Uncertain Times. Chapter 4 – "Losing Myself"
Disclaimer: I still don't own CSI or anything related to it.
A/N: Ahh! 10 reviews! Dear Lord. I am SO grateful to all the wonderful people who reviewed – you don't know how much it means to me. A big hug to all of you; lemonjelly, kiara-malfoy, Muzzy-Olorea, Britt X3, Hand-made Freak, Uhm.What, jana82, dukespencer2, loviegurlie and Crazy Abby. You're the greatest:) And that's why I'm continuing the story right away.
xoxoxo
It had been four days since Gil and Catherine had last spoken.
Four days with paperwork. Four days with bad weather. Four days with evidence that had been washed away by the rain.
Four days with absolutely no purpose, at all.
Gil was spending most of his time in his office, behind his desk, reading. Reading, writing, going through solved cases, going through dead-end cases.
He didn't complain, but he didn't enjoy it either. Something was missing. Someone was missing.
Of course, Catherine.
He didn't want to think of her – not that she wasn't nice thinking of – but she reminded him of his stupidity.
Besides, he hadn't seen her much. Just a few times when she passed his office, he managed to catch a glimpse of her before she was gone. This happened rarely, though, and he found it strange why she didn't said "good morning" when she checked in, or "see you tomorrow" when she checked out, as she usually did.
It was his fault. But he didn't want to think of it. It interrupted his work. He needed peace. Silence.
Why did he ask her to come to dinner at the first place? He didn't have the time for a relationship. His work would always come in the way – he had experienced the same thing years ago with Teri Miller.
But Catherine – it was a different situation. They weren't actually having a relationship. They were friends, had been it for years, and he didn't want to ruin anything. But he feared that he had already done so.
Giving one last thought to the strange relationship, he returned to his paperwork.
xoxoxo
..: At a crimescene, outside of Las Vegas :..Catherine looked up from her camera, turned it around and wiped off the water from the lens – the rain was pouring down from the sky, and it had already destroyed the evidence that she and Nick hadn't processed yet.
"Hey Nick," she called to the younger Texan, "take a look at this."
The drenched CSI left the almost invisible footprint he was examining and joined Catherine.
"Damn. Looks like some sort of - I dunno – a foot, maybe?" he said while crouching down to look closer at Catherine's finding.
"Yeah. You should bag it and take it back to the lab," she answered while pointing at his car.
Nick looked at her while removing a few raindrops from his face.
"Why don't you?" he asked, his Texan accent being visible, "you found it."
Catherine looked at him, confused.
"Not sure I understand?"
He gave her one of his smirks.
"Well, you know, word goes 'round fast."
She put her hands on her hips.
"What have you heard? What, Greg is having fun again?"
Nick rose and started to walk back to his car to find a bag.
"All I heard is, that you and Gris – well, I heard you guys are having trouble," he said as he waved his hands, like surrendering.
Catherine gaped.
"What is wrong with you guys?" she protested, "why --- who told you this? Nick!"
He laughed while getting the bags from his kit.
"Oneguess."
"Greg!"
"Hey Cath, don't be too rough on him, he ---"
But Catherine had already gone to her car and turned the engine on. As she drove off, Nick heard her yelling out of the window.
"And I am not done with you, Nick Stokes!"
Nick smiled.
xoxoxo
..: Las Vegas Crime Lab :..With loud, clicking steps, Catherine marched down the hallway at the lab, heading for DNA.
She could already see the young Greg Sanders behind the glasswalls, and this made her even more furious.
She opened the door and shut it behind her.
"Greg," she addressed him, arms crossed over her chest, her heels clicking impatient on the floor.
He turned his chair in a single movement and flashed a wide smile. His hair was spiky, as usual.
"Helloo, Catherine. What brings you to my," he laughed a little, "domain?"
"Quit the acting. I'm serious."
"Feisty."
"Greg!"
"Excuse me. What can I do for you? A DNA sample?"
"You know why I'm here. The rumour you've been spreading around."
"Aha! The rumour!" he clasped his hands. "Well, actually, it's not just a rumour, is it?" he gave her a daring grin.
"Greg, tell me – who've you told this to?"
"Those who wanted to know," he said cryptically.
Catherine simply gave him a look that could kill.
Greg stood from his chair and took a step towards her.
"Just a few," he answered in a negotiation-kind of way, "Nick, Warrick. I might have told Sara, too. I mentioned a few words to our dear Captain Brass, aswell."
"What is your problem?"
"I'm sorry."
"You'd better be. Just --- shut up from now on, will ya?"
He nodded, almost grateful for Catherine not being more angry.
"Does Grissom know?"
"I wouldn't think so, no," he answered in a humble voice.
As fast as she had entered the DNA-lab, as fast did Catherine exit it again – this time, headed for Gil's office.
xoxoxo
She knocked on the door and entered immediately.
She found Gil in his usual way – buried in his paperwork, eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
"Hey," she started.
He looked up at her in surprise and lay down his paper.
"Catherine? I, uh – it's good to see you."
She smiled at his statement and took a few steps closer to his desk.
"Good to see you, too. I, uh, have to speak with you. It's important."
He was silent for a moment, but when he realised what she had said, he suddenly became confused and made a gesture for her to sit down, and she did so.
"Yes?" he asked.
"I think we have a problem."
"Oh. What kind of problem?"
She wanted to mention Greg and his rumours, but decided not to.
Besides, the rumours had been kind of true – Gil and her had been distancing themselves from eachother lately; not something she was fond of, but she could feel Gil hesitating, so she had figured that maybe.. this wasn't what he wanted.
Instead, she hurried and changed the subject of interaction.
"We have a foot – probably from a dead person – found in the desert."
Gil, having hoped she would bring another subject for them to talk about, exhaled and leaned back in his chair.
"Have we identified the foot's previous owner yet?"
"Nope. Nick's having it transferred to DNA sooner or later."
There was a long, unpleasant silence in the office. Gil cursed himself inside for not being able to speak – again.
"Well, I'm going now – I have paperwork to do," Catherine said and rose from the chair, heading for the door.
"Wait---," Gil raised his hand for her to stop. She turned to him without speaking; her blonde hair caressing her shoulders, bare because of the tanktop she was wearing.
"Catherine, it has, uh, been a while." He felt awkward when she didn't answer him. "What I'm saying is.. I want you to stay."
She looked at him surprised. Then she gave him a warm smile.
"You know, I really have paperwork – and I'm talkin' paperwork with capital P."
Gil looked to his document again, disappointed.
"Of course you do. I'll talk to you later."
"But," she continued, making him look at her, astonished, "I think I might just be able to finish it later. That is, of course, if you're letting me walk from here before my shift is completely over."
He smirked, feeling a rock fall from his heart.
"I think that's going to be hard."