Chapter 20

Catherine looked at her friend and was surprised at how haggard he looked. It looked like he hadn't slept since this happened which was probably the case. "Gil I know I'm not your favorite person right now but I'm sure not going to let you take any punches at me anytime soon."

"Then don't give me a reason to. I'm not saying I'm ok with this because I'm not, but if this is the way it's going to be then I can't stop it. I just came by to make sure Sara was ok. I can see that she is so now I will go home."

Catherine saw that Sara was awake and Greg was holding her other hand. "That's it? You're just going to walk away?"

"What else can I do Catherine? And if there was something, I'm sure as hell not going to do it here at the hospital in front of my coworkers. I choose to keep my personal life personal not flaunt it in front of everyone." He pointedly looked around the room to encompass everyone.

Catherine took a deep breath, now was not the time or place to lose her temper. She stood up and returned to her bed. She looked around the room at her friends and they were all looking at Gil. "Guys I'd like to talk to Gil, and I think Sara needs to rest so now would probably be a good time for you to head home for some sleep too."

Warrick walked over to her and in a protective gesture he put his arm around her. "Are you sure you don't need us to stay?"

"No Rick that's ok but thanks. Go home and get some sleep and come around tomorrow maybe they will let us out and you could give us a ride home. See ya." All of the guys gave both girls hugs and left the room. Brass hung back not sure what to do. "You too Jim, we'll be fine." She smiled at him and he walked over and gave Sara a kiss on the forehead and did the same to Catherine.

"Give em hell tiger." He whispered and she burst out laughing and watched him walk out the door.

"Gil why don't you come in and close the door so we can talk." He closed the door and grabbed the nearest chair and moved it close to Sara's bed and tried to take her hand but she pulled it back. He dropped his hands but didn't move away from Sara's bedside.

Grissom looked straight at Sara and spoke as if Catherine wasn't even in the room. "I was really hoping that this was just something that manifested from the experience in the desert. That what you had said was said in the heat of the moment. I think we can make it work, we think alike, you've said so yourself, you also said you liked my mind and wanted to see if there was more there than that. I'm sorry I never pursued you and I think you're rushing things with Catherine. We should give us another chance and see if it would work. Catherine is not the right person for you. We both have scientific minds, we both have doctorates from prestigious schools, and what could Catherine have to offer in the way of stimulating conversation?"

Catherine gasped but before she could say anything Sara spoke and Catherine was surprise at how fast she appeared have come down from the drugs. "First let me say you sure know how to kill a good buzz and ruin a good time. And second, I may have a doctorate but unlike you I choose not to flaunt it. I do what I do because I love it not because of my education. Catherine and I have had many stimulating conversations since I started at CSI. I just don't feel for you what I feel for Catherine." Catherine didn't miss the sly grin on Sara's face and she could imagine some of the conversation to which she was referring if it had anything to do with what they had discussed earlier. As usual Grissom was clueless. "I think that Catherine and I are a very good match and are very well suited for each other."

"Sara I don't think you're in any condition to be making those kinds of decisions right now. You're not thinking clearly. Maybe we should wait until you are out of the hospital and I can take care of you and we can talk. Catherine will get tired of you in a week and toss you aside like she's done with every relationship she has had. She's still married and yet she goes out with other guys, what does that tell you about her character? She went to night school, for god's sake she was a stripper."

"Ok that's it! I'm not going to sit here and take this. Gil you haven't heard a word she has said have you? I may not have a Harvard education and yes I went to night school, at your urging by the way, but does that really make a difference? Sometimes a different kind of chemistry makes all the difference in the world." She could see that Gil had no idea what she was talking about. "Gil you can be so dense sometimes. Sara and I feel something for each other that she doesn't feel for you and that's the chemistry I'm talking about. We love each other. Think about Sara for a minute and not just yourself. Think about what's best for her."

He still didn't look as Catherine as he was speaking, he looked only at Sara. "I think I'm what's best for you. There may not have been a spark when we kissed but we can work on that."

"Gil it's either there or it's not and for you two it's not."

"Shut up Catherine I wasn't talking to you."

"Gris I think it's time for you to leave." Sara's voice was so quiet Catherine almost missed it. She then looked to Grissom, and knew from the look on his face he heard and he knew he had gone too far.

"We'll talk later." He stood up and started to lean towards Sara's then changed his mind and left.

After he left Catherine lay back on her bed, turned her back to Sara and let the tears fall. She realized she had just lost her best friend. She also realized he may be right, maybe she wasn't the right person for Sara. She knew she was smart but she didn't know how smart. She was a fucking doctor for god's sake. She felt t he bed behind her dip and Sara's arm go around her. "There you go thinking again. That can be dangerous for your health. Don't let him get to you. You are still the same person you were when he walked in the room and I still love you maybe even a little more. No one has ever stood up for me and it kind of feels nice to have someone fight for me."

"You never said you were a damn doctor."

"No one ever asked and it's not important."

Catherine carefully rolled over, mindful of Sara's neck. "How can you say it's not important? I knew you were a genius but you're a fucking doctor Sara. How do I compete with Grissom and that?"

"Last time I looked there was no competition. You have this hot body and he's…well let's just leave it at that. Cat there is no competition, it's just you."

"Maybe he's right about our backgrounds. What do I have to offer you?"

"Yourself and Lindsey and a chance at happiness. This bigger question would be what do I have to offer you? You know where I come from and what I could become…" Her words were cut off by Catherine's lips colliding with her own. She could taste Catherine's tears and all she could do and all she wanted to do is hold her.

Catherine leaned back so she could look in Sara's eyes and she could see the truth. She loved her for her. "God what did I do to deserve you?"

"Well let me see, you got bashed in the head, tied to a bed, that part I like, you fell into a coma, that scared the crap out of me, you got half your head shaved, had a heart attack. Want more? I think I could think of a couple more."

"It's not half my head it's just a little bit."

"And may I say it is oh so cute." Sara leaned down and kissed Catherine in what started out in a

chaste manner but it soon turned into a heavy duty make out session. Both were breathing heavy when Sara pulled back. "We keep this up and I will not be responsible for my actions Catherine Willows. And I sure as hell do not want our first time to be in some hospital bed while I have to worry about whether it will pull out my stitches or not." She felt Catherine start to pull back but she wouldn't let her. "Before you say anything I'm fine and it doesn't hurt to kiss so we can do this all night long but if we kiss like that again it won't end at just a kiss."

"Maybe I should go back to my bed to remove the temptation."

"Cat we are in your bed. Do you want me to go back to mine?" She gave her a look that said she wanted nothing more than to stay right where she was.

"As long as you promise to behave I guess I can put up with you. So you're really a doctor huh?"

"God I am so mad that he said that."

"That's ok baby, Mom always wanted me to marry a doctor."