Somebody That I Used To Know

Rating: Teen for now, mature later.

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or the characters.

Summary: She's just somebody that he used to know.

A/N: Here's chapter four! Sorry it took so long to update! Hope you guys are still reading! The next chapter should be pretty good, so you guys hang in there! LOL. Sorry for any grammar mistakes and thanks to EVERYONE who is reading and reviewing. Love you all!

She was sitting on her couch, her elbow propped up on the back with her chin resting in her palm. She stared through the glass door that was behind her. Her pool was starting to glow now that the sun had gone down. He had walked in from the kitchen and upon seeing her on the couch, stopped walking, and shoved his phone into his pocket.

He let his hands rest at his sides and when she felt his presence, she turned her head and gave him a small smile. He knew, just by how quiet she was being, that something was on her mind. He knew that if she wanted to talk about it, she'd speak first. He knew that if she wanted him closer, she'd fidget on the couch until he sat next to her. He knew that if she was about to cry, she'd begin to stutter and blink uncontrollably.

"We have the worst timing, you know." She spoke first. Her fingers now running through her hair.

"Actually, I think I'm the one with the bad timing," he corrected her, trying to make her feel better. He looked for any signs that she wanted him closer and when he saw her begin to move, switch positions on the couch, he knew he needed to be next to her to calm her down. He still didn't know what was going through that brilliant mind of hers, but he wanted to find out.

He walked over to where she sat and took a seat next to her. She scooted closer to him, but kept her distance at the same time. This was all so new to her. It had been so long since they were close like this.

"Gil, I'm just... so sorry. I wish you knew just how sorry I am."

"What are you apologizing for, Catherine?" She looked away from him and he noticed her left hand, which was quickly forming itself into a fist. Without thinking, he reached out and grabbed her hand before she could start hurting herself unintentionally. Her head snapped back and their eyes met.

"Gil... if I wouldn't have been such a coward years ago, we could've been together." Her hand relaxed and opened again, her fingers lacing slowly with Gil's. "If I would have just left Eddie and took Lindsey, I could have had you... I could have saved you from all this heartache that Sara's causing you," she admitted softly, letting her gaze fall to his chest.

"If I could go back in time, Catherine, I'd do everything so differently. None of this is your fault. It's mine. I knew I wanted to be with you." She looked up again. "But I chose Sara instead and that was a mistake. But I'm here now... if you still want me."

Suddenly, she laughed, shook her head, and wiped the tears that were pooling in the corners of her eyes. She leaned the short distance and wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. He returned her hug instantly and closed his eyes.

"We're so backwards," she laughed softly into his ear. They pulled apart and when he saw just how stressed she really was, he smirked, grabbed her hand, and pulled her up from the couch. "Gil- what? What are you doing?"

–

"Gil, I don't know about this."

They were standing in line. She was standing behind him, peeking over his shoulder.

"It's perfectly safe. I promise."

"Gil," she whined softly in his ear as the line grew shorter. He reached behind him without looking back and grabbed her hand, squeezing softly before lacing his fingers with hers. "How do you know this will even work?" He smirked as the line moved up.

"I promise you'll be fine, Catherine. I'll be next to you the entire time, okay?"

The roller coaster stopped right in front of them and let people out. They were seated in the first car and the worker put the bar down over their shoulders, strapping them in securely.

The ride was suspended over the city, high up where the riders could see all the lights, casinos, and even the Strip. Their legs dangled from the seats and she realized she was about to face one of her biggest fears. She never rode roller coasters as a child, teenager, or even a younger adult. But now, Gil had said all but five words and she was sitting in the first car of the fastest roller coaster in Las Vegas.

"Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God," she chanted, feeling the breaks of the roller coaster finally release. "If we survive this, I'm going to kill you." He laughed at this and as the ride began, she reached over and tried to grab his hand.

–

He extended his hand to pull her out of the ride. She lost her footing at first and stumbled into his side, both of them laughing at how ridiculous she had been on the ride. His arm wrapped around her to steady her and when she gained her balance again, he left his arm there.

"Was it worth it?"

"I'll admit, it was scary. But it worked." He led her to the SUV and they stopped right in front of her door. Slowly, she leaned up on the balls of her feet and brought her lips up to his ear. She stayed there for a few seconds before whispering a thank you. She fell back on her feet and leaned away quickly, flashing him a brilliant smile and opening her door to climb into his SUV.

"Hungry," she asked him once they were both buckled in.

"I could eat," he reasoned. "Where to?"

"How do you feel about the diner?"

"Sounds good." He backed out from his parking space and headed to the diner where he and Catherine, plus the rest of the team, had shared so many meals before. They rode there in a comfortable silence as Catherine observed the inside of his Denali. When they finally arrived, they had both gotten out of the car and went inside, picking their normal booth in the back of the diner.

"You know, I had lunch with Greg and Nick here the other day. They were pretty much begging me to come back," she said, trying to make conversation as they waited for their waitress to get their drink order.

"They're so accustomed to us being there, I bet it was difficult for them to adjust." Their drinks had finally come and Gil sighed as the cup of coffee warmed his hands. "But they're in good hands, even without us." Catherine nodded in agreement and took a sip of her coffee. Her eyes fell to Grissom's left hand, which was missing the wedding ring. She set her coffee down and licked her lips, battling a question she had been wanting to ask him ever since she had come home to an empty house after visiting Lindsey.

"So... what happens now," she asked cautiously. At first, he didn't understand her question, but when he saw her line of sight, and realized she had been glancing at his ring-less finger.

"Well... I agreed to let her keep the house seeing as I still have the townhouse. I go back tomorrow to retrieve some personal stuff." Their waitress had come back to take their order and left them alone again.

"Would you like help," she offered, wishing he would accept.

"It would be appreciated." She smiled. "Thank you." She shrugged it off and took another sip of her coffee.

"What are friends for, right?" He offered up a grin as well.

–

By the time they had made it back to her home, it was almost eleven o'clock. She had unlocked the door for both of them and they each went into their respective rooms to change into a more comfortable attire for bed. He had changed and brushed his teeth before her, and had waited in the living room, watching television. She came out from the hallway not much longer after him in a form fitting tank-top and black yoga shorts.

She walked over to where he sat on the couch and sat with him, watching as he flipped through the channels. He sat close to the armrest of her couch, giving her more than enough room. Swiftly, before he knew what was happening, she had whipped her body sideways and rested her head in his lap. She laid out her legs before her, then curled up into the couch until she was comfortably resting in his lap. He looked down at her with the remote still in his hands and gave her a questioning look.

"Is this okay," she asked softly. "I can get up if-"

"No, it's fine," he quickly answered, easing her back down into his lap. "Just... different." He had finally settled on something to watch and lowered his arm, which came to rest over her protectively. She found it hard to even concentrate on the television, instead, enjoying the way his arm rested over her securely. They laid in a comfortably silence for quite some time until Gil realized that it was only because she had fallen asleep wrapped up in his arms.

Leaning over, he had confirmed that her eyes were shut and her body was relaxed against his. He kept one arm around her, to keep her against him, while the other came up to gently tuck her hair behind her ears so he could see her full face. She shifted in her sleep slightly and stretched a little, tensing up against him for a moment. He knew he could've sat there all night to watch her sleep in his arms, but he was more concerned about her and getting her into a more comfortably bed rather than his lap.

"Catherine," he whispered, running his fingers hesitantly through her soft hair. She stirred in her sleep again and her eyes had finally started to open, slowly. It took a while for her to realize where she was and what was happening, but when she did, she sat up and stayed close to him.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, running her hand over her face gently. "How long was I out?"

"Not too long," he answered her honestly, helping her sit up. Silently, she had gotten up from the couch and held out her hand for him to take, which he did. She helped him up off from the couch and led him through the hallway, but not after he had turned off the television. She had walked into her bedroom and left him at the doorway, turning on the lamp next to her bed.

"See you in the morning," he called out, asking from her doorway. She turned as she pulled back the covers on her bed. She smoothed them back and walked towards him, reaching for his hand and pulling him further into her room. He froze in his spot and watched as she climbed into the bed, making herself comfortable.

"Get in," she instructed. "Make yourself comfortable. Don't mind me," she said, following him as he walked around the other side of the bed and slowly getting in with her, keeping his distance at first. When he was in the bed, she reached over and turned off the lamp, encasing them in total darkness. It took a while for his eyes to adjust, but when they did, he saw just how far away he was from her. She noticed this too, and scooted back until she met his chest. She reached behind her and grabbed his arm, putting it around her waist as he had boldly done earlier in the evening when she had fallen asleep in the living room. "See you in the morning," she asked, looking back over her shoulder.

"Bright and early," he replied after a while, finally tightening his hold on her and pulling her even closer to him.

A/N: Again, sorry for any grammar mistakes. I tried to catch as many as I could. Hope you guys are all still reading! I promise, the next chapter will be cute! :)