A/N: I'm sorry! I finally have an update. Thanks for waiting for me…I'm a little slow sometimes. Well… if you've been reading so far…you know what the fic is about…and that it doesn't take itself seriously…hopefully I'm still within the realms of their characters…and hopefully you, the reader, will like it. O—and me my dumb self didn't plan ahead very well…the times (as in # of months) aren't going to match up…but just go with the flow ok?
Read On!!!
* * * * * * *
Silence.
For the first time that night, everyone was quiet.
(At least for a moment.)
"You're what?!"
"You are?!"
"You didn't tell me!!?"
The three looked at each other.
"You? Why would they tell you!?"
"Hey guys—."
"Cath you didn't even know they were dating."
"Hey—."
"Yea—but who told you they were dating?"
"I woulda figured it out sooner or lat—."
"You told Nick, but you didn't tell me!?"
Warrick looked at Catherine.
"Well—uh—see—uh—what had happened was—."
"I'll get some more wine," Grissom stood up from the couch.
Warrick was grateful for the distraction.
The other three looked at him.
"Yea," he turned to leave.
"O how convenient ."
Grissom didn't say anything, instead; choosing to leave the room, rather than be confronted by the drunken nonblonde.
"Cath—be nice."
The remaining four looked at her cautiously.
She didn't say anything.
"Cath?"
She gave a loud sigh.
"Cath."
"Fiiiine Nicky. I'll be good."
Nick grinned, pleased with himself.
Warrick sighed.
"Just get me some more alcohol."
* * * * * * *
"What time is it?"
"Losing track already?"
Catherine made a face.
"Yea Griss—I don't think you should give her anymore."
She turned her glare on Nick.
He smiled.
She didn't.
His grin faded.
Grissom looked at the older woman guardedly.
She turned and gave him a squinty-eyed look back.
He raised an eyebrow.
She scowled.
He feigned innocence.
Her eye twitched.
He blinked.
Her eye twitched—again.
Or was that a wink?
He couldn't tell.
"Oh just gimme," she took the glass from his hand.
He remained standing there.
She took a sip.
He glanced back at Sara.
She shrugged.
He looked back at Catherine.
She was staring at him with a contemplating look.
Almost like—
Almost like a cat looks at a mouse.
She smiled.
"So Gil—when did it start?"
He gave her an odd look.
"When did what start?"
He spoke slowly—carefully.
She took another long sip.
"Cath?"
"Mmm. Good stuff."
"Catherine."
She looked up at him.
"Maybe I should take that back," he reached forward.
"What? No!" She held her glass close to her.
He raised another eyebrow.
"Go sit down," she shooed him away.
His brow furrowed.
"Go."
"Cath—what's up with you?"
"She gets like this every time she's drunk."
"I'm not drunk!"
"How would you know that?"
Grissom froze. He didn't turn around to look at her.
Warrick and Nick eyed him with a new curiosity.
He could feel the burn on the back of his neck.
"Well—uh—um—."
"Re-remember the Christmas party?"
Sara looked at Nick.
"Yea?"
"Remember the Christmas party?"
She thought for a moment. Then a smile slowly spread across her face.
"Yea—yea I do."
"Well, there ya go."
Nick grinned.
Warrick chuckled.
Grissom resumed breathing.
"Christmas party?" They all looked at Catherine.
"Don't worry about it."
"Worry about what?!"
"It's in the past."
"Yea—the past."
"What?!
"All I can say is—poor Greg."
Both Nick and Sara found Warrick's statement amusing. Catherine—did not. Grissom leaned back on the couch.
"Where is Greg anyways?" They all were surprised by his question. Catherine spoke first.
"He's at work."
Grissom frowned.
"But I thought you all got 'a month of paid vacation.'"
"We did. He didn't." She took a sip.
"Yeah—apparently what he can do for us in ten minutes—takes Days two weeks. That's why he's so backlogged all the time."
Grissom thought about that for a moment.
"You should look into that."
"Right—another chance to talk with Ecklie."
"O—good point."
Grissom nodded.
"What about Albert?"
"Who?"
"Albert."
"Who!?"
"He's still there too. Days will use him."
"Who!?"
Grissom looked over at Nick incredulously.
"Doc Robbins."
Nick seemed confused.
"I thought his name was David."
"No that's the coroner."
"No, I knew that—I thought his name was David too."
"No, that's the coroner."
Sara was getting vehement about it.
Grissom just shook his head.
"Jeez Nick—how long you been workin' there?"
"O—like you knew that too."
Warrick put his hands up.
"Hey—I know the people I'm workin' with."
Nick frowned. Then a small smile escaped his lips. He looked at Warrick.
"I'm sure you do."
It took Warrick a minute to figure out what Nick was alluding to.
He sighed.
"Don't make me hurt you."
Nick grinned—but moved over a little bit just in case.
Grissom looked at Sara for an answer. She didn't say anything.
She only smirked.
He frowned.
They became quiet.
"Is today Monday?"
"No—Wednesday."
"Damn."
They all looked at Catherine.
"Why?"
"Just wonderin'. It's hard to keep track of the days—plus my show's on Monday."
"Your show?"
"Ya—that-that CSI show that's on now—the '#1 new show of the year'—."
"No—no I don't know."
"Why am I not surprised?"
Grissom made a face at her.
"I know what you're talkin' about Cath."
"You do?"
Both Warrick and Grissom seemed amazed.
"Yea—it's a good show—all those gadgets and whatnot."
They all looked at him.
"Plus that blonde girl is kinda cute."
Catherine shook her head.
"Careful Nick—you know there's somethin' goin' on between her and Horatio."
"Who?"
"Horatio?"
Nick laughed.
"I think I'd have a chance."
"I dunno Nick—he so wants her—and I think she thinks he's cute in an odd red-haired—pale as death sort of way."
"What?"
Nick and Catherine both looked at the other three.
"You wouldn't understand."
Grissom raised an eyebrow.
"Apparently not."
Catherine dismissed his comment with a shake of her head. Which was surprising in and of itself.
"Hey Cath—did you see the episode with the shark?"
She nodded while taking a swig.
"Yea—that one was ok—I like the murdered family one where the dad did it."
Nick thought about that for a moment.
"That was good too—what about the bomb one?"
"When do you people have time to watch TV?!"
They both looked at Sara.
"We tape it."
"Oh." She rolled her eyes.
"Yea so did you see last week's—."
"Hey Cath?"
"Grissom?"
"It's Wednesday right?"
"That's what you tell me."
"Right—why aren't you home with Lindsay?"
The four looked at her curiously.
"Eddie took her out for her birthday. That bastard." She took another drink.
"Oh ok."
"How old is she?"
Catherine looked at Sara.
"She's nine."
Sara nodded her approval.
"Good age—."
"Wait Cath—wasn't she nine—like two months ago?"
Catherine looked at Nicky.
"No Nick. How much have you had tonite—."
"Wait—she was only seven last year—and now she's nine?"
Warrick was suddenly interested.
"What? Guys—I think I know how old my daughter is."
"But she was seven last year—."
"And now she's nine?"
"Wha—guys you're makin' my head hurt." She leaned her head against the couch cushion.
Nick and Warrick became quiet.
"My daughter is nine. Yes she was seven last year—before she turned eight. I think I know what I'm talking about."
She sounded a little bit angry.
Nick bit his lip.
"Sorry Cath."
"Mmmm."
Warrick shrugged.
"Do you want some Tylenol?"
She gave a surprised look to Sara. It took her a moment to respond.
"No—water would be fine."
"Ok." Sara got up from the couch and headed off towards the kitchen. Grissom watched her go.
"I'm sorry Cath."
"O yea Nicky—you're fine. So Gil—."
Grissom turned to look at her. He was wary of her questioning. The alcohol was taking effect. He was getting tired—disorientated. Less shy.
"When did it start?"
He blinked heavily.
"When did what start?"
"You and Sara."
"Me and Sara?"
"Echo? Do I hear an echo?"
Grissom made a face.
"Yea—you and Sara," Catherine took the water from Sara. She nodded her thanks. Sara sat back down next to Grissom.
Grissom looked at Sara.
"Well-uh—."
"Wait—lemme guess." They all stared at Nick.
"Ok?"
"Ok—it was the truth or dare game wasn't it?" Sara and Grissom looked at each other. "I'm right aren't I?!"
"Well-uh—."
"No Nicky—it was the trip to Disney World wasn't it. When you guys shared a room."
They both stared at Catherine.
"You guys shared a room?"
They remained quiet.
"I knew there had to be more than just those Mickey Mouse shaped butters that you raved about constantly."
"You shared a room?"
"Well-uh—."
"How'd that case turn out anyways?"
"Um—."
"You shared a room?!"
Sara glared at Nick.
"It was a suite—two bedroom. And no—nothing happened."
They all became quiet for a moment.
"I can't believe you shared a room."
"Nick."
"Sorry."
"Wait—was it the plant?"
"The what?"
Sara stared at Catherine.
"How do you know about that."
Catherine looked at Sara, then at Grissom.
"Oh—uh—G—."
"What plant?!" They all looked at Nick—and shook their heads.
"Ya know what I think—."
"Why don't I just tell you."
Warrick leaned back.
"That could work too."
All three looked at them—anticipating.
Sara took a deep breath in.
"Well—do you remember that case with the dead hockey player?"
Catherine nodded, but the boys looked lost.
"Well—see—."
"What case?"
Sara bit her lip in frustration.
"The dead hockey player—where the doctor killed him with quinine."
"That's possible?"
Sara rolled her eyes.
"It was a medical condition. The quinine triggered a fatal response."
Grissom was getting a little irritated. Sara squeezed his arm.
"Anyways—um—when-when we were at the ice rink for the first time—we uh had some time to ourselves—and a—."
"Ah HA! I knew you weren't just watching ice melt," Catherine smirked.
Sara blinked rapidly.
"Wh-no—what?!"
"Man—how come we didn't hear about this?"
"Wh-n—because nothing happened!"
"Right—you really watched ice melt for two hours."
"We did."
"It was a bet."
Catherine eyed the two cautiously.
"A bet?"
Sara nodded.
"Who won?"
"I did—of course. But that's not the poi—."
"What'd you win?"
Sara tried to hold back a smile.
"That's not the point—."
"C'mon Sar—what'd you win?"
She glared at Nick again.
"Do you want me to finish the story or not?"
They all became quiet.
"Finally."
"Jeez—interrupt the girl's storytellin' and reap the whirlwind."
"What was that?"
"Nothing." Catherine hid her face in her water glass as she took a sip.
Sara stared at her for a moment longer.
"C'mon Sar—finish."
She sighed.
"Ok—see before we started examining the ice—we-we had a few minutes to go over the notes."
They all stayed quiet this time.
"And a—um—well we got to talkin' and um—."
"You know what they say talkin' leads to."
"Nick."
"Sorry."
"Well—a—basically—what he said—surprised me."
*Blink*
"What'd he say exactly?" Catherine spoke slowly.
Grissom was looking down at the ground, rubbing his fist inside his palm.
"Um—well—we're talking about hockey of course—."
"How romantic."
"And then it switched to baseball."
"Even better."
Sara made a face.
"And he said he's been a baseball fan his whole life."
"Hmm. The wonders never cease."
Grissom rolled his eyes at Catherine.
Sara continued on, wringing her hands nervously.
"And I said he must like it because of all the stats—but he said it was because it was a beautiful game—"
"Personally I think it's a little slow for my tastes—but whatever floats your boat Gil." Grissom frowned at Catherine.
"Cath—shhhh. I wanna hear this." The boys were listening intently. She frowned at them. They ignored her.
Sara took another breath.
"And so I was like, 'since when were you interested in beauty?'"
She paused.
"And?"
"Well um—he—he answered with—a— 'since I met you.'"
*Silence*
"Well—."
"Well—what the fuck does that mean?!"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Hmmmmmm.
Grissom rolled over on his side and looked at the clock on the nightstand. He blinked a couple of times before the numbers came into focus.
1:37 P.M.
He sighed. He had plenty of time to kill before he had to do anything.
He rubbed his eye with the heel of his hand, trying to rub the sleep away.
He yawned.
The room was quiet.
He felt the bed move. The figure next to him was stirring.
He reached over and picked up his glasses from the nightstand and put them on—the world became slightly clearer. His eyes still felt grainy.
"Sara?"
"Mmmm." She rolled over.
"Hey."
"Hey," she drawled, her eyelids half open. "How are you?" She blinked several times.
He smiled.
"I'm good," he said quietly, tracing the outline of her face with his fingers. She smiled.
"Mm that's good." She yawned. "How'd you sleep?"
"Good—considering." She smiled.
He looked at her curiously.
"What?"
"So we're married huh?"
She grinned. He shook his head.
"Yea well—just to see the looks on their faces when I said that was priceless."
He chuckled.
"That it was."
"Did you see Cath? I thought her jaw was gonna hit the floor."
"Hmm yeah." He brushed her hair away from her face.
"I just wonder how we're going to tell them we're not."
She looked up at him—she couldn't tell what he was thinking.
"What?"
"Hmm nothing—do you think they're gone?"
They both looked at the bedroom door.
"I don't know."
They looked at each other.
"We should get up."
"Yea."
They didn't move.
"We should—."
"Yea."
They both turned outwards and tossed their feet over the side of the bed. Grissom stretched.
"Do you smell that?"
"Smell what?" He put on a pair of socks.
"I don't know. It smells like—."
Just then the bedroom door opened.
Catherine stood in the doorway.
Bowl and whisk in hand.
She grinned.
"Mornin' guys—who's up for some pancakes?"
~FIN~
ahhh that was fun. Took me long enough to update…and I'm sorry. Hopefully it was worthwhile…and if not…constructive critiscm helps…Peace.