Title: Fitting Together

Author: A new CSI joins the team. Part of her life makes Gil realize what might be happening to him. Gil and Catherine grow closer and Greg discovers that Nick is secretly seeing Sara.

Rating: R

Category: G/C; N/S

Disclaimer: Nothing that is here is mine except the characters of Caroline, Lauren and Sam.

"Aren't we supposed to go check out the latest crime scene?" Nick asked, fiddling with a bookmark on Gil's desk.

Catherine snatched the bookmark away. "That's where Gil and Sara went. He wanted us to wait here for the new girl and then to take her with us if there are any new cases."

Nick grinned. "You're awful possessive since you and Gil started seeing each other."

Catherine looked at the bookmark she was absently stroking in her hand, and blushing put it back on the desk. "And you're jealous that Sara is out working without you."

Nick frowned. "I am not."

Greg walked into the room. "I hear there is a new lovely lady coming to work for us."

"We don't know if she's lovely yet," Nick said gruffly.

Greg glanced at him then looked at Catherine. "What's his problem?"

Catherine smiled. "Nick's thinking of getting green contact lenses."

Looking confused, Greg sat down in one of the free chairs.

"What are you doing?" Nick asked.

"Waiting for her. I want to be able to meet her before you guys put ugly thoughts into her head."

A redhead female knocked on the door. "Um, I'm guessing that none of you are Gil Grissom."

Greg jumped up. "I might be."

The woman smiled. "You look like you just graduated high school."

"I'm Catherine Willows," Cath said, extending a hand. "Gil is out on a case."

The woman shook her hand. "Caroline Farrell."

"Nick Stokes," Nick said gruffly.

"This is Greg," Catherine said, gesturing to the man who was looking cross. "Sometimes we wonder if he has just graduated high school."

"I'm wounded," Greg told her, rolling his eyes. He nodded to Caroline. "I have multitudes of laboratory space to negotiate, so if you guys will excuse me, I shall go attend to it."

*************************************************

Catherine walked into Gil's office and stood silently, watching him reading a journal.

He noticed her presence and looked up. "Hey."

"Hi," she said and walked to the front of his desk. "Who are you going to assign to take cases with Caroline?"

Gil sat back in his chair. "Probably Sara or Nicky. Why?"

"I want to do it."

He folded his arms. "Why?"

She sighed and sat down. "Because after what happened to Holly Gribbs…I want to do it."

"Catherine, what happened to Holly happened three years ago."

"That doesn't make me feel any less responsible. Please. I really want this."

Gil sighed. "Okay."

Catherine walked over to him and hugged him.

"Cath…why are you smelling me?" He grinned. "Sara and I showered after we had sex." Gil chuckled as he heard her choke and jumped when she hit his shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"That was a terrible thing to say."

Gil pulled her to sit on his lap. "The only person I have ever wanted to make love to is you. And that's the way it's going to stay."

She kissed him gently. "I know." She got up. "I better go find Caroline."

Before she left a knock came at the door. A man looked around it.

"I was wondering where I could find Caroline Farrell?" he asked.

His voice reminded Grissom of many of the people he had met at the deaf school. "Sure," he signed back. "I'm Gil Grissom."

"Sam Farrell," he replied, shaking Gil's hand.

"I'm Catherine Willows," Cath signed. Gil had been teaching her since they had been together.

They all walked along to the corridor where Greg was showing Caroline the DNA lab. She was attempting to look impressed as he made a showy flashing of the equipment.

"Don't mind Greg," Catherine said. "He wouldn't have a normal day if he couldn't show off."

Caroline had looked up and smiled as she saw her husband there. She came outside.

"What are you doing here? Is Lauren okay?"

Sam rolled his eyes. "Your mother is with her."

Caroline wrinkled her nose. "Wonderful. Are you okay?"

"I like watching you work. I thought I'd come and see how you were doing."

"I'm fine." She squeezed his hand. "You didn't have to come."

"I know. But I wanted to make sure you were okay." He looked at her. "You are okay, aren't you?"

Caroline closed her eyes briefly. "I'm fine. Trust me."

He nodded. "'Kay. I'll see you later then." He turned to Catherine and Grissom. "It was nice meeting you."

"You too," Catherine smiled watching him leave.

Gil fell into step with Sam as they walked down the corridor. "Uh, Sam, I was wondering if you would be free for lunch some time?" He sighed. "I'm losing my hearing and…"

Sam nodded. "It's not easy." He handed a card to him. "I teach at the children's deaf school. Give me a call."

Gil smiled. "Thanks."
************************************************************************

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Sara asked, catching Nick's eye as he watched her change her shirt.

"Watching you," he replied.

Sara raised an eyebrow. "Having fun?"

"Loads," Nick smiled. He walked over to her and kissed her gently. "You look good."

"For someone who just had to shower after falling into a mudpit, I'd hope so."

"You fell into a mudpit?"

She put a finger to his lips. "Please don't ask."

He grinned. "Did anyone get a photo?"

"That was really mean," she pouted.

Nick kissed her again. "Sorry."

"You're forgiven."

Nick turned to go and then stopped. "Hey, does this mean you won't be having one of those mudpack things?" He chuckled and narrowly missed a shirt that went flying past his head.

************************************************************************

Part 2