Chapter Eight

Walking swiftly through the corridors back at the LVPD Crime Lab, Catherine had to do a quick double take when she saw Greg and Warrick through the windows of the break room. She turned abruptly and poked her head in the doorway.

"—that one," Greg was saying, pointing at the catalogue open before them.

Warrick looked at him as if he had lost his mind.

"Hey guys," Catherine broke in, cutting off Greg's response. Both of them looked up at her. "Have you seen Nick or Sara?"

"No," both of them answered in unison.

"We just sat down," Warrick elaborated.

"Oh. Thanks anyways." Catherine turned to leave when Greg called her back.

"Say, Catherine, what do you think Warrick should get Tina for Christmas?"

Warrick did his best to hide his embarrassment, but was only partly successful. Greg looked at Catherine, completely oblivious to Warrick's discomfort.

Catherine thought for a second, daring a glance at Warrick who was avoiding eye contact with her.

"I don't know, Greg. I have to find Nick and Sara about our case. Just think of something she likes."

"Thanks," Warrick spoke softly, finally able to look at Catherine.

The next second Catherine had disappeared out the door.

Warrick looked over at Greg who had returned to paging through the catalogue.

"Maybe she'd like something like that." He held up a page, showing Warrick the advertisement for edible underwear.

Warrick did not answer except to continue looking at him in a kind of disbelief.

Greg remained completely clueless. "What?"

Warrick just shook his head and grabbed the catalogue away from Greg.

After leaving the break room, Catherine checked out a couple of layout rooms. She found them unoccupied and continued walking the corridors looking for Nick and—

"Sara."

Sara appeared around the corner and walked over to Catherine.

"I've been looking all over for you. Did you find anything unuassual about thelonghair strand onthe one suit?"

"Thinking that someone else may have 'borrowed' the suit to rob the toy store before returning it to Mr. Eros' locker."

"Well, we already determined that it was an inside job due to lack of forced entry. It's not unreasonable to think that the burglars had access to other parts of the mall as well." Catherine finished looking sideways at Sara.

Sara smiled back. "Answer's in DNA."

"Thanks. You coming?"

"I'll be right with you. I gotta get some lunch first."

"Alright." Catherine broke away from Sara in the direction of the DNA lab. Remembering something, she stopped suddenly and turned towards Sara.

"Where's Nick?"

Sara shrugged. "A/V lab?"

"I already checked there."

Sara avoided answering by entering the break room. Catherine, slightly confused, turned and continued on to the DNA lab.

"Guys?" Grissom said in a slightly strained voice as walked into the break room, his demeanor attracting Greg and Warrick's attention. Sara looked up from her lunch as well.

For a second Grissom just stood there looking at the two men. The other tree occupants of the room exchanged confused glance, although Sara's showed more amusement.

"Oh," Warrick started coming to his senses. "My background check on Mrs. Ferm—"

"Hold up," Grissom interrupted, holding up his hand. "Me first. I got a garbage bag full of blood stained clothes that needs to be processed. Once that's done, we'll talk evidence."

Grissom waited, expecting them to jump right to work. When they did not, he said shortly, "Well?"

Sara watched Greg and Warrick leave, a concerned expression on her face. When Grissom turned to leave behind them, she stopped him.

"You wanna talk about it?" she asked.

He turned to face her. "Aren't you working on a case?" He made it clear that he did not want to discuss it.

"I'm having lunch. Join me, won't you?" She looked him square in the eyes as if daring him to defy her.

Slowly, almost reluctantly, he sat down across from her at the table. Leaning back in the chair he let out a deep sigh.

Sara watched him closely, then handed him the other half of her sandwich. He reached out and took it thankfully before once again leaning back in his chair.

For the remainder of lunch, his eyes never left her.