Disclaimer: Don't own CSI there said it okay done

A/N thanks to csi-ds9 for reviewing and please read then review

Two weeks later I was standing in my packed up apartment half open boxes with clothes spilling out, CD's in taped up boxes and me just standing there trying to get up the courage to call my dad to come and pick up my stuff. I guess I thought that he would change his mind, the whole once bitten twice-shy type of person. He's a quiet person, who doesn't get that people aren't all black and white. Known me for just under two weeks and he has me pigeon-holed; the smart person who doesn't take shit from anyone, well that is me but I'm also the fun one my friends said that to me 'you're the fun one of us Kate, you're the perfect woman any man would want you,' yeah, just not exactly the thing I wanted whilst I was thinking and executing my plan of escape.

The phone rang breaking through Kate's concentration. Fumbling through the boxes of schoolwork she had dumped on the wonky Formica table. Screwing up all the courage she had when she saw that the displayed name was Dad home she opened up her phone and said tentatively, "Hello?"

"Hey sweetheart," Kate smiled at his soft tone

"What's up Dad?" she giggled at her reflection in the grimy window, not the person she used to be, a sad miserable girl that had to act to be happy but actually a real happy girl.

"Not much, just wondering when you wanted me to come over and pick up your stuff to bring here,"

"Umm…how about when you can?" she asked quietly

"Sure, I can come now it's ten now I can be over in about fifteen minutes," he sounded eager

"Great I'm nearly all packed up just need to get it to your place, you know I haven't even seen my room right?"

"Right I kept it a surprise, that was for a reason you do know," he sounded happy and glad with himself

"I do realise ha ha I am so amused," Kate rolled her eyes and the sarcasm was laid on thick

"Well, I just wanted to uh give you a present you know I haven't given you any in your life that you remember," he sounded downcast

"Dad, I remember the ladybird locket that you gave me on my fifth birthday, before mum and you had that really big fight, man can she screech," Kate tried to light the mood with humour, it went down like lead balloon

"Yeah I remember that locket, had a picture of you and me in it when you came to Vegas during my first year here you were so little I…I'm sorry sweetheart Brass is calling my cell, I have to see what he wants but I'll call you just before I leave or when I'm on my way ok,"

"Sure," I say as bright as I could but it didn't mean anything as he had hung up before she had mustered up any sort of reply to him.

A knock sounded at her door not ten seconds after she had put the phone down.

"Who is it?" she called to the front door

"Las Vegas Police," a stern voice called right back, a puzzled Kate went over and opened the door

"What can I do to help you?" she asked as she noticed the voice had come from a short stocky man with a no nonsense attitude that seemed to seep from his pores

"Detective Jim Brass, homicide, this is Catherine Willows and Nicholas Stokes of the Las Vegas Crime Lab we just need to ask you a couple of quick questions about the tenant in 517," he told her as he nodded to the man and woman behind him as Kate looked at him, she realised that was who called her father just before.

"Of course Detective and other people standing behind him, come in don't mind the mess I'm in the process of moving and my um, new roommate is meant to be coming soon but I guess it won't be today," Kate finished under her breathe as they came in she saw Catherine sweep an inspecting eye over the room

"What makes you say that Miss…?"

"Kate, Detective just call me Kate,"

"Of course,"

"Would you like a seat?" she gestured to the dilapidated couch, which was now devoid of all her belongings and looked exactly like it did when she moved in six weeks beforehand.

"Thankyou," Brass said just before he and Nick sit on the couch and Catherine perches on the edge

"What can you tell me about the tenant in room 517?"

Kate looked off into space trying to recall who the hell lived in 517.

"Um... quiet I don't get out much, I've only been here for about six weeks so I don't know the people here very well at all, perhaps if you talked to someone who has been here longer than they can give you an accurate picture of the person but I can't help you other than that, excuse me," as her mobiles ring filled in the silence Kate silently thanked whoever is calling smiling as soon as she sees it's her dad going into the kitchen and closed the door she opened it and said brightly

"Hey dad let me guess, you can't come to pick up my stuff big thing involving my apartment building and room 517," she smiled at the gapping sound on the other end

"They don't know about…" Kate cut him off

"I know that, which is why I haven't said anything about you being my dad,"

"Oh okay, well I have to go to work early because of the bugs on this DB," he sounded frustrated

"Dad, when you can come don't worry about it, your work is your life calls me when you're done or I can wait to get my things to your place its alright it doesn't have to happen straight away you know,"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure I still have seven days left on the lease, see you when you've finished," she said as she walked through the kitchen door back to where the criminalists and the detective had been left.

"Sorry about that,"

"Not a problem, but if you do remember anything please don't hesitate to call us," Brass handed her a business card and Kate nodded

"Sure I definitely will," Kate let them out and then sighed as she glanced at the boxes strewn throughout the living/dining room, kitchen, and bedroom, now it was going to be an even longer day.

8:45pm

"Grissom,"

"I could say the same thing you know," Kate laughed

"Hey Kate this is nearly done just have to…"

"Have to what?"

"Nothing all done, so victim dead for two days,"

"Apartment 517?"

"Yes, apartment 517 I have to go give this information to ah Jim, just a sec Kate…"

Kate just heard mumbled jumbled words on the other end of the phone as she tapped her foot along to the radio she had down softly whilst she was on the phone. She serious considered cranking it because of her dad not talking to her but she just sung softly along to the song, "Faraway voice we can here you voice, what's it like to be heard,"

"Kate?"

"Oh uh yes here sorry singing along to the radio,"

"I'm done here so I'm heading over to your place now if that's okay?" he sounded unsure of himself and Kate smiled at his boyish nature when it came to potentially embarrassing himself.

"It sounds great I'll see you in a few then we get to lug everything out of here goody,"

Grissom chuckled, "Sounds fabulous I'll see you in a few,"

Hearing a knock on the door Kate rushed to it. Opening it she noticed it wasn't her dad but Captain Brass and Nicholas Stokes again but no Catherine, confusion rippled across her face.

"Yes?"

"We just wondering if we could ask you a few more questions Miss…" Brass trailed off, as she hadn't told them her last name.

"It's just Kate Captain but I'm actually expecting someone shortly so I don't think that anything I say can be of any use to you but come in make yourselves comfortable," she gestured to the couch in the living room as they got settled they started questioning

"Why is your apartment still all packed up Ma'am," Nick asked

"Because I'm moving Mr Stokes, that's why,"

"Where are you moving to?"

"I don't see how it is any business of yours…" she trailed off as she heard a knock at the door, swearing under her breath she turned around to answer it.

"Hey Kate," Grissom smiled

"Hey, uh Brass and Stokes are here in the living room just to give you the heads up," she smiled sadly as he looked at her determination flashing across his features.

"Let's do this," he stepped inside the apartment

"Sure okay living room, that's where most of the boxes are,"

"Grissom, what are you doing here?" confusion evident in the CSI's voice

"I'm helping Kate move Nick,"

"No, just wondering how do you know her?"

"Hey guys?" Kate lent on the doorframe leading into the living room

"Kate, I think that they were just leaving just follow up questions right?"

"Uh yes Gil, just follow ups if you have any other information…" Kate cut Brass off

"I'll call you," she nodded toward Grissom as she gathered up one of the smaller lighter boxes.

"How much stuff did you come with?" Grissom asked laughingly

"Not a lot most of this is recent or shipped from the confirmatory,"

"Oh okay," he looked downcast

"Hey Griss lighten up, its all over now I have less time to go in school and you're helping me move into a more…sanitary place right?" she laughed at his indignant look

"I certainly hope so," he smiled at her laughing face

"But if you want to get to work on time hurry up and get this stuff down to your car,"

"Yes Miss," Grissom nodded to her as he picked up one of the boxes and grimaced

"What?" she asked

"This is heavy you know,"

"I know so?"

"I have to carry it…"

"Out to our car yes which knowing you should be just outside this place right, boot facing here,"

"Yes," he grudgingly said as she rolled her eyes

"Just think if I'd been on the top floor, this isn't as bad,"

"Okay then lets start loading your stuff then if everything's finished with the questioning," he nodded to Brass and Nick as they silently confirmed that everything they needed from Kate they had

"Okay thanks for stopping by and we'll see you later," Kate smiled as she followed the two men out with a box and Grissom following her as she stood by his car Nick looked suspicious as she looked seemingly into the distance but was actually observing him.

"Yes Mr Stokes?" she broke through his reverie

"Nothing Miss, see you later," he said in his Texan twang as Grissom opened the boot and put the box he was carrying inside and so did Kate.

"Yeah see you later," she promised as he got into the drivers seat and Brass got into his own car three cars down from where Grissom's car was parked

"That didn't go well did it?" she asked sarcastically as both car drove away

"I think it went as well as could be expected Kate," he sighed

"Okay more boxes to transfer out of this place and into my new room which I haven't seen yet!" she mock whined as they turned back to her apartment

"Okay okay let's hurry up so its not midnight before we get your things to my house

"Hope that's not the case,"

"What?"

"Getting to our place at midnight, a girl needs her sleep you know,"

"I know, lets go!" he walked into her apartment

"Okay!" she called into it s depths laughing at the thought of still being awake enough to function at midnight.