A flood of cats, cars, computers and children

Grissom saw a rather distressed looking Judy sitting at the csi hq reception when he led Sara, Leena and the children inside the building. He had barely rounded a corner when he was attacked by an animal, at the same time he heard a cacophony of sound coming from the labs. He looked down at his leg to see what kind of animal had attacked him and spotted a small kitten making his way up his body. With his hands full Grissom couldn't do much, but Sara had placed her things on the floor and tried to grab the kitten. While she was trying to grab the kitten, Hodges rounded the corner, muttering to himself, when he saw Sara, Grissom and the kitten he walked to them. "There is the pain in the ass, Sara I'll get him." But Sara had already caught the kitten and handed it over to Hodges. Grissom in the meantime was grateful that Sara had managed to get the kitten before Hodges could get in his personal space. As far as Grissom was concerned only Sara was allowed in his personal space, and sometimes, by great exception, Catherine, but se usually forced it. Grissom was recovered from the shock of being attacked and directed his question to Hodges: "Why was this kitten loose?"

"Well I had to process it and it got away."

"Why did you have to process a cat? Whose case does this cat belong to?"

"Catherine, but there were so many that she asked me to help, since I didn't have anything to do yet." Grissom nodded and resumed his way to the break room. He could hear a lot more cats meowing and hissing. When he looked through the glass windows of the break room he abruptly stopped, Sara almost collided with him, but had seen his abrupt stop in time. "What is going on here?" muttered Grissom under his breath, Sara heard. "Apparently Catherine brought the cats from her case here." She responded as she stepped into the break room which was filled with pet carriers full of cats. Right at that moment Catherine walked in carrying a pet carrier. "I'm sorry Grissom."

"What is going on Catherine, why are there cats here?" Grissom asked still looking around in the break room.

"Well the victim owned 70 cats and the SPCA had no room for them. They had two hoarders already. So we took them hee for evidence gathering and we return them to the shelter when we are done. I have help from two SPCA inspectors, but this is going to take a while." Just as Catherine had finished they heard a crash coming from the hallway, followed by a curse. Everybody whirled around and looked for the source of the sound. What they saw didn't make Grissom happy, it made him wish for the slow week they had left behind yesterday. Nick and Archie were coming in with several computers, one of tem had toppled over causing the crash. They heard Archie direct someone and saw two more people bring in a computer. Grissom, still holding his kit and several evidence bags, walked over to Nick to inquire about the computers.

"We have to find the source of the virus. We managed to track it to a room in the university building, but not a specific computer. It can be in any of the thirty computers in that room. So we brought the here. The university had back up computers to get the room up and running, they needed it for a specific seminar, so we had to bring the computers here." More people carrying computers had com in and placed the computers on the floor.

Right at that moment Grissom felt his cell phone go off, he was glad of the silence alarm, because he was sure he'd had missed the call due to the amount of sound in the hallway. Quickly he opened his cell phone.

"Grissom" Grissom started to walk to his office other then the bugs from the previous night he was sure that it would be quiet.

"Grissom, listen my battery is almost dead so I'm going to be short. Warrick is taking several children from the orphanage to the lab. I just wanted to give you the heads up, okay?"

"Wh… wait…what? What orphanage? Brass? Brass!" It was no good, the connection was already broken. Confused Grissom stared at his cell phone, hoping it could answer his questions, but it remained silent. The sounds surrounding Grissom were keeping him from hearing his own thoughts.

Quickly Grissom walked to his office and closed the door trying to block out the sounds. His office was his sanctuary, which was usually quiet, occasionally Grissom would be listening to an opera or another piece of music. Now however Grissom found murmurings in his office, curious as to who was in his office Grissom turned around. Grissom saw Leena and the seven year old looking at his tarantula. Sara was seated in his chair, she was resting her arms and head on his desk, she looked up and saw Grissom standing at the door, still holding his cell phone, kit and several evidence bags. Before Grissom could say anything Sara whispered: "Shh, the girl is asleep, she needs her rest." At Sara whispers Leena looked up.

"Why are they here, Sara?" Grissom walked to Sara.

"Because the girl was half asleep and Leena said she would need to sleep. Your office is the first place I could think of after our cat-infested break room." Sara explained, still making no indication as to rising from his chair. Grissom considered her words, while observing her. Sara looked tired, which was a bit strange, she was always energetic, except for the odd day that she was called in on her free day.

"I'll log in your evidence, maybe you could talk to Tom about your tarantula. He is very interested in it."

"Do you know anything about a case involving an orphanage?" Grissom asked looking at Tom who was still watching his tarantula.

"Didn't the lady from child services say anything about an orphanage?"

"Oh yes, she did, but was it a crime scene?"

"She didn't specify, why?" Sara seemed to be a bit more energized.

"Brass just called saying Warrick was coming with a couple of children from an orphanage. I have no idea where to put them. I can't put them in the break room and the waiting area. And my office can't hold them."

"Why don't you call Catherine and Nick here? We'll figure something out."

"Can you log my evidence? Wait we can't meet here, what about Leena and these children?"

"They don't understand English." Sara indicated the children.

"And I won't be in your way. I'll just sit on the couch next to Klara and talk to Tom about bugs. He seems interested." Leena interrupted.

Ten minutes later nightshift, with the exception of Warrick and Greg, was gathered in Grissom's office. "Okay, listen, Warrick is coming in with several children from an orphanage. I need at least the waiting area cleared of computers and cats. Could you place them in the garage please?" The ten minutes had served Grissom into thinking the whole situation through. He had thought this was a good idea.

"Uhm…That could be a problem, Grissom."

"Why Nick?"

"Have you been in the garage?"

"No, what is wrong with the garage?"

"It is full of cars."

"Oh the accident on Boulder. Damn I forgot about that. How many cars?"

"Greg said that it was a pile up of twenty cars, however it started with a crash of five. There are twenty cars in the impound. But Greg is going to need the garage for the coming two weeks."

"Okay, well I need the waiting area cleared so far that we can accommodate the children with a seat. Catherine, please take the cat carriers out and place them in a lay out room. And Nick do the same with the computers. Catherine how far are you with the cats?"

"With a little overtime they are going to be processed this shift. By midday the SPCA is going to take them to the asylum."

"Good. That means by tomorrow night this lab is cat free. That leaves the computers, Nick?"

"Archie and I are going to need some more time. The virus was well hidden, from the other computers we could see that it came from one of these, but which? It is like trying to find a needle in a haystack."

"Okay, work as fast as you can, but be thorough."

"Always."

"Okay, let's get to work."

"One question Griss. Who are these children?"

"They're from Sara and my case. They don't speak English, just Dutch, which is why Leena is here. And Tammy from child services didn't have a place to place tem, which is why I think Warrick is bringing the children here. It seems like we are not the only ones swamped tonight." To the others it was clear that Grissom had dismissed them. All piled out of the room, to clear the waiting area.

Grissom sat down at his desk relieved to find some rest. The whispers coming from his couch were already becoming normal, he didn't seem to remember the additional people in his office. Sighing Grissom started with some paperwork, which he needed to check, after that he was going to find Sara to see if he could help her, but most likely they would have to wait for Doc. Robbins to perform the autopsy on the bodies.

The first to interrupt Grissom was Warrick. Grissom was surprised to see that he had managed to work an hour without interruptions, this was a rarity. "Hey Griss." Warrick greeted Grissom, who looked up to see the tall csi standing in his doorway. Grissom beckoned Warrick to stay, he got up and after glancing over to his couch walked to the hallway and closed his door.

"Hey Rick, how are the children?"

"Okay, they are in the waiting area, what's up with all the cats?"

"Catherine's case. How is your case?"

"Someone killed the head of an orphanage plus two night personnel. They couldn't find people to take care of these children. No wait, I'm sorry, these children are witnesses and the lady from child services made sure there were people to take care of the other children."

"Why are these children not in the police station?"

"They have possible trace evidence on them and the police station has a roach infestation."

"A roach infestation? Bras didn't tell."

"He only found out before he called you, his battery is dead. He muttered something about the criminals trying to wear him down. He said: 'Rick, I swear these criminals have no consideration for an old detective like me.'" Grissom smirked, he could hear Brass say it, with his own dry sarcasm.

"Okay, who from child services did you get?"

"A Tammy Lowry, she said she needed to fill out paperwork at the csi lab. She is with the children. Actually she asked if I could bring Leena. Do you know why?" Grissom filled Warrick in with his previous encounter with Tammy and Leena's cooperation. While he talked to Warrick Grissom spotted Sara in one of the labs. "Sara, could you come with me?

"Sure what do you need?"

"I'll tell you." The three returned to Grissom's office. Softly Grissom told Leena that Tammy wanted to talk to her and asked Sara to watch over the two children. Leena explained the situation to Tom who didn't mind anything, he was reading a book.

Once again Warrick and Grissom started to walk to the waiting room, this time with Leena in tow. However they were interrupted again by a loud breaking sound and a swear. The three turned towards the sound, the swearing didn't stop. Quickly Grissom walked to the garage. He found Greg under a wreck. "Greg, stop swearing, calm down." Upon hearing Grissom Greg tuned and stopped swearing. Greg looked like a mess he had smudges everywhere, some cutes and scrapes and he was standing in a pool of liquid. "Greg, what happened?" Grissom was trying to remain cal, but this day was testing his patience.

"Well I was trying to disassemble this carwreck when something snapped. Next I know the fuel tank ripped and the fuel poured out. This car is a mess, I really don't understand what happened and I have five more wrecks. This was a huge pile up. Could Ii ask Sara to take a look at these, she might be able to help me more, besides I know Nick is up to his elbows in computers and Warrick has let me to go to on orphanage." Greg was rambling and kept hitting the roof of the car with the tool he was holding.

"Stop knocking on the roof. I'll ask Sara to take a look at this. Greg take your time, take breaks and first clear this up before someone accidentally ignites it. With the way this day is going it wouldn't surprise me. Just clean it up." Grissom retorted when he saw Greg getting ready to reply.

Sighing Grissom returned to his office.

Grissom opened his door and saw the boy looking at his tarantula and other insects. The little girl was asleep with her head in Sara's lap, who was stroking her hear. Grissom felt jealous of the little girl, right now he wanted to lay with his head in Sara's lap, being soothed by Sara. Grissom looked at Sara who was watching the boy like a hawk, making sure he didn't attempt to open the terrarium of the tarantula. When she was satisfied it wouldn't happen she looked at Grissom. "Sara I need you to help Greg with a car, before anything get blown up. The fuel tank ripped and flooded the garage. He says he doesn't get the car. Please take a look at it, work with him, help him, make sure there is no immediate danger before you come back here. If anyone asks I'm here with the two children, praying for this shift to be over or preferably a night mare. Please?"

"Sure." Slowly Sara lowered the girl on the couch without waking her. She went to stand in front of Grissom. "I'll help Greg. Please make sure he doesn't open the terrarium."

"He really likes the tarantula, doesn't he?" Grissom asked a little surprised.

"Yes, well he is a boy. Listen this shift will end, I'll see you." Sara softly stroked Grissom's cheek, he closed his eyes and felt a bit of tension leave his body. Then Sara walked out of the office.

Grissom turned his attention to the boy who was once again watching his tarantula. He had his nose pressed against the glass. "Do you like him?" Grissom asked forgetting that Tom didn't speak English. To his surprise Tom did answer, very thoughtfully he said: "Yes."

"I'll get him out, but don't tell anyone else okay?" Tom looked at Grissom confused, obviously he didn't understand what Grissom had told him. Grissom cleared his desk and gently took the spider out of his cage. Tom watched Grissom intently and stood beside him as he let the tarantula walk on his desk. Grissom saw Tom's hand reach for the spider, gently Grissom enclosed the boys hand with his own and directed a finger to the spiders back. Guided by Grissom Tom stroked the tarantula, who simply sat. Tom turned to Grissom and smiled obviously excited. Grissom couldn't help to smile back. Leaving his tarantula on his desk Grissom sat on his chair, Tom climbed in his lap. Sitting in his office with this boy in his lap and the small girl sleeping nearby, watching his tarantula made Grissom feel immensely contend. It started to make him wonder once more how it would feel to hold a child of his own and Sara. Lately he had considered the option more often and more and more this was starting to turn out to be fantasy he would want o see come true. He would have to talk to Sara about this.

Suddenly the boy in his lap turned and faced Grissom, with a heavy accent of someone who has not often spoke English he said, while pointing to himself: "My name is Tom." Grissom replied: "My name is Gil." Tom pointed to Grissom and said: "Gil."

"That is right." Tom hopped off his lap and waled to a bag standing next to the couch, he got a book out and sat on the ground, expectantly he looked up to Grissom, he patted the ground and said: "Here?"

"Okay, I'll come." Quickly Grissom put his pet back in it's habitat and sat next to the boy on the ground. Tom opened a picture book and pointed to a picture, looking up to Grissom said: "What that?" Grissom looked at the picture.

"That is a house."

"House."

"That is right." Tom pointed to another picture: "What that?" and so Grissom and Tom went on and on. Two heads bowed over a book, completely lost to the rest of the cat, computer, car and child overrun lab, both temporarily forgetting that an other world existed outside of the book.