Sorry for the wait. Thanks for the reviews, please keep 'em coming! Shay

II. A Tarantula Named Catherine

Equilibrium- a state of mental and emotional balance; composure

"C'mon, Cath, come to daddy… no, no, honey, don't go there… this way… OW!"

Catherine jerked her head away from the door as an expression of complete horror came over her face. What the hell! She put her ear to the door again, once more hearing Grissom… crooning?

"Nice and easy, girl, you can do it… slowly, don't rush it…"

That's it. Terrified of what she would find inside, Catherine bravely burst into her boss's office and- "Grissom what the HELL are you doing!" she yelled.

Grissom's head jerked up sheepishly, and he held up a too-large, brown, fuzzy tarantula (Catherine shivered) in his palm. "What? She got lost on the way to her cage," he explained, albeit embarrassedly.

Catherine just stared at him, and he fidgeted uncomfortably. "What?"

She shook her head. "Do you not think of the fact that anyone walking by might have misunderstood you?"

Without thinking, he replied, "what does it matter?"

Her jaw dropped. "What?"

He blushed.

Grissom blushes?

"Nevermind," he muttered, and carefully placed the tarantula in its habitat. "Did you want something?"

"Yeah…"

He looked up expectantly.

She forgot. "Uh… it's not important," she mumbled, and turned to leave. She stopped in the doorway when she heard his voice again, quieter this time. "What?"

"I said, breakfast later? My house, after shift."

She smiled. There was the Grissom she knew. "I'll be there."

GC

"Wow, someone's in a good mood today," Greg commented with a smirk on his face. "Either you've had too much coffee…" he tipped his head to one side and regarded her through narrowed brown eyes, "or you got laid. Which is it?"

Catherine tried to scowl at him but failed miserably. "Like I'd tell you."

"She got laid," Greg announced triumphantly, as if there was someone else in the break room other than the two of them. Catherine gave him an odd look, and was about to say something when Nick walked in. She groaned, dreading what was coming.

"Greg…"

"Who got laid?" Nick asked innocently, snatching a package of Greg's Blue Hawaiian coffee on the way to the cupboard.

"Catherine," Greg said casually, grabbing it back.

Catherine rolled her eyes. "I did not." She stood up, dumped the rest of her coffee in the sink, and set her mug on the counter beside it. "And just so you know…" she trailed off as she stopped in the doorway and both men ceased wrestling for the package of coffee to after her- waiting for some juicy piece of gossip, no doubt. "Grow up, guys."

"Aw, c'mon Cath," Nick complained. "You can't do that."

"Can, and am," she replied cheerfully, and sailed out the door, leaving two gaping men in her wake.

GC

She showed up half an hour after shift wearing jeans and carrying a latte.

He took one look at her and smirked. "Long night?"

She glared at him. "Don't start with me."

Not willing to bear the brunt of her testiness, he hid a grin and sat down on the couch, grabbing a bowl of popcorn as he did so. "Coming?"

She finished the latte and flopped down next to him, yawning. "Nothing with bugs?"

"Nothing with bugs," he confirmed, and pressed a button on the DVD remote. It was the beginning of the first scene before she glanced over at him.

"The Butterfly Effect? I didn't know you were an Ashton Kutcher fan."

He mock-scowled. "Oh, leave it be." She grinned and stole some popcorn.

"Whatever, Gil."

He flicked off the lamp on the coffee table for ambiance. "Shhh, it's starting." He hadn't seen this movie, and his almost childish excitement made her laugh.

GC

They were both asleep by the end of the movie. Catherine had shifted in her sleep; her head was now resting comfortably in Grissom's lap, and his head was resting against the back of the couch. She was still facing the t.v, and his arm was draped over her back, his fingers barely grazing her stomach.

He woke first. He smiled, then shook her shoulder gently, knowing they both needed their sleep, and his couch wasn't the best place to get it. "Cath."

She mumbled something unintelligible and stirred. "What?"

"Get up, my legs are asleep." Grissom tried to wiggle his toes; to no avail. "I can't feel my toes," he whispered.

Catherine giggled and sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"

Grissom consulted his watch. "Almost noon. You hungry?"

"Not as much as I am sleepy," she yawned.

He grinned. "You can sleep in the guest bed, if you want," he offered.

"Mmm…"

"I'll take that as a yes."