(disclaimers et all in chapter one)
Chapter Three
Nick and Warrick strolled past Gil's office, peeking in through the open blinds. "Hmm, check out all those boxes...where do you think he's going?"
"Maybe..." Warrick paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Well, remember the gossip Gremlin?" Warrick grinned.
"Who, Greg?"
"Yeah," he chuckled, "he said that rumour had it that Gil was called into Cavallo's office. Ecklie was there too."
"Maybe he got a promotion...or a better office." Nick pondered, as they continued walking towards the break room. "Or maybe he was forced to duke it out with Ecklie - mano à mano."
"Well Greg said that he heard one of the lab techs mentioning how content Grissom seemed, when he exited the office..."
"Maybe he won." Nick shrugged, giving his partner a nudge, as they both spotted Gil leaning against the door-frame. "Hey Grissom - congratulations!"
Gil offered a small smile to both CSIs and glanced behind them, spotting Catherine hurrying along towards him. "Okay, let's begin..." He commenced, watching Sara join them from the round table that reposed in the break room. "Warrick and Nick, you guys have a break-in turned homicide, right near the strip." Gil handed the two men a folder. "David's already at the scene, so you guys can join him in a second." He held up his hand, ordering the two to remain until he was finished. "Catherine, Sara - you guys have a DB waiting for you, over at the Holiday Inn Express, over by the falls.
"Ooh, nice view." Sara grinned, taking the folder from Gil.
"Lastly," Gil took a deep breath, despite a rather casual undertone presenting itself. "I'm on a week's leave..." He began, giving his team a sheepish smile, "forced, of course."
"What?" Catherine took a step forward, searching his eyes. "Gil...what are you hiding?"
He sighed, dropping his gaze to the floor. They hadn't spoken since he stormed out of Robert's office, and had been battling his emotions all night, trying desperately to find a way to approach the subject with her.
"There's something more, isn't there?" She placed her hands on his shoulders, trying to instill a sense of comfort so the walls could easily crumble and some sort of trust could be established.
The other three CSIs shared a look, confusion evident in their expressions.
"What are you not telling me, Gil?" Catherine almost pleaded with him, leaning in closer, no longer bothered by any public displays.
"Perhaps that this is the last assignment CSI Grissom will be handing out to you guys."
They all turned, eyes fixated on Conrad's grin, the evil glint in his eye sparkling with mischief.
"Say hello to your new supervisor, for the time being." His acidic smile was in no way deemed shy as he waved a few folders in hand. "I have your cases -"
"- we already got our cases." Nick interjected, holding up his own folder.
"Yeah." Sara agreed, arms folded across her chest.
"Just give us the word, Grissom, and we're heading out to do our work." Warrick supported Gil, not only as a supervisor, but a trusted friend.
"Gil...?" Catherine finally spoke, searching for truth in Conrad's statement.
"Finish your cases and report back to Supervisor Ecklie." Gil said, trying to keep his dignity. He looked past Catherine, not able to bring himself to meet her gaze.
Conrad clapped his hands together. "C'mon, move it...you guys are killing moonlight here." He let out a small chuckle, watching Sara, Nick and Warrick slowly walk away from the break room, every once in awhile turning around as if awaiting this event to be in jest. When they finally exited the building, he turned towards the strawberry-blonde, who still hadn't taken her eyes off her best-friend. "Catherine..."
Her voice was frail, emotions slowly overwhelming her, adding to the confusion of this situation. "Yeah yeah...I'm going..."
"Actually," he paused, his eyes skipping towards Gil who was still leaning against the door-frame, eyes closed but still offering light to his emotional state, "Cavallo wants to meet with you right now."
"I have a case," She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, "Sara's waiting for me in the parking lot.
"Yeah, and she can wait a little longer - I'm sure the DB will keep." He replied sarcastically, already making his way to Robert's office.
Catherine dropped her head to her chest, forcing her feet in the Robert's direction.
Gil finally opened his eyes, sensing her body retreating from his form. He watched her, unmoved from his position, as she stepped in, never looking back.
He sighed, his eyes finding snippets of his encounter with the director materializing on the floor, hallucinations that now seemed to offer doubt to his decision.
"Gil, this lab does require your service as supervisor..." Robert began, panic hitting him like a runaway freight train.
"Why?" Gil whipped around, facing the director. "Why do you need me if Ecklie and yourself were the ones who single-handedly raised this lab from the ashes like a phoenix, ranking it number two in North America. So why need me? I'm sure your lab puppy here can handle the work-load - hell maybe he'll probably do a better job than me." Gil chuckled. "Give him a year and I'm sure Conrad here can push us to number one. It's a one man lab, isn't it, Conrad?"
Robert sighed, shaking his head. "This is ludicrous, you're giving up your life's work here, Gil. For what - for a girl?"
"Do not make me validate my reasons for my decision because you'll be on the losing end." Gil clenched his jaw, trying to control the anger that was boiling within.
Conrad stepped forward. "If you vacate the position, I can guarantee that I'll have it filled by the end of shift."
Gil raised his eyebrow at the other man's smug demeanor. "I have no qualms working under any of my CSIs, they are all qualified for this job - some more than others." He stated calmly, no longer irked by their petty threats.
"One more than the others, in fact, I'll ask her tonight." Conrad grinned, walking past Gil.
Gil kept his eyes on the floor, understanding the Day Shift supervisor's tactics. "She'll say no."
Conrad laughed, not bothering to face the blue-eyed man. "And what makes you so sure...?" He left no time for an answer and strolled down the halls.
"Gil - reconsider your decision." Robert's tone had calmed, causing Gil to suspect that most of his positional power was fuelled by fear of his worth in the lab's eye.
His gaze snapped to the director and he stared him down until Robert finally looked away, clearing his throat uncomfortably. "It's been made." Gil sighed, and walked out of the office, proud of his decision for finally following his heart for once.
He shook his head, dislodging himself from reverie's grasp just in time to see Catherine step out from Robert's office. She looked at him and smiled sadly, heading towards the parking lot from the back entrance. He continued staring at the exact same spot she had just occupied as doubt began to further build in the pit of his stomach. He jumped slightly, feeling Conrad's presence looming by.
Conrad leaned in, his mouth close to Gil's ear. "Too bad." It held no emotion, and as he withdrew, a self-satisfied grin formed, silently mocking Gil.
Gil watched him leave, his eyes burning with emotion. "I lost..."
–TBC–