Catherine sauntered into the break room, sliding into a chair while tucking the loose strands of hair behind her ears. “Sorry I’m late everyone. There was an accident over on Paradise, traffic is backed up for…” She trailed off, finally taking in the other people in the room. “Where’s Gil?”

“Office.” Nick told her, sighing as he leaned back in his chair.

“He got a new toy tonight. Every time one of us knocked on his door he’d just yell out, ‘I’ll be right there.’”

Catherine looked at Sara, nodding. “How long have you been waiting?”

“About thirty minutes.”

Catherine stood, walking towards the door. “I’ll see if I can’t get his attention.”

The three watched as she walked out of the room and disappeared down the hall.

“At least we’ll get our assignments soon.” Warrick muttered, leaning towards the table and grabbing an apple out of the bowl on the table.

“What makes you say that?”

“Sara, it’s Cath. She’ll get his attention.”

Sara frowned, taking in the two men sitting across from her before asking her next question. “Why does she call Grissom Gil?”

“That’s his name.” The two replied simultaneously.

“But none of us call him Gil.”

“He’s never asked me to call him Gil.” Warrick said.

“Me either.”

Sara shook her head, trying to figure out her question. “But Cath…”

“What do you know about her?” Nick interrupted.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Just answer the question.”

“I know the basics.” Sara told them. “She has a kid. Used to be a stripper.”

“Dancer.” The two corrected automatically.

“What’s the difference?”

“Let Cath hear you and you’ll definitely know the difference.” Nick told her.

“Not to mention what will happen if Gris finds out.” Warrick replied.

“Whatever.”

“So what else do you know?” Nick asked, getting back to their topic.

“Not much.” She shrugged.

“So you don’t know how Cath got her job here?”

“I never thought about it.” Sara told them.

Warrick shook his head. “Maybe you should have asked.”

“Gris actively recruited her, practically begged her to apply. Then once she was hired, he just took her under his wings. Showed her everything he knew.”

“How do you know all this?”

“People talk.” Nick reached forward, taking a drink out of his water bottle.

“But all of that doesn’t explain why she calls him Gil.” Sara argued.

“Did you know they go out?” Warrick asked.

“Go out?”

“Yes.”

Nick looked Warrick’s direction. “I caught them once too.”

“Where at?”

“It was early one morning. I had a question about a case so I call Grissom at home. Catherine answered. She told me he was occupied at the moment.”

“Occupied?”

“That’s what I said. Cath told me he was cooking, couldn’t answer the phone at the moment.”

“Cooking?” Sara questioned.

“I didn’t ask. But I could hear what sounded like pots banging in the background and something sizzling. Sounded like cooking to me.” He shrugged. “Where did you catch them?”

Warrick leaned back in the chair, crossing his legs at his ankles. “I was driving home one day and saw them leaving this little theater.”

“That doesn’t mean…”

“Gris was laughing, had his hand on Cath’s back. I slowed down a little to make sure it was them, but I didn’t want them to see me. But judging by body language it looked like a date. He opened the door for her…”

“That doesn’t mean anything.” Sara argued.

“True. But let me ask you this… when was the last time he cooked for you? The last time he went to a movie with you?”

“I…I…” Sara stalled.

“Exactly. Hasn’t happened to me either, not that I really want to go to a movie with him.” Warrick added.

“That still doesn’t explain…”

Nick sighed. “How many people actually call Gris by his first name?”

“Doc Robbins…Brass…” Sara looked up, not naming anyone else.

“Not many people, is it. Basically just those he considers equals.”

“Catherine is not his equal.”

“Maybe not technically.” Warrick conceded. “But who do you think it was that found out about our extra vacation day? And who do you think it was that got our parking spaces moved closer to the building?”

“Well…”

“Please don’t tell me you actually thought Gris did that?” Warrick asked. “We can’t even get him to come out of his office to give us our assignments.”

“Did I hear assignment?” Catherine asked, walking into the room in time to hear the tail end of Warrick’s comment. “They are right here.” She said, turning around to face nothing. Stepping outside the room, she quickly reappeared, tugging on the arm of the missing team member. “Would you just get in here so we can all get to work.”

Slightly flustered, Gil stepped into the room. “Sorry about the delay.” He passed the case files out to the three younger members.

“What about Catherine?” Sara asked when she noticed only the three of them received cases.

“She’s with me tonight.”

“I get the joy of doing Gil’s paperwork.” Catherine filled in for them.

“If there’s a call, we’ll go out.” He turned to walk out of the room, waiting until he heard Catherine’s footsteps behind him.

“Hey Cath?” Sara called, before she could leave the room.

Catherine turned around in the doorway. “Yeah?”

“Can I ask a question?”

She shrugged her shoulders, waiting for the question.

“Why do you call Grissom Gil?”

The three occupants of the room looked to Catherine in anticipation.

“Hmm… I never really thought about it. Probably for the same reason I don’t call you Sidle.” She turned in the doorway, looking at the man in question. “Gil? Is there a reason I call you Gil?”

“All my friends call me Gil, why wouldn’t you? Are you coming?” He asked, taking a step back towards his office.

Catherine shrugged her shoulders once again, following Gil out the door. “Why didn’t you just let Lindsey set that up for you earlier tonight? She was already listening to hers by the time I was ready to leave for work.”

Nick poked his head out the door, followed by Warrick. Both watching the two talking as they walked down the hall towards Gil’s office.

“Friends?” Nick asked, glancing at Warrick before turning his attention back to the couple ahead of him.

“I wouldn’t bet on it.”

~finis~