A/N: This chapter has been modified slightly to correct some errors. Thanks for the feedback.
My Best Enemy
Chapter One
CSI Lab
Several months earlier…
Nick plopped onto his usual seat on the break room couch. "Man, have you guys seen that new cop on daylight?"
"Naw, haven't seen her but I hear she's pretty decent." Warrick said as he handed Nick a second play station remote.
"Speak of the devil." Nick smiled, jumping back up on his feet.
A tall, blond, thirtyish woman walked into the room.
"Evening. May I help you?" Nick greeted with his impeccable Texas manners.
"Maybe. I'm looking for Catherine Willows."
"Who's looking for her?" Catherine asked, peering wickedly from behind the latest fashion magazine across the room.
The woman approached Catherine slowly, admiring her openly.
"The guys weren't kidding when they said you were a knockout. Dana Karlin, Las Vegas PD." She offered with an outstretched hand.
"Catherine Willows, CSI." She grinned, liking the younger woman instantly. "What can I do for you?"
"Plenty, I'm sure." Catherine's eyes widened in surprise. "However, I was one of the officers that secured the scene at your B&E, but I was called away before you arrived."
"Yes. I do need you. Let's take this to interview room three, shall we?" Catherine suggested with a finely arched, flirtatiously raised eyebrow.
"Of course." Dana motioned for Catherine to precede her.
Nick and Warrick watched the exchange with interest.
"You know Nicky, something very sexy just happened right there."
Later that same day…
Sara frowned as she wandered into the break room in search of coffee a little later, Greg in tow behind her.
"Where is everyone?" She wondered out loud while measuring coffee grounds.
"Grissom is with the Sheriff. Nick clocked out and Catherine is interviewing that new uniform from daylight about her B&E." Warrick supplied easily.
"You mean the hottie on days?" Greg piped in, taking over the coffee making process.
"I'm sure she has a name, Greg." Sara chided.
"Yeah, Beautiful, Mother of my children…"
"Dream on, Pal." Warrick laughed.
The three CSIs settled down immediately as Grissom entered with purpose.
"How are your cases coming along?" Grissom polled as he placed his empty coffee mug into the sink.
"Greg and I are working on footprints from that department store robbery. Greg found a good set in the air duct." Warrick praised the CSI in-training.
"Nice catch, Greg. Sara?"
"I'm all done with my B&E." Grissom cocked his head to one side, prompting her to continue. "The butler did it." Sara finished with a shrug.
"Really?" Greg gulped.
"No, but the live in Nanny did." Sara admitted with humor. "Found the stolen loot in her bedroom."
"Well done. In that case, Sara, want to come with me?" Grissom baited mischievously.
"Always." The automatic response, slipped out before Sara could stop it.
Grissom raised a challenging eyebrow, while the corners of his mouth inched upwards.
"I meant, I'm always up for overtime." Sara corrected, willing her face not to flush but she could already feel the heat rising.
"Well then, let's not waste another moment. Shall we?"
Sara blushed further when Grissom held out a hand in an exaggerated gesture of gallantry.
"Of course." Caught up in the rare playful moment, Sara obligingly grasped Grissom's hand and gave into his gentle tug. "Where are we going?"
"To see some bugs about a man."
"Cool!"
"I don't get it." Greg whined once he and Warrick were alone.
"What don't you get, Son?"
"What do women see in Grissom? 'Always?' Give me a break already! For a minute, I felt like a voyeur."
Warrick laughed out loud. "Jealous much?"
CSI Break room, Two shifts later…
"Damn it!" Sara swore, shaking then kicking the soda machine. She was beginning her third shift and was in serious need of caffeine. Sara's mind was still soaring from spending the day with Grissom, although be it over a dead body, but her body was starting to crash from the prolonged euphoria and lack of sleep.
"You know, you could go to jail for defacing government property." A voice warned from behind her.
"Yeah, well this machine should be dismantled for all the stealing it's been doing. That was the last of my change."
"Then allow me to buy you a drink, Ms.?"
Sara finally turned around. "Sidle. Sara Sidle."
"Dana Karlin."
Neither woman offered the other their hand.
"What's your pleasure?"
"Uh…hmmm…Diet Coke."
Dana nodded, deposited coins into the machine, extracted the can and offered it to Sara.
"So, you're Dana Karlin? Senator's daughter, former Marine, Ex-FBI, Stanford graduate with the best distance shot this side of the Mississippi River." Sara described in mock amazement as she accepted her soda.
"Yeah, but I prefer Dana. Flows a lot easier off of the tongue. And you're Sara Sidle?" Dana parroted back teasingly. "Harvard graduate. Theoretical Physics. The infamous Dr. Gil Grissom's protégé. Dazzled San Francisco with your unrelenting drive and unique investigative style. Personally invited to work here in Las Vegas by one previously mentioned, Dr. Grissom. You have the highest solve rate in one of the best Forensic Labs in the country, second only to the FBI's Quantico."
The two women studied one another then burst into laughter.
"I guess our reputations precede us." Sara acknowledged.
"I guess so."
"Just call me Sara." Sara suggested, this time extending her hand in greeting.
"Sounds good, as long as you call me Dana." Dana returned, accepting Sara's hand in a genuine grasp.
Both knew they had found a friend.