Chapter 12

"If death was the intended outcome the crime was clearly premeditated." Grissom took off his glasses and kneaded the bridge of his nose.

"The DNA under the vics nails was his own, probably from scratching an itch," Eve offered.

"Prints on the broom closet came back as the vic's too. And nothing from the broom handle itself, not even smudges." Nick said.

"With the lack of physical evidence at the scene, we obviously have a killer who knows how to cover his tracks," Catherine said.

"Okay, so what? We round up everyone who's ever watched one of those forensics shows on TV?" Eve asked.

"An architect, could be mob related," Catherine suggested.

"Doesn't seem likely," Nick responded "if they wanted the guy dead, they'd have just shot him."

"Maybe it's another lovers game gone horribly wrong," Eve suggested.

"With a broomstick?" Nick asked and turned toward her. Eve shrugged.

Grissom slid his glasses back on and looked around the room. "The broom was most likely a weapon of convenience, the killer counted on there being something in the house. Everyone has a broom, or a mop, or a toilet plunger. The whole point of the rape is degradation, humiliation."

"We need to try to figure out if the victim was singled out for personal reasons, or if it was a random follow home and attack. Nicky, did you get a hold of the girlfriend or ex?"

Nick gave Grissom a look of amusement. "No Gris, it's five in the morning."

Grissom looked at his watch and sighed deeply at how fast time passes.

Catherine sat forward in her chair. "Gil, we've all been on the clock for twelve hours."

Another deep sigh. "Yeah, you're right, Cath. Go home, all three of you."

"You need sleep too, Grissom," Catherine reminded him as she stood up to leave.

"I will," he met Catherine's eyes, her doubtful gaze reining down on him. "I promise."

--

"Food. Food is what I need right now," Eve said shutting her locker door.

Catherine walked in, and made her way to her own locker. "You guys going to breakfast?"

"Yeah, you wanna come with?"

"Rain check. I've got just enough time to get home and see Lindsay before school."

"You sure, Cath?" Nick asked as he slipped on his jacket.

"Yeah, but you two have fun."

"Ok, see you Thursday." Nick told her.

Catherine's brow knitted. "Thought you were working tomorrow night?"

"I, uh…" Nick paused, and shot Eve a shy glance. "I was, switched with Warrick."

Catherine couldn't help but notice Eve pull her lips in, suppressing a smile.

"Okay… Well, you two have fun." Catherine repeated herself with a conspiratorial glint in her eye.

She watched them leave the room, and again, Nick's hand fell to the small of Eve's back. With a deep sigh and just a touch of jealousy, it'd been so long since she'd experienced the giggly endorphins of new love, Catherine slipped into her jacket and closed her locker door

In the hall, she nearly collided with Sara, who had her nose buried in a file, reading as she walked. "Hey, there," Catherine greeted, announcing her presence before Sara could plow into her.

Sara looked up quickly. "Hey. Sorry, Cath."

Catherine gave her a quick quirky smile. "Whatcha got?"

"Case file from a stolen car Eve and I had. They caught the suspect," Sara glanced around them, quickly searching the halls, and as she did, Warrick turned the corner, stopping next to the women.

"Hey, haven't seen you all night," he said, glancing down at Catherine.

"Caught a murder early. Before shift actually." Catherine tossed a lock of hair over her shoulder.

"That one Nick and Eve were on?" Warrick asked.

Catherine nodded, and opened her mouth to give further details, but Sara spoke first. "Yeah, where is Eve, I'd like to talk to her about this," she held up the folder on the stolen car.

"Grissom cut us loose a little early, we've been on the clock for twelve hours now."

Sara raised her eyebrows, and actually looked at Catherine, taking in the jacket she had on, and the purse slung over her shoulder. "Just now?" She hooked a thumb over her shoulder, toward the parking lot door "Maybe I have time to catch her…" Sara tuned toward the door.

"NO," Catherine and Warrick said in unison then looked at each other, each confirming the others suspicions.

"Okay," Sara said slowly, knowing something was up, but not knowing what.

Catherine tried to recover quickly, "You probably wouldn't catch her anyway."

"Okay," Sara responded, just as slowly.

"So," Warrick began, changing the subject, "See you tomorrow Cath?"

"See you tomorrow, Warrick."

--

Nick sipped his coffee, watching in fascination as Eve swallowed the last bite of pancake and licked her syrup sticky lips. She gave him a satisfied smile and sighed contentedly, patting her stomach. "You get enough?" He asked, teasingly. Besides the pancakes, she'd ordered scrambled eggs, bacon and hash browns, and had eaten every single bite.

Licking her lips again, she smiled unashamed, "Felt like I hadn't eaten in years."

Nick cocked his head, "Long as you got enough, Darlin', that's all that matters."

The 'darlin' was not lost on her; she felt a blush creeping into her cheeks, and was grateful Nick was sliding out of the booth and not looking at her reddening face.

Fishing out his wallet, Nick left a tip on the table. Eve glanced at the bill as she slid out from behind the table. "Are you always such a big tipper, or are you trying to impress me?"

He held her jacket open for her, and as she slid her arms in, he held her shoulders, leaned closer, whispering in her ear "Do I still need to impress you?"

She turned her head slightly, shifted her eyes toward him. "Always," she laughed.

--

The sun had begun to rise during their meal, bright daybreak battling the neon signs for jurisdiction of the city. "Feel like walking off some of that breakfast?" Nick asked, slipping his arm around Eves shoulders as they left the diner.

"Good idea," she bumped her hip against his and grabbed hold of his hand hanging off her shoulder.

A few blocks down, Nick steered them around a corner. "Where're you taking us?" she asked glancing up at him.

"You'll see," he answered her, teasing.

A drunken tourist rounded the corner, a block in front of them, staggering his way toward them. Eve pushed her body in closer to Nicks and pulled his arm tighter around her. As the drunk passed them, Nick felt Eve's body relax again. "Ok?"

"Umm hmm, just a little cold"

"Ok," Nick wasn't sure he believed her entirely, but could understand an anxiety around strangers. He let it go, not wanting to mar their day-off, especially when it had just begun. He steered her across the street and around another corner.

"Almost there," he said, somewhat giddy.

"Where?"

"There," Nick pointed. Eve followed his gaze, seeing their destination. .

She grinned up at him. "The Bellagio."

"The fountains," Nick corrected.

As they got closer to the fountains, the breeze carried the spray of the water, sprinkling their faces. A Dean Martin classic was playing through the loud speakers. Eve took hold of the railing; Nick stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"It's prettier at night, but I like it better this time of day, not so many people around." Nick leaned down and spoke close to her ear, his shadow of a beard scratching against her skin.

"You come here a lot?"

Nick shrugged, rested his chin on her shoulder. "I come here when I can't sleep, need to clear my head."

She ran her hands down his forearms, letting them come to rest on top of his hands. The soothing voice of Dean Martin surrounded them as they watched the dancing streams of jetting water.

Toward the end of the song, he kissed her, near her ear. Dean Martin faded, giving way to the swelling strings of a Celine Dion serenade, and the breeze kicked up, misting them with spray, Eve shivered and Nick tightened his grip around her waist. "You ready to head home?"

She nodded, "Yeah."