Chapter 4 – The Thursday Morning Breakfast Club
Grissom glanced down at the cards held loosely in his hands before glancing around at the others gathered around the table in his condo; Brass was there as usual, tie askew with cigar clamped tightly between his teeth as he gave the cards in his hand the same level of attention as he would a fresh homicide; Doc Robbins, one of the three M.E.s that covered the Crime Lab, crutch abandoned by the couch as he sipped from the glass of whisky he held after laying his cards carefully on the table after only a quick glance; and then there was Sara, Sara who had waved away Jim's offer of a cigar but let out a girly squeal of delight when Al had waved the bottle of oak matured Scotch whisky in her direction. The soft look in Grissom's eyes faded slightly when his gaze slipped over to the two newest additions to their standing Thursday morning game, a wide-eyed Nick Stokes and his more steely-eyed companion, Warrick Brown. Grissom let out a soft chuckle when he caught Brass elbowing Warrick sharply in the ribs as he muttered near his ear.
"Easy tiger, remember, bragging rights only."
It was hard to believe that they'd been able to keep their games quiet up until now, considering they had a self-confessed gambling addict amongst their number. It had been a glorious four years of smoke filled, whisky flavoured Thursdays until just the previous evening…
"So, Gil, I hear Al got back in town yesterday morning," Jim Brass sauntered over to meet Gil in the corridor, having popped over to the Crime Lab with some final paperwork to do with the many inter-departmental transfers they'd had to get sorted over the last several months. Grissom broke away from the conversation he was having with Sara just outside of the main lab, blinking hard for a few moments as he tried to switch his brain over from the case they had just been discussing.
"Thursday morning breakfast club?" Sara guessed, having seen a few pager codes floating around since her arrival. It was a pretty accurate guess from scanning the almost gleeful expression on Jim's face as he'd been approaching the pair.
"Yeah, and I managed to score some beautiful 'almost Cubans' from someone over on Vice," Jim bragged, "so?"
"So…" Grissom glanced over his shoulder to check whether anyone else was in earshot before stepping in a little closer, Sara moving in and flipping open the case file as if the trio were discussing the case. "Yes, I've already had Al calling me this morning to check whether we're on…barring any major new cases we should be able to get things set up in time. Sara's already volunteered to pick up the pizza on her break, we'll just need to re-heat them once we get home…"
"Two pepperonis, one with onion and sausage? You alright with that dollface? I mean, I know you don't like meat…" Jim's nose was crinkled in concern and his face brightened at the kiss Sara dropped against his cheek.
"Aw, thanks Jim, but I'm fine handling it, I just don't wanna eat it…"
"That's good, cookie, don't forget to pick up whatever you want and I'll pick up the tab…" Jim waved of Grissom's protests and kept his finger raised in the air. "No, Gil, I'll pick up the pizza tab and bring the beer…you always host so it's only fair that the rest of us moochers pick up the cost every once in a while."
"Um, isn't the Thursday morning breakfast club just usually a guy thing?" Sara asked quietly, she was thrilled to having been invited after hearing about it for so long, but still… "I mean, I don't wanna intrude or anything, and you never invited Catherine along…"
"Catherine would have us ditching the beer for coffee and start bitching on about how we were gonna be too tired for work," Jim groused bitterly, no, there was no love lost between him and CSI Willows, especially when she was still holding a bitter grudge about being busted down a level.
"Fridays are generally quiet around here," Grissom pitched in, keeping his voice low and flipping the pages of the case file every once in a while, "it's usually just a paperwork night, so no one really cares if we're a bit sluggish or slower to move around."
"We never get completely rat-faced, it's just nice to hang loose and mellow once a week," Jim added, giving Sara a wink. "Come on, dollface, say you'll stick around and join the party."
"Party? You holding out on us, Brass?" Nick's soft Texan drawl coming from behind had the trio whirling around in surprise. "You finally get the date of Bugman's birthday out of him, huh?"
"Gil's birthday was last month," Sara replied automatically, before apologising for letting it slip out.
"No, no party, just a few us old farts hanging around to gripe about you young 'uns," Brass quickly interjected, but Nick just shook his head and refused to be swayed.
"Nuh-uh, I distinctly heard you mention pizza and beer, and the word party – there something you ain't telling us? You get tired of homicide already, Brass and decided to retire?"
"Retire?" Warrick's surprised voice had the small group looking surprised again at the sneak approach, none of them having heard the other man's soft footfalls as he approached from the front of the building rather than the staff entrance to the side. "Who's retiring? Had enough of the bugs, Grissom?"
"I'm old, but not quite past my prime yet, thank you, Warrick," Grissom's snippy tone immediately informed Warrick that he'd possibly touched a nerve that Grissom definitely didn't want pressed. "Sorry, boss…so retirement party? Who for and when?"
"Christ almighty!" Brass cursed, flinging his hands up in frustration. "No one is retiring, it's just a bunch of old farts…" Brass paused and tossed a smirk and wink over in Sara's direction, "and possibly one definitely not old fart, hanging out to have a few drinks and a game of cards, so definitely no party."
"Even better, won't have to dig out my little black book to scrounge up a date," Nick said, rubbing his hands together gleefully, "so, back to my earlier question, when and where?"
"Which part of 'old' and 'fart' did you not understand, kid?" Jim growled, growing increasingly frustrated with the younger man's persistence. "You ain't invited!"
"Huh?" Nick blinked in confusion, before pointing directly at Sara, "you invited her! I've known the two of you longer than her, so how come she gets invited and I- I mean, we, don't?"
"Two things, kid," Jim stepped right up into Nick's personal space and flicked two fingers in the air, "one, I may not have known her very long, but I've known ofher for many more years than I've known you…." Jim flicked one finger down, leaving his middle finger raised in an age-old gesture, "and two…" again, Jim shot a sly wink over in Sara's direction before turning back to face both Nick and Warrick, "maybe I just don't wanna spend my off hours looking at the pair of you once I've had a few beers."
"Jim…!" Grissom's normally smooth tone held a deeper note as he raised one eyebrow warningly, "perhaps just this once? I'm sure once the boys realise that this isn't some high stakes Craps game and it really is just a group of old men hanging out, sharing a beer or two over a hand of cards, the bloom will soon wear off." Grissom swivelled around on his heel, and slapped the evidence folder against Nick's chest. "You…Finish off the paperwork on this one and Warrick gets that 401a with the little girl squared away, then perhaps we'll talk about the two of you joining the game tomorrow."
"Tomorrow…? But…?" Nick spluttered out, already knowing that they still had Archie running the ransom tape through AV to try and separate out the sound waves, and after that, if the sounds matched who they thought they would, there would still be the admission of guilt that would to be obtained. Similar thoughts were running through Warrick's head as well, sure, they thought they knew the situation, but getting the old man to give up the grandson was another matter.
"Just confirm your findings and get the reports written up in preparation for the charges to be laid, and we'll call it done," Grissom confirmed, chuckling a little at the thought of the two CSI's scrambling around like headless chickens, knowing full well that the cases they had both been assigned were on the trickier side, "after all, Rome wasn't built in a day."
Warrick had ducked out to the bank during his break and withdrew a healthy chunk of cash, and was feeling that tiny buzz of excitement as he and Nick drew up outside of Grissom's condo the next morning. Robbins was the one greeting them at the door, explaining the playbook as he escorted them inside.
"Couple of beers apiece, courtesy of Jim, or there's a nice single, malt whisky if that strikes your fancy," Robbins led the way over to Grissom's fairly spacious living room, where the patio doors had been opened wide to in the early morning sunshine. Warrick felt his buzz growing as he accepted a cold beer and followed the medical examiner over to where Grissom was separating out piles of poker chips on a felt topped table.
"What are the stakes?" Nick asked, a slight quiver in his voice as he saw Grissom adding even more chips to the table. Grissom chuckled as he heard the nervous tone but continued adding chips to the separate piles, as he heard Brass coming back up the stair, where he had been re-heating the pizza in the basement kitchen with Sara.
"The highest on offer, Nicky boy," Brass stated with a wide smile, before jerking his thumb between Robbins and Grissom, "the right to get one over one of these two geniuses."
"Huh?" Nick struck a pose with his hands on his hips, face crinkling in confusion as Warrick felt that little buzz of excitement wither and die inside of him.
"Bragging rights, Nick," Warrick said dolefully, giving the poker table the evil eye, "Brass is saying they don't play for cash, just bragging rights."
"Allllriight!" Nick's confused expression melted into a gleeful smile as he bounded over to the table to take a seat, "now something I can get behind, deal me in!"
"Mr Brown, are you in or are you out?" Robbins asked, gesturing over to where the rest of the group were taking their seats and squabbling over the pizza choice.
"I'm his ride, so he's walkin' back if he decides to go…" Nick replied, cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk as he grinned around the slice he'd just started chewing on.
"Yeah, I guess I could stick around," Warrick groused, sliding into the last available chair and slugging down a third of his can of beer, and waving away the offer of pizza. "Ain't like I've got anything better to do anyway…"
Sometime later in the morning, Robbins and Nick had cheerily lost their most of their chips and were happy enough to glance at the cards in their hands and toss in a few chips but not really caring whether they won or lost. The other four were entirely focused on the cards in their hands, none of their expressions revealing what was going through their minds, until Brass tossed down his cards with a deep sigh.
"Well, nothing to show there, I'm out," he rose up from the table with a creaky sigh, "anyone for coffee?"
"Sure, I'll take a cup," Sara agreed, before laying down her cards as well, "far too rich for me boys, I'm out as well." She picked her and Robbins' empty whisky glasses, and a single glass at Nick had him scooping up a pile of empty beer cans and tossing them in the pizza boxes for disposal. Warrick was about to double down on his latest bet when Grissom's answer phone started blaring out a message in a familiar voice.
"I keep the ringer switched off until I get up around six, anyone important knows to ring through to my cell," Grissom answered the unspoken question as to why the answer phone was picking up messages when the phone hadn't even rung.
"Hey Grissom, long time no hear…" Catherine's slightly nasal tone came through crystal clear and everyone paused to hear what she had to say after nearly four months of complete silence. "Anyway, as you know it's Lindsay's birthday next weekend, and I just wanted to say, please nothing that could blow up the house this year! She's asked for some of those Bratz dolls, another Furby, that 'Bop It' game and some in-line skates…lord knows I'm not gonna be able to tick much of those off the list, so if you could spread the news to the guys and maybe grab a couple each, that would be great! Anyway, the party starts at four, so if you could make sure that you drop them off at the house before Saturday or just leave them with Jodie at the front desk, that'd be swell…" There was then the sound of a few muffled voices in the background and then without a word of thanks or farewell, the message cut off.
"Wow, did she really just ask you to pay for all of Lindsay's birthday presents?" Robbins asked in disbelief, snorting at the various nods that went around the room. "And demanding that you just turn them in before the kids party? Unbelievable!"
"Yeah, it's pretty much been like that ever since I've been on the job," Nick stated, "first year it was that Hobby Horse that we all chipped in for, the next it was furniture for her new room, I think and then…"
"Okay, okay, I get the picture…and you're still expected to chip in even though she's no longer a member of your team…and from the start of that particular message, not even really someone you could consider a real friend if they don't bother keeping in touch." Robbins sighed again and rubbed a hand over his full beard. "Well, far be it for me to try and tell you what to do…"
"I…um…I already have plans for next weekend, so I won't be attending," Grissom's fingers were twisted together in his habitual gesture, a sure sign that he was struggling to give voice to what he was thinking or feeling.
"Yeah, I was thinking about just popping a card or something in the mail…I mean, I only met Lindsay that one time and I was out of town for her last birthday," Warrick chimed in, feeling nice and loose from the few beers he'd consumed on an empty stomach. "When Catherine didn't mention anything about party plans, I just assumed that it wasn't going ahead this year, not sure how I feel about it after hearing that."
"Yeah, well I know for sure Jim and I won't be receiving a Golden Ticket invitation," Sara smirked, jerking her thumb over to where Jim was already working on his second cup of coffee in an attempt to sober up before making his way back across town.
"Yeah, not exactly feelin' the love comin' from that direction, if you know what I mean?" Jim replied, "besides, I too, already have plans for next weekend that I have no intention of breaking." Catching the exchange of glances between Grissom, Sara and Brass, Nick was already internally jumping with glee.
"Ooh, another secret game? Can I come?" Nick was bouncing on his heels, although the group, apart from Sara, had been working together for a number of years, that Thursday morning had been felt the first time that he'd felt really included, yeah, they'd had the occasional breakfast together after finishing a big case or shared drinks with some of the lab rats to celebrate a birthday but just a group of pals meeting up to grab a beer and play a few hands of cards; to Nick, that was what had been special about today.
After another exchange of glances and a series of shoulder shrugs and twitching fingers, Sara grinned over at Nick before asking: "You really sure you wanna skip Lindsay's party, Nick?"
"Rather have pizza and beer over ice cream and pink lemonade," Nick swiftly replied, Warrick nodding along in response, having already made his feelings over the 'non-invitation' clear.
"More like Funnel Cake and hot dogs," Jim groused, rubbing a hand over his stomach as he was already thinking how good the combination would taste compared with how bad it would make his heartburn afterwards. "You and Judy comin' along, Al?"
"Hoping too, yeah," the bearded man replied, tapping his knuckles against the wooden bannister, making everyone grin at his superstitious response.
"Funnel cakes and hot dogs…Jeez, Nicky, he's talkin' about the Screamers…" Warrick sighed in exasperation, "you couldn't let her settle in a bit more before you frighten her off with your damned coasters?" this remark was addressed directly at Grissom, who was well known for holding a season ticket to ride every coaster in the state of Nevada.
"Ladies choice, Mr. Brown, who am I to disagree with that," Grissom responded, causing Sara to let out a small sigh as she addressed the room.
"Grissom asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday…I like the coasters too, so I suggested the Breakfast club take a day out and do the whole Vegas carnival experience, so that's what we're doing."
"But you said this was the first time joining the poker game?" Nick said, his voice raising a little as the statement held a questioning tone.
"First time joining the game yeah," Sara confirmed, silently inferring that the Thursday games were not the only activities that the Breakfast club enjoyed. "Look, go to Lindsay's party or not, join us at the Carnival or not…not exactly holding you to ransom until you choose, Nick. If you turn up on Saturday, that's great, if not, see you at work on the Monday, no big deal."
"Huh," Nick said, turning Sara's words over in his mind; if it had been Catherine delivering the options, there would have been some not-so-subtle nudges toward picking the option that was more in her favour, it felt a bit strange to suddenly feel free to make a choice. "Okay, then…"
"Uh-uh," Warrick said, already backing away with his hands held up in front of him. "I ain't afraid to admit that you'll never get me up on one of those things unless it's a life-or-death situation…I might meet up with you at the carnival but ridin' the rails 100 feet in the air, no way."
"250 feet," Grissom correctly, smirking a little at the way Warrick's face paled even further, "okay, Warrick, enough of the coaster talk." Grissom looked around the room, pleasantly surprised to find that all of the rubbish had already been cleared up, and the chips had been placed back into their wooden box ready for the next game. "Oh, thanks guys, but you didn't have to do that."
"Oh, that was all Sara's doing, said it wasn't fair that we had all the fun and leavin' you to do the tidying," Nick stated, glancing around the room and getting the impression that game day was over for the week and folks were getting ready to head off to their beds. "Speaking of leavin', you need a ride anywhere Sara? Don't think I remember where you said you were staying."
"Oh, thanks Nick but there's no need. Grissom's given me somewhere to lay my head until I get my lease sorted out," Sara tossed back in response, making herself comfortable on the couch with an issue of the latest Forensics magazine.
"Well, doll face, you know you can always find a spot on my sofa if the Bugman's bugs get a little too buggy for ya," Jim offered over his shoulder as he flipped a two-fingered salute to their host before making his way to the door.
"Thanks Jim, Al's already offered me to stay in one of his kid's rooms, while their away at school, I'm pretty settled here, so if Grissom still doesn't mind…" Sara let her voice trail off, hiding a grin behind her magazine as Grissom's fingers flashed out a quick message that only she could understand; the others assuming that it was just his nervous twitch.
"It's fine with me, as long as Sara doesn't mind sharing the space with Socrates," Grissom responded smoothly, quirking a brow at Nick's comment that there were a ton of books in the condo, so why would she mind sharing with another dusty old book.
"Perhaps, Nicholas, it is because Socrates is the name of Gil's beloved pet Tarantula?" Robbins mused, sharing a grin with Sara over the cover of her magazine, and clapping a hand on the younger CSI's shoulder as he gently steered him toward the door, Warrick following in their wake. "Have I ever told you about the time…?"