Chapter 3

They arrived at the café and sat down at a table, and soon after them both had a drink in their hand. Brian lit up a cigarette. At that moment Sara decided her princess days were over. She had stop smoking when she moved to Vegas, but she still missed it, and she didn't want to miss out on anything anymore. So she took one of Brian's and lit up.

"Missed it huh..?"

"Ooh yeah! More than you know!"

Brian looked at her, not sure, if Sara only were talking about the cigarette. She had changed a lot since he last saw her. And not for the better! She seemed sad and lonely. The frisky woman with sparkling eyes he used to hang out with was gone, and it made him feel sad.

"Brian what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I was just thinking about the old days."

"And it makes you gloomy?"

"No, it just hit me how much I miss it, miss you."

"Yeah me to, I really have missed you Brian, and I'm sorry, I haven't been better keeping in touch."

"Don't be Sara, I'm as much to blame I didn't keep in touch either!"

Sara smiled, "well enough with the crying, we are suppose to have fun!"

"And that we will," Brian began grinning; "I think someone has her eyes one you."

Sara turned around and looked at a blonde woman, her gaze shifted from the woman too Brian, "I think it's the blondes night out!"

Brian laughed out loud, "If she's a good kisser, then who cares about her hair color!"

Sara laughed out loud too, "Well, it's not like I have had any luck with the blondes tonight!"

"Well, it's not like the night is over, yet!" Brian laughed.

"I know, but I think I goner call it a night in that department," Sara grinned.

Brian narrowed his eyebrows, "Sara what has happened to you? That doesn't sound like the Sidle I used to know?"

"I don't know Brian" she shook her head without looking up.

"Yes you do Sara, please talk to me" Brian glanced over at her.

Sara picked up her purse and jacket; she looked sadly at Brian, then turned around and left the café. Brian got up and ran after her; he caught up with her and grabbed her arm, turning her around.

"Sara stop, please talk to me! What's wrong?"

Sara looked at him, with tears in her eyes. "I think I'm dead!" she mumbled.

Brian pulled her in and hugged her; just holding her. Sara tried to pull away, but Brian kept holding on. Sara finally gave in and started crying, after a will she started to relax, and stopped crying; slowly she lifted her head, and gazed into Brian's eyes.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin our night out," she sniffed.

Brian shook his head, "you haven't, but will you please talk to me? I'm really worried about you! You don't seem happy anymore! You have changed so much since I last saw you; I don't think Vegas have been good to you!"

"I don't know. Perhaps I'm the one not good for me!"

"What do you said? Let's find a place, and get a cup of coffee and just talk, and well… We might as well have breakfast too, since its 3.30 am."

"Okay, I don't think I can sleep anyway."

They started walking, and soon after they found a little diner and went inside. They sat down in a booth, both got coffee and something to eat. Sara took out a cigarette and lit it, slowly exhaling the smoke out through her nose.

"Sara what did you mean, then you said you were dead?" He asked softly.

"I don't think I have any emotions back in my body anymore, sometimes it feels, like I can't feel anything anymore" she replied sadly.

Brian smiled, "well Sara, I don't think you're dead! Think you just have been alone to long. If you're without someone in your live, for a long period of time; it's easy to shut down all feelings, especially in our line of work. It's simply our minds way of survival."

"I guess you're right! But it still scare me sometimes, it's not who I am, who I used to be" she sighed.

"I know, isn't there anyone in your life who could awake your feelings?" Brian asked gently.

"No…o."

"No? You don't sound sure," he gave her a small smile, before turning his attention back to his food.

"It doesn't matter she isn't interested anyway, she really doesn't like me" Sara said hesitantly.

"Have you asked her?" Brian said patiently.

"No, I don't even think she likes girls. Well not me anyway!"

"Look Sara, I know you don't like being rejected no one does, but can it be any worse, than the way you are feeling now?"

"Probably not, but at least this way I still have the dream" she replied, trying not to sound defensive.

"Yeah, but why settle for a dream, if you can have the real thing? What if she surprises you and says yes?"

"I haven't thought about it. Look, we barely speak to each other, and if we finally do it's always about work. I can't just walk over to her, and ask her out on a date. She'll think I'm crazy!"

Brian small-laughed, "maybe, but it won't kill you!"

"Are you sure? She is a Detective and carries a gun, and trust me, she's not afraid to use it," Sara smiled.

"O…uch, I can see your problem!" Brian laughed. "But seriously, I think you need to talk to her, try to get her away from work."

Sara started to laugh, "I already have she's back at my hotel room."

He gave a semi-abashed shrug. "So why are you sitting here with me?"

"Because I like you and missed you, and because it's first after talking to you, that I have admitted to myself, that I really like her" she pointed out.

"Well, when I think it was a good thing you called me, but maybe we should call it a night, it's getting pretty late or early, and I do have to go to work in a couple of hours."

"Yeah, and I'm suppose to attend a seminar later today" Sara said as she shot him a wry look.

They got up and walked outside.

"I have really enjoyed hanging out with you tonight Brian" she said in a mild tone.

"Me too Sidle, I really miss hanging out with you. So are you going back to the hotel or?"

"Yes it's closer, but maybe you would like to have dinner with me tonight, nothing wild just dinner and talk?"

"I will love too. But do me a favor; try to see if you can't get your Detective to come along. I would like to meet her" Brian suggested.

"I'll see what I can do! I'll call you when the seminar is over."

"Sure, see you later and sleep well."

"Yeah later, and you too," Sara said as she started walking back to the hotel.

Sofia had fallen asleep on the couch, while she was waiting for Sara to show up. When Sara walked into the living room, she was surprised to see that the light was still on. As she walked further into the room, she could see Sofia sleeping on the couch.

Why hasn't she gone to bed?

Sara went closer and stopped, and just looked at the blonde. Sofia looked so peaceful in her sleep.

Sara didn't know what to do. It was a small couch, not even long enough for Sofia to be sleeping on.

Well, I could wake her up!

But she didn't know how Sofia would react to that.

Or I can let her stay on the couch!

But she doubted Sofia would be able to sit on a chair the next day, after spending a whole night on that couch. She finally made a decision.

Sara went down to Sofia's room, and pushed the blanket aside, then she went back to the living room, and over to Sofia. Carefully she lifted the sleeping woman up, hoping she wouldn't wake up, and carried her to her room. "Hate me tomorrow, but right now, I'm taking you to bed," Sara murmured. Gently she laid Sofia down on the bed and put the blanket over her, and left the room. She went back to the living room, turned out the lights, and went to bed herself.

Sofia was totally puzzled, when she woke up the next morning.

How the hell did I get to bed? I don't remember walking in here! And since when have I started sleepwalking?

Sofia shook her head and slowly got out of bed and went for the shower, not quite sure about what to think of it all. As the hot water ran down her body, her thoughts went on to Sara.

Has she even come back yet? And if she is, then why didn't she wake me up, and ask me to go to bed? Well, either she doesn't care, or maybe she was afraid I would get mad at her, or maybe I already was in bed..? Who knows?

After Sofia got dressed, she went into the living room, to find Sara and Jean sitting on the couch talking.

"Morning girls" Sofia said.

"Morning Sofia," Jean replied.

"Good morning, slept alright?" Sara asked, with a big smile on her face.

"Mmm yeah, just fine," Sofia replied, Sara's smile warmed her and lit her face.

"There's coffee in the kitchen" Sara told.

Sofia smiled, "thanks anyone up for a refuel?"

"Just bring the pot in here," Sara said, with an amused look in her eyes.

Sofia went to the kitchen.

What the hell is going on, Sara is smiling to me?

Not, that she didn't like it, she liked it a lot! But she didn't get it.

Maybe she just was being polite, because of Jean; nope that wasn't the Sara style, then what?

"Sofia to earth," Sara said not even trying to stop the smile.

"Huh..?"

"Are you alright? I kind of got concern, when you didn't answered my call out."

She's concerned for me? Why?

"Sofia you are starting to scare me!"

Sofia smiled up at her cheekily. "Huh..? What..? I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You look like you just took a trip to mars!" The statement was one of fact, rather than an accusation.

"I'm fine, did you need anything?" Sofia said automatically.

"Just some milk for my coffee" Sara chuckled.

"Ooh okay coming right up," the blonde replied.

Sara just smiled and shook her head, and then she left the kitchen again.

Sofia briefly closed her eyes.

What is wrong with me? I'm behaving like a fool.

She opened her eyes and shook her head, and went back into the living room.

The seminar went on, and on, and on, but finally the day ended, and not a minute too soon if you asked Sara. She had decided to kill Grissom, the minute she got home, knowing she probably could get away with it, Sara laughed out loud, making Jean and Sofia looking at her.

"What?" Sara chuckled dryly.

"What's so funny?" Sofia asked.

"Well, if I not goner die of boredom before this is over, I have decided to kill Grissom when I get home, simply for fun, and because he made me go to this." Sara explained.

Sofia couldn't stop grinning; "only Sara can come up with a thing like that, and she might as well get away with it too," Sofia thought. When they came back to the hotel room, Sara excused herself, and went to her room.

Jean looked at Sofia, "when did she come home?"

"I don't know I felt asleep around 3. I don't even know how I got to bed!" She said casually.

"I got up at 7.30 to fresh coffee, doesn't she sleep?" Jean asked.

Sofia smiled, "not much if the rumor is true."

"Any plans for tonight?" Jean asked.

"Nope..! You?"

"Yeah, I have to go to dinner with my colleague, we are meeting someone I don't know who."

"Have fun; think I will go for a nap" Sofia rubbed her eyes with one hand.

Sofia went back to her room and threw herself on the bed, and closed her eyes. After a few minutes, she heard a knock on her door.

"Come in," her eyes still closed.

"Did I wake you?" Sara asked leaning up against the doorframe.

Sofia opened her eyes and turned her head. "God she looks cute standing there! No, you can come in!"

Sara didn't move she just let her eyes stroll up and down the blonde's body, with a little smile on her lips. Finally she gazed into Sofia's eyes.

"Do you have any plans for tonight?"

Sofia who was caught off-guard just said, "No."

As Sara hoped, her question took the blonde aback, "Would you like to go out to dinner with me?"

Sofia couldn't believe her own ears, "Dinner with you, Why?"

Sara just smiled and countered, ignoring the first part of her statement, "because we are humans and we eat. Look, it's not like I'm asking you out on a date! If it makes you feel better, you can call it payment for your notes. So what do you say?"

Sofia's eyes met Sara's at last, as she glared at her, embarrassment apparently chased out by surprise. "Um okay, I´ll like to go."

"Fine, we are leaving at seven! We are meeting up with an old friend of mine, he looks forward to meet you," and with that Sara left the room.

Sofia leaned back on the bed again, and closed her eyes.

Hello, what did just happen here? Did Sara just invite me out to dinner? And WHAT… did she just check out my body? And this friend, why has she been talking to him, about me? I have way to many why`s here! I need to get some answers. Sofia, you need to have a talk, with CSI Sara Sidle.

Sofia got up from the bed, and went to Sara's room and knocked at her door.

"Come in" Sara's voice sounded.

Sofia opened the door; Sara was lying across the bed, with a big smile on her face.

"What took you so long?" Sara asked, a mischievously grin playing on her face.

"Huh..?" Sofia was again caught off-guard.

"Come in Sofia, I think we need to talk!"

Sofia went over to the bed, but didn't know what to do.

"Sit down, I won't bite …well unless you want me too," Sara teased.

Sofia sat down but didn't look ad Sara, "I don't understand Sara, what it is you are doing? Are you playing me?"

"Sofia please looks at me." Slowly Sofia turned her head, and her eyes lock with dark brown chocolate eyes. "No, I'm not playing you, my feelings for you are real, and I'm getting tired of hiding them for you. I don't expect you to understand, but it's the way it is. Actually it's very simple, well, at least for me. I'm in love with you Sofia Curtis!"

For awhile Sara's confession left Sofia speechless. "What am I suppose to say to that? "Sara I don't know what to say to that!"

Sara watched her for a moment. "Me either that's entirely up to you, I don't know how you are feeling, do you?"

Sofia slowly shook her head, while all kind of thoughts were flying around in her mind. "No, I don't think I do Sara."

"It's okay Sofia; I didn't expect an answer from you, right away. I know this must come as a big surprise for you; I just wanted you to know."

Sofia lay back on the bed," jeeze... Sidle, you sure know how to surprise a girl!"

Sara was small-laughing as she got out of bed. "So… still want to go out for dinner?"

Sofia smiled, "yes I do."

"Then we better get ready," Sara said, "Brian hates when people are late."

Tbc…