As his team gathered around him, Horatio looked at each of them closely. He knew that they weren't going to like the news he had. He knew that there would be arguments, that they would be upset. But he also hoped that the deal he had been able to make would lessen the blow.

"What's up, H?" Eric asked.

He put his hands on his hips and looked off into the distance, trying to calm his nerves. He wasn't someone who felt anxiety often, and he found that he wasn't dealing well with it.

"I have some news," he said slowly. "And I don't think you're going to like it."

"What is it, Horatio?" Calleigh asked, concern etched on her face.

"I've been asked to transfer."

"What? Why?"

"There's an opening in Las Vegas. Or there will be soon…I've been asked to take the position."

"But why?" Calleigh persisted. "Why do they want you to leave Miami?"

"They want someone with a scientific background, but who's also trained as an officer. It's also a step up in pay. It was offered to me as a promotion."

"So…you're leaving us?" Ryan asked quietly.

"That depends."

"On what?"

"I told them that I would only consider the job on one condition. That my team could come with me."

"You…what?" Natalia asked, frowning in confusion.

"I don't expect you to just leave your homes. But I needed the option. And they agreed. If you want to…you can come with me."

The five of them sat there in silence for a few minutes, Horatio's team trying to take in what they had just been told. The situation was so unexpected that no one was entirely sure what to think.

"It's for real?" Ryan finally asked. "We'd be on your team out there, no questions asked?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Mr. Wolfe."

Taking a deep breath, Ryan looked down at the floor, scuffing at the tile with his shoe.

"I'm in," he finally said.

Horatio raised his eyebrows a little.

"Are you sure? You have time to think about it."

Ryan shrugged. "I've got nothing to hold me to Miami except you guys."

"Count me in too," Natalia said. "I need a change of scenery anyways."

"Me too," Eric said quietly.

"I didn't expect this," Horatio admitted.

"Does that mean you don't really want us?" Calleigh asked with a smirk on her face.

"Ms. Duquesne, there is nothing I'd like more than to have all four of you come with me."

"Then I guess it's a good thing we'll all be coming with you."

"Are you sure?"

"You don't actually think I'm going to let the three of you move across the country without me, do you?"

"Thank you," Horatio said quietly, his emotion catching in his throat.

"So when do we leave?" Eric asked.

"Three weeks from today."

"Guess we'd better get packing then," Natalia murmured.

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"You can't be serious," Warrick said, his eyes wide in shock as he stared at Grissom.

"I am."

"But…why?"

"I just…I need to go. I'm sorry I can't be more specific than that."

His glance to Sara was quick and barely noticeable. He had told her the day before of his decision to leave Las Vegas. She had handled it as well as he had expected – since her abduction, he had known that things weren't the same between them. He couldn't give her what she needed, and she wouldn't open up to him. They had talked about everything – where they had gone wrong, what the other was going to do. He was glad that they could end this as friends, with nothing but the truth between them.

"So…are we stuck with Eckley then?" Nick asked suddenly.

Grissom smiled a little at that.

"No. You're not."

"So who's the new boss?" Catherine asked.

"Someone new. He's coming in from Miami."

Nick frowned. "Why would they bring someone in from so far away?"

"They wanted a scientist and a cop rolled into one. Horatio Cane is one of the best. He'll be a good supervisor."

"He's not you though," Warrick mumbled.

"But I know you'll be nice to him," Grissom said with a pointed look. When Warrick finally nodded, he took a deep breath. "There's something else."

"Uh-oh," Catherine said. "I knew that wasn't it."

"Horatio is bringing his team with him."

"To work on grave?" Nick asked. "Don't we have enough people?"

"Not anymore. Wendy and Mandy both gave me their two weeks notice on Monday. Ronnie is transferring to New York. You ask me, we're going to need his people."

"So…you're basically telling us that we have to play nice?" Warrick asked, doubt heavy in his voice.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. I don't want you guys giving his team a hard time. They're excellent C.S.I.s and they deserve your respect. You might even learn things from each other. Or God forbid, make new friends."

"Never," Nick vowed, a mock serious expression on his face.

"When do they get here?" Catherine asked.

"Three weeks. I'll stay on for another week after that, to help everybody get situated."

"So we only have another month to drive you crazy?" Nick asked. "Guess we'd better get on the ball."

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"Calleigh Duquesne, Eric Delco, Ryan Wolfe, Natalia Boa Vista and Horatio Cane…I'd like you to meet Nick Stokes, Sara Sidle, Warrick Brown, Catherine Willows and Greg Sanders."

Grissom watched as the C.S.I.s tentatively greeted one another. The guys stoically shook hands, giving each other nods. But at the same time they eyed each other warily, as though afraid that someone would encroach on their territory. Grissom guessed that the majority of problems that arose in the beginning would be because of that. Either someone would step on someone else's toes on a case, or one of the guys would make a pass at one of the women. He knew from experience that Warrick and Nick could be very territorial when it came to Sara and Catherine, and he was guessing that it would be the same with Delco and Wolfe.

The women greeted each other in a slightly more relaxed manner. They shook hands, but they at least tried to smile at one another. They were territorial as well, but they would be quiet about it. They would feel each other out, deciphering the other's motives before they made a final judgment. Grissom smiled faintly – he wouldn't be surprised if those four women found out that they had more in common than they thought and became close friends.

It was then that it hit him. He was really going to miss them. His family was growing, and he was leaving them. He was leaving them in someone else's care. For a split second, he thought of calling the whole thing off, retracting his letter of resignation and refusing to leave. But at the same time, he knew that he couldn't do that. It was time for him to move on. No good could come of him staying there any longer.

As he continued to watch the C.S.I.s adjust to the new situation, Grissom knew that the next few weeks were going to be hard on them, that two families couldn't just merge without misunderstandings and conflicts. But he also knew that if they could come together, nothing would be able to stop them. Nothing.