Hi guys. I've finally managed to finish typing this chapter up. I'm still working on the wall I've hit, but I've got two more complete chapters left before I get to that point in the story. Hope people are still reading.

Brass woke early, groaning as he opened his eyes and checked the time - 6:15 am. He showered and dressed before heading along the corridor. He passed the closed doors of the three younger CSIs then rounded the corner. He frowned as he approched Grissom's room, noting the wide open door and still made bed. His frown deepened when he noticed the similar state of Catherine's door.
The captain placed a cautionary hand on his holster as he entered the dimly lit room. He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face at the sight before him, his hand moving from his hip to pull out his phone, making sure the flash was off before snapping a quick picture for posterity.

Both Grissom and Catherine were sound asleep, the latter having shifted at some point during the night so her head was now resting on her bed fellow's shoulder, her cast draped across his chest. The grave shift supervisor had moved also, slipping lower in the bed and had an arm protectively wrapped around the strawberry blonde, keeping her close.
Brass was loathed to wake them but cleared his throat, causing Grissom to stir and wake.

"Morning," Brass greeted him, still grinning. "You look comfortable."
The other man's eyes widened as he glanced between Brass and Catherine, gently extricating himself from the latter and standing, a quick check confirmed she remained asleep.
"It's not..." Grissom began but Jim held up a hand to silence him.
"Your timing could use a little work buddy but damn, finally!"Off his old friend's confused look he continued, gesturing to the still sleeping woman. "You and Catherine. I've watched the two of you dance around each other for years, but I'd given up hope you'd ever grow a pair and make a move."

Grissom flushed, very grateful Catherine was still sleeping.
"Sorry to burst your bubble Jim but nothing happened. I helped Cath with her pain meds and I guess the last few days caught up with me, I fell asleep."
The other man rolled his eyes.
"You know, despite my crack about bad timing I thought this whole situation might be the kick up the ass you needed to finally come clean and tell her how you feel."
Grissom paused, a denial dying on his lips. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose beneath his glasses.
"It's not that easy Jim."
"Bullshit. 'Not that easy' would've been telling her when she was still married to that scumbag Eddie. I know you don't need me to tell you that explosion could've been a lost more serious, for either of you."

Brass knew it was a bit of a cheap shot but it seemed to work. His friend looked over his shoulder, his eyes moving slowly between the cast on Catherine's arm and the stitches on her forehead. Brass had to bite back a triumphant grin as Grissom's shoulders sagged in defeat and he gave the smallest of nods.
"You're right Jim, I need to know for sure. When this mess is over I'll talk to her." Off the other man's pointed look he rolled his eyes. "And tell her how I feel.".
"We don't know how long this will take though," his friend pointed out.
"Baby steps. I've just decided to tell my oldest friend I'm in love with her, possibly ruining everything. I need a little longer to build up the courage and figure out what I'm going to say."
The captain chuckled. "I've heard a kiss gives women a pretty good idea of feelings."
Grissom levelled him with a stare. "She'd deck me."
"I'd bet my pension she wouldn't."
Shaking his head, Gil moved toward the door. Brass followed a step behind.
"I'm jumping in the shower, I'll meet you downstairs in a bit."

The two men exited the room, pulling the door shut with a soft click.
A few moments later the woman in question opened her eyes. Catherine blinked a few times, trying to digest the conversation she'd just heard before sighing and sitting up, leaning back against the headboard.
"What?"

Passing through the corridors of the lab, feet beating an uneven rhythmn on the floor, the helper tried not to externally betray the anxious feelings threatening to overwhelm. The man had been furious, the phone call earlier the worst display of temper since the'd formed this... partnership, albeit a very lopsided one. It wasn't worth thinking about the consequences were if the CSIs weren't located, and quickly.
Passing the AV lab, a few words of Archie's phone conversation filtered through the doorway to the helper's ears, halting the momentum of movement. Glancing round to ensure no one was paying attention, they leaned in a little, able to make out every word from the lab tech's end.

"It's slow going Brass but I think I'm starting to narrow it down... I'll send the list to Vartann as soon as I get it down to 20..."
At that moment a couple of lab techs passed, nodding to the helper who shot them a smile while mentally cursing them for the interruption to the eavesdropping. A final word worked it's was through the mindless chatter.
"...Sam..."

In a millisecond the helper's eyes widened, almsot feeling the click as the puzzle piece slipped into place in their brain.
Moving quickly but calmly though the lab they found an empty computer with the screen facing away from the corridor before sitting down and entering in their credentials. Why hadn't it occurred before? While Catherine's paternity wasn't common knowledge throughout the lab, for someone this invisible it wasn't difficult to overhear a few conversations and figure it all out.

A handful of keystrokes, clicks and a bit of deductive reasoning later, the helper had all that was needed. Grinning the figure logged out and left the computer lab, easger to get somewhere quiet and call the man. He would be overjoyed to hear that they had what he wanted.
In the helper's zeal, they'd failed to notice the suspicious gaze of Detective Vartann follow them along the corridor and out of sight.

Exiting the building, a burner phone was pulled from a pocket and the only number stored on it speed dialled.
The grin returned as the man answered on the second ring.
"Sir it's me. I know where they are."

The man hung up the phone, punching the address into the computer and waited for the directions to load. Hitting print he switched screens, typing furiously. Within minutes the screen was filled with boxes, the moving images bringing a broad grin to his face.
On a seperate monitor blueprints were conjured with a few keystrokes and clicks, his original plan already morphing in his mind.
This was going to be fun.

There we go. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'm going to try and get the other two typed up and posted ASAP.
Lily
-x-