Title: Realisations Of A Hangover 3

Author: neo-chef

Pairing: Catherine/Sara

Rating: PG for now later on who knows…

Spoilers: anything is fair game

Archive: let me know and it can go anywhere

Disclaimer: If they were mine, I wouldn't have the time or the energy to write about them…

A.N. Once again, thank you to all for the kind feedback and interest in my story. Sorry it took a little longer for this chapter, a minor case of writer's block and a couple of rewrites will do that.

Chapter 3

------

"Morning Sara, did you sleep well?"

'Crap.'

'Catherine.'

'She doesn't sound angry; this could be a good sign. But then again, she is sometimes like this right before she tries to bite my head off for something. Eye contact… Yeah, lets try some eye contact first.'

Sara spun around to lock her gaze with the fathomless depths of the blue eyes before her.

------

The drinks were flowing at 'Tease'. The assembled CSIs were quite enjoying their Christmas-In-July excuse to have a few drinks. Nick and Warrick had travelled back and forth the both the dance floor and the bar a number of times. Greg had been toured the room, unsuccessfully trying bad pick up lines on a number of the women. Catherine had become the attention of a group of men on the far side of the dance floor, who had tried to persuade her to join them to dance.

Meanwhile Sara, still sitting in the corner of the booth had been slowly ploughing her way through several beers adding the collection that her colleagues had created on the table. This wasn't really her scene; Sara was more a 'pub rather than club' kind of girl. However, spending time close to Catherine, who had barely moved from her side in the last couple of hours, while excruciatingly painful on her libido, had proved fun. The women had finally had a chance to discuss things outside the realm of work and Lindsay, and they were thoroughly enjoying themselves. The ladies, as with the rest of the nightshift crew, were starting to get slightly drunk, a rare occurrence on a usual work night.

Sara had enjoyed sneaking looks at Cath as the older CSI looked out over the rest of the club. She was glad that the blonde had commented on her outfit earlier at the lab. She had worn those pants especially for Cath. Given the time it took to get them on; she was hoping to get a response. And not just from Greg who would compliment Sara if she was wearing a potato sack.

"I'm glad that you came out tonight Sara. Honestly, it wouldn't have been as fun without you," said Catherine, as she was looking into her beer bottle.

Sara turned so her back was flat against the wall to regard her co-worker. She was known for being a social outsider but for work get-togethers like this she always tried to make an effort. "Thanks Cath. I have had a good night so far, despite you trying to kill me earlier," replied Sara with a smile.

"Yeah sorry about that, I was just having a little fun. Sorry it had to be at your expense."

"Well you could have done it to Greg and I'm sure he would have enjoyed just as much as me." Sara's drink addled mind went over what she had just said. By the time she realised how it sounded, a blush was already creeping up her neck.

With a laugh, Catherine leaned into Sara. "I 'could' have done it to Greg, but I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much though." By now the blush was making a mad dash over Sara's face. With a groan, the chocolate haired CSI buried her face in her hands. Cath burst out into a fit of giggles at her younger associates obvious discomfort. "Would you like another beer Sar?"

"Yeah please." 'Anything to stop you torturing me for a minute,' added Sara in her mind. In Catherine's absence, Sara took the time to watch her male counterparts try their luck on the dance floor. Nick was quietly talking to a young blonde off to one side of the floor, Warrick had earned the attention of a dark haired woman as she had her arms wrapped around his neck as they danced slowly. Looking around for Greg she spied him gesturing wildly in front of a young woman at the bar. Sara started to get up to stop Greg making a complete ass of himself, but stopped as the woman burst out laughing, then looped her arm through Greg's before being escorted to the dance floor.

A smile graced Sara's lips as she settled back into the seat but it slowly faded, as she was the only one currently without a partner. Well her and Catherine anyway. Looking slightly dejected at that thought, she twirled her empty beer bottle around on the table wondering about her night. Before she could become too introspective, Cath reappeared with two fresh beers. A smile from Catherine as she sat down brought a smile back to Sara's lips too.

As she was taking her first sip of her new beer she spotted one of the guys who had his eye on Cath, travelling across the floor towards their booth. "Hey beautiful, care to join me on the dance floor." A poor pick-up line paired with an apparent suave smile only earned him a disinterested look from Cath as she turned back to Sara with a roll of her eyes. Not to be dissuaded, the guy tried again. "Come on baby, don't you want some of this?"

This time her grabbed Catherine's shoulder to spin her around. 'No one touches my Catherine,' Sara was about to get up and flatten the guy when, apart from being confused by her own thoughts, Cath spoke up first.

"No thanks, I've already got some of this." Cath slowly leaned back into Sara and wrapped Sara's arms about your waist.

Getting over her momentary shock, Sara continued, "Yeah and if you don't mind, we're busy."

Watching as the man walked away, muttering under his breath, the two CSI stayed in their current position. Catherine enjoying the close contact with Sara and Sara still too shocked to move. Feeling the strong arms tense as she shifted slightly, Catherine realised what she had just done to Sara. Pulling away and spinning around, Cath locked eyes with the brunette. "Geez Sara, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you in that position."

Sara, trying to slow down her rapid heart rate, took a couple a deep breaths and a long swig of her beer. "Its ok Cath," with a smile teasing the corner of her mouth, "There are some other positions you can put me in."

------

Sara tried to decipher the emotions playing in Catherine's eyes. "I slept really well, Thanks."

Catherine didn't seem upset or angry, she actually seemed quite calm.

"Saaaaaarrrrraaaaaa!" A blonde ball of energy flew into the room rapid attaching itself to Sara's legs.

"Lindsay! Let go of Sara's legs."

"But Mom, you said I only had to wake until she was awake."

A smile played at Catherine lips as she locked eyes with Sara "Yes, but Sara had a long night and she is probably still tired."

A blush once again reddened Sara's face as she buried her head in her hands.

------

TBC…