Chapter 3
"Hey guys."
Greg bounced into the break room and headed straight for the coffee pot, pouring two cups. Catherine and Nick were seated across from one another at the table. Between them, in the center of the table, was a large stack of case files that they were both going through, one at a time.
"Nice to see you finally decided to show up," Catherine muttered as she closed one file and reached for another.
"Yeah, Greggo," put in Nick, "where have you been all night? You didn't try that liquid latex again, did you? Man, once you develop a sensitivity to that stuff, stop using it. Didn't you say that's what that sweet little old lady nurse at the ER told you, last time?" Both he and Catherine grinned, their humor enhanced by the fact that they were both well acquainted with Mabel, grandmother of eight.
"Funny," Greg said sarcastically. "And wrong. Besides, they've come out with this new edible stuff; it's guaranteed not to cause a rash. Comes in five tropical flavours"
Catherine rolled her eyes at Nick. Nick, however, didn't notice as he thoughtfully digested this new info. "Really?"
Catherine rolled her eyes again, this time at the file in front of her as she resumed reading. "Down boy."
Nick flushed slightly with embarrassment as Greg chuckled, making his way over to the table with his two coffee cups. Sitting down next to Nick, Greg finally answered the initial question asked of him. "I was working, just not here. I was processing a scene. A 419. Dead body in the woods." At this both Catherine and Nick looked up at Greg, their own case that night having been a B & E. Turned out, guy came home from a business trip and when he realized he had lost his key, decided to break a window. Neighbor called it in.
Greg, finding himself with a captive audience, rose to the occasion to add the piece du resistance: "With Sara."
"Sara?"
"Sara's back?"
"Yeah, she's back," said Greg, smiling happily. "Isn't it great? I wonder why Grissom didn't mention it last night?"
Both Greg and Nick looked towards Catherine. She shrugged her shoulders. "Beats me. He never even mentioned she was going on vacation until she was already gone."
"Sara never said anything either, Nick added. "One night she's grabbing a couple of beers with me and Warrick, the next she's gone. You'd have thought she'd have told us."
Everyone paused for a moment in silent contemplation. Then Nick hesitantly suggested, "You don't think Grissom made her take the time off, do you? That she couldn't tell us about it because she didn't know about it?"
"He can't do that, can he?" questioned Greg. "He can't just make one of us take our holidays, can he?"
Catherine nodded. "Sure he can, he's the supervisor. You know Sara, she never takes time off. Sooner of later human resources would be after Grissom to enforce vacation time."
"You think that's what happened?" asked Nick.
"It would explain why Sara never said anything. It also explains why Grissom's been acting like a bear with a sore paw all night. He's probably worried about Sara being pissed at him now that she's back."
"Grissom's the one who called me to go work the scene with Sara," said Greg. "When I got there, Sara said Grissom had gone with the body."
Catherine nodded, evidently believing that this supported her theory. "He probably came back here to hide from her."
"Where is Sara?" asked Nick.
Greg answered, "She had to drop some evidence off at trace, then she was heading this way."
Just as Greg finished, Sara came breezing in the break room door. "Hey guys." Sara grabbed the coffee cup Greg held out for her. Sitting beside Greg at the head of the table, she took a deep swallow of the bitter brew. "Ah...thanks, Greg! I needed this. So...did you guys miss me?"
"You kidding?" said Nick, grinning, "Greg's been driving us all nuts. He's constantly asking 'What do you think Sara's doing right now? When do you think she's coming back? Do you think she misses me?'"
Catherine added, her voice serious but her smile wide, "All the lab rats have been moping around here for weeks. It's been damn depressing, actually. I'm glad you're back."
"So am I," said Nick.
"Me too." This came from Warrick, who snuck in the door behind Sara to give her a hug from behind. "Damn girl, we've all missed you. It's about time you came back."
Sara looked around the table at her friends and coworkers, all of whom were nodding their heads in agreement with Warrick's statement. Her heart swelled and she couldn't hold back the blush that rose in her cheeks. "Thanks, guys. It's great to be back." Sara quickly gulped down the last of her coffee and stood up. "Now, I better go find Grissom, see if we can solve ourselves a murder."
Sara was almost out the door when she stopped and turned around. "Oh, hey, guys? If you're interested, breakfast at the diner after shift. I'm buying." Without waiting to hear their responses, Sara spun around and took off down the hall towards Grissom's office.
Catherine, Nick, and Greg all looked at one another. "Well," said Catherine, "she seems to be in a good mood."
Nick shook his head. "A weird mood, more like it. Sara never offers to pay. She rarely even comes with us anymore when we go."
Greg nodded his head wisely, an effect that was ruined by his current choice in hairstyles, gelled bed head. "Something is definitely up with her."
Warrick looked at each of his coworkers in turn before fixing his gaze pointedly on Greg. "Hold up on the conspiracy theories there, Mulder. Sara just came back from a month of some well deserved R & R; she don't need you busting her chops about why she's in a good mood. She's entitled. Just be happy for her, and leave it at that."
With one last look directed at each of them, Warrick left Catherine, Nick, and Greg sitting in silence in the break room.
Catherine broke the silence.
"Warrick's right. We should just leave Sara alone." She looked at Nick, who nodded his head in agreement.
They both looked at Greg.
Looking like he was about to argue, Greg opened his mouth. Seeing the uncompromising expressions on Nick's and Catherine's faces, he promptly closed his mouth. Greg reluctantly nodded his head yes.
