Fic: Show Me Chapter 9

[vanillabug]

TITLE: Show Me
AUTHOR: vanillabug
RATING: T/PG-13 (will be NC-17/M in later chapters)
CATEGORY: Catherine/Sara Romance
DISCLAIMER: Don't own anything!
SPOILERS: Anything up to “Crash and Burn” is fair game.
ARCHIVE: With Authors Permission VanillaBug1@comcast.net
STATUS: WIP

SUMMARY: Catherine and Sara, along with Greg and Nick attend the Annual Pacific Coast Conference in San Francisco. How long can Catherine and Sara keep denying that they are nothing more than friends? CATHERINE/SARA PAIRING (will be rated M in later chapters)

Show Me

Show Me 9/?

“Can you imagine if we had one of those at out lab? It would be so much faster,” Nick stated as he and Sara were driving back to the hotel.

“I’m not gonna lie, it would come in handy,” Sara replied, hand steady on the steering wheel, “It would cut down on the amount of time we have to put up with Hodges,” the brunette chuckled, “We should definitely bring it up to Grissom.”

“I don’t think Ecklie would go for it,” the Texan stated.

“Ha, we just have to present the ideas to Grissom. Let him deal with Ecklie,” Sara smiled.

“Very good point Sara. Hey, is everything alright with Catherine? She wasn’t really herself this morning,” Nick asked.

“Oh yeah, she was just really tired. All that happened with her flight, the luggage, the hotel, it’s just the stress,” Sara answered as they pulled up to the front of the hotel

“I hope so. This is supposed to be somewhat of a vacation. She should enjoy it, we all should,” Nick added.

“And we will. I think it’s hard for her being without Lindsey. Especially on such short notice,” Sara explained as she stepped out of the car, handing her keys to the valet.

“You know, I’ve noticed you and Catherine lately,” Nick commented as he shut the car door.

“What … what are you talking about?” she stuttered, grabbing their valet ticket.

“I’ve just noticed you guys and it seems like you guys, well …” Nick struggled.

“We what?” The brunette questioned nervously.

“That you guys, don’t take this the wrong way, but, it seems like you guys are actually friends,” Nick said as Sara let out a small sigh of relief.

“Oh, yeah … we’re friends.”

“That’s good news. Bout time ya’ll got over yourselves,” the Texan smiled as they walked into the hotel.

“Excuse me?” Sara exclaimed, playfully smacking his arm.

“Come on. You know it’s true,” he replied rubbing the spot Sara smacked.

“If you say so,” Sara replied. “Hey, is that Greg?” she asked, pointing through the lobby out to the hotel pool.

“Where?”

“Over there at the pool.”

“I don’t think so. I thought our seminar ended before theirs did,” Nick said as they made their way through the lobby.

“Yet, there he is,” Sara stated as they reached the door to the pool.

“Is he hitting on that girl?” Nick almost laughed as he watched Greg.

“I think he is trying … oh wait,” the brunette paused as she watched Greg’s prey walk away. “Nope … looks like he failed.” Sara concluded chuckling a little.

“Ha, let’s go tease …” Nick started.

“Oh no you don’t,” Sara interrupted, grabbing Nick’s arm. “Look at him, he looks so heartbroken. You be nice,” she warned.

“Alright, alright,” he agreed opening the door heading over to Greg. “Hey buddy.”

“Oh, hey guys. Just soaking up a little sun and enjoying the view,” the lab tech said, leering around the pool.

“Hey, why aren’t you soaking up the seminar you and Catherine are supposed to be in right now?” Sara questioned.

“Oh, we get there right, not five minutes into the thing, the dude’s phone rings and it’s his wife who is going into labor! He say’s he’s sorry, runs out and we have the afternoon free. Pretty sweet huh?” Greg explained, taking a sip of his beer.

“Interesting,” Nick commented.

“So, then where’s Catherine?” Sara asked glancing around the pool.

“She went back into your guys room to lay down,” the lab tech answered.

“Okay. Um … did you guys eat anything yet?” The brunette asked.

“I didn’t. I’m not sure about Catherine. She might have had something. We’ve been out since about 2:15 this afternoon,” Greg replied taking another sip of beer.

“Alright, I’ll give her a call from the lobby and see if she’s hungry,” Sara offered retreating into the hotel.

“You think I have time for another beer before Sara gets back?” Greg said, draining the last of his bottle.

“Before Sara gets back? No,” Nick replied “But before Catherine is ready, yes,” he Texan smiled. “Where’s the bar out here anyway?” And with a wicked smile Greg led Nick to the outdoor bar.

Meanwhile, Sara made her way to the courtesy phone at the front desk and dialed their room number.

“Mmgeow,” a voice answered after a few rings.

“Catherine?”

“Umm, yeah, Sara?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Did I wake you? Oh wait, that’s a stupid question,” the brunette stated already knowing the answer.

“No, well, yeah but it’s okay,” she yawned. “What’s up?”

“The boys and I are gonna grab some dinner and wanted to know if you wanted to come,” Sara asked.

“Um, right now?” Catherine replied, the sleep still evident in her voice.

“Don’t worry about it Cath, I’ll bring you back something. Go back to sleep.”

“No, no, I want to be with you Sara,” Catherine replied in an unintentional husky voice.

“Uh … okay,” the brunette stuttered.

“Give me ten minutes and I’ll meet you guys downstairs,” Catherine said.

“Yeah, that’s fine. The boys are out at the pool. It will probably take me a few minutes to get them back inside anyway,” Sara stated still stuttering.

“You alright Sara?” Catherine yawned again.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll see ya in a few,” Sara replied.

“Okay, bye,” the older CSI said hanging up the phone.

Catherine stood up from the bed, stretching her arms over her head, wondering why Sara had sounded so flustered. Walking into the bathroom she replayed the whole conversation over in her head when it suddenly dawned on her. “I want to be with you”

“Oh shit,” Catherine said aloud to no one.

x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o

“Man, that totally hit the spot,” Greg said rubbing his stomach. “Pass me the dessert menu would ya?”

“You can’t be serious?” Catherine replied almost disgusted. “After all that food you just ate?”

“What?” Nick asked “I was about to say the same thing?” he replied looking at Catherine.

“You guys are unbelievable!” Sara laughed handing the menu over to Nick.

“Come on guys. You are on vacation. You can do away with your diets for a few days,” Greg commented as Nick smacked him over the head with the dessert menu.

“And you wonder why you’re single. Do you like being in the dog house or something?” the Texan asked laying the menu down in front of him

“I didn’t mean you guys needed to ..” Greg began looking at Sara and Catherine.

“You know Nick, he’s right. I don’t think I could eat something by myself,” Catherine interrupted, turning to her brunette friend, “But, do you wanna split something with me Sara?”

“I really don’t think I could eat anything else,” the younger woman replied.

“Oh, come on,” Catherine pouted, “Please?”

“Alright, fine,” the brunette relented as Catherine’s turned her pout into a smile.

“The raspberry lemon cheesecake sounds so good, Greg commented looking at the menu. “Oh, or the apple cherry crisp. No, the cheesecake all the way,” the tech grinned handing the menu over to Catherine and Sara. Greg glanced over to see Nick shaking his head. “What?” Greg asked.

“Cheesecake?” Nick questioned.

“What? It’s good.”

“Could you have picked a more girlish dessert?”

“Actually, yeah, I could have. They have that … that …” Greg stammered trying to remember the name.

“Tiramisu!” Catherine exclaimed.

“That thing.” Greg smiled waving his hands towards Catherine.

“That does sound really good,” Sara agreed.

“That was easy,” the older woman smiled closing the menu.

“Don’t take this the wrong way Catherine, but you seem in a much better mood than you were earlier,” Nick commented.

“The power of a nap Nicky. It’s a beautiful thing,” Catherine winked as the waitress arrived back at the table. She took down their dessert orders and left the CSIs alone once again.

“Besides,” Catherine began again, “Greg is actually right. We are on vacation. Yeah, I miss Lindsey and this was all pretty stressful at first but I’m here with family. Can’t be all that bad right?” she smiled.

“I’m gonna cry,” Greg sniffed.

“You are such an ass,” Sara sighed.

“Family,” Nick said, raising his glass.

“Family,” everyone repeated raising their own and toasting the moment.

As the foursome drank their toast, Sara’s eyes became wide with shock and began chocking on her water.

“Whoa, easy there Sara,” Nick snickered.

Sara recovered and looked back up from the table, staring off into the distance.

“You okay?” the strawberry blonde asked. When she received no response she tried again, “Sara?” she stated, placing a hand on Sara’s knee, “You okay?”

“What?” The younger woman asked, “Yeah, I’m okay. I’m fine,” she stuttered, taking another drink of water.

Catherine eyed her suspiciously as Sara forced a smile towards Catherine.

“Sara?” the older woman still questioned.

Sara placed her hand on top of Catherine’s and gave a gentle squeeze, “Really, I’m okay. Just embarrassed I can’t drink a glass of water without trying to kill myself.” the brunette replied forcing a laugh.

“Way to go Sara,” Greg clapped, earning him a nasty glare courtesy of Sara, “But it happens to all of us,” he added after noticing the look on Sara’s face.

“So, I was thinking we might actually be able to get in some beach time in if we plan everything right,” Nick said, attempting to change the subject.

As Nick and Greg discussed possible beach escapes, Catherine couldn’t help but notice Sara’s nervous behavior. She added a comment to the conversation every now and then, but Catherine could tell the brunette’s mind was elsewhere. Sara’s eyes kept drifting up and off into the corner of the restaurant. Catherine attempted to follow her friend’s gaze but at that moment, the waitress arrived with their dessert.

“Wow, yours looks really good,” the lab tech stated eying the tiramisu.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Catherine smiled.

“Yeah, looks great,” the younger woman said, fiddling with her water glass.

“Dig in.” the strawberry blonde stated removing her hand from Sara’s knee, and handing her a fork.

“Huh?” Sara replied puzzled, “Oh, right,” she smiled sticking her fork in the tiramisu. She brought the sweet concoction to her lips and took a bite. “So good. Try it Cath,” she smiled.

And Catherine did, all the while watching the brunette. Only Catherine seemed to notice Sara’s odd behavior. The younger woman constantly looked up from the table, opting to push her food around the played instead of eating it, and more importantly the was Sara seemed to be doing everything she could think of not to be seen,

“How is everything?” the waitress asked suddenly appearing back at the table.

“Wonderful, thank you,” Sara replied.

“Great! Is there anything else I can get you guys?” she asked, placing the bill on the table.

“No, I think we’re good,” Sara stated, fishing through her purse.

“Ok, then, I’m gonna leave this here. There is no rush so whenever …”

“Here ya go,” the brunette interrupted handing the waitress a lab credit card.

“Oh, okay, I’ll be right back then,” she smiled and disappeared into the restaurant.

“Another reason to splurge. It’s the lab’s dime!” Greg grinned, finishing off the last of his cheesecake.

“Not a bad first day,” Nick commented leaning back in his chair. “Even with little Miss attitude over there.”

“I know you’re not talking about me so I am not going to even dignify that with a proper response,” Catherine stated.

“Oh, no, never. You were a ray of sunshine all afternoon,” Greg added.

“And how would you know? I was sleeping all afternoon while you were trying to ‘socialize’ at the pool,” Catherine said as the waitress returned with their bill.

“Have a great night guys,” she stated, giving the CSIs one final smile to ensure herself a tip.

“Same to you,” Sara replied, scribbling her signature on the receipt. Catherine notices as the brunette took a glance around the restaurant before standing up. “You guys ready?”

“What’s your hurry Sara?” Greg asked.

“I’m just tired and I still have some things to go over before my lecture tomorrow.”

“Wow, Sara Sidle is unprepared for something? Mark this day on the calendar,” the lab tech stated in disbelief.

“Real funny Greg,” Sara said glaring at him, “Seriously, guys, can we go?”

“Yeah, I’m ready to go too,” Catherine said standing up from the table.

“No problem ladies,” Nick smiled as he smacked Greg’s shoulder. “Be a gentleman Greg. Let me hit the restroom real quick.

“I’ll meet ya guys outside,” Sara quickly replied making her way out of the restaurant with Catherine right behind her.

“She seems in a big hurry for some reason,” Greg commented.

“When are you gonna learn to keep your mouth shut,” Nick said shaking his head in disbelief on the way to the restroom.

“What?” the lab tech shrugged as he made his way to the door.

“Hey, Sara, wait up a second,” Catherine yelled when she made her way outside the restaurant.

Sara stopped and turned in Catherine’s direction.

“You okay?” the blonde asked when she caught up to the Sara.

“I’m fine. I just really need to go over a few things before tomorrow.”

“Right. Sara, you could probably give your lecture, along with mine and Nick’s without even trying,” Catherine stated, “Now, you wanna tell me what’s really going on?”

Sara let out an exhausted sigh, “Back at the restaurant …”

“I’m sorry if I offended ya,” Greg interrupted, catching up to Sara and Catherine.

“No, it’s okay Greg. It’s just been a long day and I still feel a little unprepared ya know?”

“Give me a beak Sara. You are never unprepared,” the lab tech replied, “But, if you want to call it a night, I understand. Subject dropped.”

“Thanks Greg,” Sara laughed.

“Anytime,” he replied.

“Sorry about that guys. We ready?” Nick asked joining the group.

“Let’s go,” Greg answered walking alongside Nick with Catherine and Sara a few steps behind them.

“This conversation is not over,” the strawberry blonde stated as she and Sara began walking to the car.

To Be Continued ...