A/N Once again then you so much for the wonderful reviews. They are a confidence boost to my very novice writing, especially for CSI. Many thanks as always also to my beta Piccolina789. I really couldn't do this without you.
Leaving Ecklie's office, Catherine wandered the corridors of the lab, trying to puzzle out exactly when Grissom and Sara had started their relationship.
As she thought back, she still couldn't seem to pinpoint exactly when things changed between them. There certainly hadn't been any overt sign that anything was going on.
So much for being a trained Investigator Catherine thought to herself, as she found herself outside the break room. She poured herself a coffee, still pondering the turn of events. Although she was a little hurt that they hadn't confided in her, she was genuinely pleased that they'd finally taken that step.
"Hey Cath," Warwick's voice broke into her reverie. "Have you seen Grissom? I just went by his office and he's not there."
Catherine looked up from her coffee still clearly distracted. The look of worry on her face made Warrick to move over to her, looking slightly worried himself.
"Is everything ok?" he asked, concerned for his friend. "Is it Lindsey?"
Catherine shook her head.
"No, Lindsey's fine," she assured him, grateful for his concern all the same. She hesitated before adding, "Ecklie has suspended Grissom and Sara, and put me in charge of Grave."
Warwick's eyes widened, in shock.
"Suspended? Why?"
"They told him they're together, and until he's concluded an investigation, they're suspended," Catherine explained.
"Well he'll have a job;" stated Warrick, not surprised by the news his boss and co-worker were together. "We've probably all suspected there was somethin' going on at one time or another, but never anything for certain. Is there anything we can do to help Griss and Sara?"
"Just tell Ecklie the truth when he questions you. I just can't believe that Ecklie would go so far, especially as Sara's pregnant."
Catherine's eyes widened as she raised a hand to cover her mouth. She really hadn't intended to let that slip, and she felt awful.
Warrick whistled, his eyes widening.
"Man!" he whispered, surprised by the revelation. "And Ecklie's suspended them?" he questioned, in disbelief. "He's all heart."
Warrick glanced at Catherine.
"Surely there must be somethin we can do? I mean if they're havin a kid the last thing they wanna be worryin about is losing their jobs."
"Hopefully it won't come to that," Catherine agreed, finishing her coffee.
"What's up Rick?" Nick asked in the locker room several hours later, when shift was over.
Warrick slammed and banged around in his locker, clearly annoyed about something. A few more metallic thuds issued, before he slammed the door shut with more force than necessary, causing the door to swing back open before swinging back slowly and coming to a stop partly closed.
"I'm just worried about Griss," he muttered, shaking his head, forgetting for the moment that Nick knew nothing of what had happened.
"Grissom? Did somethin happen to him?" Nick questioned, worried for his friend and mentor. "Is he Okay?"
Warrick closed his eyes briefly, realising he'd been thinking out loud.
"That's right, you haven't heard…Ecklie's suspend both Grissom and Sara…."
He went on to explain what Catherine had told him, including the revelation of Sara's pregnancy.
Before Nick had chance to process the news, Greg spoke from the doorway, startling them both.
"Are you serious?" he asked, his youthful face registering his shock. "Grissom and Sara are really together and she's having his baby?"
"Sorry Greg," said Nick meaning it. He knew that Greg had had a soft spot for Sara for years. "Ecklie told Catherine. She's acting supervisor until Ecklie's run his little investigation."
Greg's shoulders slumped; clearly devastated by the news that Sara would never be interested in him.
"But Grissom's…" he's voice trailed away into a whisper.
"…always been number one, in Sara's eyes," said Warrick, raising an eyebrow. "What they need now is our support."
Greg stepped further into the locker room and sagged onto the bench, still unable to grasp what he'd overheard. He was silent for a few minutes longer before looking towards his two friends.
"I never stood a chance, did I?" he asked, dejectedly. He felt utterly deflated by the news.
Nick grasped him on the shoulder.
"If its any consolation, I don't think anyone did. But they're still our friends, Greggo. This doesn't change anything."
"Of course," Greg said, with a slight nod. "Its not as if Ecklie's investigation is going to find anything. I mean, it's not like any of us knew anything was going on between them."
While the news had shocked him, Sara was still his friend. And he'd do anything to see her happy. Even if it meant that she was with someone other than him.
As they headed for the car park, discussing that morning's breakfast destination, Catherine caught up with them.
"Hey Cath, we heard about Griss and Sara," said Nick. "We can't just sit by and let Ecklie fire them. There must be something we can do? Maybe call by Grissom's place and let him know we've got his back?"
"We'll tell the truth. Ecklie will discover that himself. I'll go to Grissom's," she continued. "Right now, with everything that's going on, the last thing he'll want is everyone turning up at his place."
It was clear by Grissom's surprised expression when he answered his door shortly after 6.15 pm, that Catherine was the last person he'd expected to see. He was wearing a blue shirt that matched the colour of his eyes, and dark trousers. At first glance, Catherine had thought she'd perhaps caught him getting ready for a date with Sara, but the tea towel draped over his shoulder, spoiled the illusion.
"I know about you and Sara," Catherine got straight to the point. "And why Ecklie suspended you. Now are you going to invite me in, or are you going stand here and gawp, and ruin whatever is that you got cookin'?"
He opened the door further, before heading over to the kitchenette, where a few pans were simmering away. Whatever he was cooking it smelled delicious.
After shutting the door behind her, she followed Grissom over to the kitchen. Inside, a radio was tuned to a baseball game, the volume turned low. Grissom started to busy himself by chopping mushrooms.
"So, you finally lifted your head up out of that microscope, huh?" stated Catherine, and Grissom could tell from her voice that she was smiling. "It certainly took you long enough."
He raised his head slightly, as he glanced at Catherine then over to the sofa, where Catherine noticed the sleeping form for the first time.
Sara.
"So how's she doing?" Catherine asked, keeping her voice low, so as not to awaken the slumbering form. "Pregnancy can really take a lot out of you, especially in the early weeks."
Grissom paused mid-way through chopping mushrooms, and glanced at Catherine over his glasses.
"Ecklie told you?" he questioned anger edging his voice.
"He let it slip, when I asked what was going on," she admitted. "And I told him exactly what I thought. We all know his investigation won't find anything. That's why I came by, to let you know that the team is right behind you both. We're a family, Gil, and we have your backs. I just don't understand why you couldn't tell us. We think its great you and Sara are together."
Grissom turned his attention back to the mushrooms, chopping so furiously that Catherine reached out and stilled his hands, fearing he'd chop off his fingertips in his anger.
"We didn't tell you, because we didn't want anyone to know," he said, placing the knife down. "Who else knows about the baby?"
"Ahh," sighed Catherine making Grissom look up.
"You told everyone," he stated his lips thinning. "Did you ever stop and think, that maybe Sara and I might want to make that announcement?"
His voice rose, as did his anger.
"This is precisely why we never mentioned anything – so it wouldn't get back to Ecklie, and become the talk of the lab!"
"First of all, with the exception of Ecklie only the team know, not the entire lab," Catherine attempted to soothe him. "And secondly, if you can't trust your team, then who can you trust? Once you're both back at the lab, and you will be, it'll become obvious soon enough and everyone's going to know."
"The choice to tell everyone, should have been left to us," Sara's voice cut in, as she wandered over to the counter. Their raised voices had woke her up. She looked pale and despite the nap she'd just had, exhausted.
"I'm really sorry," Catherine said sincerely. "It just slipped out, and I feel really awful. I was pissed that Ecklie would stoop so low, when you've just come clean about everything. He's an ass."
Catherine's gaze travelled over Sara from head to foot. She attempted to smile, as she changed the subject.
"Guess those antacids, didn't work?"
Sara smirked and shook her head.
"I guess not," she said quietly, as a wave of nausea washed over her. Whatever Grissom was cooking was make her queasy.
"Morning sickness one of the unfortunate side effects of pregnancy," Catherine noted as Sara's face paled even more. "When I was pregnant with Lindsey…"
Sara had only been half listening to Catherine, focusing on keeping at least a semblance of control on the churning in her stomach. Understanding that this time was a battle she had no hope of winning, Sara hurried up the stairs with a muffled "Excuse me!"
Grissom watched her as went up the stairs, one hand clamped over her mouth, the other protectively over her stomach. Every nerve in his body wanted to follow after her, but his feet didn't seem to remember how to move. He felt a sudden inexplicable pang of guilt stab at his stomach, at her discomfort.
"Get her to try ginger or dry crackers and toast," Catherine said helpfully, as she turned back to Grissom. Somehow, sensing his need to help Sara, she smiled.
"I'd better get going. Remember what I said about the ginger."
She hugged him then, making Grissom uncomfortable, though he endured it anyway.
"I know it's asking a lot, but try not to worry about Ecklie. You'll be back before you know it."