~ Building It Up: Relationship's Foundation ~
by MBInc

Disclaimer: CSI belongs to CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer.

It was the end of the graveyard shift when the break room started to fill with CSIs. Warrick, followed by Catherine, Nick, and Greg were the first inside, each grabbing a cup of coffee before settling themselves at the large table in the middle of the room.

"Why are we still here?" Catherine asked before she tentatively took a sip from the steaming hot liquid.

"Beats me," Warrick quipped, shrugging his shoulders in the process.

"I heard Ecklie has something to tell us," Greg said as he reached for the paper -immediately searching for the cartoons.

"Hey guys," Sara said as she also entered the break room. "What's the problem? Why this 911 page at the end of our shift?"

"Well," Grissom stated walking in behind her, "Ecklie has an assignment for us."

"Us? Now?" Nick said incredulously. "We just finished our shift and want to go home."

"Here he comes to wreck the day," Greg said mockingly.

Ecklie, followed by Hodges and a not so happy looking Wendy, Sofia and Brass entered the break room. Looking around, the ex-dayshift supervisor noticed everyone was gathered.

"Alright, if everybody could take a seat?" he started, then opened the manila folder he had brought with him. "This just came in. The higher-uppers have decided it was time for some bonding."

"Bonding? What are you talking about?" Catherine asked, eyebrows quirked.

"I always pictured him as a bondage freak," Brass whispered only for Sofia's ears to hear as they settled themselves at the table.

"Well then, you better watch your back," Sofia snickered, earning her a poke in her ribs from the Captain.

Ecklie glared around, before continuing. "So, this is the case. We will be divided into teams of two?"

***

And to make sure everyone will seriously compete in this, there is a reward for the winning team.

"A reward?" Greg asked, immediately sitting up straight.

"Yes," Ecklie said. "The team that first reaches the given coordinate gets a week of paid leave, also known by some people as: vacation."

"Alright," Warrick smiled, giving Nick a high-five and thinking they had that vacation already in the pocket.

"And what if we don't want to do this?" Sara said, her voice filled with annoyance.

"It's mandatory," Ecklie answered sternly. "So, you're all expected to be here at 4 pm. Groups will be announced then." He grabbed some papers and passed them on to Grissom. "This list tells you what to bring and what not to bring."

As Catherine took a glance at the list she spoke up, "No cell phones? What is this sh-"

"This," Ecklie interrupted, "is what they call a survival bonding test. Now, go home get some rest and I'll see you all here back at 4."

With that said he left the room, leaving a few grinning and a few grumpy-looking persons behind.

"Great," Sara said mockingly, "I really look forward to this." -waving her sheet through the air.

"Ah, come on, Sidle," Nick said, "It's not like you'll win this vacation. Just take some detours, make sure you and your buddy aren't the first to arrive."

The brunette sighed as she stood to leave. Just as she was about to walk into the hallway, she heard Catherine speak up. "I'd give anything for a week off. Linds'll be ecstatic to have her mom around for an entire week."

Walking to the locker room to get her stuff Sara thought about Catherine's words. I hope she'll win this stupid vacation, for Lindsey, for herself. She seems so tired lately.

She opened her locker reached for her leather jacket, motor boots and helmet. Everything gathered, Sara headed off for her apartment, hopeful on getting some sleep before she had to get back here.

***

At 4 pm the break room once again started to fill with CSIs, detectives, and lab techs. Each of them carrying a backpack, a sleeping bag, and other survival equipment. Ecklie was the last to arrive and immediately set out to announce the teams.

"Alright, listen up everybody," he said as he stood in the center of the room.

All halted their conversations and turned to face the balding man. "Teams are as follows: Brown and Brass, Curtis and Simms, Stokes and Johnson, Willows and Sidle, Hodges and Sanders, and Grissom, you're with me."

Sighs were heard all around.

"Hey, don't look at me," Ecklie protested, "I didn't make these teams."

As everybody started to gather their stuff, Ecklie spoke up once more. "Each team will get an envelope with coordinates in it," he said as he started to hand them out. "Inside are four coordinates; three checkpoints where your team has to get a stamp, the fourth coordinate is the finish. First team there wins the prize."

Sara, who had been very quiet since the announcement of the teams, suddenly got a very determined look in her eyes. The prize was theirs, no matter how much she so not wanted that week of vacation. What the heck would she do all those days?

She glanced at the strawberry blonde who was examining the envelope's contents.

The brunette shrugged it off. It didn't matter, because Catherine really deserved time with her daughter.

"Now, everybody hand in their cell phones," Ecklie said, "and all other global positioning systems." -the last part uttered to Archie who grumpily reached into his backpack and grabbed the small apparatus, handing it over to Ecklie.

"Then how are we supposed to find these checkpoints?" Greg asked.

Grabbing a cardboard box, Ecklie walked up, handing the ex-lab rat a small box and a map. Opening the box Greg looked surprised at its content. Taking it out and showing it to the rest he spoke up.

"A compass?"

***

"I think we're headed the wrong way," Sara said as she strained her eyes while checking the map, trying to gather as much of the light that was cast by the almost completely disappeared sun.

Catherine, checking her watch noticed it was past 8 pm. They had been going for more than three hours. They had been the first to reach the first two checkpoints, but now it seemed they were lost. Well, Catherine thought, technically we're not lost, we're just not where we're supposed to be.

"It's getting too dark for us to continue," the brunette said as she gave up on trying to read the map.

"Yeah," Catherine started, but he stomach decided to interrupt. "I could use some food too."

Sara looked around. Though darkness had almost covered everything, the surroundings of lake Mead were beautiful -romantic even. Suddenly here eye spotted something.

"Over there," she pointed into the dark.

"What?" Catherine said as she tried to see what Sara was pointing to.

The brunette walked off, muttering to herself. "This will be better than sleeping in a tent."

Catherine, still not seeing what Sara referred to, headed after the taller woman. "What? Sara, what are you talking about?"

Suddenly Sara stopped walking, causing Catherine to bump into her. "What the?Oh," Catherine said, a smile coming onto her face as her eyes fell upon a small cabin. "This indeed will be far better than sleeping outside."

"Come on, let's see if we can get in," the brunette quipped as she placed her backpack on the porch and reached for the front door of the cabin.

***

Half an hour later both of the women were getting settled, Catherine was sitting comfortably on a small couch while Sara was placing wood into the fireplace.

The strawberry blonde watched in fascination at Sara's hands working on getting the fire started. As the first flickering of flames filled the room, Sara stood up from her crouched position and walked over to a chair standing next to the small couch.

"How come you're such a fanatic about this?" Catherine suddenly asked, breaking the silence between them. "It's nothing like you to be this concerned on winning time off."

"I'm not doing this for myself," the brunette stated calmly.

"Oh? Are you doing this because Ecklie threatened to-"

"No," Sara interrupted quickly, at first not elaborating on in. But, after some hesitation on whether to tell the older woman her real reason or not, she finally spoke up again. "I'm doing this for you."

"Me?" Catherine said, quirking her eyebrow while her eyes shot up form the fire place to lock with hazel eyes that were already looking at her.

"Yes," Sara whispered. "I think you deserve this vacation time more than anyone else. To spend it with Lindsey."

Catherine was surprised with the sincerity in Sara's words and above all surprised about the brunette's thoughtfulness and unselfishness. She sat there looking straight into the younger woman's eyes, not knowing what to say.

Sara turned away, finally taking her eyes off of Catherine and settling them on the crisping flames. She hoped she hadn't offended the strawberry blonde by her intentions. But a speechless Catherine often wasn't a good thing.

"So, what's for dinner?" Catherine said softly.

***

Finally settled in her sleeping bag onto the couch, Sara lay staring out of the small window. She had offered Catherine the bed, waving off the strawberry blonde's offer to take the couch by saying she had to keep the fire going.

As she placed one hand behind her head a smirk came onto her face as she remembered Catherine's reply -the friendly banter replacing the awkwardness from before.

"Alright, I'll take the bed, but only 'cause I don't want to wake up every hour or so to keep the fire going,"

"That's right," the brunette said. "You do need your beauty sleep."

"Unlike you," Catherine quipped back, locking eyes with Sara.

The taller woman didn't know what to say as her cheeks felt like they were on fire, changing into a nice red color.

Noticing that the light emanated by the fire was getting less, Sara sat up straight, got out of her sleeping bag and reached for some wood.

Just as she placed another log on the fire she heard noise coming form the bedroom. Carefully she walked over to the door. Pushing it open a little further she was met with two sparkling blue eyes looking back at her.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly as she entered the room.

"Can't sleep well alone, especially in a strange bed," Catherine sighed as she shifted.

"Oh," Sara answered, immediately chiding herself for the surprised tone of her voice.

Leaning her head up on one hand, the strawberry blonde took in the tall frame of the younger woman. "How 'bout you? Did you get some sleep already?"

"Nah," Sara replied as she stepped closer to the bed. She sat herself down on the edge of the bed, careful not to sit too close to the strawberry blonde. "I just put another log onto the fire," she said as she watched through the door opening to the fire -doing her best to avoid Catherine's eyes.

"Well," Catherine started as she reached for the brunette's hand and gave her a little tug, "let's try to get some sleep."

Sara, momentarily paralyzed as her mind caught up with Catherine's words, let herself be guided down onto the bed.

***

Suddenly Catherine shifted, placing her head on the brunette's strong shoulder and draping her arm across Sara's taut stomach.

"Is this ok?" Catherine asked as she felt Sara tense.

Sara hadn't anticipated the shorter woman's move and had completely tensed up the second she felt the smaller body mold itself around her shoulder. She could merely nod as an answer to Catherine's question.

Catherine, noticing how cramped Sara lay next to her, started circling motions with her hand on the brunette's taut stomach. Soon Sara started to relax. She was marveled by the calming effect the strawberry blonde's gesture had on her.

Sara let out a deep sigh as her arms found their way around Catherine, pulling her into her own body a bit more. She had craved for this for a long time. Just to hold someone in her arms.

No. Not just someone. Catherine. She had craved for Catherine.

She nuzzled the shorter woman's hair, her nose filling with the scent of vanilla. This really feels comfortable, the brunette thought. Before she realized what she was doing, she placed a soft kiss on Catherine's forehead.

Her eyes shot open to the size of saucers as she realized what she had just done. Quickly sitting up, Sara tried to get out of the bed, away from the strawberry blonde. But she was stopped by Catherine clinging even more onto her body.

"Please, Sara. It's alright," Catherine said as she cupped the younger woman's chin, searching for hazel eyes. "Stay. If you want to, that is," she quickly added.

Sara completely tensed up again, at the same time upset with her own actions and also overwhelmed with the tenderness noticeable in Catherine's voice as well as touch.

***

Catherine tentatively reached down, taking the brunette's hand in her own and entwining their fingers. She could see in Sara's expression how her mind was working through all that had just happened -the same look plastered on her face which she would sport when working through all the evidence of a case.

Sara realized this was the chance she had been hoping on for a long time now, and, despite the fear she felt, knew she would grasp it with both hands.

"Catherine, I?" But before she could utter her sentence completely, Catherine silenced her by putting a finger over her lips.

"Before you go on, I have to tell you I already know," she stated.

"You know?" the brunette questioned, sounding surprised and a bit fearful.

"Yes, I'm not blind," Catherine smiled genuinely.

"Then why didn't you?" The younger woman left her sentence unfinished as she looked at their entwined hands.

"Because you weren't ready. I figured once the day came you knew what you wanted I'd find out about it." The strawberry blonde stopped talking for a moment as she bent closer to Sara. She could feel the hitched breath of the brunette on her own lips as she spoke up again. "I guess today's the day."

Carefully she let her lips stroke those of Sara, her hand sneaking up into dark tresses. Sara immediately responded to the soft pressure on her lips and softly moaned into the chaste kiss. Just as quick as those delicate lips had touched hers, they were gone -leaving her behind with the nagging thought this all was a dream.

There was no way Catherine Willows could know about her feelings -let alone kiss her- and this not being a dream.

"Please tell me I'm not dreaming," Sara said as she closed her eyes tightly.

"I know something even better," the older woman said. "I'll show you this isn't a dream. It's real. You're really here, I'm really here. There really can be an us." She added the last part in a whisper.

***

Two hands -one on each shoulder- pushed her back on the bed slowly, and Catherine settled her body on top of Sara's. The strawberry blonde reached up, her hands cupping the younger woman's cheeks as she looked into her eyes intently. She leaned in and kissed Sara -a sensuous kiss, both their lips tingling from the electric-like touch.

"I'll stop if you don't want?" Catherine said as her hands started to trail downwards.

"Please," Sara interrupted, "Don't stop." Her own hands found their way underneath Catherine's shirt, tracing patterns on her back, leaving goose bumps on the way. That was the undoing of the older woman's restraint. Her lips crashed on those of Sara again, attacking with a fierce hunger which needed to be satisfied.

Sara growled as she felt Catherine's tongue trailing along her lower lip and opened her lips a little allowing Catherine to deepen the kiss. Both their tongues snuck out, searching for one another.

One of Catherine's hands found its way to a soft mound of flesh. She cupped Sara's breast, the brunette's nipples getting rock-hard by the strawberry blonde's touch. Her other hand snuck to the hem of Sara's shirt and started to pull it up.

They broke off the kiss and sat up, both pulling at the hem of each other's shirt. Once those pieces of clothing were discarded -thrown across the room- lips connected once again. Catherine's hands were glad to find new uncovered flesh and started feather-light touches all across Sara's chest.

Sara changed position, now urging Catherine to lie back. The brunette placed herself beside Catherine, her hand moving through strawberry blonde locks, her eyes focusing on two blue pools, then moving to the older woman's mouth. She just couldn't get enough of those luscious lips, and thus captured them once again.

Suddenly she broke off the kiss, one hand cupping Catherine's cheek. "Catherine," she said, breaking the silence, "I think I'm falling for you. No, I've already fallen. Hard. But this is not the way I want this to go. If there's a chance of us two being together I'd?" she sighed once, trying to control her raging hormones, "I'd rather wait, first take you out on a proper date?or two." The brunette now avoided Catherine's eyes.

"Well," Catherine started, her arms settling around Sara's waist and squeezing her tighter, "then you'd better get back to that couch, 'cause I don't know whether I can keep me to myself." She smiled and was rewarded by a beautiful gap-toothed smile. "And don't wait too long before asking me out on that date," she added before giving Sara one last kiss and pushing her off the bed.

Sara grabbed her shirt from the ground and pulled it back on, all the while a silly grin on her lips. She quickly bent towards Catherine and placed a kiss on her forehead before walking over to the door opening. She turned back before completely walking out. "We'll go on a date next week."

"Next week?" Catherine smirked.

"Yes, we're gonna win this vacation and go out on a date?or two," Sara smiled then left the bedroom, heading for the fire place and tossing another log on the fire before settling in her sleeping bag again.

"Sleep well," she heard the strawberry blonde saying from the bedroom.

"Good night," she answered back as she closed her eyes, a smile on her face.

The End

...for now

Thank you for reading! Feedback is very much appreciated and can be sent to mbinc_65@hotmail.com
Continued in Part 2

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