Chapter Seventeen

Catherine and Davis were wheeling their luggage behind them, trying to decide what to do next.

"Ms. Willows?" A gentle voice called to her from a few feet away.

"Yes?" She turned to see a well-dressed man, obviously a hotel employee, evident by the name tag.

"My name is Shawn Williams and I am the Hotel Concierge. Can you please follow me to the front desk? I think we have found a solution to your room predicament." He gestured with his arm for them to follow.

"Oh, great!" They followed him to the front desk where a young blonde named Brittany explained the solution.

"We do have one suite available tonight only. We can give that to you for the same price as the two rooms you had originally booked."

"OH! Well that's great. Isn't it, Davis?" She was beaming from ear to ear.

"Um. Yeah. I was NOT looking forward to rooming with Dr. Grissom." He smirked.

"Here's your key cards." Brittany handed them each a card. "I hope you find it satisfactory."

"I am sure we will. Thank you." Catherine smiled politely and spun on her heal, heading for the elevators. Davis stood there for a moment, not knowing what was going on in his fellow CSI's mind.

"Come on, Davis!" He shook his head and followed her.

Gil and Sara walked slowly back to the hotel after their lunch. They swung their joined hands between them, smiling. They entered the hotel and headed off to the next session. The last session of the day. They entered the room and took seats near the front. Linda soon joined them and took a seat next to Sara. She smiled when she saw they were holding hands.

"So, uh, decided to go public?" Linda smiled at them.

"Oh, uh, well. Not really." Gil replied.

"Catherine and Davis got called back to Vegas. They are probably on a plane right now." Sara couldn't help but smile.

"Ah, I see!" Linda chuckled. "Just don't get too mushy, or I'll have to excuse myself to the lavatory."

Gil just smiled at her and squeezed Sara's hand where it rested with his on her thigh. Sara leaned closer to Linda, whispering in her ear. "Don't worry. Gil's not into PDA." She pursed her lips, trying to hide her smile.

"Oh. Gotcha." Linda winked at her.

The speaker took his place at the podium and the session began. They made it through part one and were just coming back from a quick break, when Linda's cell phone rang.

"Crap." She whispered, looking at the caller ID. It was a Vegas number. She hit the call button and quietly exited the room.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Linda. It's Catherine."

"Oh, hi. Uh, are you in Vegas already?"

"UH, noooo. I'm at the hotel. We couldn't get a flight until tomorrow. Sorry, we missed the last session."

"Yeah, uh, I was in the middle of that."

"Oh! Sorry! But, uh, I wanted to talk to you about something. When you're done, can you come up to room 1003?"

"Ok. Who's room is that."

"Mine and Davis's. Well, for now. Just come up soon. Oh, and don't tell Gil or Sara."

"Ok. I love a good mystery. I'll be there in about an hour. Bye!" She shut her phone and headed back into the room.

Over an hour later, Linda stepped off the elevator on the top floor and headed to room 1003 and gently knocked. Catherine whipped open the door and pulled her in by the arm.

"Did they see where you went?"

"No. What's going on?" She looked around the living area of the suite and stepped inside.

"We couldn't get our rooms back, so they gave us this!"

"Wow! That's amazing! How come I never get upgraded like that?" Catherine just shrugged her shoulders.

"So, here's the plan." She sat down on the sofa and sipped her drink.

"There's a 'plan'?" Linda laughed.

"Of course! There is ALWAYS a plan, Linda." She smiled. "Oh! Hey! Want a soda? Or an afternoon cocktail?"

"I'll take a diet soda." Linda sat down on the sofa.

"Davis?" Catherine looked at Davis who was standing quietly next to the fridge.

"Oh, yeah." He reached in and pulled out a can, handing it to Linda. "Here you go."

"Ok, so, what's this big PLAN?"

"Well, Davis and I aren't exactly...close. Or the same gender. So, we were wondering if you wouldn't mind switching rooms with Davis."

"Oh!" She let out a sigh. "Ok. Sure. I think I can handle staying in these meager accommodations for one evening." She smiled at Davis. "You don't mind?"

"No. It would be better I think."

"Ok, well, let's head down to my room and I will get my things."

"Great!" Davis followed Linda to the door.

"And, uh, don't forget. Mum's the word about Davis and I being here."

"Ok. Why?"

"When you get back. I will fill you in." Catherine smiled wickedly.

"Okay." Was all Linda said as she exited the room.

Linda and Davis entered room 312 a few minutes later. Linda started to pack her clothes and gather her toiletries. Davis stood nervously by the window.

"You know, it looks like they just cleaned the room. You know, fresh towels and sheets."

"Oh, yeah. That's good." Davis sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Ok, I think that is everything." She handed him the key card to the room.

"Oh, yeah. Here's the one for the suite." Davis reached into his back pocket and pulled out the suite card.

"All right. Well, time to find out what Catherine's big PLAN is! You coming?"

"I, uh, already know her plan. I need to call my wife and fill her in on the room change."

"Ok, well, see you later." Linda exited the room, pulling her wheeled luggage behind her, slinging her small carry-on strap over her shoulder. She pushed the elevator call button and waited. The doors finally opened. She was about to step in when she looked up to see Gil and Sara.

"Hey, you two." She greeted them nervously.

"Hey." Grissom eyed her luggage. "Leaving already?"

"Oh, uh, no. Room change."

"They made you change rooms?" Sara questioned her.

"No. Uh, a friend of mine, got a suite for tonight, and uh, she invited me to spend the last night there with her. Its huge!"

"Oh. Nice! Too bad LVPD wouldn't spring for a suite!" Sara smiled at Grissom.

"Yeah, I can just see it now. Ecklies little vein in his forehead pulsating." Sara laughed at Gil's comment, hugging his side.

"Oh, this is us!" Gil and Sara exited the elevator. Linda let out a sigh of relief. The elevator stopped on the 10th floor and she exited.

"Great! Your back!" Catherine grabbed her luggage from her and pulled it into the adjoining bedroom. "Sit down! We need to talk."

Linda sat down on the couch, gulping at the soda she had left a quarter of an hour earlier. Catherine sat down and smiled at her. It was a sickly sweet, mischievous smile.

"Ok, what's up? And why can't Gil and Sara know you are here? I just ran into them in the elevators!"

"What? What did you say? You didn't tell them did you?"

"No. No. I just said a friend had a suite for the night and I was joining her." She sipped at her soda. "Does that sound gay? Im sorry, that's probably not PC of me."

"What? No! Linda. Focus!" Catherine grabbed her hands, holding them between them on the sofa. "Listen. I KNOW that Gil and Sara are having some kind of Convention Romance. They don't know that I'm here. So...I want to catch them with their hands in the cookie jar!"

"Cath! Isn't that a little, I don't know...MEAN? Can't you just let them have their fun?"

"Hell no! Serves them right for sneaking around!"

"Ok, so what's this plan of yours? I'm in, as long as no one gets hurt."

"Great!" She smiled and delved into the scheme.

Two hours later, Gil and Sara entered the Ball Room for the Convention's last night gala. There was a live band and a buffet of heavy Hors D'oeuvres. They headed for the bar and got a glass of wine. They stood near the back, watching the crowd.

"Shall we find a seat, Ms. Sidle?" Gil whispered in Sara's ear.

"Sounds lovely, Dr. Grissom." She linked her arm with his as they found a table. Gil pulled the chair out for her and then took his seat, moving it closer to her side. He wound his fingers with hers on the table.

"Did I tell you how sexy you look tonight?" Gil purred in her ear. Sara smiled at him.

"Yes. Several times, in fact." She squeezed his hand. "You don't look so bad yourself."

Gil leaned in and gave her a slow, gentle kiss.

"Hey, you two! Get a room already!"

They pulled apart quickly, turning to see...

TBC...

A/N: HEHEHE! Sorry for the cliffy! I will be updating soon! Please R&R!! Oh, and I know! What hotel upgrades like that? Well, its fiction. So deal! :O)