Gil Grissom sat at his desk reading over reports and wondering why he had even agreed to allow the CSI lab to take a group of college students on for internships. 'that's right, Debbie just had to throw in the "You owe me." She knows I can't stand owing someone.' His mind wandered back to the phone call he had received last month:

FLASHBACK

He sighed as his phone rang for the third time that morning. Wearily, he set down the file he had been reading and stretched over to pick up the receiver. "Grissom."

"Oh good, you are still there." The female voice seemed to drift out of the phone and out of the past.

"Debbie? Is that you?"

"Well of course, Gil. I don't expect you keep in touch with many of your old friends." There was laughter in Debbie's voice as she took a jab at Grissom's somewhat anti-social personality.

"So what's this about? We usually just send emails, seeing as calling times are awkward, what with being on opposite coasts. And there's always a reason for you calling." Grissom's voice was laced with amusement.

"Are you saying I only call when I want something from you?" There was sarcasm in every word.

"Yes."

"Well, you're right, as usual. I need a favor."

"What is this favor you ask of me?"

"I have four students who are really looking for internships, and they really want to stick together, but every other lab has turned them down."

"You want my lab to take on four interns?" This was not what he had expected. "Deb, you know that's rare here." Grissom pulled his glasses from his face, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm not sure. The lab does have funds set aside for interns, but we only ever took on one or two. They would just get a small stipend if I did make it happen."

"They already received a grant from the school to pay for food, housing, extra expenses. It's a combined grant, which is why they are looking for an internship together. Please Gil, they really want an internship, and you owe me."

'Oh no, she said those three little words. I can't say no now. She knows me too well.' "Alright. I'll get them approved, just fax me their information. How is it that you always know what to say to get me to agree to your little schemes?"

"Ha. I knew you would say yes because one: I keep in touch, two: you like to annoy Ecklie-approving interns would do just that, and three: because you hate owing someone."

"Oh, and the lab always provides housing for the interns. I hope these kids are good, because if they aren't, you will owe me. Big time. Just keep that in mind."

"Gil, I wouldn't ask you to take them if I didn't think they could handle it. They will be fine. I'm faxing their information right now. Four resumes, eight recommendations, and four pictures, no wait, I'll email the pictures." There was the whirring of a machine starting up in the background. "Oh, and when can you take them? And how long will they be able to stay?"

"They can arrive June 7, that will give them time to get situated. They will be starting on Monday." There was a short silence before Grissom spoke again. "They can stay until they need to head back for school. That's what, eight weeks? Oh, and they will be working under me, which means they will be on night shift."

"Alright. I will let them know that they have an internship. Thank you so much Gil. I really appreciate this."

"Yes, I know. Otherwise, you wouldn't have played the 'You owe me' chip. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye." Grissom placed the receiver back, and leaned back in his chair.

"What have I gotten myself into?"

END FLASHBACK

"What did I get myself into?" Grissom wondered. That phone call had been a month ago, but now, the day the interns were arriving, he was having second thoughts about allowing Debbie to talk him into letting them come. The team had been understandably confused, but accepted his decision without question, though there was much speculation as to why he had agreed. Days had usually gotten the interns, but Ecklie's reputation had spread like wildfire, and no one wanted to intern for them anymore. The department could afford to have four interns, because there hadn't been interns for 2 years now, but now Grissom wondered if his team could handle four college girls.