A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Keep em coming!! This is kinda short, but its just a little thought I had and wanted to include it.

Chapter Five

Grissom sat at his desk, reading another email from Ecklie. It was another reminder that staff evaluations were due two days ago, and without them, no one would get their yearly increases. Grissom shuffled through the forms for each of his team members. He had Nick's evaluation done and was working on Warrick's when he heard a knock on his door.

"Hey, Griss." Archie tentatively entered his office. "I, uh, went through that footage from the B&E. It's all cued up for you when you get a moment."

"Oh, ok. I, uh..." He got up from his chair. "Let's go look right now."

Forty minutes later, Grissom was back at his desk. He finished Warrick's evaluation and picked up the next sheet of paper. Sara Sidle. He smiled at the thought of her. He really shouldn't be doing her evaluation, but how would he explain giving it to Catherine to complete? So, he tried to stay as objective as he could, but couldn't help thinking of some rather inappropriate comments to add to her skills section. He chuckled to himself and got an idea.

Sara entered the locker room, ready for a long hot shower to get the grime from the garbage she had to sift through off of her body. She opened her locker to get a change of clothes. A large manilla envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL fell onto the floor. As Sara bent down to pick it up, Nick entered the room and plunked down on the bench next to where Sara was opening the envelope.

"Hey, is that your evaluation?" Nick tried to see what she was reading.

"Yeah, looks like it." Sara skimmed over the top portion with Employee Information and suddenly realized this was NOT her formal evaluation. Her name, age, employee ID were all normal but the comment under SEX was not a check next to M or F. It read, "Every day, sometimes more". Sara's eyes grew wide.

Nick sat untying his shoes, casually glancing up to see what Sara was reading. He couldn't really make out too much, but on one glance he did see the phrase "takes orders well in and out..." and then it was bent so he couldn't see more. He became even more curious when her eyes nearly popped out of her head and she clutched the piece of paper to her chest.

"That bad?" Nick inquired.

"Oh,uh...ummmm. Well. I need to finish reading this in private." Sara shook her head and

shoved the envelope back into her locker, making sure the lock was secure. She quickly showered and dressed and headed out to her car. Nick had disappeared while she was in the shower. When she got into her car, she opened the envelope and smiled.

Grissom was at his desk, going over some evidence that he had been called in to examine by the Undersheriff and Ecklie. It had to do with the life cycle of flies and approximate TOD for a court case. This took precedence over all cases. Evaluations would have to wait until this was resolved. He only had a few days to make sense of all the data.

"Hey, Uh, Griss?" Nick gently knocked on Grissom's door.

"Yeah, Nick." He didn't look up from what he was doing.

"I was wondering about our evaluations."

Grissom continued to write something as he spoke, never looking up. "Well, I'm sorry but I haven't been able to complete them all. And now I have a top priority court case to work on that requires my knowledge as an Entomologist."

"Oh, ok. Well, whenever you get around to it." Nick just stood there.

Grissom realized, thanks to Catherine's reminder at the scene earlier, that no one would get a raise until he turned in his evaluations. He hated all the paperwork and legalities of being a supervisor at times like this.

"Nick, I know you are all anxious to read them, and to get your cost of living adjustments, but per Ecklie and the Undrsheriff, this case is priority. You're not the only one who didn't get their evaluation. Actually, no one has."

"Well, except Sara." Nick blurted out and instantly regretted it when Grissom's head popped up and his eyes fixed on Nick's.

"What do you mean, except Sara?"

"Well, she was reading her evaluation in the locker room."

"Did you read it? You're not supposed to read other people's evaluations!" Grissom stood up now. Nick was in shock at Grissom's response.

"Calm down, Griss! I didn't read it. Geesh." He smiled. "Besides, Sara wouldn't let me see it. Actually, she was rather, well, affected by it. She took it home with her I think. She didn't want to read it in front of me."

Grissom sat down. "Oh, well, uh, yeah, I did do Sara's and got it to her, then this came up. But as soon as this is over, I will make sure to get to yours first, Nick."

"Oh, ok. Thanks, Griss!" Nick smiled and started to walk out. He turned and looked at Grissom, who was staring at Nick. "You know. Sara's a really good CSI. You shouldn't be so hard on her. I know she pushes sometimes, but it's only because she cares so much."

Grissom just looked at Nick for a moment. "I know, Nick. Thanks for your concern. But Sara and I have been getting along fine the past few months."

"Yeah, ok. I'm just looking out for her. She's like a sister to me, and I don't think she has any family really, so I kinda feel protective of her."

"We all do, Nick. You're a good friend. And I'm sure Sara appreciates it. But don't worry. We've decided to call a truce and become friends again." He smiled weakly at Nick and then turned back to his work. Nick smiled to himself and headed out the door.

A few hours later, Sara sat on her couch, waiting for Grissom to arrive. They had made plans the day before to meet up at her place after shift. She heard the key in the lock and turned of the tv.

"Hey." Grissom greeted her as he entered, placing his bag on the floor next to the couch. He took a seat next to her and leaned in for a kiss. Sara pulled back from him and smiled.

"What? Something wrong?" Grissom was concerned.

"Well, I just want to know if this kiss will be evaluated or not." She grinned wide at him.

"Oh. That." He chuckled.

"Yeah. That." She pulled a piece of paper out from under her leg and held it up. "Takes orders well in and out of the bedroom. Shows great promise with foreplay technique. Could use some improvement in the kitchen?"

Grissom smiled and leaned in and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. His tongue delved into her mouth, tasting and taking the air right out of her lungs. Sara pulled back breathless.

"Well, I say that gets an Excellent." Gil smiled at her as he caressed her cheek.

"Well, your little game almost got us caught, Dr. Grissom! Nick tried to read this! I thought it was my actual evaluation!"

"Yeah, Nick stopped by my office wanting to know where his evaluation was, so I had to lie and tell him you were the only one who had gotten their report before this court case came up."

"So, how did he take it? Do you think he saw it?"

"No, I don't think he saw it. Actually, whatever response you gave made him think that I was being too harsh on you. He really can get protective!"

Sara smiled at the thought of Nick trying to take on Grissom. He was always looking out for her, even when he didn't need to. He knew how upset she had gotten when he had been given the Key Position that they both had applied for, even if the job was cut. But since her near DUI, she had been able to patch things with Grissom and they had grown closer and closer. Of course, Nick knew none of this information. No one did.

"You know, I hate all the fibs we have told." Sara lemented.

Grissom kissed her on the forehead. "I know, Dear. I do too."

"Well, you better be sure to give Nick his evaluation first. And I'm sure it will be a glowing review?" She said as she snuggled up close to him.

"Are you trying to influence the boss with your charms, Ms. Sidle?" Sara smiled and reached out and pulled him in for an all out assault on his mouth and senses. Several minutes later, needing air, Sara pulled back to see a smiling Grissom.

"What?" She laughed.

"Well, I think your charms have influenced me." He kissed her again, softly. "Only you can effect me like that, Sara."

"Yeah. Well, I think I have some new skills I'd like for you to evaluate." She said low and seductive. She grabbed his arm, pulling him up off the sofa and towards her bedroom.