Catherine hadn't gone straight home; she had instead made a slight detour and was now sitting in The Palms staring into her club soda.
She sighed and looked at the cell phone lying on the table next to her glass. Slowly she reached over and held it in her hand, flipping it over as she pulled her arm back towards her. She flipped it open and dialed a number, bringing it to her ear.
"Hey its Catherine… Are you busy? We need to talk"
Greg sat alone at a table inside The Rampart, he had no clue what it was that he was there for, all he knew was it sounded extremely important and definitely serious 'why else would she call?' he thought to himself.
"Greg"
He looked up and saw Catherine walking towards him, smiling he greeted her as she pulled out a chair and sat herself down.
"Hey Catherine, what's so important?"
Catherine looked at him and turned away "Club Soda" she called to one of the waitresses
"So?" Greg asked sounding more worried now than he had been five minutes ago
Catherine sighed "Okay" She looked at Greg "No talking until I'm done k?"
"Okay" He nodded
She sighed pausing to think of a way to pry without giving too much away "So Valentines day is coming up and what you said back in the lab I mean that's not true at all right?" she laughed "You are sending a card right?" she looked at him hoping his response would be good
"I told you Catherine no comment"
She sat back and picked up the glass the waitress had placed in front of her a few seconds ago and took a drink 'Think Cath come on, you're a CSI'
"I know I'm just intrigued that's all. So tell me about this mystery person Warrick was referring to"
"You want to know about my secret crush?" Greg asked sounding so surprised it made her smile
"Of course, I mean we don't really talk Greg and I'd like us to be friends"
"Well" he paused and looked at her "What do you want to know?"
"I don't know, what do they look like, what's their personality you know general stuff"
"Hmmm the stuff that parents tend to ask about"
She smiled "Naturally, I'm looking out for you"
Greg smiled "Okay well lets see they have dark hair; brown before you ask, hazel eyes, a killer smile. Ummm" he paused "They dress smart not stuffy smart, casual smart"
Catherine nodded in interest, a smile forming as she saw the far-away look in his eyes.
He continued "Personality wise I'd say they were friendly, quite sensitive, and fun but not in a funny way fun I mean lame jokes aside they know how to have a good time"
"So do I get a name?"
Greg looked at her "As much as your motherly charm worked on me giving you a description I'm sorry but your lucks run out"
"And I was so close"
"Yes you were"
They sat silently for a moment Catherine drinking her soda and Greg his iced tea.
"Can I ask you something?" Greg said breaking their silence
"Ask away" smiled Catherine
"Okay well it's kind of a hypothetical situation…"
"I get it no names just a friend of a friend of an acquaintances cousin right?"
Greg blushed a little and nodded
"Okay so what does this distant friend want to know?" she smiled
"Okay well he has this situation at work" Greg began "There's this person there that he met on his first day and he started to talk to them hang out you know, and he has been harboring this tiny crush since he first saw them"
"A-ha, go on"
"Now, this person in question who my friend has a liking for has been flirting back"
"Define flirting"
"Oh you know my friend glances over and catches them glancing back, theres the flirtatious chats and the coy smiles that they both share, and the small but not at all obvious touching"
"Right and your friend wants to know?" she put emphasis on the word friend
"What to make of it. Is it one sided? Are his feelings unrequited or does this other person have feelings for him?" Greg sighed "I don't know what to think any more"
Catherine looked into his eyes and saw that he was lost inside; he didn't know what to believe. Her motherly instincts took immediate effect and she reached over the table and took hold of his hand. Greg looked at her slightly confused. Catherine smiled at him and gave his hand a small squeeze.
"Greg don't think to much into it" she said softly
He looked so small, so lost and so afraid all at the same time. She saw his eyes begin to well up. Slowly she stood and walked over and sat back down next to him, putting her arms around him and drawing him close.
"What am I going to do with you?" she said with a slight humor
Greg pressed against her and she felt his burden begin to slowly release as the first of his tears began to fall.
She pulled him in tighter and kissed his head, he looked up and she smiled back
"Catherine I'm sorry I just I mean I"
"It's okay I understand, I just wish you would have talked to me sooner"
Greg looked confused
Still holding his hand Catherine looked at him with the same love she felt for her daughter. "It's Nick isn't it?"
Greg sat there in shock his mouth falling open and his eyes began searching for somewhere other to fall "How did you"
"Greg I saw the looks, the smiles, heard the flirting and I saw the touches"
"Oh god what am I going to do? People can't know I…"
"You're not going to panic and freak out on me are you?"
"What no why?"
"Jus wondering" she smiled "Greg"
He looked at her
"Send the card"