I walk down the hallway watching the work going on around me. Sometimes I missed the solitude of being alone in a lab, being in charge of the lab, having people come to me instead of me go to them. At times I wonder who really is the one in charge of the lab. The CSIs or the Lab Rats? Yeah odd question, right? But take Greg for example it was his lab and he commanded us. We let him didn't we? And now he is one of us. He too is a CSI and now he no longer has command. Now some of the lab rats don't have the command because we won't relinquish it. Like Hodges, why would you possibly give him any command?
My eyes fall on Grissom, Sophia sitting on his desk hand on the book he was reading. I can tell she is trying to find out what it is, I know its Shakespeare. What else would he be reading? Still my heart aches as I watch. It used to be me sitting there on the corner of his desk hand on what ever he was holding. So quickly he replaced me, oddly with another blonde.
Gazing over at Sara I sigh. She of course is on the computer content in her own little world. I guess I'll have to find out what she is looking up later; one of the perks of being a supervisor is access to the computer records. I watch her look over at the boys. I had spotted them earlier while walking down the hall. Nick and Warrick hanging with Greg, not something you see everyday but still it was a good thing.
They shared a bag of popcorn between them and were laughing at something. A smile comes across my lips hiding my true emotions. How do you go from being friend and co-worker to supervisor and well ignored. I went from being the one pulling us together when needed to alone. Now they all had there own places. Nick and Warrick had each other while Sara had Greg. They all had each other. And Grissom ... he had Sophia. Who do I have?
Looking down at my watch I curse slightly. 'Ecklie,' I think as I turn and walk down the hall towards the cursed mans office. 'Oh god is that who I now have?' I question hoping its not. But everything had changed so much since I was promoted and now I'm not sure about anything. Do I actually want this job? I knock on his door already dreading this meeting.
"Enter," he says and I obey. Walking in a large smile plays across his face. "Catherine please take a seat."
"You wanted to speak about something," I asked taking my seat directly across from him. Automatically crossing my legs I ignore the odd look he is giving me. 'What do I have something in my teeth?' I think trying to not look away from him. When ever I speak to someone I must look in their eyes it's like a sign. One that says 'you can't break me no matter what you try'.
"Did Lt. Chen get his apology from CSI Brown," he asked a file pulled out in front of him.
"Lt. Chen contacted me to inform me how grateful he is that CSI Brown followed his job and made a type of apology about his suspicions," I lie. Truth is I know that Warrick never apologized, I never would have. So I cover like Gil did for us.
"Okay," He wrote something down. "And CSI Stokes ... how is he dealing with the transfer?"
"Good," I reply suspicious. 'What is he up to?' I watch as he writes something else down.
"Good good," he replies. All is silent for awhile as he further writes things down. "Did you know Lt. Chen contacted me three minutes ago wondering if CSI Brown would be reprimanded for his disrespect?"
"How could I know that if I just walked in here," I roll my eyes slightly reminding myself of Lindsey.
"Supervisor Willows why would Lt. Chen be calling me if CSI Brown apologized," he asked leaning forward. "And don't try lying to me again."
"Maybe he wants to get Warrick into trouble," she replied shrugging. 'Digging a hole.' I remind myself not able to help but lie for my team. "I have a question for you why ask how Nick is doing if your main concern is Warrick Brown?"
"Who said they are my main concern," he replied leaning back. "CSI Stokes and CSI Brown have to deal with changing supervisors."
"And I have to deal with becoming a supervisor for a shift I didn't ask for. Not seeing my daughter ever. My mom rants about me being a terrible mother when she didn't even do so good herself and look at me perfectly fine."
"An ex-stripper," he snorted a bit writing more down in the file.
"What are you up to," I ask slightly nervous. 'What is he writing in that stupid folder?' He looks up at me and I hide the nervousness easily. 'This isn't about Warrick or Nick ... it's about me,' I realize.
"Catherine I'm simply making sure I have the right people in the right places."
I laugh a bit shaking my head. "Funny Ecklie you said that while investigating Grissom. Now what want to replace me with Sophia? You know what Conrad I got better places to be," I stand heading for the door.
"Willows I did not say you could be dismissed now sit," He orders. I turned shocked and stare at him mouth slightly open. "I said take a seat or do you wish to be suspended or fired."Sighing I walk back taking my seat again. "You will not leave this time. We are going to finish this conversation along with the last one. I'm your boss Willows and you will no longer disrespect me. When I was a supervisor I ignored it allow Gil to handle it but now, now you will be reprimanded if you it again. Understood?"
"Yes sir," I reply swallowing a bit. "I understand."
"Good," he leaned back in his chair. "Now why did you not check up on the apology you ordered CSI Brown to give Lt. Chen?"
"Because I don't think it's really my business. I never told him if it had to be written or spoken. If he hasn't yet done it then I will speak with him but I don't think he should be reprimanded for something anyone of us would have done."
"So you would have disrespected an officer," he asked with a curious look. After a long silence he smiled. "My point Catherine is that it cannot be ignored. We do not need two supervisors like Gil."
"I'm not Grissom. I haven't checked up on that apology because I have been busy with other work. But I will get around to it."
"Right," he replied rolling his eyes. I bit my tongue to keep from saying anything last thing I need right now is to get fired. "Do you think it is possible that CSI Browns actions could derive from his supervisor?"
"Seeing how I am his supervisor no. I think it is possible that maybe he is stressed out from this change of shift," I look him in the eye. "If you're looking for an excuse for his actions I have none except for the fact that Lt. Chen deserved it. I know that is not a reasonable reason but when anger builds up people say and do things they don't mean to."
"Okay," he wrote some more notes down. "Let's move on to CSI Stokes. It seems he flew right into the shift change easily. Unlike CSI Brown."
"Nick has always been able to change. He is a very ... free flowing person. He takes things one at a time instead of ten at a time," I shrug. "Its one of the things that makes him a very good CSI and person. He knows that this was done for some reason and he will just go with it. 'Rick though is not so easy going. Yeah he may be able to deal with things easily but when given a change like this he can be stressed anyone can. I know I am from all the more paperwork I have to do but I'm dealing. I much rather have days."
"Independently wealthy."
"No Ecklie not independently wealthy. I have a daughter and a mother that I share my checks with. I am no where near wealthy."
"Still days gets paid more. More actual hours and better cases."
"Any case is good as long as a bad guy is off the street."
"Let's look at the other side now," he turned the page he had been writing on. "How do you think that CSI Sidle and Sanders are dealing with the change?"
"Well," ignoring the look he gave me I continue. "Both of them are doing perfectly fine and are Gil's responsibility. In fact Nick and 'Rick are with Greg at this moment talking. I think that this is actually a good thing for Greg."
"And Grissom? How do you think he is dealing with losing three of his CSIs? The gain of Sophia? Keeping Sara? Having to train Greg? I heard he stopped by your office."
"To congratulate me on a job well done," a small smile came to her face but quickly disappeared. "I think he is doing great for himself. And I think he is looking forward to training Greg and shaping him into a good CSI."
"And Sophia?"
"She is a great CSI," I reply biting my bottom lip.
"Back to CSI Brown. I expect to be notified when he apologizes to Lt. Chen and it is to be done by next shift. If I hear he hasn't yet apologized both of you will suffer," he looked her straight in the eye. "Just so you get around to it."
"Can I leave now," I ask really keeping my comments to myself.
"Yes," I stand and leave all the while feeling his eyes on my ass. 'Great now I really need to shower,' I think as I walk down the hall. I spot everyone still in the same places, sorta. Sophia and Grissom have moved into the break room where the others are. Both were discussing something. Sara though was still off by herself but watching. My eyes fall onto Warrick who is laughing. Walking to the break room I enter slightly angry.
"Brown my office now," I snap not able to control my anger any longer. All eyes snap to me in shock. He looks slightly afraid and I see the others giving him looks of worry. I ignore Grissom who is looking right at me. I can sense the shock emanating from his body.
"About," Warrick asked boldly as he came to a stand.
"I said now," I repeat. He leaves and my eyes catch Ecklie walking down the hall. He enters the break room and gives me a smirk.
"Willows," he says going to pour himself coffee.
"Consider yourself notified," I replied.
"That quick," he turned looking at her. I glared at him.
"No but I damn well know that you have it all wrong," I nearly yell.
"Next shift," he replied walking out. Keeping from running after him and killing him I go to my office where Warrick sits in a seat waiting. I know the others are discussing what just happened and rumors will be spreading but by god let them spread. If I hear one rumor about me I will personally track down the starter and give him/her a piece of my mind.
"Hey Cath what is ..." He begins but I slam the door shut.
"Don't Cath me it is Boss or Catherine for now on," I snap walking around my desk. Hands on my hips I glare at him. "Did you apologize to Lt. Chen?"
"I was going to do that before I went home," He replied.
"I expected it to be done by the end of this shift."
"No prob Cath ... I mean Catherine. Nothing to worry about I said I was going to do it at end of shift."
"Its three hours after shift!"
"So. I haven't left the lab and we pulled a couple more hours."
"I do not care I gave you an order and you disobeyed it," I flop down in my seat. "I want that apology and I want it now."
"Lt. Chen isn't here for me to apologize to," he looked confused. "Unless you want me to apologize to you then I don't know who I'm supposed to apologize to."
"They invented this thing called the telephone a long time ago," I reply rather coldly.
"Don't have to be a bitch about it ... Boss," He stands.
"Sit down Brown!" Oh my I'm turning into Ecklie. Okay maybe I should explain ... wait a minute what am I saying I'm the supervisor and he's the subordinate. He disobeyed my order. "Why did you disobey my order?"
"Because I don't think I should apologize for something that everyone has done once or twice."
"I gave you an order and you disobeyed it. Do you admit to that?"
"Yes."
"What action do you think I should take for you being insubordinate," I ask. His eyes widen.
"W-what," he stutters looking at me. "Come on Cath one order! It's not like I disrespected you or anything."
"You're wrong you did disrespect me the moment you ignored my order. You disobeyed me and I have to reprimand you. Take next shift off," I say writing a note to file that in his file.
"Come on Cath don't you ..."
"Catherine or Boss," I yell. 'Here goes our long friendship.' "And contact me and Ecklie when you apologize."
"I see this is Ecklie's doing. You're reprimanding me because he told you to."
"No I'm reprimanding you because you don't understand that you need to obey my orders weather or agree or not. Conrad was contacted by Lt. Chen about your disrespect and now I am also suffering for it. I tried to cover up for you but that fell through the hole and now I'm not even going to bother. I'm not Grissom you do something wrong and there will be consequences. I don't care if you think that is fair or not but tuff luck. I'm your boss now and I won't allow disrespect from any of my subordinates. Understood?"
"Yeah," he stood. "I understand. But I also have a question. When is the real Catherine coming back because I miss her?" He left. My head falls into my hands. Pressing my eyes tight together I hold back the tears. This cannot be happening to me. Not after I just got promoted.
"Paperwork," I sigh beginning my dreaded work. A soft knock on the door catches my attention. "Enter."
"Hey," Gil's calm voice says. My head shoots up and a smile plays across my face seeing the stakes of paperwork in his arms along. "Mind if we do work together?"
"Sure take a seat," I respond. He does taking one of my pens. I hear a slight laugh from him. "Lindsey gave it to me a couple years ago."
"It has your name on it," he replied. Another one caught his eye and he picked it up. "And this one has mine?"
"I ... I um got one for you and well forgot about it," looking at my paperwork I hope he doesn't notice the blush creeping up my face. He hands me my named pen and he takes his beginning to work. So we work in silence using pens with our names on them. Ecklie walks by once or twice but I ignore it. He can deal with the fact he can't separate us.
"What's up with Warrick," he asks looking up at me. I look up slightly shocked. I spot Ecklie listening not that far away and sigh.
"I told him to take a day off."
"Why?"
"He disobeyed me."
"As you've done me many times. Days off don't exactly solve things and you know that. What's the real reason? Did you hit the fan already?"
"Yeah," I laugh slightly. "I told him to apologize for disrespecting that officer and he ignored my order. Just brushed it aside as if it were nothing," my phone rings and I answer it. "Lt. Chen? What are you calling me for ... that's good to hear ... yes I will be sure to note that thank you bye," a smile comes to my face as I place the phone in the receiver. "He apologized."
"And what are you going to do?"
"Call him in to work," I reply.
"Why?"
"I think he understands why I did what I had to do," I reply.
"Okay that was more then an apology what happened?"
"Warrick took him to breakfast," I laugh. A large smile crepes across his face. My laughter fades but my smile remains as large as ever. "Gil?"
"Your laugh could make angels sing," he whispers. I blush slightly at the comment. The fact Ecklie is watching is completely whipped from my mind as he walks around the desk and too me. "Your smile can make the sun shine brighter."
"Thanks," I whispering taking his offered hand.
"Do you know how beautiful you are?"
"Gil ... what ... what's going on?"
"I've missed you all day."
"But you were with Sophia the whole time."
"Catherine there is no way Sophia could replace you as my number one," he tightens his grip around me pulling me close. My hands automatically make their way around his neck. "I thought I be happy that you got this position but all I can think about is not being able to protect you or see you or watch you process evidence."
"Gil I ..." he silences me with his lips. A smile crepes across my face as I realize what is happening and return the kiss.
TBC
Ha-ha didn't think I leave it like this. Nah in any relationship there has to be problems.
Please please please review and tell me what you think. For those of you waiting for sequels to my other stories don't worry I am working on those slowly but this popped in my head and I had to write it. Please review.