By Jane Doe
Summary: By changing the constants the entire outcome is changed. The variables that change the constants will always change everything.
Disclaimer: CSI isn't mine and I make no profit from my overactive imagination.
Spoilers: HA
A/N: I've sat on this for two months nurturing it until I deleted it and started over. I would say it is a fluff of sorts but I am incapable of writing anything without angst. Anyway, it is important to remember that this starts normal/generalized then leads to unexpected/personalized moments due to the variables I inflect upon Grissom and Sara. This work is a response to a question I had. If you want to know the question I'll post it at the beginning of Chapter 2. Enjoy my latest work. Feedback of any kind is always a great thing.
Chapter 1
The 1st Variable- Having Days Off
Gil Grissom walked down the brightly lit corridor of the Las Vegas Crime Lab towards the briefing room to hand out assignments. It had been slow the passed few nights, which were a living hell on him. Without the distraction of a case he found the silence overwhelming. The spells were coming in less frequency but longer in duration. Hiding out in the layout room wasn't going to work forever and he knew it. Work was welcomed more than anyone realized. He finally reached his destination and found the graveyard shift scattered around the small room.
"Well, well, well look watch the cat drug in." Catherine said from her seated position at the table. She was in a great mood. The slow nights allowed more time with Lindsay. On the other hand she knew Grissom was having the worst three days of his life. She loved it.
Grissom didn't waste time with pleasantries. He wasn't in the mood for people, especially Catherine and her comments. He was in the mood for work.
"Okay this is what we have. Cath, I want you to take Nick and Warrick. It's a multiple gunshot victim found in the alleyway of Graffton and Washington." He handed the slip of paper off to Catherine. "A woman was walking her dog when she stumbled upon the body. The body is at least four days old so..."
"We'll dress down." Catherine finished. She handed the paper over her shoulder to Nick's awaiting hand.
Nick's eyes skimmed the paper. Surprisingly he enjoyed getting a case. He was too much in love with his work to enjoy too much time off. "Is the coroner meeting us there?"
"Yeah, but she is from dayshift."
"She?" Nick's attention immediately gave rise to the topic at hand. "Where's David?"
"He's already at our crime scene." Grissom's eyes fell upon he's partner for the evening. She was busy with the coffee pot and seemed to be a bit flustered. "Are you ready Sara?"
She looked up from the evil coffee maker. It was not cooperating with her this evening. It was either moving in slow motion or her whole perception of time was off. She willed it to perk faster but that only seemed to slow it down even more. Little to no sleep and absolutely no coffee pick-me-up meant an irritable Sara Sidle. She felt like giving the coffee pot a swift Judo chop but instead she braved a thousand-watt smile just for Grissom. "You bet."
"Well then let's go." He threw his head towards the door. "You drive." He was gone without any acknowledgment from Sara. He was too anxious to wait.
She gave one desperate look at the coffee pot. Maybe she could stop for coffee on the way, or maybe time can fast forward. "Damn." She said under her breath.
"It's just coffee Sara." Nick teased but stopped as soon as Sara gave him an icy glare. "Or not."
"What's wrong with it anyway?" She exclaimed.
"Well watch a pot never boils." Warrick quipped with a smile. He's days off allowed time to catch up on the mound of paperwork building up under his name. After that he found use of Archie's new computer game in the AV lab. It was a nice break to say the least.
"Sara, are you coming?" Grissom called from the doorway irritably dangling the keys from his hand. His unseen left foot jerked with anticipation. "Evidence is time sensitive. Let's go."
She wanted to laugh. She knew if she was on edge then so was Grissom. That man worked as hard as her, if not harder. "Coming Gris." She hurriedly walked passed him and snatched the keys from his hand.
He looked around the room at his other three unmoving CSI's. "This isn't the unemployment line. Go to work." They exchanged glances as if trying to figure out who he was talking to. Grissom pointed. "Yes you three. You've had plenty of time off and your body is decomposed as it is."
"So what's the rush?" Catherine's joke provided humor for only the two younger men. Grissom just stared at her as if she were losing her mind. "We're waiting for the coffee to perk." She tried to explain; or rather buy some more time.
He raised an eyebrow. "It's broke; now get going."
"When did it break?" Nick asked curiously getting sidetracked.
"Does it really matter?"
"I guess not." Nick nudged Warrick's arm. "Let's go man."
"Ah-yeah." They walked passed Grissom to get their kits and Catherine soon followed them out the door without another word.
Grissom stood dumbfounded. He thought he might have to get a crowbar under their asses just to get them out of the building. He glared at the coffee pot. He walked over and smacked it rather hard on the lid. It groaned and sputtered water and steam, before a gentle flow of black rich coffee perked into the pot. He wore a smile of satisfaction as he headed for the Tahoe.
(tbc)