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.

Grissom watched Scully read over some of the files, and he pretended to be engrossed by another he had already read at least a dozen times. In reality he had no interest in discussing the case at the moment, rather he wanted to take a break. Maybe if he pushed the case from his mind, he could come back to it with fresh eyes and new ideas.

Putting down his folder, he glanced at the agent, and cleared his throat. She looked up at him, and he decided to opt for small talk.

"So both you and your partner are from D.C.?" he asked, not sure where else to start.

She nodded.

"How long have you been partners?"

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

It was Grissom's turn to nod, not knowing whether to push the topic of her partner any further.

"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 stopped as the waitress approached the table with their order. 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.

Grissom kept thinking about Sara, and their discussion earlier, while images of Agent Scully nearly crying in the hall popped into his mind. He wondered how two people who had worked together for so long could still be insensitive to each other. It was ironic how his relationship with Sara seemed to be taking the same direction. Had he been so insensitive to her? He was curious about the agents, and concerned for Agent Scully so for the second time that day, he actually said what was on his mind.

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

Scully 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.

"Mulder is…" she stopped for a moment, "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."

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

Grissom thought back for a moment, then responded.

"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.

Grissom watched her eyes fall from his and onto the table. He ventured that he could guess what she was thinking about.

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

Her eyes snapped back up to his, as if he had caught her off guard.

Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that, he thought to himself, hoping he hadn't made the conversation to personal. Grissom thought that what he had said could also be applied to Sara. She probably thought she would never understand him. If she only knew what went through his mind when he saw her, and how stupid he felt for throwing away every chance she gave him. He wondered if it was too late now.

"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."

It was Grissom's turn to be caught 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."

Agent Scully gave him a quizzical look, raising her eyebrow at him.

"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."

"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."

Grissom froze at her comment. How much had she heard? Had she figured out what was going on? It was probably obvious, he thought. He had figured out her relationship with her partner by eavesdropping, why shouldn't an intelligent woman like her not do the same?

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.