Title: Breaking Loose
Author: Chella Belle
Rating: PG-13—R The rating will vary depending on the chapter so keep looking in the Author's Notes for which rating I'm using.
Relationships: GSR (to start with…)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone besides the OFC…yep, she's mine.
Summary: Grissom is off to New York for a seminar. He leaves one of the CSIs to run the lab.
A/N: Yea I know, summary sucks…but you'll get over it. So…there isn't much to say…oh! Except this chapter is PG-13 for mild cussing. :) And even though this is in Season five…Nick's head isn't shaved…because that was a mistake and we all know it :) And don't worry; I'm almost done with Chapter 9 of Little Miracles. I just had to get this out of my system. This is one of my first plot bunnies…that's dead because of season 6 finale…BUT I AIN'T CRYIN:) YAY GEEK SEX!
Chapter 1: A Bad Feeling
December 5, 2004
Grissom's Office
10:02 p.m.
"This is useless." Grissom sighed and flung down his pen. No way was it in his capacity to do all of his paper work by the end of tonight…he'd have to find assistance.
He sauntered out of his office and through the halls of the fluorescent lit lab. He passed several labs and layout rooms were lab technicians and CSIs left over from Swing were still processing their evidence and talking with Greg, Hodges, or Archie.
It was a hectic night and he severely doubt he would be able to find someone to help him. He knew Greg would be willing; he do anything to get out of his little lab. Grissom had promised him the chance of a CSI 1 badge if he could find a suitable replacement in the DNA lab. And as predicted…the young man had no such luck. Grissom pitied him, he knew the aspiring CSI had potential and was eager to show it if given the chance. He had hoped Greg could find a substitution for the DNA lab…he himself was fervent to discover what the young man was competent of.
Grissom walked into Greg's, hopefully temporary, lab and was bemused when he was no where to be found. Grissom frowned and continued to walk, glancing in at the various labs as he went. There was still no sign of the quirky lab tech.
He heard the discrete resonance of laughter coming from the direction of the break room. Grissom raised an eyebrow and began to walk in that track. With his trademark walk of one hand cautiously pointed out while casually swinging the other, he neared the glass windows of the break room. Peering in, he saw that the entire Graveyard shift was sitting casually, while being entertained by the man in question.
He opened the door and the laughter stopped. The team looked at him blankly and he raised his gray brow. "Uh…why isn't anyone working?"
Warrick took his feet off the table and stood up, across the room from Grissom. "We don't have any cases." He answered.
"Yes…each of you had a case…how do you all solve them so fast?" He accused. "And Greg, I believe the lab is calling." He hinted.
"We finished them all because every one of them was related…and bogus." Catherine scoffed and flipped her strawberry blonde hair off her shoulder.
"What?" Grissom asked in a confused and slightly annoyed tone. "Some one please elaborate."
"A group of college kids decided to get together and pull some dumb pranks before leaving for Winter Break. The use of blow up dolls, stage blood, audio recorded screams, prop knives, and a few prank calls created four quick cases. Each solved within a few hours might I add."
"Yeah, it's pretty depressing that college majors were dumb enough to create such rudimentary, unlikely, and spurious homicides." Nick popped a piece of popcorn in his mouth and chewed before continuing. "It's heartbreaking what Vegas is comin to." He threw his hand over his heart and feigned pain for dramatic affect. Sara gave a beautiful laugh and drew Grissom's attention.
Her mouth curved into a smile and revealed her gap that she so deeply despised but drove Grissom wild. He felt a twang of jealousy that the Texan could make her smile and he looked away regaining his boss demeanor. "Well, The minuet a case comes in I expect to see Tahoe's gone, or CSIs working." Grissom stated and Greg saluted him. Catherine and Sara laughed while Grissom rolled his eyes. he disappeared for a moment, then walked back in. "One more thing,"
"I didn't do it!" Came the quick gainsay of Greg. Grissom rolled his eyes.
"I need someone to help with paper work." Grissom waited for someone to volunteer, when no answer came; Sara sighed and threw her hands in the air.
"I'll help." She volunteered and Grissom nodded.
"As reward, you get some of Greg's cherished Blue Hawaiian coffee." Grissom stated and Greg dropped his jaw.
"Hey! No one is allowed any of that."
"DNA lab for life." Grissom simply said.
"Everyone…except you two…" Greg said sheepishly and sat down in his chair. Grissom smiled and Sara winked at him. They each grabbed a cup of coffee and walked into his office.
Sara pulled a chair to the other side of his desk and began completing the work in front of her. They would occasionally look up at stare at the other while they weren't looking, but look back down before the other looked up.
Once, merely by accident, Grissom looked up and caught Sara's eye. He blushed and she smiled sheepishly. "Griss," She began tentatively, "I uh, I wanted to-"
The shrill ring of the phone cut her off and Grissom gave an irritated sigh. He smiled weakly and picked up the receiver. "Gil Grissom's office." The voice on the other end of the phone couldn't be heard from Sara's distance, so she continued working and pretended she didn't want to say anything. "Uh…oh yes. Yes, I applied for that in June…oh really. Well I'd be honored…a CSI?" He quickly looked over at Sara who was watching him intently and she raised her brow. "Well yeah…yes I will. Okay, alright. Take care Will. Bye." He hung up the phone and Sara looked at him expectantly. "I have been selected to speak at an entomology seminar I applied for in June. They want be to bring a CSI that knows something about bugs."
"Want me to page Cath?"
"I want you to go with me."
"What?" She asked confused. She had automatically assumed he'd bring his right hand to assist him.
"I think you know more about bugs."
"How do you figure?"
"Well…remember the Kay Shelton case?" Sara blushed and nodded, like she had forgotten. "When we stayed up with that pig, you learned a lot. You've grown accustom to my bugs. I think you'd be excellent for the position." He complimented. Sara smiled shyly and looked back down. "Plus," She looked up to face him. "Catherine freaks out when she sees bugs…I'm afraid she's try to kill them all."
Break Room
10:16 p.m.
"I'm gonna kill you." Catherine threatened while chasing Greg through the break room. Greg screamed in horror and ran as fast as his legs would allow.
"Warrick!"
"Forget it man. I ain't tryin to restrain her." He laughed and high-fived Nick.
"No, remind me to never shove a bug in Cat's face!"
Warrick laughed and crossed his arms over his chest as he sat back and watched the scene. "Sure." He lied.
"You really gonna live up to that?" Nick whispered and Warrick shook his head while smiling deviously.
"Hell no. This is too funny."
The two men exchanged a laugh and continued to watch the hectic display. Grissom and Sara walked in the break room and looked at the scene in horror. They looked to Nick and Warrick for questioning and they looked back blankly. "Greg showed Catherine a bug." Nick said simply. Grissom looked over at Sara accusingly and she laughed.
"Catherine! Don't kill Greg! We need all the help we can get." Grissom ordered and the two stopped running.
"What's up? Got some cases?" Catherine asked.
"Sort of."
This peeked the CSIs interests and they all settled down to listen…with Greg sitting very far away from Catherine. "What's up Griss?" Warrick asked.
"I've been asked to speak at a seminar I applied for in June, it's an entomological seminar and I need to bring a CSI who knows something about bugs with me."
"That would be me." Greg said.
"No that would be Sara. We need you here in the lab. You've got to run DNA until you find a replacement."
"Why aren't I going?" Catherine asked offended.
"Because Cat, if I take you, you can't run Graveyard while I'm gone. I mean if you really want to go I can have Warrick run the shift and you can go with me…to New York…in December…for two weeks…with a bunch of bugs…"
"No! No, no, no. I think Sara knows more about bugs. Sorry Warrick."
"Hey, no problem. I do not want Griss' job. It's all yours Cat."
"So it's settled, Cat will run Graveyard and Sara will go to New York with me."
December 6, 2004
Locker Room
8:23 a.m.
"Griss and Sar are goin to New York and Cat's runnin nights…this is unsettling." Nick stated worried.
"Whacha mean Man?" Warrick asked.
"We are gonna be so short handed around here…it'll be you and me workin most cases 'cause Cat's gotta do all the paper work that Griss isn't gonna do."
"What about Greggo?"
"He's gotta be in the lab."
"Just until he can find a replacement. That could happen any minuet." Warrick pointed out.
"Man, he's been on that for weeks! Plus, he's still gotta train 'em."
Warrick looked down and nodded. "True."
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Don't worry Man, it's only for two weeks."
Nick shook his head and looked down. "I don't know…"
"Nick, don't worry. We can hold down the fort."
"And if things get out of control…"
"They won't!" Warrick assured and shut his locker. The duo walked out of the locker room still fussing. "When'd you become such a baby?"
"I'm not being a baby."
"Yes you are."
"No huh."
"Fine…ya big baby."
Sidle Residence
8:34 a.m.
"Quit being such a baby Sidle!" Sara accused herself. "It's only two weeks…in the cold air…in New York." She shuddered and continued packing her bags. "Quit talking yourself out of it…Grissom's already gone to get your ticket, you're leaving tonight. So get over it." She said and shoved another long sleeve shirt in her bag and a few more sweaters.
The phone rang and drew her attention. She stared blankly at it for a moment, and then walked to her nightstand to answer it. "Hello?"
"Sara?"
"Grissom?"
"Yes."
"Oh…hi Grissom. What's up?"
"Um, I just got word that we're leaving tonight at 9:15. I'll be at your apartment to pick you up at 7:30. Okay?" Grissom asked tentatively.
Sara nodded, and then remember that he couldn't see her. "Alright."
"Okay. Get some sleep before then okay?"
"Yes. You too." She ordered softly and she could hear him grunt in protest. A smiled spread across her face. "Goodbye Grissom."
"Goodbye Sara." She hung up the phone and continued packing…with a smile on her face.
It had just now hit her that she's be spending two weeks, alone, with Gil Grissom. She threw in some warm pajamas and socks before going into her bathroom to collect her toiletries.
She rigorously disbelieved that anything would happen…nevertheless, she was spending time alone with him. And that was enough to make any girl smile…Sara Sidle was no exception. She looked at the clock. 8:42. Only 10 hours and 48 minuets till he came to pick her up. And with that thought a smile spread on her face.
Sidle Residence
7:30 p.m.
10 hours and 48 minuets later Sara's doorbell rang and a smile spread across her face. A second ring snapped her back to reality and sent Sara scurrying to gather her things. "Coming!" She called and set her bags by the front door. "Wow…you weren't kidding."
Grissom smiled and nodded. "You ready?"
"Almost, I just gotta get my shoes on." She replied. "Come on in."
Grissom stepped into her homey apartment and looked around. It seemed smaller than it actually was, and the gold curtains stood out against the dark purple walls. The tones were earthy and simply, yet beautiful ,intelligent, and intriguing…just like Sara herself.
He smiled and heard Sara's chuckle from across the apartment. He looked over and stared in awe. She was dressed in tan Ugg boots with her bootleg jeans tucked in them, a dark green long sleeve shirt, a big tan coat to match her boots and a colorful scarf. He shook his head and regained equanimity. "Ready?"
She smiled and nodded. Grissom nodded also and grabbed her bags. "I can take one." She offered and he shook his head.
"It's fine."
"Griss, please?"
He sighed and handed one of her bags to her. She gratefully accepted it ant the two walked down her stairs, out her apartment, and loaded the bags into his car. He hopped in the front seat, and they began to drive off. She continuously looked over at him trying to read his expressions, but failing.
The ride there was silent…so was the walk to drop off their bags and claiming their tickets…as well as the walk to the gate…and being seated on the plane. Finally tired of the silence, Sara turned to Grissom and spoke. "What part of New York are we going to?" Grissom lowered his magazine of Forensics Monthly.
Grissom looked over at her and smiled. "Brushton."
"Brushton?"
"Brushton." he confirmed and brought the magazine back up to his face.
"Where's that?"
Grissom chuckled and didn't look over at her. "It's just about in Canada."
"Canada!" Sara exclaimed earning the glares and 'shush's of their neighboring passengers. Grissom looked over at her curiously, his eyebrow was raised and a frowned graced his lips. "Sorry." She apologized, and then turned her worried head back to Grissom. "I can't go to Canada." She began nervously.
"Why?" He asked becoming intrigued with the brunette's worries.
"I…I uh," She looked around to think of a good lie to tell him, "I don't have a passport." She said finally and smiled in triumph. Grissom gave her a skeptical look and raised his eyebrow.
"Well, we aren't going to Canada…but we'll be only miles away from the border. In fact, our hotel is really close to it."
"Within walking distance?"
"Well, not in this weather, but if it was warm…and you were a nature freak and loved protracted walks, then yes."
Sara nodded slowly, seeming partially satisfied with the information. "But not in Canada?" She questioned once more needing to be quite certain that they wouldn't be in the country north of New York, turning her body towards Grissom, who merely shook his head. Sara nodded turning back to the seat in front of her. "What's Brushton like?"
"Well…" Grissom stuffed his magazine in the pocket in front of him, convinced he wouldn't be able to read it with a jittery Sara next to him. "It's very rural, lots of country and land. It's earthy…there's lots of mountains, and lakes, and forests. It's extremely cold this time of year, but the lakes are amazing. And the best part…lots of bugs."
"Sounds like it'll be heaven."
CSI Crime Lab
Grissom's Office
9:24 p.m.
"This place is Hell!" Catherine exclaimed and threw her hands in the air. The blonde ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. "I have no idea how Grissom functions in this mess." She said to herself.
A knock on the door drew her attention, and Warrick's skeptical figure appeared before her. "Hey boss…you alright in here?"
She sighed, "No…I don't know how he does it. How can he work with all this shit surrounding him! It'll take me till they get back and longer to get this all sorted out!"
"That's actually what I came here about…Nick and I are wondering…Greggo's in the lab…you're in here…what if we get swamped?" he asked.
Catherine sighed, "Grissom didn't think about that…"
"So," He sat down in the only available chair, the other was loaded with paperwork. "What do you say?"
"I say…if we get swamped, I pull myself out of this mess and come help. We can't take Greg out of the lab. And I'm praying that the two of you can hold down night's for the time being without me so I can get some of this done." She kicked a pile by her foot. "I'd like to at least see the floor in here."
Warrick chuckled. "Well I'm early, you want some help?"
"Yes please." She said smiling and handing him and folder. "I think Nick worked this case. Would you overview it for me?"
"Yeah…do we sign it Grissom or…"
Catherine bit her bottom lip, an out of character habit of her. She always seemed to composed and knowledgeable about what to do next. "Yeah, sign it Grissom. Can you forge?"
"Did it everyday for PE when I was in high school."
Catherine looked at him and smiled, "Me too. What was your excuse?"
"Asthma, foot injury, sick, head ache, you name it I did it."
Catherine chuckled and shook her head. "What'd you do instead of PE?"
"I'd go out and walk around, read books, different stuff. How about you?"
Catherine blushed and looked him in the eye. She wiggled her eyebrow, "What do you think?"
Warrick gave a laugh and shook his head as he went back to work. "Ms. Willows…"
She laughed and continued working as well. "I went to almost every other class though…almost." Warrick laughed. "Why didn't you go to PE?"
"Kids used to make fun of me…said I couldn't run, hit a ball, kick a ball, couldn't play anything…I was tall, lanky, and had big glasses. You do the math."
"Awww, Warrick…bet those girls are kickin themselves now…and bet you could kick those guy's asses at anythin they challenged."
Warrick laughed shyly and blushed. "Maybe."
She laughed and opened her mouth to say something, but the opening of the door interrupted her. Ecklie's forsaken shadow stood in the darkened doorway and called out her name. "Catherine."
"Yes." He stepped forward. "What can I do for you Ecklie?"
"Um…I need the paperwork I assigned Gil a few weeks ago." She chuckled and gestured to the piles around her. "Well I need them."
"I'm sorry Ecklie." She leaned forward and rested her arms on the desk. "If I find them-"
"Find them now. You know, your entire shift has been slacking off. And now I can see why."
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked offended.
"Your supervisor isn't doing his job."
"Gil is at a seminar."
"On his own time."
"He'll be gone for two weeks."
"Well than I guess he's in trouble, because I want all of this paperwork straightened out and all cases solved before they get back…in two weeks. Or your supervisor can kiss his job goodbye."
"What!" Warrick and Catherine chorused at the same time.
"This isn't Gil's fault."
"He's too lenient with you all. Notice how you all call him Gil? That's a sign of what I like to call 'buddy management'. He runs your shift but he does it as a friend and that's why you all have been slipping." Ecklie informed them.
Warrick gritted his teeth to keep from screaming the fact that they solved more cases on a daily basis than Swing and Days combined.
"Ecklie…we're shorthanded as it is. Just give us some time after they get back-"
"I'm afraid I can't do that Warrick. You all have to the end of the two weeks." He said and turned to walk out the door. "I suggest you give Gil my message." He called over his shoulder and closed the door. Catherine and Warrick threw their pens at the door and Catherine sighed.
Warrick looked over at her and blue met blue-green. "…We need to call Griss."
Catherine nodded and whipped out her mobile and hit speed dial 3. The continual ringing on the other end provided the call had gone through…but there was no answer. Soon, the message machine picked up.
"You've reached Gil Grissom, sorry I couldn't get your call. But please leave a message."
Catherine scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Friendly answering machine Gil. Call me back. It's urgent…let's just say your career depends on it." She hung up the phone and looked over at Warrick nervously. "We may need some help."
Break Room
10:37 p.m.
"So help me understand this, Ecklie has given us two weeks, or until Griss and Sara get back, to finish all the paperwork, get the lab back up to speed, and solve all our cases or Grissom looses his job." Nick asked incredulously.
"You mean we all loose our jobs. I'm sorry but I'm not working under one of Ecklie's minions." Greg objected. "I'll quit."
"Same here." Nick seconded.
"No hold on, hold on. No one's quitting and no one's loosing their jobs. We just need a reasonable approach to this. Cat and I have been kickin this around for a while and this is what we've come up with…" Warrick began. He gestured for Catherine to take over.
She smiled. "Thank you." Greg and Nick made gagging faces, but they were lost on the twp. "Okay, Greg is in the lab, you and Nick are in the field, and I'm in the office…" Catherine began, leaving everyone wondering what was going through the attractive blonde's mind. She smiled and revealed the genius of her plan. "I say we bring in help."
"But who…the 'B-team' went to days because of all the members gone…there is no 'C-team'." Nick replied.
"True…but Gil has wanted to hire someone new for a while to help out around her because we're short handed around here as it is."
"So…" Greg said not seeing where she was going with this.
"So, we hire someone." Catherine concluded.
"Hire two people." Greg stated, "…because Grissom's gonna fire you when he finds out. You know how territorial he is."
"Oh you're one to talk! No one can get within 100 yards of your coffee!" Nick teased.
"If you were payin what I am for the coffee you'd be protective too." Greg defended.
"Hey, knock it off you two…Cat and I have thought this pretty much through, a skill Griss lacks, and we think it's a good idea. We need your opinion and help…what'd ya say?"
Greg and Nick looked at each other, then back to Warrick and Catherine, "We're in." Nick said.
"Good, we've got to hire someone within two days at most."
"But first we have to run this by Gil." Catherine stated, "We need to try our hardest to convince him because he won't be happy when he hears his job is riding on this and in our hands."
"Well that should make him eager to hire someone." Greg said.
Catherine scoffed, "You don't know Gil."
"Territorial." Warrick replied.
"Exactly…but luckily he has Sara there, and she'll be able to persuade him our way…you know she has that effect on him."
The entire table nodded knowingly. "So…do we call him now?"
Catherine shook her head. "That's the problem, their plane doesn't land until 3: 26 a.m.. And they'll still need time to get off the plane, through customs, and get their luggage."
"That puts us at about 3:45-4 a.m."
"But that's five hours from now! What do we do till then?" Greg asked.
"We wait."
December 7, 2004
Malone Dufort Airport
3:16 a.m.
"If you'd just wait Grissom, you could check your cell when we get to the lobby of the airport." Sara insisted.
"But I heard it ringing. I hate missing calls."
"That's what you have an answering machine for." Sara pointed out.
"Still."
"Just chill Grissom. We're almost there." The minuet they walked into the lobby, Grissom whipped out his cell phone, and Sara rolled her eyes. He stood there and listened to Catherine's missed call. Sara watched as he furred his eyebrows and frowned. "What's up?" She asked when he closed his phone.
"I need to call Catherine back." He replied and hit speed dial 2 on his phone. "Catherine?"
"Hey Gil."
"What's wrong?"
"Well…basically, Ecklie threatened to fire you if we didn't get all of your paperwork done, brought the lab back up to speed and solved out cases…within two weeks."
"WHAT!" He screamed, grabbing the attention of several passer-bys.
"What's wrong?" Sara asked concerned.
"Gil, calm down. We've got a plan." Catherine stated.
"If it's killing Ecklie I approve." Grissom growled.
Catherine chuckled. "That's plan B. Plan A, is we hire someone to help."
"What?"
"Hear me out, we've got Greg in the lab, Nick and Rick n the field and me behind the desk. If we hire someone they can help manage in the field, and then help in the office if we need. I mean hell, you've wanted to hire someone for a while now anyway. Why not let us do it?"
"Yeah, who knows who they want to work beside better than the people in question?" Greg replied in the back ground.
"Am I on speaker phone?" Grissom asked.
"We figured you'd need some persuasion and that's a group effort." Nick answered.
"See, we work well together on this…just trust us." Warrick chimed.
Grissom paused a moment, "I don't know if hiring someone in such a delicate time is the best thing…I'll just have to come back."
"What?" Sara asked from the sidelines.
"Gil, you can't. We already told Ecklie you were on the lab's time. If you come back he'll accuse you off slacking off and not doing your job." Catherine reasoned.
"I just can't win in this situation can I?" Grissom asked defeated.
There was no sound on the other end for a minuet. "That's kinda the idea." Catherine replied morosely.
Grissom sighed and rubbed his temples. "I still don't think this is a good idea."
"Hand the phone to Sara please." Catherine asked. Grissom sighed and did as he was told.
"Catherine, what the Hell is going on?"
"Are you sitting down?"
"Yes."
"Okay…"
Grissom watched as Sara's facial expressions changed as Catherine relayed the news. "What! No he didn't…he's crazy! That isn't humanly possible, I mean, you've seen Griss' office…oh my God…how? Oh…ooohhhh…and let me guess, he doesn't want to because he can't be there to do it himself…" She chuckled, "I know…alright, hang on." She stood up and walked over to Grissom with the phone still pressed to her ear. "Griss, I think you should listen to them. They've obviously thought this out and they're smart. Have a little faith."
Grissom looked in her big brown eyes and sighed. "Fine." He could hear the cheers on the other end of the phone. "But I want to supervise this…because it may be the last thing I'll ever get to supervise."
Sara handed the phone back to Grissom. "We hear ya loud and clear." Warrick replied.
"I'm serious, I want to know about each person."
"Got it." Catherine said.
Grissom sighed, "Don't mess this up Cat."
You could hear her smile through the phone, "You can trust me."
Grissom hung up the phone and looked at Sara. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
"Because you have the inability of trusting people with certain tasks, so you immediately reject them for fear of becoming vulnerable. You abstain from letting people handle things that re personal to you because you fear they'll mess it up and then you'll have nothing left…hypothetically speaking." Sara shrugged.
Grissom raised his brow and smirked. "Thank you Dr. Sidle."
A/N: So how was the first chapter? That last part was a joke…(hypothetically speaking)…
In the next chapter…the interviews begin…Sara and Grissom prepare for the seminar…Ecklie's ticked (as usual) and tries to further reek havoc on the night shift…new characters appear to aid the team…and further GEEKLOVE and YOBLING!
Now…be good little kids and REVIEW!
No more story till I have reviews…same for Little Miracles.