disclaimers: i don't own them, did try to get them by means of a five-finger discount but the guard caught me at the door

spoilers: very vague

Wednesday, End of Shift

Gil was rushing through his paperwork, trying to complete it and leave before Catherine had a chance to find him. He knew she would ask about her date and he would have to tell her he was failing miserably at his task. Or was he? He hadn't even had a full 24 hours yet to find someone for her. He had eliminated several candidates for one reason or another, including Greg, something she should be eternally grateful for. So he hadn't found her a man yet. It had only been one day. She had how many years and she hadn't found one for herself. Since he had known her there had been Eddie, Paul, Chris and Adam, and a few others who never made it past the first date.

He and Ed went back a long way. They had met during one of Gil's visits to Disco Placid for help on a case. They had formed a quick friendship, sharing a love of music and women, often combining the two by spending free nights at a local strip club. It was there that they ran into Jimmy and he had introduced them to one of the dancers, a woman named Catherine. Things happened, Ed & Catherine were married and all seemed well with the world. It wasn't until a few months later, after Catherine had started working in the lab that Gil had learned the truth about Ed. She was late coming in, her normally flawless face swollen. It took Catherine several more years and a particularly bad beating before she worked up the courage to leave him the first time. They had gone through marriage counseling and she had gone back to him. Finding Eddie in bed with another woman was the final straw and she finally filed for divorce. Even then Gil suspected that they occasionally saw each other for some time after the divorce.

Paul was her rebound guy, the one she met while working a case involving a collapsed building. He seemed nice, seemed like he had his life together. Gil wasn't sure what happened between them other than one day he was there and the next he was history.

Chris was co-owner of a club of the victim in one of their cases. He was your stereotypical Vegas club owner, flashy clothes and a flashy car with women all around him. He was another Eddie. The difference being that he actually worked. She had walked in on him and one of the waitresses from him club. It was Ed all over again, minus the violence.

Adam. He was just some random guy in a bar that she had hooked up with. He thought she was easy, a one-night stand. When Catherine had changed her mind she had ended up with a cut on her face. She said it was from the car door, but Gil still didn't believe her. And to top it off, he ended up a suspect in one of their cases. Catherine had completely pissed Gil off over this. She had no business out late at night in a bar by herself. She knew as well as he did what could happen to a woman out like that. He tried to tell her but she wouldn't listen to him. And then she wanted to know how long HE was going to go on like he was. The woman was unbelievable.

This is what he didn't understand. Why she picked me we were so obviously the wrong type. Why she picked men involved in their cases. Why she couldn't just stay home like he did. Or just hang out with him. They always had a good time when they did that. It was usually just the two of them at his place. Sometimes Lindsey would join them. They would eat, talk and watch movies. But no, that wasn't enough for Catherine. She needed a boy toy in her life. She needed someone who would treat her like yesterday's bread. It was as if she had some serious issues with her own happiness. Gil felt his migraine coming back. Why did trying to figure out Catherine always give him a headache? He opened his desk drawer and began rummaging for his pills. Five minutes later he still had not found them. One of these days he was actually going to clean out his desk, but that day was not today. He slammed the drawer shut, laid his head back in the chair and closed his eyes. Catherine chose that moment to appear in his door.

"You know, sleeping on the job is not going to find me a date." She walked in and took a seat in front of his desk.

"I've got a headache." He didn't move, didn't open his eyes, he just sat there.

"Have you taken anything?"

"NO, I can't find my pills." Catherine walked around the side of his desk, opened the bottom drawer and grabbed the pills he couldn't find 10 minutes ago. "Here, take two, and eat something with it."

"Thanks." He put the pills in his mouth and swallowed them.

"So, who's my date for Saturday night?" She said as she sat back down.

"Um, well, I haven't found one yet." Gil said, head still on his desk.

"You've had a whole day." Catherine smirked. She really shouldn't be enjoying this. He was obviously in pain.

"Catherine, it's not that easy." He wondered how long it would take the medication to kick in.

"Really now. Gil have you tried looking at all?" Catherine knew he had asked Warrick. If there was one thing you could count on in the Las Vegas crime lab it was that any and all gossip would be available through one Greg Sanders. Of course, this little bit of information had come at a price. Greg wanted to take her out for a meal. She agreed on the conditions that Lindsey accompany them, that they go to Chucky Cheese (surprisingly Greg loved this idea) and that it was an outing between coworkers and nothing more. Besides, Greg reminded her of Gil when they first met. She knew they'd have a good time.

"Yes, I have. Now if you don't mind I just want to close my eyes and rest." He lowered his head back down to his desk.

"No."

"What do you mean 'no'?" All he wanted was to be left alone in the dark until the pain subsided. He did not want to deal with Catherine's social life right now.

"I don't get just any Saturday night off with Lindsey gone and I need a date. So get off your ass and find me a man."

"Catherine, please." His head was pounding now and he was seeing the migraine auras. Hopefully, the medication would kick in soon, otherwise he'd have to go home. There was no way he could work like this.

"Right. Migraine." Catherine smiled softly. It was fun torturing him, but at the moment he needed rest. "Can you drive yourself home or do you need me to give you a ride?"

"I'll manage." She turned to leave his office. "Catherine."

"Yes?"

"I swear, I will find you a date," he said in all earnestness.

"Gil. Go home." Her smile grew even wider and she left him alone in his office.