Catherine took a bite of the chicken. "Gil, you're a god in the kitchen."

Gil leant back in his chair, swirling his wine in the glass. "You think so, huh?"

"Mm, I know so." Catherine also leant back, finally finished her meal and sipping at her wine.

"I'll have to cook for you more often. You're good for my ego."

She chuckled. "Your ego doesn't need any boosting."

"Well then, can I cook for you just because I like your company?"

Catherine's eyes locked onto his for a moment. "Of course."

They held each other's gaze, unspoken sentences going through them, before Gil broke the moment, looking down at his glass.

"Gil, look at me."

He did, a little reluctantly.

"Is that why you've been putting us together on cases lately? You missed my company?"

"I like spending time with you."

Catherine smiled. "I like spending time with you too." She put her glass on the table. "But we both know that's not what I meant."

Gil shifted uncomfortably in his seat and placed his glass on the table. "Cath."

She put her hand on his. "Let's just talk, okay? We haven't talked together in a long time."

He nodded, willing her to keep her hand touching his. It must have worked, because the hand didn't move.

"What are we going to talk about?" he asked.

"Let's see." Catherine stood up, taking his hand. "Let's sit on the couch. It's more comfortable."

Gil willingly followed her to the couch and they sat down, side by side. Catherine's hand held his tightly.

"Better?" he asked her.

She grinned at him. "Yes."

Gil smiled. "I'm glad."

Catherine watched him curiously for a moment. "Okay, so let's talk about."

"God, you're beautiful."

Gil's eyes widened the moment he said it and he took his hand away from Catherine's. "Cath.I'm sorry. I."

She looked surprised, but answered evenly. "You're sorry that you told me I'm beautiful?"

"Yes! I mean no, you are, but I."

Catherine was quiet for a moment, and she ran her thumb across Gil's lips. "I think that's the first time I've seen the real you, Gil."

He looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"You're so guarded. You never let any of your emotions slip out."

"Sometimes you can be scared of what emotions will do. Or what people will do with them."

"You think I'd hurt you?" She took her hand away.

"Of course not! God.Catherine." He rubbed his face with his hand. "I never meant to tell you. I didn't want to make our friendship awkward and uncomfortable. I didn't want you have to try and let me down easily."

Catherine arched an eyebrow. "Why on earth would you think that?"

Gil stood up, gesturing to her. "Look at you, Catherine! You're beautiful, you're smart, you're funny. You're at ease in every social situation. You're not afraid of anything and you can rise to any challenge. You have a life. A good one."

Catherine also stood up. "Thank you for the compliments. I'm not sure I agree with all of them, but I still don't understand what that has to do with you thinking I'd let you down easily."

"You date people like Eddie!"

That stung and Catherine took a step back. Then fire rose in her eyes. "You think for the rest of my life I'd only date drug addicts and men who cheat on me? You think that's the only men that I attract, that I'm attracted too? Give me some credit, Grissom."

"I didn't mean that the way it sounded."

"You don't seem to mean to say a lot of things! But you do. And some of them hurt. You know what, Grissom? It's my turn. So sit down and shut up."

Gil's eyes widened. "Catherine."

She glared at him. "Don't try my patience."

Gil gulped and sank to the couch.

"First of all, I don't just date people like Eddie. I would have dated you, when we first met, if you had asked me out. I didn't think I was good enough for you, so I wasn't going to ask you out. Second, beauty does not get you everywhere or everything you want. Believe me, I know." She turned around to face him. "I'm in love with you, you stupid jackass. I've been in love with you for over twenty years."

Gil's eyes widened.

"Exactly. I was in love with you through Teri and Sara. I was in love with you through whatshername with the Pink Floyd concert." She took a deep breath. "And I was in love with you while I was married to Eddie."

"Are you done?" Gil asked meekly.

"I don't know," she growled.

Gil was silent again, looking at her.

"Say something!" she finally cried.

"Let's talk," he murmured, patting the couch.

Catherine looked at him curiously, but sat down beside him. Gil smiled, his hand gently cupping her face.

"I've been in love with you for over twenty years. I loved you through your night school days, through your marriage to Eddie, through your pregnancy with Lindsey and through your dating the engineer."

"Oh," Catherine finally said.

Gil smiled slightly. "Oh?" His hand gently caressed her cheek. "I was stupid, Catherine. I was nervous and afraid and stupid. And I'm sorry that I wasted so much time, that I was too scared. But I do love you." His hand rested against the back of her head. "Forgive me?"

She smiled. "Nothing to forgive. But.I would like you to kiss me."

Gil grinned back at her and his lips met hers in a gentle kiss. Catherine's arms went around his neck and when the kiss broke, she whispered against his lips.

"More."

Gil groaned and kissed her again, his tongue running along her lips. Catherine moaned, and deepened the kiss.

His tongue snaked inside her mouth, sliding across hers and Catherine lay back against the couch, aching to feel his body atop her.

Gil didn't disappoint, and Catherine arched against him as she felt his hard body press against her soft curves.

Her fingers slipped up the front of his shirt, touching and stroking. She pulled them away and looked at him. "I love you."

Gil's eyes widened. In a second, he was up and pacing the room.

Catherine, breathing heavily, looked confused. "Gil? What is it?"

"I didn't hear you. I couldn't hear you."

Catherine slowly stood up, walking over to him and putting her arms around him. "Is that all? Gil, I was trying desperately to get my tongue back in your mouth. I'm not surprised you didn't hear me."

He pulled away again. "That's not all. It's not all."

Catherine took a step back. "What is it? You don't want to hear me say that I love you?"

Gil turned to look at her, and he finally saw how hurt she was. "No, Cath. That's not it. I love hearing you say that."

"Then what? I don't understand! I thought we were going to make love, and then you just pull away from me like you can't stand to touch me!"

Gil walked over to her, taking her hands. "Catherine, no. I did.I do want to make love to you." He caressed her cheek. "I'm losing my hearing."

"What?"

"My hearing. Hereditary. I'm going deaf."

Catherine's hands reached up, touching him. "Gil.I'm sorry."

"Don't be." He kissed her gently. "We'll fix it. There's surgery that you can have." He cupped her face. "What scared me was that my hearing blacked out for a moment when you told me that you loved me. I was afraid I'd never hear you say it again."

Catherine kissed him. "I love you, Gil. And even if it does get to a point where you can't hear me.I'll make sure you know."

Gil smiled at her, hugging her tight. "I love you, Cath."

"I love you too."

Gil caressed her arms. "Anyway, it's probably good we stopped. I would much rather make love to you in a nice big bed, instead of being cramped on a couch."

Catherine felt a little shiver go through her body at his words and nodded, taking his hand and allowing her to lead her into his bedroom.

She hadn't been in his bedroom since her divorce. Many times, Gil had held her tight, rocking her gently as she cried. Either from Eddie's abuse, or when she went cold turkey on the drugs.

When Lindsey was born, they had put a bassinette in his spare room, and Gil had decorated the room with toys and things, so that when Catherine needed to, she could come to Gil.

And she had. Many a time. Lindsey had slept peacefully on while Gil had tended wounds, promised to make this better, and held her tight.

Since her divorce, there had been a little more awkwardness in her being in his bedroom. Unconsciously, they had both known there was nothing to stop them making love, and it was safer to keep at a distance.

As she looked around, she realized not much had changed. His room was still the same. Warm, inviting. The bed was still the sleigh bed where she had slept comfortably.

Now they wouldn't be sleeping though.

Gil's hands rested on her shoulders. "Cath?"

She turned around, looking at him. "Memories. Of other times I've been in here."

"I liked having you here. I wish it had been for a different reason though."

Catherine smiled softly. "Me too." She leant up, kissing his lips. "But it is now."

He nodded and deepened the kiss, his arms going around her waist. Catherine leant up, kissing him back, her fingers slipping underneath his shirt.

His hands went to the hem of her blue shirt, lifting it over her head, revealing the baby blue lace bra underneath. His fingers caressed along the lace, colliding with her soft skin as he did so.

Catherine moaned, her hands going to unbutton his shirt. She wanted him naked; naked and pressing against her body. She pushed the shirt away from his shoulders and slid her hands up the front of his chest.

His fingers unclasped her bra, gently letting the material fall away from her body and his hands immediately cupped her breasts. His thumbs ran across her nipples, delighted when they hardened under his touch.

"Gil."

"I know," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. "You're doing it to me as well."

The images that his words conjured made Catherine press closer to him. He walked her backwards towards the bed, laying her down on it. She pulled him to her, sighing in satisfaction as his body rested atop hers.

"Like that, huh?" Gil murmured, his fingers gently caressing her upper body.

She nodded, words too much trouble, as she arched up, taking his lips in a hot, hungry kiss.

Gil groaned into the kiss, closing his eyes as her hands slipped up his chest and caressed him.

He kissed her neck, his hands caressing her breasts as his lips traveled down to meet them. Catherine's body arched, whimpering as he took a nipple into his mouth, sucking gently.

Her hands went to the back of his head, caressing the nape of his neck and writhing under his ministrations.

He moved to her other side, laving the nipple with his tongue as his hand rose to caress her other breast. He kissed his way down from her chest to her stomach, pausing to caress her gently.

Gil's fingers unzipped her pants and slowly slid them down, aided by Catherine lifted her hips for him. He smiled at her, and his hand cupped her, the smile widening when he found the dampness of her panties.

"Cath."

"Off.take them off," she pleaded, arching her hips.

He nodded, peeling them away and then he stood at the end of the bed, just staring at her.

She looked up at him. "Gil?"

"You're beautiful." One finger trailed down her body and she shivered beneath him.

"You too, Gil. I want you naked too." She reached for him. "I want to feel you against me."

Standing up, Gil stripped his pants and boxers, and Catherine felt her arousal kick into high gear when she saw him.

She reached for him and he came to her, settling his body against hers. He closed his eyes for a moment and Catherine put her arms around him.

"You feel so good," she whispered, meeting his lips in a gentle kiss.

Gil kissed her again, pressing his body against her. Catherine wrapped her legs around his waist, moaning as she felt his erection brush against her center.

They looked at each other and by unspoken agreement, Gil gently slid inside her. Catherine's eyes closed as the pleasure intensified. He caressed her cheek.

"Look at me, Catherine."

Her eyes opened and she whimpered as he shifted deeper inside her.

"So tight," Gil whispered, leaning down to kiss her lips. "So warm."

Catherine moaned, her arms going tight around him.

Her hips arched against him and they moved together, meeting one another thrust for thrust.

Catherine's hands rested against his hips, her body straining for release. Gil watched the emotions on her face, wondering if they were mirroring his own.

"Oh god.Gil.I."

He moved faster, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. Catherine bucked up against him, crying out in pleasure as her orgasm slammed into her.

Gil looked at her, seeing her bite her lip. He knew she was going to come again and he was determined to hold back so that he could watch her.

Leaning down, he whispered in her ear. "You can do it, Catherine. I know you can."

She whimpered, arching her back and shuddering as she came again. Gil groaned, arching forward and spilling inside of her.

They collapsed together, limbs entwined and holding each other tight.

A few moments later, as they got their breaths back, Catherine kissed him gently. "We should have done that a long time ago."

"Absolutely," Gil agreed, his fingers caressing her hip. He smiled. "You just demonstrated your theory."

Catherine arched an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"Plumbing, Cath," he whispered. "Male into female parts."

A smug smile. "Absolutely. And you know what?"

"What?"

"The results were inconclusive. We need to demonstrate that theory again."

FINIS