Sara was leaving for the day when Catherine and Nick returned from their scene. She offered a half-hearted wave and a tired smile.
"Hey, Sara, want to get some breakfast?" Nick called out to her.
"No thanks, I'm really tired, so I'm going straight to bed."
"I'll see you tonight, sleep well." She waved again and headed to her car. He watched her leave and followed Catherine inside. Brass was heading for Grissom's office. The door closing told everyone to stay away. Catherine wished she was on the other side of the door.
"Ok, spill it." Brass demanded and took a seat.
"Hold that thought." Grissom picked up his phone.
"Willows."
"Do you want to hear what happened?"
"Absolutely."
"My office, now."
"I'll be there in two minutes." Catherine told him and hung up. Grissom looked at Brass and shrugged.
"You knew she'd want to be here for this." Brass nodded.
"Of course."
"Soon, the door opened and shut again. Catherine took her seat next to Brass and opposite Grissom. She was breathing a little harder than usual.
"Why were you rushing?" Grissom asked her.
"You're voluntarily sharing information about your private life. This is the second time in thirty-six hours; I didn't want to miss it." Brass chuckled.
"She's got a point." he said.
"Everything was going fine. I picked her up, and by the way Catherine, you did a great job helping her shop."
"Thank you."
"I like what I saw." Brass added his own two cents. Catherine smiled when Grissom glared at him.
"Oh, come on, I'm a man; I noticed." Brass defended, but Grissom continued his glare.
"Look, but don't touch is a man law on claimed women." he said, but the glare continued.
"Stop it. I didn't do anything wrong and don't think I also didn't see you holding Sara's clothes below the belt."
"You sat on the chair." Grissom said.
"You both got an erection from seeing Sara in that bikini?" Catherine asked with laughter in her voice. Both men blushed in response which caused her laughter to bubble out. She knew Sara looked awesome in that bikini, but she didn't think it would go that far.
"I'm sorry, please continue."
"Anyway, we had plans to have dinner afterward. I let her change at my place and surprised her with dinner. I put out the tablecloth, the good dishes, candles and flowers."
"Wow." Catherine said.
"Sounds like a romantic setting. What happened next?" Brass asked.
"I was generous with my compliments."
"Good; she looked hot." Catherine complimented herself and Sara at the same time.
"After I served the bread and salad, she remembered about my conversation with Ecklie. When she had asked before, I was on my way to your house and never told her what he'd said." He looked at Catherine for the last part.
"Uh-oh."
"Yeah. She called me out on my behavior and asked that I tell her what he said. After I admitted that Ecklie was partly responsible for my behavior change."
"Bad move." Brass said.
"I wanted to show her honesty so I told her everything I was feeling and what Ecklie had said. She got pissed and told me I was only acting on these long term feelings because Ecklie gave me permission. She asked me to take her home. I gave her some of the dinner I made and granted her request. Nick and Warrick later threatened me and told me not to hurt her again." Grissom looked between his two friends.
"Wow, that's quite a change." Brass said.
"Yeah."
"So what are you going to do?" Catherine asked.
"Other than screw up again?"
"What did you do?"
"I asked to hold her hand on the way to our scene. She said 'not at work'."
"Good for her." Catherine commented.
"What else?" Brass knew there was more to it than that. He was there when the two investigators arrived and left the scene.
"I came on too strong and she put me in my place. She did agree to go bowling with me tonight, though."
"That's good, some place safe and public." Catherine said.
"Is there more?" Brass asked.
"We have a private wager on the game tonight."
"How bad?" Catherine was eager to know.
"Very private; I'm stepping considerably out of my comfort zone for her."
"I'll agree to that statement. Just don't try to get her into bed." Brass advised.
"I agree; let her decide." Catherine backed him up.
"Why have I been such an ass all these years?" Grissom asked.
"Do you love her?" Brass was hoping that Grissom would answer.
"Yes." He admitted.
"You didn't know?" Catherine looked at Brass.
"I knew; it's just nice to hear finally hear it." Brass said with a smile.
"Technically, he hasn't said it." Catherine challenged.
"I love her. I have for ten years." Grissom rose to the challenge; shocking both Catherine and Brass with his openness.
"That long you've made her wait?" Brass was genuinely shocked.
"Yes."
"The woman is a saint." he complimented Sara.
"I don't deserve her." Grissom admitted.
"Probably not, but she wants you." Catherine said.
"Why? I just don't see what she sees in an anti-social, bug-loving, loner."
"Nice self image there, Gil." Brass said and toasted an imaginary drink in Grissom's direction.
"Ask her." Catherine suggested.
"I can't." Grissom confessed.
"I'll do it." she offered.
"No, I will, but it's just too soon." he said.
"Don't wait for ten more years." Brass said.
"I won't."
"Quit blaming yourself. What was it like when you met her?" Catherine asked.
"Fun." Grissom had a mysterious smile on his face as he recalled the memory.
"Care to share?" Brass asked.
"No, I'm keeping that memory to myself."
"Where did you meet her?"
"San Francisco; at a lecture."
"Is it something you can re-create?" Catherine asked.
"Possibly. I want to see how the bowling goes tonight. Then I'll know where to go from there. Please, don't offer suggestions unless I ask. I need to do this by myself." Catherine and Brass nodded and rose to leave. Grissom told them one final thing.
"Thank you for listening." They nodded and left. Nick had been waiting for Catherine. As soon as he saw her leave Grissom's office, he paged Warrick and Greg to the diner. Catherine dragged Brass with her. The five of them shared what they knew about the geeks before going home.
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A/N: The next chapter will cover the bowling date. Who do you think will win? Do you think that Catherine and Brass will listen to Grissom or interfere anyway?
Reviews are wanted and appreciated. Thank you all so much for the reviews I have received…I'm still waiting for my muse to return to Confidentiality, but until she returns, I'll do my best to keep posting other stories.
Have a great day everyone! Kelly