Catherine decided it when she heard Nick's explanation in the restaurant. No one deserved it more than he did. Looking past Langston, she watched her colleague with an amused expression; he was look incredulously at the fly, still buzzing slightly amidst the soup on his spoon. Riley scrunched up her nose but smiled and put down her sandwich. Greg grinned in fascination.
"Cool. No wonder Grissom likes this place,"he was saying. The Texan studied his spoon for a minute and then to her surprise, popped the spoon in his mouth and swallowed.
"Ew,"laughed Riley, scooting her seat close to Greg, who chuckled and clapped. Catherine shook her head while taking a sip of her espresso. Langston was standing up, claiming that he got the tab; no one stopped him.
"Well, I'm going to the bathroom."said Riley, wiping her hands on a napkin. Greg grunted, screeching off his stool.
"I'll go get the Tahoe."
Catherine smiled and gestured with her cup while Nick nodded and waved his soup spoon toward the former lab rat. The supervisor fought back a laugh.
"Ay, Nick."
"Hm?" The spoon was set back in the empty bowl and the Texan leaned with both arms on the counter.
No point in going in circles. "I want you to have Grissom's office."
Nick was startled. The laugh lines on the side of his face suddenly seemed deeper and Catherine vaguely wondered why she'd never noticed them. "I thought you were going to have it."
"I like my own office fine,"said Catherine honestly. And to be frank, Ecklie did have a point. Grissom especially wouldn't have wanted his own office to be a shrine dedicated to him and Warrick.
Standing up and grabbing her purse, Catherine patted him on the arm as she walked passed. "Think about it."
Catherine rubbed her eyes and stiffled a yawn as she closed the door to her office, getting ready to head home and nap until shift again. The sun's rays shone bright through the window shades and the lab reverbrated with the sounds of beeping of results from the labs and people coming and going, switching shifts.
Walking around the corner, she gulped in lungfuls of freshair, enjoying the precious hours before the next shift. It was then she caught sight of Grissom's office and then couldn't help laughing out loud. Nick wasn't the only one in the office.
Greg and Riley were busy unpacking; the former lab rat pulled out a plasticm, green dinosaur of some sort and made an appreciative gesture towards his senior CSI.
"This was so generous of you,"said Riley as she flitted over and pecked Nick on the cheek before either men noticed anything.
Several minutes later, Hodges strode into the room in a very matter of fact manner, carrying the familiar bottle of Grissom's fetal pig.
"This belongs in here."
Catherine smiled and continued her way out of the lobby.