Uncertain Times

A conversation between Gil and Catherine. GC.

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI or anything related to it.

There are slight quotations from the song by Michael Andrews, "Mad World" and Maroon 5, "She will be loved". Neither belongs to me. :)

Authors Note: Finally I've finished a piece of writing. I don't know if this will be continued, but I'm thinking about it – time will tell! This is my first fic, and it's very short, but I hope you enjoy.

She relaxed, leaned back and exhaled. Her head hit the hard metal surface of her locker behind her, but she didn't quite notice it; her mind was off thinking about something entirely different than her current position or how comfortable she was.

What an awful day. Sometimes she wondered if she was really capable of being a supervisor. Perhaps she should've stayed in her old job. Safe and sound. Crime scene investigator. With no office. Nothing crucial to decide.

Leaning over and putting her head in her hands, she cursed herself of thinking so. She had worked so hard for the position, and now she was regretting it?

"This is a mad world," she spoke underneath her breath, "a mad world."

Opening her locker, she stared a long time at her daughter on the photographs that had been hanging there for what seemed forever. Damn, she had even less time to spend with her these days.

"A sad excuse for a mother. That's what I am."

She heard a quiet knocking on the already wide-opened door. She turned her head towards it in surprise and saw her former boss, Gil Grissom. Her long-time friend. She'd often wondered if they would ever be more than friends, but it was both wishthinking and completely foolish.

Besides, it would never work. Probably never.

"Hey," she said with an empty, drained voice. Again, her head found its way to her hands, doing circle movements on her temples.

His reply was a simple, almost invisible smile.

"Your shift's over," he stated.

"Shift's never over for a supervisor, Gil. You of all people should know that."

He moved towards the bench in the middle of the room where she sat. Then he sighed.

"Being a supervisor is not always rainbows and butterflies. It's.. hard work."

She now faced him, looking into his experienced, blue eyes.

Defeated, she spoke, "I know that, but --- I feel like it's consuming my life. All week. Twenny-four hours a day."

"This is not the first time you feel like that, Catherine. Our job demands full attention. You can't just plan it as you please."

She shut her locker and stood with him.

"You surely have a way of encouraging people," she said sarcastically, a smile hid in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I am."

She moved past him, laughing.

"Hah, you're not."

Just as Catherine approached the door, he called out to her.

"Catherine."

She turned, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I am sorry."

"I know that."

Then she left.

Regretting their conversation, Gil hurried to the hallway she was walking.

"Cath!"

She turned again, obviously humoured by the situation.

"Now what?" she teased.

"Dinner tonight? At six?"

There was a small pause.

"Thought you'd never ask."

Calmly, but filled with joy, she turned and continued down the hallway, leaving Gil behind with a rare, thoughtful smile. Then he turned, heading in the other direction towards his office.