Notes: Okay, this was supposed to be the end, but for some reason, I decided to extend it. I seem to be having fun with this story again. Yay:)

--Jacksonville Dreamin' Chapter Five--

"Gil?"

I opened my eyes to find Catherine staring down at me, a half amused, half worried expression on her face.

What? Where was I? Why had she changed clothes again?

"Cath? What happened?"

Apparently she decided I was okay, because the worry melted away, leaving only amusement in its wake.

"You fell asleep."

Oh. So it had been a dream, then. I thought it was. Not that I would have minded if it wasn't... Oh, Catherine's waiting for an answer. It wouldn't really help my cause to arouse her suspicion right now.

"At the bar?"

She smirked at me.

"No, Gil, on the bed with me in some cheap hotel room. YES at the bar! You were staying here while I went to the ladies' room, remember?"

"Oh. Yes, of course. Sorry, I had a momentary lapse there." I said, giving her my most innocent smile, trying my best not to let it turn into a smirk as I recalled my dream. I was seriously hoping my acting skills had improved. No such luck. Her eyes narrowed, and she looked at me suspiciously.

"What?"

The glint in her eyes reminded me of a similar one I had seen during my dream. I remembered the way she pressed up against me when we danced, and I felt the tension growing in areas other than the air between us.

"Gil Grissom, are you smirking at me?"

"No."

Her mouth opened as she stared at me playfully.

"Yes, you are!"

"No, I'm not."

"Why are you looking at me like that!"

She was curious, and having fun, as much as she tried to conceal it. I love it when we are like this. Just me and Catherine, being together,arguing, joking, talking about anything but work.

gcgcgcgc

What on earth is looking at me like that for? Not smirking? Yeah. Right.

Something is up, and I'm going to find out what it is. Okay, I'm a CSI. I just have to examine the evidence. I don't have anything on me for him to be laughing about. It must have been something he was dreaming about, since he just woke up. Well, you are supposed to dream about whatever you were thinking about before you went to sleep. Well, that's a dead end. How the heck should I know what he was thinking? I'm not a mind reader! Wait a second...I cought him staring at my tush when I was walking to the bathroom...

Oh God, what if he was dreaming about me? Oh, this really isn't helping. And he is still staring at me like that.

"What!"

This was really starting to bug me.

"Nothing. Let's go, Cath."

And he stood up, and walked to the door, not even glancing be hind him to see if I had followed.

Well, geez, Gil. Don't be overly concerned or anything.

I followed him, of course, but something was still up. But I got the feeling that I was not going to know what it was unless he volunteered the information.

Which I very much doubt he will.

Which is bad, because it's going to be driving me crazy.

"Come on, Gil. Please?"

We had climbed into the Denali by now, and Gil was driving.

I could see half a smile on his lips, but he continued ignoring me.

"If I guess, will you tell me?"

"Maybe."

Damn him. He was enjoying this way too much! At least I finally got an answer; I'm not used to him having th upper hand. That priviledge is usually reserved for me.

"Were you dreaming about me?" I hated to sound self-centered, but that was the only thing I could think of to explain his behavior.

"Yes."

What? Did he just answer me? Instead of feeling relieved and triumpant, as I should have, I only felt let down.

Which was ridiculous, because I had not been having fun. I had been annoyed. Okay, so I might have been having a little fun...

But he was dreaming about me? That finally registered. But as soon as I was about to ask him about it, we were at the hotel.

We opened the doors in unison, and climbed out without a word.

Throwing him a teasing smile as we reached our seperate hotel rooms, I decided to flirt a little. I mean, what's wrong with that? I love having fun with him. And, of course, it would always be nice to gain the upper hand again...

"So, you dreamed about me, huh? Was it a good dream?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

Woah, did Gil Grissom just flirt back at me? Okay, this was a new game.

"Why yes, I would."

"I never thought of you as one to be so vain, Catherine. Dreams are very personaly things; you should not ask one to share them, just to hear about yourself."

Thankfully, it was very obvious he was teasing, or I might have become offended. But I didn't.

"I'm not vain. Just curious."

"Well, try to hold that curiousity 'til tomorrow. I'm tired."

He said, pushing open the door to his hotel room.

"Good night, Catherine."

"'Night."

I entered my own room, still pondering over my best friend's strange behaviour. Sometimes, I think he will be the death of me. I mean, when that hotel lady had so obviously flirted with him, he hadn't even noticed. But here he was with me, acting like it was a second natuer to him. Even though I knew it wasn't.

Or did I really know?

I needed a shower, and then bed. Gil wasn't the only one that was tired. Maybe I would be able to shed some light on things tomorrow, after a good night's sleep.

But when I stepped into the shower, the water didn't seem to work. I fiddled with the knobs and the shower head for a good two minutes before giving up. There was only one other option, considering I just had to have a shower tonight. I felt disgusting, and still smelled like smoke from the bar. Grabbing my shampoo and soap, and throwing on a bath robe, I stood at the connecting door between our two rooms. Not giving myself time to think about it, I knocked on the door, but received no answer. I waited a few seconds, and then tried again, louder this time.

I hollered at him that I was coming in, and turned the lock.

I opened the door, but stopped, open-mouthed when I found a half naked Gil just coming out of the bathroom, wearing only a brief, white towel.

TBC...