Okay so here's chapter 6. I hope people are enjoying the story so far. I have a rough idea of where it might go but I need the encouragement so please review! x
It was Saturday morning and Gil and Catherine had just finished their shift. Catherine made a brief visit to Gil's office as she was about to leave. She opened the door, seeing him tidying his desk and leaned in.
"I'm off Gil, I'll see you tonight."
Gil looked up at her quizzically. "You're going home?"
"Yeah, I'm going to get a few hours sleep then I have to collect Lindsey from school and get ready for my date with Tyler," she smiled.
"Oh…" Gil looked a little disappointed. "I thought maybe you could come to mine for breakfast before you went home since it's been a few weeks. But that's okay. You should go and get some rest Cath, I'll see you tonight," he put on a smile and continued with what he was doing before she had entered. He had really wanted to have breakfast with her because, though he'd never admit it, he missed their tradition. Catherine sensed his disappointment and felt a little guilty. She enjoyed sharing breakfast with him too but had wanted a good sleep following her difficult shift.
'Oh what the hell,' she thought. "I'll come for breakfast Gil," she smiled warmly and fully entered the room. Gil's expression lightened again.
"Are you sure? You don't have to…"
"Of course I do. And besides you're right; it has been a while. Too long, I'd say." Her smile widened, eliciting a lopsided grin from Gil.
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They departed from the lab and made their way to Gil's townhouse in their separate vehicles, Gil arriving there first. He went inside and started on breakfast, awaiting Catherine's arrival. She hadn't been far behind him and was soon parked up and making her way through his front door. She put extra force into closing the door, making her presence known.
Hearing him in the kitchen, she left him to his own devices and plopped down in his squishy couch. "It's so good to relax," she sighed. He smiled, peering through the door and seeing her rest her head against the back of the couch and close her eyes.
"Omelette?"
Without opening her eyes, she smiled and replied, "mmm, yes please." A few seconds passed and she opened one eye to look in his direction, finding that he was watching her. Closing her eye again, she restrained her smile but had no control over the slight warmth spreading over her cheeks. "Are you staring at me Gil Grissom?"
It was Gil's turn to blush. 'Oh God, was I staring?' "Uhh…" He struggled to come up with an answer, his mouth opening and closing. He gestured in front of himself as if he was trying to conjure up the words by magic. He became desperate. 'Say something! Anything!' "I…" She had caught him off guard and ruined all train of thought. As the seconds passed, Catherine was aware of Gil's discomfort and broke the silence. She smiled. "It's okay, don't panic Gil. I'm flattered," she laughed softly and opened her eyes again.
He took a deep breath, still highly embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Cath." His face reddened fiercely. 'This is so awkward,' he told himself. Feeling slightly sorry for her friend, Catherine rose from the couch and approached him. "Don't be, it's fine," she grinned, patting him on the cheek on her way into the kitchen. He stood, glued to the spot and hung his head, his face tingling from her touch. Sighing, he joined Catherine in the kitchen. She was serving the omelette he had been making which was now slightly overcooked.
"Breakfast is ready," she changed the subject which Gil was extremely thankful for. He placed the cooking dishes in the dishwasher as Catherine served his omelette with screwdrivers, making Gil's stronger than usual. 'I think he needs it,' she mused, holding in a giggle.
They were soon both seated and tucking into breakfast in comfortable silence. They didn't need conversation and were content with simply being in each other's company, stealing the odd glance or smile.
In finishing his meal, Gil stood to place his dishes in the sink. He eyed Catherine still eating and noticed the empty glass beside her.
"Would you like another drink?"
Taking the last bite off her fork, she smiled and lifted her glass towards him. She placed the fork on the plate and leaned back in her chair with a sigh and patted her stomach, earning an infamous 'Grissom' smile.
"Go into the livingroom, I'll bring your drink to you," Gil instructed, motioning towards the other room with his head.
"Thanks," Catherine replied, and headed for the comfortable couch. Gil soon accompanied her with a drink for each of them. She scooted a little closer and rested her head against his shoulder, holding the glass in her lap.
"We need to make this a regular thing again," she yawned. Gil could smell the sweet familiar fragrance of her shampoo and inhaled deeply, agreeing with her as he exhaled. They enjoyed a few moments of silence.
"Are you looking forward to your date tonight, Cath?" Gil had been thinking about Catherine going out all week and had begun to develop a slight jealousy for the man taking her. Though he wasn't fully aware of it yet.
"Yeah, hopefully I'll have more fun this time," she breathed a laugh. Gil's heart sank, as he thought about the kind of fun she might be referring to.
He paused before asking, "Is Lindsey still coming to stay here?" He privately hoped perhaps she'd changed her mind and didn't plan to bring her date home with her anymore.
"Yeah, if it's still okay?" She glanced up at him questioningly. 'No such luck,' thought Gil. "Of course it is," he smiled reassuringly, receiving a smile in return. Catherine's head found the resting place on his shoulder again and she took a sip of her drink while Gil contemplated his next question.
"Are you sure you're not taking things too fast Cath?" He knew he was taking a risk. She didn't like it when he voiced his negative opinions on her relationship choices. However, she was his best friend and he wanted to look out for her.
"Taking what too fast, Gil?" she asked. He sensed a hint of animosity in her voice, but continued none the less.
"You know what I'm talking about." He felt her tense and was beginning to regret taking that path. But he'd started it and now he had to go on. He braced himself for the potential that he would become victim to the Catherine Willows wrath and went on. "It's become quite obvious what your intentions are for your date tonight. I just wanted to check that you know what you're doing. Remember, it's only the second date, Cath."
She looked up at him incredulously and shifted away slightly. "I can't believe you Gil. That has nothing to do with you."
He cringed and began to panic. He decided it was best to retreat. "Cath, I'm sorry. I was just concerned. You're right it has nothing to do with me. Just… Let's forget I said anything." He pleaded with her, trying to convey his deep apology with his eyes. Catherine continued to stare and it occurred to her that she knew deep down that his heart had been in the right place. She sighed and lowered her head. She was too tired to argue and she didn't really want to fall out with her best friend anyway.
Keeping her eyes on her hands, she began, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just…" She shook her head. "I'm beyond tired, last night's shift took a lot out of me." She reclaimed his gaze. "I know you meant well." Giving a small apologetic smile, she placed her hand on his forearm.
"And in answer to your question, no - I don't know what I'm doing." She shrugged before she continued. "But I'm bored of the way my life has become, Gil. I figured I'd do something adventurous and take a risk." She was cut off as Gil recited her motto.
"Never doubt, never look back?" He smiled sheepishly.
She grinned. "Yeah." They gazed at one another before she moved back into his side and settled back against his couch, relieved that nothing damaging had come of their disagreement. He understood her perspective and accepted her justification of her decision.
They shared a short silence which was then broken by Catherine. "Well I guess I should get going." She swallowed the remainder of her drink and leaned forward to place the glass on a coaster on the table. Gil stood up with her and searched out her eyes for confirmation that he hadn't hurt her. She saw the questioning and reached out to pull him into a gentle hug which he gladly returned, tenderly rubbing her back.
"Thank you," she smiled as she pulled away, "for caring so much." It was all the confirmation Gil needed to know that they were fine.