~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I can see her standing with Lindsey by the airport gate.

"Catherine!" I call, making my way over to her.

She turns around, looking startled at me.

"Catherine Willows, where on earth do you think you're going?"

Her eyes widen at me. "What are you doing here?"

"You think you can just leave me a resignation and I'm going to let you go?"

She folds her arms, glaring at me. "'Let' me go?"

"I don't understand why you're leaving, Cath."

"You don't need to understand," she replies. Catherine frowns. "Does your girlfriend know you're here?"

"Huh?" I ask, pushing my glasses up my nose.

She hands Lindsey some money. "Why don't you go take a look at the magazines, honey?"

Lindsey nods and waves to me. "See you, Uncle Gil."

I wave back and then turn to Catherine. "What girlfriend? What are you talking about?"

She throws her hands up in the air. "You really are completely clueless aren't you? Sara!"

"Sara Sidle?" I still have no idea what the hell she's talking about.

Catherine looks like she's about to tear my hair out.or mine.

"She told me, okay? I've seen her spending time alone with you in your office, I've seen you leaving together. I heard it from Sara."

"Catherine, Sara and I went out together once. Just once. The time alone in my office was us working on a case." I smirk. "You thought she was my girlfriend?"

She groans. "Man! Gil! She TOLD me that she was dating you. Yesterday!"

My eyes widen. "She what?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are

Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Catherine is biting her lip. I know that look.

"Catherine, I don't know what Sara told you, but I am not dating her. We went out once, and I thought we had agreed it wasn't going to work."

I scratch my head. "She obviously didn't agree." I look at her intently. "But I don't understand why you would leave just because I was dating Sara. If I was. Which I'm not."

She's blushing now. I don't think I've ever seen Catherine Willows blush. And then it dawns on me.

"Cath, were you jealous?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

She snorts with laughter. "Jealous? Of what? Why would I be jealous? Sara and I are completely different. She's just what you want, right? Smart, into bugs. She's like the female version of you."

I frown. "I'm not sure whether that was a compliment or an insult."

Catherine sighs. "Gil, I'm leaving because I'm tired. I can't compete and I don't want to try anymore."

"Compete for what?" I grip her upper arms. "Cath, tell me what I can do to make it better. I don't want you to leave. I need you."

"I don't want to be your mother figure anymore. I can't."

"You're my best friend, Cath." I grin at her. "And I promise you, I have never thought of you as my mother." I know that's not what's bothering her. I know there is something hidden down there. "Cath, without you, I can't function in the real world. I don't know how."

I can see a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"Gil, I don't want to be seen as a mother, or a teacher, or a friend or a colleague. I want something more."

If they could have, I think my eyes would have fallen out. She wants more? She wants.that?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take 'till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I move a little closer to her. "Cath, why didn't you say something?"

She looks up at me, and I'm surprised to see a few stray tears trickle down her face. "What was I supposed to say? That here was an ex-addict, ex-stripper and single mom, who doesn't like bugs, but still thinks that she's good enough for you?"

"Good enough for me? Catherine, you're perfect for me! You always have been! How could you think otherwise?"

She hits me on the chest, tears streaming now. "Because you never said anything, you jerk! And now I'm crying in an airport like a hysterical woman!"

She's still hitting me and crying as I pull her in my arms, holding her close. My hands, run gently along her back, soothing her.

"Catherine, I'm sorry. I have been a jerk. Please don't cry."

I can feel her crying easing, and she looks up at me. I smile broadly at her.

"I love you, Cath."

She narrows her eyes. "Are you just saying that to shut me up?"

I smirk. "Would I do something like that?"

"I swear to go.."

Before she can start ranting again, I press my lips against hers, pulling her body flush against mine. She moans slightly into the kiss and her arms encircle my neck.

"EWW! Guys! We're in public!" Lindsey calls, standing next to us.

"She's right," I murmur, pulling back. My finger traces her lips. "Are you still leaving me?"

She shakes her head slowly. "Love you."

"I love you." Taking her hand, I pick up her carry-on luggage with my other. "Let's go home."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I said I love you, and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

FINIS