Chapter 1: part 2

Point of view: Catherine Willows Narrative

News

"Gil! Great news!" I said, jumping around, like a puppy waiting for a treat.

"What Catherine, I gave you the promotion to day shift Supervisor, what else are you going to do to butter me up?", Gil said groggily, as if I had woken him from a deep sleep.

"We are the number one CSI in the country!" I exclaimed.

"What? We are?", Gil asked, he sounded like someone had woken him up by dumping cold water on him.

"Yes, and you better not tell anyone, because I am planning a big 'thing'" I said shaking a finger at him jokingly.

"What kind of a 'thing'? Nothing embarrassing Cath." he said.

"No, I am planning a banquet for all the CSI's and lab tech's. It is going to be a formal banquet, tuxes, dresses, the works."

"Cath, where are you going to get the money?"

"My brother owns a banquet hall. You might have heard of it, it's called 'The Willow'. Because his last name is Willows, you know. And my daughter's friend's mom owns a catering company, and she'll cater the banquet for free as long as I carpool her daughter to camp with Lindsay, which is no trouble."

"Sounds like it might be fun."

"Oh, and here's a hint for ya, I recommend bringing a date. Do you know who Sara is bringing?" I said with a wink. Not the most subtle hint, but he got the point.

"Nice try Catherine, but we have been through this before. I'm her boss, I am older than her, and the press would have a field day if I promoted her. They'd say she slept her way to the top."

"Gris, the rules of office relationships have changed. Just go with her as a friend? It would make her day.", I pleaded.

"No... I mean, it's not like I don't want to, I don't want to!", he said a little too enthusiastically, "it's just that...", He stammered.

I gave him a look that sends visible chills up his spine, the same look I give the people I interrogate, a look that tells them that I know something they didn't want me to know, and I said,"You do want to, don't you Gil? You do like her. Maybe not as much as she likes you, but you are attracted to her aren't you? You would like to ask her, but you are afraid. You are afraid that she will hurt you. Or worse, that you will hurt her. Or maybe, you just don't want to risk losing one of your best CSI's. Am I right?"

Suddenly, Gaping 'how did you figure this all out' Grissom, turned into calm, cool, collected Grissom. He smoothly said,"Some of what you just said is true. I am slightly attracted to Sara, and I don't want to risk losing one of the best CSI's I have ever had. But, I am not afraid that anyone will get hurt, because I will never allow a relationship to develop."

"Wake up and smell the beetlejuice, Gil. It already has.", I said as I left.

In the glass wall I could see Grissom sitting with his mouth agape, not quite sure what to make of my last statement.