CSI Story!

Monday 4th September, 2006.

"Guys I have some big news!" Gil Grissom walked into the break room and poured himself some coffee whilst his colleagues all looked at each other nervously.

"Where's Sara?" Grissom asked his team who all shrugged.

"I haven't seen her since she left here last night." Nick responded.

As if on cue, Sara Sidle walked (well ran almost) through the break room door,

"Oh my god guys I'm so sorry I'm late. I ,um, had a ,um, well, I had some trouble getting to sleep last night."

"Actually you're just on time Griss was about to make an announcement. Take a seat. You know what get coffee first, if you're tired." Catherine said, smiling at her colleague. Sara just nodded and did exactly as Catherine said in practically all one movement.

"OK guys, as I was about to say I have some big news! It's not necessarily going to be considered good news but it's big news." Grissom frowned as his entire team groaned before even knowing what was happening "Ecklie is on a mission."

"What kind of mission?" Sara asked mid- yawn.

"He thinks we need to do more team building exercises so over the course of the next three weeks we will be seeing a group therapist, playing team sports and last but definitely not least going camping." Grissom waited to hear yelling from his team but they just sat there silently and he slipped out of the glass double doors apparently unnoticed. He was expecting to be followed but he heard nothing behind him.

"Camping?" Catherine groaned.

"Therapy?" Nick grumbled

"Team Sports?" Greg asked apparently bemused.

"This just isn't right." Warrick exclaimed "Hey Sara what are you happy about this or something?"

"Nah, I'm just too tired to care. Excuse me just one minute, will you?"

A few minutes after his lucky escape Grissom heard a knock on his door and saw Sara in her favourite position, leaning against his door frame.

"Hey."

"Hey," She responded as she walked in and closed the door. "How long have you known about this team building crap?"

"Couple of days why?"

"And, considering the fact that apart from last night and this morning we have spent the last week together pretty much solidly you didn't find it important enough to mention?"

Grissom grinned. He and Sara had spent so much time together since becoming a couple and he had simply forgotten to tell Sara about the team building exercises. He would tell her but he doubted she would believe him.

"Sorry it completely slipped my mind." Sara raised an eyebrow and smiled. God, he loved Sara's smile.

"I'll trust you on that one... for now. Anyway better get back or they'll get suspicious. You coming to do assignments?"

"Yeah." Grissom grabbed a folder and walked toward Sara who was ready to open the door. He pulled her hand off the door handle and kissed her softly on the cheek. "Sorry I forgot to tell you about the team exercises."

"I forgive you. Come on I think I've been gone just a little too long."

As they walked into the break room, Sara and Grissom noticed the whole team deep in discussion. They all stopped talking and glared at Grissom.

"Sit down Sara. Nick explain it to her while I tell Griss, OK?" Catherine rushed her sentence.

"Explain what? Can't I just hear when you're telling Grissom?"

"I suppose that'll work. OK, we are so not happy about this 'team building' but we are going to join in on a few conditions. First of all, we get to veto sports that we all object to. Secondly, when we go camping we camp properly. Noone, not even you, is allowed to use cellphones or electrical equipment besides lights or stoves. I'm not really thrilled about that one but Nick and Warrick decided it would make the whole camping experience better and Greg agreed so we have to do it, OK? And last but not least if this therapist pries too much or tries to force any of us to speak we are totally leaving OK?"

"I couldn't care less and I doubt Conrad will be checking up on us so whatever you want is fine with me as long as it gets done. Oh and we're going camping for two days. And the sports we're playing are baseball and volleyball. Does anybody have any objections?"

"Nope."

"No."

"That's Fine."

"Cool."

"Whatever, OK."

"Good, everyone's fine with it. So assignments..."

Wednesday 6th September, 2006. 9:30am

"Where the hell is Cath? If we have to go camping then as far as I'm concerned the sooner we leave the sooner we get back." Sara had been grouchy for a couple of days now, apparently due to lack of sleep. However Sara refused to disclose the reason she had not been sleeping well. Greg seemed to think that there was a possibility that the group therapist would be able to get it out of her. They still had to wait four days for the joyous company of Dr. Karen Doyle.

"Sorry I'm late guys Lindsey was moaning and my mom was lecturing me so I gave her Ecklie's office number and told her to complain to him."

"OK, so now we're all here can we leave please. Please!!"

"OK we'll take two cars all the stuff is packed up already. Sara, Greg you're with me. Cath, Warrick, Nick you take the other car. Follow me I've found the perfect spot for camping."

"Shotgun." Sara yelled.

"I'm driving." Grissom told Greg.

"How bout Warrick drives and Nick you take shotgun. If I'm in the back I can try and catch up on some sleep"

"And I'm taking shotgun too and before you complain, Gregory! I am willing to swap during the drive ok." Greg mumbled something in agreement and they all got in their respective vehicles. Ten minutes later, two engines revved up and the cars pulled out of the driveway.

Grissom's car.

"Why'd you want me with you you could have had a drive alone with the ladies." Greg asked maybe joking- then again, maybe not. He got a warning look and a uncharacteristic smile from Grissom and a muffled laugh from Sara.

"Maybe he wanted to spend some quality time with us Greg, you know his protege and then her protege its time moving on Greggo."

"Aaaaw, you see me as your protege that is so sweet thanks Sar." She simply shrugged and raised her eyebrows only to get her own mentor mouthing,

"How sweet" She nudged him,

"Shut up! I did kinda help mentor him, did i not?"

"Yes you did and actually it is pretty cool that the girl I mentored is now a mentor herself. Guess you guys dont need me anymore."

Before Sara could answer, Greg chimed in,

"No way man. Dont get me wrong Sara's awesome but you taught her most of what she knows and when she was passing it on, she made sure i knew that and one day when i pass it on i'll make sure i mention both of you. They'll always know who the best CSI was. You." Greg blurted all that out before turning an unusual shade of red and putting his head in his hands and mumbling "or, you know something like that." Sara and Grissom smiled at each other and drove on.

Warricks car.

"Griss seems happier lately. Am I the only one who's noticed this?" Nick asked yet again. His response was a shrug from Catherine and a glare from Warrick. "I think he's gettin' some action."

"What? Griss! You think?" Warrick finally gave his response to Nick's theory.

"There could be something to that actually. I mean i suppose he has been a little cheerier lately. He smiled a couple of times and i swear i heard him laugh the other day."

"Griss, laugh? Thats just weird." Nick mumbled, mainly to himself. This sent the whole car into hysterics and the topic was changed to how Warrick could apparently "beat anyone's ass at baseball" and Cath attempted to catch up on some sleep.

6th September 06 11:45am

"Here we are!" Grissom was, of course a little happier than everyone else. This was due to the fact that he had had time to get used to the idea of camping- everyone else had only been given 2 days.

"Dont sound so freakin happy, ok? Please dont, I may be forced to kill you!" Sara teased smiling at winking at him.

"Sorry. OK so a good part of team building is setting up tents. There's three so who's sharing with who?"

"I'll take Sara!!" Greg enthusiastically shouted, laughing. Sara watched Grissom to see his reaction, a frown.

"Dont think so Greggo! Cath?"

"Sure. Greg will dream about this now, you do know that."

"That I do Cath, that I do."

"Nick, roomies?" Warrick asked. Nick nodded.

"Wait you're leaving me with Griss? So Grissom, late night chats 'bout crushes 'n' stuff and braiding each others hair." Grissom frowned. "Sorry."