Hey ya'll!

Thanx for all the reviews! MochaAddict, Csicrazii, The Silent Rumble and Joralie, you're all awesome! I know that I promised to get this chappie up sooner, but unforeseen circumstances happened and I was unable to get it done! But it is here now!

Disclaimer- I still do not own CSI, but thanx to my boyfriend, I am now the proud owner of a set of official CSI syringe highlighters! YAY!

Oh yes, and this chappie is dedicated to Mocha Addict, for making sure I stay off my lazy arse and keep this story updated! THANX GIRL!

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter 3- Popping the Question...So To Speak.

OoOoOoOoOOOoOoOo

"Come on War, it's just a little thing. You won't even have to admit to it; just give me a little boost."

"No, I'm not doin' it. And I can't believe you're tryin' ta make me."

""What's the big deal man? It's only a little football game, and I know you've still got a sharp eye on those stats."

Warrick sighed in defeat; why could he never win? "25-3. Houston all the way."

"Yes! You are the man War!" The brown haired male beside him hooted happily.

Warrick shook his head slowly. The tall African American male had short brown hair and piercing green eyes. He was just into 30 years of age and he was ranked as a CSI 2, barely a dozen cases left before his promotion to CSI 3.

His partner, Nick Stokes, was a full fledged Texan at heart, even in his new home in Vegas. 29 years old, short brown hair and a well toned body gave this CSI 2 an unwanted reputation as a handsome lady killer. This, with his line of work, wasn't always the best title to have.

Both men were sitting in the break room, talking about the upcoming football game the next night.

"Aw, come on Warrick, it was just a little bet between friends. It's not like you'll get in trouble for it."

Warrick shook his head again. He had finally broken a very bad gambling problem and he wished to keep as far away from it as he could; a very hard thing when living in the city best known for that very reason. But he decided that a little bet between friends couldn't hurt.

Looking up at the clock on the wall, he saw it was already 10:30 P.M. "Hey, shift started a half hour ago. You seen Cath, Sara or Griss yet?"

Nick shook his head, giving Warrick a strange look. "You and I walked into the lab together and been in here the whole time man, how could I have?"

Warrick gave him a bewildered look for a minute before giving a quiet little, "Oh".

Nick burst out laughing at his friend's comment, and Warrick soon joined in.

At that moment, another figure entered the room, looking over the two laughing males in confusion and slight amusement. "Uh, mind if I join in on the joke?"

Both men fell silent as they looked toward the door.

A woman stood leaning against the doorway. Brown hair (AN- sorry for the interruption, but has anyone else noticed that, like almost everyone on this show has brown hair? Sry, let's continue.) and a toothy little grin with a gap between her front teeth made her seem younger than she was at 27.

"Sara!" Nick exclaimed happily, "Where you been? Shift started a half hour ago."

Sara pushed off the door and made her way to the counter, pouring herself a cup of coffee. She turned around and leaned against the counter before speaking. "For your information Nick, I've been here for three hours already. Grissom called me in early to help out with a 4-19 in a strip club."

Sara was the newest member of the team, having only been in Vegas for about 6 months. She had been a student of Grissom's and had jumped at the chance to work for him.

"Ah," Warrick said thoughtfully, "I guess that would explain why you're actually drinking that sludge without a complaint."

Sara gave him a dirty look before sitting down at the table, coffee mug still held firmly in hand.

"So," Nick said after an uncomfortable pause, "Now we know where Grissom's been, where's Cath?"

As if on que in one of those cheesy, predictable movies, the blond walked quickly into the room. "Hey guys, sorry I'm late."

She pulled back a chair and sat down to Nick's right, opposite Sara.

"Nothin' going' on yet anyway Cath," Warrick said, waving his hand as if swatting away her apology. "Grissom's been on a case, so he hasn't been in yet."

"Hmm..." Catherine nodded her head. She had been thinking the whole drive to the lab, and she decided to talk to them before Grissom arrived. "Hey guys, I have a little...situation at home."

All three of her friends gave her a wide eyed look as Nick quickly asked, "Is everything all right? Is it Lindsey?"

Catherine smiled; the guys were very close to her daughter, and always protected her like a father, which she personally considered the two.

"No, Lindsey's great. This is about a boy that lives next door to me. His name is Greg and he's having a...difficult time at home. So, I was thinking, he's very good at science and math, and is always very interested when I talk about my job. You think I could bring him in tomorrow night for awhile?"

All four looked at each other for awhile, before Sara asked, "How old is he and won't he have school in the morning?"

Catherine shook her head, "Greg is 16 and is home schooled. I just thought I'd see if it was okay with Grissom, then I would ask Greg's parents. The kid's really nice; and he has a personality crazier than you two." She smiled as she eyed Warrick and Nick.

The two men looked at each other for a second before looking back at Catherine. "Well you have to bring him now," Nick said, "You can't tell us that someone acts like us and then not let us test that theory for ourselves."

Catherine smirked at Nick's eagerness, but she could see by the look on Sara's face that she's need a little more coaxing.

"So Catherine," Sara said smoothly, "What are these, difficulties, this boy is having?"

Catherine narrowed her eyes slightly at the tone Sara was using; she could almost see the air quotes Sara was mentally making as she had said the word" difficulties". Sara was known around the lab for not really caring about others and only worrying about her own personal interests and gains. "Greg, I believe, is having some problems with his parents. I see him every day with a different injury, some worse than others, but he refuses to tell me how he gets them. I'm really worried about him."

Sara's gaze didn't falter as she began to speak again, but she shut her mouth quickly when Grissom entered. "All for the better, I'm sure," Catherine thought.

Gill Grissom was the CSI night shift supervisor. At 39, he had peppered gray hair, but his face still held the boyish features of his younger years. Looking like a reverend in his custom black attire, he sat at the head of the table to look over his team.

"All right, we're running late, so we'll get straight to work."

Catherine laughed mentally. "By 'we' meaning 'you'?"

"Catherine, B&E down at a convenience store. Nothing really taken but a few food items, but still check it out."

"Oh joy," Catherine mumbled as she took the slip of paper Grissom handed her.

Grissom eyed her wearily, "I know it's not the most glamorous case, but please?"

"Yeah, yeah," Catherine sighed, "Gotcha covered."

Grissom slowly nodded before turning to the other two males of the team.

"Warrick and Nick, work together on a missing person. Local college co-ed disappeared as she was preparing to leave after dropping out of the term."

Nick took the paper wordlessly, but his eyes lit up as he looked at Warrick, both a little excited for their case.

"And Sara, you're still with me. Now let's go."

Grissom stood to leave, but stopped when he noticed nobody else moving. "Well?"

"Hey Grissom," Catherine started slowly, "What would you say if I brought a young man in tomorrow night?"

"Grissom quickly raised a brow, "Catherine, you know this isn't a place for social relationships."

Catherine glared at him slightly as Warrick and Nick tried to stifle their laughter and Sara just rolled her eyes. "Grissom, you know I don't mean like that! He is sixteen and is very interested in our field of work."

Grissom eyed her for a minute and saw a sense of hidden desperation deep within the female's hardened eyes. "Keep him close to you and don't let him wander." With that, he exited the room.

Catherine sighed in relief and her eyes shifted to the others in the room. Nick and Warrick both looked like a pair of school boys who had found a hidden stash of candy, while Sara's look was one of pure disgust. The brunette immediately stood and followed the hall in the direction Grissom had disappeared.

Nick and Warrick also stood to leave, but Nick placed a hand on Catherine's shoulder. "Don't worry, she'll learn to deal. Just bring your lil boyfriend on in and Warrick and I will show 'em how to have fun."

Catherine swatted the hand of her shoulder and punched Nick playfully, but still a little painfully, in his shoulder. "Quit it! That is not even remotely funny. Now get to work."

"Yes Ma'am!" The two males said in unison and gave her a salute as they quickly left the room.

Catherine couldn't help but laugh as she followed the two out. She knew those two would show Greg a good time, but knowing those two and their crazy behavior, she had every right to be worried.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Well, thar she blows! The next installment is now complete. Now all y'all have to do is press the pretty bluish purple button right down there and let me know what ya think. Come on, ya know you wanna...

Ali