CHAPTER ONE
The case Grissom was working on was crazy and hectic; when it was solved he was more than happy. As he read over an article, Grissom walked the halls of his workplace. So engrossed in what he was reading, he didn't see the person in front of him nor did the other person and before they knew it, the two of them had collided.
"I am really sorry." The female apologized.
Grissom laid eyes on the most intriguing women he had seen in a very long time. She had long, luscious red hair and eyes so vibrantly green that he had a hard time believing they were real.
Realizing he hadn't said anything, "It…it's ok. Can I help you with anything?" He asked.
"As a matter of fact you can. I'm looking for Captain Brass." She replied.
Grissom could hear a faint accent within the few things she had said. "You're not from here are you?" He inquired.
"No, I'm from Ireland. Again, I'm sorry and I don't mean to be rude, but I'm kind of in a hurry and need to know where Brass is." She pushed.
"I'll take you to him." Grissom offered with a nod. The two reached Brass just as he was leaving one of the many rooms in the building; he was shortly followed by a man in drag.
"How many times do I need to tell you, Brass, to leave my father alone?" She asked as they approached.
The girl's father held up his hands. "It's ok honey. He had a few questions about a case he is working on. I'm not in trouble."
"Geez you could've left that in your message. Not only did you make me worry, but late for work as well."
Moving next to her, "Now don't be rude sweetie. Who is your friend?"
"I don't know. I ran into him on my way inside. Literally."
Grissom smiled, holding out his hand, "Gil Grissom."
"I am so sorry for my daughter's rudeness." Shaking his hand, "I'm Michael but you can call me Michelle if you like."
The woman took her father's wrist, "Ok, now were introduced."
"I did not raise you to be rude to anyone like that." Brass and Grissom heard the father say as the two left.
Days later, Nick and Grissom made their way into an aquarium. An unfamiliar fish had been found in their dead victim's stomach and it could only be found at this aquarium.
They explained the situation to the manager who nodded, "Ahh, you are going to want to talk with our fish expert. She'll be able to help ya."
The manager took them over to the tank with the seals. The fish expert was found in the tank dressed in sandals, guy swim trunks and a swim suit top feeding two seals. The manager whistled for her to come over. The corner of Grissom's mouth went up some when he saw it was the Irish girl he had met a few days ago.
"CSI is here for a few questions. Behave." The manager warned her.
She laughed with a big grin, "Hey Mr. Grissom; who's your friend?" She checked Nick out.
"This is Nick Stokes." Nick held out his hand as Grissom introduced him.
Biting her bottom lip, "Sorry I'd shake your hand, but I got dead fish and seal spit all over me. Ludo thought it would be so funny to spit on me while feeding him." They all looked hearing a noise coming from one of the seals.
"It's ok. We just have a few questions to ask and your manager said you were the one to ask Miss…" Grissom trailed off.
"Ruby, just straight up Ruby. None of this Miss stuff. So what are these questions you have for me?" She asked, placing her hands on her hips and not removing her gaze from Grissom.
Pulling out a picture, Grissom handed it to her. "This was found in our victim's stomach."
"I hope you guys don't think this was what killed the guy, and how or even why it was in the person's stomach to begin with is a little odd." She said.
Nick nodded at her, "We're kind of hoping you could shed some light on the subject for us. Like do you know what kind of fish it is? Or was?"
"Well by the looks of what's left it's a Stonefish. People usually die from their sting since they blend into the floor, but you don't usually eat these fish. At least no one I know does. From what I am told we only have them in our aquarium because they were a gift. I honestly see no point in having them since you rarely see the fish because of the camouflage." She handed the pictures back.
Grissom took it. "Are you sure you never known anyone to eat this fish?"
"Nope, sorry." Ruby shrugged.
"Where could you get such a fish?" Grissom asked.
Ruby scratched at her arm as she responded, "Well Stonefish live primarily above the tropic of Capricorn. In this aquarium we have 5 reef stonefish which is the most widespread species of the stonefish family, and is known to be found in the shallow tropical marine waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans, ranging anywhere from the Red Sea to the Queensland Great Barrier Reef. And their venom is sometimes lethal to humans."
"Where are you able to purchase these kind of fish?" Nick inquired.
Licking her lips as she thought, "I believe there is a place in Florida that sells them – not a lot, but sells them. And for a high price too since they don't usually sell much of them. Other than that I don't know any other place that sells them."
"Well I think we have everything we need from you for the moment." Grissom said.
Ruby glanced between the two of them, "Do either of you have a pen?" Nick pulled one out from his pocket. Ruby took Grissom's wrist and started writing on his arm, "If you have any more fish questions – or any questions for that matter – call me. Other words you know where to find me." She smiled looking up at Gil.
Ruby handed Nick back his pen. "Thanks for your help, and we'll call if we have any more questions." Grissom said.
Nick looked behind them to make sure they were a good distance away from Ruby before saying, "She's cute."
"Really? I didn't notice." Shrugged Grissom.
Nick snorted, "She sure liked you." He added a grin.
"What are you talking about?"
Nick stopped walking. "The entire time we were talking to her, she kept looking at you."
"That is ridiculous." Grissom shook his head.
Nick laughed, "If you say so, but she so was checking you out." Heading back to the car.
A few days passed when Grissom stopped by the aquarium again. He found her by the seals like last time; she was singing, not well, and dancing along with the two seals to the song Fame. He leaned on the half-wall watching her sing at the top of her lungs.
"I'm going to live forever. I'm going to learn how to fly. High." Doing a little shimmy as she fed them, "I'm gonna make it to heaven, light up the sky like a flame….FAME." The entire time the seals danced along with her while she tossed the occasional fish their way.
When the song ended Grissom clapped and Ruby turned in his direction. The two seals followed her as she made her way to him.
She leaned on the wall that separated them. "Come for more questions?" She asked.
"The case is all ready solved." Grissom answered.
Ruby bit her bottom lip with a big smile. "So this is a personal call I see. Work really that boring?" She giggled.
"I'm curious about the Stonefish and was wondering if you could answer some questions I have about them?" He asked.
Shrugging, "Totally on one condition."
"What is it?"
Pointing behind her, "You help me feed Ludo and Daisy."
Grissom climbed over the wall as his answer. Ruby spent the next hour and a half answering everything that he had.
"If you know all this about fish and all your other animals here, why are you feeding seals?" He asked.
Ruby handed a fish to Daisy as she replied, "When we get schools on field trips I'm the go to gal that takes them on a tour through the aquarium. But I also help with feeding the animals around here too."
"You must be good if you are the go to lady." Grissom tossed a fish to Ludo.
Ruby grabbed the empty fish bucket, "Come on I'll give you a tour and you can decide if I am good or not."
Ruby was very animated as she gave Grissom a tour. She went into detail about everything they saw; she was even able to answer every question he had asked her.
"So what do you think?" Ruby smiled when the tour ended back at where the seals were.
Grissom nodded appreciatively, "I can see why you are the go to gal."
"Told ya." She proudly smiled. "What are you doing the rest of the day?"
Grissom thought for a second. "Nothing, why?"
"Come on then."
It wasn't until they reached her car that he asked, "Where are we going?"
"A surprise. Now get in." Ruby demanded.
After about ten minutes, Ruby pulled into the parking lot to a building Grissom did not recognize.
He looked around after climbing out of the car, "Where are we?" He asked.
"Bingo." Ruby smiled heading inside.
He followed her in. "Bingo?" He said skeptically.
"What? You never play?" Ruby asked, looking over her shoulder.
"Once or twice." He said lightly.
After getting their things, Ruby found them a place to sit. An older lady turned around grinning at them with her yellow teeth.
"How are your fathers?" She asked.
Ruby smiled at her. "They're good. Papi is coming back home from Houston today. And Dad is busy running the art museum, at least when Captain Brass isn't chatting him up."
"That stupid old man is still giving your father trouble? I should go down there and give him a piece of my mind."
Ruby smirked along with Grissom. "Estelle, this is my friend Mr. Grissom."
"You're cute. Are you seeing anyone?" She checked him out as she spoke to him.
Grissom gave a light chuckle at the old lady's forwardness. "No."
"Well Ruby here is single too. You should give her a try. I know she is young, but she is very smart for her age which makes her seem older. And she is a fantastic girl despite the fact she has two fathers."
"Bingo is starting." When Estelle turned around, Ruby gave Grissom an apologetic look. "I am so sorry about that Mr. Grissom. She likes to be in everyone's business."
He leaned over, "It's ok and you can call me Gil." They checked their cards when the man called B7.
"So Gil why don't you have a girlfriend?"
The guy called N20. "Why don't you have a boyfriend?" He threw back.
"I have two fathers and I smell like fish all day. What's your excuse?" She giggled.
The corner of his mouth went up. "I work nights mainly where most work days."
"Dude we're in Las Vegas. There are no nights and there are no days. The only time you need to sleep is when your body can't stay awake any longer because you been up for a week straight." Hearing the announcer call I12.
Giving another chuckle, "You sure are unique."
The sun was starting to set when the two left the building. Ruby had Grissom laughing all the way to the car.
"Why do you even play Bingo? By the sound of it you rarely win." Grissom climbed into the car.
Ruby got in as well, "For the people like Estelle who are die hard Bingo players; besides don't say that seeing the one older lady with all the little so called good luck trinkets wasn't funny."
Grissom's phone went off before he could answer her. It was of course work causing Ruby to return him to his car.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own CSI or it's character, just mine.