Gryphon nodded.  "Okay, look, it's not like we're driving here,
people.  Everybody out of the water."
        That drew a few blank looks, so Catherine elaborated.  "You've
all been going flat-out for almost 48 hours.  You're tired (except
Greg)," she added before Greg could correct her.  "Somebody's going to
get hurt if this keeps up."
        Sara raised her burned hand and said helpfully, "I've already
gotten hurt."
        Gryphon took note of the injury and said dryly, "I have Bactine
in my office.  The rest of you, log whatever you're working on and get
your butts across the street."
        "Across the street?" asked a puzzled Eric Delko.
        The Chief nodded.  "It's not safe to send you home, there might
still be someone out there gunning for you.  Fortunately, after the
-last- time this happened I was smart enough to make an arrangement with
the management over at the Monolith.  Maybe you're familiar with the old
Mafia tradition of 'going to the mattresses'?"
        Geoff Depew stood by the bus stop on the corner of Allard and
Central, discreetly observing as the criminalists emerged in ones and
twos from Headquarters and made their way across the street.  He wasn't
the only one keeping an eye out, and in fact he hadn't been specifically
instructed to do it, but it made him feel better.  It would hardly do to
lose anybody right in front of the building, after all.
        He'd been there for about ten minutes, and had checked all of
the day shift and most of the night shift off his mental checklist, when
he became aware of a small figure in dark clothes standing next to him.
        "Chief wants to see you inside," said Raven.  Then, with a tiny
smile, she added, "Don't worry, we've got everything under control
here."
        If she'd surprised Geoff, he showed no sign of it.  He merely
replied, "Who's on it?"
        "Cassie, Kori and I are covering inside the hotel as soon as
everyone's in there.  Kara and Paige are on aerial patrol."
        Geoff nodded.  "Okay."
        A short walk and an elevator ride later, he was in Gryphon's
office.  He noticed as he entered that the room, never the tidiest of
workspaces, was in more than the usual amount of disarray - as if its
owner had been there working on something all day.  In fact, if Geoff's
glance at the trash can next to Gryphon's desk was any indication, the
Chief hadn't even left for lunch... nor, Geoff noted with interest, had
he eaten alone.
        He was alone now, though, and as Geoff entered, he shook his
head sadly and said, "Mr. Depew, what am I going to do with you?"
        Geoff gave him a puzzled look.  "Sir?"
        "I turn around for a few minutes and you're running off without
proper backup again," said Gryphon, his tone mildly cajoling.  "You know
you're not supposed to do that while you're still in SA7.  Now I know,"
he went on, holding up a forestalling hand, "that for the later part,
you didn't have a choice.  You were in hot pursuit, I know how that
goes.  But you should've had someone with you in the first place."
        "Yeah.  I know.  I had to do the investigative part alone or
Yevgeniy would've been too suspicious to talk to me, and after that... I
just got caught up in the hunt."  Geoff sighed.  "So what happens now?"
        "Well," said Gryphon with his up-to-something smile, "it's clear
you can't be left roaming around in the field without proper
supervision, and since I don't want to listen to Logan bitch about being
called away from Tomodachi with no notice on a weekend, I'll have to set
someone else to watch you for the rest of this investigation.  So let me
introduce you to your new boss."  Geoff turned toward the door as
another person entered.  "Special Agent Geoff Depew, SA7; meet Inspector
Catherine Willows, CID."
        "I believe we've met," said Catherine dryly.

Now, that was unexpected.

That's very interesting, given her reaction time nowadays. I can't wait to see how she burned it.

Simonz