Chapter 7

Over the next few months Casey became a regular fixture, showing up with lunch or sitting in Gils' office with his nose in a book. He easily fit in with the gang, telling his own tales of strange happens which made everyone laugh, but not Sara. Casey struggled to break ground with her, but Sara always kept him at arms length. Casey saw the resentment there and tried desperately to even it out. He could not understand the depth of it. There was so much more between her and Gil and neither one was talking. Still, Sara didn't walk out when he walked in nor was she rude to him. But it ate at Casey's psyche.

On one of rare days Gil took off work Casey suggested that Gil come over and cook for him. Their relationship was going slow, which was fine with both of them. Casey was letting Gil go at his own pace, getting used to being close with someone was hard for him. Casey wasn't feeling at all physical, but they both found comfort in each other's presence. They were content just sharing time and space together, sitting on the sofa together watching movies, reading, it didn't have to be much.

"Gil?" Casey asked while chopping up the ingredients to a Chicken Fricassee.

"Hum?" Gil said, not really looking up from one of his new forensic journals.

"Sara...she's in love with you, isn't she?" Casey said very slowly.

Casey heard the chair squeak as Gil sat up. Casey set the knife down and looked up to face Gil's inquisitive look. His head was cocked to one side and his eyes were scrunched up. "How did you...?"

"It's rather obvious, Gil. The way she looks at you. The way she looks at us. She's jealous, maybe even resentful. Don't tell me you don't know about her feelings towards you."

"She's...made them apparent before. But I don't feel the same. She knows that."

"Have you told her that?"

"Maybe not in those exact words, but I'm sure she understood."

"Gil, it's obvious she's still waiting for you. I don't thinks she got your message."

"Well, there isn't much more I can do."

"You could TALK to her. Really, that's all she wants. She's not sure if you do like her or not. If you haven't told her definitively...she's always going to be holding out."

Gil sighed and removed his glasses. "I just though...it would go away on its own. That with enough time...the problem would take care of itself."

Casey came around the counter and squatted next to Gil by the chair. "Gil, matters of the heart can't be left alone. Like it or not, you need to talk with her. I don't want us to come between your friends. I like Sara. I would really like to have her as a friend. She, I hate to say this, looks like she could use a good friend by her side. She looks like she's been alone a lot in her life."

"Alright, alright. I'll talk to her." Gil relented.

"Soon."

"Soon." Gil agreed.

Casey leaned in and gave him a kiss on the forehead. For a second it was awkward. Casey worried he'd pushed the boundaries. But Gil just smiled at him. Relieved, Casey went back to making dinner.

Casey had quickly bought himself a new house to live in, a nice simple ranch in a good neighborhood, about 10 minutes away from Gil's condo. Casey recognized Gil's need for his own private space, so they rarely were at Gil's. Which suited them both just fine. Although, Casey was thinking it would be nice if Gil would stay over once in a while. He did miss the comfort of having someone else in bed. He'd made sure that the master bath had two sinks and that there was plenty of closet space for two people with large wardrobes.

After dinner, they curled up on the plushy red sofa to watch the movies. Gil was educating Casey on the finer points of classic movies and movie stars. Casey had never heard of Clark Gable or Humphrey Bogart. Tonight's movie was Casablanca and just to amuse Casey, Some Like It Hot.

Gil might have been relaxing on his day off, but Casey was still at work. He had to find a new manager for the band, renegotiate his contract with the record company because he wanted some time off, talk to the band, do interviews, and see if they could find some studio time while he was in Vegas. And with their conflicting schedules, Casey wasn't getting much sleep. He managed to stay awake for Casablanca, but he was sound asleep on Gil shoulder by the middle of Some Like It Hot. This wasn't the first time Casey had fallen asleep during a movie. Gil had gotten used to him falling asleep. He found he actually enjoyed Casey sleeping on his shoulder. The closeness wasn't a bother at all. He found that his arm was around Casey protectively and he had no idea when he'd put it there.

He gently nudged Casey awake after the movie was over.

"Hmmm..." Casey opened an eye. "Hi, stranger," he looked at the tv. "Damn, I really liked that one."

"It's ok, we can watch it again." Gil gave him a small smile.

"Sure." Casey yawned.

"Long day?"

"Yeah. Our schedules not matching aren't making it any better. You on the night shift and me working all day and I'm trying to find time to be with you...I hardly know what time it is anymore... But, it's worth it." Casey added. "I like this. Just you and me and no distractions or obligations."

"It is nice," Gil agreed.

"I wish you didn't have to leave." Casey said, feeling a little more bold. "Maybe...next time you could bring a toothbrush and some clothes and...just stay over?" Casey bit his lip and glanced up hopefully at Gil.

"I think...that it can be arranged."

"Really? You'd be ok with it? I mean, I'm not asking for... I just want you near me."

"So you're ok with us not having sex?"

Casey was very much awake now. "Well, yeah. I'd like us to be closer, but I don't think I'm ready for sex yet."

"You still sometimes flinch when I touch you." Gil said, concerned.

"Do I? I'm sorry. I don't mean to...it's not you..."

"I understand. Have you thought about talking to someone about what happened to you?"

"A shrink? No, no," Casey shook his head, put off by the very idea. He would fix this on his own.

"A support group?"

"I don't need a pity fest, Gil. I'll get through this. On my own. I'll deal with it in my own way and on my own time."

"I didn't mean that you wouldn't. I was just concerned."

"Really?"

"Yes," Gil said with a slight nod.

"Then that makes me happy," Casey said, snuggling close.

Gil had just settled into a peaceful slumber when someone started knocking on his front door and woke him up. He hoped that after a few minutes they would go away, but the knocking persisted so he found his slippers and bathrobe and trudged to the door, blinking blearily at the sunlight. To his surprised it was Casey who stood at his doorstep.

"Casey...what?" He stopped when he saw that Casey was crying.

"I'm so sorry...but I just didn't know what else to do. I..." Casey started to cry again.

Gil moved to the side to let Casey in. Once in Casey collapsed onto Gil's sofa. It was then Gil noted a large vanilla folder in Casey's arms. Gil sat down next to Casey, brows furrowed in confusion and concern. What on earth could have made Casey into this state?

"What is it? What's wrong?" Gil prompted.

Casey sniffled and handed Gil the folder. "This came for me first thing this morning. It's from Julian's probate lawyers. It's his will."

Gil slide out a stack of papers and scanned the opening letter. His eyebrow arched and he looked back at Casey.

"Yeah." Casey nodded, seeing Gil's disbelief. "Can you believe it? I can't. I mean, it's all there in black and white...but it doesn't make it real."

"Did you have any idea...?" Gil asked, looking back down at the paper.

"No. I mean, I knew he has MONEY. But not THAT kind of money."

"And all the properties?" Gil said, reading on.

"Just the ones in San Francisco and New York. Not the ones in Europe."

"And he just gave it all to you in his will?"

Casey nodded. "I thought I was done with him, Gil. I thought it was over. But this...it's like him coming back from the grave! I don't want this! I don't want his money or his houses! I want nothing more to do with him! How could he do this! Why would he! Did he have it all planned? Did he know...?" Casey was nearly hyperventilating.

"Casey, Casey...you need to calm down." Gil put the stack of papers on the coffee table. "Forget about it. For now."

"But how can I...?"

Gil put a finger to Casey's lips. "Shhhh. Come on." Gil took Casey by the hand and stood up.

"Huh?" Casey asked, looking bewildered as Gil lead him back towards his bedroom.

Gil wiped Casey's tears off his cheeks with a finger. "You need sleep. To clear your head."

"Gil, I don't know if I can deal..."

"It's ok, right now you don't have to." Gil wrapped his arms around Casey in a comforting hug. Casey squeezed Gil tight, thankful for the embrace. After a moment he began to relax, resting his head on Gil's shoulder.

Casey smiled and looked up at Gil and something just clicked. They both just moved towards each other. Gil's hand went to Casey's face and cupped his check as their lips met.

Casey felt a thrill run down his back, making his skin tingle. The shock of the moment faded and he relished in the kiss. Gil's lips were soft and he didn't mind the beard, he loved the scrape of it across his skin.

Gil could feel Casey's pulse flutter under the palm of his hand. The warmth of his lips against his was making him light headed. When the kiss ended they both were a little bit breathless. Gil gazed into Casey's eyes which were now bright, tears long gone.

"Thank you," Casey whispered.

"You're welcome," Gil answered back, a little bit flushed.

"I could take the sofa..." Casey suggested, trying to ease this new transition.

"No, no. It's fine. Come on." Gil lead Casey down a darkened hall and into his bedroom. So that's where the TV is, Casey thought.

Casey toed off his shoes and socks and sat them neatly at the foot of the bed. He was hesitant to remove anything else, but wasn't looking forward to sleeping in jeans. "Would you mind if...or could I borrow something? I just really hate sleeping in jeans."

"It'll be fine." Gil said, taking off his robe and his slippers.

Casey scuttled out of his jeans and dashed into the sheets. He tried to make himself relax and for the life of him, he couldn't. He felt Gil settle into the bed next to him.

"You're so tense...are you shaking?" Gil asked in surprise.

"I'm sorry, I don't know why..." Casey felt on the verge of tears.

Gil shifted again to his side, "Come here."

Casey gladly turned into Gil's embrace. He just remembered to breathe. Gil's gentle touch on his back helped calm him down.

"Better?" Gil asked after he felt Casey's body relax and his breathing even out.

"Yes, god, thank you."

"Think you can sleep now?"

"Uh—huh," came a sleepy reply.

Catherine had managed to drop Lindsey off at school and was deep asleep when her cell phone rang. Cursing she rolled over, turned on the bedside lamp and picked it up, looking at the caller ID. It was Brass. Not good news. She'd only been asleep for a few hours according to the clock on the cover of the phone.

"Jim? What's up?"

"Sorry, Catherine, I know you just went to sleep, but we've got multiple bodies in the river near Henderson. I've tired calling Gil, but no answer. We need you both out here. I'm going to have to ask you to go by his place and get him."

Catherine sighed. "Sure, great." She scribbled down the directions and snapped the phone shut. What a great way to start the day.

Twenty minutes later she was briskly walking up Gils's front walk. Brass was right, Gil wasn't answering his phone. "Damnit, Gil," she muttered as she knocked on his door. She waited impatiently, tapping her foot on the concrete. When the door opened she didn't really register who it was at first. "Gil, what—. Oh. Hi." Her eyes went a bit wide and she put her sunglasses on the top of her head.

"Hi, Catherine." Casey said. It wasn't the fact that Casey was at Gil's house that shocked her, it was what Casey was wearing, or wasn't as it appeared to be. He was wearing one of Gil's shirts that covered him with just enough modesty and a pair of socks.

"Hello, Casey. Ah, is Gil in?"

"He's in the shower."

Catherine eyed his wet hair.

"Oh, no, no, no. I took one first. Uh, please come in."

"Thank you," she edged past him.

"Do you want some coffee?"

"That'd be great. I just got a call from Brass. We're needed stat."

Casey looked a bit guilty. "That was you on the phone?"

"Yes."

"Gil told me not to answer it."

"Why am I not surprised. Well, at least he's up."

"Here you go," Casey set a big mug of fresh coffee in front of her. "I'll go hurry him along."

Catherine couldn't help but check out Casey ass as he went to get Gil. Lucky man, she thought. She heard voices coming from the down the hall, "Are those my socks!", was all she could make out. She couldn't help but grin.

Five minutes later both Casey and Gil emerged. Gil has his kit in one hand and sunglasses and hat in another. "Don't forget..." Gil nodded towards the coffee table and Casey went to retrieve a large stack of paper and a vanilla folder.

"Ready?" She asked, unable to keep that grin off her face.

"Yep." Gil said.

"Call me when you're free, ok?" Casey said, slipping the stack of papers into the folder.

"Only if you promise me you'll call them," Gil said, indicating the papers with glance.

"Yes, I will." Much to Gil's embarrassment they exchanged a quick kiss and headed out. "Hey, Catherine, we need to hang out sometime!"

"All right..." she said with a small smile.

"Casey, you wouldn't..." Gil said.

"Hey, she's a friend. I gotta have someone I can kiss and tell too. Not that there is MUCH to kiss and tell about, mind you." With a quick wave he ducked into his car and drove off.

"Oh, I'm going to LOVE this drive." Catherine said.

Gil looked apprehensive.