"Listen, if I don't get out of this day old make-up and these stale clothes, I'm going to get cranky." Catherine smiled at him as she spoke.

Drying the last of these dishes, he smiled back. "Okay, I get the hint. I'll get Hank and we'll head out."

"No," she almost yelped, "that's not what I meant. I…look just make yourself comfortable while I get this make up off and some fresh clothes on, okay?"

A little confused and feeling very shy, Gil nodded. He watched her as she walked down the hall, still wearing those oh, so tight pants. The way they outlined her cheeks and ….damn, don't go there, he thought. But they did give a guy ideas….

Catherine had just made it into her bathroom and dug out the cleanser when he appeared behind her in the mirror. He was leaning against the door jam, quietly watching her with the same look of interest that he'd worn the day before when she applied the make up. Chalking it up as just another Gil thing, she continued with her task. Using one of her cosmetic pads, she applied the cleanser.

Gil watched her, fascinated. Her movement was always so graceful. And even covered in the white creamy stuff, she looked beautiful. He felt himself being drawn to her and before he realized it, he was standing just behind her in the bathroom.

Catherine looked up at his reflection, a quizzical expression forming on her face. "Gil?" she asked quietly.

He reached over to her hand and took the clean pad from her and then turned her to face him. Gently, he began to remove the cleanser. His strokes were precise and careful, removing all traces of the cleaner as he went. As he studied her face for signs of the white cream, her eyes searched his face for a clue. "What's going on with him," she wondered, just a little in awe of his boldness.

His eyes never left her face as he finished his task. Putting the pad down on the counter, his hand came up to her cheek and gently he held her face. He was lost in her face, her eyes, those lips…..

Catherine was surprised, even shocked when he slowly lowered his lips to hers. She had dreamed of this moment for years and then given up on the dream. They had kissed once before, that night years ago…actually they had done more than kiss, but she was married. He'd been angry with himself for a long time after it had happened and could hardly bear to look at her, so they never went there again. But here he was, kissing her….

His kiss began gently, tenderly but when she didn't back away, he became more intense. He let years of denial flow into the kiss, demanding and receiving more passion, letting lose more desire. He felt like a man who had been starved for years, craving so much and now being given the greatest delicacies. Her lips were no longer enough, so his tongue pushed into her mouth, which only increased his hunger for more. She was like an addiction that he had avoided for years and was now giving into. He wanted more, so much more. He had been angry at himself after their one night together, angry and determined …..it couldn't happen again, she was married. But she wasn't married any longer and Sara was gone. He could have her…and he would. Today… on the damned bathroom tile if need be, but have her he would.

He felt her going weak in his arms and he released the kiss. "Catherine?" His eyes searched her face for some clue. Was she angry? But all he saw was his own desire reflected back at him. She wanted it too. He kissed her again, but this time she participated more, giving back some of what she was getting. What had begun as a gentle kiss was turning into something raw, edgy…..needy. "God Catherine, as many nights as I have lain awake aching for you….I want you…. I've always wanted you…."

"Gil…" her voice was throaty, lusty. "Me too…"

He swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom, both of then falling to the bed in a fit of passion, each wanting to fill their hunger. They kissed and caressed, groped and stroked one another, raising the temperature and their need. Clothes fell away as they marveled at and craved the other's body. No kiss was intense enough; no touch caressing enough, nothing was enough as they continued devouring each other. Finally they joined and as the ecstasy built, as they climbed higher and higher in each other's grasp, they reached the place where they had enough. She screamed his name blissfully as he moaned hers. He was in heaven, he was sure of it. He had wanted this, wanted her for so long….sweat mixed with tears as he cried out her name in one last frenzied explosion before he plummeted back to earth. Spent and exhausted, he barely had the strength to move off of her.

She laid there weakly, reveling in what had just happened. Glancing over at him, she was met by his eyes, brighter and bluer than she had seen them in….years. She could see the happy in them and hoped her eyes revealed the same to him. "My god, Gil…where did that come from?"

A small smirk appeared on his lips. "It's those pants you were wearing… looking at that a whole shift and then watching them as you walked down the hall…."

"I…um….will have to get more of those, then. I like the results." It was her turn to smirk.

"Cath," he suddenly grew serious. "That wasn't just about sex, you know. I….I've loved you for years. I've always wanted you, since the first day I met you. But I was too afraid to tell you…."

"You know why I got involved with Eddie in the first place," she said as her finger traced the outlines on his chest. He nodded that he didn't, relishing her touch. "I wanted to make you jealous….only things kind of snow balled with Eddie. He got me hooked and then we got married and the next thing I knew I was pregnant. And it was killing me because I could see the hurt in your eyes every time I looked at you."

"It was tearing me up," he whispered. "I could have stopped it at first, I knew, but then it took on a life of its own. And when I realized you were hooked on coke, it nearly killed me. And then….you married him." He paused to gather his thoughts. "I had to respect your decision….but…I almost left Vegas then. But I couldn't stand the thought of not seeing you. At least, if I stayed, I would get to see you sometimes. And then he began beating you and I knew I had to stay."

"You were always there for me, Gil. I wouldn't have made it if you hadn't been. And there was that one night…." She felt him tense at the mention of it. "It's okay, Gil. I needed it as much as you did. It was….a wake up call for me. Made me realize what a terrible mistake I had made. I decided to leave him but then I found out I was pregnant, so I thought I should stay. It was still a mistake. Well, not Lindsey, of course, but staying with him. He didn't change, he never changed…." The bitterness in her voice hurt him. He should have made her leave. But something else was working in his brain also. It just wouldn't come into focus.

They spent the morning together like they had spent so many mornings over the years, except now there was an occasional touch or pat or hug, even a kiss or two. They fell asleep in one another's arms, content and happy.

When Catherine woke up, he was gone. There was a note on the bedside table.

Cath,

I thought it best that Lindsey not find us together in bed so I took Hank home. The thought of my empty bed seems very cold, though. I'll see you at work. And please don't wear those same pants; I do need to concentrate on the cases….

Gil

P.S. Will you marry me?

Catherine stared at the paper. How typical of him….the 'marry me' was a postscript. Well, they certainly had a lot to talk about….

She showered and went to the kitchen to prepare supper. Lindsey was in the living room, working on homework. Catherine went about her task happily, even humming from time to time. Life felt good right now, very good indeed.

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