Disclaimer: No they are not mine. I just like to take them out and have them dance for me. "And So It Goes", "Tell Her About It", and "She's Got A Way" all belong to Billy Joel, the one and only Piano Man.

Rating: Definitely M – Mature

Spoilers: Post Ep to "Butterflied"

Notes: Yes, most of my inspiration comes from songs. How on earth did you know? This was an evil plot bunny that just wouldn't leave me alone until I had it done. Quickest I've ever written a story. Again a huge thank you to my beta LosingInTranslation without her these stories would be filled with mistakes. Please, please, please give me feedback.

Chapter 1

Catherine walks down the hall to find Gil. She knows that Lurie was brought in for questioning again and she wants to be nearby when they finish. This case has really hit Grissom hard, and she just wants to be sure he is still holding up. She has already decided that if she felt he needed it, she was going to talk him into a few days off to clear his head.

Everyone had recognized how possessed Grissom had become with this case. As she rounds the corner, she watches Lurie and his lawyer leave the room. Then, as she is about to walk past the observation room door, she sees Brass exit the same room. She is about to say his name when suddenly the observation room door opens and Sara bursts out, barreling right into Catherine.

They both grab each other's arms to keep themselves from falling. "Sara? What happened?" Sara tries to walk around her, pretending she didn't hear, but Catherine just won't let go. "Sara!"

"I can't…" Sara's voice breaks, and Catherine can tell she's about to cry. "Cath it's nothing."

"Nothing doesn't make you cry, Sara. You're not that kinda woman." Catherine could swear Sara's head dips lower when she says that. "What happened?"

Sara gives a watery laugh, sniffs, then softly says, "He can't do it." Her voice trembles as she tries to repeat, "He can't…" She looks directly into Cath's eyes for only a moment. "Is there something wrong with me?" When her own expression turns soft, Sara's eyes drop again, and she breaks Catherine's hold. "Nevermind. We're done for today. I'm going home." She stalks toward the locker room to pick up her stuff and leave.

Catherine looks up and sees Brass still in the hallway. His eyes are wide in shock. He whispers, "Oh my God, she HEARD HIM?"

Catherine can barely make out what he's saying, but when her brain finally processes what he said, she rushes up to him. "What do you mean 'she heard him'? Heard what?"

"Catherine, I can't…It's not up to me to tell you. Grissom…"

She interrupts him. "Grissom! He did something, said something, that hurt her didn't he? What happened?"

Brass is desperate to get away from this conversation. "Cath, I can't…"

She gets right up into his face and says emphatically. "What Happened?"

He hangs his head and sighs. "He was talking to Lurie about the relationship the doc had with Debbie Marlin. He compared Lurie with himself." Shaking his head as he tries to remember exactly what he heard as he tells the story. "Said something about a beautiful younger girl offering them a different life. He couldn't take the risk, but Lurie could."

"Oh my God, Sara heard THAT?.!.?"

Brass looks forlornly down the hallway as though he could still see Sara walking away. "Apparently."

Catherine groans angrily. "I'm gonna KILL him, Jim! I'm really gonna kill him!"

He smirks. "Tell me about it..." Wanting to calm her down a little, Brass puts a hand on her upper arm. "I swear, we had no clue she was in Observation, Cath. He never would have said that if he knew she was watching."

Catherine nods her understanding. "Well, someone has to warn him…Someone has to tell him she heard."

Brass brings his hands up in surrender. "No way! I am NOT getting in the middle of those two. Do you know how dangerous that is?"

Catherine sets her shoulders and says, "I've got a thick skin. If I can't get through to him now, I don't know if anyone can." She walks up to the door and puts her hand on the knob. "Wish me luck."

"You don't need luck. You need glare proof clothing."

"Thanks a lot," she says sarcastically, and opens the door.

Grissom is sitting hunched over in his chair; fists clenched, resting on the table; head bowed and eyes closed. He doesn't move when Catherine lets herself into the room.

"Grissom?"

Still no movement.

She sits next to him. "Gil?"

His fists clench together harder.

"Why did you say what you did?"

His jaw tenses. "Brass told you."

She purses her lips. "Kinda."

He still does not look up. "Did he just start gossiping, or did you actually badger it out of him?"

"Well, you know me." She half-smiles.

He sighs. "Badgering then."

Her face falls. "Gil, I…"

He looks at her with anger. "Can't you just leave this one alone?"

"Not this time." He lowers his head again. To make sure she has his attention, she places a hand over one of his fists. "Gil…Sara heard."

His head and body snap towards Catherine; moving the chair back slightly. His eyes go wide and his eyebrows rise halfway up his forehead, shock clearly showing on his face. "What?"

"Sara, she…she was in Observation when you decided to open up and give your little speech."

His jaw drops. "I was…I just wanted to get a rise out of him. I knew his struggle. I understand why he snapped. I…I wanted him to confess, and I thought that was my best shot. I didn't…I didn't know…" He turns his head away. "My God, she heard that?"

"She did. She's a little upset, so I'd suggest staying out of her way right now. Actually I think you should take a few days off to unwind; get your head out of the case. It's always nice to relax, especially after a case like this."

He turns his head to face her again. "Catherine, I don't think…"

"But I DO think," she interrupts. "And I have just the thing to help you calm down while you're off. It's in my car." She practically spits the whole thing out in a flurry, hoping to throw him off balance with speed. "You get the paperwork out of the way, I'll get my stuff, then I'll drive you home. It's perfect. This way you can't just come back to work when you're supposed to be taking it easy."

"Catherine," he groans, pulls his one fist from her grasp, and puts his face in his hands; his elbows on the table.

"Gris, if you don't do this, I'm gonna do something I hate." She waits until he takes his head out of his hands and looks at her. "I'm going to talk to Ecklie," she pauses for a second and swallows, her expression that of someone taking a bitter pill, "get him on my side, and together we'll convince Cavallo that you need time away."

He closes his eyes and sighs. "You're not gonna quit until I take the next two days off, are you?"

"No."

Again he sighs, "Fine. Get your stuff. I'll meet you out at the car."

"Good." She gets up from her chair and walks to the door. "You won't regret this. Trust me."