"It's amazing how you can't see it at all," Sara remarked, looking toward Grissom's ear.

The two were sitting in his office, waiting a few minutes before they would walk out into the break room. "There is a reason why they call it a CIC device," Grissom stated.

When Sara looked puzzled, Grissom clarified, "Completely in the canal."

"Do you feel more adjusted now?" Sara asked, knowing that he had had some problems over the weekend.

"I'm getting more used to it."

"Good," Sara replied, smiling, "are you ready to go get assignments?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Catherine gets to exercise her power for two weeks."

Sara repressed a chuckle and waited for him to come around the desk. They exited his office and headed to the break room together.

By the end of the week, Greg was more than perturbed with his daily assignment. While Catherine had been in charge of assignments, Greg had been contained to the lab. He had hoped with Grissom being back that he would be able to go back into the field, but nothing had changed. Catherine seemed intent on keeping him in the lab.

Greg trudged down the hallway toward the break room where everyone was waiting for Catherine to appear. After a few moments, she made her presence known. "We've got a busy Friday night," Catherine spoke, "Sara, you have a bank robbery, Nick, you and Warrick have a double homicide, and I'm taking a 419. Greg, be ready for anything that comes back to the lab."

While everyone else headed out of the break room, Greg and Grissom lagged behind. Grissom was drinking a cup of coffee, and Greg started absently at the wall. "Were you in the lab all last week too?" Grissom questioned.

Greg pulled his attention away from the wall and looked at Grissom. "Yeah."

"That's not good. You need to keep going out into the field to gain more experience. I want you to do your proficiency soon."

Greg was shocked. "Really?"

"Did you think I was going to keep you in the lab forever?"

"Sometimes it seems like it."

Grissom pulled his cell phone off of his belt and speed dialed Sara. "Sidle," she answered.

"Did you leave yet?" Grissom asked.

"No, I'm crossing the parking lot right now. Is there a problem?"

"Greg's going to join you at your scene; he's on his way out now. I want you to supervise and let him do as much processing as possible."

"Okay."

"Alright, talk to you later, bye."

"Bye."

Grissom closed his cell phone and looked toward where Greg was still sitting. "Sara's waiting for you in the parking lot. I'll take care of things here, you go ahead," Grissom instructed.

"Thanks Grissom," Greg expressed his gratitude.

After finishing his coffee, Grissom left the break room to get things sorted out in the DNA lab.

When Catherine returned from her scene, she walked into the DNA lab with some hair evidence. She had expected to find Greg, but another lab tech sat in front of her. "Where's Greg?" she asked.

"I'm not sure Ms. Willows," the tech answered, "Mr. Grissom put me back to work tonight."

Catherine dropped the evidence in front of the lab tech. "I need these processed stat."

"Sure," the lab tech replied, signing for chain of custody.

Catherine paraded out of the DNA lab and stormed to Grissom's office.

Grissom had been working on paperwork when his door flew open. "What did you do?" Catherine growled.

Grissom set down his glasses and looked up at Catherine. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Where's Greg?"

"With Sara, processing the robbery."

"He was supposed to be in the lab."

"He needs the experience in the field. Two new lab techs have already been brought in to cover the work in the lab."

"I told him to work in the lab, and you undermined my authority."

So that is what this is about. "Catherine, in a week you'll be back to your normal job."

"You don't think I'm capable of running this lab?"

"I didn't say that. However, it doesn't make any sense for you to start changing things that I have worked for a long time on."

"We don't need Greg in the field."

"Oh, really. You do like your days off, right?"

"Where are you going with this?" Catherine asked, her anger being replaced with confusion.

"When Sara decides to go on maternity leave, we're going to need some more help around here."

"That's where Greg comes in."

"Yes. He wants to work in the field, and he's been tagging along with us for a while. He deserves a chance to prove himself in the field."

"When?"

"He'll do his proficiency in two weeks. I am confident that he won't have any problem passing."

Catherine dropped into the chair across from his desk and sighed. "You're right," she admitted.

"Glad to know that I still can be once in a while," Grissom joked.

Catherine smiled and rested her head against her hand. "When was the last time you had a night off?" Grissom asked.

"Honestly, I don't know. I've been covering here for you, and the caseload has been insane."

"And you want my job," Grissom teased.

"I never said that. I said I could do your job, not that I wanted it."

"Uh huh. How's Lindsey?"

Catherine smirked. "Well, we haven't had any repeats of the drinking disaster. She's a lot to keep up with though."

"Now you know how your mother felt."

"Right," Catherine drew out, resisting the childish urge to roll her eyes.

"Go home, have a nice weekend, and come in on Monday. I can handle things around here for the rest of the night."

Catherine contemplated the suggestion but was reluctant to leave. "Gil, if the director found out…"

"Don't worry about it. You're exhausted, go home."

Not willing to turn down his offer a second time, Catherine stood up to leave. "Thanks Gil," Catherine spoke.

"Enjoy your weekend."

After Catherine left his office, Grissom got back to work on his paperwork.

Although Grissom didn't want to do anything special for his birthday, Sara had insisted that they both at least take the same night off. She had made reservations at a modest restaurant, and she was looking forward to spending a night out with him. After setting slacks and a dress shirt out for Grissom, she removed a dress from the closet that she had purchased when shopping with Catherine. The burgundy floor-length dress came to a v in the front, and sequins adorned the straps and the neckline. Satisfied that the dress looked as nice as she had remembered it, Sara returned the dress to the closet. Sara checked to make sure that Grissom was still sleeping, and then headed to the bathroom to begin preparing to go out.
Following her shower, Sara returned to the bedroom wearing her soft bathrobe. She walked over to the bed and kissed Grissom softly on the lips. "Happy birthday, honey," she spoke, after he opened his eyes.

Grissom pulled himself up in bed and quickly switched to sign. 'Thanks,' he signed and paused, 'you smell really good.'

Sara smiled. 'That's good. I've got a special surprise for your birthday.'

'Oh?' Grissom raised an eyebrow.

'Don't worry, it's nothing big, just dinner. We have reservations for seven thirty.'

'Where?'

'You'll see. I picked out clothes for you so you wouldn't have to. Go shower, I'll finish getting ready in here.'

Grissom pulled Sara in for another quick kiss before getting out of bed, picking up his clothes, and heading toward the bathroom.

When Grissom exited the bathroom, he was fully dressed, and by appearance, ready to leave. Sara was standing in front of the mirror, putting the last touches on her makeup. "You look beautiful," Grissom spoke, walking behind her and wrapping his arms around her, resting his hands on her still growing stomach, "this is a great color on you."

"Thanks," Sara replied, setting down her compact, "are you ready to go?"

Grissom watched her in the mirror. "Not quite, just give me a minute."

Grissom kissed her bare neck before letting her go so he could walk over to his side table. After closing the small battery door on his hearing aid, he carefully picked it up and guided it into his ear. He picked up the remote and pressed a few buttons before slipping it into his pocket. "Okay honey, I'm ready whenever you are," Grissom announced.

Sara crossed the room and walked with him out of the house. They made it out to the car before Grissom spoke. "Are you going to tell me where we are going so I can drive?" Grissom questioned.

"Nope, I'm driving. If the birthday boy is good, he can drive home," Sara responded.

Grissom followed Sara around to the driver's side so he could open the door for her. He then walked around to the passenger's side and got into the car before Sara started the drive to the restaurant.

When their food arrived at the table, Grissom and Sara chatted over dinner. "This was a pleasant surprise," Grissom stated.

"I wanted to do something special for your birthday," Sara replied.

"Any occasion that you dress up like this is special," Grissom spoke, smiling.

Sara smiled back, and the two continued to enjoy their meal.

After arriving back home, Sara removed her shoes and sat on the couch. Grissom took off his jacket and sat beside her. On the table in front of them sat a rectangular wrapped package. "Sara, I told you you didn't need to get anything," Grissom recalled.

"When I saw it, I had to get it," Sara stated.

Grissom lifted the package off of the table and set it in his lap. "Hmm, the package seems relatively dense. I wonder what it could be," Grissom teased.

"You're a scientist, figure it out," Sara countered.

Grissom carefully peeled back the tape and pulled the paper off of the book. "I deduce that it's a book of entomology," Grissom smiled.

"You cheated," Sara stated, poking his side.

"It's the new full-color textbook," Grissom said in wonderment, flipping through the pages.

Grissom set the book and paper back on the table and pulled Sara in for a kiss. "Thank you very much, honey," he spoke, giving her a hug, "this has been a wonderful birthday."

"Good, my plans were a success."

Grissom pulled away and brought her feet into his lap. "You were walking around in those heels all night, your feet must be killing you," he stated, starting to massage her feet.

"I wasn't walking around that much."

"But your ankles are swollen anyway. Relax, let me take care of this."

Sara leaned against the side of the couch and sighed as Grissom continued his ministrations on her feet and ankles. After a few minutes, Sara returned her feet to the floor and slid closer to Grissom. "Thank you," Sara whispered, trailing kisses across his cheek to his lips.

"Anytime," Grissom replied before deepening the kiss.

"I've got one more present for you."

"What?"

"I think it's in the bedroom."

Grissom smiled and got up off of the couch, helping Sara up after him. "I think we'll have to go investigate then," Grissom suggested, wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her to the bedroom.

Sara sat on the edge of the bed, and Grissom leaned down to her level. "Hmm, what could my present be," Grissom teased, lightly kissing her lips.

"I'd like to think that I'm a pretty good present," Sara stated, reaching for the buttons on his shirt.

Following her lead, Grissom reached behind her and lowered the zipper on her dress. "You're perfect," he assured, returning his attention to her lips.

Wasting no time with their actions, they thoroughly indulged in each other. Afterward, Sara lay in Grissom's arms, her back pressed against his chest. Grissom's hands set on Sara's stomach, and he felt the baby kick from within. "You're the perfect present, honey," Grissom whispered, kissing the back of her neck.

Sara chuckled and rested her hands on top of his. "Happy birthday."