A/N: The stage has been set in this next chapter. Review soon to find out more. This isn't your average shipper story.

"Case closed, sighed Catherine. "She took another heavy gulp of coffee.

"That has to be the stupidest crime I've ever worked," grumbled Sara. She curled her feet up under herself and bite hungrily into her burger. A vegetarian special from the canteen.

The case that the CSI's had just worked had been fairly unbelievable. It had just been as Carl Sampson (the newest member of the Las Vegas PD holding cells) had described. His older brother had coerced him into playing EMT for the day and covering for their robbery. Earl Sampson had decided not to bother with a getaway plan and had decided to use some of the cops as hostages so he could escape easily. What with Carl telling the cops everything and not even stopping at the story of how he once stole a tube of Smarties from a corner store as a child. It wasn't the most well thought out of plans.

Earl and his brother Carl were going down in history as the two of the laziest criminals in Vegas. The owner of the Monaco had just passed out due to his sheer panic and was fine after a few drinks; he seemed embarrassed by the whole situation seeing as Earl and Carl had both once worked for him and kept the story out of the press. He even compensated the victims handsomely and gave the Criminalistics department a large donation. Despite this good outcome the CSI's were still in bad moods. Their shift wasn't over yet and they had stacks of paperwork to do.

Greg leant back on the one sofa in the break room and stretched his legs.

"I think we could all do with a little Christmas cheer. What say we…open some of those presents eh?" he grinned.

"Don't you have any will power?" scoffed Nick.

Greg pouted "No…. Let's try something new. What are you guys all doing for Christmas?"

Nick smirked "family and maybe a special friend"

Warrick chuckled "will that special friend be male or female?"

Nick laughed good-naturedly and let Sara speak next.

"I'll probably spend it with some friends watch re-runs of old movies. Get fat. The usual"

Nick burst out laughing, "you mean you actually celebrate Christmas?"

Eva snorted, "Come on guys! Even Sara Sidle takes a break once in a while"

Greg nodded, pretending to be unconvinced "Yeah…ri----ght! So how about you Evie? How are you going to spend Christmas?"

Eva shot a quick furtive glance at Warrick then back at Greg "Well my family hates me so…I'll just spend it with Bobby and Rich the roommates extraordinaire. Again"

The rest if the CSI's exchange worriedglances at the comment about her family but let it go. Greg turned to Warrick who shrugged lazily.

"Yeah…I might spend Christmas with my girl". This raised a few smiles from the CSI's. Except Eva who flushed and suddenly disappeared behind a magazine.

"So…are you going to tell us who this 'girl' is?" inquired Catherine slyly. Warrick chuckled warmly

"You're a CSI Catherine work it out"

Catherine's Cheshire grin widened "is that a challenge?"

Warrick raised his eyebrows at her in an unmistakable challenging manner. "Sure is. Anyway, haven't heard what you're doing for Christmas"

Catherine pouted. "Nothing at all. All alone this Christmas. Lindsay's staying with her grandparents she hates me…. something about me letting her see a corpse at her age. Nobody wants little ole me," she said this casually, but her eyes were bright as she tried to fend off tears. Eddie dying, working all the time. Every night shift she took, every case she worked on seemed a further step away from Lindsay.

"Cath. I'd stay with you for Christmas" said Greg suddenly breaking the silence.

It was Sara who laughed first "good luck Catherine!"

Nick chuckled with her "If I had a choice I'd pick being alone" he teased. As the rest of the cluster laughed loudly.

Greg's cheeks flushed. He didn't know why he had said that obscure comment or why he was so hurt by their laughter. It had just been a joke. It didn't mean anything. Yet he couldn't control the shame he felt. Till he glanced over at Catherine. She shot him a grateful smile and a wink. Both happened so fast that they might not even have occurred.

Catherine shook her head at the rush she'd got from seeing Greg smile. Greg was always smiling. Why did it make her stomach flip in a not at all unpleasant way to see him smile that same impish smile? Maybe it was because this time the smile was just for her.


Grissom re-entered the break room. "Hey guys. You might as well all go home. Nothing left to be done. Better get home before traffic hits"

"Gee thanks Mr. Scrooge!" smirked Catherine with her usual dry humour. She didn't feel like going home to an empty apartment all too soon but she still got up when everyone else did. She decided to suggest going out for drinks to the team, saddened to find herself so desperate for company.

"Anyone want to go out and get some celebratory drinks…you know? For record case solving?"

Warrick shook his head "nah. I'm exhausted. Might catch some Z's before this work thing"

Sara groaned as she began the process of putting on her layers of outerwear again. "I can't stand those work parties. Someone always gets really drunk and makes out with their friends" she looked pointedly at Nick.

Two pink spots appeared on his cheeks as the memory of him drunkenly kissing Sara at the last year's Christmas party came screaming back. It had been purely due to drunkenness and thankfully his girlfriend at the time had seen the funny side. That is after freezing him out for three days.

"Sorry. Really I am sorry about it," he mumbled honestly.

Sara smiled "you're forgiven. I mean you're not that bad a kisser anyway," she added cheekily causing Nick to flush again. He didn't notice that when she said this she had looked directly at Grissom. He had raised a salacious eyebrow back at her then walked off into his office.

Greg nodded sombrely "I forgive you for kissing me too Nick." It was hard to say who was more shocked, Nick or the rest of the CSI's. However Greg could not keep a straight face, he burst out laughing only a few seconds after their initial reactions

"Your face!" he chortled.

Nick ruffled Greg's hair good-naturedly and the six CSI's stepped out of the building into the parking lot joking with each other and laughing happily. Their good mood was instantly dampened by the weather. Thick globules of rain spat down at them from the heavens.

"Shit" muttered Eva

"I heard that" sniffed Warrick.

Sara was the only one smiling. She looked at Nick and Warrick smugly. The rain wasn't soaking her due to her thick clothing.

"I told you it was better to be safe than sorry"

Nick snorted, "I'd rather be sorry than look it" Sara elbowed him playfully and they all made the quick run to their cars.

"Oh yeah!" shouted Catherine over the rain.

"Do you guys still want to go out somewhere for drinks?"

Sara shook her head apologetically "no can do Cath! I've got to start my Christmas shopping"

"Me too! Sorry Cath! I'll see you at the party Cath!" called Eva. She hopped into her Taurus after saying her goodbyes and drove off. Soon afterwards, Nick, Warrick and Sara followed suit till it was just Greg and Catherine left.

She had no choice. She had to go home. She looked at Greg who was standing by his car. Lost in thought looking like he was trying to decide something.

"Hey Greggo!" she called to him and walked over to him.

"Have you forgotten it's raining?" she said gently.

Greg shrugged and snapped out of his reverie. A shy smile spread on his face.

"Hey uh…. Catherine…. that offer for drinks still stand?"

She brushed her hair from her face an action, which somehow drew Greg's attention to her chest. Her shirt stuck to her like a second skin and he could feel his pulse increasing as he could plainly see the outline of her dark coloured bra. He could also see the effects of the cold on her chest. Thankfully she didn't notice him looking at her and only looked around at the dreary weather.

"Yup. Let's go get drunk". She linked arms with him cheerfully and cocked her head to the side "Your paying"

"In that case we might as well not go at all" smirked Greg.

"Well that depends…have you been naughty or nice?" smirked Catherine her face completely serious.

Greg's eyes widened and it took him a moment to work out that she was joking.

Catherine shook her head knowingly and laughed; Greg joined in a few seconds later as they climbed into their respective cars.

As Greg drove he couldn't shake the feeling that he got every time he was near her. He knew that it wouldn't be right to think anymore of these feelings because they were wrong…then why did they feel so right?