Growing Together

Part 19

Summary: It's not Grissom's day.

A/N: Hope you'll like this chapter although it's a bit shorter than usual.

xxxxx

"Your presence is requested on Saturday at 4 p.m."

That note, along with an address, was the main topic at work for the next few days. Everyone who had gotten an invitation was guessing as to who sent it.

Grissom pretended to have gotten one too, but remained out of the discussion. Since that was nothing unusual, no one had any suspicions that he had invited them.

Catherine was getting downright cranky that she couldn't figure it out. Her mood influenced everyone at work because she kept asking around how the others were progressing in their 'investigations.' But no one got even close to the truth.

"Grissom, are you really not the least bit interested to find out who sent the invitations?"

Friday morning, she was bothering Grissom for the third time. Unfortunately, Catherine had picked the most inopportune moment, right in the middle of an experiment, and Grissom just couldn't take it anymore.

"You know what? I didn't want to go to this…party or whatever to begin with. You showed up every five minutes until I said I'd go. And now you're still showing up in regular time intervals that are far too close together, and if you don't quit bothering me now, I'll let my pets loose if you come to drag me out of my house because I've changed my mind."

Catherine looked shocked. This was not the reaction she had expected.

Grissom had never had a verbal outburst like this. His deadly weapon had always been silence coupled with a disapproving look that made you want to be swallowed by the ground, but never this.

He had only gotten 'louder' with Ecklie or particularity cold hearted criminals, but not like this.

To be honest, this Grissom scared her because she believed every word he said to be true. When he really didn't want to, maybe even felt provoked, there was no way to convince him.

She wanted to apologize, but his still dark look told her that it wasn't the right time. She retreated quietly, leaving Grissom to his experiment.

As so often, Grissom wondered how he and Catherine had ever become friends. It seemed too illogical, so completely opposite they were. But in the end, Grissom knew - they had become friends because – at least back then – they shared the same values and because each of them needed someone the complete opposite in their lives for some kind of balance.

Usually their system worked well, but there were all of the other times where they just drove each other up the wall. And today was one of those times.

He could only hope Saturday was 'usually.'

xxxxx

His hopes of a quiet morning were dashed when he felt it brewing within.

It was coming and there was no way he could stop it, especially not here, not at work.

It shouldn't have surprised him, considering the stress he had been under for the last week, but he had prayed that he had been wrong when he felt the first clouds.

Tiredly, he rubbed his eyes, temples and neck, but nothing helped. This was the beginning of a killer migraine.

As much as he hated it, this was not the time to play the strong one and hold out. This was the time to admit defeat and swallow the pill – literally.

Taking the pain killers would mean that he would be completely useless for the rest of the day, not that he could do much without them. The only question was how was he supposed to get home?

Either way, it would not be safe for him to drive. He should probably call Sara and have her pick him up.

Decision made, he reached into one of the drawers and pulled out the painkillers. Unfortunately, he had nothing to drink in his office, so he had to face the bright lights and the buzz of the hallways.

However, he had no choice because he simply could not swallow the pills dry. It always made him feel as if they got stuck half way down and that would not help his nausea.

When he reached the break room, he wished he had taken the chance.

Catherine was just taking a break, munching away on some take out food. The smell made his stomach turn and it took everything not to be sick.

Catherine didn't look up, choosing to ignore him after their disagreement.

To get back to his office as soon as possible, Grissom left her to her food and went to grab a glass of water. When he turned too fast, he swayed, feeling dizzy. His difficulties didn't go unnoticed by Catherine. She had looked up at his shuffling and he could see the worry on her face.

She only had to take one look at his face and she knew what was wrong with him. "Why didn't you say something?"

Quickly, she put her food away and went over to check on him. Like a mother, she checked his temperature on his forehead. He hated it.

However in the state that he was, he couldn't put up much resistance. The only chance he had to get out of this as fast as possible would be to give in.

He let Catherine go through her routine and when she finished, he turned to leave, mumbling something resembling 'I'm going home.'

Before he was able to get out the door, Catherine had taken hold of his arm to stop him. "Oh no, you're not driving in this condition. I'm going to take you home."

A sharp flash of pain shot through his head, making him bend over. Dimly he felt her hand on his back, lending him silent support. The irony was that she was also partly responsible for his pain.

He shook his head to clear it somewhat and be able to think again. He had to get rid of her.

"You can't just leave. I'll call a cab."

Grissom hoped his voice sounded strong enough to put her off; a vain hope.

"Nonsense, I'll drive. Get your stuff."

Without giving him the chance to protest, Catherine left, heading for the looker room. This was not good.

TBC