Thanks for all the great reviews guys and sorry it has taken me so long to update! Well, this is the second to last chapter, so enjoy as always!
*a.l.
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Greg sauntered down the lab trail feeling like the big man on campus. He had just cracked Eckley's case and was feeling pretty proud of himself. He walked along shooting smiles to all of the interns who looked up from what they were doing. "Looking good ladies." He called to a group collected by the water cooler. They looked over at him and giggled.
The layout room's door was open and as Greg passed he caught sight of Warrick leaning over the table inside. Greg paused for a moment in the hallway and peered in. Warrick had a bunch of pictures out in front of him and seemed to be going over each one with great intensity.
"Greg?" Catherine asked coming up behind him. "Are you going to go in?"
"Uh, no." Greg answered, wondering what she was getting at.
"Then do you want to stop window shopping and move out of the way?" she said gently pushing him to the side and breezing into the room.
Greg realized that he wasn't loved right here and now, and began to turn away, when he stopped and turned back to the doorway. He peeked around the doorframe and peered into the room.
"Tough night?" Catherine asked Warrick as she walked over and stood next to him.
"I just can't figure out what I'm missing here." Warrick replied stepping back and rubbing his forehead. "I've been over all of these pictures a dozen times and I can't find a way to convict the husband."
"Maybe you should take a break." Catherine suggested as she grabbed one of the pictures and looked it over herself.
"This is my break. I was working a case with Sara and came here to try and clear my mind from that." Warrick sighed, "We're spread too thin. I think we need to get someone else on board."
"Another CSI?" Catherine asked, looking up from her picture.
Warrick now massaged his forehead, like that was going to make it any better. "Another CSI." He replied.
Greg almost fell over hearing this, and silently began chanting "Greg, Greg, Greg," under his breath, while he tried to use the force and send the same thought to both Catherine and Warrick.
"What, you mean like Greg?" Catherine asked. Greg had to support himself on the doorframe to keep him from loosing his balance. One of the other lab techs walked by and game him a strange look. Greg waved a smiled.
"They're talking about me." Greg whispered indicating to Warrick and Catherine in the layout room.
The tech nodded and rolled her eyes.
"Well, we need someone. I'm just so stressed out, and my neck is killing me." Warrick complained, trying to now get the kink out of his neck.
"Want me to help?" Catherine offered. Greg peered back around the frame to see Catherine making her way over to Warrick who had sat himself down in one of the chairs. At this he looked up at Catherine coming at him, and a confused expression crossed his face.
"Help with what?" Warrick asked
"You're neck. I can massage it."
Warrick stared at Catherine for three whole seconds. "Um, No. It's fine. I'm just complaining. I've got to get back to work." Warrick tried to stand up now, but Catherine stood in his way.
"Come on Warrick. Even I can see that you're in pain." Catherine said rolling his eyes as she walked behind the chair.
"No, Catherine, really, I'm fine…" Warrick began and tried to stand up once again, but Catherine grabbed his shoulders and forced him down.
Greg watched the expression on Warrick's face tense as Catherine began to massage his shoulders and neck. Every few seconds Warrick cringed, gripping the chair for support. He looked like he was in sever-pain with Catherine's massaging.
Greg made a mental note: Do not let Catherine give you a massage.
Like she ever would though, Greg thought afterwards.
It was an odd scene in front of him: Catherine giving Warrick the massage of death and Greg standing there in the door way as a spectator. Catherine certainly seemed to be enjoying herself, but Warrick on the other hand looked as if he had just been forced to watch reruns of "My Little Pony" for the rest of his life.
"Catherine," Warrick said and spun around to face her. "I'm feeling better, thank you." he put on a totally fake smile, and stood up.
"I hope I helped." Catherine cooed.
"Oh trust me, you did more than help." Warrick mumbled.
The two of them stood there for a moment in the lay out room staring at each other. Warrick really wanted Catherine to leave so he could get back to his work, but she didn't seem to want to make her exit quite yet.
"Need any help on the case?" she finally said.
"Nope." Warrick replied, turning back to the pictures on the table.
"Want me to get you some coffee?" she asked.
"I'm fine, thanks."
"How about after shift you and I got out for breakfast?"
Warrick spun around at this, and gave her a quizzical look. "Sure, I'll ask Nick too."
"No Warrick, just you and I."
"Just you and I?"
"Just you and I." Catherine replied, taking a step closer.
"Whoa. What is up with you Cath? Did Greg slip something into the coffee?"
"What do you mean what is up with me?" Catherine retorted, narrowing her eyes.
"Are you trying to come on to me?" Warrick said bluntly.
"What?" Catherine cried in outrage, "Where did you get that idea?"
Warrick just stared at her.
"Okay, so maybe I am." Catherine grumbled. "Girls do that all the time, and besides, it's just harmless flirting."
"Oh, that massage was not harmless." Warrick said below his breath. "Look, Catherine, I love you dearly, you know that, but, eh…" Warrick was as a total loss for words.
"But what?" Catherine asked.
"I…I need some coffee now." He turned on his heels and darted out of the room.
Greg took a few steps back to let Warrick come speeding by him, and run down towards the break room. He didn't even notice Greg standing there taking the whole scene in.
Catherine emerged from the lay out room mere seconds later, and looked at Greg standing there just off to the side of the door.
"What are you looking at?" she barked at him, and turned and waked in the other direction. Greg watched her stamp down the hall on her rampage of destruction. Fearing for his life if he followed in that direction, Greg turned and walked the other way.