Author's Notes

Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, giving such nice compliments, and thank you in particular to the many people who answered my question about Ecklie :)

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"I still can't believe you talked me into that."

Catherine raised her eyebrows at Sara's petulant comment. "You seemed to enjoy it. You certainly look a whole lot less stressed."

She did. Her posture was far more relaxed than it had been for days. And she had to admit that she had had a good time. Her hand crept up to her shoulder, which still felt slightly damp from the oils used during the massage.

However, she couldn't help complaining. "I'm practically falling asleep now. I'm about to start my shift, and all I want to do is lie down and close my eyes again."

"That's what caffeine's for." Catherine's distinctly unsympathetic words made Sara smile; her characteristic gesture of amusement where the two sides of her mouth pulled towards the middle.

"Catherine?"

"Uh huh?"

"Thanks. For everything."

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Sara was walking out of Grissom's – her – office on the way to give out the team's assignments when Ecklie called out her name. She paused, turning to greet him.

"Sara, I just wanted to let you know that they all apologised."

"Good."

Ecklie hesitated for a second, then continued, "I know you've dealt with them, and as their supervisor you have the right to do it however you wish, but you do need to make sure that it's added to their records. That kind of insubordination…"

Calm, Sara. Remember the massage. Nice, loose muscles. "Okay."

Ecklie nodded, turned away from her. "I'll just, um, leave you to start your shift."

As she left, he couldn't help turning back towards her, watching her as she walked down the hallway leading to the break room. It occurred to him with a slight shock that he was attracted to her.

Where did that come from? A couple of days ago you couldn't even stand her.

He didn't dwell on it however. She was a smart, gorgeous woman; it wasn't that surprising that he found her appealing. Besides, it wasn't like he'd ever have a chance. Ecklie may have had his faults, but he wasn't stupid.

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From further down the corridor, Grissom had overheard their conversation. He wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. Who had been insubordinate? On the way into the lab he had passed a couple of people gossiping by the locker room, and had heard Ecklie's name mentioned, but as usual he had chosen to ignore it. Office gossip was hardly his thing.

But if this concerned Sara… and more than just Sara. It seemed like some of his people – her people, presently – were in trouble, and Ecklie of all people had got involved. What had happened? This was certainly not turning out to be a great first supervisory experience for his friend.

His friend. What was she, anyway? She was his friend, surely; they'd known each other long enough, kept in touch for years before she came to work for him. But things were never quite that easy. They were co-workers too, and she had been his student. And… she had been more than that, if he admitted it to himself. Never in actual fact. Never baring the title of 'girlfriend' or 'lover'. In his mind, though… he cared, deeply. And he knew she cared for him just as strongly, maybe more so. Unfortunately, sometimes that got in the way of their friendship. Occasionally, he felt closer to her than he had ever felt to any other person in his life. At other times, no one had ever felt further away.

Potential for loving her.

The thought resurfaced, a reminder of his musings the previous day. He seemed to be spending more and more time lately on thoughts like these. Jumbled thoughts, not quite comprehensible. Thoughts about her.

Shaking his head to clear it, he entered the break room to find out what crimes he and the rest of the team would be investigating that night.

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A/N

It may be because it's past midnight and I've currently got an attack of the giggles, but I came very close to attempting a short one-off Sara-Ecklie fic just to see if I could do it. I wanted to describe the reactions of all the other CSI's to seeing them kissing madly in the corridor. However, I think I'm too scared that you'd all immediately get on planes to Liverpool with the sole purpose of throwing rotten tomatoes at me.

Don't worry; if I decide to put any romance into Role Reversals, it will be GSR.