Grissom pulled the truck into a parking lot and both headed into the coffee shop. Selecting a booth in the corner, they sat down, and Grissom laid the case files on the table. A waitress came to take their orders and then left, leaving the two again in silence.

Scully picked up a file, one she had read many times and pretended to read. She didn't really know what to say to this man that wasn't case related, or something they had already discussed about the case. Her mind was still reeling with her thoughts from the car. She looked up from the paper when he cleared his throat.

"So both you and your partner are from D.C.?" he asked.

She nodded, deciding to play along with this small talk.

"How long have you been partners?"

"Sometimes I think its been too long, but it's coming up to six years," she replied.

Scully didn't really want to talk about Mulder at the moment, because she was still mad at him. Grissom nodded in response and was silent, so she figured it was her turn to ask something.

"How long have you been in Vegas?" she asked.

"Just over fifteen years."

"Have you always been a CSI?"

"I was a coroner for some time, my specialty is entomology, but I have been a CSI for most of the time. Have you always been an FBI agent?"

"No, I started out in medical school, then I decided that I wanted to pursue something different."

She thankfully was interrupted by the waitress who brought their order. Scully had no interest in discussing her past right now. Again silence settled over the table while Grissom and Scully ate, and sipped at their coffee. Now and then one of them would make a comment about the case, then continue eating, but both seemed to be lost in their own thoughts still.

Scully's mind was not focused on the case but still on Mulder's comments and what she had heard take place between Grissom and his co-worker Sara. She assumed that the two CSI's had been working together for some time for Sara to develop feelings for him. She wondered how people who had spent that much time together could still be so insensitive to each other. Then her thoughts came back to Mulder, and she mentally sighed. How many times had he done just that to her; been insensitive. She wondered what Grissom felt towards Sara, if he was afraid of what Sara felt for him. She was afraid: afraid of falling for Mulder and getting hurt, afraid of a relationship at work, afraid of risking their work for love. She was surprised when the silence was suddenly broken by Grissom.

"You said that Agent Mulder and yourself have been together for nearly six years now. You two must be fairly close," Grissom began.

Is he reading my mind? Scully thought to herself. She considered how to approach the question. What did close mean? She placed her coffee on the table and replied;

"We're good friends, but as you know we have our differences."

"It sounds as if you and Agent Mulder are working through a difference on this case," Grissom ventured.

Scully scoffed at his comment. That's a nice way of putting that we're fighting, she thought. Is it that obvious?

"Mulder is…" she stopped.

How do I put this in a way for Grissom to understand?

"He's a little eccentric about how he approaches cases, well that being our field I guess he has to be, but sometimes he doesn't listen to logic. This case is a good example. I don't think that he really read what this case is about, I think he just saw what the tabloids were saying. I didn't actually see the reports until we were taking off on the plane. I tried to talk some sense into him, but, well, he sees things his way. I guess it's always been that way. We just think differently about things sometimes."

"So you consider yourself to be logical? How did you end up working on paranormal cases with this man then?" a confused Grissom asked.

"I guess I am logical. It's just that I started out in science, and that's always been what has given me answers. The cases I've worked with Mulder have opened my eyes to things I never thought were possible. This case, the way you and your team have handled it so far, has seemed like it has a scientific, probable explanation behind it that Mulder and I didn't need to be a part of."

"Science is a touchstone, and the evidence never lies, that's a fact, but sometimes I wonder if there are other explanations for things."

Scully was surprised at Grissom's response. She had expected him to be a man of science, and didn't think that he would ever accept any of what she or Mulder worked on. She had guessed this standing in his office the first time she had met him.

"Have you ever had any other cases where you have thought there might be another explanation?" she asked, now curious.

"Maybe not another explanation, but I did work a case a few years ago where we had a psychic who helped out. He saw things that no one else could have known. It was interesting. But mostly I wonder if there are other explanations for the ways in which people treat each other. There are times when I don't understand why a human can kill another human or hurt something as innocent as a child."

"That's true. Human nature can be hard to explain. Sometimes it's the hardest thing to understand someone who we are close to…" she trailed off.

Scully stopped, realizing what she was beginning to talk about. Her eyes fell from Grissom's and back down to the table.

"I bet you have felt that way about your partner," he said.

This man is a mind reader, she thought, her eyes returning to his.

"I'm sorry for bringing that up," Grissom apologized quickly.

"No, it's alright. I already practically told you what I don't understand about Mulder, and we are close, but you've probably been in the same position with someone you've worked with as well."

Scully watched a sudden flash of emotion shoot across Grissom's face, almost as if she had caught him off guard.

"I can't say I haven't been. But to tell you the truth, your not the only one fighting with someone today."

Scully raised her eyebrow at him, silently urging him to go on.

"I don't know if you've met Sara Sidle, one of the members of my team. She was in my office today, and she was expressing her opinion on what she thought of you and your partner being here. It was actually just before you came into my office. I hope you didn't hear much of it, and if you did, I'm sorry."

Busted, Scully thought to herself. She debated whether or not to tell him what she had heard, but since he was obviously able to pick up on the problems her and Mulder were having, she decided to tell him the truth.

"Well actually, I did hear some of that conversation. I didn't mean to…"

"Again, whatever you heard, if you were offended, I'm sorry on behalf of Sara and myself."

"Mr. Grissom, it's alright. I wasn't offended by anything I heard. In fact, we get the same reactions out of a lot of people."

"I can't say I wasn't doubtful of your involvement when I first met you, but one has to keep an open mind. It will take some time to convince Sara though."

"I'm sure if you're close, then you both will be able to work this out."

Scully saw the look on Grissom's face in response to what she had said. She had dropped the sentence casually to see how he would react. He had obviously figured out what was going on between her and Mulder, or at least come close to, so why shouldn't she be able to figure out and drop hints about what was going on between him and his team member?

Well, I hope you are enjoying this. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. Special thanks to Rach who keeps coming back! Sorry I can't help you out with the game, I don't own it. And to Addicted1, sorry I didn't respond sooner, but of course you can use this technique to write your story. I don't mind.

Hopefully there will be more coming soon. I have a bit of a break between exams, so maybe then if my muse hits. I am still trying to work out a few details for the plot though. Anyways, thanks again! Byes, L.