Catalyst

By: Bonnie Lass

Chapter 6: Confessions of a Bug Man.

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI, or any other Bruckheimer production. Though I do have to say something… Pirates of the Caribbean 3! What the hell are you thinking Jerry!

A/N: I would like to apologize for my absence... I got a serious case of writer's block for this chapter and I was struck by a Speed/Eric slash muse. I would like to thank my little family of reviewers. Thank you thank you thank you! Again, I'm a review whore; they actually do make me write, so please review.


Gil stalked towards his office, completely ignoring everyone he passed. Such an uncharacteristic attitude raised many an eyebrow; for normally, he had a greeting for everyone. Well, maybe not Ecklie.

Gil barely heard Catherine's hello. He waved her off, letting her know that he had heard her. Gil didn't want Catherine to badger him about his hearing. He walked into his office intent on loosing her. Unfortunately for Gil, Catherine was a determined friend and followed him.

"Isn't this your night off?" She asked, moving up next to him.

"Yes, it is." He replied tersely, moving past the lab.

"Then why are you here?"

"Conrad called me in." He spoke over his shoulder.

"A case?"

"No, he wants to talk about Sara." Gil rounded on Catherine. "You didn't file a report, did you?" Catherine got a glint in her eye, a look Gil hadn't seen since Eddie was murdered. She forced him into his own office and just about slammed the door.

"Do you think I would do that to Sara?" Her blue eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. Gil shook his head no. "What did Ecklie say the meeting was about?"

"He wants to discuss Sara's position in the lab."

"Do you think he's out to fire her?"

"And leave the grave shift short? Not on his life."

"He wants to transfer her?"

"To where?" He cocked his head, obviously puzzled.

"I don't know; maybe, day shift."

"Why?"

"He wants to hurt you, Gil. What better way than to break the two of you up." Catherine shrugged.

"We don't have a relationship to break up, Catherine."

"And whose fault is that?"

"Why are you interested in this?"

"I'm curious as to how you'd react to Sara leaving."

"What do you know, Catherine?"

"Ecklie wants to transfer Sara to swing and Nick back to grave."

"What did you do?" Gil raised an eyebrow.

"Gil, don't get upset, but I asked Ecklie to give me Sara."

"You did what?" He threw his bag onto his desk, causing Catherine to jump. "Why?"

"She and Warrick make a great team and Nick isn't happy." Catherine flicked her eyes to the left, and Gil decided to ignore it. She wasn't a suspect; she was his friend. Plus Gil knew Catherine wouldn't give up anything she didn't want to.

"What if I refuse?"

"Do you want Sara's career to suffer, Gil? If Ecklie doesn't get his way…" She trailed off, leaving Gil to fill in the blanks.

"Ecklie's problem is with me, not with my team."

"Anyway he could hurt you, he would; and you know it." Gil sat heavily in his chair. "Gil?"

"I'm tired of this, Cath." He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "This job used to be my soul reason for waking up. Then the team became my family, something I hadn't had in a long time. But now with you, Warrick, and Nick gone…" He trailed off and looked up at her. "Everything is so bleak."

"This is exactly what Ecklie wants, Gil. He wants you to give up." She speculated as she sat across from him. "But if Sara leaves, it's even worse than losing the three of us, right?"

"What are you getting at?"

"Love, Gil." Catherine winked at him. "You'd better hurry, or you're going to regret it for the rest of your life." She smiled at him and left his office; leaving him alone with his thoughts and his tarantula.

"What is it with everyone and interfering with my love life?" He questioned the large arachnid.


"Is this what you wanted, Gil?" Sara stormed into his office, throwing all pretensions of a normal boss-employee relationship out the window. Sara was hurt and upset, understandably so.

"What Sara?" Gil looked up from a file, his blue eyes worried.

"Ecklie told me not to worry about clocking in tonight. He said I should go home and rest up for my new position on the swing shift!"

"He did what?"

"And Nick's in the break room, waiting for assignments!" She ignored his questions and continued on like a bull in a china shop. "Are you happy now, Gil?"

"Why should I be?" It couldn't be happening this soon! He was really loosing her. Gil Grissom's world began crashing down around him as he stood. He thought of the picture he had thrown this morning. Was it too late for them?

"Because the dependable one is back and you're loosing the emotional time bomb. Is this your way of forcing me to resign? To get away from you?"

"No, Sara. It's not like that at all." He sighed. I had no say in the matter." He pleaded for her to understand. He loved her too much for her to think that. He really did love her. He hadn't been lying. "Sara, I…" God damn it, he loved the spit-fire that was standing in his office. But why in the name of Dante's hell couldn't he say it? Sara slammed her hands onto his desk, leaning towards him.

"That's not good enough, Gil." She was goading him! "Tell me why you want me to stay." Jess' mouth had been running again.

"You're a great CSI, a wonderful person," He paused, "and my friend."

"Just your friend?" Sara looked resigned as she shook her head. "Damn it, I can't stay for that and you know it. I'm not going to settle for being just your friend." She threw a glance over her shoulder as she began to leave.

"Stay because I love you." Gil closed his eyes tight and for the first time in a long time, he prayed.

"You're not just saying that are you?" He opened his eyes to see a teary eyed Sara Sidle leaning against his door. She smiled, her brown eyes dancing. Never had she looked more beautiful.

"No, Sara, I'm not. I love you. I'm not too late, am I?" He asked; catching her as she practically flung herself into his arms.

"Never," She whispered into his chest. He smiled widely, blinking back his own tears. Gil wrapped his arms around her and planted a kiss on the top of her head. He wondered how the brunette had wormed her way through his strongly constructed walls. He had built those around his heart for its own protection, but they proved too strong and had nearly broken his heart instead of saving it.

Greg watched through the open blinds, a sad smile on his face. Sara was like a big sister to him. She had taken him under her wing when he had needed it. Greg tried returned her kindness equally, by often acting her sounding board when she needed to vent. But now she finally had Grissom to take care of her. His smile turned grim. Boss or not, if Grissom hurt Sara; he would have to answer to him. Greg shook his head, a soft smile once again on his face as he turned and walked down the hall. Somehow, he doubted Grissom would ever let that happen. And if he did there would be a long list of people coming to Sara's rescue. Greg's smile once again fell as he noticed Ecklie coming towards him and Grissom's office. "Oh shit…" Time for some quick thinking, Sanders!

"What are you doing here, Sanders? Aren't you supposed to be working?"

"I was looking for Grissom. Since he's in today, I thought he might have the assignments." Be civil, Greggo, be nice. Greg silently worked on his mantra.

"I'm looking for him, as well. Did you try his office; he's probably playing with his bugs." Greg had to bite his tongue.

"Just came from there. Maybe he's with Doctor McAlester, she's working on that remains case." Ecklie nodded and turned around and Greg was sure to follow. He just hoped Jess would for give him for what he was about to do.

I hope you enjoyed the chappie. If not, I'm sorry to hear that. So please review either way!