After leaving the washroom, Alex passed by the chemistry lab. Curiosity always got the better of her, and before she knew it, she was standing outside staring in through the window. The guy in there looked pretty young. He was hunched over a telescope processing something. He's kinda cute, in a geeky, science kind of way. I wonder how old he is. He looks pretty young for a CSI.

"Can I help you?" Alex whipped around only to come face-to-face with the lab guy she had been staring at. "Are you lost?"

Shaking the past thoughts from her head, she quickly regained herself. "No, I'm not lost, I was just on my way back to Gill Grissom's office" she smiled sweetly.

The young man raised on of his eyebrows in a questioning glance. "Grissom? As in Gruesome Grissom? Are you like his long lost daughter or something?"

Throwing back her head she let out a full-hearted laugh. "W..w…what? Me? Grissom's daughter? Yeah right! No, I'm a …a….family friend. I'm Alex Suko" and with that she stuck out her hand.

"Wow! I'm a… a… Greg Sanders" taking her hand and giving it a friendly shake. Wow she's amazing! She's so young, and so gorgeousl!

Her lips parted to reveal a genuine heart-melting smile. "Nice to meet you Greg." Seeing the dazed expression on his face and his eyes staring into hers, caused her to blush. "Ummm I had better be going. Nice meeting you." She turned around and started making her way back to Grissom's office.

"Hey! Maybe I'll see you around sometime?" He was smiling, and his eyes looked hopeful.

Laughing, her face lit up in another angelic smile "Maybe" and she walked away.

Greg turned around to see Nick casually leaning against the lab wall. "Man, you got it bad."

"What?"

"That girl that you were just talking to, you really like her huh?"

"No! That girl was just ……. just ……."

"Just what Grego?" A grin exploded on Nick's face. Mumbling something Greg walked back into the lab. "What's that Grego?" Nick left the lab laughing to himself.

By the time Alex got back to the office, Grissom had already left for a crime scene. There was a sticky note on the table next to some money.

Gone to a crime scene. Break room is the hallway behind the washrooms. There's coffee and a mini fridge in there. Vending machine's around the corner. Catherine should be around if you need her. Call me.

Grissom –

Sighing, Alex picked up the note and the money and set about organizing herself for the evening. The couch was plenty big enough for her. She propped up some of the cushions on one side, and rummaged through her bag for other things. Fifteen minutes later she was heading out the door in search of a blanket, and with Grissom's money in hand.

Alright. Where in here am I supposed to find a blanket? Grissom had said that their SHOULD be on somewhere. But where? Hmmm Catherine may know. Alex steered herself towards the break room, in hopes of finding Catherine there. When she entered the room she didn't see Catherine, but instead saw her new friend Greg, and two new faces.

She stood there a little shy, with her hands behind her back. "Hi Greg!"

Greg had seen her right away. He had broke into a grin when she entered the room, and blushed slightly when she said his name. The other two looked up from their coffee and papers and smiled politely. "Hey Alex! Long time no see! Want something to drink?"

Smiling she nodded in reply. "Yeah that would be great. Thanks!" As Greg got up to get a cup from the cupboard, her gaze fell back upon the two other's who had gone back to their reading and drinking. She walked up to the table, and quietly took a seat, so as not to disturb them.

A crash came the other side of the room where Greg had dropped one of the cups onto floor smashing it into a million tiny pieces. The man on the other side of the table looked up.

"You'll have to excuse Greggo over there. He's a kind of clutz. Great CSI lab rat, but clutzy. My name's Nick Stokes." He reached across the table and offered is hand out.

Taking it Alex laughed at his cute texas accent, "Nice to meet you Nick. I'm Alex."

"Alex huh? Sorry name doesn't ring a bell. You new? You look kinda young to be working here."

A smile crawled across her face. "No I don't work here. I'm a friend of Grissom's".

"A friend? Of Grissom's?" Nick was immediately elbowed by the brunette next to him who has frowning at his comment.

"What? You think he's not allowed any friends outside of work Nicky? Honestly!" Turning to look at Alex, she smiled and continued. "Hi, my name's Sara Sidle. I work here with these two, and with Grissom." At the mention of his name, Sara's cheeks seemed to redden ever so slightly.

Alex smile broadened. "Hi. I've heard your name before. Grissom often speaks of you. You two must be good friends."

Sara's cheeks were now close to scarlet. "Uhh yeah, we're friends." But ONLY friends. Wait! Grissom's talks about me to his friends? Hmmmmm

Nick had recovered from Sara's wrath and had turned his attention back to the young girl. "So how long have you been here Alex?"

"Ummmm since 5ish. I came pretty much straight after school."

"Woah? School? How old are you?" His face was scrunched in a questioning look.

Nick quickly received another elbow from Sara. "Nick! Didn't your mother ever teach you manners?"

Alex turned slightly pink but was still smiling. "It's alright. I'm in grade 12 at Barnstables. It's on the outskirts of Vegas."

Nick was rubbing his smarting elbow as he continued. "I've heard of that place. Isn't it like a private all girls school or something?"

"Yeah. I heard it was like run by some foreign people." Greg had finished sweeping up the mug mess and had returned to the table with Alex's drink.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"They people who run it aren't really foreign, but it's a European-style school, so a lot of the teachers are European."

Greg was amazed, and still staring at Alex. Man, she is amazing! "Cool!"

Sara laughed again and looked back at Alex. "So if you're in grade 12 then you've got to be what 18?"

She laughed and her smile broadened. "Actually I'm only 17. I started school early" she admitted blushing slightly.

Wow cool AND smart wondered Greg.

Both Nick and Sara couldn't help but notice the way that Greg was staring at Alex, and Sara coughed slightly. "So what kinds of things do you like to do Alex?"

"Ummm music. I sometimes play or sing a couple things, but I defiantly couldn't live without music."

Sara smiled warmly and raised her eye brows. "Wow a braniac, and a music nut. You could make and interesting CSI some day."

"Thanks." She smiled genuinely as she stood up. Replacing her empty cup on the table she added "but I came over to find Catherine Willows. Do you guys know her?"

Coincidently, as soon as the words had left Alex's mouth, Catherine walked into the break room. "Did someone say my name? Alex! What are you doing here? It's nice to see you back at the lab!" Walking over to where Alex was standing she pulled her into a motherly hug.

"Hi Cath! It's nice to you too!"

Letting her go she looked her over from head-to-toe like a mother hen. "You've grown. Hmmmm are you sure that you're eating enough, and getting enough sleep?"

Laughing she looked up to Catherine. "Yes I'm sure. Hey do you know where I might find a blanket?"

"Yeah sure. But what are you doing at the lab. Are you staying with Grissom again?" There was a look of care and sympathy in her eyes.

Alex's smile faded a bit, "Yeah I'm spending a couple weeks at Grissom's place, and he has to work night shift tonight, so I'm bunking out here in his office."

Catherine frowned a bit when she heard this. "I don't really like the idea of you spending the night here. I'd take you home with me, except I'm also on nights tonight. But I guess if Grissom's here, and a couple of us, then you'll be fine. Come on and I'll get you that blanket."

Sighing Alex turned to follow Catherine. Sara could see the twinkling in here eyes as she left. "Nice meeting you Sara …… and you Nick. See ya Greg!"

Watching her leave Nick turned to Sara. "Man that is one cute kid!"

"Don't get any ideas Nicky. She's only 17. Besides I think she has her eyes on someone else." Her head gestured towards Greg who was standing stock still staring into the empty doorway that once sported Alex's charming smile.

"Yeah but if only she was a couple years older, I might stand a chance."

Laughing Sarah pushed him out the door. "Yeah like 10 years older. Come on Nicky, back to work before Ecklie catches us."