A few weeks later …

Mark and Sara are in the basement playing pool. Sara and Nancy just got back from their first trip together.

Mark taking a shot asks, "So was this your first trip to Lake Tahoe?"

Sara takes a sip of her beer and replies, "Yeah actually it was."

Mark lining up his next shot asks, "Did you get to see any of it or were you otherwise engaged?"

Sara shakes her head and smiles then says, "We got to see plenty of it, but trust me there was a lot of that going on too."

Mark misses his shot and responds, "I just can't believe you beat Catherine and I with going away somewhere. I thought for sure we'd have a getaway before you and Nancy."

Sara chuckles taking her shot and says, "It's not a competition you know."

Mark rolls his eyes and responds, "I know that. I was just talking."

Sara straightens up and faces Mark and says, "I think the more important question is what are we doing for your birthday?"

Mark laughs and says, "I think getting through tomorrow is more important."

Sara says, "Ah yeah Valentine's Day. Aren't you and Cath working?"

Mark responds, "Yeah but just because we're stuck at work doesn't mean we can find a few moments to celebrate."

Sara asks, "What could you possibly have planned at the lab that is romantic?"

Mark looks up from his shot towards Sara and replies, "Ah ye of little faith, it's not always about the setting you know. It's that Cath and I will be together that's the important thing. What are you and Nancy doing?"

Sara replies, "Well I'm working too so that's what the Lake Tahoe trip was about. I may have to spy on you at work though to see what you have up your sleeves."

Mark smiles and takes a sip of his beer and jokes, "Planning on taking more pages from my book?"

Sara playfully pushes Mark and responds, "Obviously!"

The next day in the break room …

Sara is putting cream in her coffee when she asks, "You're not even going to give me a little hint?"

Mark just smiles and shakes his head.

Sara whines, "Come on it's not like I'm going to tell her!"

Mark chuckles and responds as he walks out of the room, "No I'm having way more fun not telling you."

Sara yells as he walks out of the room, "Ass!"

Hodges comes into the break room as if on cue and says, "You know I might be able to help you out with your predicament."

Sara sighs an asks, "Oh what do you know about it?"

Hodges raise his eyebrows and smirks and responds, "Oh just something I may have overheard the other day between Grissom and Mark about this surprise."

Sara laughs and walks out of the room saying, "Grissom? Grissom involved in a Valentine's Day surprise? Hodges I think you're losing your gossiping powers."

Hodges is left in the room by himself and says aloud to himself, "You know when you have actual information around here no one listens."

Nick walks in the break rooms and says, "Hodges are you talking to yourself? You're acting weirder than normal."

Hodges huffs out of the room saying, "Well I'm apparently the only one that listens!"

About an hour later Sara is in a lab going over some evidence. She looks up and she sees Mark walking by Grissom's office and giving him a thumbs up. She thinks to herself how odd that was and then realizes that Hodges may have had actual information. She puts away what she was working on and heads to the trace lab.

Sara sees Hodges looking something up on the computer and says, "Ok I want what information you have."

Hodges turns his chair towards her and says, "Oh now you want my information! I thought my information wasn't believable!"

Sara sighs and says, "I may have seen something to confirm your story."

Hodges says, "No I'm not giving it to you now!"

Sara gets inches from Hodges as says, "If you don't tell me I'll just tell Wendy about all the kissy faces you've been making at her across the lab."

Nick sees Sara threatening Hodges through the glass wall and decides to see what's up.

Just as Nick walks in Hodges holds up his hands and says, "Ok just don't hurt me!"

Nick speaks up making his presence known, "What is going on guys?"

Sara turns her head to look at Nick and says, "Hodges claimed he had some information earlier about Mark's Valentine's Day surprise that he's doing here."

Nick interrupts and says, "Wait I realize they are both working tonight, but really? That's not very romantic."

Sara chuckles and continues, "That's what I said but he assured me whatever it is, is in fact romantic. But Mark won't tell me what it is and he has been teasing me since yesterday. So after Mark leaves the break room this morning Hodges walks in and says he has information. He says he overheard Mark talking to Grissom about this."

Nick says, "Wait. Grissom? A Valentine's surprise?"

Sara chuckles again and responds, "Also my reaction. I walked out of the room and left him there."

Nick looks at Hodges as says, "That's what you were babbling about when I walked in the break room earlier."

Hodges nods.

Sara continues, "So I was just working on some evidence in the lab across from Grissom's office and I swear I saw Mark walk by and giving Grissom a thumbs up."

Sara turns to Hodges looking at him expectantly.

Hodges puts his gossip face on and says, "So the other day I was walking by Grissom's office and Mark was in there asking Grissom if he could decorate part of the roof so he and Catherine could have a romantic meal up there today. Grissom said of course it's a big deal for you to do something this elaborate for Catherine you know her past has been as awesome as yours, it's about time someone treats her right. And this part I'm not 100 percent on but I'm certain Grissom said something about forever. I think he's going to propose to her tonight!"

Sara looks at Hodges and shakes her head and says, "No way! If Mark was proposing he would've told me about it, I'm like his best friend in Vegas!"

Hodges retorts, "Just like he told you about his plans for tonight?"

Sara rolls her eyes and says, "Ok fine maybe it's a possibility."

Hodges looks like a kid on Christmas morning.

Nick asks, "What's with that look?"

Hodges explains, "Well I have this plan. I figure Mark and Catherine will be using the main stairwell to the roof. However, there is a section of roof that has the skylight."

Nick says, "Yeah with no way to it."

Hodges gives Nick a stern look and continues, "Well I was going to tell you before I was so rudely interrupted! I was thinking we take the wide rolling ladder, as it will be wide enough for all of us, and we can check it out for ourselves."

Nick looks at Sara who seems to be on board with this and they look back at Hodges.

Hodges says, "Well come on we better get going. I'm assuming that if Mark walked by with a thumbs up that is some kind of sign."

Grissom walks down the hallway and into Catherine's office.

Grissom excitedly says, "Catherine I need your help!"

Catherine takes her glasses off and sits them on her desk and responds, "Oh God this has to do with bugs doesn't it?"

Grissom still in the door way says, "Of course! I found a beautiful Neoscona crucifera on the roof and I need your help. I hope it's still there and hasn't scurried off!"

Catherine reluctantly gets up from her desk and follows Grissom and says, "You know I've done more bug favors for you over the years than I care to."

Grissom says, "I think you'll like this one."

Catherine exhales and responds, "Grissom I have never enjoyed any bug favor I've done for you over the years."

Grissom opens the door to the roof and holds it open for Catherine then says, "Oh trust me on this one."

Catherine walks through the door and responds, "You owe me …", she tapers off as she sees the roof decorated in string lights, candles and flowers. Mark is also standing in front of a table set up with a romantic dinner for two. He is wearing a tuxedo and holding a single red rose.

Catherine turns back to Grissom and he simply smiles and says, "I told you.", he closes the door to leave them alone.

Hodges is rolling the ladder under the skylight with Nick and Sara in tow. He locks it in place and starts to head up with Nick and Sara following close behind.

Once they all get up on the platform Sara says, "Hodges get off me."

He looks at her and responds, "Where would you like me to go? Besides this was my idea."

Sara pushes him slightly and says, "Just keep your hands to yourself."

Nick reprimands them and says, "Will you two stop it and focus on our mission! I'd prefer not to fall off of this ladder!"

The three of them look through the skylight and see the beautiful scene laid out before them.

Hodges pipes up and asks, "Do you believe me now?"

Sara not taking her eyes off Mark and Catherine replies, "Let's just watch."

Catherine is in awe. She can't believe all of the trouble Mark went through to give her a perfect Valentine's Day even though they were both stuck at the lab.

Mark walks towards her and hands her the rose and gives her a kiss and says, "Happy Valentine's Day."

Catherine pulls away from him and says, "Wow you may have outdone yourself this time."

Mark leads her to the table and pulls her chair out for her so she can sit down. He takes the silver cover off her plate to reveal chicken lo mein.

Catherine asks, "Is this from Kung Fu?"

Mark walks around to his seat and as he's taking a seat replies, "Of course! I would not get you Chinese from anywhere else."

While they are eating Catherine asks, "How did you convince Gris to let you do this?"

Mark laughs and replies, "You know once you get a medal around here it seems no one questions what you want to do anymore."

Catherine chuckles lightly.

Mark continues, "Seriously though I went to talk to him and he said of course he would help because he's never seen you this happy and he says you deserve every bit of this."

Catherine takes a sip of water and says, "Yeah he's seen me through more of my relationship scars than anyone so I can definitely see him saying that. Did you ask for help from anyone else?"

Mark shakes his head and responds, "No. You know how that rumor mill flows around here. Sara knows something is going on but I didn't tell her what. Grissom seemed like the best option because 1) no one would peg him for helping and 2) he had the best chance of not squealing."

Catherine laughs and says, "Yeah he lured me up here telling me he needed help with some kind of bug. Did you two come up with that?"

Mark laughs and responds, "I definitely had nothing to do with that. I'll have to thank him for throwing you that much off course though."

Nick is coming back up the ladder, he left to go to the bathroom and asks, "Did I miss anything?"

Sara responds, "No.", she looks at Hodges and says, "I'm starting to think this is a wild goose chase they are just eating dinner. I think if he was going to propose it would've happened by now."

Hodges defends himself saying, "No. You don't give all the good stuff away in the beginning."

Nick laughs and asks, "And how many times have you proposed?"

Hodges retorts, "Just because I haven't proposed doesn't mean I haven't thought about it."

Sara jabs, "Oh yeah are you planning a nerdy proposal to Wendy?"

Hodges just rolls his eyes in response.

Music is softly playing in the background and Catherine says, "Oh I love John Mayer."

Mark gets up from the table and takes her hand to dance and responds, "Oh I know. I put a lot of time and work in on this playlist."

The song is playing in the background, It's not a silly little moment It's not the storm before the calm This is the deep and dyin' breath of This love we've been workin' on.

Catherine wraps her arms around Mark's neck and looks at him and says, "You know this means I have to go all out for your birthday tomorrow right?"

Mark smiles and says, "Of course! That's why I did it!"

Catherine sticks her tongue out in response.

Mark laughs and says, "No seriously just spending my birthday with you will be a present enough."

Catherine lays her head on Mark's shoulder enjoying the dance.

I was the one you always dreamed of You were the one I tried to draw How dare you say it's nothing to me Baby, you're the only light I ever saw.

Sara sighs and says, "Hodges nothing is happening and I don't have all night to stand here. If he proposes we'll find out later."

Sara starts to descend down the ladder and Hodges yells, "Wait! He's kneeling down!"

Sara rushes back up the ladder squeezing in between Hodges and Nick.

Nick says, "Damn he was just tying his shoe."

Sara smacks Hodges in the back of the head.

Hodges responds, "Ow! What was that for?"

Sara replies, "Well for starters making us stand up here for 2 hours to see absolutely nothing!"

Hodges puts his hands up in defense and says, "I'm sorry! Apparently it's not what I thought! Anyway I found a way for us to spend a slow night in the lab."

Nick surprisingly backing up Hodges says, "Yeah come on Sar! What were you really going to do?"

Sara shrugs and replies, "I don't know work on a cold case. Do something productive besides stand on a ladder for 2 hours!"

Nick shakes his head and says, "Well I for one am not going to complain this saved me from an evening of paperwork."

The three of them start descending from the ladder as Grissom walks by and asks, "What were you guys doing up on that ladder?"

In unison like kids that just got busted they respond, "Nothing!"

Grissom says, "Never mind I probably don't want to know anyway."

Mark and Catherine are walking down the roof stairs and she asks, "Do you have to clean that up?"

Mark nods and replies, "Yeah I made a deal that I had until tomorrow to do it in case we got called out. Besides right now there's nothing I want more than to go home and in the words of Silk, Let me lick you up and down till you say stop, Let me play with your body, baby, make you real hot. Let me do all the things you want me to do. Cause tonight, baby, I wanna get freaky with you."

Catherine gives a throaty chuckle and says, "I can't believe you didn't put that on the playlist!"

Mark responds, "Oh I did … that's obviously a different play list though."

Catherine gives Mark a peck and says, "Let's get out of here then!"

A/N: Chapter 47 is in the books. I tried to break up a somewhat romantic chapter with some antics stirred up by the gossip master Hodges! I can't believe in 3 more chapters this story I've been working on for a few years will actually be complete. A lot of the thanks goes to Keki186 for all of her wonderful encouragement and inspiration!

The Neoscona crucifera mentioned by Grissom is a Spotted Orbweaver Spider found in Nevada.

The song Mark and Catherine dance to is Slow Dancing In A Burning Room by John Mayer. If you remember the song was used in John's appearance in CSI during Built to Kill Part 1. I thought this was a nice way to integrate the song without having to go through the events of Built to Kill.

The song Mark mentions to Catherine at the end of the chapter is Freak Me by Silk.