Author's Note: I deeply apologize for not updating in so long, I was pretty stuck with the story, and I needed a break to figure things out. But here we are again, and I have finally found the answer to my many questions. I know, I know… this one is pretty short…but I'll be sure to update soon k! Thanks for sticking with me, and I hope I don't disappoint!

"I-I'm sorry." Catherine stammered as she pulled away from her supervisor. She turned her face away from him, towards the gravel drive where their vehicles were parked, her cheeks flushed a becoming pink. Grissom was silent, too shocked by her spontaneous kiss to speak.

She looked up at him quickly, waiting for him to say something, anything, to break the awkward silence. She cleared her throat.

"It's okay," Grissom spoke abruptly, "perfectly understandable. We're all under a lot of stress."

"That's not it!" Catherine cried immediately.

"Don't worry about it Cath, I won't speak of it again."

With this, Grissom walked towards his Denali, waved briefly, and drove away. Catherine walked over to her car, unlocked the door, and climbed in. Once inside, she slumped over the wheel, her arms cradling her head over the hot plastic. Why did she kiss Gil? What was wrong with her? Maybe it was just the stress, but she really felt like there was something between them, some sort of connection. Does he feel it too?

"Stop," she chided herself "this can never go anywhere, so just stop thinking about him!" She suddenly remembered the crucial evidence she carried, and drove quickly to the lab to process it.

After delivering the box to DNA, Warrick Brown met her outside of an interrogation room.

"Hey Catherine, what's up with the case?"

"I just found something big, I'll give you the lab results once I get them back from Greg, okay?"

"Hey, are you alright? You seem a little tense."

She shrugged and sighed, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just stressed, you know."

"Yeah, I know. Try not to take it home with you okay?"

"Thanks Warrick." Catherine replied as she stepped into the staff room.

Grissom was not finding it easy to forget the spontaneous kiss that morning. He kept picturing the soft brush of her hair on his cheek and the feel of her warm breath upon his lips. He mentally shook himself, but could not shake the overwhelming desire he felt for his coworker and friend.

He walked to the staff room briskly, intending to stifle this passion in an enormous cup of the expensive blend of coffee Greg preferred. He was apprehensive and yet, on another level, pleased to see that Catherine inside. She was sitting at the table, her head bent over a sheaf of papers, oblivious to the sounds of the lab around her. He stepped inside and touched her shoulder, startling her.

"Cath, I think we need to talk…" he began.

"Don't worry about it Gil, I was just stressed out and not thinking. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."

"No, I think it's more than that Catherine. I need to tell you something. For a long time now, I've been thinking about you, and about our friendship. I know now that I…"

Greg Sanders burst in, his spiky hair tousled and wild, his hands clutching a manila folder.

"Sorry to interrupt, but we've got a problem."

"What is it?" Catherine and Grissom asked simultaneously.

"It's the DNA report on the box you sent over…" he looked them both in the eyes "you guys need to come see this right away."

End Note: Haha. You guys will never guess what it is! I'm excited. Are you excited? Please oh please oh please review! Reviews keep me going! They are my very nourishment and the absolute air that I breathe. Ok, now I am waxing pathetic. Thanks again for your amazingness. Love you all! OpheliaSpeaks