Author's Note: For some reason, I had to reupload my story so my previous reviews are gone. Thanks so far for all the kind comments! This is my first CSI fic, so all are appreciated.
She opened her eyes to meet with two brown eyes looking back at her. Blinking in surprise, she jumped straight up out of bed, to not only realize that there someone unfamiliar in her bed, but that she was also very, very naked.
"Well good morning to you too," the man said wryly as he propped up on his elbow and gave her that grin she knew all too well - and also one that she really didn't expect to see in the privacy of her own bedroom.
She jerked the blanket from him, but he pulled it back. Briefly, they were caught in tug-a-war until she finally let out a snarl and he released it. She quickly covered herself. "This can not be what it looks like," she groaned. But the hangover she felt and the disarray in her bedroom was evidence enough that it was, indeed, what it looked liked. And, as Grissom often said, the evidence doesn't lie.
"That was not the response a man wants after a night of wild, passionate sex."
"So we did do it?"
"You aren't certain?" He squeaked.
The shocked and disappointed look on his face did not keep her from blurting out - "Never mind if I'm certain or not - I just know that whatever we did Greg, was not wild, passionate sex, but a big- make that HUGE mistake."
"Oh come on Cath, it can't have been that bad," he said pouting.
She ran a hand through her red-blonde hair as she searched her mind for the previous night's events. She remembered going to the bar with the gang - but anything after that was lost in a pure haze thanks to the wonders of alcohol. "Even if it was earth-shattering, I can't remember a damn thing."
And it was possibly a relief that she didn't. If she was as drunk as she thought she had been last night, she was sure that if she retained anything at all, she wouldn't want to face her co-workers. She could barely look Greg in the face as it was now.
"Well, I could always reenact it for you," Greg said waggling his eyebrows.
"No- there will be no reenacting. In fact-" she said, as she gathered up his clothes that were sprawled all over the room. "there will be no mention that this incident happened - EVER," she emphasized as she threw the clothing at him. "Now, I'm going to go shower, and when I come back out, you will be gone and last night will be wiped from both of our minds. When I come in to work tonight, it will be like nothing happened. Agreed?"
Greg grumbled something that she couldn't quite hear as he pulled on his shirt.
God, she felt like she was dealing with Lindsey. "Greg?"
"Agreed. It's agreed," he said, hurt trickling into his response.
Catherine sighed. She wasn't going to let him try and guilt-trip her. She gave him one last pointed stare before she hit the shower to try and wash away last night's events - or what she could remember of it.
Greg peeked his head around the corner, seeing only Sara and Nick sitting in the break room, he let out sigh loud enough to call attention to him.
"Something wrong Greggo?" Nick asked gesturing him inside the room.
"No - just looking for Catherine. I've got those lab results she wanted."
"Wow, it's nice that someone is getting their results," Sara said.
Greg looked sheepish. "Sorry. I've got yours almost finished. It's next in line."
"Well, I'm just surprised Catherine is even here today. Was she hammered last night or what?" Nick said laughing.
"I think we all were," Sara said smiling. "But you're right - she was way out of it. I can't believe she agreed to show us how she used to lap dance."
"Hell, I can't believe she demonstrated it on you," Nick said.
"Well, I was the only one there who wouldn't have gotten - ahem - aroused by the situation."
"If you say so Sara," Nick said winking, and she blushed.
"I'm glad you gave her a ride home," Sara directed at Greg, quickly changing the subject.
Greg slumped down in a chair. "I'm not so sure I'm glad," he said propping his elbows on the table, and letting his head fall into his hands.
"Why? What happe-" Nick cut short when Greg's head moved upward and he saw the look on Greg's face. "No way. No you didn't."
Sara looked confused as her eyes darted between the two men. "What did you do?"
A slow, wide smile spread on Nick's face. "I can't believe it. You and Cath?"
Greg ducked his head in acknowledgment. "I knew she was slightly drunk but she seemed to have sobered up when we got to her house."
Sara's eyes widened. "Are you trying to tell me that you and Catherine did the wild thing last night?"
Greg sat straight up when he saw who was standing at the door, and who happened to hear that last comment.
"Greg, can I see you alone for a moment," Catherine said, her tone sending a chill down even Nick and Sara's backs.
Nick and Sara both cleared their throats uncomfortably and stood. "Uh - I'll catch you later Greg," he leaned forward. "Tell me all about it later," he whispered quickly before Sara jerked him out of the room.
Catherine closed the door behind her and leaned back against it, folding her arms. "What part of 'it will be like nothing happened' did you misinterpret?"
Greg stood up, ready to give the speech he had been prepping since morning. "Catherine- I know you think last night was some sort of mistake, but I honesty can't stop thinking about what happened. I think we've got something here potentially. There had to be more than just alcohol working on us last night. There's some real chemistry."
"Greg, you're just a boy."
"I'm thirty Catherine."
"Greg, there's still a fifteen year difference between us. I'm old enough to be - your older sister."
He stepped closer to her. "All I see is a very beautiful woman that I happened to be very attracted to."
Catherine sighed. She should be used to this puppy-dog type of love by now. God knows she had enough of it when she was a dancer. She gently put her hand on his chest, holding him away from her. "You and I ain't happening. Cherish last night- write it in a journal, do whatever you want to do, but it's not happening again."
Greg did what he did best under pressure- he acted spontaneously. He grabbed Catherine by the shoulders, drew her toward him and gave her a kiss that left her slightly dazed after he withdrew.
"Now are you so certain that it's not happening again?"
In response, Catherine simply shook her head, turned and left the room. Greg remained, a slow grin spreading across his face. He liked a challenge when he saw one.
