Chapter 2

Alex and Greg were locked in a silent stare. Finally, Alex spoke up.

"So, is bumping into girls your favorite way to say hi?" Alex smiled playfully and then stood up. There was something about Greg that always made her smile. Maybe it was the fact that despite all his posturing, he was very much a gentleman. So much so that he had broken things off with her despite his feelings, so that she could focus her energies on her relationship with Grissom.

Greg tried not to chuckle as he stood and remembered the night they met. He had bumped into her then, too. "How're you doing, Alex?" he managed to say.

"I'm pretty good, you?" she asked.

"Good. Busy." He replied. He wasn't sure what to say. He had spent the last four months trying to forget her, to move on. He felt she needed the time even if she didn't know it. How much, that was what he didn't know. And now here she was. He had so many mixed emotions that he didn't want to acknowledge; all he wanted was to get back to work. "I've really got to get on this," he said, pointing to the file, trying to excuse himself.

Alex touched his arm, "Greg." But Greg had already started to turn and leave. "Call me, please?" she requested.

He wanted to say yes, to grad her and kiss her right there, but didn't. "I don't know," he replied and walked away.

Alex sighed and finished making her way to the lobby. She sat there turning the pages of the book, wishing her conversation with Greg had gone better. Soon, Grissom came in.

"Hi Gil," she greeted him. She stood and held out the book. "Here's your book."

"Alex, thank you for the book. How're you?" he replied, taking it.

"Pretty good, thank you. Yourself?"

"Busy," Grissom answered.

"Seems everyone around here is," she said, slightly under her breathe.

"What?" Grissom didn't understand.

"Nothing," Alex dismissed him. "Well, if you're busy I won't ask you for a tour." She smiled at him. She really did want a tour. She'd heard a lot about the Las Vegas crime lab while she studied at Quantico and it peaked her interest.

"Another time," Grissom replied. "I really do need to get back to work."

"Ok," she said knowing that they had dinner plans in a couple days.

He walked her back into the hall. "Good evening," she said, giving him a hug.

Just as she did, Sara and Nick turned down the hall. They were discussing a case. Sara stopped when she saw Grissom, his arms wrapped around a young woman. Sara didn't recognize her at first, but as she pulled away, Sara saw her face. Even though it was his daughter, Sara was still jealous. Just another woman for him to love instead of me, she thought, wishing at the same time that she hadn't.

"Who's the hottie with Grissom?" Nick asked, seeing the same thing Sara was. Nick, however, didn't recognize Alex. He'd only seen a few pictures of her on Greg's camera phone

"That," Sara said with great emphasis, "Is Grissom's daughter."

Nick looked at Sara in disbelief. "No way!"

Sara just nodded her head.

"I've got to met her!" Nick hurried down the hall so he could be introduced. Sara followed.

Alex was just walking away when Nick got to where she and Grissom were standing. "Hey Gris," Nick said. Then looked toward Alex. "Do I get an introduction?"

Sara was a step behind and when Grissom saw her, he asked the question with his expression. Sara again just nodded; Nick was aware it was his daughter. And yes, she'd like an introduction too.

Sara had been dying to meet Alex. She knew a lot about her. After she found out Alex worked at the Bureau, she had asked some of her friends there about Alex. Turns out Alex was everything Sara expected but didn't want her to be, a model agent, top in her field, hard working, and just perfect. She needs flaws, Sara thought to herself.

"Alex," Grissom called to her and she turned around. "Let me introduce you to a couple people before you go."

Alex smiled. "Ok."

"Alex, this is Nick Stokes and Sara Sidle," Grissom said as each held out their hand to her. "Nick, Sara, this is my daughter, Alex Hart."

Alex's heart skipped a beat when he said "daughter." It was the first time she could ever remember him using that word when speaking about her. She'd never really been a daughter before, just a granddaughter. She liked the sound of it. Daughter.

"Nice to meet you," Alex replied, shaking each hand in turn. "I've heard so much about you. It's nice to finally meet you."

"Yes, nice to meet you, too," Sara spoke first.

"Yes, very nice," Nick smiled that boyish smile of his.

Alex looked at her watch, "Shoot! I've got to get going!"

"What've you got planned?" Grissom asked.

"Oh, I've got to go get Lindsey. I begged Catherine to let her spend the night with me. She's like the little sister I never had!" Alex explained.

"Catherine Willow's Lindsey?" Sara questioned, indignant that Catherine had gotten to know Alex enough to trust her with Lindsey.

"Yes," Alex said, noting the tone of Sara's voice. "I met Catherine by accident a couple months ago."

"Oh," Sara was still not satisfied.

"I really do have to go. Maybe sometime after shift I can cook breakfast for the whole crew. I hear you sometimes do to breakfast together." Alex smiled again.

"That would be great," Nick replied.

Alex saw the look of apprehension on Grissom's face. "Well, if it's ok with the boss," she laughed. "I'll see you later," she finished, gave a little wave and walked away.

"Ok, so about this case," Grissom said to Sara and Nick before they could ask any questions about Alex. Their knowledge of her life would have to come with time, just like his had. And besides, it was a busy night.