The Story Isn't Over

A/N: Hey! First fanfic! Yay me! Do I get a gold star? This just sorta came to me at 11:30 on a school night...I was really tired the next morning...

Disclaimer: I own CSI in my dreams...But, that's it...

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I saw everything in sharp clarity. Then it went blurry. Tears, I think. Mike was there, and then he wasn't. "Charging! Clear!" Beeeeeeeeeeeep...The noise went on and on. There were warm hands on my shoulders, turning me away from the gory scene in front of me. Oh, Mike. It was over before it had a chance to even begin.

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I felt like a girl with a crush, writing Mrs. Catherine Keppler all over her notebook. But, ever since that man first walked into the LVCL, I could not get him out of my head. Love makes you crazy things, you know. I deceived the people I work with, the people that I trust the most, all for him. If I was Grissom, I would have some quote to perfectly describe that moment our eyes first met, that moment when I could feel the electricity pass between us. But I'm not Grissom, and I'm not good with words. I always act first; think later, I'm just not articulate. So, the first time I asked him out for breakfast after shift, all casual-like, he turned me down cold. He probably thought I had some ulterior motive. If he had tried to get to know me, like I had tried so hard with him, maybe he would've trusted me more. He would've come to me sooner, with the hand, with the other evidence he messed up. I trusted him, and what did I get? A dirty cop. I guess I'm just too trusting. But, I knew he was a good man, a good criminalist, and I loved him for it. Mike was the first man I'd let myself love since Eddie. Too bad neither man loved me enough to try. Mike lusted after me, I could tell. (I can always tell.) Why didn't he say anything? Invite me to dinner, or accept when I invited him? I never got to kiss him, not once. That's one hell of a pathetic story. I never got to kiss the man I loved. I know why he did it. Why he denied me what I wanted, what I needed. It was me. He knew things couldn't stay hidden forever, didn't want a relationship to get leaked to the press once the shit hit the fan. Well, the shit wouldn't have had it not been for Frank McCarty. That little fucker. He took Mike away from me. I'm glad Mike shot him, or I would've. I just wish I had had the time to tell him what I felt. We won't grow old together, in matching rocking chairs on the porch. Now that he's gone, I know one thing --

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"Hey Cat?" It's Nicky. I don't reply. Can't he see that this is a bad time?

"Oh, baby. It's gonna be ok," he said softly as he walked around my desk. Wait. Baby? Then, in that instant, I knew what I needed to know. Mike's death was not the end of the book, but rather the chapter, and with the start of a new chapter comes the chance for new beginnings. I reached up into the hug he was offering.

"I know. I'm alright now."

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A/N: What do you think? R&R, please...P.S. Flame me. See if I care...Constructive criticism is good, but compliments are better ;-)