Disclaimer: Not only do I not own anything related to CSI, I also own nothing about Jeopardy!

Chapter 12

Grissom now faced his fourth taping for Jeopardy! As he waited for the taping of his 15th episode, he couldn't believe the face he saw among the family, friends and contestants in the primary waiting room.

"Al?"

"Gil! Surprised to see me?"

Dr. Albert Robbins serves as chief coroner of the Las Vegas Police Department and has been friends with Gil Grissom for more than a decade. He also is someone who could give Grissom a run for his money because when it comes to knowing shit about all kinds of shit Robbins is definitely in Grissom's league. The two greeted each other warmly.

"You know," Al started. "I was hoping you would still be here, but you're going to be a hell of a guy to beat."

"Did you take the test in Vegas?" Grissom asked.

"No, I took it about a year ago when I was in L.A. Grandma took the grandkids to DisneyLand and Grandpa took the Jeopardy! test. I got a call six months ago with this date. Small world, huh?"

"It is," Grissom said with a big smile.

"You know, Dr. Grissom," Al said for only his friend to hear. "If you're still around when I get there, I'm going to kick your mental ass."

Grissom smiled and stood firm. "Dr. Robbins, I do believe you're challenging me. In fact, if you had a glove in your hand, I would think you had just smacked it in my face."

"Yes," Robbins said, stroking his beard. "That would be about right."

Grissom and Robbins stood there with smiles on their face. Then Grissom said, "Bring it on, Grandpa."

"Oh, it's brought, Bugman."

A few hours later…

"This .. is ... Jeopardy! Let's meet today's contestants.

"A literature professor from Morgantown, W.V., Bonnie Plankett.

"A coroner from Las Vegas, Nev., Al Robbins.

"And our returning champion, an entomologist and criminologist from Las Vegas, Nev., Gil Grissom, whose 19-day cash winnings total $533,504. ...

"And here's the host of Jeopardy!, Alex Trebek!"

"Thank you, Johnny Gilbert. Well, today's game should prove interesting, as two of our contestants know one another. One of our challengers, Dr. Al Robbins, serves as the head coroner at the crime lab where our champion, Gil Grissom, works. And our other challenger Bonnie, will also be trying to slay the champion today, as well. Let's get going with today's first six categories: 'Ancient America,' 'Geographical Songs,' 'Um, Um Good,' 'Potent Quotables,' 'Presidential Life Spans,' and 'Asian History.' Grissom you're our returning champion so you pick first."

And then they were off.

Grissom went for "Quotables" and finished the category himself. After a slow start, Doc Robbins got into the act, scoring on a couple of "Geographical Song" questions. Before the first commercial break, 15 answers were chosen, Bonnie answering two, Doc Robbins getting three and Grissom getting 10.

During the commercial break, Robbins took a deep breath and sat down on the stool behind him. He glanced up at Grissom, who looked like the cat who ate the canary.

"Doing OK, Albert?"

"Don't get cocky, kid."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Well, your going to have to start dreaming if you hope to beat me," Robbins said as he stood up.

"I don't know about that. In order for you to win, you have to actually answer some questions," Grissom said, chuckling a bit.

"Ha ha ha," Robbins sarcastically retorted. "You know, Gil, I think it's time I took the kid gloves off."

"Oh, were you using kid gloves? That must be why you are unable to use your buzzer."

The tit-for-tat went on, and did not get unnoticed by each man's producer.

"Are you listening to them," said Javier Natale, Doc Robbins' producer, to Philip Beck. "If they weren't laughing so much, you'd think they were at each other's throats."

"I know," Beck said. "Isn't it great?"

They went back to the two friends who are now talking over each other. "Gilbert, it's so refreshing to see that you aren't self conscious about how you look on camera."

"Albert, you're going there, are you?"

"Really, I think it takes courage for a man to wear women's glasses."

"This coming from a man whose glasses are tied to a chain around his neck. You might as well have a glass of prune juice at your side."

"OK, gentlemen," said the assistant director, "let's get back to task. We're on in 5, 4, 3, ..."

The theme music is cued, and Trebek made his way to the contestants.

"Bonnie Plackett is a literature professor from West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.V.," Trebek said, smiling as he shared a short story with Bonnie.

Next Trebek moved to Doc Robbins.

"Al Robbins is a coroner for the Las Vegas Police Department, and works with our champion, who you say is afraid of rodents."

"What?" Grissom said off camera.

"This should be good," Beck said out of earshot backstage.

"We were examining a decomposed body from Lake Mead, when I noticed a rippling in the stomach cavity. Although Gilbert, here, thought it was gas, I cut opened the cavity and a rat jumped out."

And the audience groaned. "Gilbert saw the rat and seemed dumbstruck with fear."

"Interesting," Trebek said as he made his way to Grissom. "Our returning champion in Gil Grissom ..."

"I was not the one dumbstruck with fear, it was the good doctor here who lost it."

"Now, Gilbert, no need to feel embarrassed," Al said.

"Well, Albert, if I remember correctly, you were the one who screamed 'RAT!' and immediately retreated to the far side of the room leaving me to try and get the rat."

"I don't remember it like that."

"That's because you were repressing a traumatic memory."

"I'll give you a traumatic memory..."

"Well, that all sounds good," Trebek interrupted. "Grissom the board is yours."

Grissom smiled. "In honor of my dear friend, Albert, Ancient America for 200, please."

"Oh you..." Robbins said off-screen.

The Doc got into a good rhythm and by the time the break came before Double Jeopardy!, Robbins earned $7,000 to Grissom's $9,200. Bonnie even earned $2,000, just by answering four questions. Although Robbins and Grissom heckled one another through the game, they were perfect gentlemen when it came to the other contestant. Upon answering her Daily Double correctly, both men applauded for Bonnie and offered congratulations in ways of "Wonderful job" and "Excellent." Doc Robbins even gave her a pat on the back.

The commercial break yielded similar conversations from the two friends. Instead of feeling nervous and out of place, Bonnie delighted in listening to the two men.

"Don't think I've forgotten about that 'ancient' comment, Gil. And if I recall, you're no spring chicken yourself," Robbins said.

"Well, Al, I'm just glad you were able to remember that far back into the game."

"You really are enjoying this too much. Care to make this more interesting?"

"What do you have in mind," Grissom whispered. "Oh, wait, I should speak louder, WHAT DID YOU…"

"Damn it, Gil," Robbins said, laughing. "I'm gonna kick your ass when this is over. But to make it interesting for now, why don't we say for every wrong answer you get you have to cook a three-course meal for the Mrs. and me. No chili or burritos. We are talking about the good quality food you brag about."

"Fine. And what about when you get one wrong?"

"I won't."

"Right. ... You have to clean out Rosie's cage," Grissom said, knowing Robbins' love of spiders is matched by his love of rats.

"Fine," Robbins said.

-----------------

TBC