The Other Side of the Table:
Six Weeks in Las Vegas
Week OneFriday / Saturday
Gil Grissom paused a moment just outside the open door and listened to his team's bantering. Their teasing, while some might call it unprofessional, was simultaneously the cause and a direct result of just how good a team they were."Bite me." The familiar teasing tone of Catherine Willows voice rang out a little louder above the others and the room erupted in laughter and cat calls, blocking out the response from who ever it was Catherine had been speaking to.
A small smile spread over Gils face as he shook his head slowly and walked into the room.
"Ok." He called out, quieting his team. Making his way to the head of the table, he pulled out a yellow plastic chair with an audible squeak, and placed his left foot into the seat. Resting his clipboard on his bent knee, he began to make the assignments for the night.
"Warrick, Catherine, B&E 719 Wood Alder." Warrick Brown gave a shot nod of acknowledgement, his blue eyes, out of place and yet right at home against his dark skin, glided over to Catherine. Gil slid the case file over the surface of the table; Catherine stopping it just before it slid completely off the side. "Nick and Greg, you're with me, DB at The Palace Apartments." Out of the corner of his eye, Grissom saw the two men touch closed fists in a camaraderie gesture that wasn't exactly his own style, but was still glad to see. Glancing up, his eyes found Sara Sidle sitting opposite him at the other end of the table. "Sara, you're still working on your hold up from this morning, right?"
Sara nodded, trying to ignore the murmured teasing of "Hold over hold up" from Greg Sanders sitting at her right, and just out of arms reach. She shot him a look, instantly silencing him. Returning her gaze back to their boss, Sara lifted her chin, "911 came in at 5 this morning, no fatalities, or injuries of any kind, $25 taken from the register." She was about to go on, listing the facts of the case, and her reasons for not having it solved yet, when Gil cut her off.
"It's ok, Sara." He held up his hand, looking somewhat like an Indian in a movie western from the 50's. "Not every case has to be, or even can be solved the same night."
Nick Stokes, his arms crossed over his broad chest, dipped his head to hide the grin spreading over his matinee idol features. He too could have been taken from a 1950's movie.
Sara saw his smile and narrowed her eyes, burrowing her stare into the side of his head. Nick felt her eyes on him and avoided making eye contact when he raised his head a moment later after Grissom said a final "Ok" breaking up the meeting.
Steel chair legs scraped against the floor, courses of action and routes to crime scenes began to be talked through, the room suddenly becoming louder than it had been before Grissom first walked in. Warrick and Catherine were first to the door when their progress came to a halt with the arrival of a curvy red head in the doorway. She wore jeans, a purple and blue flannel shirt and hiking boots.
A wash of silence swept the room, greeting the new comer, and she brought her hands together in front of her, twisting her fingers in an unconscious response to suddenly being the center of attention.
"Can we help you?" Grissom asked, taking his foot off the chair.
"Rai, hi." Sara stood, answering Gil's question.
"Hey Sara." The red head in the doorway answered, making her way into the room and over to where her friend stood.
"Gris, this is my friend Rai Cross."
"Gil Grissom." He introduced himself, extending his hand. Rai adjusted her purse, moving it onto her left shoulder and shook the offered hand; her lips broke out into a knowing smile.
"Very nice to meet you Mr. Grissom." She glanced over her shoulder toward Sara then back to Gil, smile growing even wider. "I've heard a lot about you." She turned toward the rest of the group, who were now all by the doorway watching in somewhat stunned silence. Sara never talked about friends, never really spoke about her personal life at all, and since she was such a workaholic, they had all assumed they were her only friends.
"Catherine Willows." The strawberry blonde raised her hand slightly in introduction.
Warrick was next to offer his name and hand. Rai took it, gazing into his eyes. "Sara told me you had amazing eyes, but she didn't do them justice." Sara closed her own eyes, a pained expression on her face. Warrick blushed and rubbed his forehead.
Nick took a step forward, parting from the crowd of his co-workers. "Nick Stokes. Good to meet a friend of Sara's." His voice slipped deeper into his native Texan accent. He too extended his hand.
"You're Nick?" Rai's voice raised a decimal in disbelief. She turned quickly toward Sara, her green eyes wide; astonishment evident on her features.
Sara spoke up before her friend could embarrass her further. "I'm dog sitting for Rai this weekend, she's just dropping off her key." She explained to no one in particular, her words were quick, tumbling over themselves.
"Well, nice to meet you." Catherine offered, sensing Sara's desperation for an empty room. She tugged at Warrick's jacket sleeve. "Come on, we've got to get to that B&E." Warrick nodded slowly, eyes still on Sara and Rai as he followed Catherine out the door.
"We've got to be going too." Gil smiled at Rai. "Greg, Nick. Come along boys." Grissom waggled a finger as he walked out of the room.
Unusually shy, Greg simply smiled and quickly glanced away from Rai's eye contact, shuffling out of the room, Nick a step behind him.
On the other side of the door, Nick took the position that, unbeknownst to him, Grissom had held just a few minutes before, listening to the two girls left alone in the room.
"Why didn't you tell me Nick was so cute?" Rai playfully demanded turning fully to Sara. In the hall, Nick smiled.
"Because he's not." Sara answered simply. Shaking his head, still smiling, Nick headed to the locker room. He would have to grill Sara about her friend later, after the scene at the apartment complex.
Rai grinned at Sara's answer. "And your Mr. Grissom..." She whispered conspiratorially. Sara cut her off.
"Shhh." She glanced through the open door, relieved to see an empty hall. Sighing deeply she finally allowed herself a small smile.
"Ok, I'll stop." Rai hoped up, sitting herself down on the tabletop and held out her hand, a key ring looped over her index finer, two keys dangled down. "You remember where his food and leash are?"
"Yeah, sure." Sara took the keys and wedged them into her jeans pocket.
Rai slid off the table, "I'm gonna get going then. They say it might rain, so I'll call you if I come back early." She pulled Sara into a hug. "Thanks for doing this."
"Ok" Sara said simply her chin resting momentarily on Rai's shoulder before she broke the hug.
Rai pulled her purse onto her shoulder and began to walk out. At the doorway she stopped and turned, balancing herself on the frame. "And he is so cute." She whispered, turning and slipping down the hall before Sara had a chance to reply.
