Katrina hummed softly to herself as she carefully focused the microscope on the substance she was looking at. Her humming went along with the radio Greg had on, but since she got here this morning she hadn't seen Greg…until now, "So what did you and Nicky come up with, with the Rapist case?"

Katrina turned towards him, "What?"

"You said yesterday that you were going over to Nick's house to go over the case," Greg raised an eyebrow.

Katrina continued to look at him confused, "I-I don't know what you're—," her eyes went wide as it dawned on her…their cover up, "Oh, yeah, we went over everything and got to the same dead end."

Greg didn't look convinced, "You didn't go over there for a case did you?"

Katrina was about to protest, but shook her head, "No."

Greg snorted then turned around to file through some papers turning the radio off first, "Didn't think so."

Katrina felt anger swell up in her, "Hey, I'm a grown woman I can do what I want."

Greg didn't look at her, "Yeah?"

"I am perfectly capable to look after myself and read what others throw off of them."

"Yeah, well you could've fooled me."

Katrina glared at the back of his head, "What does that mean?"

"It simply means you can't read what others think."

"I can read you."

"Oh yeah, what do I say?"

"That you're nothing, but a low-life jerk that doesn't care about anybody, but himself!"

This time Greg did whirl around, "Really! Do you want to know what I see when I look at you?"

"Yeah, I actually would," Katrina snapped at him.

"A pre-Madonna that thinks she's on top of the world!"

"You don't know anything about me!"

"I know enough to know that you have no idea what others feel around you!" Greg glared back at her.

"At least I think about others!"

"Hey, I didn't have to let you in my lab! I didn't have to clean up the chemical spill, but I did! Do you want to know why? Because I'm a nice guy who was trying to be your friend, but I can see I was wrong in wanting to even try being your friend!"

"And to think I was attracted to you!"

This caught Greg off guard, but he pulled himself together, "Whatever, you've had your eye on every guy since you got here! And it looks to me you've already slept with one!"

Katrina's eyes flared and her hand came up to slap him across the face, the connection between flesh and latex glove was so loud that it echoed into the hallway. Katrina's eyes began to well up with water, "Take it back."

Greg looked at her, "Why should I? I've proved my point of you thinking you're all that."

Once again the loud slap echoed down the hall followed by the sounds of heels against the tiles as Katrina ran out of the lab, eyes spilling tears.

"Good riddance," Greg turned and looked back at the papers in front of him, he slowly shifted through them till he saw a drop of red hit the paper, he brought his hand to his cheek feeling the wetness he pulled his hand back to see blood.

"Oh my god, Greg, you're bleeding," Greg turned to see Catharine standing in the doorway with Warrick, Sara, and Nick.

"I'm fine," Greg walked over to the first aid kit and tried to open it, but with no success. Eventually he gave up and tossed it on the ground with a loud clatter; he pushed past his friends and went down the hall towards the locker room. He went straight into the bathroom and slowly began to probe at his broken skin trying to stop the bleeding, after about a minute the bleeding stopped and all that was left was a red line that ran right across his cheek. He exited the bathroom and opened his locker, he pulled of his lab jacket, then his blood splattered blue shirt, he cursed under his breath when he couldn't find a different shirt. Eventually he gave up putting his bloody shirt back on, he slammed his locker shut and sat down on the bench, "I am so stupid."

"You know," Katrina's voice came from somewhere in the corner startling Greg, he quickly turned to see her curled up in a ball with her knees pulled to her chest, her chin resting on her knees, "I didn't sleep with him."

Greg didn't answer.

"I've never slept with anybody to be exact," Katrina muttered with a small laugh, "I'm afraid to, you know?"

Greg stayed silent.

"I know it sounds really stupid that I never had, and I probably am going to regret it, but even so. I refuse to sleep with someone unless I know…that I can trust them. I trust Nick, but for some reason I can't bring myself to do anything, but kiss him."

Greg turned around fully on the bench so he could face her.

"I might talk big and act tough, but you're right I don't know anything," Katrina finally looked up to meet his gaze, "I don't know anything about others, because I'm afraid to get close to them. My…mother," she choked on the word, "didn't allow me to play over at other people's houses, talk to anyone, or go outside to play. She told me not to trust anyone, I believed her. Over the past couple of years…I've tried to, but I can't, I'm afraid I'll get hurt."

"You're always going to get hurt," Greg said softly.

Katrina snorted, "Yeah, and it's a bitch."

Greg smiled softly, "What I said back there…I was just angry."

"No," she shook her head, "You had every reason to be angry."

Greg looked down, "No, no I didn't."

Katrina pushed it aside and looked at the lockers, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"Shut up and listen to me," Katrina snapped, "I'm sorry for being a pain and I'm sorry for not acknowledging it sooner…I'm sorry."

"What do you mean?"

"Hodges told me about the tickets."

"Yeah, an early birthday present."

"No, he told me the real reason."

"But I didn't even tell him…"
"He's not stupid Greg, he can read you like an open book…they all can…except me."

Greg rubbed the back of his neck and looked at her, "I don't know what to say."
Katrina looked at him and changed the subject, "I told Nicky I couldn't be with him."

Greg's eyes went wide, "Why?"

"Because, last night when we kissed…I felt nothing, I was hoping for something, but there was nothing. I told him that…and he said he understood we're nothing, but friends."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"The truth is Greg…the only reason I went out with Nicky was to make you jealous," She stared at him with intense eyes.

At first Greg thought she was kidding, but then he looked closer, "What?"

"Yeah, believe it or not, I don't care."

Greg fell silent as he let things go over in his head, "But Nicky, he's so much manlier than I am."

Katrina laughed, "You can say that again." There was a pause as she tried to think of what to say next, "Greg remember when you asked me what I thought of you?"

"Two months ago? Yeah, I do."

"Well, I finally have that answer," Katrina looked at him, "When I look at you Greg, my heart races and my stomach fills with butterflies, I can't think straight and my mind wants nothing more than for you to hold me…Greg, I—."

Katrina bolted up and looked at her surroundings; she was in her dad's office behind his desk, "That was a really weird dream."

"Want to tell me about it?" Grissom asked from somewhere else in the office.

"No, not really," Katrina got out of her dad's chair and walked over to where he stood looking at bugs, "Gross!"

Grissom looked at her and smiled, "Its dead."

"I don't care it's still gross!" Katrina stepped back and stuck her tongue out in disgust.

"Stop being such a girl," Grissom chuckled.

"Hey, I can look at the outside and the inside of dead bodies…don't push my gag reflexes!" Katrina snapped playfully.

"Okay, alright," Grissom turned back to his bugs, "Greg needs you back in the lab."

"Why was I sleeping then?" Katrina asked.

"You were tired," Grissom shrugged and didn't say anymore as his daughter left the room.

Five minutes later Katrina entered the lab and Greg's head snapped up from the microscope with a huge grin, "Good afternoon Sleeping Beauty."

Katrina groaned softly as her dream replayed in her head, she turned away from him and cleared her throat as she sat down in the chair to look at a file, "So what did I miss?"

"Well," there was silence then the feeling of a jacket being brushed against her shoulder, Greg's voice right in her ear, "I finished with that knife."

Katrina's breath caught and her face grew hot, she pushed away from him and walked over to the knife, "And what did you find?"

"That the letters are B.K. which stands for…" he trailed off waiting for Katrina to finish.

"Brittney Kain, my mother," Katrina stared at the knife a while longer trying to see if she could remember it at all.

"You know," Greg said right next to her, his arm brushing hers, "this knife was bought here in Vegas."

Katrina side stepped away from him, but not too much to look like she was avoiding him, "Wait, when?"

"Two months ago," Greg sighed, "There was also an apartment rented under her name."

Katrina's eyes went wide, "She was following me?"

"We think so," Greg looked up at her trying to make eye contact, but her eyes never met his, "Um, look I'm going to bring the knife over to Trace…"
Katrina looked at him and grabbed the bagged knife, "I will." She didn't wait for his reply; she bolted out of the lab and headed towards Trace with a nervous fluttering heart. What's wrong with you? You couldn't be ruder? Katrina's mind was shrieking at her, she replied calmly, I am not, the dream is messing with me that's all…besides I like Nick. She listened as the voice laughed loudly, Yeah, is that why you slept with him? Katrina stopped walking shocked by her own mind; I did not sleep with him. Her mind just laughed and answered with a plain keep telling yourself that… Katrina's features hardened and she shot a glare at her inner voice before reaching Trace.

"Hey Hodges," Katrina looked around the lab, but there was no sign of the guy, "Um, hello?"

"What do you need Kat?" Katrina jumped at the sound of Wendy's voice, "Sorry didn't mean to startle you."

"No it's fine," Katrina turned and smiled at the girl, "Where's Hodges?"

Wendy shrugged, "Who knows?"

Katrina laughed softly and handed Wendy the knife, "Could you give this to him please?"

"Yeah," Wendy smiled back, but her smile faded as she looked at Katrina carefully. She sighed, "Okay what's wrong?"

Katrina looked at her surprised, "What are you talking about? I'm fine."

Wendy rolled her eyes and grabbed Katrina's arm pulling her into the Trace Lab, she shut the door and sat Katrina in the chair. She put the knife on the counter then leaned on it, "No you're not…and don't say you're still shook up about your mother."

Katrina was about to protest, but sighed and leaned back in the chair, "I hate emotions."

Wendy snorted, "Men?"

"Oh yeah," Katrina said.

Wendy crossed her arms and looked up at the ceiling then at Katrina, "I'm not sure what's wrong with you, but I'll tell you something about me." She paused, "When I started to work here, Hodges was a freak to me. I didn't like him, but eventually things began to change…it's not hard to fall in love with somebody you work with."

Katrina smiled at the girl, "I wish that was in the pamphlet."

Wendy smirked, "You remind me of when I started here."

Katrina lifted an eyebrow.

"You look so confused and nervous, am I right? Is it somebody at work?"

Katrina didn't answer, but after realizing Wendy wasn't going to talk she spoke, "Yeah."

"I have a feeling it's more than just one," Wendy smiled as Katrina's face paled, "thought so. Listen if you do fall for one…don't let anyone know."

"Why?"

"It's a one way road out of here, Ecklie doesn't approve of employees dating…he thinks that it will jeopardize things if something goes wrong during a case…and to be honest he's right."

Katrina knew what she meant, but she didn't answer.

Wendy sighed and a smile grew onto her lips, "I think we should get back to work before someone grows suspicious."
Katrina smiled back and stood up; she went to the door and looked back at Wendy, "Thanks." She opened the door and left, without hesitation she walked down the hall going back towards the lab, but as she rounded a corner a large arm wrapped around her waist stopping her in her tracks, she shrieked, but the arm pulled her towards a dark corner. They turned her around so she could see their face, her heart melted at the sight of Nick's smile, "You scared me."

He laughed softly, "That was the point…sort of."

"What are you doing?" Katrina asked surpassing a giggle.

"I can't stop thinking about you," Nick whispered.

Katrina's face flushed and she looked away, but he cupped her chin and turned her face back to his. She stared into his eyes for a second longer, but suddenly his lips were against hers in a soft kiss. She pulled away and swatted his chest; she looked over her shoulder to see if anyone else was in the hall, "Someone might see us."

Nick pulled her further into the shadows and closer to his chest, "Well, when else am I going to be able to see you?"

He had a point, "I need to get back to the lab."

"I know, but one last kiss," Nick leaned down and gently kissed her lips in a passion filled feel. He pulled away and smiled down at her before walking away. She chewed on her lip in the quiet, he was so nice and so sweet, but for some reason she couldn't bring herself to say anything as he walked away. She quickly walked back to the DNA Lab where Greg was sitting at the computer; he licked his lips trying to concentrate. She watched him in silence as her dreams blared in her head; finally he looked up at her and smiled, "Hey there, what took you so long?"

"I was talking to Wendy," Katrina walked over to the printer and grabbed a piece of paper as it came out slowly, she looked at it confused, "What's this?"

"That would be," Greg said snatching it out her hands smiling, "the results for the fingerprints found on the knife." He looked at it and his face grew dark, "That's odd."

"What?" Katrina's nerves dropped as she walked over to press against him to see what the paper said.

"It says here that there are two different fingerprints," Greg looked at her and his breath caught from her being so close, her eyes stared intently at the paper and her warmth spread into him like a wildfire. Her scent filled his nose and his heart pounded, but he shook his head and looked at the paper again, "Um, the fingerprints are similar in DNA patterns."

Katrina looked up at him, her head was leaning against his arm, but she seemed unfazed, "So in other words the prints of two people who are related?"

Greg looked at her blue eyes and almost lost concentration again, but he quickly looked back at the paper, "Yeah, but who's?"

"I don't know," Katrina muttered looking at the paper as well, but her head snapped back to look at him, "That knife…I've seen it before."

Greg looked at her confused, "How?"

Her blue eyes grew wide, "In my apartment."

"What?"

"Yeah, I didn't recognize it and thought that maybe it belonged to a friend or something…I threw it out."

"When was this?"

"A week ago…" Greg could feel Katrina's heart rate pick up as thoughts ran through her head, "She was in there."

Greg frowned, "I can't lie and say no."

Katrina nodded rubbing her face against his arm, "Yeah, I know."

The two stood in silence staring at the paper, neither moved, but their brains worked on over drive trying to put things together. Eventually the silence was broken by Warrick, "Greg, Katrina you two are coming with Nick and me."

"What about the lab?" Katrina asked not budging.

"Grissom said it should be fine for a few hours, besides, Junior, you need the field work so grab your kits and vests…lets go," Warrick walked away from them not waiting for a reply.

The DNA lab techs looked at each other with confused looks before bursting into laughter, Greg stopped long enough to talk, "Let's go."