Disclaimer: I don't own CSI, only Taylor Cryst/Rider and Kayla Green.

BETA: lostladyknight

CHAPTER FIVE-- The Way the Ball Rolls

"You have to be kidding me," Catherine said in disbelief as she rested her head on her hands and her elbows on her knees. Taylor laughed slightly.

"Nope. I was going to use it as blackmail, but then I realized I barely know you and well..."

"Please, use as little words as possible," Catherine said, referring to her hangover. Taylor nodded.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me,"

"Thanks. Where's the bathroom?"
"Down the hall to your left," with that the two women stood up and walked away from each other.

In the living room Warrick was waking up far against the couch, he noticed the space beside him was empty. Sitting up, he tried to remember who had slept with him but he came to the conclusion it could only be Catherine, and that put them both in trouble. Greg was lying on the floor across from him, blankets wrapped in knots around him. Warrick stood up and tiptoed into the kitchen and started searching the fridge. Then he realized it wasn't his house. Warrick bit his lip and closed the fridge before walking back to his spot on the couch.

Nick walked out of a bedroom and into the living room to find a very confused Warrick. "How's your head?" he asked.

"Feels like a jack hammer keeps going at it," Warrick answered. Nick helped his friend up before leading him into the kitchen. He reached into a cupboard, pulling out a cup and handing it to Warrick, before opening another cupboard and pulling out Excedrin.

"How do you know where everything is?" Warrick asked. Nick smiled as he got out his own set of the morning after killer.

"I've known Taylor for a while." Warrick wasn't going to push him any farther so he let it go. Greg was now awake and he also came to the kitchen, followed by the rest of the gang.

"Does anyone remember what happened last night?" Catherine asked suspiciously. Her answer was given with a round of shaking heads. "Me either."

"Don't worry; I was here to take care of you. If you're wondering, this is my place," Taylor said with a laugh.

Soon everyone was back at their own homes, getting ready for work.

CSI

"Are you sure you want to come in today?" Gil asked Sara with a hint of sarcasm. Sara smiled.

"I finished moving myself in yesterday, remember, I called in sick." Both laughed warmly.

"Well, let's get going," Sara said picking up her keys. Gil made no move to grab his own and Sara knew he was riding with her.

"So, should we tell the team?" he asked once Sara had pulled out of the driveway. Her hand found his.

"I'm not sure, I mean, they don't even know there is an 'us'."

"Okay, well maybe we won't tell them just yet."

CSI

"That was so close," Warrick said was he was walking through Catherine's door.

"I know. We are even getting careless at work," she responded as she rushed around for the contents of her recently emptied purse. "This is harder to do then I thought."

"It's becoming very difficult for me not to touch you in some way throughout the day," Warrick said with a charming smile.

"I'm sure you can manage, but the question is do you have that kind of self-control?" she joked as she stuffed everything in her small bag.

"Well, let's drive separate to work today and see if we can make that happen."

CSI

Greg knocked on the door to an apartment he had never seen before. A brunette woman answered the door, dressed in her work clothes; she looked ready to walk out the door. "Can I help you Greg?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah. Grissom sent me here to see if you wanted a ride to work and to make sure you were okay."

"Alright, come in," she said exhaling. Greg entered the building as Kayla moved aside.

"So...what did happen yesterday?" he asked.

"I did something way out of line and disrespectful to Catherine, then I was forced to tell the truth to Dr. Grissom," she answered. That was all that was said until Greg broke the silence a few minutes later.

"I understand, Griss can have the effect on some people." Kayla laughed nervously. "Do you want a ride?" Greg asked.

"Sure, if you don't mind," was her answer.

"Of course not." The two walked out of the apartment and down the stairs of the complex and back out into the car.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked. Kayla shifted in her seat.

"I barely know you, I wouldn't want to thrust all my personal baggage on you like that," she answered. Greg smiled then placed his hand on her arm.

"With all that aside, I'm here for you." He felt Kayla tense up so he removed his hand. "Okay?" Kayla nodded and gave him a small smile. Soon they arrived at the lab.

CSI

Catherine, Sara, and Taylor had all been placed on a case together, although, no one could figure out why. The case was a simple bank robbery, the only injury being one of the masked men's death. A man who had been in the bank had carried a gun and somehow managed to shoot one of them down. Gil had said that all three of the girls had been special requested by the new detective who was watching over them now.

"Shouldn't this only take one person?" Sara asked as she examined the blood on the counter.

"I've done bigger than this by myself before," Catherine added. Taylor laughed at the annoyed sound in both of their voices.

"I'm only Level-Two, but I've also done these alone. My boss was very sexist. I was at least as smart as the level three men but he refused to promote me." The three continued to process the scene, there was so much evidence it was almost an open/shut case, almost.

As the man on the ground twitched it caught Sara's eyes. "Guys?" she asked nervously. "I think this job is really getting to me." Catherine looked up from the fingerprints.

"Why do you say that?"

"I think I just saw the body move," she stated. Taylor slowly stood up from the pile of money that was left on the other counter.

"You're kidding right?" she asked. Catherine gasped as the body of the man groaned. Now they knew they weren't crazy.

"Get a medic in here!" Sara shouted. Before anyone else could enter the bank a shot was fired, the detective fell to the floor. The women did not scream, they just backed up so they were closer to one another. Sara and Catherine drew their guns. The masked man grabbed a hold of Taylor's shoulder and pulled her away from the other two. Catherine and Sara spun around, both pointing their guns. The man's arm was wrapped around her neck, holding her still while the other held the gun to her temple. The fear in her eyes was imminent as Taylor clawed franticly at his arm. Catherine and Sara looked at each other quickly.

"Put down the guns or your friend here dies," the man said, his voice altered by what seemed like helium.

Wanna be my bestie friend? Hit that little review button then!