Chapter Ten

Greg walked past Grissom's office on the way to the print lab. He was about ten steps beyond the door when his mind registered what it had heard. He stopped and backtracked, approaching his supervisor's office more slowly when he received auditory confirmation that he hadn't imagined it. Sure enough, there was a strange sound coming from inside.

Greg frowned at the closed door, leaning closer to try to gather more information to help him determine what was going on. It sounded like laughter.

Now, Greg had never really heard Grissom laugh. The occasional chuckle, perhaps, but usually the older man seemed too reserved to laugh whole-heartedly. And yet, the tone of this laughter certainly sounded like Grissom. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Greg knocked once on the door and pushed it open.

Grissom stopped mid-laugh and narrowed his eyes at Greg. "It's polite to wait to be granted entry, Greg," he was reprimanded.

"I thought you might… be in trouble. There were strange sounds coming from in here."

"I'm rehearsing," Grissom said simply, and Greg resisted smiling.

"Rehearsing?" he asked, pleading ignorance. Neither Grissom nor Catherine had said anything to him about the part he played in involving them in the pantomime. It was possible they hadn't figured it out, but, knowing that Brass had been dragged into it, Greg wasn't so sure that the police captain hadn't told them. Ignorance and innocence was the best way to go until forced to own up.

"For the pantomime, Greg… I wouldn't want to let you down."

Greg frowned. "Let me down?"

"You're sounding like a parrot, Greg… Yes, let you down. You obviously thought I could do a good job in the show. I wouldn't want you to be proved wrong."

"Ah, yeah, about that," Greg rambled nervously.

"Yes?" Grissom asked calmly – his tone and expression the one that always made Greg uneasy; he looked like he was waiting for Greg to put his foot in something.

Before Greg had managed to think of answer, Grissom laughed his usual brief chuckle and spoke again. "It's okay Greg. I don't blame you for wanting to humiliate us… But, I don't think your plan is going to succeed, I'm afraid."

Again Greg suppressed a smirk. "Oh I didn't – "

"It might be best to leave it at that, Greg," Grissom suggested.

Greg nodded once, "I'll get back to work."

"Good."

Greg turned and pulled the door closed behind him, his smile breaking free once he was out of Grissom's view. It seemed that things were going to plan. His smile widened as he walked away, and a loud, somewhat evil sounding laugh came once more from the office.