Disclaimer: You know what? I can't think of anything interesting to write, so I'm just going to say this very simply. I don't own CSI or anything associated with it, ok. I can claim Linds (cousin) and Jake (mate of mine here at Papakura PD) - if you ever read this guys, please don't kill me for using your names!

A/N: I'm actually trying to wrap this up, so I just keep writing and writing and it starts to get longer again. Brilliant ay? In saying that, there probably won't be too many more chapters. I'm also going back to the guys at the lab this chapter. Don't worry, Griss and Sar will be back next chapter!

Chapter 12

"Ok. That was just really weird." Greg said back when they were back at the break room at the lab.

"What was?" Nick asked

"The way Grissom acted around Sara."

"What, you mean him being all caring and pleasant and just generally human?" Brass asked.

"Why on earth is that unusual coming from Grissom?" He finished in mock - shocked tones.

"Yeah that." Greg laughed.

"Well, it was strange - but it was good strange." Warrick said.

"What was good strange?" Catherine asked walking in. "Whatever that's supposed to mean anyway."

"Griss and Sara" Warrick replied.

"The only time those two's relationship would be strange, would be if they were acting like normal people," Catherine commented as she made herself a cup of coffee and sat to join the rest of the team.

"That was kind of the general discussion." Nick joined in. "Greg was talking about how caring Griss was with Sar."

"Maybe he's just finally starting to wake up and smell the coffee." Catherine said. "Although he normally does act human when she's hurt - then back away when she gets better."

"The girl must be up to at least number six out of her nine lives by now" Warrick commented. "Maybe he'll realise if he doesn't act soon it could well be to late too."

"Question is, will she still accept him?" Brass asked.

"Accept who?" Came a voice from the door, which turned the room to silence. Conrad Ecklie did not need to be privy to a conversation about Grissom and Sara's relationship.

"We're just talking about the 1V from the other day," Warrick said quickly. "And how Sara really needs to accept the help she needs from Grissom. She really doesn't look hot."
"She's just covered in bruises man." Greg put in.

"Really sleepy too." Cath said. "Probably due to both concussion and the Med's she's on."

"But despite all that she's dying to get out of bed and back in here" Brass finished off, pleased with how the others had managed to turn it into a case based discussion for Ecklie's benefit.

"Ok." Ecklie commented. "Well, that's kind of what I wanted to talk to you guys about. Are you sure you're able to cope two members down?"

"Yeah." Warrick replied. "Days have let us borrow a couple of people to work with Greg, and if they need to swing back, those of us on Lates will take turn's pulling doubles."

"Oh." Ecklie sneered. "Well I will be keeping an eye on the situation, but I'll let you continue for now."

Everyone felt like breathing a sigh of relief.

"Who's on with you tonight Greg?" Ecklie asked.

"Lindsay and Jacob from days" Warrick replied, seen as how Greg didn't yet know.

"I asked Greg." He said. "Are you going home before your shift?"

"No, I'm just going to hang out here." Greg answered himself this time.

Ecklie then proceeded to dump a pile of folders in front of him.

"That's what came in for Late's and Night's this evening. Since they're still wrapped up in there vehicle collision, You Jacob and Lindsay will have to share them out." He sneered. "I'm off home now - enjoy!"

"Urgh." Greg said as he looked at it.

"Don't worry mate, we'll take a couple of them." Nick said. "Besides Linds and Jake are the two best day shift - you'll have those done in no time."

"Anyone else think Ecklie's not very happy about Grissom and Sara having time off?" Catherine asked.

"What on earth gave you that idea?" Brass said. "Oh and by the way guys, well done with turning our conversation around for Ecklie."

"We've had plenty of practice at it." Warrick replied." So what've you got Greg?"

Greg opened the folders and started pulling cases out.

"Ok, looks like the priority one's are at the top, so I'll just work down the list." He said.

"Number 1 - assault and rape at Linton Park. Number 2 - oh, lovely. We've a suicide at an apartment in the Height's. Reports suggest that he could have been hanging there for up to two weeks - who has plenty of lemon juice at home?"

"Uh - uh. Not going there Greg - give it to one of your ring in's." Nick said.

"Ok on with the list then" Greg began again. "Number 3 Burglary fingerprint jobs times six, and number 4 - urgh, no wonder he hid this one at the bottom of the pile. Number 4 - possible body in the bottom of a very muddy waterhole out in the desert. Was reported by an anonymous informant from the public who I quote 'Heard rumours'. Dispatch has said that it needs to be checked out. Who brought there swimming costume?"

"Wouldn't that have been better to have been done in daylight hours?" Brass asked.

"What, Ecklie give something like that to the precious day shift?" Catherine answered. "No way, he likes them too much. My suggestion Greg is to sit on that ill the rest of your team get here and talk to them about it. They may be able to bump it over on to dayshifts list, ok?"
"Yeah, ok."

"In the mean time, "Nick said, "I'll take a couple of those Burg fingerprints off your hands."

"Thanks Nick." Greg said. "Anyone else?"

"Was your assault and rape victim male or female?" Catherine asked.

"Um… female." Greg replied.

"I'll take that one for you." She offered. "Best to have a woman do it, and Lindsay's not know for here sympathy, good CSI she may be."

"I'll get another two of your Burg fingerprints out of your hair" Warrick said. "And that'll leave just two fingerprints and the two lemon juice jobs - swinger and mud bath for you guys tonight ok?"

"Sounds wonderful. Thank you so much guys." Greg said.

"No worries," Cath said on behalf of her team. "If we don't get them all finished we'll hand some back to you ok?"

"Yeah that's fine. You guys are great."

"We know." Warrick answered as they headed out the door. "See ya latter."

"Yeah, latter." Greg said as he curled up on the couch in front of the break room TV.

----

"Hi" Said a voice from the door about half an hour before night shift started. "Greg isn't it?"

"Yeah," Greg answered looking up. "You must be Jake?"

"That I am," Jake answered walking in and making a cup of coffee, then joining Greg on the couch. "What are you watching?"

"Interrogation. It's some New Zealand cop drama." Greg replied. "I'd just been channel surfing till I found this, it's not so bad." He paused. "Aren't you a bit early though - shift doesn't start for another half hour."

"Yeah, but I like to come in early and get myself into it." Jake replied. "Besides aren't we filling in for Gil Grissom and Sara Sidle, the two best known workaholics in the building?" He laughed. "Surely you're used to people coming in early considering who you work with."

"That's true." Greg said.

"So, what's on our plate tonight?" Jake asked.

"Well, Ecklie came in here all smarmy about 1900hrs with a huge case file and a sneer, but lates have taken some of them for us. They said if they didn't get through them we'd get them back, but they've left just four for us."

"That's nice of them. Oh, and don't worry Greg whatever you want to say about Ecklie go for it - I'm not one of his little puppets, neither is Linds, that's why Warrick chose us to work you."

"Cool, that's a relief." Greg replied. "Here's the file if you want to have a look over till Lindsay gets here - oh and do you have any lemon juice in stock?"

"Ah, another day in paradise." Was Jake's only comment.