DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN CSI OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS; THEY BELONG TO CBS OR ANTHONY ZUIKER
RATED: K+ to T
SPOILERS: NONE I AM AWARE OF.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: ""She's Everything" by Brad Paisley (Will Nance/Brad Paisley. Special thanks to my beta ladies – Kacee and Sassy, as well as moral support from Onyx and Mel. Your insight and support are so appreciated.
A/N: The trial of Nathan Randall approaches as Brass and Iris prepare, but will the scales of Lady Justice tip in favor of little Heidi? Greg and Iris are also involved in a similar murder case regarding mental competency.
Dedication – To Paul Guilfoyle for his selflessness to participate in celebrity hockey games for children's charities.
"HAT TRICK"
Chapter One
Brass came to a sliding top, sending a spray of ice chips into the air as he positioned himself in front of the net, being careful to avoid the goal crease as he did so. As the defensive players advanced on him at breakneck speed, he dug the toes of his skates in so as to frustrate them further with his perseverance, daring them to bring it on with his smirk and cocked eyebrow. His effort was rewarded as the winger from his team shot the puck to him, and the defending center trying to take Brass out of the equation by slamming into him to take the puck away in a stick check. Despite tangling with the other player, Jim was able to maintain possession of the puck as he pivoted and with a swipe of his stick sent the puck into space. The goalie reached out frantically with his glove as he hyper-extended himself to snag the puck in his grasp, but just missing it as it hit the pipe of the goal and went in behind. This was met with shouts and groans from the opposing team's supporters in the rink stands.
A buzzer gave its deafening tone to signal the end of the third period and the scoreboard now reflected Jim's game-winning shot for his hockey team, The Hit Men, for which he played center. In fact, Brass had been in a particular zone this game, scoring three of the four goals including the game-winner. As Brass removed his helmet, yells and hooting came from the stands where his cheering section sat which consisted of Catherine, Sara and Iris. He shot them an ear-to-ear grin and raised his stick in greeting. None of the other guys on his team could boast having a personal cheerleading squad like this.
He had to admit he loved playing hockey again. Sure, he played as a kid growing up in Newark and even up through his college years strictly as an amateur although he had been pretty good at it. After he had gone on into law enforcement and gotten married (the first time), he had laid it aside as a much-loved hobby. Yet here he was years later picking up a stick again and getting out on the ice, much to his delight being encouraged to do so by Iris and to even form the team. He had asked around the LVPD and been surprised to find twelve other guys from back east or the upper northern states who wanted to get a team together. Since most of the guys were from back east, they had come up with the name of "The Hit Men" and played other local amateur hockey teams bi-weekly.
He skated over to the stands to meet his groupies as they called themselves.
"You always know when to score, don't ya, Stud-Muffin!" laughed Catherine as she flirted with Jim.
"Brass, who knew you had those kind of moves?" Sara had to put in her two cents worth with an arched brow.
"You'd be surprised," Iris joked at Sara, as she flashed a sly wink at her husband. "Way to go with the hat trick by the way,hon!"
"Ladies, on the ice I especially take no prisoners," Brass grinned. "I gotta go shower and get dressed, so I'll be a few minutes. That is, unless you ladies want to join us, I mean you've heard stories of couples being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time like in a shower." He said this staring pointedly at Sara who blushed crimson. Unknown to Catherine or Iris, Brass had accidentally chanced upon Grissom and Sara in an intimate situation while in the shower room at the lab.
Iris was quick to note Sara's dramatic facial change and carefully gave a sideways look at Jim. She wondered what would cause Sara to react so.
"We'll pass on the offer, sweet cheeks, but will be here when you get done," Catherine said with a saucy grin.
Jim gave them a little bow before heading into the ice rink's locker room but not before he spontaneously delivered a quick kiss to Iris. Iris. Catherine and Sara egged him on. He gently patted her tummy before going in, always saying hello to their newly-discovered son or daughter to be, as Iris watched him go with a fond expression on her face.