Chapter 8

Jim Brass sat at his desk nursing a scotch. It had been one of those weeks and he had a lot on his mind. His mind frequently wandered to his friend Catherine and whatever was going on with Sara. He had basically caught them in the act a few days ago out in the parking lot. He had no idea how it had happened between them or to what it would actually amount. All he knew is that Sara and Catherine both seemed to be the happiest he had ever seen. Maybe it was a good thing?

"Hey, Jim." Catherine stood in his doorway smiling at him. "Got some of that to share?"

Jim pulled out another glass and poured as Catherine took a seat opposite him at the desk. He pushed it across the desk to her and sat back grinning. Catherine took a sip and exhaled loudly.

"Wow! That has a good kick. Just what I needed after this week."

"Yeah, the stress of being caught making out on company time can get to a person." Jim smirked.

"Ok, Jim. Here we go." Catherine sat forward, leaning on the desk. "I apologize for my unprofessional behavior and am grateful for you not reporting it to Ecklie."

"Why would I bother him with that?" Jim took a sip from his glass. "Besides, Sara seems to make you VERY happy."

"Wha-. Jim, you certainly don't think that-"

"Catherine!" Jim interrupted her, holding up his hand. "I'm not a fool. I'm a detective. I can figure things out." He flashed her a grin and took another sip. "I got no problem with it if that's what your worried about here."

"Well..." Catherine stared at him for a few moments. "How did you know?"

"You aren't exactly the quietest person." He grinned at her and poured himself another swig of the liquid.

"Shit!" Catherine buried her head in her hands, not wanting to look up at her friend. "I am so embarrassed!"

"Hey, come on now! No need! From what Gil told me about her, I'm sure it was appropriate."

"JIM! That was totally uncalled for!" She stood and slammed her hands on the desk, staring him down.

"See! Now there's the Catherine I know and love!" He chuckled. "I was just kidding. Gil would never talk about Sara or anyone like that. I just wanted to see how you would react."

Catherine sat back down and gulped down the rest of the scotch, holding the empty glass out in indication of a need for a refill. Jim smiled and poured her some more liquid encouragement. Catherine sat back and contemplated what she wanted to tell him, but Jim decided to express what he was thinking first.

"You know. I knew about Sara and Gil before anyone. They tried to hide it and did a damn good job of it. But I could see it. Sara had this look. She was truly happy. She had been so sad for such a long time before that, so I decided it must be a good thing for both of them. Then after the whole Natalie thing, she changed. Gil changed. They weren't happy anymore. But you know, I see that look again in her eyes. Even after ending it with what we thought was the love of her life, she seems truly happy. Happier than I've seen in a long time." He took a long swig and looked Catherine right in the eyes. "You have that same look."

"I do?" Catherine sat with this look of astonishment that made Jim laugh. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"Yeah. You do." They smiled knowingly at one another. "I'm happy for you both."

"I'm glad we had this talk." Catherine got up to leave. She hesitated as she reached the door. "You know, Jim. I would appreciate your discretion with this. We are still trying to figure it all out."

"Of course." Jim winked at her. "Just, uh, try to keep your activities at home, huh?"

"God!" Catherine covered her face again and made a quick getaway.

Jim sat back and smiled. He was happy for the two women. It was a relationship he had never anticipated happening, but it seemed right. He hoped it all worked out for them. They deserved some happiness in their lives.

Sara had breakfast waiting for Catherine when she got home from her shift. She heard her lover come in and drop her keys on the table in the entry way and then kick off her shoes. She leaned against the counter, waiting for that smile she had missed all night.

"Hey, Babe!" Cath walked over and placed a soft kiss on Sara's lips and grinned. "Ooh! Pancakes! I am starved!" She took her usual seat at the table and poured syrup over her stack.

"Have you been drinking?" Sara licked her lips. "Jim's scotch?"

"How did you know?" Catherine looked at Sara who just gave a guilty look. "Nevermind. I get it. Gil used to sit and sip that stuff with Jim before coming home, right?"

"Yeah." Sara took a seat at the table. "So, you and Jim had a talk?"

"Yeah." Catherine finished her bite. "He knows." She shoved another fork full of pancake into her mouth and smiled at Sara as she chewed.

"He, uh...knows?" Sara sat her coffee down on the table with a thunk. "Knows WHAT exactly, Cat?"

"He knows it was you with me out in the parking lot."

"Oh, yeah. Well, I figured he knew that by the way he waved at me when I drove out of the parking lot." Sara sipped her coffee. "What ELSE does he know?"

"Well, he said he had never seen us both so happy as we are now. Together."

"So, you told him we are a couple?" Sara was not happy.

"NO! I didn't really say anything! He said he saw that look of happiness back in your eyes, like when you and Gil had first gotten together. And he said I look happy too." Cat smiled at her and winked.

"Oh, yeah?" Sara sat staring at her cup for a few minutes. "Is he going to say anything? I really don't want rumors flying around the lab."

"No. He wont and I trust him." Cat took another bite. "He says he knew about you and Gil all along and he never told anyone about that."

Sara smiled. "He didn't know!"

"He says he did!"

"No. He would never keep that a secret! He would have told........well.....you!" Sara pointed at Catherine.

"Well, he didn't." Cat sipped her coffee and thought for a few minutes. "You know, there was one time I think he was going to tell me SOMETHING, but we got interrupted by a dead body. He said it was juicier than Grissom and Lady Heather. Hmmm. Now I know!" Cat smiled at Sara, who was scowling.

"When the hell was this?"

"Oh, uh, the western town thing. When Heather was strangled or whatever. You remember."

Sara smirked and then chuckled. "Yeah, I remember that. You were going on and on about Gil and Lady Heather. Man that was annoying!"

"Oh, yeah. Well, I had no idea. Sorry."

"Well, the past is the past. Let's move on, shall we?" Sara got up and took Cath's hand, pulling her up from her seat and wrapping her arms around Catherine's waist. "Here and now is perfect."

"MmmHmmm." Cath nipped at Sara's lips while placing her hands on Sara's backside and squeezing. "Definitely perfect."

Sara attacked Cath's lips, tongue plunging into her mouth. She tasted and teased and nipped at her lover's lips, letting her hands roam up and down her back. Cat moaned and pressed Sara closer so she was flush against Sara's warm body. That made Sara moan. They pulled back a little, blue eyes staring into brown.

"I think we should just be who we are and not hide it, Sara. I don't want to lie and sneak around. Nick knows. Jim knows. Greg knows. Hell, I think Wendy and Hodges know! What are we hiding from anyway?"

Sara pondered Catherine's words for a moment and slowly kissed Catherine, letting her know what was on her mind. "Ok."

"Ok?" Cat smiled up at Sara. "Good. Now, lets go get some rest."

Sara followed Catherine to her bedroom. THEIR bedroom. She had moved her things out of Lindsey's room into Catherine's a few days ago. Lindsey would be home in a few weeks and need it back then anyway. Sara shut the door behind them and leaned against it with a sigh. It was all so surprising to be here with this amazing woman. She was happier now than she had ever been with Gil. This felt right. This was where she was supposed to be. It was all happening so fast, but it didn't matter. It was the right thing. For both of them.

"What are you thinking about, Sara Sidle?" Cat asked as she moved to her dresser to get her pajamas.

"Just about us. How this is OUR room now. How amazing it is to be with you. How surreal it all seems sometimes." She moved towards Catherine. "How happy I am being with you."

"Yeah?" Cat began to strip off her clothing, feeling the need for a shower after a long day at work. Sara watched her as she kicked off her pants and underwear, a huge grin on her face. "You know, Sara, I remember that night at the old west town and our conversation. Do you remember the rest of it?"

Sara grinned at her lover as she approached her and then pressed her now naked body into hers. "I think it had something to do with fantasies."

"So you do remember." Catherine pressed her lips to Sara's neck, wrapping her arms around her waist. "You never did tell me what your fantasy involved."

Sara let out a breath and pressed Catherine's naked frame closer, pushing her thigh between Catherine's. Cat continued to pepper kisses along Sara's neck and face and finally on her lips. Sara responded by sucking on her lower lip, gently biting. Cat moaned and thrust her hips forward, rubbing her core on Sara's thigh. Sara moaned and began to devour Catherine's mouth with her tongue and lips.

Cat pulled back and locked eyes with her lover. "You're avoiding the topic, Ms. Sidle."

"No." Sara rolled her hips, causing Cat to moan once again. She loved that sound. Loved that she was allowed to be the one to make her come undone. Cat moved against her, placing her lips on Sara's neck, gently sucking on a particularly sensitive spot.

"Gah! Yessss!" Sara hissed out. "THIS is what I dream about."

"Mmmm." Cat mumbled against her skin. "What?" She looked up at Sara.

"You. Here. This." Sara grinned and ground her thigh against Cath's wetness. "I thought I could only fantasize of this. YOU, Catherine Willows, are my fantasy come true."

"Really?" Her eyes were heavy with lust as she studied Sara's features, watching her reactions as she slid her hand to her stomach, letting her hand roam under the band of Sara's shorts. "What about this?" Cat slid her hand lower, cupping Sara's mound and pressing her palm down, making Sara moan.

"God, Cat!" Sara pressed herself against her lover's hand, trying to relieve some of the tension that was building so quickly.

"Dreams do come true." Cat breathed into Sara's ear as she slid her finger between her wet folds, gently sliding it around her already erect clit. "You like that?"

"Yess! God, you know I do." Sara moved her hand, mimicking Cat's actions on her lover's body. "I don't need fantasies. I have the real thing here." Sara slid her fingers into Cat's wetness, loving the feel of her.

Cat devoured Sara's mouth, the passion overwhelming them both. They moved to the bed, writhing, moaning and pleasuring one another, both coming undone quickly. The knowledge that they were living out their fantasies made the reality that much more intense and meaningful.

"I love you, Sara Sidle." Cat brushed a strand of hair behind Sara's ear.

"I love you, Catherine Willows." Sara wrapped her lover into her embrace and they slept the most peaceful sleep they had in years.

A/N: so, its been months and Im finally updating. Life gets in the way and I don't want to just hastily finish the story like I have others. So, I hope you like the update. More fun and adventure ahead! I am getting into a writing groove again, so I hope it goes more quickly and smoothly from here on out! Thanks for reading! Leave a review! Sorry if its not that great. Im trying to get back into the flow again. I promise better next time! Wendy.