Grissom and Charlotte are processing a crime scene. Charlotte is standing behind the bedroom door attempting to tape lift some unidentified fibers when an inexperienced police officer barges through the door effectively slamming Charlotte into a picture hanging on the wall.
"God, I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were behind there" gasps the officer, he turns to a already prickly Grissom who's now heading straight for Charlotte, the officer watches her fall without helping. He figures he had just better stay out of their way.
Charlotte starts to fall to the ground; Grissom is there to grab her under her shoulders to stop her from falling back too far.
"Are you alright" Grissom asks
"Yeah, I guess, but my blood is now a part of this crime scene! I reply.
Grissom starts to pull glass fragments out of my hand, when he encounters a large piece of glass. As he is trying to dislodge the piece, it breaks, effectively slicing his own finger.
"Great" Grissom mutters under his breath
"I'm really sorry" I say quietly, quite unsure if Grissom blames this all on me. I figure not, I was doing what he asked me to do at the time.
"Not your fault, make sure you take separate samples of our DNA to Greg to eliminate us from the evidence" Grissom is slightly annoyed but he can't take it out on Charlotte, she was just doing her job.
The officer is still standing in the room, taking everything in "Sorry again" He says meekly.
Grissom turns to him fists clenched by his sides, frowning he demands "What did you want that was so important that you had to barge in here"?
The officer blanches at Grissom's tone,
"Brass is outside, we have a suspect, and do you want to talk to him"? He replies quickly, silently hoping Grissom won't broadcast this incident to anyone
"Yes, I do want to talk to him", turning to me he continues, "please help Miss Day to her SUV outside so that we can get some evidence to the lab without further jeopardising the case"?
I start to get up placing band aids on my left hand and handing one to Grissom. I has everything I need and I'm keen to get back to the lab myself.
"Of course" replies the embarrassed officer
Grissom turns to me, taking the plaster from with thanks.
"Will you be alright to get this to the lab while I have a chat with this apparent suspect"? He asks
"Absolutely, like you said, I'll get Greg to eliminate our DNA , process the foreign DNA you collected and gets this fiber to Trace"! I tell him holding up the evidence bags with my good hand
"Good, I'll see you back there later"! With that statement he files out the door with one last glare at the cowering officer.
"What can I help you with" He asks
"Just getting the door will be enough; I certainly don't want you a part of the chain of custody" My reply is a bit harsh, I'm not Grissom, "Please" I add quickly and smile
The officer smiles also and says "no problem" he hold the bedroom door with one hand and ushers me out of the house carefully striding behind me almost protectively. Once we're outside he takes the keys strapped to my belt and opens the hatch for me. I put the evidence in my kit and close the hatch.
"Thanks, see you next time" I say as I'm getting in the car.
"No problem, and sorry again" he waves at the car
Back at the lab I realize my shirt has blood from my hand all over it, 'I'll have to change' I say to myself.
I enter the DNA lab, Greg is listening to some rook group as usual, he looks up and smiles when I enter the room and get his attention.
"Hey" He smiles brightly but quickly looks concerned as he notices my shirt and my hand "What happened to you"?
I sigh before answering, it's becoming a long shift and all I want to do now is get changed, grab a cup of coffee and get started processing the rest of the evidence, even when we get a confession the courts need forensic evidence to back up statements.
"Hey yourself, I had an accident at the scene, Grissom cuts his finger trying to help me can you run our DNA to eliminate us"? I ask
"Normally yes, but I'm so backed up I can't see my desk anymore" He waves his hand over the piles of evidence sitting on the desk.
"Dan from days will be able to do it as soon as he gets in" looking at the clock while he speaks
I follow his eyes to the large clock on the wall and am shocked to see it's only two hours left till end of shift.
"That's cool, I know Dan from college he'll do this for me" I reply smiling
"humm, you and Dan huh, I didn't know" He can't hide the smirk
Just as he speaks Nick walks in the room, I always find myself feeling very shy around Nick, I can't seem to stop staring at his broad shoulders, his sculptured arms, flat chest and good looks.
"Who and Dan" He asks smiling at me but talking to Greg
Before Greg can answer I jump in
"Greg is just trying to get my goat" I look at Greg pointedly and continue, "Dan and I have been great friends for years, he is going out with one of my best friends" I try to explain
"Sure, Ok" Greg replies, jumping as I squat his arm. He and Nick just laugh.
"I'm getting changed" I say as I walk out of the lab to no doubt snickering from the boys. I don't care what Greg thinks but I hope Nick doesn't think I'm interested in Dan when I'm extremely interested in him. I sigh heavily and head to the looker room to get out of my stained shirt.
When I'm done and am heading towards the layout room to start processing before the shift ends, I run into Grissom. He holds his hands out to mine to steady us.
"We have to stop meeting like this" He observes playfully
Taken back by the uncharacteristic display I mumble and then smile
"So I take it you have some good news with our case" I query
"Definitely, the guy coughed up a confession faster than I've ever witnessed, as soon as we get all the evidence processed the case we can collaborate his testimony" He's smiling
"About that" I say "Greg is ridiculously backed up so I'm getting Dan from days to run our DNA in the a few hours, I'll get him to call my at home if there is any trouble" I finish and look past him noticing Sara in the break room seemingly observing Grissom and I.
"That's fine, why don't you head home now, I'll finish up here and we'll meet at the beginning of next shift." He says looking at my hand which it looking red and a bit swollen. My eyes follow his and I look at my hand with distain, I'll have to clean it up better when I get home.
"That sounds super to me, see you tonight" I thank him by placing my hand on his arm, squeezing it firmly. This does not go unnoticed by Sara and I can see her frown.
I turn away from him and the questioning look of Sara and bump into Nick.
"Gosh I'm sorry" I begin
"No problem, I never mind bumping into a pretty lady" he's smiling brightly
Blushing I look down and I'm even more surprised when I feel his fingers gently lifting my chin up.
"Charlotte, I didn't mean to embarrass you" he looks concerned
"No, don't be silly" I reply hoping my checks have returned to their normal colour
"Ok then, well I was actually looking for you to see if you wanted to grab some breakfast" The look on his face in genuine
Stunned I blink twice before answering "Sure, when" then realizing he probably meant today
"Now" he replies
"Ok, I'll meet you at the diner then" I smile, my eyes twinkling
"Great, I'll see you there in about ten minutes" He lightly brushes my arm with his hand as he walks away
Still reeling from shock, I pinch myself to see if the conversation had really just transpired, 'Owe, ok I'm not dreaming'
As I walk out of the building I shake my head and wonder when Grissom and Sara will get it together. I have not been the only one who has witnessed the obvious tension between them. Oh well, none of my business,
I head out to my car and drive to the diner. When I pull up, Nick pulls up next to me, he runs over to the driver's side to open the door for me.
"Wow, so chivalry does still exist in Vegas" I say smiling
"I believe you deserve to be treated as a lady" He says seriously
We sit down to enjoy a pleasant meal, chatting non stop about everything and anything. After Nick insists on paying he walks me to my car. As we reach the drivers side door he grabs my hand, I turn around to face him. I almost fall over when he leans forward and kisses my cheek. Blinking in surprise I almost don't hear him.
"I was wondering if maybe you would like to join me for dinner this Friday, I saw that we both have the night off" He asks hurriedly
"YES, I... ah...mean, that would be great" I look down clearly embarrassed by me enthusiasm
He lifts up my chin again and this time plants a kiss squarely on my lips. Just as I start to melt into him he pulls away.
"Great, I can pick you up at seven, is that ok" He's smiling broadly
Almost giddy, I reply
"Yes that would good, I guess I'll see you at next shift though first"
"That you will, sleep well Charlotte" He gives me another quick kiss on my cheek and walks over to his car, turning and waving to me as he drives off.
I lean against my car for a few minutes before getting in and driving home. My dreams will be better than I thought.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The shrilling of my phone wakes me up only after a few hours sleep.
"Day" I groggily say into the phone
"I can't believe you kept this from me after all these years" The loud, upset Dan is hurting my head, he continues "You told me you didn't know who your father was and I believed you, how could you, Charlotte"?
My confusion is growing
"What are you talking about Dan" More awake now
"YOU and GRISSOM" He yells in to the phone still upset
Definitely more awake now "What about us" I ask worriedly
"I ran the DNA like you asked me to, you knew I'd find out, why didn't you just tell me" Calming slightly, now sounding hurt.
"Ok Dan, back up, please believe me that I have no idea what you're talking about" I'm sitting up in bed upset myself now.
The tone is now set to concern. "You're being honest with me" He asks
"Yes, what is this all about, please don't start yelling again" I'm getting a bit worried now.
"Wow, ok, well here goes, I run the DNA from you and Grissom and I got a match" He begins
"What do you mean a match, to another crime" I ask
"Nooo. To each other" He seem timed
"Huh" Really not understanding I must be dreaming
"The DNA of you and Grissom has a thirteen point match in alleles" Hearing my shocked gasp he goes on.
"Charlotte, Grissom is your father, there no other explanation"