Chapter 13

Catherine sat in her car in the parking lot and watched Sophia amble into the building. By Grissom's calculations, she should be five months pregnant but Sophia looked to be further along than that.

Catherine had heard the rumours about Sophia and Ecklie. She had not paid much attention to them. There had been rumours about her and Grissom for nearly a decade and none of that had been true.

Catherine's mind began to whirl as she turned the key in the ignition.

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It took a week to gather enough intelligence. She sat across from Warrick and ticked off the points of her case.

"One, Sophia and Ecklie were definitely sleeping together as late as July. One of the clerks caught them in his office. He bought her silence with a promotion."

Warrick took a fry from Catherine's plate.

"Isn't he engaged?"

"Yep."

She took a fork and cut off a piece of her companion's chicken. "Second, she started dating Grissom at some point in February but she turned up the heat with Grissom in July. Wanting to spend more time with him, dropping by his house wearing tiny little skirts, you know."

Warrick reached for another fry. "Yeah, kind of like what you did to me."

"My car broke down."

"Right on my side of town in front of my house? Come on Cath, the distributor cap excuse was weak especially for a CSI."

She continued. "So what I'm thinking is that this baby is not Gil's but Ecklie's."

Warrick was sceptical. "So if she finds herself knocked up by a guy who is attached why does she have to trap Grissom? She is a grown woman with a career. She can raise the baby as a single parent or make a trip to the clinic."

Catherine hands were in a flurry. "Oh yeah, I forgot her doctor apparently told her that it was a miracle that she got pregnant and it might not ever happen again. Besides no matter what people say no one wants to be a single parent. I mean Eddie was a jerk but he was a good father. Grissom is a good catch. Maybe she thinks he'll marry her one day."

Warrick looked at Catherine. "How do you know all of this?"

"I have lived and worked in Vegas since I was 19. I have had only had two jobs. Discretion and observation were both requirements plus my father owns half the town!"

Warrick glanced at the check. "Does he know about us yet?"

Catherine shrugged. "Probably"

"Great. I'll sweep my house for bugs."

Grissom arrived at Catherine's at noon. She'd said noonish but he was lonely. His house had become tomblike since Sara had left. His anticipating fatherhood should have brought him more, especially at this stage of his life. He tried very hard to live for the one child that he still had left.

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He was surprised to see Warrick sitting on the couch trying to learn the intricacies of making a friendship bracelet. Lindsey was not pleased with his progress.

After greeting the duo and bowing out of bracelet making duty he went to find Catherine in the kitchen.

He was pleased to see that she had just finished frosting the chocolate cake.

"Can I lick the spoon?"

She assessed his physique. "You need to. How much weight have you lost anyway?"

"I don't know, 15 pounds."

"Okay well ease up. Enough is enough"

"What if I want to be svelte like Warrick and Nicky?"

'"You were not designed to be svelte. You are a big man so embrace it."

She handed him the frosting spoon.

"I am glad that you got here a little early."

Grissom raised one eyebrow as he took a bite of frosting.

"Why?"

"I need to talk to you about Sofia and her baby."

"Okay…" He didn't know where this was going.

"Have you considered the possibility that this baby might not be yours?"

A frown creased his face. "Catherine I have not been that discerning with my affections. I have um…well you know…I'm not like some guys but I haven't been a priest either. It had to catch up with me sooner or later. I was due."

Catherine's strawberry blond hair danced a bit as she shook her head.

"That's not what I am saying. I think there is a good chance, a very good chance that this baby might be Conrad Ecklie's."

Grissom's mouth was still open when Warrick dashed in with his cell phone. He'd left it in his coat pocket.
"Griss its Sara. She's at the hospital."

Grissom snatched the phone from Warrick.

"Sara!" Her sobs echoed through the phone and through the room as Warrick and Catherine looked on.

"Sara where are you?"

"I'm at the General. They want to take my baby. They say she can't survive but I know she can. Gil, please come. "

"I'm on my way."