A/N: Hey! Sorry it took so long... school crap and I lost my first draft of this... anyway I'm BACK! Lol I hope ya'll(hehe I'm so southern... not lmao) enjoy the show!

"So," I say, frowning at the pictures of the second murder. "How do we know it's the same guy?"

Grissom cocked his head, "Well, for starters he drugs them with Rohypnol. And both girls were strangled by hands." He smiled sourly, and then added, "The bruises on their necks that Doc Robbins found, looked to be made from about the same size hand."

"Ah," I say, though the girls' murders aren't a good thing, the information sure is.

Grissom clears his throat and says, looking at me with that look that says he thinks there's something wrong with me, "Cath... about Warrick."

"Grissom," I say, looking him in the eye stubbornly. "I am not going to try to take advantage of the situation between him and Tina. I am only trying to help a friend. Did you see me making a move? My friggin' tongue was not down his throat!" I know I've made a mistake to say those words, right as they come out of my mouth. But I can't take them back.

"Catherine, I wasn't saying that you were, for search of a better word, interfering," he says, looking rather uncomfortable, which pleased me. Why the hell is he trying to make this look like my fault?

Lord, when will this stop! I cry in my mind. I slowly breathe in. And then out.

"I'm sorry Gris," I begin. "I—."

But he cuts me off, by saying, "It's fine Catherine. I know that Rick is your friend and that you want to help. I just want to be clear that that's all. And," he continues as I glare icily at his last words. "I know that I shouldn't suspect you of anything more. I am sorry." He half smiles.

I nod, and smile back. "Apology accepted." We stand for a moment, just smiling and not saying anything.

But the moment is interrupted by Greg and Sara walking into the office. Sara is red in the face and Greg looks like he really wants to say something.

"So," Sara says, and I see her step on Greg's foot purposely to stop him from opening his mouth. "There's more?" I nod, watching Greg curiously.

"Both were killed by the same guy," I add. Grissom nods along, showing his agreement.

"Okay I need Greg to come with me to meet with Doc Robbins," Grissom says. They leave Sara and me alone in the room.

Hey Sar," I turn to her, smiling mischievously. "What was Greg so anxious about?"

She blushes and mutters, "Nothing..."

"Uh-huh," I say, crossing my arms. Thinking back to the earlier incident in the hallway, I add, "Does it have anything to do with a certain Texan?" Which of course, as I knew it would, makes her blush even more. I grin at her and she stares right back, trying hard as hell not to smile. Finally after at least a couple solid minutes, she cracks.

"Fine!" She gasps, and smiles as big as a girl at her senior prom. "It is Nick. He and I... well, we've kinda been, what else can I say... busy." I raise an eyebrow, which asks What kind of "busy"? She laughs, and says, "We're not that far. But, we have gone out a couple times. And actually last night he made us dinner at his house. It was so peaceful and romantic!" She closed her eyes, as if remembering the night's events.

"Okay, girl, spill the details," I say, grinning.

"We didn't have sex. But," she smiles. "We made out for a good part of the night. I can tell you that! I just don't know if we'd feel comfortable going that far... yet." I giggle, and give her a hug.

"That is so great!" I say. "I always knew there was something between you two. And I think you've been a really great friend since... it happened." Crap! I hadn't mentioned Nick's burying to anyone in weeks. I couldn't think about it. Seeing him on the computer screen was like seeing Lindsey raped. He was a son to me, and I just hated seeing him that vulnerable!

I can see tears starting to form in Sara's eyes, and I feel them in my own. We both smile and wipe our tears, and try to forget. It's all in the past.

Just like Warrick and me. That's in the past. I know that inside, my heart is aching. But whether it's from the forcibly forgotten feelings, or from seeing my friend torn inside, I know that I need to think about Rick. And what is in the present for him.

A/N: Like it! See... I haven't made Rick dump Tina! Don't you hate me? Oh I just HAD to add a little SNICKERS... I was hungry! So to speak... i love snickers... but i love cath/rick even more sometimes! Especially the down the drain eppie! OMG WHYYYYYYYYY did they not kiss? Please review! They help me feel loved! Lol and make me want to write more! Oh and I know rohypnol is a "date rape" drug but I'm using it anyway... TBC! -Navaer