Every single time I move, I can stir Sara's smell from her hoodie. I'm a total goner. How the fuck am I supposed to work around her, much less with her? She's probably almost finished outside and I'm still standing in here trying to get over the fact that she gave me something to wear to keep me warm. I better get to work or we'll be stuck out here all night. I'll just start in . the master bath where the first vic was found. Shit. Damn. Is that who I think it is?

"Detective Curtis. I didn't realize you were handling this case," Catherine said with contempt in her voice.

"Yes, Brass was tied up with another case so I said I'd deal with a double for him," she answered coolly. "Are you working this alone—or is anyone with you?"

Catherine studied her for a moment. "Sara's working the outside."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. What shade of lipstick do you wear, Detective?"

"Catherine, I don't wear lipstick. Why do you ask?"

"If that's the case, you may want to clean that off of your lips and collar before you head out to see Sara," Catherine declared.

Sofia nearly doubled over laughing. "Let me get this straight. You think I should clean the lipstick off my collar and wipe it off of my lips before I go and speak to Sara? …….OH---MY—GOD!!! You think that Sara and I----? This is hilarious. Does she know that you think we're—dating?"

"Why would I talk to Sara about who she's dating?"

"Probably because you wish she was dating you. That is the issue here, isn't it, Catherine? You want Sara, but she turned you down. Right?"

"How—how did you know?" Catherine said rather confused.

"We had breakfast two maybe three weeks ago and she said someone in the office had made a move on her. She didn't tell me who—just that it was a female co-worker. Since I'm actually seeing Wendy, that really only left one other female in the lab," Sofia said, still laughing. "Catherine Willows has the hots for Sara Sidle. Wow! I never had you pegged as someone who desired female companionship, but I must say you do have good taste."

"You're dating Wendy? Thank goodness, because I was tired of her asking me out. Is that all that she said—that a coworker was putting the moves on her? I have to admit, Sofia, this is pretty new territory for me. I've only had relationships with men and the occasional fling with a woman. Sara's the first woman that I can imagine having a relationship with. Am I crazy?"

"I'd say you were crazy if you weren't interested in her. But you are fucking stupid for treating her like shit. You could have had her by now if you weren't always so bitchy toward her. All she wants is for you to respect her and her abilities. First of all, she thinks you hate her because of the way you've treated her since she came to Vegas. And she thinks that you take every opportunity presented to you to belittle her work. And you treat her like she's inept—incapable of processing a scene. I'm not expert, but you won't be staring into her eyes anytime soon unless you adjust your attitude—and soon. She's been talking about either moving back to San Francisco or going to Boston. She won't sit around forever and wait for you to realize what's right in front of you."

Catherine felt like she was being lectured by her mother. She knew that everything Sofia was saying to her was true. She knew that she was sometimes cruel to Sara, but had never considered just how damaging her treatment of Sara had been to any sort of relationship (even a friendship) she might have with the younger CSI.

Sofia turned to leave the room and Catherine grabbed her arm. "Thank you. I needed to hear that. Of course, you could have told me that a few weeks ago, but thanks for telling me now."

"No problem. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go speak to Sara," Sofia said as she exited the room.