm really starting to enjoy being with Chad and Grissom seems to not mind"
"Do you still love him?"
"I'm not sure, I'm beginning to think that you guys are right, time-out is as good as breaking up."
"I thought you just wanted him to get jealous?"
"At first yes, but now... Again I'm not so sure. Oh well, you have work to do! Good luck"
"Okay see yah"
Catherine's been in the break room catching up with the paper work and to her surprise there's only one more left, she glanced at the clock- Three more hours and shift is over, she sighed as she closed her eyes and tried to relax.
Grissom walked inside the break room and poured two cups of coffee, Catherine was just staring at his back. "Uh. Hi Gil" she said unsure if she's supposed to be even acknowledging his presence coz obviously he doesn't care about hers.
"Oh hey Cath!"
"Are we still going to that thing that your old college friend - "
"No."
"Oh, why not?"
"Well Catherine, first it's not a 'thing' it's a bug museum opening, and Sara's really interested, so I figured it would be nice to take her there... unless you would want to come instead"
"No, no, no, take who ever you want"
"Okay. Well this coffee is getting cold, I'll go and give this to her"
"Her?"
"Yea, Sara. She's really into this case, she wouldn't even leave it for one second to grab a coffee" with that Grissom turned to leave, Catherine's brow is rising so she stood up and went to take a peek to what Grissom and Sara are working on. She peeked inside Grissom's office, but they weren't there so she headed to the layout room, and there they were.
Catherine stood to her position, which is just right beside the door way, behind the wall where she is very sure that no one from the inside could see her, she peeked to see what they were doing but having a very hard time, she couldn't hear clearly what they were talking about, not that it matters coz it's just some stuff about the case... Then she heard Grissom chuckled, then some more blah blah blah then Sara started laughing, she heard Sara making some kind of comment which made Grissom laugh and Sara gave yet another girlish giggle.
"The bastard is flirting with her. Or is it the bitch doing the flirting?" Catherine muttered to herself, then she came to a conclusion "It takes two to Tango", she was about to step in to interrupt the two when she realized, it's not her place to step in, she basically pushed Grissom to go and taste the waters, it just never occurred to her that he would go with Sara.
First of all, he said no to her before, and second, she and Sara are becoming good friends and to her on top of everything, aside from being sharp, she and Sara share another common thing and that is that, they are both the 'You don't want me, your lost not mine' girl. All this time she thought Sara is already over her little infatuation with the man.
With a furious look and knuckles turning white because of frustration, she walked back to the break room and flipped her phone, "Hello", "Hey, Chad it's me, about that dinner ..."
It's a beautiful night; Chad wearing a nice black suit is escorting Catherine towards one of the most fancy restaurant she's ever been. Catherine is wearing a long, strapless sky blue dress; she wore her hair up with big curls. Being a gentleman as he is, Chad pulled the chair for Catherine to sit down. They gave their orders and waited for it to be served. They were talking about paintings when something caught Catherine's eyes.
A man wearing a suit, with pepper-white colored, curly hair, not to mention a beard is escorting a tall brunette wearing spaghetti strapped black dress is entering the restaurant.
Chad noticed Catherine's gaze is intently to what he assumes the 'couple' that has just entered the restaurant. "Catherine. Catherine, do you know them?"
"Huh? Uh. Sorry what is it?" Catherine turned her attention back to her companion, but before Chad could speak another word, they heard a man's voice greeted them, "Why, hello Catherine! We didn't know you'd be here."
"Yea, I figure that one out on my own. Sara, I really like that dress"
"Thanks, Grissom helped me pick it out the other day"
"The other day?!"
"Umhmm" Sara nodded with a smile; Chad faked a cough to remind his date of his presence, "Oh! Sorry! Um, Gil, Sara, this is Chad. Chad, this is Gil and Sara"
"It's nice to meet you Chad, well, our table is over there, so better get going. Sara, shall we?" Grissom took Sara's hand and led her away, Catherine's eyes popped out at the sight.
Grissom and Sara took their seats, and the whole time Catherine's eyes were on them.
"Catherine, isn't it that Gil's your ex?"
Catherine turned her attention back at Chad, "My EX? Well Chad, I've told you before we even started dating that we just took a time-out and tasting the waters"
"Yea, but, we're enjoying each other's company and it seems that they are enjoying themselves too" before Catherine could reply, the waiter came and served them with their orders.
Catherine moved a little to the side to have a good view. A good view of the mirror.
There it is a full-length mirror, where Sara and Grissom could be clearly seen by Catherine from her position. She could see Grissom smiling, so is Sara. Sara's hand brushed with Grissom's and Catherine took her rage to the fork she's holding, "Easy Catherine, you might break the plate" Chad commented, oblivious to Catherine's secret yet intent gaze at the mirror.
Chad cracked some joke, which made Catherine smile, and again she glanced at the mirror, and just in time she saw Sara's hand placed on top of Grissom's
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Catherine stood up with head held up high. She walked her way towards Grissom and Sara; "Catherine!" came Sara's surprised voice as she saw Catherine standing in front of them.
"Sara. That's my man!" with that she gave her one straight punch to the face. Grissom gave her a lopsided grin; he shook his head and is rendered speechless, Catherine grabbed his tie, and pulled him to her, their lips crashed, Grissom's hands found their way around her waist and her hands snaked around his neck. Their tongues dueled, and explored each other's mouth, he tightened his hold on her, he pulled her closer to him and she pulled him closer to her ......
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But of course this is all just in Catherine's imagination. "Catherine! Catherine!"
"Oh! What is it?" Catherine was brought out of her reverie, "Are you feeling okay?"
"Uh no. I'm really sorry but I have to go home and take some rest"
"Okay, I'll take you home"
"Thanks."
TBC