I started work literally five twenty ago the next day and was already given loads of work to do. DNA for this, fiber that, and analyze those. Apparently I had started to work the right day, it seemed as if a lot of important cases were occurring and many of them just happened to be a top priority. My job at Chicago was now becoming to seem like a walk on the beach compared to this.

I had tied back my hair in a ponytail and was looking at a hair under a microscope given to my by Grissom when the same dark man from yesterday appeared in the doorway.

"I don't think we've met properly," he said, giving me a smile. He had reddish brown curly hair and was physically fit. "I'm Warrick Brown."

"Mae Giordano," I said, brushing my bangs out of my face. "Well since you're here," I grabbed a folder behind me and swiveled around to hand it to him, "I finished those DNA comparisons that were assigned to you."

He gave me a smirk. "Already? Geez. Did I mention I'm glad you're here?"

I laughed and rolled my eyes as he studied the papers I had given him. He muttered a, "Damn," under his breathe as the results were not alike, then he looked back up at me.

"I'll see you later," he said, waving then taking his leave. I went back to my work and it was all too soon that I began to feel clustered. When I was back in Chicago I used to play music whenever I began to feel a little claustrophobic so I got up real quick to search for a radio. When I found one actually in my station I got a Maroon 5 CD and placed it inside. I put it on a low volume but I could still hear the faint lyrics playing and was easily soothed.

I was quickly amazed and reminded on how much I loved my job while working for the next hour. The technology in my lab was so up to date and expensive that I began to have a feeling of wanting to go to work and enjoying myself immensely. A couple of other people saw my new face and introduced themselves at various times and all gave me a skeptical look.

One of them I really liked and we actually managed to talk for awhile. Her name was Wendy and she kept saying that I was "too pretty" to work here. I was slightly embarrassed that she had said that but nevertheless I did enjoy her company.

When I was younger and in college, I had many people complain that I was "too pretty" to be majoring in Chemistry. They took one look into my aqua eyes and rapidly thought that I was a brainless broad. Throughout my childhood and later years, I always tried to become "the smart girl" instead of "the pretty girl." I never wanted to be remembered for my beauty but for my brains. I wanted to be the top of my class and shrived to be the best, not to be arrogant, but to feel a sense of accomplishment. I've always tried to please other people with my intelligence and somehow hoped they would forget my looks.

"Hello?"

I snapped my head up from my work to see Sara standing there in front of me. I didn't even realize that she was in front of me. "That must be some pretty interesting piece of..." She looked at the condom I was getting a DNA swab from. "...DNA." She gave me a toothy grin.

I chuckled despite another embarrassing moment and sent my utensils down.

"Sorry my thoughts were too loud apparently," I said. "It's a bad habit."

She nodded understandably. "Do you have the print from the Henderson case? I got a page from you I believe."

"Ahh yes," I said, rolling my chair over to a paper in the by the printer. "I got a match from the wrench handlebar to a Joe Bradley. In the system for robbery fifteen years ago."

She looked over the paper and nodded her head, a slight smile tugging at her mouth. "Thanks a lot. See you." She strolled out of the lab and I returned to multi-tasking through my various assignments. When I finished one, I realized I would need to page Nick and I hesitated. Of course I was going to page him but I just got this nervous feeling when I met him yesterday that I knew would happen again. I quickly paged him, just to get it over with.

It seemed like time went by slowly as the minutes ticked on. I found myself drumming my fingers nervously and not concentrating on my work. This wasn't good and I knew it. I shouldn't be feeling this way about a co-worker.

"Hey Mae," I heard his voice ring throughout the lab. "You paged?" He walked over to where I was sitting and tried to remain calm. Let's not go crazy, I think to myself.

I pointed to a hair lying on a microscope by an adjacent desk. He went over and took a look for himself.

"Your hair isn't human, it's canine. Considering it's light golden shade and the length of it, I'm guessing it's of a golden retriever," I say, not even looking at him but pretending to occupy my time and look busy. He seemed to linger at the microscope a little longer than necessary and I couldn't take it any longer. I tried to find something to get my out of my lab.

The printer finally finished printing a paper of a DNA analysis that was urgent to Grissom so I grabbed it, said, "I'll be right back,", and left just as Warrick was walking in.

Warrick walked into the lab, walking over to where Nick was looking at the microscope. He was watching while Nick entered before and knowing how Nick was so quick to pick up on hair analysis since it was his specialty, knew that he was stalling. He smirked and knew he just had to find out what was going on with his friend.

Sadly, Mae had run out with what looked like a paper for Grissom's case and he couldn't embarrass the two. But he could find out what was running through ol' Nicky's head. He could obviously tell Nick liked her considering his run in with her yesterday. It was almost too amusing.

"Hey Nick," Warrick said, making Nick lift his head from the microscope. "Find something you like?"

"Well the hair is--"

"I'm not talking about the hair," Warrick said, enjoying himself.

Nick grew slightly uncomfortable, picking up the reference to Mae quickly. So. It was that obvious. "C'mon man," he said.

"No no, you c'mon. She's cute, huh?" Warrick asked, nudging Nick's shoulder.

"Yeah I guess," Nick admitted. "But I'm not going to make things awkward."

"Oh come on!"

Nick grabbed the folder with his findings and strolled out. "Warrick," he said, when he noticed Warrick continuing to follow him. Warrick's only response was laughter.