A/N: Going to switch thingy's for a chap, meaning that Bosco's in the ending cause you'll see why. Used a favourite of mine Let Me Go by 3 Doors Down prolly going to use it again. Cause it's a good song.

"Grissom wants to see you" Sara said over a row of lockers as Ashley heard the closing of the woman's locker.

"Alright thanks" she told Sara then heard the locker room door close.

Within the next twenty minutes she would find out, if she was ever allowed to work solo on a case, if she was a CSI level one or not. She'd hadn't been nervous waiting to find out if she had passed the cop exam, she knew she had passed with flying colours, this was different. She had messed up on her first proficiency, she had misinterpreted the evidence and nabbed the wrong guy, only noticing the mistake after it was pointed out. Now or never, she closed her locker and took a deep breath.

She walked past the semi conference room where they had their pre-shift meeting and everyone was in there minus Grissom, because he was waiting in his office for her. All of them were laughing at something, no one noticing her looking in on them. She walked past them into Grissom's office.

It took him a few seconds before he looked up from a folder he was looking at. She tried to peer over and see what he was looking at but couldn't see anything without making it obvious.

"I'll talk you in a moment" he stood and grabbed the file and left. So maybe she didn't make it, if she did then wouldn't he talk to her first then give the meeting? Now she knew why no one liked waiting, other scenario's always popped into your mind. Now what she going to do? Look for another job? Well she could always wait until Lily went into school that way she could work in the day while Lily was in school or she could sleep while she was in school so many decisions.

"Sorry to keep you waiting" Grissom walked back into the room with another file, she wasn't to sure if it was the same one or not.

"Sorry about that" he seated himself down at his desk. The file open now.

"Let's get right the point" he closed his mouth, this was not getting to the point.

"Okay"

"Congratulations" congratulations? Congratulations? CONGRATUALATIONS?

"I passed?" Grissom nodded

"I passed?" this was a sick joke, one she didn't like

"I wouldn't say it, if it weren't true"

"I" she pointed at herself "passed?"

"Yes" Grissom had never seen anyone so happy about passing before

"I PASSED!" she was one I passed from jumping up and down.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you" he paused for a moment then continued "I don't have a case that you could work solo on but go see if Nick needs any help with a DB on Henderson"

"Sure thing"

"Take a jacket it looks like rain" he said but she had already left

By breaking a few speeding laws, Ashley arrived minutes after Nick, who at the moment was grabbing his kit from the car and looked up when Ashley drove up. On the drive over she had verbally scolded herself, she had acted like a teenager who had just gotten their learner's permit. She had calmed down by the time she'd pulled up to the crime scene. She smiled to herself as she extracted her kit from the back seat. When she turned around she almost ran into him, he was so close, and wore a smile.

"So?" She thought Grissom would have told him, everyone before her, make her wait while everyone was sworn not to tell her. That didn't happen.

"So what?" she asked back trying to seem innocent that she didn't know what he was talking about

"Did you pass?" she couldn't help but notice a gleam in his eye, he always had one, when he was around her or so she thought, she didn't know if he had one when they weren't together but she couldn't exactly find that out without raising a few red flags.

"I'm working with you aren't I?" she was not going to tell him, not yet anyways, she'd wait to see if he really cared then drop a hint or too. She a cruel person and she loved it.

"What have we got?" Nick asked Brass as all three walked over to David

"Thomas Steele, 45, found by his neighbor Tabitha Grady"

Ashley squatted beside David who at the time was writing on his clipboard.

"Didn't find much only his wallet and a bunch of keys" David told them

"I can see what killed him" Nick said as he took pictures of the guy and the screw driver sticking out of his chest.

"You would think that but, that was post mortem, blunt force to the back of his head is what killed him"

"I'll be outside" Ashley stood up and clicked on her flashlight

"You may want to get a few shots of the crowd, not too many live out here if you know what I mean" Nick said has he moved off farther into the barn.

Ashley pretended that she was taking pictures of the ground but at the last second raised it up, and took of the crowd. That done she started looking at the ground. There was a lot of grass clippings mixed in with the gravel. She reached the edge of the grass, it had been mowed recently, maybe even today. She'd have to wait for David's calculation of TOD before any accusations were made. She saw small tire marks, coming off the grass; she was back at the barn when the trail stopped. She started walking the rows, nothing but exotic cars lined the walls, and then she found it, the lawn mower. It was cool, but it had been run, recently.

Brass was talking to a woman in her nightgown and curlers, when Ashley walked up.

"Ashley Ryans, Tabitha Grady" Ashley nodded

"Ms. Grady, did Mr. Steele cut his own grass?"

"No he had some college kid do it, but what does this have to do with anything?" Ashley walked away.

"Liver temp was 70.65 he's been dead about 11 and a half hours" It didn't take a lawn mower twelve hours to cool. She walked back out to the edge of the grass and walked and followed the trail. She walked past the cars, every car she looked over her shoulder, she could see where the guy every time then she walked over to the lawn mower and turned around, a clear view of the guy. There is no way the guy couldn't have seen that.

She dusted the lawn mower for prints and came up with five good ones, two palms and thirteen smudges.

"You check outside?" Nick said as he came up behind her

"Ya not much there" She took a few photo's of the mower and tried moving it, it was stuck.

"Help me with this" She pulled while he pushed finally with one last pull it came free, from the wall.

"why do we need, the lawn mower?" Nick stood back up

"Feel it, it doesn't take half a day to cool down"

"Your grasping at straws"

"No I have a firm grasp" he was close to pissing her off

"You care to make a little wager on this case?"

"Making a bet who killed the old guy?" she said disgustedly

"Okay never mind" Nick backed off, she was not one to mess with the dead.

"How much we talking?" Ashley asked curiously

"Well if I win I get to take you on a date"

"If I win, then you have to be my slave for a day"

"A sex slave?" Nick's voice filled with hope

"No. I think the college kid did it"

"Well I think the neighbor did"

"Okay then let the best CSI win" they shook hands

"You owe me dinner"

"You owe me slave duties" was said at the same time two days later as Ashley slid a folder to him.

"I was right, the college dudes finger prints were all over the hammer"

"The neighbors were on the screw driver" he picked up the folder and looked through it

"The screwdriver was put in after he was killed, I win!" she placed her elbows on the table and leaned forward.

"I expect the duties to be fulfilled" she smiled showing her own perfect smile

"Remind me again what exactly I have to do" he too leaned forward

"Anything I want you to do" she leaned in even closer so his breath fanned her face blowing her stray hairs away from her face.

"And what about me? I was right too" she licked her lips; he would like to take those lips in between his, if only for a brief second.

He was going to kiss her, she knew it, and she wanted it. A slight move of the head and he would be.

"Ahem" they both jump apart, Ashley laughing a little too much to her self

"I thought you might like to know that, one Tabitha Grady and Blake Clear are mother and son" Brass told them, Nick not meeting his eyes, Ashley still laughing

"Look likes I get my dinner after all" Nick said to Ashley, who was having trouble breathing from laughing so much

"I'm not going to bother to ask" Brass said as he turned and left, Ashley followed him out with Nick in tow. Her laughing had calmed down, and now smiling.

"I'll pick you up at eight Friday" Nick said as both he and Ashley walked out of the interrogation room, they cracked the case, they both killed him. Tabitha had given him untraceable pills, while Blake cut the grass, making sure no one knew where his mother was, then once Tabitha had left, Blake finished the grass and put the mower away and whacked the guy, leaving quickly. He would have gotten away if he hadn't cut the grass.

"And you can start your duties on Monday" seeing as how no one had won, they both agreed that it was best if they both did what the other wanted.

Ashley knocked on Greg's door, he could be sleeping knowing her luck he would but was grateful when she saw him. Shirtless no less but he was there looking like he had just woken up.

"I need a favor"

Ashley? What time is it?"

"Seven thirty. I need a baby sitter for three hours tops"

"WhataboutLisa?" came out in one coherent word

"She can't take Lily until we start work please. Normally I would use this as an excuse but a deal's a deal. Please?"

He looked behind him into his apartment

Sara was there! Hehe, under normal circumstances she wouldn't have asked but well she was desperate.

"Fine, but I don't have to change diapers or anything?" He shifted from one foot to the other

"Lily is potty trained"

"Can I put her down in your guest bedroom or something she's getting heavy" she hoisted Lily higher on her hip.

Greg moved to take Lily from her but she stepped back

"I think I should do it"

"I can take her"

"Now Greg why wouldn't you want me in there?" she asked in a comical tone "Is it because your apartment's messy? Or is it because you and Sara don't want me to know she's in there? What ever could it be? Hmmm I just don't know Hey Sara" she pushed her way past Greg and his door right into the guest bedroom paying no attention to Sara like she was supposed to and saw nothing there. She came back out and a drink from the fridge and finished half of it before saying anything.

"I should be back in lots of time before shift starts so you don't have to worry about that, in the weird circumstance that I'm not, Greg could you run her to Lisa's? You know where she lives" she finished the other half of the drink and walked to the door, with it opened she said

"Nice erection Greg" and she shut the door behind her.

"See I can be nice when I want to be" Nick walked Ashley to her door and she turned leaning against the door

"I did have a nice time tonight, thank you Nick"

"Have I told you, you look amazing?" he had when he picked her up, in the car ride to the restaurant, during supper, the ride here and right now.

"No I don't think you have" both smile knowing she's trying to help him, with not embarrassing him. So he said she looked great a few time, more than a few but it was true she looked stunning.

"There's something that I wanted to do since I looked at you" kiss her senseless until they both forgot their names.

"Really what would that be?" was said with the best innocent voice she could muster. He stepped forward and placed his hands on her waist the silky fabric of her top catching against his calloused hands.

He doesn't hesitates and just goes in for the kill and kisses her. Her hands slowly come up his arms to rest on his shoulders.

"I think we should do this more often" he said against her mouth, his breathing a little rugged. Not having the ability to talk she nods. His lips come down to hers once again.

One more kiss could be the best thing
But one more lie could be the worst
And all these thoughts are never resting
And you're not something I deserve

In my head there's only you now
This world falls on me
In this world there's real and make believe
And this seems real to me

"Ashley" Ashley pulled away immediately, hearing Greg's tone, something was wrong, she even stepped away from Nick, wiping her lips in the process.

"What's wrong Greg?" trying to get her breathing down to normal

"Is something wrong with Lily?" the kiss long forgotten

"No not exactly" she did not have time to play his usual games she would like to get back to doing what she had been abruptly interrupted from

"What do you mean not exactly?"

"Well on your end its all good but on his end its not"

"What the hell are you talking about?" she was getting frustrated not knowing what the hell Greg was talking about

"Someone that shouldn't be, well he does have a right to be here, is here"

"What the hell does that mean?" Why wouldn't Greg just tell her.

"It means I'm here" another voice said a very familiar voice that she never thought that she would be hear again, was standing not three feet from her now. Bosco had come. She wanted to faint but only swayed a little all three reaching out to steady here, she pushed each one of them away.

"I can take Lily to Lisa for you" Greg said as he left to return to his safe haven at the moment his apartment, lucky bastard she was stuck with a new flame and an old one who had produced a child.

She unlocked her apartment, wanting to be mean and just go in her apartment and slam the door in both their faces. But she couldn't do that, the day she had been dreading for over four years had finally come and she couldn't go stick her head in the sand.

"Bosco I'll meet you inside" he tried to read her emotions but she had some how built up a wall turning off her feelings. He walked past them both into the apartment, if she wanted some time along with Mr. Hunk outside then she was going to have to do it herself, he left the door open. Not even a minute later she reached in and closed the door. She took his hand and walked him to his car, away from prying eyes and ears.

"Tonight was great, it really was but I don't think we should go out again. You don't have to fulfill your slave duties"

"What?"

"It's just better if we end things now, it'd be better for the best of us"

"Better for the best of us? More like better for you"

He got in his car vehicle and drove off.

You love me but you don't know who I am
I'm torn between this life I lead and where I stand
And you love me but you don't know who I am
So Let me go
Let me go

It was quiet when she went in, hoping that Bosco had gotten the hint and taken off. No such luck he was looking through a photo album she had left on the table, she had been putting new pictures in it this morning.

How did one start talking about something like this? You couldn't start the conversation with why the hell did you walk out on me? Could he? You bet he was going to.

"Why did you leave?" his voice bitter, it was better that way, she wouldn't know how he felt, she didn't deserve it.

"The note explained everything"

"It explained nothing, it told me you were a coward, that you leave at the hint of any problems in relationships"

"I didn't cheat on you now did I?"

"She kissed ME!"

"But you didn't push her away, I sat in your room for over two hours and not once did you bring it up or even hint at it"

"It wasn't that big of deal"

"It WASN'T THAT BIG OF DEAL? ARE YOU NUTS?"

"Nothing happened well we were together"

"And why am a I supposed to believe you? You lied to me"

"And you didn't? I had to find out from an ex of yours that you had one, that we had one"

"Because you didn't deserve to know"
"I didn't deserve to know? Of course I deserve to know we're talking about flesh and blood here!"

"Well we both messed up" he couldn't believe it, admitting she was wrong so early into the argument, she admitted he was too which is true. He should have told her.

"If you think that I'm going to let you take her away from me again, you are sadly mistaken" he told her, amazed that only once they had spazzed out. This was new for the both of them.

"I never said I was" she tried staring him down but they both were stubborn as mules and neither looked away.

"I intend to have everyone right I'm allowed with this child"

"Why now? Why are you here after all this time why now? Has it taken you this time to find us? You're a cop Bosco you could have found us if you really wanted to"

"I searched every day for two years, looking for you, you didn't wanna be found" that part was true. But he didn't need to know that.

"You never answered my question, why now?"

"Because I've had enough, I'm here to take you and Lily home, with me where you belong"

"Lily and I are staying here"

"What will it take? Me saying I love you? Okay I love you, there I said it, I love you. I should hate you but I do, I love you, it killed me when you left. I have never felt this way and finally I said the hell with it, I'm going after her" she was touched but couldn't help but wonder what he had to gain from this besides her and Lily

"I know you still have feelings for me too" she stood up closing the distance between them

"If I did which I don't I'm not going to act on them"

"Like hell"

"This some new and improved Bosco?"

"That depends… do you like him?" he kissed her with everything he had been feeling for the last four years.