LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The Las Vegas crime lab won't be quite as empty after all as Jorja Fox has been rehired while George Eads is in talks to return to CBS' "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation."

Fox was axed last Wednesday after apparently failing to send a letter of intent to return to work. The Eye asked all the principal cast members to declare their intent after rumblings of possible "sick-outs" (asking for a pay raises by repeatedly calling in sick) by several of the cast. Her reps nevertheless insisted she mailed the letter, which the Eye still has yet to confirm it received.

Regardless, CBS and Fox have worked out the apparent misunderstanding and the actress is set to return to the show, at her current $100,000 per episode salary, when it resumes production next week.

As for Eads, the actor made a public apology over his absence from the set last Thursday at TNT's "Evel Knievel" panel at the TCA's summer press tour. "I overslept," he told reporters. "And I don't mean I overslept 10 minutes, 30 minutes. I woke up white as a sheet 3� hours after I was supposed to be on the set, and called to say I was on my way to work, and they said, 'Don't bother.'" He added his tardiness was not "because I was holding out for more money. It's never been about cash for me. It's never been about money for me. That's not what this is about."

While Eads' return isn't a lock, based on the handling of the Fox situation, it's expected to be resolved by next week. "If not, a formal statement will be made," he said. "It should all work itself out."

Meanwhile, co-star Eric Szmanda has quietly renegotiated his contract for an undisclosed amount as well as additional screen time.