"You all owe me a big fat 'thank you'." Warrick strode into the break room with a proud grin.

"What? Why?" Nick asked for the others.

"Cuz I found out who Grissom's new girlfriend is."

All heads shot up. "Who is it?" Greg asked giddily. "Is it Lady Heather? Cuz if it is...oh man!"

"Not Lady Heather." Warrick shook his head.

"Teri Miller's married now so it can't be her..." Nick muttered.

"Warrick, quit stalling!" Sara said impatiently.

"Catherine."

"What?!" Nick, Sara, and Greg looked at each other then at Warrick. Disbelief was written all over their faces.

"What, you don't believe me? I saw them with my own eyes! They were having dinner at that fancy-shmancy Italian restaurant down the street."

"So they were having dinner, that doesn't mean they're dating. They always go out for dinner together." Nick noted with a shrug.

"C'mon guys! Don't tell me you have never even considered the possibility! Those two were meant to be together. You all know it!" Warrick said defensively.

"So Catherine's been lying to us all this time? I mean, we asked her if she knew who Grissom's girlfriend was and she's been telling us she had no idea!" Sara reminded the group.

"Who had no idea about what?" Catherine asked innocently in the doorway. As she made her way into the room, she noticed the looks the team was giving her. She frowned, "What's wrong?"

"We found out who Grissom's girlfriend is."

"Really? Who is it?"

"Now, now, Catherine, there's no need to hide it from us any longer. We know the truth." Greg paused and then grinned, "We know it's you."

"Me?" Catherine looked at each one of them then laughed, "That's ridiculous!"

"C'mon Catherine, we know you two are dating!" Nick insisted, not understanding why Catherine wouldn't just admit it.

"If that were true, why would I tell you I didn't know who his girlfriend was? Don't you think I would've just told you the truth? You guys know I don't mind telling you stuff like that."

"You're right. But Grissom does."

Just as the words escaped Nick's mouth, Grissom appeared in the doorway, "I do what?" Before anyone could answer, he turned to Catherine, "Hey, thanks for coming with me to that Italian restaurant the other day. I think I'm gonna bring her there."

"No problem." Catherine answered with a smile.

"Wait a minute...so when Warrick saw you guys at the restaurant, you were only food-testing for the real date?" Nick frowned with confusion, "So you two aren't...?"

"We aren't what?" Grissom asked seriously.

"Nothing." Nick quickly shook his head.

"Great job, Warrick." Greg slapped Warrick on the back and followed Sara and Nick out the door.

Warrick gave Grissom and Catherine another look then shook his head and followed the pack through the exit.

When she was sure they were out of earshot, Catherine burst out into laughter, "I can't believe you lied to them like that!"

"I didn't lie, Catherine. We *were* at the restaurant testing the place out for another date. What I didn't tell them was that my other date was with my mother for her birthday."

"And you conveniently left out the part about how our test dinner was indeed a date."

Grissom shrugged with a smirk, "Hey, I gave Nick a chance to ask me. He's the one who decided not to."

"Would you have told him the truth if he had asked?"

"About us dating? Of course. It's not like I'm ashamed of dating you."

"Well that's nice to know."

"So you think they'll ever find out?"

"Not if we keep giving such Oscar-worthy performances."

*THE END*