Chapter 8
One Week Later
"You awake over there?"
Catherine's blue eyes shot up to meet Grissom's gaze. She had been so preoccupied with stirring sugar into her tea that she hadn't even noticed Grissom enter the break room.
"What's going on?" Catherine asked searching his hands for a file folder or even a slip of paper to indicate a case.
"Just getting a cup of coffee," Grissom replied grabbing a cup from the counter. "Need a refill?"
"Nope I'm fine," Catherine said looking down at her own cup. "Besides I have tea."
Grissom studied her for moment, as if his blue eyes were searching deep inside her for something hidden.
"What?" Catherine asked, instantly hoping she didn't sound too angry.
"You only drink tea when you've got a cold," Grissom said sitting down next to her. He reached over and gently stroked her cheek as if to see if she had a fever.
Catherine shivered at his touch. She and Grissom had barely spoken since Sara's birthday, and the sudden sensation of being this close was almost too much to handle.
"You'd better get some rest before the long drive to Reno tomorrow night," Grissom replied.
"I was thinking maybe I'd just skip it," Catherine said, sniffling for effect.
"Nice try Catherine," Grissom said standing up to leave.
"What?" Catherine asked, dismayed that her plan was suddenly not working.
But before Grissom could reply, he was interrupted by Greg skidding into the break room dressed wearing a tuxedo jacket over his normal clothes.
"Shaken, not stirred," the younger man said, doing his best James Bond imitation.
"My only suggestion is to get rid of the Hawaiian shirt," Catherine mused taking another sip of her tea.
"But you think Steph will like it?" Greg asked, looking nervous.
"Her only complaint will be about having to fight off all the other girls who'll be after you," Catherine replied with a wink.
"Big date for tomorrow night Boss?" Greg asked turning to Grissom.
Catherine's eyes met Grissom's for a brief moment before he said, "Don't you have something to process Greg?" With that, he left the break room.
As soon as Grissom had gotten far enough down the hall, Greg said, "Wow, someone didn't eat their fire ants this morning."
Catherine sighed and leaned against the wall.
"Woah, did I just mess something up?" Greg asked, suddenly very concerned.
Catherine shook her head, "Of course not. Now why don't you go take off that jacket before you spill something on it."
Greg smiled as he walked out of the break room, resisting the urge to say, "Yes Mommy."
Before Catherine could analyze what Grissom had just said, Nick strode in, heading straight for the coffee.
"So you ready for the big party?" he asked.
"Why not," Catherine sighed, sinking back into her chair.
"Who's the lucky guy?" Nick asked sitting down across from her. At Catherine's confused look, he went on. "Warrick said you were going with some friend of his."
"Oh yeah, I think I met him once or twice a few years ago at a barbeque," Catherine replied with a shrug.
"Well I'd love to stick around and chat but I've got get my paperwork to Grissom before he leaves," Nick replied standing up.
"Or before he comes looking for you," Catherine said with a small smile. The only thing Grissom hated more than doing his paperwork was having to track down other people's paperwork.
"You know you'd think he'd be in a better mood at the prospect of having a date tomorrow," Nick mused as he headed out the door.
Catherine sighed, giving Nick a sad wave as he headed down the hallway. She was definitely not looking forward to this party.
"Gentlemen, we are good to go," Nick said once he reached the lobby where Brass, Warrick, and Greg were gathered.
****Will Catherine find an excuse not to go the party?? What was Nick and co. planning?? And who the heck is Grissom's date??? For this and more stayed tuned for chapter 9!!!
One Week Later
"You awake over there?"
Catherine's blue eyes shot up to meet Grissom's gaze. She had been so preoccupied with stirring sugar into her tea that she hadn't even noticed Grissom enter the break room.
"What's going on?" Catherine asked searching his hands for a file folder or even a slip of paper to indicate a case.
"Just getting a cup of coffee," Grissom replied grabbing a cup from the counter. "Need a refill?"
"Nope I'm fine," Catherine said looking down at her own cup. "Besides I have tea."
Grissom studied her for moment, as if his blue eyes were searching deep inside her for something hidden.
"What?" Catherine asked, instantly hoping she didn't sound too angry.
"You only drink tea when you've got a cold," Grissom said sitting down next to her. He reached over and gently stroked her cheek as if to see if she had a fever.
Catherine shivered at his touch. She and Grissom had barely spoken since Sara's birthday, and the sudden sensation of being this close was almost too much to handle.
"You'd better get some rest before the long drive to Reno tomorrow night," Grissom replied.
"I was thinking maybe I'd just skip it," Catherine said, sniffling for effect.
"Nice try Catherine," Grissom said standing up to leave.
"What?" Catherine asked, dismayed that her plan was suddenly not working.
But before Grissom could reply, he was interrupted by Greg skidding into the break room dressed wearing a tuxedo jacket over his normal clothes.
"Shaken, not stirred," the younger man said, doing his best James Bond imitation.
"My only suggestion is to get rid of the Hawaiian shirt," Catherine mused taking another sip of her tea.
"But you think Steph will like it?" Greg asked, looking nervous.
"Her only complaint will be about having to fight off all the other girls who'll be after you," Catherine replied with a wink.
"Big date for tomorrow night Boss?" Greg asked turning to Grissom.
Catherine's eyes met Grissom's for a brief moment before he said, "Don't you have something to process Greg?" With that, he left the break room.
As soon as Grissom had gotten far enough down the hall, Greg said, "Wow, someone didn't eat their fire ants this morning."
Catherine sighed and leaned against the wall.
"Woah, did I just mess something up?" Greg asked, suddenly very concerned.
Catherine shook her head, "Of course not. Now why don't you go take off that jacket before you spill something on it."
Greg smiled as he walked out of the break room, resisting the urge to say, "Yes Mommy."
Before Catherine could analyze what Grissom had just said, Nick strode in, heading straight for the coffee.
"So you ready for the big party?" he asked.
"Why not," Catherine sighed, sinking back into her chair.
"Who's the lucky guy?" Nick asked sitting down across from her. At Catherine's confused look, he went on. "Warrick said you were going with some friend of his."
"Oh yeah, I think I met him once or twice a few years ago at a barbeque," Catherine replied with a shrug.
"Well I'd love to stick around and chat but I've got get my paperwork to Grissom before he leaves," Nick replied standing up.
"Or before he comes looking for you," Catherine said with a small smile. The only thing Grissom hated more than doing his paperwork was having to track down other people's paperwork.
"You know you'd think he'd be in a better mood at the prospect of having a date tomorrow," Nick mused as he headed out the door.
Catherine sighed, giving Nick a sad wave as he headed down the hallway. She was definitely not looking forward to this party.
"Gentlemen, we are good to go," Nick said once he reached the lobby where Brass, Warrick, and Greg were gathered.
****Will Catherine find an excuse not to go the party?? What was Nick and co. planning?? And who the heck is Grissom's date??? For this and more stayed tuned for chapter 9!!!