“Surprise!”

Gil stood in the doorway, his mouth dropping open in shock as he turned to look at Catherine.

“Surprise?” The apprehension was evident in her voice as she waited for his response.

“Did you…”

“It was my idea, Gil. Are you surprised?” Lindsey stepped out from the crowd, a smile on her face.

“I’m definitely surprised, Lindsey. Why did…”

“It’s your birthday. You’re only going to turn fifty once, and that’s a special thing.” She turned around, pointing the crowd out to him. “I’m not the only one who thinks that. Look at all the people who showed up.”

Gil looked up, seeing his co-workers from the past and present. A movement from the left side of the room caught his attention and his mouth dropped in shock seeing some of his friends from college surrounded by various colleagues he had met through the years at entomological conventions. “How did you…?”

“Mom called everyone. We didn’t know if people would be able to come. Mom said it would be expensive for everyone to fly here, or drive here. But see how much everyone loves you? Look how many people are here.”

Gil smiled, stepping forward and pulling Lindsey into a hug. “Thanks.”

Lindsey smiled and grabbed Gil’s hand pulling him fully into the room. The crowd parted as she led Gil to the table at the front of the room. “Now that you’re here, the rest of us can eat. I wanted to start earlier but was out-voted. I know that you and mom already had dinner, but I haven’t. And I’m starving. So if you could just sit here then the buffet can be started.”

“Buffet?”

Lindsey turned at her mom’s voice.

“Um… yeah.”

“Lindsey, what happened to the food you and your grandmother were supposed to have made? The finger foods. Chips and dips.”

“Well…”

“Lindsey.” Catherine put her hands on her hips, waiting for Lindsey’s explanation.

“I knew everyone would be hungry. And I didn’t pick any of the expensive dishes. Sam said the money you gave me to buy the snack food was enough for the dishes I picked out.”

“Cath…”

She looked up, her eyes making contact with Gil.

“Come sit down. We can talk while everyone is eating.” He pulled out two chairs, sitting in one and motioning for Catherine to join him.

Lindsey smiled as Catherine did as Gil requested. “Can we eat now?” She ran off as Gil nodded, picking up the microphone to the improvised sound system Warrick had provided, and announced to the guests that it was time to eat.

“Catherine.”

Gil’s voice brought Catherine’s attention from her daughter, her head turning to the left to look at Gil.

“Did you…?”

“I’m sorry. Lindsey was just so excited with the idea of planning a surprise party. And I know that I shouldn’t give in to her, but it’s been so hard lately. And she was wanting to actually spend time with me. I just couldn’t say no to that.”

“Catherine,” he interrupted, grabbing her hand and pulling it under the table, their conjoined hands resting in his lap. “I was going to say thank you.”

Her eyebrows shot up, lips curling into a smile as she returned the squeeze on her hand. “You were going to thank me?”

“No one’s gone to so much trouble for me before.”

“That’s because you don’t let people get to know you. You’re very good at pushing people away. Though not as good as you think, judging by the size of this crowd.”

“So this whole thing tonight…it was just a ruse, a way to lure me here.”

“No.” Catherine protested. “It…”

“It was. It’s alright, Catherine. I really appreciate all the effort you and Lindsey put into this. How did you find everyone?”

“I’m a CSI. It wasn’t that difficult. Your mother knows you pretty well. And most people knew at least one other person that I should contact.”

Gil nodded, about to respond when guests began stopping at the table on the way to the buffet. With an apologetic look on his face and a shrug of the shoulders, he turned his attention to the well wishers.

Catherine watched Gil, smiling at the snippets of story that passed by her ears. Her attention drawn to Lindsey, she quietly excused herself and moved across the room to join her table.

“Are you still mad at me?”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

“I was just trying…”

“I know what you were trying sweetie. And everything’s turned out nicely.”

“Do you think Gil is enjoying it?”

“I know he is.”

Lindsey took a long drink from her glass before picking up her fork again. “Did you have a good time tonight?”

Catherine nodded, the events of the evening playing out in her mind. “I did.”

“And the dress? Did Gil flip out when he saw you?”

“I wouldn’t use the words ‘flip out’, but the dress was a success.”

*~*~*~*~*

“So?”

“What?” Gil turned his attention to John, his college roommate.

“The red head. What’s the story with her?”

Gil focused his gaze on Catherine, smiling as he watched her chatting with Lindsey.

“Gil?”

He tore his gaze from Catherine, turning to the seat next to him where John had taken residence. “There’s no story. She works with me.”

“She works with you?”

“At the crime lab.”

“I wasn’t really wanting that story. What’s the story with the two of you?”

“We’re friends.”

“Friends?”

“Friends.”

He shook his head, a frown appearing on his face. “You disappoint me Gil. A woman like that, and you’re just friends? Didn’t you ever want…”

“Can we not have this conversation?”

“Just answer me one thing. If you’re just friends, why do you keep staring at her? And why is it that every time a man starts talking to her you look like the bully just stole your favorite toy?”

“I do not.”

“Gil, you’re clenching your hands now thinking about it. And she likes you, so why don’t you just go for it?”

Gil didn’t answer, the look on his face was a clear enough answer for John.

“Well if you aren’t going to ask her… maybe I’ll see if she wants to dance. She’s a gorgeous woman Gil… you better tell her how you feel soon.”

*~*~*~*~*

“Hey you. What are you doing hiding out here?”

Catherine looked up, a smile on her face as Gil sat down on the bench next to her. “I’m not hiding. Just needed a bit of a breather.”

“You’ve definitely not had any problems finding a dance partner tonight.”

“And my feet are protesting that.” Catherine pulled her feet out from under the chair, revealing she had taken off her shoes.

“Ah… so you wouldn’t be interested in…”

“Gil Grissom… are you asking me to dance with you?”

“It’s alright. If your feet are hurting… I can take a rain check.”

Catherine stood up, staring down at Gil. “You aren’t getting away that easy. Come on.”

Gil rose to his feet, taking Catherine’s hand to lead her back into the ball room. He stopped when he felt the pull on his hand. “Cath?”

“Let’s stay here… I don’t feel like dealing with people right now.”

“Shouldn’t that be my line?”

Catherine smiled, putting her arms around Gil as they quickly fell in step together.

“You know there’s no music, people are going to think…”

“Shh. Since when have you cared what people think?” She let her head fall to his shoulder, stepping a bit closer. They gently swayed together for a few minutes before Catherine felt Gil begin to clear his throat. Pulling back slightly, she looked up with a smile. “Yes?”

“I just wanted to say thank you again. I…”

“You don’t need to thank me. And I want you to know… this evening, everything that happened before the party… I know you think I was just using you, trying to get you here. And I suppose in a way I was. But I’d have gone to dinner with you regardless.”

“I know that. I don’t know what I was saying in there. I think it was just the shock of the party and everything. I really do…”

Catherine stopped, looking up at Gil and waiting for him to continue. “You really do what?”

“This is ridiculous. I should just go for it.”

“What are you talking about?”

Gil took a step forward, his hands pulling Catherine closer to him. “This.” His head bent, their lips making contact. Slowly he pulled back, the smile on his face echoing her own.

“What was that…”

“If you don’t know what that was, then I’ve been out of practice for entirely too long.”

Her smile grew, her eyes sparkling in delight. “I’m perfectly aware of what that was, Gil. And if you‘ve been out of practice, it definitely didn‘t show.”

“So…”

“So…” Catherine paused, her hands pulling Gil back in for another kiss. “Happy Birthday Gil,” she whispered just before their lips connected.