A/N: If I ever had trouble uploading a chapter, it was this one. Thank goodness the site is finally working!

The Antics of Lindsey Willows

Chapter 3

Catherine didn't bother to knock; she just barged right in Grissom's office and stood in front of his desk. "Gil, what are you doing Saturday night?"

"You mean besides working?" He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Yeah." She stared at the polish on her nails that was peeling slightly.

"As it so happens, I have a date."

She chuckled and flashed her signature smile. "You have a date?"

"Is that so hard to believe?"

She chose the badge of honesty. "Yes."

He rose from his chair and opened the door. "Well, believe it or not, the choice is yours." He strolled off.

"That went well," she sighed. She had been counting on Grissom to be her date. Not because she liked him, he was just her friend, but because he had no life and would be available. So much for counting on the underdog. She passed the DNA lab and saw Nick inside talking to Wendy. She was near the center of the lobby when she turned around. He was coming out the door and nearly ran into her. "Whoa, Nicky, where's the fire?"

"Oh, sorry, Cath. I'm in a bit of a hurry."

"No kidding. Hey, you have Saturday night off, right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"What're you doing?"

"I, uh," he paused, "I have a date."

"I didn't think Sara had the night off."

"She doesn't. It's someone else. Catherine, Sara and I aren't dating. We just live together."

"Right. Well, never mind then."

"Okay." He laughed as he headed off to find Greg.

Catherine felt defeated. She had met two dead ends in less than ten minutes. She decided to go home and get some sleep. She could always try again tomorrow. Perhaps one of the two men would lose their date. She could only hope.

Sara was there and she looked up when Catherine entered. "Clocking out?"

Catherine spun the dial on her locker. "Oh yeah. I'm beat."

"I know the feeling."

"Sara, did you know that Grissom has a date Saturday?"

Sara laughed but stopped herself when she saw Catherine's unchanging expression. "You're serious aren't you?"

"Yeah. And it's not just him. Nick has a date too. I was going to ask one of them to go to this ridiculous party Sam Braun's throwing, but they're both busy."

"You could always ask Warrick."

Catherine let out an exasperated chuckle. "Please, Sara. I'm not going with a married man.

"Oh come on, Catherine. It's one night. All you're doing is going to a party. It's not going to kill either one of you."

"Well, I have until Saturday. I'll ask him as a last resort." She frowned at Sara who was grinning madly and grabbed her purse. She was out of the locker room fast.

Nick waltzed in just as Sara shut her door. "Hey, Nick, what is this I hear about you having a date on Saturday?"

He looked over both shoulders and out the door down the hallway. "It's nothing. Lindsey wants me to be available while she's home alone Saturday and she doesn't want Catherine to know."

"Lexi can take care of her."

"That's what I said, but the kid seemed hooked on me."

"She was going to ask you to a party."

"Who?"

"Catherine," Sara said.

"Really?"

"Yeah. She was going to ask Grissom, but he said he had a date too."

Nick laughed. "I bet that was Lindsey too. Grissom doesn't date. Besides, Catherine should ask Warrick."

"That's what I told her."

He put his arm around her shoulder. "Come on. Let's go home to our kid."

When Catherine walked in the door she was unsurprised to find Lindsey still awake. The girl was sitting on the couch flipping through the channels, practically bored to tears. "Why do you keep waiting up for me?"

Lindsey chose her words carefully. Anything she said had to make the plan move forward. She couldn't lose sight of her goal. "Grandpa called earlier today. When I said you weren't home, he said he'd call you at work. I just wanted to know what it was all about."

Catherine had to remind herself not to roll her eyes. It wasn't an easy task. "Oh, I see. Well there's this benefit on Saturday and he wanted to make sure I was going."

"You mean I have to be home all by myself?"

"Gosh, I didn't even think about that. I'll have to cancel."

"No! Mom, I'm thirteen. I can handle myself. Besides, Lexi will be at her house and she was thinking about coming over anyway."

"You want me to go that bad? Okay, we'll try it. I'll keep my phone with me so you can call if you need anything."

The clock was ticking early Friday morning. Most of the state still slept soundly in their beds, but not the members of the grave shift at CSI. They were getting ready to come off a long work night and fall into a peaceful sleep. Most of them were, anyway. Catherine Willows was still in a bit of a pickle. She had eavesdropped on conversations Nick and Grissom had with others hoping to hear something about a canceled date, but it was to no avail. Sara gave her a knowing head shake every time she saw this. "Just ask Warrick," she'd whisper to Catherine, but the older woman would shush her and wave her away. By the time Warrick was preparing to leave, Catherine knew she had no choice.

She tried to appear as nonchalant as possible and ease into the conversation, but she failed. "So what are you doing Saturday night?" she blurted out and silently scolded herself.

"Nothing, why?"

At least he has no plans, she thought. "Oh, just wondering if you're weekend was going to be as eventful as mine." Am I insane? I'm making it sound like I'm lucky to be in this dilemma.

"What's going on with you?" he asked.

"Oh, Sam Braun is having this party at the Tangiers and he asked me to go. I would've said no, but he's taking my mom and I have to make sure he behaves himself…her too, I suppose. Of course he waited until the last possible moment to mention that I needed to bring a date."

"How's that going?"

She chuckled. The honesty badge was displayed on her shirt once again. "Not too well. The only people I thought to ask already have dates. Short notice, I suppose. I would just not go, but Lindsey really wants this opportunity to prove she's responsible. I know I should hire someone after her little exploit the last time she was alone, but I really need to go."

He stood up and ran a hand over his hair. "This thing's tomorrow right?"

"Yep."

"And it's just a party?"

"Yeah. Shaking hands, eating, dancing, and drinks. Lots of drinks."

"You know, Catherine, I could go with you. For a couple of hours anyway. That way you can check on your mom and you don't have to worry about going with some scumbag."

"Oh, Warrick, that'd be great. You're great, you know that?"

"That's what they tell me at home." She tensed up and he saw it. Obviously she was thinking about his wife. "You know, my grandma tells me that all the time." She seemed to ease up a little, but was out of the locker room in a flash.

Catherine ran her fingers through her hair. She was relieved she had finally found a date, but nervous too. Saturday was certainly going to be a test.

A/N2: This one was a bit harder to tap out, but I got it. More to come. Let me know your thoughts please.