Chapter Ten
Two weeks later…
Iris's first morning at the Vegas CSI lab had gone well. She had finished with the orientation meeting and being assigned her ID badge. Iris reminisced over the past several days. She had found a town home about twenty minutes from work. Cyrano and Durante were happy in their new quarters. She'd even visited a local church that she liked. Iris would be meeting the rest of the CSI graveyard team that night.
Grissom called her into his office.
"Yes, sir?" Iris asked crisply.
"Iris, call me Grissom or Griss. Sir sounds too old for me. I've got a stack of case files for you to go through and review. Tell me your interpretation of the data and if you agree with the handling of the case and its conclusion. When you're done, you can return the files to Doris in Records." Grissom said, amiably.
"Got it, boss!" Iris grinned in reply. She took the case files with her into the break room and got busy. Two hours later, she had finished and submitted her notes to Grissom and got ready to carry the files back to Doris. She grunted a bit at the weight of the files but got into her fast-paced stride as she went up the hallway to head around the corner when….
Iris ran headlong into a man who was also coming around the corner. The case files flew out of her hands as they each lost their balance and headed toward the floor. The man had grabbed onto her to offset the inevitable fall as Iris twisted to break the fall as much as possible as they landed with a thud on the floor. The wind was knocked out of her for a moment as she found herself gazing up into a pair of very intense blue-gray eyes. The man had landed on top of her and they were in a classic missionary position. She noted the gold shield of a detective's badge on the breast pocket of his suit jacket.
"Uh, Detective, is that your very big gun I'm feeling or are you very happy to see me because I'd like to at least have dinner first?" Iris asked with a grin, her brown eyes dancing mischievously, as her eyebrows rose twice quickly in a suggestive manner. She was also blushing a brilliant pink at the same time.
As he helped her up, she observed he was taller than her, older by perhaps 5 to 10 years, dark brown hair worn short and those intense blue eyes. His face was craggy in appearance with a bit of a pugnacious nose and creasing facial lines but it reflected character to her. The man was speechless a moment before he broke out laughing, causing Iris to giggle a little herself. Grissom suddenly arrived on the scene after he saw the hallway collision from his office.
Grissom stifled a chuckle as he pretended to clear his throat. "Well, this is an interesting way to make an introduction. Iris, this is Detective Jim Brass who's a captain in the homicide department. He was the graveyard supervisor before me. Jim, may I present my newest CSI just transferred from Dallas where Nick used to be. This is Iris King."
"Detective Brass, it's a pleasure to meet you albeit in this manner." Iris smiled as she extended her hand.
"The pleasure is distinctly mine and welcome to the Vegas lab." Brass noted that her grip was firm and not wishy-washy as most women were when shaking hands.
"Griss, I'm getting these records on to Doris then I'm out until shift tonight so see you later. Again, Detective, nice to meet you!" Iris said quickly, whose nerves were getting the better of her, as she stooped to pick up the case files, Brass also bending down to help her.
She voiced her thanks as she quickly strode away with the files. Grissom and Brass watching her wind-up toy dog gait with amusement.
"She really trots, don't she?" Brass grinned at Grissom.
Later that evening after case assignments were given out, Iris was a bit disappointed that Grissom had not let her go with one of the senior CSI's although she had enjoyed meeting the team. He told her not to fret about it and that the next night she would go with another CSI to work a case. As she was being introduced, Nick immediately came over to give her a friendly hug and to ask how Jeri and Frank were doing. Warrick had shook hands to welcome her as had Greg. Sara voiced approval for fresh estrogen on the team, Iris finding she immediately liked the raven-haired young woman with a classic beauty all her own. She was to meet Catherine Willows at the end of shift since she would be working closely with her on the day shift as needed.
Finding herself starving, she settled down in the break room to the dinner she'd brought. It was homemade beef stew with cornbread muffins and the aroma of it filled the break room and hallway.
"Hey, that smells great!" A deep voice startled her as she turned to see Jim Brass framing the break room doorway sniffing the air appreciatively.
"Evening, Detective Brass. I made this myself from scratch. I have more than enough, so can I share with you?" Iris offered. She found herself looking him over carefully after Grissom had informed her earlier in the day of Brass's near-fatal shooting less than three months ago. He looked perfectly well to her relief. They had something in common then, an especially traumatic event.
"Don't be so formal. Call me Jim or Brass as the rest of the CSI's do. You made it? I'm impressed! Very tempting offer but you go ahead I couldn't impose. See you 'round, okay?" Jim replied with a slight sigh as the smell of the food had his taste buds on red alert. He gave her a little friendly wave and walked down the hall.
Iris watched him go, her little chin going twice sideways, as she made her mind up.
Stretching as he came back into his office after finding nothing appealing in the vending machines, Brass pulled up short at what he saw. On his desk was a still steaming bowl of beef stew with four little cornbread muffins and a cup of fresh brewed black coffee with cream and sugar packets. He inhaled the smells that set his mouth to watering, as he then saw the note beside the picture of Ellie on his desk.
"Your daughter is adorable. You and your wife must be very proud. Enjoy! Best, Iris"
A smile tugged at Brass's lips, touched by Iris's simple act of generosity. Yeah, he was proud of Ellie and was trying hard to reconnect with her, especially so since he'd been shot and barely pulled through. Things were still tough for him since he'd come back to duty, one being the award given to him by the mayor. He still kept the plaque in his desk drawer.
He walked quickly to the break room, only to find it empty. Iris was nowhere to be found. A bit disappointed but happy to return to a home-cooked meal, Brass went back to his office to feast.
At the end of shift, Iris popped in to meet Catherine Willows briefly before heading home. She was struck by how attractive the lithe red-head was and when Catherine frankly told her of her former profession as an exotic dancer during their conversation. Iris was to be available as needed on days to help Catherine catch up case reviews or fill in for day shift CSI's. Iris believed she and Catherine would work well together.
Iris was on her way to her Jeep when she heard someone call out "hey you". She turned around to find Brass on his way over to her with her soup bowl.
"You just disappeared earlier! I needed to get this back to you before you left. I also wanted to say thanks for some of the best stew I've ever had and being from Jersey that's saying a lot." Brass told her with a wide grin as he handed her the soup bowl.
"My pleasure, uh, Jim," Iris faltered a bit as she flushed a slight pink. "I'll see you tonight I guess hopefully on a case." She climbed into the Jeep and started it up as Jim shut the door for her.
"Count on it!" Brass said with a cocked eyebrow and smile. He gave her a friendly wave of farewell as she pulled out and she waved back.
Chuckling a little at the exchange she'd just had with the good detective, Iris stopped at a nearby convenience store to get gas for the Jeep. As she walked in to pay for her purchase, she was greeted by the young Hispanic woman at the counter.
"You are a CSI? My name is Elena and I work nights here at the store. I know all of the CSI people, so you must be new." Elena said pleasantly after she saw Iris's ID badge.
"Yes, it's my first day. My name's Iris King and I'm happy to meet you Elena. Oh, when is your baby due?" Iris asked noting the gravid belly of the young woman.
"Not for several more weeks but this is my first baby so exactly when it comes is still not sure." Elena said proudly as she patted her abdomen.
"Well, I will see you again Elena and take care of that little blessing!" Iris laughed as she left the store.
As she pulled out of the store parking lot to head for home, Iris wondered what the future held in store for her. She was beginning to feel more at home here in this gaudy city, anxious to establish herself in a nationally known crime lab in a job that had happened in a dream-come-true fashion. What surprises awaited her decision to change jobs and cities she had no way of fathoming.
THE END
Thanks for reading "By Any Other Name" and please review if you like. The next story in my Brass/Iris series is COMING SOON.