Thanks for reading / reviewing! I really appreciate it. I promise this will become a Catherine/Sara story in due time.
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Sara
I pulled my jacket closer around myself as I leaned against my SUV, boot clad foot pressing back against the door. November in Nevada was unpredictable, but this year had been especially cold. My lips felt slightly chapped, hair full of static on the best of days. I'm not sure my California bred body (or soul, for that matter) would ever entirely adjust to the desert.
With all of the trace evidence from our scene this morning being processed, and the rest of it logged in, Grissom had in no uncertain terms told Catherine and I to take the evening off. In typical fashion we had brushed this off and remained stationed at the evidence table, examining shoe impressions quietly until he came back with eyebrows raised and a lecture on the tip of his tongue.
I knew that we could usually argue our way out of this, but Catherine by this point seemed to have little strength left for fighting, and honestly I wanted to know that she was getting some much needed rest.
Also, I had a date.
Was it a date? That was probably a strong word to use. A get together? That suggests more than just the two of us. A meeting?
Yeah, the breathy invitation to get drinks with her a few weeks after straddling you topless on her couch would definitely be considered a meeting… please fucking relax
I rolled my eyes at myself, reaching into my back pocket to grab my pack of smokes. It had clearly been a while since I had been interested in anyone. A few dates here and there over the past year, more than a few meaningless hook-ups. The dating pool of Vegas was quite small, if the fact that I was having drinks with a co-worker was any indication.
"I never took you for the type"
I glanced up to see the blonde approaching in typical hip-sway saunter, gesturing towards the cigarette in my hand.
I shrugged, offering her a smile before taking a quick drag
"Tough few months" I explained simply
A tight black jacket was wrapped around her frame, jeans hugging slim legs, heeled boots bringing her up almost to my height. Her loose hair fell over one shoulder, bright eyes accented with a touch of dark liner. She looked gorgeous and I felt a hint of a smile pull at my lips, a little surer of myself.
She didn't hesitate in stepping into my personal space, eyes meeting mine as her hand reached out to take the cigarette from me, fingertips brushing mine lightly. She held it effortlessly between slim fingers, bringing it up to her lips to take a drag, turning her head to slowly exhale a breath of smoke.
She handed it back, glancing at the run down diner behind us, cocking an eyebrow and nodding towards the building
"Really?"
I smiled, dropping the remainder of my smoke on the ground, putting it out with the toe of my boot
"I know it looks like a dive, but I promise you'll enjoy it. They have beer on tap"
She smiled, eyes meeting mine in amusement
"Say no more"
/
She chose a corner booth by the window, observing what seemed like every inch of the place as she sat down- old style diner stools, pale blue curtains right out of the 50's. A large, older woman with immaculately permed hair and an air of general disinterest dropped a couple of menu's in front of us, lipstick the same pale pink as her uniform, a name tag with RUTH typed in large black letters.
"I had you pegged as more of the seedy bar type" she commented, leaning back against the pastel booth to focus on me. I raised my eyebrows at her, searching her blue eyes in question.
"I mean, in a sexy way" she elaborated, a light blush creeping onto her cheeks as she glanced down at the menu with a half smile.
"Don't discount the sexiness of old school diners" I replied with a smirk, motioning over at Ruth in reference
"Sexy uniforms, an evening buffet, cozy corner booths…" I listed off huskily as she chuckled, shaking her head lightly
"Whatever does it for you" she teased, the feel of her ankle hooking gently around my lower leg surprising me, blue eyes glancing up from her menu to meet mine steadily. There it was, her typical unwavering confidence that once again had me desperately wondering how long we were going to keep up this dance. Her foot slid up ever so slightly, and that was all the answer I needed.
"Stop trying to peg down my type" I told her, smile pulling at my lips.
The diner was a frequent morning stop for me- perfect for an after shift breakfast, or beer, depending on the day. I glanced around the familiar space, curious of the kind of company this place kept at 5 pm on a Tuesday.
A couple dressed in full leather that I presumed owned the two Harleys outside were eating a breakfast special in silence. A college kid with chemistry books spread out in front of him, deeply focused, half drank beer resting loosely in his hand. In a booth across the room there was a group of young teenagers laughing loudly, an array of soft drinks scattered across the table, sharing a plate of fries. It was by chance that I glanced at the kid closest to the isle- long blonde hair, azure blue eyes. I felt my chest tighten, keeping my eyes on her for a long moment, just to be sure.
She glanced up at me briefly, eyes passing over us before they flew back, locking with mine widely. I watched her curse quietly, saying something to the boy next to her. He looked up at me, smile fading immediately as he reached for what looked like a bottle of some sort that was tucked into the seat next to him, throwing it into his backpack in a far from discrete attempt at concealing it.
I looked back over at the blonde who was glancing over the menu, leg comfortably intertwined with mine. The V of her dark shirt that had been hidden by her jacket revealed just enough cleavage to distract me for a few long moments, the knowledge that I was going to have to cut this short excruciating.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I have to go deal with something" I told her, glancing back at Lindsay to make sure she hadn't bolted. Sofia looked up at me in question, following my line of vision over to the table of kids
"It's Catherine's daughter Lindsay. They're drinking- I've got to make sure she gets home"
She sighed, dropping the menu and pulling her leg back, offering me a sympathetic smile.
"Go, I'll deal with the rest of them. But you owe me a drink" she mused, sliding out of the booth.
I shot her a final apologetic look before heading over to the table.
Lindsay straightened up, folding her hands on the table in front of her, impressively good at hiding her nerves.
"Hey Lindsay, mind if I have a word with you?" I asked, though my stern gaze didn't hold much of a question. She hesitated for a moment, probably weighing her options before rolling her eyes, saying something under her breath to the guy beside her as she slid out of the booth, following me over to another table near the door.
"I'm just hanging out with friends, I'm doing nothing wrong" she stated defensively, crossing thin arms over her chest as she sat down across from me. I could see Catherine in everything from her defensive stance to the flash of anger through her identically bright eyes. This is just fantastic.
"Really? So if I looked in your friends backpack I wouldn't find any alcohol?"
"You can't just search peoples bags for no reason- I know our rights" she shot back. I sighed impatiently, sitting forward
"Look Lindsay, there are a lot of things I would rather be doing right now than this, but your mom is a friend and I can't just look the other way"
She snorted, leaning back against her chair "Please, I know that my mom is not your friend"
I frowned, gesturing over at the table where her friends sat
"In a minute detective Curtis is going to be talking to your friends. Now you can either get a ride with her down to the station to deal with Brass and have your mom come in on her night off, or you can let me take you home. Your choice"
She furrowed her brow in frustration, the freckles scattered across her nose a reminder of the seven year old that used to ask me endless science questions, listening to my words intently as she shared granola bars with me in the break room.
I sighed, leaning forward to look at her with kinder eyes
"Look, I know that you think this is just harmless fun, but you're 13 Lindsay, and this is downtown Las Vegas. I don't even feel safe wandering around here without my gun. Will you please let me take you home?"
She held my gaze for a few moments before sighing, rolling her eyes, but nodding in agreement.
I called Catherine from outside the car, listening to a mouthful of choice expletives patiently, eyes on Lindsay who eyed me warily from the passenger seat.
"Is she mad?" she asked timidly as I crawled into the car, glancing over at her hugging her backpack absently. I sighed, thinking through my words before nodding simply
"Yeah, she is"
She dropped her blonde head back against the headrest with a dramatic sigh as I pulled out of the parking lot.
/
Catherine greeted us at the front door, glass of red wine in hand. She gave Lindsay a mouthful, reaching out to grab my wrist gently as I moved to slip away unnoticed mid lecture. She sent her upstairs with a promise of a conversation in the morning before turning her attention to me.
"Sara, thank you" she breathed, leaning back against the doorframe tiredly
"It's no problem Cat" I answered with a sympathetic smile
"Come in for a drink?" She asked, and I could tell it wasn't her first glass- if not by the invitation itself, then by the heavy lidded gaze she currently had fixed on me.
Even in her pajamas she looked gorgeous- a black jumper that flowed around bare feet, a sharp contrast against her pale skin, V-neck leaving little to the imagination. Her red waves fell loosely around her shoulders, bright eyes looking up from beneath side swept bangs.
By the time I met her eyes again she had a slight smirk on her lips, wine glass resting loosely in hand. I cleared my throat lightly, looking away with a pursed lip smile. Don't even go there.
"I should really go…" I spoke, realizing I had nothing to follow that with. Go where? Home? Those four walls were suffocating.
"Got a hot date?" she asked, gesturing vaguely at my form. I may have run a brush through my hair, worn something a little nicer than what I usually wear to the lab. I had even thrown on some mascara I had found drying out in the back of my bathroom cabinet for good measure. I sighed, running a hand through my dark waves
"I could actually use a drink" I told her on second thought, ignoring the question entirely.
She smiled gently, pushing off the door frame to lead me inside.