Greg arrived at Morgan's house, five minutes ahead of schedule and more nervous than he'd been in a long time. Hopping out of his SUV, he took a deep breath and headed towards the door.
Morgan heard the vehicle pull up and the butterflies in her stomach fluttered faster. She'd been ready for a while and had been trying to concentrate on a game she'd pulled up on her computer, to pass the time. Truthfully, she'd spent most of the afternoon figuring out what to wear and then getting ready. It had been a long time since she'd been on a real date. She'd met a couple of guys for coffee or a drink here or there, but they didn't really count. She wanted old fashioned dates and Greg was the first guy in Las Vegas to offer to take her out for one.
She waited until he rang her bell, before getting up off the couch. She reached the door but paused, smoothing out her simple black dress and checking out her reflection in the hall mirror. Nothing seemed out of place and she opened the door.
She smiled widely at him, taking in his clothing. He was dressed nicely with a crisp, patterned button up shirt, khakis and his leather jacket. No blue jeans. He dressed up for this date. Thought Morgan happily. He's treating this like a real date. For some reason, seeing him standing on her front doorstep, nervous smile on his face, put Morgan at ease. Her work life may be crap right now, but she knew this was going to be a great night.
Morgan smiled at Greg. "So what's the big plan for tonight, Sanders? You're keeping me in the dark about this date has me intrigued."
"It's nothing out of this world, just dinner at a nice restaurant. I'm looking forward to taking you out and keeping your mind off of work for a little while." He extended his hand out to Morgan.
She took his hand and together they walked to Greg's car.
Once inside the restaurant, the two ordered some wine and sat back to talk.
"How are things going with Hodges?" asked Greg.
"Really good, actually. He's been surprisingly supportive, considering I'm in his space. He's recommended a course for me to take to help brush up my trace skills. I'm going to sign up for the next semester."
"I think you're the only one who Hodges would ever let in his space. I'm glad he's playing nice." Greg smiled as he took a sip of the wine the waiter had just brought. "Have you told your dad your new plans yet?"
Morgan looked down at her hands.
"I take it by your silence, that's a no."
"I know I have to do it soon. But it may mean that I don't have a job at the LVPD Crime Lab at all anymore. I guess I'm just dreading what he'll say. He'll tell me that this 'phase' of mine will pass and I should keep being a CSI."
"You know," started Greg. "Many of the people who have worked at the crime lab with me have gone onto second careers. Your dad should know that."
"Really?" asked Morgan, intrigued. "How many?
"Well, first of all Grissom. Sara ended up going away for a while as well. She came back though. Ray Langston was a University professor before he came to the crime lab. Although, I guess he did things backwards." Greg continued. "Look at Catherine. She left for the FBI, but ended up coming back. Your dad cannot be mad if you want to try something different. For crying out loud, he was the day shift supervisor and ended up Sheriff of Las Vegas. You switching from field to lab should not be a big deal at all."
"I guess so." said Morgan, not convinced. "So, what are you going to order?" Changing the subject, Morgan picked up her menu.
Greg took the hint and picked up his menu as well.
The two enjoyed a nice meal together without bringing up work again. Initially it was difficult to find something to talk about that wasn't work related. Once they managed to start talking about music, Morgan found herself loosening up. They shared stories of favourite bands and concerts they'd seen. Morgan even admitted she'd seen an N'Sync concert in her teenage years. Greg announced he would store that tidbit away for blackmail later.
The next morning, Morgan woke up with a grin on her face. She'd had a half decent night sleep, unusual for her lately. While she still had some bad dreams that awoke her in the night, there were no full fledged nightmares. Thinking about her and Greg's late evening make out session on her couch helped her get back to sleep much easier than normal. However, she knew Greg couldn't be her crutch forever. She needed to figure out her job situation. She also knew that it involved talking to her dad. Morgan sighed as she pushed off her covers and climbed out of bed. Her good mood evaporated as the realities of her situation came flooding back.
Monday evening proved to be an eventful shift at work. Around the big meeting table, Catherine assigned Lindsay to a rape and assault case. Yeager, helping out on grave shift was rewarded with a murder of a homeless man. "All others have paperwork or active cases ongoing." Said Catherine standing at the end of the table. "Greg, I need to see you ASAP in my office before you get to your paperwork." She turned around swiftly before Greg had time to wonder what Catherine would need to see him privately for.
As the CSI team rose from their chairs and trickled out into the hallway, Morgan hung back and gave Greg a questioning look. Greg returned the look, adding a slight shoulder shrug. "I'll guess I'll find out what's so important soon." He whispered as he and Morgan followed their teammates out into the hallway.
"Come on in, Greg." Greeted Catherine warmly. Pointing at the guest chairs facing her desk, she invited him to sit down. Still curious as to why he'd been called into her office, he sat expectantly waiting for Catherine to start talking.
Catherine typed something into her computer and then turned the monitor to face Greg. "Do you recognize these photos?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.
The computer automatically scrolled through three different photos. The first one showed colourful trajectory strings crisscrossed in what seemed like a pattern. Evidence markers littered the floor. The second photo showed a close up view of a bloody corpse. The victim was a young brunette. It was too hard to tell how she had died with all of the blood pooled around her. The third photo sent chills down Greg's spine. It was a large hook, covered in blood.
Greg sat back in his chair, rubbing his hands nervously on his thighs. "The Gig Harbor Killer." He hesitated to ask the rest of the question. "Is this-"
Catherine finished for him. "Yes, brand new body, brand new crime scene."
"Where?"
Catherine pushed another button on her computer and the pictures disappeared. She pressed another button and the smiling face of Nick Stokes appeared on the screen. He waved when he saw Greg.
"Nick! Has the Gig Harbor Killer come to San Diego? Winthrop is in jail. Is this a copycat?" Greg looked away, trying not to let Catherine or Nick see the apprehension in his eyes. "I didn't think he was done playing games with us." He'd murdered Finn, Russell and Sara were long gone. Nick and Greg were the next people on the front lines of that investigation. His stomach sank as he thought of breaking the news to Morgan.
"Well, we are not 100% sure this isn't an elaborate copycat." Replied Nick. "The problem is, I'm wrapped up in an Internal Affairs investigation and can't head this investigation. I've talked this over with Catherine and we are wondering if you can come to San Diego to bring my team up to speed on what we know about the Gig Harbor Killer. Winthrop had quite the network of people working with him and under him. We need to study the crime scene carefully and make sure that isn't a copycat. We're hoping you will only be here for a week."
Catherine smiled at Greg. "This is a good career booster." She handed him a file. "Here's all the information you need to know. Gather up all the files we have on the Gig Harbor killer tonight. You leave tomorrow morning."
Greg knew an order when when he heard one. "Sure thing. It'll be nice coming to visit San Diego. Too bad it wasn't under better circumstances." The three discussed the case some more, filling Catherine in on the Las Vegas investigation of the serial killer.
Catherine raised her eyebrows as she listened to Nick and Greg discuss the series of events leading up to Finn's death at the hands of the Gig Harbor Killer. "This sounds dangerous, Greg. Take care of yourself while out there." Her face betrayed her concern for Greg. "I'm confident in your ability Greg, but this guy sounds quite dangerous. " She drummed her fingers on the desk, looking between Greg and her computer screen.
As soon as he'd finished talking to Catherine, he texted Morgan to meet him back in their office. To his surprise, the text went unanswered. He took a quick look through the lab unable to catch a glimpse of her blond curls. With a sigh, he went to the trace lab, looking for Hodges.
Bustling about the lab, he found Hodges absorbed in analyzing particulate matter. "Hey!" Called Greg. "Have you seen Morgan?"
Hodges stopped what he was doing and walked over to Greg. Leaning closer, he lowered his voice. "She's meeting with her dad right now. He came and got her just after shift started." Raising his eyebrows, he gave Greg a worried look. Greg pursed his lips. All he could do was wait. With a sigh, he thanked Hodges and went to gather what he needed for San Diego.
Meanwhile, Morgan was sitting in the cold, metal chair across from her Father who was seated comfortably in his cushioned black office chair.
"I thought I'd stay at work until I got to meet with you. I haven't seen much of you these past few weeks." Conrad Ecklie said sympathetically, leaning forward on his desk and clasping his hands in front of him.
Morgan gave him a fake smile. "I'm doing fine dad. I probably won't be on lab duty for much longer. Looking forward to getting back into the field." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Her father sighed. "Morgan, you don't look fine." Conrad stared Morgan down.
Morgan looked everywhere but at her father. Time to tell him the truth and face the consequences. She was quiet for a longer, trying to find the best way to start the conversation.
"Dad, I've been thinking." she said quietly. "The events of the past few years have been tough on me." Her voice faltered, betraying her emotions. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "I don't want to be a CSI anymore. I want to stay in the lab." Her head still bowed, she didn't make eye contact with her father.
Absorbing the information, Ecklie paused. "Morgan," he said slowly. "I think you are still a little rattled from disarming the bombs. It will take time, but you'll get your passion for the job back." Standing up from his desk, he came over to sit in the empty chair beside Morgan.
"I'm sorry, but I'd made my decision long before the night of the bombs. That night was just the turning point. The anxiety of being in the field is too much for me to take. When I go into the field, I wonder if I'm going to make it back alive." Morgan traced a small square on the floor with her shoe. "I am done being a CSI. I want to transfer into the lab permanently."
"No you are not." Ecklie's voice started to rise in anger. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself down. "Morgan, I can't have people transferring in and out of the lab. We did it with Sanders, but he was the last person to transfer into the field full time. We had another tech, Wendy Simms ask to become a CSI, but I had to turn her down. If I allow you to go into the lab, It could be seen as neoptism. It's not possible." He paused and then added, "Besides, even those in the lab have to go into the field on occasion."
Looking into Morgan's watery eyes, he had a thought. "This isn't about being in a lab, it's about being allowed to date Sanders, isn't it?" He reached out to grab Morgan's hand. "You are a successful CSI in a male dominated profession. Don't give up your life's work for a man. There is no guarantee it will work out between the two of you."
Morgan jerked her hand from her father's grasp. "This isn't about Greg. This is about me being unhappy in my life for a very long time. Greg is the only good thing that has happened recently. So yes," she spat out. "We have just started dating."
Ecklie tiredly rubbed his eyes. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Like I said before, if I allow you and Sanders to openly date, that leaves it open for all to break the no dating policy between CSI's. " He searched the ceiling, trying to think of something to make his daughter happy. The tears had started silently slipping down her cheeks. "Look, Morgan, give me some time to think about this stuff. You've thrown a few major issues at me in the last three minutes. I will try to think of something to help you, okay?"
Morgan tried to wipe her tears away with the back of her sleeve. She stood up suddenly, feeling claustrophobic.
Quickly, Ecklie rose and grabbed her elbow. "Morgan, I love you and I'm worried about you." He said softly. "I know you've had a rough time lately. As a father, I'm saying I'm here for you if you need anything."
"Thanks, Dad." The thick sarcasm fell from her lips as she jerked her elbow away from her fathers hand and purposefully left the office.