For Disclaimer see part 1

AN: Thanks for all the reviews.

Summary: Gibbs and Kate are going to Vegas, having some fun there.

Part 22

Gibbs had called Tony to tell him he was in charge of the team for the next few days, since he and Kate were away on holiday. Tony had promised to behave and not to fight with McGee.

Gibbs and Kate flew to Las Vegas on Sunday morning. There they got a rental car and went to the address Kate had gotten from Gil. Kate stopped in front of a townhouse. It looked nice from the outside. She got out of the car and went to the front door. 'Grissom' told the sign on the bell. Kate rang it.

It did last some time until a man in his late 40 opened the door. It looked like he was just coming out of the bed. He was just wearing a bathrobe with boxers and a t-shirt underneath. He was tall, salt-and-pepper curls and deep blue eyes. He looked up and Kate recognized him. There was no question; that was her old friend, just 15 years older as the last time she had seen him.

"Did I wake you?" She asked friendly.

"Yes you did. Katie-bug, is that you? Time did well to you. 15 years ago you were beautiful but now you are just breathtaking." He gave her a bear-hug, being really happy to see his old friend again.

"Wanna come in?" he asked and opened the door further.

"Just one moment. There is someone in the car I want you to meet." Kate went back to the car and Gibbs got out of it. Together they went back to the waiting man.

"Gil, this is my fiancé Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Jethro, this is my old friend Dr. Gil Grissom." Both men shock hand and the party went inside the house.

"Can I leave you alone for one moment, so I can change? I didn't think you were coming this early."

"Early? It's just past 3 pm. But we can come back later if you want."

"3 pm is early for someone who got to bed at 10 am. And you don't need to leave; just a moment and I will be back. Make yourself at home. If you are thirsty help yourself." Gil said and went upstairs to put on some clothes.

Kate and Gibbs looked around at the house. It was a nice townhouse, the living room and kitchen built the first floor. Both were huge in space and held not much furniture. It was just Grissom's style.

"Do you want something to drink, Jethro? I'm sure Griss won't mind." Kate asked. She sensed that Gibbs wasn't feeling that comfortable.

"Some coffee would be nice, but I can wait. You should take it easy."

"Jethro, I'm not ill. I can bring you your coffee. Let me see where Griss hides his stuff." Kate went into the kitchen section and searched the cupboards for cups. All other items she needed were already on the counter. She made a pot for the men and got some water out of the fridge for her.

Just at the moment she entered the living room again, Gil reappeared.

"I see, you found the coffee. Good thing, I was just about to make some. It's so good to see you again. Promise me to stay in contact with me. I'm not up to let 15 years past again before I see you the next time. By the way you have to come again in three months, without any discussion."

"Gil you don't make any sense. Why do I need to come again? Which I not sure I can make." Kate asked being used to Gil's way of acting.

"Oh, I'll tell you later. I'm just so excited to see you again. You have to tell me everything that happened to you. And tell me about your fiancé. I actually believed that you would be married with children by now. How come?"

"Well, lets say, we didn't find each other earlier. But I'm happy about the way it is now. It couldn't be any better. I have a guy I love more then my own life. I have a job I love and I have lots of dear friends. What about you? Where is Mrs. Grissom?"

"Well, there is no Mrs. Grissom, yet. Since you are already here, how about I organize a dinner date. I want you both to meet the persons in my life. My friends and coworkers, my family. Actually I was hoping you would come in early so I arranged for my team to have the night off. That's a rare occasion." Gil explained.

"If it's their night off, they should spend it with their families. I'm sure there will be another time for us to meet them."

"They are my family. I arranged it because you can meet them. It means much to me."

"Okay, you know I have never seen you this way. You were ever the silent guy, but now you are like a little child on Christmas Eve. That's definitive a change on you I like. So how about Jethro and I went to a hotel and get freshen up and meet you here in two hours?" Kate suggested.

"No need to. You can stay here. There is more than enough space up there. I show you a room where you can stay. Then I'm going to make some calls."

Both Kate and Gibbs agreed. So Gil showed them the top floor of his townhouse, which held two guestrooms, a master bedroom and a bathroom. Gil left to call his friends.

After everything was set Gibbs and Kate reappeared. The next two hours the talked about the last 15 years. Even Gibbs seemed to get more comfortable around Gil. He wanted to know everything about Gil's job as CSI. He promised to take both of them to the lab the next day.

They went to the 'Bellagio' hotel, where they would meet the other ones. The three of them were the last to arrive. On a round table sat eight persons; both men and women at different stages of age.

"Hello you all. Glad you could make it. So I want you to meet one of my oldest friends Caitlin Todd and her fiancé Jethro Gibbs. Katie, Jethro I want you to meet my friends and family." Gil said and went over to introduce each person.

First was a young woman in her early thirties, with shoulder-long brown hair and a light gap between her front teeth. Her name was Sara Sidle. She was the last member that joined Gil's Graveyard Shift. She was recruited by Gil to investigate an accident in which one of his team-members had died. Her name had been Holly Gribbs and it would have been her first day at the graveyard shift. Well, Gil called Sara, who was one of his students back in San Francisco and she came. When she was done with her investigation she just stayed in Vegas and never went back to her old work. There was no question, Sara had feelings for Gil. Kate could tell because of the looks she was giving him. But Gil didn't notice.

Next to her sat a young man, about the same age as Sara. His name was Nicholas Stokes. Nick was a Texan, very charming and good-looking, Kate noticed. He tried very much to get the attention of the woman next to him. Gibbs was feeling for him. He knew perfectly well, how Nick must be feeling. Being in love with a woman and not knowing if she is feeling the same way. Perhaps he should talk to him later about coming clear.

The next guy was the oldest one. His name was Albert Robbins and like Gil explained the coroner of his team. Doc Robbins was the only one of them who was married. All other team-members were single, divorced or widowed. Doc Robbins looked like the kind grand-pa from next door with his nearly white hair and beard. He was the perfect person to play Santa Claus. Al was liked by everyone on the table. He was a genius on his field, never missing a detail. His only problem was that he had to us a metal crutch due to a car accident some years ago. But that didn't interfere with is work. He still walked the floors like before the accident, just a bit slower.

Then there was a man in his 50. He was the homicide officer Jim Brass. Most of the time he was working with Gil's team and he was a friend of the whole bunch. Actually he had been their supervisor once. After the incident with Holly Gribbs he had given his position to Gil and Jim went back to Homicide, where he was very happy now. Jim was divorced with a grown-up daughter he didn't see this often.

Then there was the African-American guy named Warrick Brown. Again a team member. He was about the same age as Sara and Nick and it was obvious that he cared much about the whole team. Warrick had had big part in the Holly Gribbs incident. He should have been there, too. But he wasn't, because he was gambling, making bets for some attorney to get a search warrant. Back then he had been a gambling addicted. Being born and raised in Las Vegas, he spent most of his childhood near the casinos, being a runner. With the help of Gil he had come clean and never set a foot into one of the casinos, only when it was work-related, but never for gambling.

Next to him sat a young man with light-brown spiked hair. He was excited like a little boy on Christmas Eve. Like Gil told them he was the lab rat Greg Sanders. He was the youngest member of the team and very good at his field. The secret weapon, to be correct. Greg was like a grown-up child. On the outside he was about 25 but he still behave like a fifteen year old. One could tell if Greg was inside his lab by the loud music he had always running. Something Gil got used too. And Greg was always flirting with the female team-members and every other female near him. He even tried his luck with Kate, but he earned a look of Gibbs. The newest plan of Greg was to become a real CSI with going out to the scenes and everything else. Gil had to admit that Greg did great out in the field but he had much to learn. But when he was ready he would make a fine CSI.

Next to Greg sat a young girl, about 13 years old. She was obvious no team-member. She was talking to Greg. Then she looked up to Gil and her eyes lighten up. Gil introduced her as Lindsey Willows. Kate and Gibbs got a close look of her. She was very beautiful with long, strawberry-blonde hair. There was no question; she belonged to the woman next to her.

She was the last to be introduced. She had been watching the other persons on the table, so Kate hadn't seen her face until now. But when Gil was about to introduce her, she looked up to Kate and Gibbs. She was smiling.

"I know you." Kate said, seeing her for the first time. "You are the stripper Gil was watching back then."

Now all others on the table were following the conversation closely.

"Caitlin, she was no stripper, but an exotic dancer. This is Catherine Willows. She's my second-in-command and a very close friend. Actually she had been my best friend after you left without a word."

"You got close to a stripper? That's something I never imagined you would do, but I never really imagined seeing you at a strip club."

"Cath never had been a stripper. She was an exotic dancer, but that was a long time ago." Gil explained.

"Honey, don't judge people by what they had done for a living. I'm sure she is a nice person." Gibbs whispered into Kate's ear.

"I'm sorry, Gil. I know this means much to you. Catherine, I'm sorry. I don't know what's the matter with me lately. You know the hormones talking." Kate explained and laid her hands on her stomach.

Catherine got the hint. "Oh, I understand perfectly well. You are forgiven and now sit down so we can order dinner."

Soon a conversation was going. Just before the dinner arrived, Nick asked.

"Grissom, what do we owe this dinner? Okay, we have our breakfasts after shift, but dinner? That never happened before. You even managed that Ecklie took over our shift. And I don't belief you that meeting Kate is the only reason. So, what's going on Griss?"

"Okay, there is another reason. Something good I think."

"Out with it." Sara demanded.

Kate, being the profiler watched the team closely. Lindsey's eyes were glowing, just like the ones of Catherine. There was definitive something going on and the Willow's woman were part of it.

TBC…

Stay tuned so you will know what will happens next. And don't forget to review.