CHAPTER FIVE

Upon making discrete inquiries, all that Iris had been able to find out was that Brass had left the crime scene early and taken the rest of the shift off without further explanation as well as for the next night. It was felt to be unusual for the detective to do so but no eyebrows had been raised.

Iris had finished dressing in the locker area and had returned to the break room to write some additional notes from last night's crime scene to her for future reference. Her concentration was then interrupted.

"Iris, you look lost in thought, anything I can help you with?" Catherine said seating herself beside Iris. Her tone was amiable. She wanted to get to know her better. She had a good rapport with Sara and desired the same with Iris as her fellow CSI. Iris had expressed a willingness to float other shifts if needed but only after clearing it with Grissom. With her being single and no children, she made a good candidate for such and wanted to be of help. Catherine sometimes needed extra hands on days, especially with catching up case reviews. No one detected a brown-noser with her willingness to help wherever asked. Iris, though, was a bit uncomfortable with the subject on her mind being Brass instead of her notes, which she had hit a wall in trying to further.

"Rough night?" asked Catherine. She pushed her red hair back. Her gaze was thoughtful. Iris sensed Catherine's genuine desire to listen, but she would careful though of what to say.

"It was. The victim was a young woman, strangled; body dumped behind the Tangiers but hasn't been identified yet. I think Captain Brass was more than troubled by it. I'd asked him if there was anything I could do. He said something about rewinding your life back, I guess like turning back the clock, so you could do some things different. He then left without a word. I've found out that he took the rest of his shift off as well as tonight's shift. Look, I've heard through the lab grapevine he went through a bitter divorce years ago and that he has a daughter in her twenties. I'm just concerned for his well-being and also you're a good friend of his. Please believe I'm not trying to pry into his personal life, it's just he was so upset…" Iris rubbed at her eyes, strained from lack of rest.

"I do have a warm spot for Jim, it's no secret. We've known each other for several years now…work well together…I count him as a close friend. As for more than that, my sights aren't set on him. He's a good man and I know he'll be okay, but this time of year tends to be hard on him with it being Ellie's birthday. They just don't talk to each other. She's bitter and Brass has tried to patch it up, but too little too late, I don't know. I can relate having to deal with a teenager now in Lindsey. Look, I know we haven't had much time to just sit and shoot the breeze. You do great work and your help to me on days has saved my butt more than once. Anytime you need someone to talk to about whatever, just let me know. My shift's getting ready to start so see you later." Catherine smiled as she stood up to head on to her office.

"Thanks, Catherine, for the chat, it helped," Iris said, thinking in more ways than one. She genuinely appreciated Catherine's honesty and frankness. Yet she could certainly see Brass being attracted to the stunning redhead. She just couldn't pursue that line of thought any longer. Time to get on home, she thought wearily, and headed out to her Jeep.

Upon getting home, Iris set herself for a hot bath and sank gratefully into the tub. "Calgon take me away," she murmured as she soaked. After her bath, she retreated to her bedroom to sleep with her last thoughts still dwelling on Brass chiding herself for it. A few hours later she awoke feeling much refreshed and had changed into jeans and a shirt to read for a while. She didn't sleep much during the day, opting to take two four-hour naps. It was hard for her working nights still as she'd worked the day shift at the Dallas lab. She went back to the note taking she had stopped on back at the CSI lab to recollect her thoughts.

An urgent pounding on her door shattered her concentration. Her dogs began to bark protectively from her second bedroom. "Hush it," Iris cried, as the dogs quieted upon hearing her voice. Iris looked through the peephole of her door and her eyes widened in surprise…