Chapter 2

At the Lab

Catherine strode into the break room, and straight over to the coffee machine. She poured herself a steaming mug and sat down at the break room table. Catherine closed her eyes, and enjoyed the aroma flowing freely from her coffee.

'Tonight is going to be a good night' she thought to herself.

Just then Nick and Warrick walked in, laughing and joking as always.

"20 bucks says your wrong!" said Nick cockily.

"I'll take those odds," Warrick smiled. "Seeing as that money's gonna be mine."

"Yeah, whatever you reckon buddy." Came Nick's reply. He turned to see Catherine sitting and watching them and spoke to her "oh, hey Cath."

"Hey Nicky. You guys got a bet going on already?" She smirked at the two men who had flopped onto the couch. Warrick smiled at her and laughed, cutting in before Nick had a chance to answer.

"Yeah, Nicky here…" Warrick said, pointing to Nick "seems to think that Hodges has actually got himself a girlfriend."

"Really!?" Catherine replied in disbelieve. "I always thought, well…" she trailed off, looking into her coffee cup.

"I've seen her!" Nick spoke up, "and man, that money's gonna be mine."

"As if! You've gotta prove it first. Good luck with that." Warrick laughed, "Geez, Hodges with a girlfriend."

Grissom walked into the break room at that moment. He stopped directly in front of the table, and placed the case files down.

"Everyone's here…?" He asked, then looked around and continued. "Good! Ok, I've got a B and E in Henderson and a suspicious circs in…"

"Uh, Grissom?" Catherine interrupted him.

"Yes Catherine?" He said with a slight smile.

"Um, is there anybody missing here?" She asked him. "Look again and see if there's anyone who's not here…"

Grissom looked around the room before replying "Catherine, everyone's here. So I don't know what your…"

But Catherine interrupted again. "Let me give you a hint then…she's a brunette, has brown eyes and is about 5 foot 8…ringing any bells?"

"Catherine, everyone is…" but Grissom didn't get to finish his sentence.

"Grissom!" She said sharply. "What about Sara? You remember her?" Catherine was evidently becoming frustrated. Warrick and Nick surveyed the scene in front of them; an obviously irate Catherine, and an oddly calm Grissom, then looked at each other and shrugged.

"Yes Catherine, I do remember who Sara is." Grissom replied with a sigh, momentarily closing his eyes. "Now, back to the cases." Catherine attempted to interrupt, but Grissom just spoke louder and continued. "Nick I want you to take the B and E. The suspects in custody you've just got to process the scene. Warrick, I want you to take the suspicious circs, and Nick can help you when he's done." Then he began walking to the door. "Oh and Catherine?" he threw over his shoulder, "you're on paperwork." Then he left the room.

Catherine was absolutely fuming! Nick and Warrick took one look at her, wished her a good night and hastily left the room. They certainly didn't want to be around when Catherine's fury was unleashed; it was never a pretty sight.

Catherine heaved herself up and out of the chair she had been sitting in before stalking out of the room to find Grissom.

Catherine stalked throughout the labs in search of Grissom. Her eyes were narrowed, as she stomped along the corridor, leaving scared lab techs in her wake. When she finally found him calmly sitting in his office looking through case notes, she growled and stormed in.

Grissom looked up at the sudden intrusion into his office. Catherine stormed in and flopped down in the chair in front of Grissom's desk. Grissom removed his glasses, and looked at Catherine with a small smile before speaking.

"Catherine, what can I do for you?" he asked, noticing a look of disbelieve crossing Catherine's face.

"What can you do for me?" she said in outrage. "Grissom, where is Sara?"

Grissom's face fell, a scowl crossing his face momentarily. "She's on leave Catherine." He stated.

"What do you mean 'she's on leave'?" Catherine asked bewildered.

"Well…Sara requested some personal leave. She had plenty on the books, so I allowed her to take some time off." Grissom looked at the worried look on Catherine's face. "Catherine, everybody needs time off…" he trailed off into silence.

"Why?" she stammered out, "why did she need time?"

"This job, it gets to Sara just as much as it gets to you…sometimes you just need time." He replied.

"I know that…" Catherine snapped. "I'm sorry. I'm worried about her, that's all" she said hanging her head. Speaking to her lap she asked "Gil, is she…is she ok?"

Grissom's look softened at her words. "Catherine," he said in a tone that made her look up into his eyes. "The only way you can answer that, is if you find out for yourself…"

"But Gil," Catherine whined, "I wouldn't know where to start." Grissom smiled at this comment.

"It's easier than you think. Maybe you could phone a friend, to find your answer?" Grissom replied with a wink. Catherine finally began to smile for the first time since she had entered his office.

"Maybe I will," Catherine replied, smiling at Grissom and feeling a new sense of hope rush through her. She stood up to leave, before turning back to Grissom "and Gil?" she asked.

"Yes Catherine?"

"Thanks…for everything." She replied, leaving the room and a smiling Grissom behind her.

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A/N Thank you to those who reviewed the first chapter, I really appreciate it. Hope you enjoyed this update and please leave me a review, and let me know what you think. : )