A/N: Something I forgot to mention in my first two chapters is I own nothing CSI related. I do own Brittany though.
Not too long after making a deal about their conversation, Brittany and Grissom went their separate ways. Brittany started to head for the lab, when Hodges 'accidentally' spilled his very hot coffee all over her. "Hodges! Damn it! It's not like I'm already late enough as it is!" Leaving a laughing Hodges in the hallway, she rushes to the locker room so that she can put on a clean shirt. In her big hurry, she doesn't notice that Warrick is in there. As she is changing her shirt, he turns around and sees all of her bruises. "Holy shit! What happened? Wait a minute. This better not be from who I think it is from." "Warrick, I am late and I don't need you on my tail as well as Grissom. Now, I will tell you what I told him. It is nothing, and you have no reason to care because I have only been here for two days."
With a long sigh, Warrick states "Brittany, how is it that you seem to forget that I have known you for over three years. Ever since you have been in Vegas, I have been your friend. What makes you think that I don't care?" "Warrick, I didn't mean for it to sound like that. I just mean that you shouldn't have to worry about me. Now, I need to get back to work before Greg comes looking. Oh, and just for your information, Damien will be coming with me to the barbeque, and I know you don't like him so please be nice, ok?"
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The next day at the barbecue, which ended up being at one of the many rent able community pools, Nick and Greg had thrown a fully-clothed Sara into the pool and were scheming on how to do the same to Brittany and Catherine, who were watching Lindsey chase Warrick to get her flip-flop back, and Grissom, Damien, Brass were lounging by the grill with the food. After Brittany disappeared into the bathroom, Grissom told Catherine to see if she could get any info from Brittany about what was going on.
"Hey. What is going on? Why aren't you in the pool with everyone else? Or did you not bring a bathing suit?" "I have my suit on under my clothes, but I really don't think anyone wants to see me in a two-piece." "Brittany, you have a beautiful figure. Now get out there. Or is there something, or someone, stopping you?" "I know I have a good figure, I just have a really bad rash on my stomach. I don't want to gross anyone out." Catherine then rolls her eyes, "Brittany, you are talking about a bunch of CSI 3's. It takes a lot to gross us out. Can I see your rash? I might be able to give you something for it."
A few minutes later, a very reluctant Brittany is pulling up her shirt to show her tummy when Catherine sees the very edge of a deep purple bruise. "Jesus, what happened? That sure as hell is no rash" "Catherine, I know. Just don't worry about it. Now, we need to be getting back out there." "No, you stay here. I will be right back."
Grrrr…Damn it. She is probably going to get Grisso—Well speak of the devil. Brittany was thinking just as Catherine walked in with Grissom in tow. Catherine had pulled up Brittany's shirt to show Grissom the bruises. "Do these bruises make you notice anything when you look at them?" Catherine started to ask, completely ignoring the protests being made. "Yeah. What really sticks out is the apparent boot prints. They are really dark and there are some cuts—" "Is it ok if I have some say in this and get you two to quit talking about me like I am either not here or just another dead body that can't hear you! Now, I want to go back out there and try to have fun."
After they went back out to the pool, Damien caught Brittany and went back into where she had just come out of. "What was going on in there? You didn't tell them anything did you? You know what will happen if I find out that you did," her very suspicious boyfriend stated. "Damien, you know that I wouldn't tell them because I know what will happen. Do you think that I enjoy being hit by you for no odd reason?" "Don't you dare raise your voice at me!" "Damien, do you want me to raise my voice? I have tried to be civil. I have let you beat on me and—"
"What is going on in here?" Grissom asked as he was coming in with Sara. "Nothing, Damien and I were just discussing whether or not to go to a movie or not. Damien, do you want to go to the movie or do you want to rent one?" "I think we could just rent one and stay in." "Ok, we should get going so that we can get to the store before it closes."