Grissom was deep in thought as he walked down the hall towards the breakroom, a box tucked under one-arm and assignments for that night in the other hand.

Sighing as he entered the room, he knew he was taking the easy way out with what he was about to do.

He looked around the room as he placed the box on the table. The scene before him was a familiar one. Warrick and Nick tossing a screwed up piece of paper between them. Catherine was looking at her nails as she sipped from a cup of coffee barely acknowledging Sara as she asked her opinion on the article she was reading.

"Ahem" he cleared his throat expectantly as his team either refused to notice his presence or they were too deeply involved in other activities to notice.

Sara looked up first, folding her journal away as she did so. Her eyebrow raised in question as she noticed the box though she made no comment.

Nick turned towards the noise and in the process was caught in the face by Warrick’s last throw.

"Sorry man" he offered insincerely as he too turned his chair to the table.

Finally Catherine raised her cup to her lips one last time and as she placed her cup in the sink asked, "What’s in the box?"

"A challenge"

"A challenge" echoed Nick suspiciously.

"Yes Nick, as I said a challenge"

"What for?" queried Warrick with a sideways look to Nick as if to say ‘the challenge is on’.

"If you would give me a moment I will explain" he retorted looking down at the still silent Sara. Though her head was lowered and she was looking at the table he knew she was following every word and action around her.

"I have been invited to be a key speaker and presenter at a forensics conference next month. It is an international conference attended by hundreds of scientists and forensic specialists. I will therefore be requiring an assistant, for want of a better word. The Department has given me approval to take someone from this shift with me."

"Where is it being held?" Sara spoke up for the first time, her eyes remaining on the table.

"Sydney, Australia" He answered to the room.

The following outbreak of chattering and exclaiming assaulting his newly restored hearing it was Sara finally lifting her head and observing the grimace on his face that ceased the noise.

"Hey, guys." She exclaimed as she stood, "I’m interested in hearing about this challenge, shut up." The tone in Sara’s voice silencing them immediately. With several resentful and one grateful glances in her direction she resumed her former position, though her gaze now rested somewhere between Grissom’s nose and chin.

Briefly wondering why Sara was so studiously avoiding his eyes Grissom turned back to the group and continued.

"As I was saying the conference will be held in Sydney. Now as this is obviously quite an opportunity, both professionally and personally for whoever attends I have decided not to choose any one myself but to let you choose yourself."

"What do you mean by that Gris?" Warrick questioned.

"I have developed a challenge. You each be given a sealed packet. Inside this packet is two substance. The first to determine the origin of the samples will be accompanying me to Australia."

Reaching into the box Grissom pulled from it four sealed manila envelopes. Handing them to each member of his team he cautioned, "this in to be done in your own time and not in place of actual work. Understood" He emphasised looking pointedly to Nick and Warrick.

Four heads nodded in unison while looking longingly on their packages.

"Okay" Grissom relented. "You may open them and see what’s inside before I hand out tonight’s assignments."

Grissom sighed and shaking his head lowered himself into the chair before him as he observed his adult team acting like five-year olds at Christmas.

As each person emptied their envelope they found a vial with a small amount of a clear liquid and plastic envelope containing what appeared to be grey fibres.

"Is it funnel web venom and koala hair or something" Sara joked as she held the vial up to the light.

"Wha…" Grissom stuttered as he looked up from the folder in his hands.

"I asked if this was funnel web venom and…" Sara dropped off as she took in his stunned expression.

"How…how did you know?"

"You mean I was right?" Sara asked unbelievingly.

"Looks like we have a winner guys" Grissom told the others as he shook his head. He was sure he’d have at least until end of shift to let them down.

"WHAT" the other three shouted in frustration and disappointment.

"No way, she cheated" Nick whined.

"I got it the same time as you, you saw me open it. I swear" Sara proclaimed.

Three heads looked to Grissom as he nodded his head to confirm Sara’s statement.

"Just out of curiosity Sara, how did you know" Grissom enquired.

"I guessed"

"You guessed" Catherine queried.

"Well not guessed exactly. I took what I know about Grissom and what I know of Australia and took a chance."

"Go on" Warrick encouraged.

"Well Grissom is an entomologist with a particular penchant for arachnids. Australia is home to the deadliest spider in the world Atrax robustus or commonly the funnel web. In fact it is the only spider to have knowingly caused the death of a human. Going on with the Australiana theme the only native species I could think of with soft grey hair is the Phascolarctos cinereus, the koala" she continued at the confused looks of everyone in the room other than Grissom.

"How is it you know so much about Australia Sara?" Catherine asked with a suspicious tone to her voice.

"I went to Harvard with an Australian and I was invited to go and work in their lab for 6 months."

Catherine shook her head in disbelief. "Why did you stay?"

"A friend needed my help" she answered mysteriously.

Grissom started at her response and looked at her with a question in his blue eyes. She gave him a knowing smile and a slight tilt of her head before quickly looking around.

"He must have been some friend" Catherine opined.

"Yeah, he was…" she replied wistfully.

"Okaaay" Catherine drawled picking up on the tension that simple statement had caused between Grissom and Sara. Looking to Nick and Warrick for confirmation of the change in atmosphere, she found them oblivious and still moaning about missing out on going to Australia.

Sara found herself looking toward Grissom surprised at the reaction her words had created. It was true they had once been great friends. She was unsure how to classify their current relationship outside of a working one. Maybe this time away together could help them re-find what they once shared.

Grissom was startled by Sara’s rather blunt admission that they were no longer friends. When had things got so bad? He knew he had been pushing her away more lately but didn’t think things were so bad she would no longer call him a friend. Maybe they could use this trip away to re-build what they once had.

"Oh give it up both of you, it’s not like either of you stood a chance anyway" Catherine pointed out.

"Alright that’s enough. Sara won fair and square and will accompany me to Sydney next month. Lets move on and do some work shall we? Catherine and Sara, you have a hit and run downtown, Warrick, Nick you’re with me on a shooting at the Four Aces."

Grissom was sitting in the breakroom waiting for Catherine and Nick to arrive before handing out the night’s assignments. As he was flipping through the current cases it occurred to him that he had not worked with Sara since it was decided she was going to Sydney with him. Deciding that maybe now was as good a time as any to begin rebuilding, he mentally paired her with him for a burglary at an off-strip Casino.

Looking up as Catherine walked in he stood and walked to where she was pouring a cup of coffee.

"Catherine, the keynote speaker for Blood spatter analysis at the Conference has withdrawn at the last minute. They have asked if you can replace him." Grissom informed her.

"Hey, I’m supposed to be going with you" Sara interjected angrily before Catherine could respond.

"And you still are Sara. The Conference has offered to cover Catherine’s costs as it was at such short notice and since they don’t have to pay the Department has approved her going" he replied quickly putting a stop to the brunette’s outburst.

"Well okay then" Sara replied feeling quite chagrined by her outburst.

"I don’t know Gris, I’ll have to see if I can get Lyndsay looked after. Can I get back to you?"

"Can you try and let me know before the end of shift? I have to call the organisers and let them know as soon as possible" he complied.

"Oh man, this really sucks. Not only do we have to carry the shift but we have to do it knowing the three of you are living it up in Sydney while we do" Nick complained from the door way, having arrived in the middle of things.

"It’s a conference Nick not a party. Swing and Day shift will be providing cover and there is a conference coming up in Reno in August. I’ll put you and Warrick down for it. Tonight Nick, Catherine and Warrick you have a dead body in the parking garage of the Luxor. Sara you’re with me" he finished and walked out the door oblivious to the looks of dismay from Warrick and Nick and shock from Sara.

Chapter Two

"Isn’t that rather cold? I thought it was summer in Australia" Sara asked.

"It is, the temperatures were in Celsius" Grissom replied with a confused look to Sara.

"Duh, of course. Well I feel stupid. Anyway, thank god this flight is almost over. I think my legs have been amputated at the knee" Sara grizzled as they pulled to a stop at the terminal.

"They don’t really cater for the taller complement of society do they?" Grissom asked as his gaze travelled along the length of Sara’s legs as she stood in the aisle to claim her belongings from the overhead locker. "Oomph, hey!" he groaned as Sara dumped his bag in his lap, where he still sat, as she noticed him leering over her legs.

"No touching, no looking" she stated simply in a twist on the common adage, letting him know things were still not back on track with the two of them.

"Sorry, I’m try…"

"Forget it Grissom, come on get up, I need to get out of this tin can with wins ASAP."

"Agreed, and I need to go and collect my specimens, make sure they survived the trip."

~~~~

"Grissom, Sara…wait up" the disgustingly cheerful voice of Catherine called out to her grumpy colleagues as the waited at the luggage carousel. "Great flight, huh?" she enthused.

"Um, actually not, Catherine. I don’t think you can really compare the flying experiences of Business and Economy." Grissom retorted as he lugged the first of a number of wooden boxes marked fragile onto his trolley, opening each to check the condition of its contents.

"Someone’s got out on the wrong side of the aisle, hey Sara?"

"I’m with him Catherine. The least you could have done was shared it with us, you’re the shortest".

"Yeah right" she snorted. "You brought your own bugs? To a Country known for its creepy crawlies and things that go bump in the night?" Catherine questioned.

"Yes Catherine, I brought my own specimens. I’m not exactly going to be able to give accurate demonstrations on bugs I’ve never seen before, am I? I’m going to start with what I know and slowly integrate local species once I have the chance to study them myself." He replied in exasperation, as the effects of the long flight began to creep up on him. "Now please, can we collect our bags and move on? We need to go and pick up the car."

"You got a car?" Sara asked incredulously. "You do know they drive on the wrong side of the road don’t you?"

"Yes, I’m aware of the difference in driving in Australia and I’m sure that to them it’s the right way, and don’t worry I drove once in England. Did a tour."

"Let me guess, Shakespeare" Sara chuckled.

"How do you do that?" Grissom asked shaking his head and pushing his trolley towards the rental car counter.

~~~~

"Shotgun" Sara called with a pointed look at Catherine as she jumped into the front seat.

"Wrong side" Grissom informed Sara and she quickly scrambled over the centre console as Catherine opened the front passenger door.

"I called it" she cried gleefully as Catherine turned to the back.

"Are you two going to play one ups man the entire trip?" Grissom asked, unbelieving of the behaviour the two women in the car with him had been displaying. Though it was nice, he mused, to see this lighter side of Sara. Hopefully it was a good sign as to how the next week would play out.

"Depends on who gets the better room" Sara quipped.

~~~~

"Can I help you, Sir?" the front desk Concierge enquired of Grissom.

"We’re with the Science and Forensics Conference. I’m Gil Grissom and these are my colleagues, Sara Sidle and Catherine Willows".

"One moment Mr. Grissom, I will check your reservation"

"Thank you, Josh" Grissom smiled, reading his name badge.

Grissom turned to Sara and Catherine as the young gentleman began typing into the computer on the desk, and observed the shorter woman stifling a yawn.

"I wish we’d been able to get a later arriving flight" Catherine griped. "Now we’re going to have to stay up all night if we want to sleep tonight."

"Actually Catherine, if you factor in the time difference we should be right on schedule. We’ll be attending the conference in the day when we would normally be working and sleeping at the same time as if we were home. When you think about it, the best place we could have come for the conference is the Southern Hemisphere." Grissom informed her.

"Do you have to be so awake" She grumbled.

"Suck it up Catherine, you had a great flight" Sara added sarcastically.

"Sir" the Concierge interrupted Catherine’s reply to Sara. "I’ve located your rooms. Dr. Grissom, you and Miss Sidle are on floor 14 rooms 4 and 6. Mrs. Willows, you’re on floor 15 room 19. If you could fill in these registration cards, I will have someone take your luggage up."

"We’re on different floors?" Catherine queried as a smug smile crossed Sara’s face.

"Yes, I believe the bookings were made at different times. I can assure you there is no difference to the rooms themselves."

"What is the difference?" Grissom enquired curiously.

"The rooms on level 14 have City and Harbour views the one on level 15 has City views."

"Sweet" Sara grinned at both Grissom and Catherine as she handed her card to Josh with a wink. Thinking maybe she could have some fun with this, she also flashed him a flirty smile as he handed her the key to her room.

"Cool" she simpered, "Four is my lucky number. Thanks Josh"

Grissom started as he heard the light tone in Sara’s voice as she took her key from the Concierge. ‘I can’t believe she’s flirting with him. This could be a problem. Oh well, at least we’re in neighbouring rooms away from Catherine. Nothing is ever easy where Sara is concerned’

With a pointed look at Grissom, Sara took her key and turned towards the elevator.

"Boy do you have some work to do" Catherine laughed as she took her key and followed after Sara, leaving a very confused Grissom in her wake.

~~~~

"Catherine, can you please focus. Come and sit down?" Grissom requested, trying to get the red-head to return from looking out the window.

"Man I was totally gyped out. This view is awesome" She moaned in reply.

"And it’s not going anywhere. The sooner you sit down and we work this schedule out, the sooner you can go and enjoy the sights." Grissom reasoned.

"Yeah, come on Cath, you should see some of the cool stuff they have going on" Sara added without looking up from the Conference brochure.

"Only Sara Sidle would have her head in the books when there’s a view of the world’s most beautiful Harbour out the window."

"Oh it’s okay Cath I can see it from my room too" Sara shot back.

"Fine, whatever, let’s get this done" she finally relented.

"Finally. For starters there’s an introductory cocktail party on tonight for registration and to meet people. It starts at 8pm in the Grand Ballroom on the Fourth floor. It’s black tie" he added with a pointed look at Sara.

"What? I do know what that means you know Grissom, or have you forgotten?" Sara retorted with a hurt look on her face. ‘I can’t believe the way he treats me at times. It never used to be this way. Oh god, not the puppy dog eyes. Damn that man, why can I never stay mad at him?’

"Is this a private conversation? Catherine asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"More like ancient history. Forget about it."

‘Damn, Grissom thought. I always say the wrong thing with her lately. It never used to be like this. Now she’ll be angry with me for days.’

With a contrite look to Sara, Grissom continued to outline the main programme for the next five days.

"Sara, tomorrow and Wednesday you and I have one-hour lectures in the morning and the afternoon, followed by practical demonstrations of insect identification and analysis. Which you will be assisting in."

"Assisting how, in a hand me a scalpel way?"

"No, Sara" Grissom replied with a sigh. ‘This is going to be tough’

"You’re much more than a glorified lab assistant. I’m sure there will be more questions than I can answer and you will be helping me with answering those, is that okay?" He asked cautiously.

"Fine" though the grin she tried to hide spoke more than her one word reply.

"Okay" he continued with his own smile. "On Thursday we’re free. Though there are a few morning seminars and the rest of the day will be mainly dedicated to sightseeing. The conference has organised many events including a bridge climb and Harbour cruise."

"Ooh I wanna do the bridge climb" Sara yelped excitedly.

"Then make sure you sign up at the Cocktail party. I can imagine, by your response, it will be a popular choice." He droned.

"Now back on topic. Friday and Saturday we will have short demonstrations in the morning. Any time we’re not presenting you can attend any of the sessions you want. As a Conference participant there is no need to sign up for these. Catherine, how does your schedule match up?" He queried, once again diverting her attention from the window.

"Um not too well. Except for Wednesday afternoon, we pretty much either double up or clash. Pity, I won’t get to play with your bugs" she drolly added.

"I’m sure your blood will keep you more than happy Catherine" Sara quipped. ‘Excellent, maybe without Catherine around trying to help, Grissom might actually do something about "this", I can only hope.’

"Now if you’ll both excuse me, I need to go and figure out how the dress I brought with me works."

Catherine could only shake her head at the look on Grissom’s face as he watched Sara leave the room.