~~~Chapter 4~~~

Time seemed to fly by slowly as she approached her second week of suspension. Her house was in immaculate condition when usually clothes were thrown about or dirty dishes were left over in the sink. She was in the middle of sweeping an already clean kitchen floor when the shrill ringing of her telephone caused her to jump.

"Hello," her voice sounded questioning. Her brows furrowed when she recognized his voice. Ecklie. Great.

"Catherine, its Ecklie. Look, I think we should meet and go over your statement. Honestly it doesn't look good, and well…," he stopped purposely hoping the hanging tension over the line would get the best of her.

She shook her head in disbelief. This could not be happening this way. What the hell was McKean after and why was he bringing something up from so long ago to drag his own name as well as hers through the mud. That was when it clicked for her as her lips pursed together in fury.

"Frankly, Ecklie…I think you look at this the only way you know how too. All I can say is McKean wouldn't want me to open my mouth." The line went unbelievably quiet that she thought Ecklie had hung up. "Ecklie?"

She heard him clear his throat before he spoke up slowly. "Why…why is that? What does McKean have to hide?" He chuckled lightly at the sudden position he found himself in. He was supposed to help railroad her out of the lab, yet for some reason it seemed Catherine had a few cards in her hand that could be very damaging. Or was she bluffing? He didn't know, and honestly he did not want to find out. "Why don't you talk to me about everything that happened between the two of you?"

"I don't think so. If I talk…and that is a big IF…I will only talk to Brass. The way I look at it now, you can't do anything to me. You can't fire me. In fact, I want to be taken off suspension now. This has gone on long enough," she growled in the phone.

"Catherine…I'm sorry but that's not possible. I can't take you off of…" he stopped suddenly as she interrupted him.

"Really? It sounds to me this accusation sounds bad on both parties involved. Why is one being punished while the other one isn't? Don't force my hand Ecklie. You know I will file suit." He closed his eyes at her statement. He knew her too well, and Catherine was capable of anything. Hell, she was the daughter of Sam Braun. That alone should be terrifying enough. "Fine…you can come back tomorrow, but you report to me in the meantime."

"Whatever. See you tomorrow, but Ecklie…I'm still working nights," and with that she hung up the phone.

Not expecting her response, he could not help but listen to a dead dial tone. He slowly hung up his phone as he swallowed hard. McKean was not going to like this, and his wrath was better than her winning a discrimination/sexual harassment lawsuit. He ran his hands through his thinning hair at his last thought. Holy shit...my world just turned sourer.

Reporting back to work was a lot easier than she expected, and she contributed it to the fact that Nick picked her up from her house. The ride to the lab was quiet, and the tension seemed to grow in the pit of her stomach as the acid churned causing her to feel nauseated. However, it was his comment to her as they approached the lab door that eased much of the tension that continued to stir through her.

"Cath…," Nick started as he placed both of his hands on the tops of her shoulders. "You are the same person regardless of what is going on. You worked hard to get where you are so don't let this eat at you. We've all missed you." She could not help but smile at him as she pulled him into a tight embrace. "Thanks, Nicky…," she whispered as the smell of his musky cologne drifted into her nose. Moistening her lips, she quickly pulled apart as she realized the closeness she just shared with him. It wasn't necessarily the closeness that alarmed her, but her desire to want it that filled her with slight panic. "I…should go…," she stopped suddenly shifting uncomfortably as her feelings started to get the best of her. "…Check in with Ecklie. I will see you later."

Nick watched her until she rounded the hallway as she approached Ecklie's office. He took in a deep breath as he lightly tapped his chest with his fingers. "Damn…," he whispered as he slowly shook his head. He had felt the same connection that she had, but he was far from being afraid of it. He strolled to the locker room unmissed to his surrounding as he whispered to himself. "If I have to wait-then I wait."

He gently placed his items in his locker as his head spun at the thought of her. Maybe the thought of waiting for her was crazy to most, but to him he was more than willing to wait if he was able to claim the love he always wanted and cherished. Things were in fact difficult at the moment because she was still with Grissom. Or were they even an item? Catherine never mentioned Grissom, and he never pressed her for answers regarding Grissom. The time they had spent together these past two weeks were nothing but amazing to him, and his feelings for her only intensified. The desire to kiss her grew so strong that he found himself kissing her temple instead just to get a small taste of what could possibly come. His thoughts were quickly cut short as Warrick entered the same room and patted Nick's back. "What up man?"

"Nothing…just getting ready for the day ahead of us. Uhh…you know Catherine is back today? I think we should do our best to support her."

"Sure… no problem. Where is she now?" Warrick asked as he shoved a spare change of clothes in his locker.

"Checking in with Ecklie I think." Nick said lightly.

"Ecklie? She's got it rough then. Maybe we can all meet up for breakfast afterwards," Warrick said as they both exited the locker room and made their way to the break room.

"Yeah…maybe," Nick commented as his mind went elsewhere as he watched Grissom head to the same location that they were going. He noticed that he seemed bothered though or maybe it was just the brisk walk he carried on down the hallway instead of his calm pace.

"Glad everyone could make it on time," Grissom started as he stared at his staff. "Looks like we have a busy night and it's a good thing that Catherine is back." He stopped as the silence in the room seemed deafening.

"Is she back for good Griss?" This question popped up suddenly from Greg who poured himself a cup of coffee. "Honestly, she got the shaft in my opinion. She's always been a hard worker for as long as I've know her, and I stand behind her 100 percent."

Grissom let out a small breath as he looked towards the door knowing Catherine would be walking in any moment after Ecklie finished grilling her. He blew Greg's comment off because he was in a rush to say what he needed to his team. "Catherine has been demoted. She's now just a CSI level 3. Even though she has her level 3 status, she is forbidden to work alone. She will always be paired with someone. Her role as supervisor has been taken away, and even though technically she will be working with us she will be reporting directly to Ecklie. I realize this all seems harsh, but it's out of my hands. This wasn't my decision," he stopped briefly again as he looked at the door before he turned his attention to Greg. "She's going to need our support because she won't take this lightly at all."

It seemed everyone remained quiet from the shock of what Grissom just informed them about. Nick's jaw tensed as his anger grew from the absurdity of what the LVPD was putting her through. Or should he say McKean. She was a damn good CSI, and losing her would affect the whole team and the lab for that matter.

"Griss…this is ridiculous. She hasn't been found guilty of anything," Warrick spoke harshly as he shook his head in frustration.

"I know…trust me I agree, but unfortunately I can't control anything from here. It's literally out of my hands." Grissom's response was cut short as the break room door flew open as Catherine entered.

She took a deep breath from the tension filled silence as she looked at Grissom. Her cheeks flushed red with anger as she spoke. "I guess you informed them of my demotion. So who am I working with tonight?"

Grissom remained quiet as he stared at her. Catherine was the essence of beauty, and it terrified him that she was slowly slipping from him. Was she slowly slipping away from him to land into someone else's arms? His jaw flexed as he turned his attention to Nick. She had in fact called Nick for help to make him leave her house. Nick had also brought her to work today. Did they honestly think that went by unnoticed? He was partly angry with himself for making it so easy for them.

"Well…," Catherine growled out as she remained standing there waiting for an answer.

Grissom cleared his throat as he stared at Catherine. "You are working with Sara tonight. A DB in an apartment complex," he said sternly as he handed the slip to Sara. "Sara you initial off on everything. You're the lead on this case." He realized then that his actions were probably unjustified but his anger was getting the best of him. The air turned chilly as Catherine left the room obviously not too pleased.

Warrick, you are working with Greg tonight. Another DB on the strip," Grissom stopped as he turned and looked at Nick. "You're with me."

"At least you get to work out on the field," Sara said as she stopped at a red light. They had been in the Denali for nearly twenty minutes of awkward silence.

Catherine went rigid at her choice of words. Shaking her head frustratingly, she stared out the window mumbling to herself.

"What?" Sara asked as she looked over at her co-worker.

"You already have found me guilty in your head," Catherine spat out loud. "Un-BE-Lievable," she growled on as she angrily shook her head.

"Cath…I, don't…," Sara started before she was quickly interrupted.

"BULL…don't give me that shit. Don't play coy with me Sara. Don't try to reel in what you already started just because you don't like the fact that you pissed me off. You made it sound like I'm LUCKY to be able to work as IF I have DONE something wrong."

Sara stared at Catherine incredulously not knowing what to say to calm her down. "I'm…."

"What do you want me to say," Catherine went on not realizing that Sara was trying to apologize. "You want me to say that I went down on the commissioner? You want me to say that I'm the one to blame for all of this mess? That all I care about is me and my career, and SCREW anyone that gets in the way of it?"

Sara's mouth opened in obvious shock at Catherine's outburst. Normally she would be offended, but one look at Catherine and for the first time she saw the raw anguish she was holding in and hiding from everyone. She was suffering, and Sara was not sure exactly what part of this got the best of her. Within seconds she witnessed Catherine's angry explosive comments to her melt down as she fell apart.

The guilt washed over Sara as she realized a big part of her naturally assumed she was far from innocent. She was always the noticed one, and Sara always contributed it to Catherine's sex pot ways. But that was not fair; Sara realized that she let her jealously think the worst of her.

"Cath I'm…sorry. Maybe I was judging you without realizing it," Sara whispered as she pulled up to the crime scene.

"Whatever. I'll take the perimeter," and with that Catherine was gone leaving Sara in the vehicle alone.

Sara quickly grabbed her kit and jogged up to Brass when she noticed Catherine start on the perimeter. Two officers, Sampson and Pettler approached them as she began to ask Brass a few questions. "Who called it in?" Sara asked first as she took out her small notepad.

"The apartment manager found her in her apartment when he went to collect his rent money. She was two weeks late. He knew her car was in her assigned spot so he went in after he pounded on the door for awhile. Can you imagine the surprise he got?"

Sara raised her eyebrows at Brass's comment, but then his two police officers caught her attention as they were ogling over something. She looked in their direction, and noticed Catherine was bent down casting a shoe impression. She was wearing her usual black tank top, and Sara knew immediately what they were impressed with. Her cleavage. "Hey," she shouted a bit loudly which caused Catherine to immediately straighten up as if she was once again doing something wrong.

"I'm just casting a shoe imprint," Catherine retorted as she slowly stood. Sara stood on in confusion as she witnessed her co-worker's lack of confidence.

"Keep doing what you are doing…I was…just trying to get their attention," she gestured to the officer's with her thumb as she smiled at Catherine. Catherine stared at her briefly before she got back to work.

"You nearly messed that one up Sidle," one of the Officer's joked on as Catherine held his attention again. "Excuse…ME?"

Brass watched on in confusion with what he just missed until Sampson spoke up. "Hey…she gets around. I'm just looking. I can't necessarily help further her career but I'd sure try."

"WHAT? What did you just say?" Brass suddenly beat Sara to the punch.

"Come on Cap…you can't really expect us to have respect for that," he motioned his hand at Catherine who was oblivious to what was going on.

"I can…and I do. Give me your badge and gun," Brass snarled as he held out his hand.

"You're kidding right?"

"No…I'm dead serious. You don't talk that way about anyone especially on the job. You're on suspension until further notice."

Sampson angrily jerked his gun from his holster after he yanked at his badge. "Where's your loyalty Cap? McKean won't like this," he growled as he slammed both items in Brass's hands and walked off. Brass turned to Officer Pettler who had remained quiet through out the whole ordeal. "Do I need your badge and gun too or are we understanding one another."

"Understood sir. I'll finish up with this statement, and then head off and take the next call."

"Good to know." He sighed to himself as he turned his attention back to Sara. "Sorry you had to witness that."

"Me too…Look, I'm going to start on the inside of the apartment." Brass watched as Sara strode off and stopped as she briefly stopped next to Catherine as she gently touched her shoulder. They shared a few words and smiled at each other before Sara was lost in the inside of the apartment.