CHAPTER ONE; what's going on?
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Disclaimer: I own nothing. CSI owns me.
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Normally Catherine wasn't too excited about going to work. She loved her job. Of course. But it wasn't as if she couldn't find anything better to do with her time.
Today was different though. She was awfully energized and impatient, and only regarded Warrick with a loud "later!" when she hastily rounded the corner after he asked her about last night's party..
She quickly opened the door to Grissom's office with a loud "haaal.. DAMN!". He wasn't there. He wasn't so big a coward that he'd call in sick.. was he? She figured he would most likely rather get hit in the head with a spade than come in to work, but that his pride wouldn't allow him to stay away..
She spotted him walking nervously round in circles in the break room and laughed to herself as she walked hurriedly in there. "Haaaallooooo". The grin on her face couldn't possibly get any bigger as Grissom's shoulders quite visibly tensed and he stopped his wandering.
He dropped his head. "Don't start with me.." he said quietly even though he new it didn't matter what he said at this point.
"Hey! I'm just saying hallo!" she said, but Grissom merely rolled his eyes when he saw the smirk on her face.
"Eh, Catherine – what's going on?" Warrick asked as he entered the room, obviously quite puzzled by Catherine's behaviour.
"Maybe you should ask Grissom," she grinned
"NOTHING is going on," Grissom quickly spat out, a little surprised by his reaction himself.
"Well.. I don't know about that - I'd say th.." Catherine started, but was quickly interrupted when an unusually smug-looking Hodges entered the room too.
"Oh God" Grissom sighed, starting to rub his temples. Had he not already pinched himself more times than he could count he would be convinced that it was a nightmare.
His insane headache wasn't exactly helpful, and he was now wondering whether or not faking his own death could get him out of the situation.
He settled on no, though. It wasn't as if Cath and Warrick hadn't been around dead bodies before and he wasn't very good at holding his breath either.
Warrick was looking from one person to another, clearly confused – "Does ANYONE want to tell me what's going on?"
"Of cooourse" Catherine said, still grinning in direction of Grissom. "Let me just give you my.. eh.. version of what happened and then maybe we can hear Grissom's afterwards!"
Grissom didn't answer but just hit the coffee maker, for being too damned slow, but Catherine never really expected an answer so she continued, "well, last night at the Christmas party.. – It was boring, the band sucked, the liquor was bad - but free - and it was only Grissom, Greg, Sara and I who was there, since the rest of you were working, and I honest to God thought Sara and Grissom had left long ago.. eh..! ..SO I was talking to Greg about something I will bet good money that he cannot remember, after the amount of body-tequilas he was doing with some girl - red hair, glasses - someone that could be the definition of 'what any man dreads to wake up next to'.." ((A/N: I have red hair and glasses, I'm allowed to write that without getting bitch-slapped ;) ))
"Could you get to the point" Warrick asked, "or was that the point – Greg got drunk!"
"Nooo.." Catherine smirked, "when I was trying to get through to Greg I spot Sara running through the room like a bat out of hell, obviously overly excited about something, and oooobviously very, very drunk dragging a equally excited, equally drunk Grissom after her"
Warrick raised his eyebrows in his boss' direction, and Grissom decided to skip the coffee and go hide in his office, for the last 4 minutes till shift started.
"aand..eh!" Catherine half-asked, before remembering where she was and continuing her story, "SO, they come over and say that they want to show is something REALLY funny, and guess what they do..!"
Both Catherine and Hodges starts laughing, but Warrick is getting impatient, "WHAT!"
"They start KISSING! And I mean – they weren't just kissing, they were all over each other. Seriously. It was so bad I had to cover poor Greg's eyes.. not that I think he ever really noticed that something happened.. but still!"
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Grissom heard the howl of laughter coming from the break room, and assumed Catherine had gotten to the point of her story. He downed two more aspirins, and glanced at the watch. Shit, he had to get out there.
When walking towards the break room again he heard Nick shout "have you heard?" as he got there. Greg was taking a 'personal day' – which btw had to be written down on the list of most stupid words for being hung-over. Sara hadn't called and he hadn't seen her anywhere even though she'd normally be in at least an hour before the shift started. But then again – today was probably going to be the most abnormal day ever.
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Shit
Sara quite literally fell out of bed when she realized what time it was.
Fuck, I'm going to be late, and FUCK my head hurts..
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And what the FUCK did I do last night! Shit shit shit.
No I didn't. I couldn't possibly have done that. HE couldn't possibly have done that. Okay it's settled, we didn't do that. Of course we didn't.
A little more at ease she went to the bathroom, turned on the shower and hurriedly took her clothe of – it did however only last about 10 seconds, till she got a look at the giant hickey on her neck.
No no no. Suddenly everything came back to her. It was all too stupid that she could help but laugh, until she realized that she had to call Grissom to tell him she would be late and she started to sob instead. What did I think – What did HE think? What is he thinking about now? Does he regret it? Does he remember it? Did he like it?
I need to call him. I HAVE to call him. I'm going to...
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"Grissom"
"Hi. It's me.. eh, Sara.."
"Oh. Hi."
The others started to laugh uncontrollably when they realized it was Sara on the phone. It had actually been bearable handing out assignments, they had of course giggled the entire time, but he ignored it right until Catherine started asking if he wanted to see something REALLY funny and he had actually thought the phone call could be his way out – if only he had checked caller ID first..
"Eh. I guess they know." She said, banging her head against the wall for not having anything to say, "ANYWAY, I'm going to be a little late – I am.. eh.. late."
"Okay.." He said, leaving the break room, filled with now howling co-workers who wasn't helping on the awkward situation, "ehmm, if you don't feel well – don't come. As you heard they are not very discreet about it, and.. I don't know..."
"It's okay.. I guess.. but eh,.."
"Yes?" he asked, biting his lip
"Could we talk first? I mean I know we are talking.. but eh.."
"Of course" he interrupted, "You know what, I feel as if my head has been run over by a car, so I'll probably be in my office doing paperwork so just come see me when you get here.. – and besides I am, in no possible way, going to be able to work with any of those hyenas,"
She didn't answer but he could sense she was smiling.
"Ok" he continued nervously, "just.. take your time.. bye"
He hung up before he could say anymore. He felt as if it was him who was over-talking now.
What did I think – What did SHE think? What is she thinking about now? Is she thinking about me? About how awful it was.. Or about how incredible it was?
To be continued.. of course ;)