I'm not sure how many people are actually reading CSI fan fiction these days, but I'm trying to get back into writing and this was always the funnest/easiest form for me. I hope you enjoy it!
Sara
The scorching heat of late August was not making this endless week any more bearable. I felt a bead of sweat forming at the back of my neck as I reached for the doors of the lab, grateful for the cold rush of air that greeted me.
We had just wrapped a double homicide case involving two kids, a prostitute, and a psychopathic lawyer from Colorado. I'm not sure if it was the heat, the nature of the case, or the fact that Ecklie was looming over our heads for the department's quarterly review, but tensions were running high.
We had thrown the bastard behind bars for two consecutive life sentences, but not without a series of arguments, double shifts, and a particularly intense altercation between Catherine and I that ended with some heartfelt threats from Grissom and an evening off. I had a feeling that I would be hearing more about that this evening, but I planned to stay as invisible as possible until that moment inevitably arrived.
Captain Brass caught my eye as I entered the lab, the smile on his face a much needed reminder that not all of us were drowning in the proverbial darkness. My focus immediately shifted to the familiar figure in front of him- full weight shifted to one side, hand on her hip in typical 'no bullshit' fashion. My pace faltered slightly, chest tightening, in dread or excitement I wasn't sure- all I knew was that this sure as hell wasn't the time or place to figure it out.
I hadn't expected Sofia back from administrative leave for another few days, but time has a way of slipping away from you here. She looked much more at peace than the last time I had seen her- a light flush creeping onto my cheeks at the memory of that unexpected series of events. She turned her head, ice blue eyes glancing at another approaching officer and I snapped myself back into the moment, flashing a smile at Brass before ducking down an adjacent hallway. The discussion that her and I were or were not going to have was one more thing I was determined to avoid for the time being.
The bright lights of the lab were doing nothing for the pounding in my head and a cup of coffee was the first thing on my priority list, the exhaustion of this past week still weighing heavily on me. A night off didn't hold the same novelty when it was forced, or preceded by a verbal war and the threat of termination. I had taken the time to rehash my smoking habit and drive myself to the brink of insanity by going over the workings of the case again and again.
I never claimed to be the picture of mental stability.
I rounded the corner towards the break room, immediately greeted with the sight of Catherine heading down the hall towards me, focused intently on the contents of a manila folder, brow furrowed. I turned on my heel, cursing under my breath as I redirected myself towards the locker room in what I hoped was an unnoticed maneuver. I had a feeling the only thing that would annoy her more than running into me would be to catch me avoiding her- a real testament to our relationship. I had no plans to start off this shift the same way I ended the last one, so as childish as it felt to be sidestepping my supervisor, the safest route was to steer clear of the red head for the time being.
Eyes set on the locker room at the end of the hall I quickened my pace with determination. The last hurdle was making it passed Grissom's office unnoticed. A momentary 'keep your shit together' meditation and a cup off coffee and I would be ready to face this night. Five more paces…
"Sara, can I see you for a minute" Grissom's muffled voice echoed into the hall.
I closed my eyes with a deep sigh, remaining in place for a few solid moments before turning back towards his office with the resolve to make this as quick and painless as possible.
He was leaning back in his chair when I entered the room, pen still in hand, hovering over a thick stack of paperwork. I plastered a smile onto my face as I met his eyes, resting my hands on the back of the chair across from him casually. "What's up boss?"
He regarded me with silence for a long moment before gesturing to the chair
"Please, sit down"
My smile faded as I set my bag down, dropping into the stiff chair tiredly. He looked exhausted, dark bags coloring the skin beneath his eyes and I felt a slight sense of guilt wash over me for all the tension this case had caused- it had clearly been a difficult week for us all.
I was about to say something to that effect when I heard the familiar click of heels come to a halt behind me, the rustle of a folder being snapped shut, followed by a husky, humorless chuckle
"Really Gil, is this necessary? Because I've got court in an hour"
I felt myself immediately stiffen, cursing whatever god was responsible for this onslaught of unfortunate events. Just one cup of coffee and an Aspirin, was that so much to ask? I focused on glaring daggers at Grissom, whatever tenderness I had been feeling moments ago gone. He paid no notice, gesturing to the chair next to me
"Sit down Catherine"
She sighed, walking around to drop into the neighboring chair in much the same fashion, shooting a bitter glance over at me as if this was somehow my doing. The familiar smell of jasmine and sandalwood invaded the room, somehow always a comfort despite the typical animosity that accompanied it. She was dressed for court in a dark blouse unbuttoned just enough to toe the line of professional and suggestive- the line that she seemed to balance expertly on in most aspects of her life. She pulled her dark frame glasses off her face in annoyance, folding them into her lap before gesturing to Grissom tiredly in an invitation to begin.
"What happened here the other day was unacceptable. I've tolerated your arguments over the years because you two, regardless of your conflicts, make an excellent team. But when it disrupts the workings of the lab and my boss becomes involved, I cannot look the other way"
"Look Grissom, I am sorry that things got as heated as they did, I really am" Catherine said, meeting his gaze steadily, regretfully. Good, let's just leave it at that.
"But what do you expect when I'm dealing with someone who went over my head in what was not the first but second act of insubordination this week, and refuses to hear what I am saying at nearly any given time…"
I snorted, turning to face her angrily. Of course she couldn't just leave it there. Typical. We hadn't spoken once since said argument happened two days prior, and clearly nothing had been resolved.
"Excuse me, but you want to talk about not hearing what someone has to say? Not only was I right about the knife, which I asked you to look over the evidence on countless times, but it was the missing piece that ended up putting Harmond away for good, and for that you should be thankful"
"You cannot really believe that you were in the right going behind my back to the DA with that evidence, regardless of the outcome. You have absolutely no regard for anyone around you and I am so fucking tired of dealing with it Sara, I mean how am I supposed to work with that?" She spat, turning towards Grissom with the last bit, but her bright glare continuing to burn into my own.
"That's fucking rich Catherine, coming from someone who..."
"Enough" Grissom exclaimed, the metallic thud of a pen slamming onto his wooden desk startling me slightly.
"This is exactly what I'm talking about, it needs to stop. I have a months worth of work to catch up on" he said, gesturing to the piles of paperwork taking over the space in front of him "and no time to keep the two of you in line- a job that I shouldn't have to do in the first place"
It wasn't often that Grissom raised his voice, and I would be more taken aback if I weren't so busy holding Catherine's dark glare.
"Until further notice, you will be working all of your cases together, without incident. I'm serious, there will be consequences if I so much as hear that the two of you are going at it"
That was enough to shift our focus back onto Grissom, the scowl on Catherine's face deep enough to convey both of our displeasement. He held a hand up to her before she had a chance to begin the rant we both knew was on the tip of her tongue, looking over at me sternly "I don't want to hear it. You will learn to work together, or one of you goes. Possibly both of you, and that's not a position I would like to find us in. So go, sort it out. You've got a 419 in Henderson"
He tossed the case file onto the only clear spot on his desk, which I grabbed without hesitation.
"You got it" I mumbled with a tight lipped smile, not bothering to address Catherine as I stood and headed out of the room.
