First Date - by kyrdwyn

"Well? What do you think?"

The young woman pirouetted in front of him in a knee length black dress, hose, and heels. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a hairstyle that let curls cascade down around her shoulders, which were left bare by the style of the dress. She had managed to use just a little makeup to enhance her natural looks. If it had been any other woman, he would have told her she looked fabulous.

"I think that's the last time I let you go shopping with Sara," he said, frowning at his daughter.

Gillian propped her hands on her hips and gave him a glare that reminded him of her mother. "What's wrong with this dress?"

"The neckline is too low. The hemline is too high."

Gillian shook her head. "Dad, what do you want me to wear, a nun's habit?"

Gil tilted his head. "Wouldn't be a bad idea."

The glare returned, but this time with a smile that everyone still said looked like his. "Just because I go to a Catholic high school doesn’t mean I have to dress like a nun."

"It doesn't?" Gil asked with perfect innocence.

"Dad!" Gillian said in mock-disgust. Gil laughed and smiled at his daughter. "You look wonderful, sweetheart."

She smiled and blushed again. "Thanks, Dad. Look, I need to finish getting ready - if Charlie comes would you at least be nice to him and not talk about your bugs?"

"When have I done that?"

"Gee, when you drove me and James to the Homecoming dance last year all you talked about was bugs. James refused to eat that night after your little discourse on using the stomach contents of maggots to establish cause of death. So please, for me, lay off the bugs?"

"I'll be nice, I promise."

Gillian rolled her eyes at him and disappeared back into her bedroom and Gil noticed she had left her mini-purse on the dining room table. He crossed over to it and pulled out his wallet. Opening it, the worn picture of Elizabeth caught his eye. He smiled sadly. She's growing up, Elizabeth. I wish you could see her right now. She looks almost exactly like you.

Gil pulled something out of his wallet and scribbled a note on a pad of paper that was on the table. He wrapped the note around the object and stuck it into Gillian's purse.

The doorbell rang and he went over to open it. A red-haired young gentleman stood on his front doorstep, dressed in a dark suit and tie. He smiled at Gil and extended his hand.

"Mr. Grissom? I'm Charlie Thomas, Gillian's friend. We're in Biology and Latin together."

Gil shook the young man's hand. "Nice to meet you, Charlie. Come on in." He led the young man into the living room. "Gillian should be right out."

Charlie nodded, but he was actually looking around the living room at the moths and butterflies on the walls. "Are these all real?" he asked.

Gil raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Yes, they are."

"Wow. This is an awesome collection, sir."

"Thank you, Charlie."

Charlie looked like he wanted to say something else, but Gillian came into the room just then. Charlie turned and looked at her. "You look incredible, Gillian," he said in awe. Gillian blushed, and Gil shot a glance toward Charlie. The young man was looking at Gillian in admiration. Gil frowned.

Charlie handed Gillian the roses he had brought with him. Her eyes lit up. Gil had the two of them stand together as he took pictures. Before the two sixteen year olds left, Gil pulled Charlie aside.

"Gillian's curfew is midnight, Charlie. I don't know if she told you or not."

Charlie nodded seriously. "She did tell me, sir, and I will have her home at midnight."

"Good," Gil said, letting Charlie re-join Gillian and ignoring the glare from his daughter. She was getting really good at that particular expression. "Have a good time, you two!" he called out after them as Charlie held the car door open for Gillian. He waved as they drove away. He stood in his doorway for a few minutes, staring into the empty street. This was the first time Gillian was on a date where neither he nor the boy's parents were driving. And while the Mistletoe Ball was a school dance with chaperones, it was still a place where he wasn’t around to keep an eye on her.

He went back inside and sat down on his couch, turning on the TV to the Discovery Channel. He tried to watch the program, but he kept wondering about Gillian and her date. Gillian was sixteen, and Gil remembered how awkward that age could be. He'd been wrestling with classes and college applications and a body that was still trying to grow into itself. Plus, he'd had the isolation of being a 'ghost' - someone who wasn't really there to the rest of his peers, too. He was glad that Gillian didn't have that problem. She had friends, she participated in school activities, and she even got into some trouble with pranks - nothing serious, just teenage stuff. Still, he missed the sweet little girl who had called him "Daddy" and dragged around the teddy bear that Brass had given her. Now she preferred the more adult (to her) sounding "Dad" and the teddy bear was on a shelf in her bedroom.

Gil reached for his cell phone and called Catherine to tell her he wasn't coming in that night. He didn't offer an explanation, but he knew she would understand. His little girl was out on a date.

* * * * *

Gillian used the key on the front door. She stepped inside, then turned to wave at Charlie, who had gotten back into his car. He waved back and drove off.

Gillian locked the door behind her and frowned at the flickering lights in the living room. She walked into the room to find her father asleep on the brown leather couch that was too small for napping. She stood there, wondering what he was doing home so early. It was five minutes to midnight - he should be at work. Then she smiled wryly. He probably hadn't gone to work at all. He was probably waiting up for her.

She crossed the room and turned off the television. Dad was so odd sometimes, like reminding Charlie of her curfew. She'd told Charlie that when he'd asked her to the dance. At least Dad hadn't reminded Charlie that he worked the police. Charlie had already known that - Dad had shown up at school last year to question one of the seniors about a missing person.

Gillian shook her head. Dad was odd, but in a good way at least. He often seemed like he was off in his own little world, but he'd known when Gillian was getting into trouble or not happy with something. Ever since her mom had been killed, he'd done his best to raise her. The past few years Dad had been getting stranger, but Gillian had been growing up and stopped sharing things with him. It had been a lot easier to talk to Lindsey or her mother. Sara had been a great help as well, especially when it came to shopping. Gillian's dress had been a hit at the dance.

Gillian knew that it disturbed her father that she was growing up. He wanted her to remain ten years old forever, but she couldn't. So he tried to be cool about it. At least he wasn't checking fingerprints or DNA of her dates - yet. She had a feeling he would the first time she brought home a serious boyfriend. But tonight he had reminded her that she was still his little girl with the surprise in her purse. She hadn't known it was in there until she'd gone to the ladies room and was looking for her lipstick. But there it was - a note in her dad's writing wrapped around an angel clip with money in it.

Gillian, your grandmother used to do this for your mother. This angel is to remind you that you are always the angel in my life and I hope they are always watching over you. The money is what your grandmother called 'mad money'. If for any reason you want to come home, don't feel you have to wait for a ride. Use this for a cab. I love you. Dad.

Gillian had smiled as she read the note. Typical of her father - he couldn't say what he wanted to out loud, so he said it in other ways. "If for any reason" translated into "if your date wants something you're not willing to give him." And there was another angel in their lives - her mother. Someone neither of them would ever forget.

Gillian pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and threw it over her father's sleeping form. She knew he was going to have cricks in his back and neck from sleeping on the couch, but she didn't want to wake him up. She leaned down to whisper into his ear.

"I'm home. I love you, Daddy."

She went into her room, missing the smile that crossed his face before he relaxed back into sleep.