Catherine continued to sit there silently as the group of people around her continued demanding answers and explanations from the couple at the opposite end of the room. The comments and questions around her barely audible due to the sheer bulk of them and slowly rising in volume.

Sara and Grissom just sat there watching, not saying anything, or doing anything to stem the flow. Both feeling extremely upset at their co-workers response, neither noting Catherine silently watching them, watching how the body language between them had changed subtly now that the team had found out. She also realised just how much strength they were gathering from where their hands were clasped, hidden to everyone else, under the table.

She allowed everything to carry on for a few more minutes before knowing that something had to be done. Greg's phrasing and insults were becoming wilder and wilder. Nick was beginning to let his anger show. Pain was radiating from Warrick sat at the side of her. Sara looked like she was trying to hold back tears, and Grissom was slowly retreating more and more into himself and closing more and more of himself off with each passing moment.

She placed a hand on Warricks upper arm. He feel silent as he turned to look at her. Her look said everything it needed to, and he didn't resume speaking. She smiled thankfully at his understanding and silence, squeezed his arm slightly before standing up. She slowly walked to the middle of the room between the two parties. Grabbed a chair and sat at the side of the divide, closer to neither of the groups and still saying nothing. She calmly watched Nick and Greg until Nick stopped speaking as Greg slowly trailed into silence, muttering a few choice words before subsiding into quietness.

She sighed as she stood up, she had not wanted to be part of this, she had just wanted to hang in the background until the team accepted it. She had even gotten here early to tell everyone to be easy on the couple. Despite saying nothing and showing no anger, the silence in the room still stayed as no-one dared speak almost as though her commanding presence forbid it. Eventually she did speak, her voice low and calm.

"I know you all want to hear about it, and express your views, but nothing productive is going to happen if you all shout at once. I'm sure they would both be happy to listen and answer anything you say or ask." She said sparing a quick glance at Grissom and Sara before turning her attention back to the others. "Now, I am going to get some coffee, and then we are all going to calm down and act like adults."

She did not use any tone but everyone still watched her silently as she went and got the coffee before sitting back on the chair, none of them daring to disobey what she had said. Catherine forced herself to breathe calmly and remain in control as she moved to the coffee machine. She was containing and hiding her anger but only just, even though she knew that half of the anger came from fear that this would split the team up even though they should be celebrating. She also knew though that the rest of it came from annoyance. They were all grown men and yet they were still shouting at Grissom and Sara, simply for daring to finally take a chance on that relationship. She knew that Warrick had been won around when she had touched his arm, he had seen the similarities between Grissom and Sara, and himself and Catherine. Finally taking the chance on that relationship, and not showing it to the rest of the team in case it failed. Both Catherine and Warrick knew though that the risk was still slightly less for them than it had been for Sara and Grissom.

She forced herself to carefully smooth her face. 'Well, if they want to act like children, I will treat them like children. If I have to stand over them and walk them through step-by-step until they accept the relationship then I will. I just hope somebody will do the same for me and Warrick. And that the team will get through this.' It suddenly struck her that the only thing standing between the total collapse of the group and happiness for Grissom and Sara was her, her calmness and what she said. She silently thanked all the arguments she had ever had with Lindsey, as they meant she knew exactly when to push and when to leave things alone, when to show sympathy or anger or understanding. When the time came to wrap it up and the exact tone of voice to deliver the final devastating statement in.

She sat back down and took a sip of coffee before looking at the couple. "Grissom, would you like to start?" He stared at her wildly, not knowing what to say. Eventually he said the only thing he knew was true and the basic reason for all of this.

"I love her." Catherine silenced the guys with a single look as Sara responded. "I love him too. And I'm having his baby."

None of the team knew how to respond to this simple statement. They all stared speechless their eyes going from Grissom to Sara before returning to Grissom and then back to Sara over and over again. Catherine allowed a moment for this to sink in and then knew that she had to break the silence. Again she thanked all her fights with Lindsey silently before continuing, in a calm, controlled and measured voice.

"Now, Sara and Grissom have spoken, does any one have any questions to put to them both?" She forced herself to control her expression and only keep a reassuring and supportive smile on it, instead of howling with laughter when she saw Nick's response to his question. She watched as he tentatively raised his hand, almost as though a pupil in a class who didn't quite understand something.

"Yes Nick?"

"How long have you two been together?"

Sara opened her mouth to speak but found herself cut off as Grissom also answered, she stayed quiet to allow him to answer the question.

"About 4 months altogether now Nick. There was a gap in the middle where we weren't quite sure. But it started about 4 months ago."

"When did it start?" Grissom looked at Nick, unsure of what he meant and the difference between the question and his previous answer. He closed his mouth gratefully as Sara answered.

"I can't tell you a date. But it was just after the case where I got hurt. The one where Robbie was killed." She felt Grissom squeeze her hand and was grateful for the extra contact. Her mind had been filled with memories of the case and the similarities it had borne for her. His touch reminded her of the time afterwards however. She forced her face to remain calm and her mind to remain blank.

She looked up at the blank faces surrounding her. She had only just realised that the majority of them would not remember who Robbie was, they would vaguely recall the case but not from the details she had given.

"Just before I went away for the month." She watched as they finally managed to place a time on it. Suddenly the reasonably calm atmosphere was broken by Greg shouting out.

"You mean that was why you left us? Because you finally got it on with Grissom here? My God man! You must have been bad if you scared her away for a whole month."

Sara grimaced at Greg's wording and then held tightly onto Grissoms hand, partly to keep him calm, and partly so that she didn't laugh. Grissom's previously slightly embarrassed face was replaced with a look of annoyance.

"You're still on that warning from the note Greg." He growled at him. Catherine inwardly sighed happily knowing that it would now be sorted and decided to join in the drama and teasing. She threw her arms dramatically into the air, saying in a loud voice, "And here I was trying to keep things calm and keeping you at opposite ends of the room." Nick laughed before suddenly jumping up and heading for Sara. He crashed into her with a powerful hug. Before even reaching over and hugging Grissom, pulling the older man into a strong bear hug before rubbing his knuckles on his head and saying "You sly old fox."

Grissom struggled to get away, both forgetting how little they would normally touch and slightly sheepish grin on his face. He sighed as Nick released him, only to find everyone else, including Catherine, bunching around them pressing them with comments and hugs and jokes.

Eventually Sara and Grissom seemed to be able to make it to the edge of the circle breathing heavily. Everyone had finally finished teasing them, laughing at and with them, hugging them, congratulating them and saying all manner of things lost in the general chaos of the event. They turned around to find Warrick and Nick jumping against each other and bashing stomachs in mid-air. Greg was hugging Catherine and dancing around gleefully. Sara smiled gently at Grissom and eagerly came under his arm when he raised it for her. Leaning into him she breathed in his scent as she continued to watch everybodies reaction now that they had accepted it. Looking across the circle she glanced at Catherine and caught her eye. Grinning at her as she saw her in the same position as her but with Warrick.

Catherine grinned slightly sheepishly in reply and turned back to watch Nick and Greg, who were currently making up obscure rhymes and references as they danced around in a circle their right arms linked at the elbow, skipping. Sara and Catherine and their appropriate men were all grinning as Nick and Greg suddenly realised that they were the only ones still celebrating.

They glanced at Sara and Grissom and then at Warrick and Catherine doing a double-take when they saw them. They immediately returned to their dancing and singing after hugging them both roughly.

Catherine looked up at Warrick fondly and kissed him gently.

Sara looked up at Grissom and saw her loving expression matched with his. They stared lovingly at each other for a few moments before also kissing.

Sara and Catherine caught each others eye as they resumed watching Greg and Nick. Sara watched her and she nodded slightly in reply. Sara smiled gratefully before taking hold of Grissom's hand and leading him slowly but firmly out of the room.

When they were outside of the building Grissom spun her around and looked at her.

"What was that about with Catherine?"

"Did we say anything?"

"Darling. I know how much you can get across in a look without speaking." Sara smiled up at him gently.

"She's giving us the day off." Grissom stared at her slightly, not fully understanding.

"But the guys have only just accepted us as a couple, we can't really go off and leave now, we still need to show them we can work together."

"Catherine'll cover it. Trust me. They'll hardly notice we're gone. They'll be more bothered over her and Warrick, and if not I'm sure she can persuade them to be."

Grissom shook his head. "I'll never be able to understand the female mind, it's too complex."

Sara laughed lightly. "Life would be boring if you could."

He nodded "Must be all those extra hormones." She laughed lightly and hugged him.

"So what are we going to do with our day off then?" She asked after a moment.

"Well, I reckon I take you for that meal I promised you, we can actually go out in the evening for once. And after that I know a spot just on the border to the desert where you get the most perfect view of the sunrise."

Sara sighed, imagining how beautiful it would be and also recogonising the romantic side of Grissom come out again. Each time it did it still took her breathe away. She was still surprised at how the strength of their emotions continued to grow past what she thought possible and how much their relationship had grown even within the last few weeks. The physical side had been dwindling due to her pregnancy but the emotional side kept continuing to grown.

She smiled lovingly up at him. Kissed him gently and then whispered "Sounds good."

Sorry if anyone thought the reaction of the team was a bit strong at first, but I didn't want and everybody instantly happy, and I got carried away. O well, all happy now.

Next chapter might take a while. Sorry about that. Will be up as soon as I can get it up.

Thanks for continuing to read

Especially all those who review whether it is positive or negative.

P