Title: A Close Call

Author: Smokinhottie

Disclaimer: Me own CSI? Yeah like that would ever happen!

Author's Note: If anyone thinks that this story could somehow be continued please let me know. Or if you think that this is a good enough ending I'd like to know that too. Please give me feedback.

Chapter 7

The next morning, Catherine awoke to find Grissom gone, and that she was laying alone in his bed, tucked in snuggly. 'I could get used to this.' she thought as she sat up and stretched. Grissom was nowhere to be seen or heard. She decided to get out of bed and find him.

In the kitchen, she found what she was looking for. He was at the stove, in jeans and a navy t-shirt, with his back to her. Catherine stole behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle. Grissom, slightly surprised, turned and looked over his shoulder, to see Catherine's smiling face.

"Morning.." he said taking in the vision of her standing there in his pajamas. She wore a pair of big and floppy pj pants and a grey undershirt. He smiled and looped his arm around her bringing her to his side. 'I could get used to this.' he thought to himself. 'She looked absolutely gorgeous standing there smiling.'

"Morning to you too." Catherine said as she looked at what was cooking on the stove. "That bacon smells good."

"You hungry?" "Starving actually. You know we didn't eat dinner last night."

"Well good, I've made bacon, fruit, coffee, and your favorite, chocolate chip pancakes. How does that sound?" he said with a smile.

"Absolutely wonderful, I haven't had chocolate chip pancakes in forever." she said as she returned the smile. They sat in silence for a moment before Catherine spoke.

"How are you feeling? Any better?" she said as she drew little circles with her fingertips on his back.

"I'm ok. I'm not dizzy anymore." he said as he flipped the pancakes.

"That's good. How long were you up this morning?" Grissom shrugged.

"For a little while, but I wanted to let you sleep. You looked so peaceful that I didn't have the heart to wake you."

"Well, thank you, but you should have woke me up. I'd have gotten up with you."

"It's really ok. You needed the rest." he said gently, "I was wondering about Lindsay earlier and then she called." Catherine nodded.

"I called my sister and she picked Lindsay up from school yesterday. She spent the night at her house." Catherine explained and Grissom smiled.

"They were on their way to school when they called this morning. Lindsay wanted me to tell you that she loves you and she'll see you this afternoon." Catherine smiled and then turned serious.

"She was really worried about you when we talked last night. She wanted to talk to you, but you were already asleep." Grissom chuckled.

"Don't worry, I got the full interrogation this morning from her. " he said and Catherine smiled too. Grissom took the bacon off the stove, after reluctantly letting go of Catherine. They set the table and finished making the breakfast together. Finally, they sat down next to each other at the bar and enjoyed their breakfast. They talked about Nick and the way the case turned out. Grissom commended Catherine on her work, making her blush. Soon they were finished and began clearing the dishes.

"Gil?" Catherine said as the two of them started cleaning up.

"Yeah Cath?" he said as he began stacking the dishes in the sink.

" How many years have we known each other?"

"Oh...I don't know, since kindergarten. Maybe 30, 35 years. Why do you ask?" he said

"I was thinking how many times we've spent the night at each other's house. We haven't done that since we were kids." She said.

"Yeah, that seems like such a long time ago." Grissom said not exactly sure where this was going.

"Yeah, I guess so." Catherine said quietly as she began drying the dishes after Grissom washed them.

"You ok with sleeping in the same bed last night?" Grissom asked as he tried to figure out what was wrong.

"I'm ok.." Catherine said unconvincingly and still not telling him what was the problem.

"Well..."he said as he tried to get her to talk to him.

"What?" she said.

"What is bothering you?" Grissom said

" Nothing." Grissom stopped what he was doing and turned to face her. As he leaned against the counter, he looked at her.

"Nothing can be bothering you Cath. I know you and something is wrong. Please tell me what it is." he pleaded. Catherine sighed as she looked at him. She could tell by the look on his face that he was concerned for her.

" I don't know Gil... I can't explain it...I just...don't know." She said as she walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. There she sat on the couch like she had night before. Grissom wiped the sink and followed her into the living room. He stood and leaned against the doorway. He just stood there and waited for her to speak. She looked at him and sighed as she struggled to put into words what she wanted to say.

"Gil...I'm" she said uncertainly and Grissom came and sat next to her.

"Catherine what is bothering you? Was it something I said or did? If I've done something to make you upset, then please tell me."

"Gil"

"No Catherine, I love you too much to see you like this. You have to tell me what's wrong. Please tell me." he said as she got up and stood with her back to him.

" Is it true?" she said just barely above a whisper.

"Is what true?" Grissom asked now thoroughly confused.

"Is it true what you said?" she asked as she turned around and looked at him.

"What did I say?" "You said that you loved me. Is that true?" she said as tears started to fall. Grissom smiled gently as he stood and came to stand in front of her.

"Is that what this is all about?"

"Well...I ...it's just that you said it last night before you fell asleep... and I thought it was the medicine until you said it again." she said as she covered her face in her hands.

"Well...does that bother you? Is that why you are so upset?" Grissom said as he tried to figure out what was wrong with what he had said.

"No it doesn't bother me, I just wondered if you meant it." she said as she looked up at him.

"Of course I mean it! I've loved you since the day I met you. I've just never had the guts to say anything." Grissom said as he gently wiped away her tears and Catherine smiled at him.

"You really love me?" she said uncertainly and he nodded.

"With all my heart Cath."

"But why didn't you ever tell me?"

"I was afraid. I had no idea if you felt the same. Then you got married and moved on. Then yesterday happened and I thought that maybe I'd never get the chance to tell you. I guess I realized that life really can be short and that I need to take advantage of every moment that I'm alive." he said as he looked at Catherine, who wasn't saying anything. She was too stunned at the things he was saying. Grissom sighed as he went and sat down on the couch.

"I'm sorry Cath, if I upset you. I just...I don't know." he said as he put his face in his hands. She smiled gently and came to sit beside him on the couch.

"Gil, I'm not upset...just stunned...and relieved. Yesterday got me thinking about how much you and I are a part of each other's life. If something had happened and you were taken away from me, I don't know what I'd have done." she said with a shiver. Grissom saw this and drew her to him. He gently lifted her face and gazed at it before kissing her tenderly on the lips. After a moment, they drew apart and looked at each other.

"Cath?" he whispered

"Yeah?" she whispered back.

"I love you." and for the first time ever she responded.

"I love you too." Both were smiling now, then Grissom turned serious.

"Since we are in the divulging inner thoughts and feelings about each other...I have another secret to share with you." Catherine was nervous now as she looked at him with confusion.

"I'm almost afraid to ask...what?" she said and Grissom couldn't hide his laugh.

"Your feet are always ice cold!" he said with a chuckle. "And you steal the covers!"

"Hey now!" she said as she laughed with relief.

" I do not! You're the one who snores!" she said as she picked up a throw pillow and launched it at Grissom. Grissom on the other hand retreated into the kitchen to escape the pillows Catherine was throwing at him. They chased each other through the house throwing pillows and divulging more "inner secrets" about each other laughing the entire time.

To be continued?