"We're engaged!" Sara smiled.

"Err congratulations," Nick smiled. "Does Grissom know?" He felt Warrick jar him in the ribs.

Sara pouted, "What do you think?" Then stomped out of the break room.

She returned moments later, Gil beside her concern on his face.

"Congratulations!" Nick and Warrick chorused.

"Uh?" Gil uttered.

"I hear you are engaged to Sara." Nick clarified.

"Err…" Gil stuttered.

"Yes honey, that's right, we're getting married." Sara took hold of his arm hugging it to her.

"Married?" Gil paled visibly. "But…."

"I know, I know, so much to plan, but don't worry I'll make all the arrangements." She bounced out of the break room to leave Gil to complete his sentence.

"…I don't love you." He whispered. He looked forlorn, what was he to do? Suddenly he`d gone from being on the verge of breaking up a relationship he felt wasn't working to being about to get married. He needed to get away; he needed to find her, the one person that could make sense out of all this, Catherine.

He found her in the print lab, alone. "Cath."

"Gil," she smiled. "I hear congratulations are in order."

He scuffed the floor with his shoe, staring down at it. "It's all a mistake…I didn't…I never…you have to believe me."

She giggled at the sight of him appearing so flustered. "Sara, huh?"

He tried a smile that didn't quite work. "You've got it. I never said long term, let alone marriage and she goes announcing our engagement. What am I going to do? I don't love her…I love…"

Catherine speared him with a look. "Who do you love?"

He stared at her, his eyes locking with hers. "I love you."

She spluttered, "You w...what?"

"I love you Catherine. Come on let's run off, elope, she won't marry a bigamist."

"You want to bet?" Catherine muttered. "So what makes you think I'll marry you?"

"Well you are still here after I mention the `m' word. You distanced yourself from Sara and me ever since, well you know. You care for me, love me; laugh at my jokes, even the bad ones. Admit it you love me."

"Gil, I love you, I have for a long time, but there's more than you and me involved in this. We have to think about Sara."

"Sara! She just engaged me without even asking."

Catherine giggled.

"What?" He frowned.

"Engaged you…just sounds funny."

He chuckled briefly, before becoming serious once more. "So what do you suggest we do about Sara?"

"You need to tell her how you feel, and break it gently."

"What if she doesn't listen?"

"We'll deal with that if it happens. My guess is she'll listen."

Sara bounded up to him in the corridor a little like an overenthusiastic puppy trying to please its new master. She held out her left hand, the gemstone flashing on her ring finger.

Gil inwardly groaned, she'd not only engaged him, but also gone and bought a ring too. This was far worse than he originally thought. "Nice ring." He commented.

"I know you've not had time to get me that special ring I know you are going to buy me, but, well my grandmother gave me this it was her engagement ring, she told me to wear it once I'd found that special person to share my life with." She beamed.

Gil stopped in his tracks, turning and taking hold of Sara's shoulders. "Sara, I'm sorry, I care about you, like you, but somewhere you have this confused with being in love with you. I'm not in love with you, my heart belongs elsewhere."

Sara fixed a smile on her face, "Don't be silly, of course you love me, we're engaged."

Gil shook his head. "I never proposed."

Sara's smile faded. "But…but I've told everyone. Everyone knows we make a great couple."

Gil squeezed her shoulders. "Telling everyone isn't going to make it come true, as much as you wish it to."

Sara tapped her right foot. "So who is she?"

"Who?"

"This woman you say you're in love with, or is it just something you've invented as you are afraid to commit?"

Gil sighed. "She exists, it's Catherine."

"Catherine!" Sara all but spat, "Why Catherine? Why is it always her? What makes her so special?"

Gil put a hand on her shoulder. "Man can not control who the fates have matched him with."

"But…we shared so much."

"I'm sorry Sara. I apologize if you think I was far from honest with you. But my heart belongs to Catherine, she is the one I hope to marry, the one I know I'll grow older with."

Sara offered a withering smile. "Then I'm happy for you, you deserve each other. I hope you are happy, if you'll excuse me I have some arrangements to unmake."

She tried to brush past him, but Gil caught her arm. "I really am sorry, I never intended to hurt you."

She gave him a curt nod before disappearing.

Gil stood for a moment, feeling more than a little lost. Then he turned, and went to the print lab, where he knew Catherine was still hiding from the wrath of Sara.

He smiled on entering; just the mere sight of her renewed his faith that he had done the right thing. He went across to her and cupped her face with his hands, then leant in for a kiss, his eyes widening as she opened her mouth to allow his tongue entry.

As they pulled apart Catherine smiled. "I take it that means bigamy is out of the question?"

He chuckled. "You need to believe me there is only one person I want to marry, will ever want to marry and that's you."

Catherine smiled. "That's nice to know, but isn't it a little soon to talk of marriage?"

He grinned. "I can't help myself, you have that affect on me, I love you."

The End.