Emotions

Disclaimer: Yet again CSI no! The song "Standing Outside the Fire" belongs to Garth Brooks. No infringements intended so please don't sue!
Archive: You want it? You take it just let me know where
Feedback: Yes please, it's your kind words that give me the courage to keep writing.
Author's Note: As part one
Dedication: Aby as always you're a wonder for Betaing and Jac you make me blush with your compliments and really boost my confidence thank you!


Chapter 2: Decisions

Grissom sat in the break room waiting for the shift to start so he could hand out the assignments. The radio was playing in the background and as another song started he realised it was tuned into a country station. 'Who would have picked that?' he wondered, 'must have been someone on the day shift.' If it had been Warrick or Nick he would have heard it as soon as he'd walked into the room. What they considered music he called noise. 'God,' he thought, 'I must be getting old.'

As he listened to the sound of the others coming out of the locker room, the words of the song penetrated his consciousness.

"Standing Outside the Fire
Standing Outside the Fire
Life is not tried
It is merely survived
If you standing outside the Fire."

He shook his head in disbelief that certainly described his life just now. What was going on, was someone trying to give him a heads up?

The other four members of the graveyard shift entered the room and greeted their boss. Chit chat over, Grissom handed out the assignments, leaving the room and heading back to his office to do more of the blasted paper work that had backed up this week.

Not knowing why, he called out to Catherine just before she disappeared around the corner, "So how is Jerry? He asked.

Catherine smiled and shook her head, "You have to keep up with the times, Gil," she told him, "Jerry and I finished weeks ago."

Grissom's heart began to beat faster, "So who's the new flavour of the month then?" God, did he sound obvious or just the interested friend?

"No one yet," she answered, "but there's plenty of time and plenty of talent." With that she laughed and headed after Nick to get to their crime scene.

Grissom spent the next two hours sitting in his office trying to concentrate on what he was supposed to be doing, but the words of the song kept ringing in his head. Should he do something? Was this his chance? He wasn't sure what to do, or think.

From out in the corridor came the sounds of laughter and he heard Catherine and Nick arguing, playfully, over some point of the case.

'Right, dammit,' he thought, 'now is your chance Gil boy don't blow it.' He went to the door but just before he opened it he took cold feet. What if she didn't feel the same way about him? He could be about to ruin the best friendship he had ever had in his life.

He looked through the window on his door and saw her walking away from him, she was on her own now, no Nick in sight. Was that his chance walking away from him too?

He opened the door and called, "Catherine, can I have a word with you?"

She turned toward him, "Sure, boss."

He watched her walking toward him, her hips swaying. Did she always walk so seductively or was his mind on one track? He felt his temperature rise and hoped it didn't show on his face.

Once she was in the office and the door closed he asked, "Tomorrow is your night off isn't it?"

Catherine looked at him curiously, "You called me in to ask me that?"

Grissom sighed, "Just answer the question."

"Yeah, you know it is since you organised it." What was going on here she wondered.

"Would you like to go out to dinner with me?" His heart was pounding she must be able to hear the noise it was making. He couldn't believe he was actually doing this.

"Dinner dinner or dinner date?" she asked, her eyes sparkling in mild surprise.

He gulped here was crunch time, "Dinner date," he muttered.

Catherine was shocked, he'd actually done it. She had been willing to give him another week and then she was going to take the bull by the horns. Seemed like she didn't have to now.

Grissom saw the look on her face and panicked. Oh God he'd blown it! She didn't return his feelings. "Listen, you don't-"

"Grissom," she interrupted him, "shut up." She walked over to him and taking his face in her hands answered, "What took you so damn long?" With that she kissed him.