An original cast member of "CSI" is taking a leave of absence from the CBS drama series after getting into a heated dispute with one of the show’s writers — who is eight months pregnant, The Hollywood Reporter’s Live Feed reports.

"George Eads will not appear in several episodes during the first half of the season. We look forward to him returning to ‘CSI’ very soon," a CBS TV Studios representative said in a statement.

Eads will appear in the first three episodes of the upcoming season before his leave kicks in.

His absence isn’t a salary negotiation ploy this time around, the story notes. In 2004, the actor was fired from the CBS show after a salary impasse with the studio and network.

Rather, the leave comes after Eads clashed with a co-writer of a recent episode, after he became unhappy with the creative direction of his character. When showrunner Carol Mendelsohn heard of the exchange, it led to a meeting during which Eads threatened to quit, the story adds.

Eads’ absence will be explained in the fourth episode by Catherine, played by Marg Helgenberger, picking him to undergo special training at Quantico, the piece notes.

Eads is one of only three actors, along with Eric Szmanda and Paul Guilfoyle, who have been with the show continuously from its start, THR notes.

George Eads