1

The CSI's all sat in the break room, waiting for Ecklie to get there and start his 'emergency' meeting. Everything was back to normal now that Brass had recovered and been released from the hospital. Greg and Nick chatted about the previous night's football game. Grissom did his daily crossword, Sara was reading a case-file and Catherine was making a mental list of everything she needed to pick up for Lindsay's sleepover this weekend.

After a few minutes, Ecklie strolled in with a stack of papers in his hand. "Hello, Everyone." A round of 'heys' and 'hellos' followed, most unenthusiastic. "I know you all are busy, but I have some news. I received this memo yesterday and I need to pass it on to all of you." Ecklie passed a copy of the memo to each of the CSI's. "I spent time reviewing everyone's file after I received this. I'd like you all to read it, but basically, it says that the vacation time policy is being rewritten. We used to be able to bank an unlimited amount of vacation time, with no risk of losing it. This policy is being changed so that, effective immediately, we can only bank ten weeks at a time. This doesn't affect most of you, because most of us have lives and actually use our vacation time, but there are a couple."

Sara was the first to voice her opinion. "So, what? If we have more than ten weeks banked we lose it immediately?"

"No it doesn't work that way. If you read the memo, it explains that upon having banked more than ten weeks, you are to immediately take that time off."

Sara's voice rose. "What? You mean we can't just give it up?"

"No, evidently, that would be against policy."

"So, what are we supposed to do, exactly?"

"Well, Sara, you would have to take the time off, and make sure you never go over ten weeks. According to policy, I am to keep tract of this. If you show up to work and have more than ten weeks in your bank, I have to send you home."

This time Grissom interjected, "So when does this start, Ecklie?"

"Right now."

Grissom and Sara were in unison this time, "What?"

"I know this is a shock to the two of you. Do either of you know how much vacation you have banked up?" Without giving them a chance to respond, "Sara, you have 16 weeks. And Grissom, you're just lucky you turned in ten days to go to that entomology convention a couple months ago. That brings you down to 17 weeks."

"So, if I understand you correctly, since I have 16 weeks banked, you have to send me home today, for six weeks?"

"Sara, just think of it this way, you get all the holidays off. Thanksgiving is next week. You'll be off until the end of January."

"Don't you mean the beginning of January?"

"No, I mean the end of January. You have six extra weeks now, and then you get three more the first of the year that you have to use also."

Sara stood and started yelling now, "Nine weeks? Grissom! Do something! You can't let him do this to us!"

Grissom, somehow holding his composure, didn't raise his voice, but stood to face Sara, "Sara, there's nothing I can do. It's policy. Trust me, I don't like this anymore than you. I have to take ten weeks!" Then, as if a light went on in his head, "Conrad, isn't there a policy where you can only take so many days of consecutive vacation…or something like that?"

"Actually, there is. But, if you read the memo, it says that these are special circumstances. That policy will be 'overlooked' for right now."

Grissom continued, "How convenient. Just how many people does this effect, Conrad?"

"Well, in this portion of the lab, You, Sidle and Sanders."

"Me?"

"Yes, Sanders. Somehow, you have one extra day. You have to use that one day, today and then before the New Year, you have to use three more weeks. Whatever portion of those three weeks, you don't use between now and the New Year, just stay home until they're used up. Besides them, the rest of you have not reached ten weeks. Any questions?"

Greg spoke up, "Yeah! If Grissom and Sara are both going to be gone, who's gonna be shift supervisor?"

"There will have to be some changes made for a while. Catherine will be acting supervisor of grave shift. Anything else?"

Sara pleaded again, "Grissom?"

"I'm sorry, Sara, there's nothing I can do." Sara turned and stormed out of the lab. "Uh…Conrad?"

"Yes, Gil?"

"Why exactly is this new policy in place?"

"Remember Tomer from days?"

"Yeah, he retired three weeks ago."

"Yes. And he's still getting paid right now."

"So?"

"And he'll keep getting paid for another year-and-a-half."

"What?"

"Evidently, he's never taken a vacation since he started working here." There were a few whistles and 'wows' around the room. "They don't want that to happen again, so…this is it! Okay everybody, back to work. Sanders, see you tomorrow. Grissom, I'll need you to brief Catherine on all of your cases before you go. Also, let her know about any paperwork that you have that hasn't been done. Then, I'll see ya next year." Conrad turned and left and the rest of the crew stood to say bye to Grissom.

Nick was first in line, "Gonna miss you around here, but have fun. Hey, you know where we all get together to have breakfast on Fridays. You should come by." After a hug, Nick went back to work.

"Hey, Warrick, you help Catherine keep everybody in line."

"No prob, Gris! See ya at breakfast, Man." A handshake followed and Rick was out.

"Can I feed your tarantula while your gone, or are you taking him with?"

"If it means that much to you, Greg, I'll leave him here. But you take good care of him, and don't give Catherine a hard time."

"Yes, Sir!" Greg gave a fake salute and ran out of the office yelling, "Yes!"

That left Catherine, still seated in her chair. "You're taking this awfully well!"

"Well, it looks as though I don't have a choice."

"What are you gonna do for ten weeks?"

"Uh…I have no idea."

Catherine stood and walked over to him. "If I were you, I'd start with finding Sara and talking to her."

"I guess you're right."

"Yep! I usually am."

When they entered his office, she sat in the chair behind his desk, "Moving right in, huh?"

"Huh! Yeah, I guess. You know, you're supposed to actually do paperwork, as a supervisor."

"Yeah, well, that's what they tell me, but I'm not really good at it."

"Well, don't bother briefing me. I get it. None of it's done."

"Great! I think you're pretty up-to-date on all our cases. What you don't know, one of the guys does. Anything else, just call me!"

"Call you? You'll be on vacation."

"So?"

"Never mind! Anything else?"

"Nope, I think that's it. See you next year. Good luck!"

"Thanks. I'll try to have this desk cleared before you get back. Have a nice vacation." Catherine got up and hugged him. "Have fun Gil!" She backed away to look in his eyes, "Really! Maybe this is what you need. You've been stressed lately…out of sorts. Maybe what you need is to just go and have fun. Do you know what fun is?"

"The dictionary definition is to…"

"No! Not the definition, Gil. Do you know how to have fun?"

"I guess…I guess I'll figure it out!" With his little quirky smile, Grissom left to start his, probably much-needed, but dreaded vacation. First step, find Sara.