Catherine groaned as she put her hand on her head to make sure it was still there.

"Here, drink this," Grissom handed her some concoction in a cup. He was mindful to speak softly so as not to cause any more pain to Catherine's already pounding headache.

Catherine wrinkled her nose slightly while examining the contents. "What's in it?"

"Stuff that will make you feel better," he said as he sat down on the couch in the break room next to her.

Catherine looked at the liquid for a second longer and then took a tentative drink. The brown stuff tasted odd going down, almost as if Grissom had thrown anything he could find in it. Catherine made a face.

"Don't make faces at it, it's not that bad. Besides it'll help you."

Catherine shot him a look that said, 'yeah-right' and groaned.

Gil smiled. He knew Catherine was a real bear when she was sick.

Catherine took another sip.

Grissom couldn't keep the question inside any longer. "Why did you come in?"

Catherine swallowed before she answered. "I was going stir crazy sitting at home. It was either come to work or start talking to the spoons."

This brought a chuckle from Gil. The two sat in silence as Catherine finished her drink. She sat the cup down on the table gently. She leaned back. Grissom put his arm on the back of the couch in a silent invitation. Catherine was grateful as she leaned back and put her head on his shoulder.

"Just wait awhile for it to kick in." Gil said. After a time Grissom thought she might have been asleep.

But then... "Thanks for the... whatever that stuff was."

"You're welcome. Why don't you stay here and do paperwork if a case comes in."

Catherine corrected him, "*When* a case comes in. I don't have any paperwork."

"I do."

This statement caused Catherine to raise her head up and look Grissom right in the eye. The disbelief sparkled in her bright blue eyes.

This caused Gil to smile. "You can stay in my quiet office and do some stuff. Just relax."

With a sigh Catherine agreed. After a moment she put her head back on his shoulder. The minutes passed quietly as the two enjoyed being close. Then Catherine heard a distinct little sound. Without opening her eyes, Catherine asked nonchalantly, "Did you fart?"

"Yes, I did," Gil answered almost triumphantly.

"It's nice that we're so comfortable with each other that we can do that and not be embarrassed."

"Yes, it is," Gil confirmed.

Before Catherine could fall asleep Gil suggested, "Why don't we go into my office?"

Catherine's eyes popped open, "Why?"

"Well, before long we'll be invaded and it'll be noisy. Besides since we don't have a case, Nicky and Warrick might want to play football."

A look of confusion appeared on Catherine's face. She rose up to a sitting position. "They're going to play football in here?"

"The cold is affecting your brain cells. Video football." Gil explained.

"Oh, well then by all means let us retire to your office," Catherine muttered slightly annoyed.

Gil just smiled as he watched her get up and head for the door.

Catherine wasn't watching where she was going, but instead wondering if Gil was following, "Are you coming?" Before Gil could warn her Catherine hit the door jamb with her shoulder. Without missing a beat she said, "Excuse me" and patted the wall.

Gil put his hand over his eyes, shook his head, and laughed.

"Don't laugh at me Gil Grissom. It's only proper manners to apologize when one runs into inanimate objects." With that she made it cleanly out the door.

"Okay," Grissom said to himself as he followed Catherine. He found her already curled up sideways on his couch; feet up under her and head resting on the back of the couch.

As soon as she heard him, Catherine opened her eyes and said, "Get your cute butt over here so I can have my pillow back."

Gil did as he was instructed. When they were settled, he questioned, "So that's all I am to you, a pillow?" Mock pain was in his voice.

Eyes closed once again, Catherine replied, "A cute butt also, you mustn't forget that."

"Ahhhh."

It wasn't but a matter of minutes that Catherine's breathing had evened out signaling she was asleep. Gil studied her hand that she had placed in his. The hand looked so delicate next to his bigger hand. But the truth was those hands were small, but strong; just like Catherine. Gil felt protective of his Catherine. He smiled at that thought. He could remember when she'd become 'his' to him. It had been during that nice little encounter with Paul Millander when Stuart Rampler was killed. Catherine had been right by his side the whole time; panicked when it was his fingerprints found at the scene, taken the lead when he'd gotten frustrated. Gil had even been a bit jealous at the way Disco Placid had looked at Catherine and then later on when Disco Placid's music influence had shown up when Cath had bought a Bill Wither's CD. 'But,' Gil reminded himself, 'she can take care of herself.' But that didn't stop Grissom from feeling the need to watch over her.

Approaching footsteps brought Gil out of his reverie. He looked up and saw the naturally athletic Warrick stride in followed by his best friend Nick. Warrick's booming voice called out, "Hey, boss" before he saw Catherine. He then quickly regretted his entrance. In a whisper he offered, "Sorry."

Gil just nodded it away. "That's okay."

Nick, now fully in the office, saw the reason for the exchange. He smiled. The picture was cute. Catherine sound asleep against Gil and him holding her.

"No case?" Nick wondered in a low voice.

Gil just shook his head in the negative.

"So what do we do?" Warrick wondered.

"Whatever you want, just stay close by."

Nick and Warrick looked quickly at each other, huge smiles on their faces. Then the looks changed from friendly to challenging. "Football." Nick tossed out.

"Football." Warrick confirmed.

"Hey, find Sara and keep her with you guys. If something comes in I don't want to have to hunt all over the building for her." Gil ordered in his fatherly way.

Warrick looked confused.

Nick frowned. "Don't you remember last time when Sara left her pager in her locker? We spent twenty minutes finding her."

Recognition dawned on Warrick's face. "Oh, yeah." Then he threw Grissom his attention. "Will do, boss." With that the two left.

Gil shook his head. "On a case they're hardened CSIs, mention football and they turn into little boys," he muttered to himself.

"Yes, but they're our kids and you love them." Came Catherine's voice that caused Grissom to jump.

"Yeah, I know... .Do you realize we have five kids?"

Catherine rose up. In disbelief she drew out the question, "Five kids?"

With a serious look on his face, Gil explained. "Yeah, Nick, Warrick, Sara... "

Catherine counted along on her fingers.

"... Greg, and Lindsey."

Catherine looked down at her hand that was open, showing a count off of five. "Boy, have we been busy." She snuggled back down against Grissom. She groaned a long, low groan.

"Do you need to be oiled?"

"Yes, and you're just the man to do it, but not now." Catherine quipped. She was being very sassy tonight.

A distinct little sound was heard once again. "You sure are gassy tonight." Catherine commented.

"Yes, I am." Gil confirmed without blinking an eye.

"Maybe it's something you ate."

"You think." Gil smarted back.

"Someone took their smartass pill today." Catherine shot back.

Before Grissom could respond Cath was up in a bound. She grabbed his hand and with some effort, since he out weighed her, pulled him up. "Come on, let's go round everyone up and go get something to eat. I'm starved."

"You slept for twenty minutes and now you're ready to leap tall buildings in a single bound."

Catherine shrugged her shoulders. "I feel better."

"And what do you have to credit for that?" Gil asked in a holier-than-though manner.

"Okay, I admit that witch's brew you made helped, but most of it was do to you, just being there." She kissed him on the edge of the mouth.

Gil wasn't fazed by her little play. "You can't sweet talk your way out of this one."

Catherine waved her hand in the air, shooing away the comment. "Whatever." She made to pull Grissom along, but he set his feet, and stopped her.

"What if a case comes in?"

Cath rolled her eyes. "You have your cell phone, we'll load our kids, and we'll all be together so it doesn't matter."

"Okay. But you're going to have to break it to the guys that their play time is over."

"I'll just promise them they can play after we eat." Catherine returned sweetly with a smile.

Grissom allowed Catherine to drag him to the break room. There they found Sara watching as Nick and Warrick literally pushed against each other as they hurriedly moved their men up and down the field. Greg was doing what Greg did best, being himself. He'd gotten a roll of Scotch tape and had proceeded to place a strip on his nose effectively lifting it in the air pig-style and then taken two more pieces and placed them on his eyebrows lifting them up.

Gil saw this and whispered to Cath, "How old is he?"

Without missing a beat she replied, "26 going on 5," then raised her voice a bit above normal, in order to be heard. "Hey guys you want to go get something to eat?"

As one they all turned and gave various answered of agreement.

All five CSIs were piled in Gil's Tahoe. Greg followed in his Ford Mustang convertible. It had been agreed upon that they would go to their favorite restaurant, a little out of the way place called Brahmas.

The restaurant was a cross between country and Las Vegas. It had the casual manner and food of the West but the glitz of Vegas. Rhinestone cowboy comes to mind when one enters the restaurant for the first time. Rusty spurs and bridles decorated the wall and neon cowboys rode bucking broncos.

The six were seated at a back table. A bleached blonde waitress dressed in a short denim skirt and matching vest appeared out of nowhere. "Howdy. What can I get you to drink?"

Gil started, "I'll have a sarsaparilla."

Catherine ordered a cherry coke, Nick wanted a large ice, cold milk, Sara requested a glass of water, Warrick asked for an iced tea, and Greg wanted an orgasm.

Greg had everyone's attention.

The waitress looked embarrassed.

Gil sternly asked, "Excuse me?"

"Relax. It's a cherry, vanilla, crème, and sprite. They serve them here, if you specially order it."

"Oh, yeah." Recognition came to the waitress. "I'm sorry, I'm new, but I know what you mean." With that she left.

The table was still silent. Greg finally asked, "What?" as if he'd done nothing wrong.

Turning her attention from Greg to Gil, Catherine asked, "Sarsaparilla?"

He just shrugged his shoulders and said, "I like sarsaparilla."

By this time the waitress was back with their drinks. Everyone took a sip and began searching through the menus for what appealed to them. It didn't take long.

Warwick started up the conversation. "So, Sara, how's Hank?" He couldn't help but tease her, she was like his sister.

Sara turned visibly red. "He's fine."

Nick decided to take the heat off Sara. "How's Lindsey, Catherine?"

"She's fine. She has a boyfriend."

"Wow." Warwick stated. "Do you think that's okay?"

"Well, I have to drive them, but next month he'll get his driver's license, so that'll be good. Relax, she's only nine and has her first crush on a boy." Catherine stated.

"I give, I give." Warrick came back. "Just looking out for her."

"I know and I appreciate it." Cath replied.

The conversation continued as everyone caught up. When the food arrived talk came to a screeching halt.

Gil enjoyed his t-bone, while Catherine devoured her chicken breast, Nick had chicken fried steak, Warrick opted for a steak as well, Sara had soup and salad, and Greg had a cheeseburger.

Everyone was focused on their meal, no one saw who the culprit was, or at least they weren't talking.

Nick went to take a drink of his milk... "Hey, how'd this get in here?" He fished out a large bone.

Everyone looked surprised and innocent.

Before Nick could begin the interrogation he was interrupted by Greg. With pieces of lettuce behind his ears, Greg began, "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears... "

Nick, Warrick, and Sara tried to hide their laughter, but didn't do a good job. Catherine looked captivated while Grissom grimaced.

That one look by Gil had Greg in action taking out the lettuce, "Sorry," he mumbled.

Nick went back to his milk. "I still want to know who did it."

Catherine spoke up. "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

Nick stopped and thought for a moment. "Gris? You did that? Man, I can't believe that."

"It's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for." Warrick warned.

Talk turned to vacation moments. Grissom was telling about a horrible vacation he'd taken during a spring break while working on his doctorate. He'd gone to a little town called Antonito in Colorado. It is just thirty some miles across the New Mexico border. Gil wanted to relax and unwind. Before he could do that he got lost and wound up in Chama, New Mexico. "Finally I was able to get the right directions. The first few days were great; luscious grass, cows and horses eating in pastures, the beautiful mountains. I heard about the Cumbers and Tilted Scenic Railroad. It sounded like a good idea, so I went up to the ticket counter and found out that I could go halfway or the whole way. The woman at the counter was talking to her boyfriend on the phone and not paying any attention. She wouldn't answer any of my questions; she insulted me, told me I was a dumb tourist that didn't know anything. She was exasperating."

Catherine nearly choked on her coke. She coughed and spit and sputtered.

"Are you okay?" Gil asked concerned.

"After all that she helped you masturbate?" Catherine got out between coughs.

"No, Catherine, sweetheart, I said she was exasperating. Clean out your ears."

"Well, Gil, dear, annunciate better." Catherine fired back, red faced.

The table couldn't help but laugh.

Needless to say it was an interesting meal. Everyone paid for their own food, except for Catherine. Gil insisted on buying for her.

On the way back the three younger members of the team were chatting and laughing in the back. Gil told Catherine, "Oh, they fixed the lop stight."

Catherine took a moment to think, then asked, "The lop stight?"

Gil made a face, "Yeah, I mean stop light."

"Are you sure that wasn't a beer, Gris?" Nick questioned.

"No, it wasn't. I'm okay, the phrase just popped into my head. It's called spooning."

Everyone just took his word for it.

"I really love living in the desert. It really is beautiful." Sara said.

"Yeah, I love those plants that are big and they have that like white feathery stuff on the trunk and those huge green points." Catherine replied.

"Those are called yuccas." Gil corrected. "Come on, Cath, honey, say it with me 'YUC-CA.'"

Catherine glared at him. "Gil, sugarplum, I'm going to beat you with a YUC-CA poll if you don't shut up."

"Yes, Ma'am." Gil patronized.

Nick could see Grissom's smile in the rearview mirror. The backseat was roaring.

Back at the Lab, Gil checked his office and still no case. That was fine with him. He went back to the break room where the rest of his 'family' was at. He shook his head as he sat down at the table.

"So what do we do?" Nick asked, echoing Warrick's earlier question.

Grissom shrugged his shoulders, he didn't care.

Finally Greg spoke up, "Races?"

"Yeah," Warrick nearly shouted. He was off in a heartbeat. A few seconds later he could be seen lining two rolling desk chairs up on a particular line on the tile. Nick, Sara, and Greg went out to join him.

Nick and Warrick went first. Straddling the chairs, on the signal from Sara, they were off barreling down the hall propelled by their feet.

Grissom and Catherine looked on from the protection of the break room.

"Kids must play." Gil spoke.

"Yeah. Soon they'll grow tired of that and be back to football. So what do you want to do?" She wagged her eyebrows at him.

"Behave."

"Why? It's no fun." She pouted.

"I hear paperwork calling our names."

Catherine groaned at that.

"You still need to be oiled." Gil informed.

The two stepped out onto the racetrack. Nick had won the first round and was now taking on Sara.

Gil rose up his hand to signal he wanted their attention. "Before the racing becomes too engrossing, do all of you have your paperwork done?"

Three yeses gave him his answer. "Okay. What are you going to do when this gets boring?"

"Well, there's football and then that new movie." Sara answered.

Gil nodded. "We'll be in my office." With that he and Catherine strolled down to their destination.

Grissom took his seat behind his desk. Catherine took the one in front. She grabbed a stack of forms and began filling in the blanks. Soon she got tired of her sitting position, so she put her feet up on Gil's desk.

Gil looked up, took his glasses off, and said, "Feet off."

Catherine just stuck out her tongue at him.

"You know that means you want to be kissed quickly." Gil stated.

Catherine got up, sashayed her little behind over to Grissom. Looking down at him she stated, "Well."

Gil got up slowly, leaned close to Catherine. So close that their breaths were mingling. He then kissed her on the forehead, sat back down, and got back to work.

Catherine playfully slapped him on the shoulder. As she turned to leave Gil slapped her across her butt.

Catherine whirled around and gave Grissom a questioning look.

"Turnabout is fair play," was all he said.

Catherine just walked back to her chair and sat down.

Grissom couldn't hide the grin. "You asked for it, Cath."

"No, I didn't. You'll know when I'm asking for it." She replied, focus on the paperwork.

Gil chuckled to himself. Life with Catherine was never dull. Grissom went to retrieve the white out from his desk drawer. He pulled on it a little too much and the drawer came crashing down, jarring the contents with the impact. He looked so sad.

Catherine couldn't help but chuckle from the look on Gil's face.

Deciding to leave everything there, Gil turned back to the papers. He dropped his pen. He sat drumming his fingers on the desk. In a sudden move, he cleared the top of his desk of paperwork.

Catherine looked bewildered.

Grissom went on to explain. "Might as well get it all over with."

Catherine was trying to keep the laughter in, but couldn't help it

Gil just looked stern and hurt. Then he heard an unmistakable sound come from Catherine.

"Did we fart, love?" He asked, the laughter shining in his eyes.

"No, 'we' didn't. I didn't hear your ass bugle. Besides, I just over exerted myself."

"Then perhaps we shall take a break." Gil suggested.

"Yes, lets." Catherine countered.

The two moved over to the couch and snuggled together as before. They were quiet for a few minutes until Gil spoke up.

"Hey, Cath, look what I can do."

Catherine rose up so she could watch Gil.

He took his index finger of his right hand and placed it on his nose. This action caused his tongue to pop out. He then took his left hand and pulled on his left ear. His tongue moved to the left. Then with his right hand he tugged on his right ear, the tongue moved over there. He then pulled on both ears at the same time, which caused the tongue to stop in the middle. Then with a tap on his nose, his tongue disappeared.

Catherine grinned. "My, aren't we talented."

"Yes, we is."

"How old are we 47 going on 5?" Catherine inquired.

"No, 47 going on 7. I'm older than Greg. That trick takes more talent and requires an older age." He said seriously.

"Oh." Cath stated. Then she leaned back down against Grissom. She patted his chest and said, "We're lucky to have such a talented man as you for our fearless leader."

"Yeah." Deciding that the performance called for refreshments Gil got up. "You want something to drink? Water?"

"No, I'll just drink yours." Catherine replied.

Before Gil could take two steps he tripped over the corner of the couch. He then turned back towards Catherine, bowed, and stated, "For my next trick I will attempt to run into the door." Then he was gone.

Catherine dozed for the ten minutes that he was gone. The cold was beginning to come back. "What is everyone doing?" She asked as Gil sat back down.

"Playing football."

Catherine took the bottled water from him and drank. It then occurred to her. "Oh, shit. I have a cold. I guess you'll have to get some more water."

"Cath, as close as we have been all night, I've probably already caught it. Don't worry." He kissed her forehead. "We finished all the paperwork."

"Wow. That must mean that it's going to snow here, because we have never been caught up. So now what?"

"I don't know. What do you want to do?" Gil asked.

"Go home and go to bed."

"I think that can be arranged." Gil said in a low voice.

"I have a headache." Catherine said.

"And?" Gil inquired.

Catherine just pinched him in the ribs.

"Ow. You can be rough, can't you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" She threw back. Then patted his knee and said, "Come on, let's go home." Before he could protest she said, "We will leave our cell phones on. Plus we're the senior members and deserve the break."

Gil didn't argue. Instead he grabbed Catherine's hand and led her to the break room.

Inside the attention was on the T.V. "Hey guys we're out of here. If anything comes up, call us." All they got were waves.

"Isn't that nice, you look after them, teach them everything you know, and then they turn their backs on you." Gil muttered on the way to the Tahoe.

Catherine shrugged her shoulders. "That's how the game is played."

"Where to?'' Gil asked once they were on the road.

"Your house." Catherine replied.

The ride was quiet, each enjoying the sights of the pulsing night life.

Once inside Gil's townhouse, Catherine downed some aspirin.

"You want some more of my Grandmother's 'concoction'?"

"Yes, please." Catherine said.

It didn't take Gil long before he had another cup of the brown stuff in front of Catherine. She wrinkled her nose once again.

"You know scientists believe that it is the pheromones in our noses that are the primary reason for our attraction to certain people." Gil offered.

"Hmm. It's the stuff in our noses that makes us attractive." Catherine summed up.

Gil shook his head. "It's to bed with you."

"I don't think I've ever been asked that way before." Catherine muttered.

Gil groaned.

"Sounds like you need the oil now." Catherine offered.

Once inside the room, Catherine just took Gil's Polo shirt that he'd been wearing off.

"Well help yourself." He stated sarcastically.

"Maybe later." She threw over her shoulder as she went into the bathroom. When she came out, dressed in Gil's shirt and the pair of sweat pants that were in the bathroom, she found Grissom sitting on the edge of the bed, ready for bed.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Catherine answered.

The two proceeded to climb into bed.

Gil waited while Catherine fixed her pillow. She finally resorted to punching it. "Will you hurry up?" he asked.

"Well my pillow is lumpy."

"I thought I was your pillow; the one with the cute butt." Gil stated.

"That's right." Catherine answered as she laid her head once again on Gil's shoulder.

"Comfy now?"

"Yes. G'night." Catherine said.

"Good night." Gil flipped off the light.

The end.