This is my first CSI fanfic. It follows the show up through "Genetic Disorder" so Catherine is in it. It will explore the personal and professional lives of the CSIs. Reviews and suggestions are always welcome.

I don't own anything.

Chapter 1

"That's absurd," Morgan said to Greg as Sara walked into the locker room.

"What's absurd?" Sara asked as she opened her locker.

Greg looked up at Sara and told Morgan, "ask her."

"What?" Sara asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Greg seems to think that Nick ditched us for breakfast because he has a secret girlfriend," Morgan explained.

Sara laughed, "I'm with Morgan on this one Greg. Ditching one breakfast does not equal secret girlfriend. Besides didn't you two skip breakfast last week. Does that mean the two of you are secretly dating?"

"I had a headache," Greg responded, "eggs plus headache would not end well."

"I had to mentally prepare myself to have dinner with my dad that night," Morgan said stoically.

Sara stared at her for a second, "Anyway, I'm sure Nick has a logical explanation too."

Greg shook his head, "I'm telling you two, something is going on with him."

"With who?" Nick asked walking into the locker.

All three turned to look at him.

"Uh, Hodges," Morgan answered quickly.

"Yeah, he's been acting weird lately, Weird even by Hodges' standards," Greg added.

"I'll talk to him later. See what's up," Nick said cheerily as he tossed stuff into his locker.

"You want to find out what's wrong with Hodges?" Sara asked in confusion.

"I just happen to be in a good mood. So why not help out a troubled friend," he shut his locker and headed for the door, "I've got to meet Catherine at a 419 in Henderson. Have a good night."

Greg looked from Sara to Morgan, "Tell me that wasn't weird."

"Greg," Sara sighed.

"He called Hodges his friend," Greg reminded her.

"I still think you're reading too much into it," Sara said as she turned to leave, "I'm gonna go find D.B."

Greg looked up at Morgan and noticed the funny look on her face, "What's wrong with you?"

"I think you might be right," Morgan shook her head, "or maybe I'm just paranoid about being found out."

"That reminds me," Greg smirked, "I don't remember you having dinner with your dad last week."

Morgan smirked back, "You mean like how I don't remember you having a headache?"

Greg grinned at her, "Funny how that works isn't it?"

"Uh-huh," she said as she shut her locker, "we should probably get to work."

Greg laughed, "Probably a good idea."

Nick walked under the police tape in front of a small ranch house and spotted Brass. "Hey, what have we got?" he asked.

Brass looked up, "Vic is Shawn Ashton. 35. Lives alone. Neighbors heard gunshots and called 911. Looks like some put a couple of bullets in the back of his head. I'm going to go talk to some more of the neighbors. See if they saw anything. Catherine's inside."

"Thanks," Nick said as he headed inside. He walked into the small hallway of the house and called out, "Catherine?"

"In here Nicky," she responded.

Nick followed her voice to the small office at the back of the house where her and David were with the victim who was slumped over at his desk in front of the computer with apparent gunshot wounds to his head, "Hey Cath. Super Dave."

Catherine looked up from her camera, "Hey, are you okay?"

Nick looked at her confused, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, you skipped breakfast this morning so I thought you might be sick," she said as she put the camera down.

"I just didn't want breakfast this morning," Nick explained as he put his kit down.

"It's just you never miss breakfast," Catherine reminded him as she picked up a swab. "What's that yellow stuff on his face David?"

"I don't know," David responded as he turned the victim's head so she could swab the substance. He looked up at Nick, "I never miss breakfast with Mrs. Phillips. She makes the best omelets in Vegas."

"I bet," Nick grinned before answering Catherine, "so I missed one breakfast. You miss breakfast all the time. So does Sara. Last week both Greg and Morgan missed breakfast."

Catherine held up her hands, "Okay. No reason to get all defensive. I was just making sure you weren't sick or something."

"Thanks for your concern but I'm fine," Nick assured her.

"According to liver temp your vic has been dead for less then two hours," David told them.

"Well, that fits with the 911 calls," Catherine said as she surveyed the room.

"How do you let someone walk up behind you and shoot you in the head," Nick asked.

"Cause the killer stood outside the window," D.B. said causing all three in the room to jump. He was peering in at them from the open window.

"Who leaves a window with no screen in it open?" Catherine asked.

"Well maybe the killer opened it," D.B. suggested.

"And Mr. Ashton didn't hear it?" Nick asked unconvinced.

"Maybe he was playing something on his computer," D.B. answered, "Missed you at breakfast this morning Nick. You okay?"

"I'm fine D.B. I'm gonna go check the rest of the house. See if anything is missing or out of place," he answered. He turned and walked out the room while silently reminding himself never to miss breakfast with the team again without a good explanation.

"Maybe he's dating someone that works in the lab or at PD," Greg suggested as he, Sara, and Morgan walked up the driveway of a two-story house in Seven Hills.

"Or maybe he just doesn't want us to know he's dating someone," Morgan replied.

"I thought you didn't believe Nick had a secret girlfriend," Sara asked her as they walked into the house where Detective Vartann was with the victim.

"I'm just exploring all possibilities," Morgan shrugged, "isn't that what a good investigator does?"

Vartann looked up at them with a look of curiosity on his face.

Sara shook her head, "Don't ask."

He pointed up at their victim who was hanging from the balcony on the second floor, " Leslie Davis. 37. Private Investigator. Her fiancé found her."

"Well," Greg said looking up at the body, "I'm guessing she didn't hang herself since her hands are tied behind her back."

"Yeah there are signs of a struggle upstairs," Vartann responded.

"Where's the fiancé?" Sara asked.

"He's on the patio. Name is Tim Worthington." he answered.

"I'm going to go talk to him," Sara told them as she walked towards the patio.

"Yeah, we'll process upstairs," Morgan said as she look up at Leslie Davis, "we can't get her down until the coroner gets here anyway."

Vartann looked at Morgan and Greg, "I'm going to go talk to the neighbors. See if they saw or heard anything." He started towards the door but turned around, "If you two think someone has a secret girlfriend it's either because it's true or because you're paranoid." Then he turned and walked out the door leaving them speechless. He grinned. He would have to tell Catherine that she was right.

Does Nick have a secret girlfriend or is it something else? Do you think Hodges is really behaving strangely or were they just making up an excuse for Nick? How did Catherine know about Greg and Morgan? Theories and reviews are welcome.