Chapter Three – Sara's POV

I hang up the phone and collapse back against the sofa, burying my head in my hands.

"You said that you didn't want me anymore. But that insinuates at one point you did want me. When did you want me Sara?"

I replay her words in my mind over and over again. She didn't sound angry, but she didn't sound thrilled either. But then again, that message probably made her think that I don't want her. And I do want her. I'm never drinking again. It's all coming back to me. Nancy, collapsing outside, the cab ride home, the phone call….Oh god, I bet Nancy phoned Catherine. I bet they think I'm an alcoholic. And I expect Catherine thinks I was stalking her or something.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

How the hell can I face her after this? I bet she's going to tell the guys and they'll all have a good laugh at me. Grissom will look disappointed. After my DUI, I'm not even supposed to have alcohol in the house.

But I love my job. I'll have to go in and face everyone. I've dealt with much worse than this before. Yes, it's embarrassing, but it could be worse. A three mile run, then a cold shower. After that, I should be ready to face work.

I arrive at the lab with ten minutes to spare. Despite how drunk I was last night, I don't look or even feel hungover anymore. That makes me feel a little better. I enter the breakroom and pour myself a cup of coffee. Nick and Warrick are already in there, playing on the play station.

As I enter, Nick puts down his control, comes over and gives me a brotherly hug. If he knows about last night, he's not acting any different, and I respond by hugging him back tightly, letting relief flood through me. As I untangle myself from Nick's arms, Warrick gives me a friendly smile.

"Hey girl, how are you? Did you have a good night off?"

Well, if he knows, he's definitely doing a good job at not showing it.

"Yeah, how are you?" Nick chimes in, "I know you turned down over time last night, what could possibly pull you away from work?"

Inwardly I cringe but outwardly I just smirk at them both.

"Wouldn't you like to know."

Before either of them can respond, Greg bounces into the room.

"Well I know she wasn't out on a date, because any dates she could possibly be going out on would be with me."

I throw a friendly punch at him.

"In your dreams Greggo."

I'm feeling better and better. I'm pretty sure no one knows about anything that happened last night.

My stomach twists into a tight knot when I think of Catherine's arrival, so I try not to. I settle down on the couch with my coffee and mess about with the guys until Grissom arrives. There's still no sign of Catherine.

Grissom looks around, obviously noticing Catherine's absence, but he doesn't seem too bothered.

"Warrick, Sara and Greg, you've got a hit and run on the strip. Nick, you're with me tonight, we've got a body dump in the desert. If you-"

He's cut off by Catherine rushing into the room. My stomach jolts and I unconsciously clench my fists.

"Grissom, I'm sorry I'm late, I was-"

He holds up his hand.

"It doesn't matter Catherine, here. You've got a B&E over in Henderson."

With that, he leaves the room, Nick close behind him. Warrick, Greg and I get up to leave and I chance a look at Catherine. Her blue eyes lock with mine for a moment, then I blush and turn away.

"Greg, Warrick, I need a word with Sara in private for a minute. You don't mind do you?"

They both shake their heads, but Greg mouths 'Good luck' at me. Then they leave the room. Fuck. I can't talk to her about this. Not now.

She closes the distance between us and I realise I've sat down on the couch again. She's sat down next to me, close enough for me to smell her shampoo. Strawberry I think. Whatever it is, it smells heavenly. How am I supposed to focus with her sat this close to me? My brain feels like it's turning to mush. She's waiting for me to say something so I clear my throat.

"Catherine, I'm really sorry about that message I left you. I swear it won't happen again."

Good Sidle, good. You actually said something that made sense.

"It's not you leaving a drunken message on my answer machine that bothers me, Sara, it's what you said in the message."

Busted. Think, Sara, think!

"Uh, Catherine, I really need to go. Greg and Warrick are waiting for me."

With that, I stand up to leave, but Catherine grabs my hand. I can't help but meet her gaze again. There's no anger in her eyes, only curiosity and something else. I'm pretty sure I'm imagining it, and I suddenly realise how long I've been staring at her, so I pull away.

I'm just about to leave the breakroom when she speaks again.

"We are going to talk about this Sara, whether you like it or not."

I think she's going to say something else, but I leave and get out of earshot before she has the chance to. Greg and Warrick are waiting in the SUV and I join them, climbing into the back. Greg raises his eyebrows and Warrick gives me a questioning looks. I roll my eyes and pretend it's nothing.

"Don't worry guys; she just wanted to talk about a case we were both on a while back."

I'm not sure Greg is satisfied with that answer, but who cares? I just want to get to the scene and forget about it completely. Which is stupid, because how could I forget about Catherine. The way her top is just a little tight around the curve of her breasts, the way she smells, the way she does her hair…she's just perfect. I sigh and lean my head against the cool glass of the window. What the hell am I supposed to do?

Catherine's POV

I'm sat in my office back at the lab. The B & E was staged, the guy wanted to claim insurance. Unfortunately for him he didn't stage it very well. I found the 'stolen' goods in the attic. What an idiot. I had the case closed within two hours and ended up back here, attempting to do paperwork. But my thoughts are elsewhere.

She looked like a caged animal. She couldn't wait to get away from me. I sigh, then shake my head, surprised at myself. It's Sara, why I am I at all bothered that she wanted to get away from me? Oh yeah, because it's Sara. We've been getting on better recently; I've made an effort not to lose my temper with her. When she first joined our team, I tried so hard to dislike her. I felt like she was invading my territory. But from the moment I met her I couldn't help but like her. Outwardly, I was quite bitchy, I had to keep up face, but inside I was shocked at how quickly I warmed to her. And I was also shocked at the direction my thoughts started to take when I was around her. Whenever she bent over, I'd find myself checking out her ass, if she was wearing a low-cut shirt, I'd find it difficult not to stare at her cleavage. But in my mind, dating Sara has always been out of the question – one because she's a co-worker, and two because she's straight. Besides, just because she's easy on the eye doesn't mean I want to date her.

Hell, who am I kidding? I've wanted her since I met her. I'm so in denial about it – it's taken me this long to admit it. But now I'm more confused than ever.

Sara saying she didn't want me anymore meant that she has wanted me at some point. How could I not notice? I've watched that woman so closely, how could I have missed her taking an interest in me? But that message hurt me as well as confused me. She said she didn't want me anymore. So even if she did want me, she doesn't now. I had my chance and I lost it.

I shake my head. Even if she doesn't want me, we still have to talk. I was going to ask her out for breakfast earlier, but she walked away too fast. I'll talk to her in the locker room at the end of shift.

"Catherine?" Gil puts his head round my office door. "You got that report?"

Shit, what report? I smile brightly at him.

"Of course, I'll bring it to you in a minute."

I go to the locker room at the end of shift to freshen up, and say a silent prayer of thanks to Nancy, as she's taking Lindsey to school for me this morning. That way, I'm free to go to breakfast with Sara. I don't care if she doesn't want to go, she owes me an explanation. Talk of the devil.

Sara walks into the room and by the time she notices my presence, she's already opened her locker. I lock gazes with her and smile. She half smiles back at me, then turns back to her locker. Wanting her attention, I cross the room and put my hand on her shoulder. She's shaking. Suddenly, I feel guilty and empowered, all at once. Have I, Catherine Willows, caused Sara Sidle to react like this? She's still got her back to me, so I put pressure on her shoulder and turn her round to face me, our faces are inches apart. Our eyes meet, and without warning she leans down and kisses me. It's a very chaste kiss, and it ends so quickly, I don't have time to react. But I'm so shocked, I'm not sure I would have reacted straight away anyway. She kissed me. Sara kissed me. Oh god, Sara. She looks shocked too, in fact she looks horrified.

"Catherine, I-I shouldn't have done that, I'm sorry, I-"

"I thought you didn't want me?" God, that wasn't supposed to sound sarcastic, but Sara seems to think it was. Her eyes sparkle and her temper flares.

"You're right in thinking that. I don't want you. Glad we got that one cleared up."

With that, she storms out of the room.