The ER doctor looks at Mark's x-rays and says, "I don't see any breaks or fractures of the spine. No herniations either. Right now just looks like bruising. I would recommend ice if it starts to swell. I will write you something for the pain."

Mark says, "Thank you doctor."

The doctor puts Mark's x-rays back in his chart and says, "I will have a nurse come in soon and release you."

As the doctor leaves Mark looks at Catherine and Sara and says, "Are you two happy now? I told you it was nothing."

Catherine responds, "Well it's better to be safe than sorry. You do realize it's not just about you now right?"

Mark sigh and says, "Yes, yes."

Sara jokes, "So I decided Cath and I have the right to give you as much shit as possible because you've now been here 3 1/2 months and you've had 2 hospital visits and we've had none."

Mark chuckles and responds, "Ok you have a point there."

The nurse comes in and hands Mark his paperwork and says, "Mr. Anderson here are your release papers and your script, have a nice day."

Mark takes the paperwork and responds, "Thank you."

Sara asks, "Breakfast on me guys?"

Catherine replies, "Yes, I'm starving."

At the diner Sara asks, "So what do you think is going to happen with the Undersheriff position?"

Catherine replies, "Honestly I think the Mayor will appoint Ecklie to the position."

Sara questions, "Then what happens with the Lab Director position?"

Catherine inquires, "You mean do I think Grissom would take it?"

Sara nods.

Catherine sighs and responds, "I would ultimately say no because that position is all paperwork and political things, which we know Gil doesn't handle well. But with the severity of what's going on I can see them forcing him to take the position in the interim until it is filled. But we all know what they like to do with interims in the lab, convince them to take it whether they want it or not."

Mark states, "So that would ultimately leave you as Night Shift Supervisor."

Catherine nods.

Mark says, "I'm seriously doubting that I would be allowed to stay on night shift under the circumstances. From my understanding our relationship has been allowed as I am not a direct report to you and you do not fill out my evaluations."

Sara responds, "Well honestly this is all speculation at this point. And don't you worry we will fight as a shift if they try and pull something crazy."

The next day …

Mark is in the locker room when Nick comes in and asks, "Hey, how's your back?"

Mark replies, "Not too bad."

Nick nods and says, "That's good. So did you hear about this meeting?"

Mark replies, "Yeah. You think they'll appoint Ecklie to Undersheriff?"

Nick nods and says, "I think it's a definite possibility. Let's go get a seat."

Mark and Nick walk through the halls and into the conference room where they are joined by CSIs from multiple shifts and several others in the department.

Ecklie addresses the group, "Thank you for joining me everyone. It was just announced to me by Sheriff Liston and Mayor Mobley that in light of everything that has happened with Undersheriff McKeen I will be taking his place."

Warrick raises his hand.

Ecklie questions, "Yes?"

Warrick asks, "What is going to happen with the Lab Director position?"

Ecklie replies, "I have a meeting later today with Sheriff Liston and Mayor Mobley but ultimately Grissom they want you to step in temporarily if not permanently."

Grissom looks up from the file he was engrossed in and asks, "What was that Ecklie?"

Ecklie repeats, "I said we have a meeting later today Gil with the Sheriff and the Mayor about your temporary if not permanent movement into the Lab Director position."

Gil sighs and responds, "Thanks but no thanks Ecklie, you know paperwork and politics aren't my strong points."

Ecklie firmly states, "Grissom this isn't an option it's an order. You are the only one qualified to step in at the moment and then it will be decided whether it will be a more permanent basis."

Grissom asks slightly irritated, "Who is taking over my current duties?"

Ecklie replies, "Catherine. Everyone thank you for coming to the meeting. Could I have the night shift CSIs stay behind?"

The CSIs stay seated as everyone leaves the conference room.

Ecklie starts, "Thank you all for staying and for being understanding in this difficult time." Ecklie makes obvious eye contact with Grissom and continues, "I realize all this shifting around will take some time and effort on everyone to get used to. In an emergency situation like this it's the best we can do. Gil, your appointment will start immediately we will leave for our meeting directly from this one. Start moving your things into the Director office immediately. Catherine you will obviously be taking over Gil's office. Nick you will now be Assistant Night Shift Supervisor and can move your stuff into Catherine's former office. Mark in light of everything we are changing your title a bit. You will now be AV Lab Coordinator and you will still assist night shift. This appointment is twofold. First off, since Catherine cannot be your direct supervisor this will allow Gil to still be your direct supervisor but work with night shift. AV Lab Coordinator is something that has needed filled for some time and you are more than qualified."

Mark interrupts, "Sorry to interrupt Ecklie but what about Archie?"

Ecklie replies, "We've offered this position to him several times and he keeps turning it down. You will still assist night shift as I said but you will be in charge of maintaining and deciding what new equipment is needed in the AV lab. This is something you will work directly with Gil and I on. There is an office in the back of the AV lab that is normally locked all the time, that will become your new office. Also, everyone changing positions you are being financially compensated so don't worry."

Catherine inquires, "Let's play devil's advocate for a bit let's say Grissom doesn't permanently stay in this position, what happens to me?"

Ecklie responds, "You will keep the financial compensation, we can't take that away from you. You will either go back to being Assistant Supervisor or we can try to move you laterally to another shift, but let's cross that bridge if we get to it. Anymore questions?"

Everyone shakes their heads.

Ecklie says, "Ok Gil let's go."

Ecklie and Grissom leave the conference room.

Sara says, "Well congrats everyone. These are going to be some interesting changes."

Warrick nods in agreement and responds, "Yeah, congrats."

Catherine says, "Well let's all go into Grissom's … excuse me my office and find assignments."

Later that day Mark is sitting in his new office on his laptop and Sara walks in.

Sara looks around and says, "Hey nice digs."

Mark smiles and responds, "Thanks, have a seat. At least there wasn't anything stored in here. I was picturing this being a storage closet that I'd have to clean out."

Sara laughs and says, "Yeah I can see that being a definite possibility."

Mark looks at Sara and states, "Something is up with you. You look like you got something on your mind and it feels like more than all this crazy job shifting."

Sara glares at Mark and then chuckles and responds, "Damn you for reading me so well."

Mark asks, "What's up?"

Sara gets up and shuts Mark's office door.

Mark jokes, "Uh oh this has to be serious. Not to mention the gossip that will start, first day in my office and I'm already having closed door meetings."

Sara laughs and says, "Yeah we need something else to talk about in the rumor mill."

Mark looks at Sara to continue.

Sara starts, "Ok so you know how me, you, Cath and Nancy have been hanging out a lot lately?"

Mark nods.

Sara sighs and continues, "Well I think I'm developing feelings for Nancy."

Mark smiles and responds, "I thought I picked up on something, but I wasn't sure. And before you ask I think it's mutual."

Sara sighs and says, "Well I'm not actually worried about the mutual part as much as I'm worried about what Cath will think and you know with Nancy's past, I know she hasn't dated anyone seriously since her husband died."

Mark nods and replies, "Yeah the husband thing could be tricky. Why are you worried about Catherine though?"

Sara says, "Catherine and I are haven't always been the close friends you see us as. At one time there was a lot of animosity between us, granted I was brought in initially to investigate Warrick and I think there's always been an unspoken competition going on between us."

Mark interjects, "So that was the past, what does any of that have to do with now?"

Sara sighs says, "I'm just afraid Cath will think I'm not good enough for Nancy, and I have a feeling her opinion matters a lot."

Mark responds, "I think you are having normal relationship doubts. Trust me I know I am the King of that category. Cath loves you and she loves Nancy. I think she would want both of you to be happy. And yes I'm sure Cath's opinion matters to Nancy but she is her own person. This would be her relationship, if you choose to pursue it, not Catherine's."

Sara nods not looking too positive.

Mark instructs, "Look before you decide anything, talk to Cath, trust me."

Sara smiles and says, "Thanks."

Mark says, "No thanks needed. How much of a cheerleader have you been to me with Catherine? Call it payback."

End of shift Catherine walks into Mark's office and says, "Hey, sorry I didn't make down here earlier to check out your new office."

Mark looks up from his laptop and responds, "It's cool, you're trying to settle into your new office as well."

Catherine asks, "Are you about ready?"

Mark nods and asks, "Has Sara talked to you yet?"

Catherine replies, "About something other than her cases? No. What was she supposed to talk to me about?"

Mark stands up and grabs Catherine's hand and says, "Oh just a little girl talk. Let's go home."

Later in the afternoon Mark realizing Sara has the day off along with him and Catherine sets a plan into action. Walking into the kitchen Mark says, "Hun?"

Catherine helping Lindsey with her homework responds, "Yeah."

Holding his phone Mark asks, "What do you think about inviting Nance and Sara over for dinner tonight since Sara also has the night off?"

Catherine replies, "Sounds good. I'll see if Mom can watch Lindsey and Jeremy."

Lindsey whines, "But I want to come. Aunt Sara is so much fun!"

Catherine says, "I know but this will just be boring grown up stuff. You know what though? I bet if you ask Mark and Aunt Sara nicely they will give you another guitar lesson together." Catherine looks up at Mark.

Mark nods his head and responds, "You bet kiddo!"

Lindsey says, "Yay!"

Just then Mark's phone starts ringing he picks it up and walks out of the kitchen and downstairs to his basement office and says, "Hey Kerri what's up?"

On the other end of the phone Kerri says like a giddy school girl, "Oh I just have a bit of news."

Mark taking the bait says, "Oh yeah what would that be?"

Kerri says, "Well you're going to be an uncle."

Mark laughs and responds, "Oh yeah have you adopted some other kind of creature to add to your zoo?"

Kerri says, "Haha very funny. Actually I'm pregnant."

Mark pretending to be panicked says, "Oh my God Elizabeth is going to kill you when she finds out you cheated on her."

Kerri rolling her eyes says, "Whatever you ass, I finally got inseminated!"

Mark in a fake upset tone says, "What? And you didn't use my sperm? How dare you!"

Kerri laughs and responds, "Gee well that's kind of hard to do when you're playing big shot CSI out in Vegas."

Mark jokes, "You know a guy tries to make a living and it blows up in his face. But seriously congrats."

Kerri says, "Thanks. Elizabeth is actually more excited than I am I think."

Mark genuinely shocked responds, "Well there's a game changer."

Kerri says, "Yeah I know. Well, take care and tell Catherine we say 'hello'."

Mark says, "Will do."

Mark ends the call and immediately dials Sara.

"Sidle.", comes from the other end of the phone.

Mark asks, "Sara want to come over for dinner tonight?"

Sara replies, "Sure what time?"

Mark asks, "What about 6?"

Sara replies, "Sounds good see you then."

Mark goes back upstairs and into the kitchen and says, "Guess what Kerri called to tell me?"

Catherine thinks and asks, "Did Elizabeth finally retake her detective exam?"

Mark replies, "No, but I'm guessing that might be on hold for a bit. Kerri is pregnant, she got inseminated."

Catherine smiles and says, "Aw that's sweet. We will have to go shopping soon."

After dinner Mark steps out on the porch with a beer and joins Sara.

Sara turns around and sees Mark joining her as she stands looking out across the backyard.

A few minutes of silence goes by and Sara finally asks, "Are you trying to play match maker?"

Mark chuckles and takes a sip of his beer and replies, "If I was really trying to do that I would have sent Nancy out here to watch this nice romantic sunset with you, but instead you got me."

Sara laughs and says, "And I would have shit myself."

Catherine and Nancy are washing some dishes that wouldn't fit in the dishwasher.

Catherine looks over at Nancy and asks, "Ok so when are you going to tell me what's on your mind over there?"

Nancy drying a dish replies, "What are you talking about?"

Catherine smiles and says, "Well lately you've been quiet when you're over, spacey, almost day dreamy. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a crush."

Nancy tries to hide her smile but Catherine catches on.

Catherine asks, "Ok what is with you?"

Mark asks, "And why would you shit yourself?"

Sara replies, "Maybe I'm not as confident in my personal life as I am my professional life."

Mark chuckles and jokes, "And here I had this crazy notion that you could get any girl you wanted."

Sara laughs responds, "That's not necessarily untrue. If there are no feelings involved yeah I have all the confidence in the world, but involve someone that I have potential with and it's like I forget how to function."

Nancy relinquishes, "Fine, but only if you can keep a secret."

Catherine nods for Nancy to continue.

Nancy clears her throat and starts, "Well lately I've been having feelings for Sara. Which is weird because I've known her for years, but lately when we've been hanging out all of us together something is just different. You think I'm crazy don't you?"

Catherine shakes her head and responds, "No. Quite the opposite actually. You've needed to move on from Alan for a while, I never pushed you because I was hoping you would do it on your own terms. And Sara, well she's one of the best people I know. If she feels the same and I can't imagine that she wouldn't she will be great for you."

Nancy smiles and asks, "You really think so?"

Catherine replies, "Hell yes! Besides you know I only want the best for my baby sister."

Nancy just smiles at Catherine as they continue to do the dishes. Nancy is grateful that she has such a supportive sister and now she can only hope Sara feels the same way. The only thing weighing on her mind is how to approach her; Nancy hasn't been in the dating game for quite some time.

A/N: Something could be on the horizon for Nancy and Sara, we'll have to see :)