Slow Burn

Catherine thinks she cannot compete with Sara for Nick's attention. She doesn't realize that she never had to.

Post Mea-Culpa

Spoilers: Boom (others to be mentioned in future chapters if it goes that far)

Disclaimer: I regret I cannot record any portion of CSI or its characters as intangible assets on my balance sheet. I only own a knife like the one in the story.

Note: Revision to original post. Trying to clean it up. I am aware the technical parts of this may not be accurate. I am not a scientist! Any other constructive criticism or suggestions welcomed.

"Shake it off, girl" she muttered to herself as she briskly exited the lab. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and gulped, then exhaled a cleansing breath. Damn. That man had a knack for unraveling her nerves just by standing next to her. The embarrassing part of it was the incident was nothing, just two colleagues viewing DNA samples, blood and other evidence through the lens of a microscope. He stood so dangerously close to her; she could feel his body heat emanating through the cover his light blue lab coat. It was nothing, because that was just Nick. Friendliness, warmth and affection just radiated from his whole being.

Catherine continued purposefully down the corridor, or so it appeared to her co-workers and they dodged her. Her jaw was tight and her fingers clenched into a fist. Yes, she did have a purpose: get to her office and get a grip. This was not like her. To allow her emotions about a man spin out of control as they had been? What was going on? Her previous "vocation" taught her the essence of maintaining control with men. Okay, she had to admit she didn't always hang on with Eddie, but all of that was behind her. No looking back.

But this thing with Nick, this infatuation, consumed her like the protracted agony of a cancer. She had always cared for Nick in a maternal sense. She cared for all of the younger CSIs in that way. They all regarded her as the mom of the crew. At the same time she could engage in harmless, flirty banter with them, Archie and Bobby especially. And Greg. Oh yes… and Nick.

Her relationship with Nick was no different, until he was nearly terminated and charged with Kristy's murder a few years ago. She couldn't let that bastard Ecklie ruin Nick's career out of spite or grandstanding, or whatever his motive was at that moment. Her diligence paid off and his name was cleared, thanks to her. He hugged her to express his appreciation, and held on longer than she thought he should. When they pulled apart, his gaze held hers just a moment longer than he thought he should and a blush stained his cheeks as he released her.

Things changed, at least on Catherine's part, from that moment. Later, she often questioned her perseverance to clear his name. Of course she would have done the same for any member of the team, Warrick, Gris, even Sara. She smiled to herself as a visual spelling of Sara's name formed into ghastly, putrid green fumes in her mind. Yep, even Sara, who thought she was "all that". At least that's how Lindsay described her. Rather astute observation for a kid and Catherine agreed 100 percent.

She snickered aloud as she flipped open a case file awaiting review. "Get a grip" she chastised herself for that last plunge into immaturity. She cleared her throat, and her thoughts. Back to adulthood, back to work and she bit her bottom lip to stay focused…

…For about fifteen minutes, before Nick confidently appeared in her doorway. He leaned against the jamb and flashed a grin. "Ahem".

She glanced up as he drew the lab coat back and hooked a thumb on his belt, just dripping machismo. "Yes, Nick?" she offered perfunctorily.

He wasn't ruffled by her coolness. He knew Catherine. When she was focused on work, she was all business. He also knew when she was feigning professionalism, like she was now. What was with her these days, anyway? "Well ma'am," he tipped an imaginary hat and straightened, then sauntered as if wearing imaginary chaps to the edge of her desk "The way I see it, that boy done hisself a world of hurt when he left these behind…" he trailed off dramatically.

"When he left what behind?" She replied and leaned back, eager to put a little distance between them.

"Prints", he ceremoniously announced and dropped a printout on top of her file.

"Amylase", he drawled. Only Nick could make the scientific name for spit sound sexy. He dropped another printout and it fluttered atop the first. "And I believe a bite mould will give further confirmation."

With a flick of his wrist he flipped the third sheet down and leaned over her desk, one hand splayed for support while a fully extended index finger pointed out the percentages that identified the donor as a positive match. "Blood." He paused dramatically. "We got him" his voice dropped to a near whisper, which sent her heart down to the pit of her stomach.

"He's OURS!" He straightened up and threw his fists in the air and bellowed a mock college football yell "Score!" He giggled and added "Woo-hoo!"

Catherine picked up the documents and used every bit of resolve to focus on the case. Not Nick. The case, Catherine. Focus. The blood collected at the scene was found on the victim as evidence of a struggle. A few drops were also recovered just under the refrigerator on a fresh, but partially-bleached kitchen floor. There was a bite mark on the back of the victim's neck would. They didn't have a bit mould from the suspect, but they would get one. His amylase DNA surrounded the area anyway. The final piece was the fingerprint. Multiple sets of non-matching or unidentifiable prints were recovered from the house, but only a partial smeared print found on the hilt of the victim's Henckels chef's knife used to kill her. She fought, and she fought hard, but in the end, she lost.

Nick had spent hours in front of the computer trying to match the prints through AFIS, changing the configuration points, flipping the print upside down, or as an inverse. Catherine could see his determination to solve this case set in his jaw. He did it. He took an almost unusable piece of key evidence and found the right way to make it fit. She admired his dedication. Not just for this case, but every case he worked received this type of devotion.

Catherine took deep breath and shook her head, then couldn't help but smile. "You did it Nicky. Call Brass"

"He already did" Brass announced with impeccable timing. "You coming, Catherine?"

She closed her eyes and waved her hand toward the door. "Seems pretty straight forward; under control. I'm buried here. Just run with it, Nick. You got it". She hoped her voice didn't crack on that last statement.

"After you" Brass offered with a half bow and extended arm.

Nick smiled sheepishly at Cath and winked at her before turning on his heel to leave her office.

Half an hour later, Catherine's pulse and heart rate had long since returned to a normal pace and she had dismissed that behavior as work induced temporary insanity. She was making some headway on the case files that sat on her desk when Nick popped in again. "He gave a full confession"

"And the citizens of Las Vegas can rest a little bit easier tonight" she quipped.

"Funny, Cath" He nodded and smirked. "How's it coming" He gestured toward the slightly reduced stack of manila file folders spread across her desk.

"Well, I have a new appreciation for the amount of time Grissom put in" she answered "I thought this new shift was going to add a measure of stability in my life, but…"she rolled her eyes and smiled "it will work itself out".

Nick returned the smile. "Hey, are you hungry? Feel like taking a break, maybe grab a bite?"

Her heart fluttered. Oh, not again. For reasons unknown to her, he affected her more than ever tonight. She wanted to jump on this opportunity, but all of this work and she still needed to get home to Lindsay. "I wish I could but-"

"Hey Nick" Sara smiled broadly as she approached him in the doorway then glanced at Catherine and reduced that big, overtly friendly smile directed at Nick to a polite, cordial smile at her. "Catherine, how's it goin'?"

"Swamped!" Catherine gestured to the stack of files awaiting review and approval. She cocked her head pensively, "You're here early."

"Yeah, staying at home drives me crazy. I thought I'd hang out until shift starts. Maybe help in the lab if they're backed up." Sara stuffed her fingers in the front pockets of her tight low rise jeans, a staple in her wardrobe, and redirected her attention to Nick. "I heard you solved a tough B&E homicide; multiple suspects, tough evidence?"

Nick's grinned and shrugged his shoulders, "All in a day's work".

Sara giggled and playfully shoved him. "That modesty act won't fly with me, 'Sheriff'."

"Who's acting?" Nick held up his hands and shook his head quizzically. He glanced over at Catherine, who was twirling her pen between her index and middle finger.

"You do have a flair for the dramatic, Nicky." Catherine offered.

"Hey, I brought in some Chinese; you hungry?" Sara pointed her thumb over her shoulder and glanced at her co-workers.

"Are you kidding? I'm starving andI was just trying to talk our mini-Grissom here into taking a break to eat," Nick pointed his head in Catherine's direction but kept his gaze on Sara.

"Nah, you two go ahead" Catherine sighed "I've got a lot to do and need to get home to Linds…"she trailed off and glanced at her watch "like yesterday".

"You sure?" Sara asked as she backed out of her office and tugged on Nick's sleeve.

"Yeah" she muttered and waved them off.

Nick reached for that door jamb that he was fast developing an intimate relationship with before Sara completely pulled him out of the office. "I'll save you some" he winked at her and released his grip and was gone.

Catherine watched as the younger CSI's casually strolled down the corridor talking and smiling at one another and occasionally bumping into one another. She wasn't sure if it intentional or not. No one would ever doubt there was some serious chemistry between those two. She was very aware of this as she set her pen in the cradle of her hand and prepared to get back to work. 'The case file, Catherine' she scolded herself. Focus. The case in front of her seemed like it was a mile away.

'Where was I' she mumbled to herself as she took a cursory glance over the report 'Substance collected positive match for blood…DNA match with suspect….DNA…DNA and chemistry…' her thoughts trailed off "They do have chemistry…same age…Oh this is ridiculous!" she slammed the file folder shut and stood up. There was no way she could concentrate right now and needed to get out. She reached in the bottom drawer for her purse and scooped up several files in her free arm. She could get more work done at home with no distractions, except for Lindsay's music. She would evenwelcome that right now...