Disclaimers: Not mine.

Spoilers: Inside The Box

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A MOMENT IN LIFE – (Chapter 3)

"Hi Mr. Grissom."

Grissom gave the girl his best smile, "Hi Wendy." The young nurse had been catering to his every medical need for the past 2 weeks and that, he was sure, had not been an easy task. He wasn't exactly a 'pleasant patient' and he appreciated the girl's help. Catherine had insisted that the girl had a crush on him, which was the reason for her consistent ability to be around when he needed something. He had waved off the suggestion though he was sure there was some truth in it now that the girl was blushing purely from his smile. "Thanks for your help these past 2 weeks."

"It's my job, Mr. Grissom. I'm glad you're ok now."

Not knowing what else to say, he smiled again as he zipped up his bag of belongings. He glanced at his watch, not subtly, and then at the door. As if on cue, it opened and in stepped Catherine. "Hey." A big grin appearing on his face uncontrollably.

"Hi, you ready to go? Hey Wendy."

"Hi Ms. Willows." The girl awkwardly said her goodbyes and hurried out the door, having just had her heart broken by a man she barely knew who was more than twice her age.

"I think you just broke her heart." Catherine peeked out the door and down the hallway.

"How? I didn't say anything!"

"Well you must've done something cuz she was practically in tears."

"She came in here, I said hi, and that was it!"

"And then I came in."

"Yes." He looked at her oddly then shook his head, "You don't think she thinks..."

"Did you deny it?"

"She didn't ask."

Catherine shrugged, "Can't blame her for thinking it. I was your only visitor the entire time."

"It was never meant to be."

This made her turn to him with a look of disbelief, "What?"

"Wendy and me." He answered with a smirk, knowing full well what she thought he had meant her and not Wendy. "I'm ready to go."

He picked up his bag and breezed past her.

"So when are you gonna tell the team?" She kept up with him, looking at him curiously. She had made up some bogus excuse about him having to go out of town for a family issue these past 2 weeks. Though she was sure the team had wanted to ask, they didn't dare.

"When I'm ready to."

"And when will that be?"

"Does it matter? I'm ok now."

"Right."

He looked at her when she said nothing else, "Do you think I should tell them?"

"It's your choice." She shrugged nonchalantly.

"Don't tell me that. You obviously have an opinion, share it."

"I think you should tell them."

"Why?"

"Because we're a family." She looked at him pointedly.

"Not this again..."

"Grissom," She grabbed his arm to stop him, "you told me because you knew, deep down inside, that you needed someone there for you. At least, that's what I'd like to believe..." She paused, allowing him to contradict her. When he didn't, she continued, "Look, we're a family, whether or not you want to admit it. And families don't keep things like this from each other. I understand that you're a private person and you don't like to broadcast your life events to everyone but these people aren't just anyone. They're a team. They're *our* team."

He looked at her and without a word, began walking again. Taking his silence as a rejection of her suggestion, she sighed and continued following him out of the hospital. Not expecting an actual response from him, she was surprised when, once they got to the car, Grissom spoke up, "I'll tell them."

"You will?"

He nodded, throwing his bag into the trunk, "You were right."

"I was?"

Chuckling, he closed the trunk, "Do you have time?"

"I have to go pick up Lindsey from school in a bit but yeah, I have a little time. What do you have in mind?"

"If I wait any longer, I'm not going to want to tell anyone about this. So while I still have the courage to, I was thinking maybe you could drop by the lab with me...can you?"

She smiled, "Of course." She wasn't sure what it was but it seemed as though the surgery hadn't only allowed Grissom to hear, it also allowed him to listen. The though made her laugh and when she did, Grissom looked at her suspiciously. She flashed him another smile before turning on the ignition. She wasn't about to waste any time, just in case Grissom really did lose his courage.

*To Be Continued*