CSI-fic: Mistakes (25/35)
Title: Mistakes
Author: TXLtoSFO
Fandom: CSI:LV
Pairing: Sara Sidle/OC
Rating: PG to NC-17 (NC-17-rated chapters will be noted in the cut)
Disclaimer: CSI, its characters, places, and situations are property of Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Alliance Atlantis and CBS Productions. This story was written for entertainment, not monetary purposes. Original characters, and this story are intellectual property of the author. Any similarities to existing characters, fictional or real, living or dead, are coincidental and no harm is intended.
Spoiler/Warnings: None
Summary: Someone from Sara's past shows up in an unexpected position in Vegas and quite a drama ensues. Sara thinks some mistakes can't be forgive and forgotten but Catherine is convinced that everyone deserves a second chance and tries her best to get Sara to the point of forgiveness.
Notes: When one couple has difficulties finding their way towards one another, maybe another one is in the making?
Mistakes
25. An almost perfect match
Eli was glad that Leonard was back around. They had spent the morning talking and talking and talking until they'd both fallen asleep on the couch, peaceful in each other's arms, like so many times before. The mail, the fall out, Sofia's pep talk. They had talked about everything except Leonard's interference in speaking with Sara. It was Eli's responsibility to make it up to her, she didn't need to know that Sara was already willing to forgive her. And much more even. But this was supposed to be hard on Eli, she had yet made another mistake.
They woke up in the afternoon, cleaning the apartment up, the music blaring out of the speakers, Eli was happy that Leonard had planned for a little distraction and wondered how he had gotten a hold of Catherine, but she looked forward to a relaxed dinner and some hours at a bar. She contemplated asking Sofia and Greg to join them, but dismissed the thought as she saw Leonard's starry-eyed look as he mentioned Catherine. That was just too cute. Just the three of them would be fine.
All freshened up, they went to the market and the store and started preparing.
Eli hugged Catherine as she opened the door for her, they shared a smile, then Catherine proceeded to greet Leonard with a peck on the cheek.
"Mmmh, this smells amazing. What are you cooking?" Catherine asked as she peeked over Leonard's shoulder into the kitchen.
"I'm cooking Italian, Ossobuco and egg plant gratineed. You'll like it. There's some wine over at the couch, I need a couple of minutes here."
He busied himself in the kitchen while Catherine and Eli sat down and Eli poured Catherine some Cabernet Sauvignon.
"Do you have to work tonight or are you off, Cath?"
"I'm off, thank goodness. First day in a week." She grinned and leaned back.
"I have all intention to get happily drunk today and enjoy this evening."
"What about Linds?" inquired Eli, knowing that Catherine would usually spent every waking moment of her day off with her daughter, especially when she got caught up in too much work before.
"I sacrificed my sleep today. We went to the mall, buying stuff for her school trip, had milkshakes and then she forced me to play some online game with her, that I didn't quite grasp... Now she is off with my sister and her nephew to some birthday party. She'll be fine. She'll fall asleep on the drive back and I already see my sis struggling to get her out of the car and into bed."
"Well, unfortunately I have to work. So I'm going to have to leave the two of you alone at some point. You think you'll manage? Spending time alone with grumpy Lenny over there?"
Eli pointed towards the kitchen, where Leonard whistled while he stirred the sauce, not appearing grumpy at all.
"We'll be fine. He's a great guy, and I'll take good care of him." Catherine smiled mischievously and added:
"I really like him."
"Oh, I can see that." Eli paused and looked at Catherine with a frown on her face.
"Cath?"
The blonde turned around and saw Eli's serious expression.
"What is it, Eli?"
"Catherine, whatever you do, don't play with him. I know you're both grown-ups, I know you're both attracted to each other and you told me yourself that you're dating history isn't the best. Leonard didn't have the best of luck with relationships so far. He's been hung up with his playground love for most of his life, they never got together. He and I... We had a time when we compensated for our losses and had that friends with benefits routine going, I already told you. He is a good guy, one of the best you can find in this messed up world. Don't hurt him. I know I'm a little overprotective of him and I'm not insinuating anything here, it's just a friendly advice."
"I know how much you love him, Eli, it's obvious. I won't. We'll see where it goes. To be honest, the second I understood who he was, I mentally put a big 'don't even go there' on him, but I've been thinking about this and I've only seen him, what, twice while he was here last time? He's younger, he lives in Cali, I have Lindsey to think about, I don't know if this will go anywhere."
"You know, you don't need my permission. I was just thinking..."
"I know, but he's not just anyone."
Eli scrutinized Catherine. Boy, she didn't believe in love at first sight, but those two...
Leonard's voice boomed through the room.
"Ladies, dinner's ready. Would you please come over?" He beamed and motioned them to sit down at the already set table, steaming food waiting for them.
It was delicious. The meat was tender and fell off the bone, the sauce was savoury and just a bit hot and the egg plant was soft and the parmesan on top crunchy. A real treat.
Catherine and Leonard talked through the whole meal. She'd be able to write a biography on both of them after tonight. And Catherine was being immensely honest. She just left out the addiction part. And Leonard was a better than she had been as Catherine mentioned her former job. No glazed over eyes betrayed him imagining Catherine doing what she used to do.
He just curiously asked how it had happened that she became a crime scene investigator.
That was when she mentioned Lindsey. She showed Leonard a picture.
"She looks a lot like you. She'll turn out to be a beautiful woman one day. And a smart one. She's got that same glimmer in her eyes." He stated honestly and Catherine looked amazed.
"Well, she really is smart. And thank you." Cath replied and got once again lost in Leonard's eyes.
Eli and Leonard had a moment alone as they cleaned the kitchen.
"Eli..."
"Hm, handsome?"
" I really like her. Tell me that I'm being stupid, but I think she does too. This is not flirting, this is preparing for something to happen. Something were both not sure of and something that will happen far too quickly."
Eli stopped wiping the work surfaces and turned to Leonard, frowning.
"She's got a lot of responsibilities. But she's a wonderful person." Those words came out hesitantly, Eli just didn't know what to say. "What do you think, Len?"
"Oh, you wouldn't want to know. I'm getting ahead of myself here. She's touched something inside me, I can't explain it, it's so different from anything I've ever experienced."
"God, you've got it bad. Are you serious Leonard?"
"I think I am." He looked over to the couch where Catherine sipped on her coffee and smiled.
He patted Eli on the shoulder.
"Come on, let's go out. I feel like dancing and you have to be at work in three hours. Let's make the best of it."
Eli hugged him fiercely.
"I love you, Lenny. I know whatever you do, you'll have thought it through before. So will she."
"I know. I love you, too, precious."
*******
"Miss Willows, would you like to dance?" Leonard held out his hand as he and Eli returned from the dance floor, panting and laughing happily. Catherine had watched them closely while she nursed her third drink. It was obvious from the way they danced that the two of them had been lovers. And both very good dancers. They moved in complete synch, gracefully and with ease. There was less space between them than usual and it was clear that Leonard was the only person Eli was absolutely comfortable with. They didn't need words to communicate, she had seen them exchange glances that held whole sentences. The burning was back. Yet she wasn't completely sure what to do about it yet.
"I'd love to. Let's see how good you really are." She took his hand and he rose it to his mouth and gently kissed the back of it. Catherine shivered at the gentlemanly gesture. So different from anyone she'd met so far. They fell into a standard routine. He really was a good dancer. They moved around effortlessly and quick, stunning the other occupants of the dance floor, which moved hastily aside to give them more space.
Laughingly they returned to the table, sitting down on either side of Eli, but their glances lingered on each other.
"Guys, I'm going to fetch one final drink and then I'm out of here. I got to get to work."
She left the table and chuckled inwardly at their non-reaction.
"That was quite a dance, Miss Willows..."
Leonard had come to a decision. It was worth it. Maybe his life would take a new turn, maybe it wouldn't. Maybe she'd deny him, maybe she really felt the same. What was it that Sara had said? If you never try then you'll never know.
"Please, Leonard, will you please call me Catherine?" The blonde pleaded and reached for her almost empty glass across the table, the action bringing her much closer to Leonard. Stopping in the middle of her move, green eyes met hers as she lifted up her gaze to look at Leonard. His warm and large hand rose slowly and softly covered her own, then fingertips lightly ran up her arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake and a tremble she just couldn't escape ran through Catherine. The hand finally found her cheek and settled there.
This might be so wrong! Catherine's clouded mind screamed at her as she involuntarily leaned into the fleeting, soft touch. He's so young... But he's gorgeous! He's Eli's best friend... But look into those emerald eyes! Eyes that came closer every second. Catherine gasped as a thumb started caressing her lower lip. Her eyes fluttered shut and open again. Afraid, not scared. Anticipating, hoping, daring, waiting, what will happen? What's supposed to happen? Is she supposed to make the reasonable decision and pull back? Decline what she desired? Because, oh, she did desire this, him. Such full lips on a man, so soft a touch, so kind but fiery the sparkle in his eyes. There was no decision left to be made. Catherine Willows was smitten, and she'd be a fool not to try and see where it might lead her.
"Catherine-" he emphasized calling her by her first name again, "I'm gonna kiss you right now, right here and don't you dare to close your eyes, don't you dare to hesitate, don't even think about any way to escape me now."
Two pairs of open eyes, one like a fir tree in the early spring, one like the sea on a stormy summer's day. Lush lips meet in the softest of tangle, barely touching, no roughness, no desperate need, just a simple touch that settles in the mind first, then wanders to the stomach, causing it to somersault wildly just to settle down somewhere much lower, with a weird persistence. It was not going to get away. It's just a kiss! Was it?
Eyes fixed upon hers, Leonard's lips lingered, then withdrew from Catherine's. Slowly she got up, pushed the one empty chair that still separated them to the side. Closing the distance, she sank down on his lap, facing him. Thigh muscles flexed under her, the first sign of nervousness from Leonard. As she cupped his face with both hands, his breathing became erratic. He parted his lips just a little bit and breathed through his mouth. Catherine thought she'd never seen a more beautiful man. The two day stubble felt surprisingly soft under her palms. He still held her gaze or did she hold his? Her thumbs wandered over his eyebrows, around his eyes, down his cheeks and finally drew the contours of his parted lips.
A strangled whimper escaped her as the tip of his tongue met her finger.
"Catherine." He whispered around her thumb. Her name a caress the way he said it.
Every last bit of self-restraint forgotten, she bent down and crashed their lips together in a bruising kiss. Unabashedly hungry she nipped at his bottom lips, begging for more, begging for entrance which he joyfully granted. Tongues meet and a fire was set ablaze. Devouring, demandingly they explored every inch of each other's mouths. Strong hands tangled in strawberry blond tresses, lean feminine fingers tilted a head back, cherry red lips kissed and nipped and nibbled down a jaw line, giving them both a moment to catch their breaths.
A second later they broke apart, eyes wide, pupils dilated and they stared at each other. As if not believing the feral quality of the moment they'd just shared.
Eli stood in a corner at the far end of the bar, it was dimly lit here, she almost disappeared in the shadows. A content smile on her lips, she watched the scene that unfolded before her eyes. Lost in another kiss, Catherine and Leonard shared a connection that had been instant, and instantly been noticed by Eli. She took another sip from her Coke and sighed. It seemed she did a lot of sighing lately. There was nothing she wished Leonard more than finally finding happiness in a woman's arms after years and years of searching and disappointment. Though the combination seemed somewhat strange at first sight, there was something that told Eli that they fitted. Catherine and Leonard. Divided by a state, 8 years in age and a teenage kid which meant the world to Catherine, she still thought they were an almost perfect match. Both passionate, both honest and sensible about their feelings. It could grow, even over the distance. Eli knew that if Leonard committed to something, he did it fully, no playing around, no holding the other at arm's length.
Catherine settled back into a chair beside Leonard, still looking at him, but knowing that making out like that in a public place wasn't the wisest thing to do. Their hands though, entwined on top of the table, continued the game.
Eli walked over.
Smiling, she put a hand on Leonard's shoulder and the other on Catherine's back. She bent down and looked at them, one after the other.
"Behave, guys. There's still so much time. I'm outta here. Go, dance a bit more. Have a great night."
Both looked up at her and smiled. She sighed and turned to leave. They would figure it out.
Author: TXLtoSFO
Fandom: CSI:LV
Pairing: Sara Sidle/OC
Rating: PG to NC-17 (NC-17-rated chapters will be noted in the cut)
Disclaimer: CSI, its characters, places, and situations are property of Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Alliance Atlantis and CBS Productions. This story was written for entertainment, not monetary purposes. Original characters, and this story are intellectual property of the author. Any similarities to existing characters, fictional or real, living or dead, are coincidental and no harm is intended.
Spoiler/Warnings: None
Summary: Someone from Sara's past shows up in an unexpected position in Vegas and quite a drama ensues. Sara thinks some mistakes can't be forgive and forgotten but Catherine is convinced that everyone deserves a second chance and tries her best to get Sara to the point of forgiveness.
Notes: When one couple has difficulties finding their way towards one another, maybe another one is in the making?
Mistakes
25. An almost perfect match
Eli was glad that Leonard was back around. They had spent the morning talking and talking and talking until they'd both fallen asleep on the couch, peaceful in each other's arms, like so many times before. The mail, the fall out, Sofia's pep talk. They had talked about everything except Leonard's interference in speaking with Sara. It was Eli's responsibility to make it up to her, she didn't need to know that Sara was already willing to forgive her. And much more even. But this was supposed to be hard on Eli, she had yet made another mistake.
They woke up in the afternoon, cleaning the apartment up, the music blaring out of the speakers, Eli was happy that Leonard had planned for a little distraction and wondered how he had gotten a hold of Catherine, but she looked forward to a relaxed dinner and some hours at a bar. She contemplated asking Sofia and Greg to join them, but dismissed the thought as she saw Leonard's starry-eyed look as he mentioned Catherine. That was just too cute. Just the three of them would be fine.
All freshened up, they went to the market and the store and started preparing.
Eli hugged Catherine as she opened the door for her, they shared a smile, then Catherine proceeded to greet Leonard with a peck on the cheek.
"Mmmh, this smells amazing. What are you cooking?" Catherine asked as she peeked over Leonard's shoulder into the kitchen.
"I'm cooking Italian, Ossobuco and egg plant gratineed. You'll like it. There's some wine over at the couch, I need a couple of minutes here."
He busied himself in the kitchen while Catherine and Eli sat down and Eli poured Catherine some Cabernet Sauvignon.
"Do you have to work tonight or are you off, Cath?"
"I'm off, thank goodness. First day in a week." She grinned and leaned back.
"I have all intention to get happily drunk today and enjoy this evening."
"What about Linds?" inquired Eli, knowing that Catherine would usually spent every waking moment of her day off with her daughter, especially when she got caught up in too much work before.
"I sacrificed my sleep today. We went to the mall, buying stuff for her school trip, had milkshakes and then she forced me to play some online game with her, that I didn't quite grasp... Now she is off with my sister and her nephew to some birthday party. She'll be fine. She'll fall asleep on the drive back and I already see my sis struggling to get her out of the car and into bed."
"Well, unfortunately I have to work. So I'm going to have to leave the two of you alone at some point. You think you'll manage? Spending time alone with grumpy Lenny over there?"
Eli pointed towards the kitchen, where Leonard whistled while he stirred the sauce, not appearing grumpy at all.
"We'll be fine. He's a great guy, and I'll take good care of him." Catherine smiled mischievously and added:
"I really like him."
"Oh, I can see that." Eli paused and looked at Catherine with a frown on her face.
"Cath?"
The blonde turned around and saw Eli's serious expression.
"What is it, Eli?"
"Catherine, whatever you do, don't play with him. I know you're both grown-ups, I know you're both attracted to each other and you told me yourself that you're dating history isn't the best. Leonard didn't have the best of luck with relationships so far. He's been hung up with his playground love for most of his life, they never got together. He and I... We had a time when we compensated for our losses and had that friends with benefits routine going, I already told you. He is a good guy, one of the best you can find in this messed up world. Don't hurt him. I know I'm a little overprotective of him and I'm not insinuating anything here, it's just a friendly advice."
"I know how much you love him, Eli, it's obvious. I won't. We'll see where it goes. To be honest, the second I understood who he was, I mentally put a big 'don't even go there' on him, but I've been thinking about this and I've only seen him, what, twice while he was here last time? He's younger, he lives in Cali, I have Lindsey to think about, I don't know if this will go anywhere."
"You know, you don't need my permission. I was just thinking..."
"I know, but he's not just anyone."
Eli scrutinized Catherine. Boy, she didn't believe in love at first sight, but those two...
Leonard's voice boomed through the room.
"Ladies, dinner's ready. Would you please come over?" He beamed and motioned them to sit down at the already set table, steaming food waiting for them.
It was delicious. The meat was tender and fell off the bone, the sauce was savoury and just a bit hot and the egg plant was soft and the parmesan on top crunchy. A real treat.
Catherine and Leonard talked through the whole meal. She'd be able to write a biography on both of them after tonight. And Catherine was being immensely honest. She just left out the addiction part. And Leonard was a better than she had been as Catherine mentioned her former job. No glazed over eyes betrayed him imagining Catherine doing what she used to do.
He just curiously asked how it had happened that she became a crime scene investigator.
That was when she mentioned Lindsey. She showed Leonard a picture.
"She looks a lot like you. She'll turn out to be a beautiful woman one day. And a smart one. She's got that same glimmer in her eyes." He stated honestly and Catherine looked amazed.
"Well, she really is smart. And thank you." Cath replied and got once again lost in Leonard's eyes.
Eli and Leonard had a moment alone as they cleaned the kitchen.
"Eli..."
"Hm, handsome?"
" I really like her. Tell me that I'm being stupid, but I think she does too. This is not flirting, this is preparing for something to happen. Something were both not sure of and something that will happen far too quickly."
Eli stopped wiping the work surfaces and turned to Leonard, frowning.
"She's got a lot of responsibilities. But she's a wonderful person." Those words came out hesitantly, Eli just didn't know what to say. "What do you think, Len?"
"Oh, you wouldn't want to know. I'm getting ahead of myself here. She's touched something inside me, I can't explain it, it's so different from anything I've ever experienced."
"God, you've got it bad. Are you serious Leonard?"
"I think I am." He looked over to the couch where Catherine sipped on her coffee and smiled.
He patted Eli on the shoulder.
"Come on, let's go out. I feel like dancing and you have to be at work in three hours. Let's make the best of it."
Eli hugged him fiercely.
"I love you, Lenny. I know whatever you do, you'll have thought it through before. So will she."
"I know. I love you, too, precious."
*******
"Miss Willows, would you like to dance?" Leonard held out his hand as he and Eli returned from the dance floor, panting and laughing happily. Catherine had watched them closely while she nursed her third drink. It was obvious from the way they danced that the two of them had been lovers. And both very good dancers. They moved in complete synch, gracefully and with ease. There was less space between them than usual and it was clear that Leonard was the only person Eli was absolutely comfortable with. They didn't need words to communicate, she had seen them exchange glances that held whole sentences. The burning was back. Yet she wasn't completely sure what to do about it yet.
"I'd love to. Let's see how good you really are." She took his hand and he rose it to his mouth and gently kissed the back of it. Catherine shivered at the gentlemanly gesture. So different from anyone she'd met so far. They fell into a standard routine. He really was a good dancer. They moved around effortlessly and quick, stunning the other occupants of the dance floor, which moved hastily aside to give them more space.
Laughingly they returned to the table, sitting down on either side of Eli, but their glances lingered on each other.
"Guys, I'm going to fetch one final drink and then I'm out of here. I got to get to work."
She left the table and chuckled inwardly at their non-reaction.
"That was quite a dance, Miss Willows..."
Leonard had come to a decision. It was worth it. Maybe his life would take a new turn, maybe it wouldn't. Maybe she'd deny him, maybe she really felt the same. What was it that Sara had said? If you never try then you'll never know.
"Please, Leonard, will you please call me Catherine?" The blonde pleaded and reached for her almost empty glass across the table, the action bringing her much closer to Leonard. Stopping in the middle of her move, green eyes met hers as she lifted up her gaze to look at Leonard. His warm and large hand rose slowly and softly covered her own, then fingertips lightly ran up her arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake and a tremble she just couldn't escape ran through Catherine. The hand finally found her cheek and settled there.
This might be so wrong! Catherine's clouded mind screamed at her as she involuntarily leaned into the fleeting, soft touch. He's so young... But he's gorgeous! He's Eli's best friend... But look into those emerald eyes! Eyes that came closer every second. Catherine gasped as a thumb started caressing her lower lip. Her eyes fluttered shut and open again. Afraid, not scared. Anticipating, hoping, daring, waiting, what will happen? What's supposed to happen? Is she supposed to make the reasonable decision and pull back? Decline what she desired? Because, oh, she did desire this, him. Such full lips on a man, so soft a touch, so kind but fiery the sparkle in his eyes. There was no decision left to be made. Catherine Willows was smitten, and she'd be a fool not to try and see where it might lead her.
"Catherine-" he emphasized calling her by her first name again, "I'm gonna kiss you right now, right here and don't you dare to close your eyes, don't you dare to hesitate, don't even think about any way to escape me now."
Two pairs of open eyes, one like a fir tree in the early spring, one like the sea on a stormy summer's day. Lush lips meet in the softest of tangle, barely touching, no roughness, no desperate need, just a simple touch that settles in the mind first, then wanders to the stomach, causing it to somersault wildly just to settle down somewhere much lower, with a weird persistence. It was not going to get away. It's just a kiss! Was it?
Eyes fixed upon hers, Leonard's lips lingered, then withdrew from Catherine's. Slowly she got up, pushed the one empty chair that still separated them to the side. Closing the distance, she sank down on his lap, facing him. Thigh muscles flexed under her, the first sign of nervousness from Leonard. As she cupped his face with both hands, his breathing became erratic. He parted his lips just a little bit and breathed through his mouth. Catherine thought she'd never seen a more beautiful man. The two day stubble felt surprisingly soft under her palms. He still held her gaze or did she hold his? Her thumbs wandered over his eyebrows, around his eyes, down his cheeks and finally drew the contours of his parted lips.
A strangled whimper escaped her as the tip of his tongue met her finger.
"Catherine." He whispered around her thumb. Her name a caress the way he said it.
Every last bit of self-restraint forgotten, she bent down and crashed their lips together in a bruising kiss. Unabashedly hungry she nipped at his bottom lips, begging for more, begging for entrance which he joyfully granted. Tongues meet and a fire was set ablaze. Devouring, demandingly they explored every inch of each other's mouths. Strong hands tangled in strawberry blond tresses, lean feminine fingers tilted a head back, cherry red lips kissed and nipped and nibbled down a jaw line, giving them both a moment to catch their breaths.
A second later they broke apart, eyes wide, pupils dilated and they stared at each other. As if not believing the feral quality of the moment they'd just shared.
Eli stood in a corner at the far end of the bar, it was dimly lit here, she almost disappeared in the shadows. A content smile on her lips, she watched the scene that unfolded before her eyes. Lost in another kiss, Catherine and Leonard shared a connection that had been instant, and instantly been noticed by Eli. She took another sip from her Coke and sighed. It seemed she did a lot of sighing lately. There was nothing she wished Leonard more than finally finding happiness in a woman's arms after years and years of searching and disappointment. Though the combination seemed somewhat strange at first sight, there was something that told Eli that they fitted. Catherine and Leonard. Divided by a state, 8 years in age and a teenage kid which meant the world to Catherine, she still thought they were an almost perfect match. Both passionate, both honest and sensible about their feelings. It could grow, even over the distance. Eli knew that if Leonard committed to something, he did it fully, no playing around, no holding the other at arm's length.
Catherine settled back into a chair beside Leonard, still looking at him, but knowing that making out like that in a public place wasn't the wisest thing to do. Their hands though, entwined on top of the table, continued the game.
Eli walked over.
Smiling, she put a hand on Leonard's shoulder and the other on Catherine's back. She bent down and looked at them, one after the other.
"Behave, guys. There's still so much time. I'm outta here. Go, dance a bit more. Have a great night."
Both looked up at her and smiled. She sighed and turned to leave. They would figure it out.