Meeting Mandy - by kyrdwyn

Gil Grissom looked around his townhouse nervously. Mandy Russell, a UNLV student, was going to be coming over to talk to him about becoming Gillian's babysitter. She had been recommended to him by one of the homicide detectives, who had worked with Mandy's father in the Austin PD.

His vacation was over in a few days, and he couldn't leave Gillian home alone while he worked nightshift. She was only 10 years old, after all. As grown up as she acted at times, she still needed someone with her.

Gil really hoped Mandy would work out as a babysitter. He wasn't looking forward to trying to find reliable help to stay overnight. Especially in his house.

He glanced at his watch. Mandy was 10 minutes late. He sighed. Catherine had taken Lindsey and Gillian to the movies and was dropping Gillian off when it was over. Gil wanted time to talk to Mandy about the job before she met Gillian.

His doorbell rang. He opened the door to find a brown-eyed brunette wearing khakis and a blue blouse standing in the doorway, her car keys dangling from her hand. She gave him a tentative smile. He smiled back.

"Mandy Russell? Hi, I'm Gil Grissom. Nice to meet you. Come on in."

He led her into the living room. "I hope you didn't have a hard time finding the house."

"Your directions were great. I'm just the kind of person who could get lost in a bathtub on the way to the drain."

Gil turned and stared at her. Mandy had a hand over her mouth like she couldn't believe she'd said that. Gil smiled at her. "I've had days like that. Have a seat," he said, gesturing at the couch. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"No, thank you," she said, looking around at his insect collection.

He sat down of the couch, facing her. "I don't know how much Detective Phillips told you about this situation."

"He said that your daughter had just come to live with you, and since you're supervisor on the night shift at the crime lab, you need someone who can stay with her overnight."

Gil nodded. "Her mother was killed a few weeks ago, and Gillian is still getting used to living with me and living in Las Vegas."

Mandy gave a small smile. "Las Vegas does take a little getting used to."

"How long have you lived in Las Vegas? I know you grew up in Austin."

"I've been here a little over two years. I got a summer job with the 51's right after high school, and I liked the area so I applied to UNLV for college," she said with a shrug.

"What are you majoring in?"

"Today? History."

He just raised an eyebrow.

"I haven't really decided what I want to do with my life, so I keep changing majors. I was physical therapy my first year, then English, now History."

Gil nodded. It wasn't unusual for people to change majors. He'd had friends at UCLA who had changed their major more often than their clothing.

"Well, let me tell you about this job before you decide anything. I'd need you to stay here with Gillian overnight while I was at work. I usually go in around 10 or 11, and I'm home by 7 or 8. You wouldn't need to come over until about a half hour before I leave, and if I can't make it home on time, I'd call. There wouldn't be any problems with your schedule, would there?"

Mandy shook her head. "No, none of my classes start until 10:30."

"Okay. If something came up and I couldn't get home I'd try to make other arrangements. I might ask you to take Gillian to school in the morning. I'll pay for gas if that happens, or if you need to take Gillian anywhere else."

"It shouldn't be a problem."

The doorbell rang again, interrupting them. He smiled. "That will be Gillian. She went to the movies with a friend." He got up and went to the door. He opened it and staggered back a little as Gillian hurtled herself at him. He gave her a hug and then waved to Catherine and Lindsey, who were pulling out of the driveway.

"Hey, sweetheart. Did you have a good time at the movies?"

"Yeah! It was cool!"

"Really?"

"Yeah!" she said again.

"Well, there's someone here I'd like you to meet."

"My babysitter?"

"Yep. Her name is Mandy Russell."

Gillian frowned. "Is she nice?"

"Why don't you talk to her yourself and see?" Gil suggested, taking Gillian's hand and walked with her into the living room. Mandy was standing by the couch, waiting for them.

"Gillian, this is Mandy Russell. Mandy, this is my daughter, Gillian."

"Hi Gillian," Mandy said with a slightly nervous smile.

"Hi," Gillian said shyly.

Grissom's phone rang. He looked at Mandy and Gillian. "Would it bother you two ladies if I took this in another room?" When both of them shook their heads, he smiled. "Great, I'll be right back." He went into his room and shut the door.

Back in the living room, Gillian was regarding Mandy carefully. "Are you sure you want to baby-sit in this house?"

"Yes," Mandy said slowly. "Why?"

"Well, Daddy does keep a lot of odd things in here." Gillian gestured to the insect collection on the walls and the beakers on the dining room table.

Mandy looked around and shrugged. "My dad used to keep bones on display in our family room."

Gillian looked thoughtful at that remark, then grabbed Mandy's hand and dragged her into the kitchen. "There's something you gotta see." Stopping in front of the refrigerator, she pointed. "Look in there."

Mandy gave Gillian a quizzical look before opening the door. Gillian watched as Mandy's eyes grew wide at the sight of the insect jars and petrie dishes intermingled with the food.

"Well," Mandy drawled, "at least they're dead, right?"

Gillian giggled. "What if they're not?"

Mandy leaned down to whisper in Gillian's ear, "Then we run."

Gillian laughed out loud. "You're silly."

"No, I'm Mandy," she replied with a grin.

Gillian kept laughing. At that Gil walked back into the room, finding the two girls standing in front of his open fridge, laughing.

"What's going on?" he asked with a smile.

"I was just making sure Mandy knew what was and wasn't food in the fridge."

Gil frowned. "It's all food."

Gillian rolled her eyes. "Okay, Daddy. If you say so."

Mandy covered her mouth with her hand and giggled. Gil looked at her and she hastily assumed a serious expression. He shook his head - her expression was ruined by the laughter still twinkling in her eyes.

"Well, since you two are getting along so well, would you like Mandy to be your babysitter, Gillian?"

"Yes!" Gillian shouted, jumping up and down.

"Mandy? Job's yours if you want it."

Mandy looked down at Gillian, who was looking up at her with pleading eyes. She smiled at Gil. "Thanks. I’d love to stay with Gillian."

"Yeah!" Gillian yelled, grabbing Mandy's hand and dragging her off toward her room. "You've got to see the teddy bear Daddy's police friend Mr. Brass gave me."

Gil shook his head at his daughter dragged Mandy off. When Mandy looked back at him, he shrugged, a smile tracing across his lips. Mandy winked at him before she disappeared into Gillian's room. He stood there for a second, then laughed. There was a sense of humor under Mandy's serious exterior. She was going to get along with Gillian just fine.