Detective Jim Brass was just pulling his office door shut when a hand pressed against his shoulder, stopping him.
"Can we talk a moment?" asked a pretty female voice. Brass sighed, his shift had been entirely too long already and he wanted his couch, a beer and some mind numbingly boring movie to burn away the horrors of the city streets before turning in. But experience had taught him that no was not an answer to his current problem.
"Of course," he replied politely, reopening the door and going inside. He settled behind his desk, stifled a yawn, and surveyed his visitor. Despite having worked a twelve hour shift grubbing through the remnants of an innocent life the woman was annoyingly fresh in appearance. Her make-up was untouched, her gleaming blond hair fell in waves to her shoulders, her clothes were unwrinkled and unstained. The only hint of her troubles was the exhaustion that clouded her eyes.
"Good Morning Catherine," said Brass.
"Morning," she replied, wiggling in her seat and yawning. "How was your day?"
"The usual. Now get to it, why are you here?" He gave her a pointed look, not in the mood for her normal antics.
"Ok, here it is," she leaned forward on the desk, propping her head up with her hands. "Have you kept up on the lab gossip in the last couple of days?"
Brass shook his head.
"No, I've been out in Boulder City for the last week. Why?"
"Well," began Catherine, the sparkle of mischief back in her eyes. "The other night Sara…."
---
Nick was just turning out the lights in his bedroom when his cell phone rang. Cursing, he picked it up.
"Yes?" he groaned.
"Sorry man," came Warrick's equally sleepy tones. "Cath said to call you and tell you your attendance at a team dinner will be required tonight before shift."
"What is she planning?" demanded Nick.
"Don't know. Don't care right now either."
"Right, sorry. The usual?" asked Nick.
"Yep, later," replied Warrick and hung up. Nick snapped his phone shut and threw it across the room. Turning he flopped onto his bed and passed out before a count of ten.
---
On the other side of town Greg sat on the balcony of his apartment, staring out over the city. A beer in one hand and a bowl of cereal on his lap he tried not to pity himself as he also tried not to think about the coming evening. Catherine had called and ordered his presence at what he suspected was supposed to be a very special pre-shift meal. Special indeed, he thought morosely. Trudging back inside he dumped bowl and bottle in the kitchen and went to curl up on the couch with Barrett, a black Labrador who had shown up on his porch a year ago. He fell asleep absently petting the dog's shiny fur.
---
Eating breakfast in the kitchen with his wife, Al Robbins almost ignored his cell phone as it vibrated and danced across the table. Only when it went silent did he pick it up. A new text message awaited him.
Team Dinr. usual. 9pm. CW
Shaking his head he turned back to his wife, Catherine was going to get herself in a whole lot of trouble and he was going to enjoy watching every minute of it.
---
After Grissom left with Sydney, Sara showered and dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. She gathered clothes from various bathrooms and headed downstairs to start on the laundry. In the family room Kaia and Kati were sprawled out on the floor, playing with Legos. She found her oldest in the laundry room trying to fold a fitted sheet. There was a frown etched on her face, sharpening her features. Sara dropped her armful and grabbed one end of the sheet.
"What's on your mind baby?" she asked softly. Sophie stared at the fabric in her hands for a moment before looking up at her mother.
"I don't know. Something doesn't feel right but I can't tell what it is. I feel like something's going to happen or already has and I can't put my finger on it. Does that make sense?"
"Perfectly," said Sara, tugging the now folded sheet out of her daughter's hand and putting it on the counter. "Come on, let's go get something to drink." She wrapped an arm around Sophie's shoulders and led her into the kitchen. While the older twin pulled the cookie jar from the shelf, her mother filled two tall glasses with milk. They walked out the back door and settled on the swing seat that looked over their yard. Sara wiggled back into the corner, letting Sophie lean back into her arms and rest her head against her chest. Inhaling the soft scent that was unique to the two girls Sara sighed and closed her eyes. She could feel tension in her child's body and she took slow, deliberate breaths trying to calm herself and Sophie. The girl felt the change in her mother's body and began to breathe in that practiced manner too. As children she and Sydney had been hyperactive and unable to sleep well. Sara had taught them to meditate and found that by letting them imagine things with their eyes closed and their breathing controlled, they had fallen asleep much quicker and had also stayed asleep all night. When Sophie was relaxed Sara asked,
"What is it that you're feeling?"
"Nothing really, just, I don't know. It's like I can sense that something isn't right. But I have no idea what and it's driving me nuts."
"Have you ever felt like this before?" asked Sara, absently rubbing Sophie's wrist with her fingers.
"When we were little and Syd fell out of that tree in San Fran I knew something was wrong with her, but this if different. It's more like a warning. Have you ever felt like this mom?" Sara was quiet for a moment before responding.
"I knew something had changed before I found out I was pregnant the first time. I felt like something had happened but I couldn't decide what it was. Then I missed my period a second time and found out. But that's it. Sorry honey," sighed Sara, pressing her face into Sophie's hair.
"It's ok," said Sophie as she grabbed the cookie jar. "I'm sure it will all work out. Chocolate Chip or Oatmeal Raisin?"
---
When Grissom returned with Sydney in tow he found the rest of his family playing Monopoly at the kitchen table.
"Well?" demanded Sophie, the first to see them enter.
"I'm fine," sighed Sydney, sliding into the chair next to her twin and resting her head on Sophie's shoulder. Sara looked to Grissom for conformation. He nodded.
"She has a mild concussion and a lot of bruises, but otherwise she is ok."
"No no no," squeaked Kati. Everyone turned to look at her. "Syd no ok. She has broked legs."
Grissom smiled and scooped the little girl up into his arms.
"She has a broken leg Kati," he corrected her. Kati considered him for a moment.
"Whatever! Feed buggies now?" Sara turned away to hide her laughter as Kati gazed at Grissom with large, pleading eyes. "Pwease daddy? Feed buggies?"
"Ok lady bug, let's go." They left in the direction of the basement door, sounds of Kati clapping her hands and chattering about buggies trailing in their wake. Shuddering, Kaia began to clear away the monopoly board. Sara levered herself to her feet.
"Are you guys hungry?" she asked.
"No."
"Not really."
"A bit," were the replies.
Sara was pulling ingredients for a veggie omelet out of the fridge when her phone beeped. She picked it up, frowning.
GG says 2 tell u team dinr 2nite b4 shft usul plce- CW.
"What the heck?" she muttered.
"What is it?" asked Sydney, hopping into the kitchen. Sara handed her the phone. Sydney read it aloud then tossed it to Kaia.
"Dad didn't say anything," began Kaia but she was interrupted when Grissom burst through the door with Kati on his back. He was waving his phone in the air.
"What did she say?" asked Sophie.
"That she's calling a team meeting at the diner before work."
"Oh, that's funny," said Sara, looking up from slicing some onions, "because she told me that you called the meeting and demanded everyone's presence."
"What?" gasped Grissom, outraged. Sara shrugged and tossed her onions into a frying pan with eggs, peppers and mushrooms. Grissom put Kati down and opened the fridge, pulling out a container of watermelon and pineapple. He chopped up the fruit as Sophie gathered bowls and Sydney toasted bread. Kaia stared at the two phones, frowning. Then she grinned and flipped Sara's open. She opened Catherine's text and hit reply.
Busy! Why r u telling me and not him?
Kaia sent the message and then picked up her father's phone.
What is so urgent that it can't wait until shift starts?
She quietly set the table, a smirk perched on her lips. When a reply came she snatched up Sara's phone and checked it.
He's busy. Mandatory. C u there!!! Moments later Grissom's phone buzzed, dancing across the table.
Ill tell u whn u get here.
Kaia relayed the messages to her siblings and then propped her chin on her hands and gazed off into space, an evil grin on her face and a look of intense concentration in her eyes. Sara nudged Grissom and pointed at their middle child.
"Your fault," Grissom whispered into her ear, his breath tickling her skin. Sara turned and gave him the look.
"Absolutely not. I thought we agreed this was all on you!"
"Oh no, my dear. They could only have this talent from you." Grissom glanced back at Kaia and found all three older children at the table with their heads bent close together, talking in low voices. He traded another glance with his wife.
"Maybe it's both of us," suggested Sara. "I mean, all these years at the lab with no one knowing? It was bound to leave a mark, don't you think?"
"I like that very much," said Grissom, tucking a runaway strand of hair behind her ear and caressing her cheek. He leaned in to give her a gentle kiss.
"Ewww!!!" said a small voice behind him. Grissom looked down and saw Kati staring up at him, hands on her hips. "Gwoss! Ged a room." She informed him. Grissom's mouth fell open, Sara stared at him, aghast.
"Katarina Paige Sidle-Grissom," began Grissom in his most stern, fatherly voice, "that was not polite and we do not say that in this house. Where did you learn that?" Kati shrieked and ran out of the kitchen, giggling. With a sigh, Grissom put down his knife, wiped his hands and went after her. After he left the room Sara started to laugh; behind her she could hear the twins and Kaia sniggering too. Closing her eyes she shook her head; there was never a dull moment in her house.
---
Sara was pulling the last load of laundry out of the washer and stuffing it into the dryer when she noticed something sticking out of the open cupboard under the sink. Shoving the last pair of jeans into the dryer she closed the door and pressed start, then got down on her knees and looked inside the cabinet. Someone had dragged a bed sheet into the back of the cupboard, behind the fabric softener. Tangled in its folders were socks, a t-shirt and even a pair of underpants. Raising an eyebrow she was about to pull it all out when Fuzz pushed past her on her way to the pile, a pink and green sock in her mouth. Sara watched, incredulous, as the cat dropped the sock on the pile, patting it into place with her paw.
"What on earth are you doing? Making a nest?" she asked the cat as she fished her out. Standing Sara stared at the orange bundle that looked up with sleepy eyes. "And when did you get so heavy?" Enlightenment struck like a Mack truck.
"Oh no," murmured Sara. "Please no!" Gently, she felt the kitty's belly. Sure enough it had grown. With a sigh she put the cat down. Fuzz purred and rubbed against her leg. Sara stared down at the feline.
"When I get home tomorrow, you and I are going to the vet," she informed the cat before grabbing her jacket and purse. She had a meeting to get to.