I hope that everyone has a great Christmas. Please review; I really do appreciate the input.

Again, I do not own the rights to CSI or Sea Breeze©.

My husband swears by Sea Breeze© to relieve his sunburn, and after 13 years of marriage I can see that it works for him. I do not endorse its use for anything but what it claims that it does. If you try it for your sunburn, I am not responsible.

It's Jim's turn now….

It was getting closer to the time to get to the front desk. Mateo arranged for a driver to pick them up to go to the restaurant. He took one last look in the mirror. He had to buy vacation clothes for the trip. All the clothes that he owned matched with his suit jackets/pants ensemble, they wouldn't do for a weekend in Mexico. The lady at the store got his measurements and basically packed his suitcase. The clothes looked good, nothing that he would wear normally: a loose fitting long sleeve shirt in a cool green, black cotton slacks, leather slip on shoes, and no socks. He kept resisting buttoning the shirt all the way up. I'm on vacation, loosen up Brass!

After his little encounter with Cath, he kept making sure that he looked fine, and then realizing what he was doing, scolded himself. How old was he? Thirteen? He was going out with a friend, nothing more.

Oh, Jim but what a friend she is….

Shut up, Brass thought.

Now, now, I know it's been awhile since you have seen one up close, but that was a woman in your room, a naked woman…..

I'm not listening to you, Brass thought; I don't want to think of her that way.

Why not? She's single, you're single.

Again, shut up. I didn't bring her here for that.

Why did you bring her? Just for her? Or you?

That thought stopped him cold. He was here to help Cath. He wasn't looking for any bennies in this arrangement. Did he? His mind was playing tricks with him again.

Grabbing his watch, he checked the time again for the 20th time. He grabbed his coat and walked into the living area. Catherine was already there, and to look at her in that teal sundress almost took his breath away. Despite the fiery red sunburn, she looked radiant.

"I guess now that we got past the whole 'what if he sees me naked' episode, we can get into enjoying this vacation?" She was smiling as she said this, taking Jim's arm.

"Looks like someone needs more than just aloe for her skin," Jim wanted to change the subject. Walking to the front desk was uneventful, as was the ride to the restaurant. One thing Jim couldn't shake was how close she was to him. Her scent was driving him crazy.

Smells good, doesn't it?

You again? Don't you ever quit?

Not until you realize why you are here.

Not listening.

Jim was getting out of the car and helping her out. He was smiling and all looked normal on the outside, but inside all he could think of was her. Her scent, how she looked tonight, this was just friends going out right?

Catherine smiled at Jim as he escorted her in. "What's the matter? You're grinning like the cat that ate the canary."

Jim gave her a sly look," I'm just enjoying the envy of all the men here, wishing they were me right now." Jim held out the chair for her as she sat down.

"Now you've made me blush," Catherine batted her eyes at him before rolling them up into her head. "Please Jim, let's not make this a date ok?"

"Deal." Jim dropped the flirting, it was awkward anyway. This wasn't a date; she's a friend, nothing else.

The rest of the dinner was uneventful. Jim had grouper, Catherine had snapper. The food was excellent. Jim paid the waiter, left a sizable tip, and they walked out to the front of the restaurant.

"I am really glad that you talked me into this," Cath said. "I've needed a break for so long, and I am glad that it's with you."

"Really? Why is that?" Jim was looking down at the ground when she said this. He was flattered, and his eyes were going to give him away if he looked at her.

"There isn't anyone I can just be me around anymore. I've pushed so many people away, Nick, Warrick, Gil…..Sara. I've had no one to really talk to, except you." She lifted his chin up so he would be looking directly into her eyes. "That means more to me than you know."

The cab pulled up and Jim used the opportunity to look away from her and open the door. He was shaking, and it wasn't cold outside. What was going on? This wasn't what he planned.

"It's late, Cath. How about we call it a night?" Jim's nervousness at the whole situation was showing. His palms were sweating. To look into those eyes again would give him away.

She got in the car without a word. The ride to the resort was the same. Jim walked her to their suite. No word.

Cath sighed. She looked deflated. Jim didn't want the night to end like this.

"Say, I've got just the thing for your sunburn," Jim said.

"It's ok, I've got the aloe," Cath dismissed it with a wave of her hand. "I'll be all right in a couple of days."

"Well, how would it be it you were ok in a couple of hours?"

"Really? Now what special cure could that be?" Catherine was intrigued. She knew her own skin, and with aloe, it takes at least a couple of days for the pain to go away. Aloe was the only thing that she knew of that helped, and she had tried all sorts of remedies.

"Why don't you sit on the couch, and I will get my miracle elixir for you?" Jim headed off towards his room, and left her in the dimly lit room. When he got back, she was in the process of starting a fire in the copper fire pit. She looked up at him when he came in with a bottle and cotton balls in hand.

"I've wanted to do this since we got into this room. It's starting to get cool out, so I started a fire to warm up the place."

Jim smiled and sat down beside her. The fire glowed brightly against her skin. Her red hair gleamed. Jim thought she had never looked so beautiful.

I don't need a fire to get warmed up.

For once, Jim didn't push those thoughts aside. "Let's see what the doctor can do for you, dear." Jim soaked a cotton ball in the liquid and carefully rubbed it on her skin. The smell was strong and Catherine's nose perked up to it immediately.

"Jim what is that? It smells so familiar." Catherine grabbed the bottle and read the label. "Sea Breeze? This is an astringent. Lindsey uses this to clear up her pimples. This can't be good for my skin in the state that it's in." She started to move away when Jim grabbed her arm.

"Trust me. I know that it seems odd, but it works."

Catherine looked at him and smiled. "Ok, just this once." She turned her back to him and he commenced to applying the Sea Breeze to her skin. It felt cool to the touch, and the fire of the burn extinguished with each touch of his hand. After he finished, she turned to him.

"Thanks Jim, I needed that."

Looking into Catherine's eyes, there was something else she needed as well. He lifted her chin up to him, and gently, slowly kissed her on the lips.

"You are welcome."