DISCLAIMER: I wrote the story, but didn't create anyone except Maddy.

Glancing around the room, he noted the wide variety of colors the designer had used. Reds and purples and oranges and creams. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the choices, no pattern discernible. Yet it all came together to make the room feel cozy. It drove him crazy.

"Professor Plum in the study with the candlestick," Catherine broke through Grissom's musings.

"Nah, more like a maniac painter broke loose from the asylum," Grissom shook his head then turned back to his long time friends. "I'll handle this if you want to go find the victim."

Catherine watched him curiously, "Uh, Gil, didn't Brass tell you why he asked for you to come?"

Puzzled now, Gil cocked his head to the side.

Continuing, Catherine put her hand on his arm, "The victim, she's in shock and not talking. She has an LA coroner's office business car with your name hand written on the back in her purse. Jim thought it was worth a try to have you talk to her before she went to the hospital."

He pursed his lips deep in thought. He hadn't been at the LA office in a long time. Nodding, her turned and went in search of his good friend, Jim Brass. He was the one who had called him to the scene of the rape, a townhouse fairly close his own home. Gil found Brass sitting in what appeared to be the kitchen, his back to the doorway blocking Gil's view of the victim. A female cop he didn't recognize stood in the corner. When she opened her mouth, Gil silenced her with a shake of his head. He stood there unnoticed, listening to his friend.

"M'am, I know this is hard for you, but we need to you to talk to us…your neighbor saw the guy leave. We know something happened…please," he pleaded. Shaking his head at her silence, he glanced up at the female cop, "You seen Grissom yet?" The slight nod at the doorway caused Brass to turn in his seat, revealing the suspected rape victim to Gil.

Brass started to speak, but Grissom wasn't listening. His blue eyes immediately locked with the young lady's green eyes. A sense of relief seemed to course through the room. The lady's cold, shocky stare warmed completely upon seeing Grissom. She offered a weak smile. Brass glanced at the girl after Gil failed to respond to him. Seeing her reaction caused Brass to look back at his friend, "Uh, Gil?"

Grissom didn't have to think long before the right name surfaced in his mind, "Madeline Oaks."

Just like that, the tears started to form, "Dr. Grissom."

The distance between them disappeared as Gil walked the few feet. He ended up on his knees, his arms around this girl. Jim pushed his chair back giving them more room. He looked up at the doorway where Catherine now stood, question evident in his eyes. She shook her head confused. Grissom rarely talked about his personal life. This girl called him Dr. Grissom though, signaling she must know him in a professional manner. She appeared to be too young to have been his student when he taught in LA, though. This left Catherine mystified.

After several minutes, Gil pulled back and just watched Madeline take a deep breath before opening her eyes. She gave him a small smile and whispered wordlessly, "Thanks." Seeing that she had sufficiently pulled herself together, Grissom stiffly moved from his knees to another chair. He kept his hands holding hers.

Catherine and Brass had to both move forward in order to hear Gil's whispered words, "Maddy, girl, you're all grown up."

"That's what happens, Dr. Grissom, after fifteen years. As a doctor, you should know that," Maddy replied with a real smile.

Without looking at either of his friends, "Gil squeezed Maddy's hands, "It's good to see you, girl. I should have guessed that madness of color you call your bedroom was yours." A quick glance at Jim brought him back to the reason they were here. "Maddy, honey, you're going to have to go to the hospital and get…a…get a kit done. Is it okay if Catherine, she's a good friend of mine, if she goes with you to do the kit?"

As Grissom finished his sentence, he turned to look at Catherine to get an okay from her. Both she and Grissom missed the panicked looked on Madeline's face. Brass caught it though and watched in amazement as it disappeared just as quickly by the time Grissom turned back to face Maddy, who just nodded mutely in agreement. Jim spoke for the first time since Grissom had fully entered the room, "Gil, why don't you accompany the ladies to the hospital? I'll call one of the other guys to come process the scene."

At this Grissom turned his full attention back to Maddy, "How does that sound?"

Bottom lip quivering slightly, Maddy nodded and made a move to stand pulling away from Grissom while still remaining well within his personal space. She kept her eyes on her feet, "I'm sorry for acting like a baby."

Catherine stepped forward to answer before either of the guys could talk, "Maddy, you have nothing, NOTHING to be sorry about. I would be in a total basket case by now if I were in your shoes. You're doing just great, honey."

Maddy looked up at Catherine, "I think I like you."

This broke the tension in the room as everyone started laughing.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

After the exam at the hospital, Catherine finally got Grissom alone while Madeline changed into some fresh clothes, "Alright, spill it."

Feigning innocence, Gil asked, "Spill what?" This illicited a growl from Catherin, "Okay, okay, Madeline used to be a student of mine."

"You used to teach pre-school or something? She told her doctor she was twenty-nine."

"She was the smartest thirteen year old I've ever had the pleasure to teach."

Catherine's jaw dropped, but she didn't have the time to respond as Madeline came around the corner now dressed in a clean pair of jeans, t-shirt, and leather jacket that Catherine had procured from her dresser before they left for the hospital. Unsure of what she was interrupting, she said softly, "The, uh, doctor, um, said I can go. Would you be a-able to, uh, take me home?"

Gil and Catherine exchanged looks. Her house was now a crime scene. There was no way she could go back there until they released it. Catherine took matters into her own hands, "Madeline, it's about time for dinner. Would you like to join us?"

"Dinner? It's the middle of the night," Maddy looked puzzled.

"Welcome to the life of a night shift CSI," Catherine put her arm around the younger girl, directing her out the nearest hospital doors.