Chapter Seven

The ride back to the hotel took only about five minutes, but when they arrived, Brass was already there and had cleared the scene.

"How do you do it, Brass?" Sara asked, as she and Grissom approached the room next to the one they had just been in.

Brass looked up at the sound of Sara's voice. "Sara?" he asked, looking confused. "What are you doing here? This isn't your case." He turned to Grissom. "Gil? Want to explain why Sara is on your crime scene? Especially when you said last night that there would be no switching of CSI's?"

Grissom looked extremely uncomfortable. "Oh well… we were… uh, together when you called…" he started to explain.

Sara interrupted. "Brass? I thought Griss asked you to work with Catherine when you could. And Sofia was to work with Grissom? And yet," she paused to stare at him. "You're here… without Sofia."

Brass took a step towards Sara. "I'm here, Sara, because I'm the senior cop on graveyard. Sofia is not. I'm on every crime scene we're called to. That's my job." Sara went to say something else, but stopped when Brass took another step towards her.

Grissom stepped in between the two, his back to Sara. "Jim, leave her alone. She was with me when you called, we're both CSI's, and we both responded to your call."

"No Gil!" Brass said, his voice rising. "I'm tired of you covering your girlfriend, your relationship and yourself. It's time you get your head back into your work! And I want Sidle off this crime scene now!"

Sara went to say something, but Grissom took her arm and led her away down the hall. Whispering, he said, "Honey, you need to go home. Jim's right, I can't break my own rules. Not even for you."

He smiled at her, but she could see that he was worried. Brass had implied that they were dating, and they'd both agreed early on to not tell anyone until they were both ready. If people started to suspect, and point it out in public, then there may be problems.

He turned away, but Sara put a hand on his shoulder. He turned slowly back around, and she rubbed his cheek discreetly. "Chalk," she whispered, with a smile and a wink. "See you back at the lab."

Grissom smiled as she turned away. It disappeared when he turned around to see Brass staring at him.

He made his way back down the hallway to where Brass was standing. "Nick, Greg and Sofia are on their way. When I called the boys, they were both asleep. But Sofia was at the lab, she'll be right here. Nick and Greg are coming in anyway."

"Good. I'll start processing now," Grissom said, walking onto the scene.

OoOoOoO

Minutes later, Grissom was joined by Nick and Greg, Sofia on their tail. He caught the conversation going on between the two men, and froze.

"I'm telling you Greg, that was Sara we saw in the lobby. But what she was doing here, I don't know. You don't think she was with someone, do you?" Nick looked thoughtful for a moment.

Greg looked downcast. "Nick you're being mean on purpose. Don't tell me things like Sara going out with another guy. It just breaks my heart." He placed a hand over his heart in mock agony.

"Guys?" Grissom said, approaching them and Sofia.

"Grissom?" Sofia asked, looking up when he approached. "About that thing I wanted to talk to you about earlier… I was just wondering –"

Grissom cut her off. "Later Sofia. We've got work to do. Go talk to the witnesses. Nick, Greg, process the scene. I'll help you in a minute. First, I have to talk to David."

He walked over to where David Phillips, the assistant coroner, was crouched beside a dead body. "What do we have here, David?" he asked.

"Caucasian male, age twenty-eight and no ID. Three gunshot wound to the chest," Brass answered.

Grissom looked up. "Thank you, Jim. But I asked David."

"Well –" Brass said, cut off by his ringing phone. He picked it up and listened a bit. "We've got another DB on the other side of the Strip. I'll leave soon and be out of your way."

He punched a number into his phone. "Catherine? It's Brass. DB on the Strip. I know it's your night off, but Grissom's already working on another one at a hotel near the lab. Call Sara and Warrick. I'll meet you there in a bit. I have to talk to Grissom."

He hung up after giving Catherine the address and other information. He looked around for Grissom, but he had already walked away and was helping Greg and Nick.

Whatever. I'll talk to Gil later, about Sara and whatever the hell is going on between them. He turned around and headed back to his car; off to the other side of the Strip.

A/N 3: I don't hate Brass, or Sofia. I don't know why I wrote Brass as such an ass in this story, but I did. So if you're a "Brass-lover" then please don't hate me! I really do like him. I guess I was just tired, or something... and I don't hate Sofia, contrary to popular belief. There's nothing wrong with her anymore. She's just another cop. She stopped going after Grissom. Smart move...