Catherine made her way down the hallway of the CSI labs. Dinner with her parents had been.interesting. She was still a little puzzled at Gil's reaction to Sam earlier, and decided to go and talk to him.

She found him in his office, reading the last few pages of what looked like Lois' biography.

"Gil?"

Gil looked up from the book and his eyes almost bugged out of his head. He prized very highly every time he looked at Catherine, and prized even more highly every time he looked at her in a dress.

This was another vision to add to his ample collection.

The green dress hugged her curves in all the right places. The wrap completed what he was sure was another stunning outfit.

"Evening, Catherine."

She sat down on the chair opposite him. "Interesting book?"

Gil nodded. "Interesting date?"

"I wasn't on a date, Gil. I was having dinner with my parents."

His attention was captured. "Lily and Sam?"

"The craziest two people I know. Two people who refused to be together and are now dating!"

"It bothers you?"

"It makes me a little uncomfortable." Catherine shook her head. "You certainly had a different attitude to Sam earlier. I never thought that you of all people would encourage me to go talk to him."

Gil shrugged. "He's your father, Catherine. Biology, DNA. You deserve a chance to have him in your life."

Catherine didn't want to talk about her lineage anymore. "I have to admit, I was a bit jealous of them."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's because they're dating and I'm not. Maybe it's because they're getting their happily ever after and I'm not. Maybe I don't want to see this ruined again."

Gil watched her carefully. "There's still time for your happily ever after, Cath."

Catherine pointed to his clock. "See that? Time's a ticking away."

He laid the book down on the table. "Since we started this case, I've been reading Lois' biography."

She assumed he was shifting the conversation. "Good?"

"A lot of missed chances." Gil looked up at her. "Do you think when we get to your parents' age, we'll start dating?"

Catherine's eyes widened. "What?"

"They're taking old chances again. Think of all the missed chances we've had. One day, I'd like to take them."

"Where." Catherine took a deep breath. "Okay. How did we get from my parents dating to you and I dating?"

"Missed chances, Catherine." He tut-tutted at her with a smile. "Do keep up."

She arched an eyebrow at him.

"While I was reading the book, I was thinking about everything I missed. A wife. Children. A family life. Someone to talk to, to hold onto."

"We're your family, Gil. Everyone at the lab."

He held up a finger. "Let me finish."

Obediently, she stayed silent.

"Then I thought of all the opportunities I had that I didn't take. Finally, I thought of all the important things I had seen or done in my life. If I hadn't worked at CSI, I would never have met you. I watched Lindsey's birth. I've shared lots of moments in your life."

"I've been glad to have you in my life."

Gil pointed at the book. "She taught me something."

Catherine watched with interest.

"Life is too short to have so many missed chances."

She paused for a moment, watching him. "What are you saying, Gil?"

"I'm saying that I don't want to wait until I'm Sam Braun's age before I can be with you."

Catherine's eyes followed his hand as he rested it on the desk. She reached out, placing her hands in his. "I'm in."

His fingers laced through hers. "You sure?"

She nodded. "We've missed a lot of chances, Gil. I want to take them now."

Gil's thumb gently caressed her hand. "Can I begin this by telling you how absolutely beautiful you look this evening?"

A soft smile graced her face. "Thank you." She watched as his thumb continued stroking her hand. Small shivers ran up and down her smile. "Gil?"

"Mhm?"

Her eyes locked onto his. "I want you to kiss me."

The hand contact broke as Gil stood up. Catherine stood up also and waited as he came around to her side of the desk.

His arms tentatively moved around her waist and he watched her carefully as he pulled her close to him.

Catherine smiled nervously at him, her hands running up his chest before coming to rest around his neck.

Gil raised his hand, caressing her cheek before letting his thumb run across her lips. "Here's to taking old chances," he whispered.

The minute his lips touched hers, Catherine thought she was going to self-combust. The sweet, gentle pressure and the warmth of his lips against hers was intoxicating. Her arms tightened around his neck and when she felt his tongue probing at her lips she whimpered and surrendered to him.

Gil's knees nearly buckled as he heard Catherine's whimper, and he groaned into the kiss. His hands tugged her body closer to his, one hand moving to gently caress her hip.

She arched closer as his tongue gently caressed hers. Her whole body felt like it was on fire, and this one intense kiss was making her ache with arousal for this man.

As the kiss ended, Catherine's eyes opened and she looked at him. His name escaped her lips in a soft whisper.

His thumb ran across her kiss-swollen lips. "God.Cath.this is.you are."

"More." she murmured, urging him closer to her. "God, Gil.more."

Gil groaned and lifted her closer to him. One hand slid down the right side of her body, his fingers searching for skin underneath her dress.

Catherine leant towards him, desperately wanting him to touch her. His fingers finally hit soft skin and he lifted her leg to encircle his hip.

She moaned in pleasure as their connection became more intimate, and was more than ready when he picked her up and walked her over to the couch.

Gil's hands slid up the outsides of her legs, his eyes closing at the feel of her soft skin. Catherine arched her hips upwards, wanting him to take off the dress.

Gil smiled and pressed a small kiss to her nose. "I want you, Cath."

"I want you too," she murmured, leaning up to kiss him again.

He cupped her face as he kissed her back. His body halted as he felt Catherine's warm hands underneath his shirt.

"You feel so good." She leant up to kiss him again. "I want to see you. All of you."

Gil moved back a bit and began to undo his shirt. Catherine rested on her elbows, watching him with a predatory gaze.

"I didn't intend the first time I made love to you to be in my office, Catherine."

"Taking chances, remember?" she smiled.

"I promise you this is something I'm not going to let go of. I'm in forever."

Catherine reached up, her hand resting just above his heart. "Me too, Gil."

"Cath?"

Her hand stopped caressing his chest. "Mhm?"

"I love you."

A broad smile spread across her face. "I love you too, Gil." Her hand cupped his cheek. "Have for a very long time."

Their lips met in a long kiss and Catherine let out a startled gasp as Gil's hands slipped underneath her dress again.

This time they found her breasts, cupping them through the lacy material of her bra. She arched her body, wanting to feel skin against skin.

Gil quickly got the message and deftly undid the zip of her dress, before lifting it over her head. He paused when he saw her lying beneath him, wearing nothing but panties and a strapless bra.

Catherine looked up at him, a small blush on her face. She'd never felt so exposed or nervous - which considering her past profession was ironic.

He bent down to kiss her, letting his hands caress her gently. Catherine felt the nerves start to ebb away and her arousal starting to build up.

His fingers finally undid the clasp of the bra and tugged it away. Her panties were soon gone as well, and all that was left was a gob smacked Gil Grissom, standing at the vision of his dreams.

"Catherine.you're beautiful."

"And you're still half dressed," came her reply. "I want to feel your skin on mine, Gil. Everywhere."

Gil nodded and stood up, taking off his pants and his boxers. He felt her gaze on him and he smiled.

When he was naked, Catherine's eyes just watched him. She felt tingles of arousal at the thought of him touching her, being inside her, consuming her.

He walked over to her, his hand gently touching her left breast. "Are you comfortable?"

Catherine blinked. He was arousing her beyond belief and he wanted to know if she was comfortable.

It was just so Gil.

"I will be," she replied, urging him down for another kiss.

The kiss was long and leisurely, but when she felt his hand caress her thigh it became hungrier and needy.

His hands made their way up the side of her body, to finally rest on her breasts, caressing them tenderly. She closed her eyes, letting the gentleness of his touch overwhelm her senses.

"I wanted this to be slow and special," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. "I wanted it to be something special."

"It is special," she replied. "It doesn't matter where it is. It matters who you're with. And you are who I want to be with."

He smiled down at her, pressing a long kiss to her lips. His hands became more adventurous, stroking and caressing her breasts.

A visible shiver carried through her body as his thumbs ran across her nipples. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer to her.

Gil groaned as his chest brushed against hers and he cupped her heat.

Catherine let out a startled gasp and wriggled against his hand. "Stop teasing."

More exploring could come later, when they were alone in a big bed. For now, they just wanted to be one.

They moved their bodies so they were aligned from head to toe. Catherine raised her hips, wrapping her legs tight around Gil's waist.

"You sure?" he murmured, positioning himself at her entrance.

A small smile crossed her face. "Do you think we'd be lying here like this if I wasn't?"

He smiled back at her and leant down, kissing her deeply.

In one fluid move, Gil was inside her, and utter pleasure swamped her. Her body molded to his perfectly, and the intense ache inside her was momentarily sated.

Moments later, when he began to move, the pleasure coiled deep in her belly and her hands rested on his hips, eyes closing as she moved with him.

Gil's gaze was fixated on her, keeping his movements slow and deep. The look of rapture on her face brought him immense satisfaction - particularly because he was the one putting it there.

A smile spread across his face as he felt her fingers tighten on his hips. He watched as she bit her lip, clearly fighting against her release.

"Let go for me, Cath. I've got you."

Remembering where they were, she choked back a cry of pleasure as her orgasm raced through her. Catherine arched against him, a low moan escaping her lips as she let the emotions overwhelm her.

Gil lifted her hips so that her body was closer to him. He continued to thrust inside her, his body moving faster now that his release was close.

Catherine leant up to kiss him; a long lingering kiss that seared his lips. She whimpered at each thrust, feeling a tightening in her body.

His hand slipped between them, caressing her nub. Her eyes widened and she jerked upwards, just as he thrust deeply.

This time she was unable to disguise her cry as she came, her body shuddering underneath his.

Gil thrust once more, burying his face in her shoulder as he tensed above her, his orgasm rocking his body.

They rested together on the couch, breathing heavily.

"If that was what an taking an old chance is like, I wonder what a new chance is like?" Gil wondered aloud, kissing her cheek.

A seductive smile crossed Catherine's face. "Take me home and let's find out."

FINIS