CHAPTER SIX

They pulled up to a house just outside of town. "You don't have to come in." Ruby said.

"It's ok." Grissom said as he got out of the car.

They could hear screaming from outside and Ruby turned to him. "Listen Gil it's going to get crazy. The two of them shouldn't even be together till after they have been through some anger management classes."

"If they're like that, then why do you even go?" Gil asked.

"Roger's angry because he tried to play it straight thinking that he wasn't really gay and that it was some weird faze. So he had a kid with some girl hoping that it would so call fix what he had but it didn't. And after his kid was born he realized he was truly and utterly gay. But seeing his son made him love the thing like crazy, Kyle was his world. Then when the girl decided to move away to Maine she took Kyle with him no matter how much he protested. And that just set off his anger. Then you have Roy who doesn't know how to manage his anger and/or rage. So when he gets mad he gets verbal to everyone, and Roger takes it personal all the freaking time. So when Roy gets upset he takes it out on Roger and then Roger's anger about his kid get's taken out on Roy. It's messed up I know but apparently I am a master at making them calm, I don't even know why." Ruby replied before heading for the house.

When they walked inside the house a crash immediately rang through the place; then some more yelling was soon to follow. Grissom trailed behind Ruby as she went into the living room that was to the right of them. He watched a book go flying across the room and hit the wall behind them. It didn't seem to even stun her, but Gil looked at the book in amazement that someone could through such a thing.

Ruby held out a hand. "Stay here." She ordered him though not unkindly.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, things will be ok." She went over to the arguing couple. "Hey you two what seems to be the issue?" She said sweetly.

"He doesn't think I'm hot anymore! He thinks I'm getting fat." Roy pointed to Roger.

Holding up her hands, Ruby said, "I highly doubt that Roy."

"I do think he is getting fat because he thinks I am stupid and uneducated." Rodger yelled.

She sighed. "Listen, belittling one another is not going to solve anything. You are not fat and you are not stupid or uneducated. Roy you own one of the best gyms around and you Roger went to Harvard and is one of the best lawyers around. Now stop being mean and calm down."

"I will do no such thing." Rodger picked up a vase on the coffee table and threw it at Roy.

Roy ducked before going for something hard to throw back. "Seriously you two. What has all this fighting really accomplished? Nothing but anger and hate towards one another. Now stop all this at once." Ruby demanded.

Grissom stood off to the side watching what was going on, then a body moved next to him. "Who are you?" The stranger asked.

"Gil; I'm with Ruby." He answered.

Pointing at him, the stranger said, "I heard you were on a date with her tonight when they found Ruby. Sorry about this."

"It's ok." Grissom waved a hand.

The stranger held out his hand. "I'm Tim." They shook hands. "How long have you two been here?"

"Not long. Do they do this often?" Grissom asked.

Tim shrugged. "This is the first fight in like a few months I believe. But don't worry should only be a few minutes. She's good at calming them and then you could return to your date."

"Ok you two, if you do not stop this right now, sit on the freaking couch and talk this all out. I am calling the freaking police right this instant and having them collect you both this very moment. Now sit on the damn couch" Ruby yelled, pointing to the left of her.

Roy was near Ruby as he fumed and before he knew it, he hit her across the face. As Ruby stumbled back some Grissom went to her side, catching her before she fell as Tim went over knocking Roy out.

Seething, Ruby pointed at Rodger, "Fuck you both. When he wakes you can let him know that I am done with you two. Till you both get anger management I want nothing to do with either of you. I have done nothing but be nice and come and help you both because you were my friends. But after this I am through. You two need some serious help."

Grissom escorted Ruby out of the house and back to her place. He walked her in and got her some ice for where she was hit.

They both sat on the couch. "How are you doing?"

"Gil I am so sorry for that. He has never hit me before. Usually I just tell them to sit and just be the mediator as they talk. Then they are fine, calm and issues solved for the most part." She replied, holding the ice pack in place.

"Do your parents know they are like that?"

Shaking her head, Ruby replied, "No, but after tonight they are going to flip out."

"That's only because they are your parents." Grissom looked under the ice pack. "Looks like you are going to have a nice looking bruise."

Ruby adjusted it some. "This has to be the worst date ever."

"It was….interesting." Grissom said.

She snorted, "That's not exactly my idea of a interesting date."

"What's your idea of a interesting date?"

Pulling the pillow out from behind her, Ruby answered, "What I had except doesn't end with me getting hit in the face but in a kiss instead."

"Really?" He asked.

Grissom watched her place the pillow on the arm rest of the couch, lay her head on it as she placed her feet in his lap. "If you look past the fish smell, I am a girl with simple needs." She laid her head on the pillow with the ice pack perfectly placed on her face.

"I'm starting to think there is nothing simple about you."

Reaching over, Ruby hit him in the arm. "Nice attempt at bursting my bubble there."

"I should go." He quickly stood, changing the subject.

Ruby sat up. "Umm ok. I guess I'll see you around then."

Ruby saw Grissom to the door. "Night" He said.

"Night." She tried to keep the disappointment in her voice out.

Sighing Ruby fell back onto the couch. She felt like she might've messed up somehow.

Two days later Hodges just returned from lunch when he heard someone clear their throat. He looked to the door to see a tall, skinny female with chocolate brown hair that was full, luscious and a whole lot of curls that looked like they could go on for days.

She smiled. "Hi, are you David Hodges?"

There was a long pause before he realized it was him she was talking to and that he needed to speak. "Oh umm yes, I'm him, can I help you?"

"I'm Eliza Fredrick, Ruby's friend. She told me all about you; said we have a lot in common." She smiled and it seemed to light up the room Hodges couldn't help but think.

His eyes went big as he exclaimed, "You're the friend?"

Laughing some, she answered, "Yes I am, I figured we could exchange numbers and go out sometime."

"That…that would be great." He jumbled around the table for a pen and paper.

As she watched him fumble she said, "The real reason I came by though is Ruby's in the parking lot and was wondering if you'd come out to talk with her?"

"Why is she in the parking lot? Why didn't she come in?" He asked as he stopped what he was doing.

Eliza went through her purse, pulling out a pen and paper. "That's for her to tell you. Here, call me. Soon." She handed him her number.

Hodges went outside to see what Ruby wanted. "Oh my God what happened? Who did that to you? Does Gil know? Is that why you didn't want to come in?" He asked as soon as he saw her bruise.

"Well shut up so I can tell you."

Holding up his hands, Hodges apologized. "Sorry."

"Gil knows about this, he was with me when it happened. Trust me it's not bad, some friends were having a melt down and it was an accident. I have to ask something of you but before I do did Eliza stop by?"

"I can't believe she wants to go on a date with me."

Giving him a warm smile, Ruby agreed. "Same here. When I told her about you she seemed to really want to go out with you. And I told her you were a big time geek but she didn't want to hear it." Ruby joked.

"You can be so mean sometimes."

Quickly looking past him to the building he exited then to him. "I actually came by to ask a favor of you. I think I might have scared Grissom away, and I figured you know him pretty well, maybe you could ask him if on our date I was to forward."

"When did you and Grissom go out?" He asked.

Ruby was becoming impatient. "Two nights ago. So will you?"

"Will I what?"

She hit him in the arm. "Pay attention you. I want you to nonchalantly find out if I might have been too forward when he took me home."

He pointed at her. "You have lost me when you said being to forward when he took you home."

Making a sad face, Ruby begged, "It's not what you think, we haven't even kissed. So will you do it? For me please?"

"I don't know. Grissom is a private person."

Crossing her arms with a huff, Ruby muttered, "You're telling me. I have never met someone as complicated as him. It's driving me bat shit crazy. There is something really wrong with your boss."

"That's been contemplated before." Hodges nodded.

She began to pace. "Is there something wrong with me? After our first moment for a kiss was ruined, a second moment was working it's self up and he leaves. I wasn't asking to sleep with him, just a kiss."

"I'm not hearing this. I'm not hearing this." Hodges covered his ear as he chanted.

She pulled his hands away from his ears. "Sorry. But will you at least talk to him please?" She begged.

"I'll try, only if you shut up."

She threw her arms around him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Not able to that day, Hodges tried talking with Gil the next day. He walked in his office and sat across from Grissom.

Grissom looked up from his paper work. "Can I help you?" He asked when Hodges didn't say anything.

"I have realized we rarely get to talk, as friends I mean. How's life treating you? What has been going on? What is going on between you and Ruby? You two go out yet?" Hodges crossed his legs.

Removing his glasses, Grissom asked, "Why are you really here?"

"What? Two friends can't talk and catch up about life?" Hodges shrugged.

Grissom leaned back in his chair. "I'm not going to ask a second time."

"Ruby's worried she might've crossed a line and scared you off." He quickly confessed.

"And she went to you to ask me?" He stated.

Hodges shrugged. "Women dumfound me." Hodges said.

Ruby had just finished feeding the seals when her cell went off. "Hello?"

"Hey Ruby, it's David."

She sat on the fake rock they had for the seals. "What did he say?"

"I blew it." He informed her.

Watching the seals, Ruby asked slowly, "What happened?"

"Well when I tried to ask him he saw through me and wouldn't say anything about it."

She sighed. "Ok guess I'll have to talk with him myself. David?"

"Yes?"

Playing with the bucket handle, she asked, "How'd you get my number? I don't remember giving you it?"

"Gave your friend Eliza a call and she gave it to me when I asked her."

Ruby gasped. "Are you guys going out soon?"

"Yes. Well I have to get back to work, I'll talk to you later." Hodges hung the phone up.

Ruby looked to Ludo and Daisy who sat in front of her by her feet. "Do you two think I was too forward?" They nodded a yes as they stuck out their tongues and made a farting noise. "What do you two know?" She slid off the seat and leaving them.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own CSI or it's characters. Just mine.