Catalyst

Chapter 3: Jazz compilations

by: Bonne Lass


Disclaimer: Nope, sorry I don't own 'em. :snaps fingers: If I did Greg could wear his shirts again.


Jessica walked into her house, throwing her keys haphazardly on a table. She hummed the last song she had heard on the radio as she entered her security code for her system. Geisha jumped up on the kitchen counter and began chastising Jess. "I'm sorry, your highness." Jess grumbled and began making her way around her kitchen. She opened a can of food for Geisha and set it down on the floor. The cat landed nimbly on the floor and nudged her hand. Jess kneeled down and scratched at her ears. Geisha began ignoring Jess in favor of the chicken flavored food. She rose and turned on the answering machine. One was her doctor's office and the other was from Uncle Gil. His voice made her stop. Gil was upset.

'Jess, Nick gave me an update on the case. Keep up the good work. Would you know anything about Sara's change in mood today? If so, tell me. Remember what happened last time you took a personal interest in my life?' Of course she remembered what had happened. She had told Teri Miller to stay away from Uncle Gil, in no uncertain terms. He sighed, 'Well, I do owe you, so how about dinner next time I have a free night.' Jess rolled her eyes and wondered what century that would be in. 'I've spoken to Ecklie and you are officially on retainer. I've also spoken with your boss at UNLV and he's okay with you working with us.' Uncle Gil thought of everything, as always. Jess deleted the messages and played the next one.

'Jess, its Horatio. I wanted to update you on Speed's case. Life in prison.' Jess closed her eyes, allowing a small smile play on her face. Justice worked for Speed and them. Several tears made their way down her cheeks. Thoughts of the small girl's family made the smile fall. She wondered if they would ever feel this way. Jess sincerely hoped she could help bring them closure. With that thought she headed off to bed.


Jessica stood in her garage; the yellow light overhead was casting an eerie glow. Biting her lip, she faced the covered lump that Nick had seen earlier. Tears welled in her eyes as she faced some inner demon. Her hands lovingly moved over the tarp, gripping the edge and pulling. The yellow bike glowed in the dim light. As a scientist, Jessica couldn't believe in ghosts, but as a person, she couldn't help but feel a little bit of Tim Speedle existed in this bike. So that was why she was standing in the middle of the garage staring at it. She looked down at the keys in her hand. The metal slowly warming up in her tightly clasped hand. Jessica slipped on her leather coat and began to push the bike into the Nevada night. With one hand, she entered the security code to shut the door and set the alarm. "Thank the gods for ADT." She muttered, turning the bike's ignition. The Yamaha roared to life after the months of sitting in storage in one place or another. After Speed's death, she hadn't touched it. But tonight like every other night it didn't fail. She kicked the kick stand up, revving the engine. She left her driveway and headed for the strip.


Nick was surprised to see a motorcycle to pull up at his apartment; but some how he wasn't surprised to see Jessica sitting on its back. He smiled widely at her, once she lifted the visor on her helmet. "When I asked you to pick me up, I hadn't expected to see this."

"A wise man once said to always expect the unexpected." She fired back, a small smile on her full lips. He looked down at her small feet.

"Driving in heels even, I am impressed, Jessie." He noticed she blushed slightly every time he called her that. He made a mental note of it as he walked toward her and their ride for the night.

"You'll be even more impressed when you see me drive, buddy," She taunted looking around the parking lot. "So, which one is yours?"

"You'll need to look for the Corvette, won't you?"

"Really? Well, next time we go out you need to drive, Nick." She patted the seat behind her. "Hop on, bud and let's go." Nick shook his head. "What?"

"Nothing, Jessie." He took off the extra helmet that was strapped to the seat and pulled it on over his head.

"Wait, where are we going, Nick?" She asked, obviously realizing that she didn't know where she was going.

"I'm just going to have to give you directions then, aren't I?" Nick chuckled at the look she gave him. She looked away when he tightened his arms around her waist. Nick fought the urge to pull her back to see how she fit against him. Reminding himself of the fact that she was Grissom's niece, he loosened his grip. Jessica pulled away from his apartment and once again headed for the strip.


After several wrong turns and many glares from Jessica, Nick finally got them where they needed to be. A brand new club called Monarch. Jess refused to valet Tim's bike and pulled into a parking spot across the street. It was in plain view of the club. They strapped their helmets to the seats. Nick smiled at her easily. "That wasn't so hard now was it?"

"You weren't the one having a panic attack." She glared at him. "I so enjoyed the arm flailing, frat boy." Her arms waved wildly in the air, in a mock recreation of Nick giving her directions. She blushed brightly when she noticed the looks of the fellow patrons. Nick pulled the valet attendant away from his stand and slipped him a twenty.

"You see that bike over there?" Nick pointed to their ride. The kid nodded. "Watch it until we come back. Make sure nothing happens to it."

"Sure thing, sir." The kid smiled.

"Thank you, Nick."

"It was nothing, Jess." He smiled and Jess swore to God that her heart stopped beating for a few minutes there.

"Ah, a knight in shining lab coat?" Jess smiled back and headed into the club. She talked to the bouncer and pointed at Nick, saying he would pay her cover. Nick shook his head, a broad smile on his face as he paid it. She was waiting for him just on the other side of the door, with a large smirk on her face. "I'll get the first round, Nicky." She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the bar. She ordered a pale ale and Nick ordered the same. Jess raised an eyebrow and followed him to where Warrick and Sara were already sitting. The jazz club had been Warrick's idea. The jazz music softly that surrounded the four, attested to the fact.

Jess winked at Sara as she slid into the booth. It was one of many that hugged the walls, leaving the floor free for dancing and for the stage. Jess sat next to Sara, facing toward the dance floor. She leaned her head back against the seat and took a deep breath.

"You doing okay?" Sara queried, looking at the relaxed woman.

"I got great news today." She grinned again.

"Care to share?" Warrick teased, sipping from his drink.

"Speed's killer got life in prison." She could hardly keep the excitement out of her voice.

"Who's Speed?"

"He was a Miami criminalist. I'm surprised you didn't meet him when you had that case down there." She cocked her head looking at Warrick.

"The sarcastic one? Tall, dark hair, trace expert?"

"Yea, that would be him." Jess nodded

"I'm sorry he died, Jess." Sara laid a hand on her shoulder. Warrick gave her a sympathetic smile and nodded.

"I've had a lot of time to grieve, Sara. Thank you both though." She took a pull from her beer. "So what's your weirdest case?"

"That's random." Nick pointed out.

"This is a night out, right?" Warrick asked and they all nodded. "Then we don't talk about work." Warrick all but ordered the assembled group.

"Scuba diver up a tree." Nick supplied after several minutes of silence.

"What?" Jess turned to Nick, confusion on her face.

"I had a scuba diver up a tree. It was during the fire season. The guy's business partner killed the vic in his apartment and dressed the victim in a wet suit, complete with oxygen tank. The suspect lit a fire and the tank exploded, throwing the diver into the tree branches."

"Try this on for size. A gentleman was working in his garden and he dug up a small casket. He of course opened it and found a small skeleton. The police thought it was a child. It was someone's pet dog. A large terrier, I believe."

"They buried their dog?" Sara asked disbelief in her voice.

"Yep, complete with squeaky toys. Your turn, Sara."

"I'm going to go with spontaneous human combustion. Warrick and I had a woman who had simply burned up inexplicably in her lazy boy. Turns out she dropped a cigarette on her lap, but she had too many sleeping pills in her system to realize it. We ended up having to experiment on a pig carcass." Sara and Jess wrinkled their noses at the very thought.

"Don't tell me you're a vegetarian, too, Jess."

"No, I like my steak a little too much." She smirked.

"So, Jess, what's it like to be Grissom's niece?" Warrick questioned.

"It's never boring, I'll give him that."

"Why?"

"I stayed at his house one night after my father's funeral. His pet tarantula escaped and decided to use me as a bed." She took another swig of her beer. Nick shook his head, watching the dance floor. Jess drank, watching Nick. Both missed the exchanged look between Sara and Warrick. The next couple of hours passed quickly with the four criminalists falling into an easy banter. After several drinks Nick had wrapped an arm around Jess and she had leaned against his side. Warrick and Sara exchanged another look and shared a smile.

"Warrick, would you like to dance?" Sara grinned.

"It would be my pleasure, Sara." He grinned in response and led her onto the dance floor. Jess, who wasn't quite as inebriated as Nick, watched the pair leave the booth. She bit at her lip.

"Why do you do that?" Nick asked, his breath moving over her ear. Jess whipped her head to face him.

"Do what?"

"Bite your lip."

"I don't know. I've done since I can remember." She shrugged. He nodded and dropped the conversation. Jess furrowed her brow. "Nick?"

"Would you like to dance, Jess?"

"Okay." He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. He wrapped her arms around his neck, and rested his hands on her hips. The soft jazz music wrapped its web around them. Making the couple believe they were the only ones in the room. The soft tendrils pulled the two closer together. Brown eyes locked with green hues. Their faces moved closer, her eyes fluttered closed, as their lips met. It was sweet and slow. As if both of them were getting a taste for the other. Jess disentangled herself from Nick, her breathe ragged. Her hand went to her mouth, a small blush on her cheeks. She refused to make eye contact with Nick. Nick moved closer to her again, intent on wrapping her in his arms again. She backed off and nearly ran to the booth and grabbed her stuff. She sent an apologetic glance to Warrick and Sara and left the club. Nick attempted to follow, but Warrick's hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Don't Nick. Give her some time."