Disclaimers: Not mine

Spoilers: Nope

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SACRIFICES

(Chapter 5 - A Sacrifice Fly)

Grissom and the team lined up to shake day shift's hands at the end of the game. For the first time in many years, day shift had won and needless to say, they were ecstatic. Night shift, on the other hand, were understandably upset but still they kept a smile on as they shook hands with their opponents.

"Good game, Nicky." Catherine grinned.

"Good game, Cath. You make a good coach."

Catherine happily shook hands with Sara, Warrick, and Greg, and when she got to Grissom, she shook his hand without any hesitation, "Good game."

"Good game." Grissom nodded, almost a little surprised by the indifference in Catherine's voice and actions.

Before he or anyone else could react to Catherine's coolness, day shift had already rushed Catherine and threw her up onto their shoulders.

"Man, I can't believe they won." Nick shook his head, watching as the opposing team and Catherine headed towards the parking lot.

"We played a good game, Nick. They just played a little better." Grissom offered with a sympathetic shrug, "Let's go have some lunch at the new diner. My treat."

At the sound of a free meal, the team cheered up a bit and headed to their cars, leaving Grissom alone in the middle of the field, still contemplating Catherine's handshake.

"Hey Grissom! You coming? We need someone to pay our bill!" Sara yelled when the group realized Grissom was still standing in the field.

"You guys go on ahead! I have to get my bat." He gestured at the fence where he had left his bat. The group nodded and continued their way to the parking lot. Grabbing his bat, Grissom slowly made his way there too and was surprised to find his team gone but Catherine still there. "Where's your team?" He asked, noticing the lack of people around.

"They left already."

"You need a ride?"

Catherine shook her head with a polite smile, "No, it's ok. I've got someone comi..."

Before she could finish what she was saying, someone emerged from the nearby bathroom, "Took me forever to get this cut cleaned."

"You sure you're alright?" Catherine took hold of his hand and examined it, "It's a pretty deep cut. We should get it covered up."

"I've got some bandages in my kit." The man nodded towards his Tahoe and then as if suddenly realizing Grissom was standing there, he looked at him, "Oh hey Grissom, good game before. Took us a while but we finally got you guys, huh?"

Grissom nodded, trying to ignore the pang of jealousy that had shot through him when Catherine examined the fellow CSI's hand. "Yeah, you guys played well this year."

"All thanks to our brilliant coach here." The man laughed, wrapping an arm around Catherine affectionately.

"Alex, we should really get your hand wrapped up." Catherine turned to Grissom and nodded a 'goodbye', "See you later."

"See you later." Grissom watched as Catherine walked away with Alex, his arm still around her. Trying desperately to ignore the emotions running wild within him, Grissom grabbed his keys from his pockets and hurried to his own Tahoe.

"So are you really worried about my hand or did you really want to get away from him that much?" Alex asked with a gentle smile once he and Catherine reached the SUV.

"I don't want you getting some infection and then have to lose your hand and then not be able to play next year." She gave him a look before opening up his kit and taking out some bandages.

"Gee, you're always the optimistic one, aren't you? Ow!"

"Sorry, did that hurt?" She said innocently as she finished up covering his wound with the bandage.

"You are vicious! A good coach, but vicious! And don't be so rough with that hand of mine. Without that hand, I wouldn't have hit that sacrifice fly and scored us our winning run."

"Right, my bad. You want me to kiss it all better?"

"Ooh...vicious and a tease." Alex chuckled, closing his kit and the trunk of the car, "So are you ever going to tell me why you loathe Gil Grissom so much?"

"Alex, how many times do I have to tell you?" Catherine opened the door and hopped in, waiting for him to hop into the driver's seat before continuing, "Just because I flirt with you, doesn't mean I'll tell you my life story, ok?"

"You know, one of these days you're gonna fall in love with me and you're just going to have to tell me your life story. Or at least why you act as if Grissom wasn't your best friend from before."

Instead of fighting it, Catherine simply gave Alex a look and then turned away to look out the side window. Grissom's car was already gone. She sighed as Alex pulled the SUV out of the empty parking lot.

*To be continued*