Lindsey's Party

Awww. I love how you captured Linds' mind and heart, cuz most adolescent teens think that way. And Grissom, I love how compassionate he is. I can see him being very protective and caring towards Lindsey because he has been like that to Linds back when she was really young. :)

Update soon please. :)
 
Ah, that was a great chapter! I loved the cartoons in LInds head, and when she finally figured out what Barry really was! I'm sort of glad that she wasnt able to tell Barry off, that it kind of put her back in her place of a 13-year-old... And I loved how you said about her turing into a mini-Cath too. That was soo true! And Griss knows it! Update soon! I cant wait! :D
 
ok, here's an update. it's short but there should be two more chapters before the end of the week...




Gil had sent Barry with Jim, certain that Jim would make sure the young man understood that a young girl of thirteen was hands off, especially if that girl happened to be Lindsey. After Jim had turned the corner and disappeared from sight Gil took Lindsey by the arm and walked her home.

“Gil?” He didn’t answer.

“Gil?” He picked up his pace without uttering a sound.

“I’m sorry.” Lindsey tried to stop but Gil just walked faster.

“You’re telling the wrong person.” His grip on her arm tightened as they approached the door.



Twenty years on the job and Catherine had seen it all. She’d investigated many runaways. She knew what could happen. She knew the mistakes parents made in those crucial first minutes. She knew the importance of preserving evidence. All of her knowledge, all of her experience---it wasn’t worth squat at the moment. All she knew was her baby was missing and there was nothing she could do. Lindsey had been missing before but this was the first time Catherine had been aware of it before her daughter had been found. This was the first time fear, not anger, was in control.

Lily stood in Lindsey’s doorway, her hand resting on her hip. Her daughter stood frozen in place by Lindsey’s bed. She knew what Catherine was feeling. It was the same fear she had felt when Catherine ran away at seventeen. She knew her daughter needed reassuring her baby would be found. She was also resentful enough not to give her that reassurance. It was a small spiteful act but one that gave Lily the opportunity to collect on all the heartache Catherine had caused her when she ran away so long ago.



Catherine took the next two days off in order to deal with Lindsey. Once her fear had faded her anger had returned. She wasn’t letting Lindsey out of her sight. Catherine walked her to and from her classroom, even going as far as being there between classes to make sure Lindsey didn’t sneak off during the day. She dipped into the money Sam had given her in order to hire someone to make sure Lindsey never left the school grounds. She also hired a nanny to watch Lindsey while she was at work. Lily had not taken the news well but a call from Sam and the realization that she could go out during the night again remedied that problem.

Catherine removed Lindsey’s bedroom door, storing it in the garage. She went through every thing in her daughter’s bedroom, reading diaries and notes Lindsey had passed at school. She went through her daughter’s email and logged into her chat rooms. Then she removed the computer, stereo, television and phone from the bedroom. She took Lindsey’s CD’s, her MP3 player and her video games. When she was done stripping the bedroom she took several pieces of wood and bolted the window down on the inside and out. For the next three months her daughter’s life would consist of nothing but school, homework and chores.
 
and another update (ch :cool:...

The investigation into the drowning at the party was still going
although the body had been released for burial. Some unexplained
wounds had been found, raising the question as to whether or not the
drowning was accidental. Nick and Greg were assigned to gather DNA
from the party guests. Wendy had the wonderful job of running all
the DNA comparisons.

The Las Vegas Crime Lab had finally found a replacement for Greg
Sanders in Wendy. She wasn't intimidated by his reputation or by the
affection the department held for the man. She was secure enough in
herself to create her own reputation. This confidence had led her to
gain Conrad Ecklie's approval to conduct DNA studies among relatives
using the lab's equipment. Because of the nature of her job, she was
required to have participants sign an affidavit before using their
sample in her study. So when Lindsey Willows' sample crossed her
desk, she saw an opportunity. It was unusual to have three
generations of DNA in their databases. She could easily get
permission from Catherine to use their DNA; Eddie Willows was
deceased so his sample was public record. And with a little luck,
maybe she would even get Sam Braun to consent to the study.

Wendy approached Catherine towards the end of shift, explaining what
she wanted to do. Catherine agreed and signed the necessary
paperwork before leaving to take Lindsey to school. After her shift
was over, Wendy began working on the Willows' DNA. She wanted to
start work on the three samples she had access to before approaching
Braun.

Three weeks had passed since the party and life had pretty much
returned to normal for Lindsey, normal minus a few physical comforts
and privacy anyway. Catherine had given her daughter the television
back after a week of having to watch MTV. The following week she
returned her MP3 player. Yesterday she returned her computer (minus
the modem of course) so that Lindsey could work on her homework from
her desk. The door was still missing and the windows were still
bolted down but overall things were looking up for Lindsey.

Catherine was feeling more secure leaving her daughter while she
worked. The new nanny kept an eye on her daughter while she was
gone. Her mother's appreciation for the nanny was even greater. Now
Lily was able to stay overnight with Sam without finding someone to
pawn Lindsey off on while Catherine was at work. Gil's visits had
gone from several times a day to a couple of times a week as
Catherine's sense of security returned. All in all, life went on as
before.

++++++
Beep.

The printer spoke to let Wendy know her results were ready. She
pulled the paper and read the results.

"This can't be right." She trashed the results and began the test
again.
++++++

Another three weeks had passed. Lindsey's modem had been returned,
along with her phone. She was now allowed to speak with her friends
and to get online. The bolted window remained. The door, still in
the garage, had been replaced with a funky beaded curtain so that she
could have some privacy. Lily was spending more time with Sam.
Catherine had returned to pulling one double a week. Gil's visits
had been cut back to once a week. With the exception of the new
nanny, life had returned to what it was before the party.

+++++

Catherine and Gil had wrapped up a crime scene and returned to the
lab towards the end of shift.

"I'll start processing while you run Lindsey to school. Oh, pick me
up a cherry role on your way back." It had become their routine over
the last month for Catherine to pick up breakfast if they had to work
over.

Catherine was in the locker room getting the keys to her SUV when
Wendy approached her.

"Catherine, do you have a minute?"

"One maybe. I've got to get Lindsey to school." She quickly changed
her shirt, not wanting the smell of the crime scene to fill her car.

"It's about the DNA study I'm doing."

"Do you need me to sign more papers?"

"No, its…Catherine, if Eddie wasn't Lindsey's father, why didn't you
just tell me?" Catherine froze.

"What?"

"When I asked you for permission to do this, I explained that this
was an opportunity for me to compare generational DNA."

"What?"

"And if Eddie isn't Lindsey's biological father, all you had to do
was refuse to participate in the study." She handed the printout to
Catherine.

"Hold on. Eddie IS Lindsey's father. You made a mistake somewhere."

"Catherine, I ran the test twice. It's impossible."

Catherine took her keys out, shut her locker and walked up to Wendy.

"Look, I don't know what went wrong where but I can assure you Eddie
is Lindsey's father. Maybe the samples were mislabeled or there was
a mix up in the database or maybe they were contaminated. Whatever
the reason, your test is wrong." She crumpled the paper up and
tossed it into the trashcan as she stormed out. Wendy leaned against
the lockers, letting out a sigh.

"That went well."

+++++

"Mom, why do you keep staring at me?" It was the third time
Catherine had run off the road since leaving the house.

"Sorry, baby. I've just had a long night." She made a mental note
to keep her eyes on the road.

"Mom! Do you want me to drive?" She'd run off the road again. This
time she pulled over and put the car in park, reaching behind her
seat for her kit and pulling out a swab.

"Open." She held the swab in front of her daughter's mouth.

"But…" Lindsey protested.

"Open your mouth." Her voice didn't leave room for arguing.

"I didn't do anything. I swear. I haven't snuck out. I haven't
skipped classes…"

"I didn't say you had. I just want to swab your mouth for a bit of
saliva. A co-worker is doing a DNA study and there was a problem. I
want to make sure she has a good sample." She took her daughter's
hand in hers to reassure Lindsey she was telling the truth. "Now
open. We need to hurry or you'll be late for school."

+++++

When Catherine arrived back at the lab, she went straight to Wendy,
tossing two swabs onto the table in front of her.

"What are these?" Wendy looked puzzled.

"Two good DNA samples for Lindsey and me."

"Catherine, the problem wasn't with your samples. It was with the
male donor. His sample does not match that of Ed Willows."

"Impossible."

"Then whoever took Mr. Willows sample made a mistake."

"I took that sample myself. There was no mistake."

"I don't know what to tell you. The results were conclusive."

"No, they aren't." She screamed and heads all through the lab turned
in their direction. "I think I would know if someone else were her
father." With that, she grabbed the samples and stormed out of the
lab. She only made it a few blocks before she had to pull over.

"Eddie Willows, dying didn't even stop you from screwing with my
life."
 
and the next chapter is here...

From “Who Are You”
EDDIE WILLOWS: I came to tell you how great you are.
It always comes out wrong. When I married you, I married up. I know that.

CATHERINE: It wasn't all bad.



Previously: “Eddie Willows, dying didn’t even stop you from screwing with my life.”


Chapter 9

“Catherine, don’t go.” Eddie pulled her back onto the bed kissing her longingly.

“Eddie, stop it. I’m already late.” She made a half-assed effort to push him away.

“Just a few more minutes. You said yourself you were already late so what will it matter.” He rolled her over placing soft kisses along her neck as he unbuttoned her shirt.

“Twenty minutes. And that’s it!” She let her hand slide over him pulling him closer.

“Yeah. Twenty minutes.” He smirked knowing he had won the battle.

Three hours later the phone rang. Catherine pulled up from Eddie to answer the phone.

“Hello.” She leaned back onto her husband, placing kisses along his shoulders.

“Catherine why aren’t you at work?” It was Gil.

“I…um…I think I caught something. She giggled as she nibbled on Eddie’s nipple. “It must be one of those 24 hour bugs.” Eddie flipped them causing her to gasp.

“Twenty four hour bugs?” He heard her gasp.

“Yeah. I feel…terrible. Can’t even stand up.” She ran her finger along Eddie’s waistline as she spoke.

“Damn straight!” Eddie smiled proudly.

“Shh.” She kissed him into silence. “I’ll be there tomorrow. Goodbye Gil.” She tossed the phone over to the nightstand without clicking to disconnect the call. “You are bad Eddie Willows.”

“But you love me” he said as he lifted her hips.

“You know I ummpphhh…” she sighed with pleasure...



*******************


The next night she rolled into the lab fifteen minutes late. She made her way to the break room where Jim Brass was handing out assignments and slipped into an empty chair as quietly as possible.

“Willows, you’re late.”

“Sorry.” Jim had already moved on to handing out assignments and never heard her.

“Feeling better?” Gil’s whisper was barely loud enough for her to hear but she didn’t miss the tone of disgust with which his question was uttered.

“Yeah, much better” she mumbled before lowering her head to hide her blush.

***********************


Gil and Catherine had been sent to the Mirage to process a room where a woman had found her husband lying in a pool of blood.

“That cold came on fast.” Gil was dusting for prints but his mind was elsewhere. “Are you sure you are feeling up to working?” Catherine continued looking for trace evidence in the carpet, intentionally focusing on her work.

“Um. Yeah. I feel great.” She reached under the bed grabbing a hair with her tweezers. He stopped what he was doing turning to look at her, his eyes boring thru the back of her head.

“That’s what I thought.” He watched her visibly stiffen at his words before turning back to finish printing the dresser. No other words were spoken between them.

***************************

Catherine arrived home almost two hours late. The smell of pancakes filled the air. The mellow grooves of Al Green seduced her hearing. She dropped her keys in the bowl by the door and made her way to the kitchen. Eddie was pouring the mix into the pan. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face against his back.

“You got my message?” She inhaled his scent. They had been apart for twelve hours. She had never missed him as much as she had last night.

“Yeah. I thought you would be hungry.”

“I am. Smells wonderful.”

“Won’t be long.”

“I was talking about you.” She wound her way around till she was positioned in front of him, nuzzling her head into his neck. Eddie leaned down kissing her forehead.

“Pancakes first. You’ll need the fuel for later. Now move before they burn.” He tried to move away but she pulled him closer.

“No, I like it right here.”

“You’re insatiable.”

“And you’re incredibly sexy.’ She dug her hands into the back pockets of his jeans, pulling his hips towards hers. He dipped the ladle into the bowl then poured a small amount on Catherine’s nose. The ringing of the phone stopped their game from going further. Reluctantly she pulled her hands from his pockets, grabbed the phone and looked at the caller ID.

“Damn. It’s him.”

“Don’t answer.” Eddie knew she would so he went back to cooking the pancakes.

“I have to. Work.” She clicked the button with a little more force than was necessary. “Willows.”

“Catherine. We got a break on the case. You need to come back to the lab.”

“Can’t you handle it?” Her voice was full of impatience and irritation.

“I thought we were working this case together.” Gil responded in kind.

“We are. But I’m already home.”

“Then come back.”

“I can’t.”

“You won’t.”

“Whatever. I’ve got to go.”

“Catherine, you’re throwing away your…” Catherine hung up the phone before he could finish. She wrapped herself back up in Eddie, sliding her hands under his shirt and up his chest.

“Now where were we?”
 
released will be coming soonish but for now, chapter 10...

Catherine was brought back to the present by the ringing of her phone.

“Willows.”

“Catherine, where are you?” It was Gil. She would have known that had she taken the time to check the caller ID.

“I…uh…what?” She was still lost in the memory of Eddie.

“You were supposed to be bringing me a cherry roll. I heard you walking through the lab but never saw you. Greg said you ran out.”

“He did? I did? Oh, um, I remembered something I needed to take care of.”

“Catherine?”

“What?”

“What happened?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just overreacted because a test didn’t come out the way I expected. You always tell me not to take cases too personally. I’ll be back in a few minutes. I promise.”

Catherine hung up the phone and sighed. Her mind continued to revisit the past.



“Thanks. I needed this.” The two of them sat in the back booth of the diner, finishing off the food on their plates.

“It’s nothing, just breakfast.”

“I know. It’s just…”

“Yeah.”

“I should be going.” But she stayed where she was.

“Catherine, why are you avoiding home?”

“I’m not avoiding…” Gil interrupted before she could finish.

“Catherine, you’ve pulled three doubles and a triple in the last two weeks.”

“I needed the overtime.” Gil just stared at her. “Fine. Eddie and I, we decided we needed a break. He’s gone to the coast and I just don’t like staying in the house by myself.” It was the truth, just not the whole story. She didn’t want Gil to know all of her business.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…”

“Don’t be. I’m surprised we lasted this long.” Catherine never let anything bother her, at least on the outside.

“If you need to talk…” He took her hand in his.

“…You’re there. I know.” She squeezed his hand tightly. “Thanks Gil.” She got up and left.

---------------------------------------
Catherine opened the door to find her husband standing there, suitcases in hand.

“You didn’t have to knock.” Her hand was griped tightly to the door handle. They hadn’t seen each other in five months. She had forgotten how blue his eyes were.

“I just... It’s been a while. I wasn’t sure.” Eddie stared at his wife. There was something different about her, some aura around her that made her even sexier than he remembered.

“We both agreed to give this another chance.” Catherine shrugged her foot nervously.

“I know. Still...” Eddie couldn’t stop staring. She was glowing.

“Are you going to come in or stand on the porch?” She hadn’t felt this nervous on their first date, but then there was much more riding on this than a first date.

He came in, setting his bags down in the living room before heading to the kitchen for a glass of water.

“Eddie, I’m not putting your…” Her voice was loud and Eddie turned quickly to explain himself.

“Cath, I didn’t think you’d want me to…” He looked towards the bedroom, their bedroom. This had been the first marriage for both of them. He wasn’t sure if reconciliation meant he was instantly back in bed with his wife and he wasn’t going to push the issue.

“Oh. Sorry. I just assumed you’d be moving back into our bedroom.” She recalled his last words before leaving and she was determined to make sure her husband was satisfied whether she was or not.

“Are you sure?” He stood where he was, not willing to push the issue. For all Eddie knew, she was just saying this so that he would feel more comfortable.

“Yeah.” She crossed the distance between them and pulled him into a long, languid kiss.
------------------------------------------

“Wow. I didn’t realize you were such a great cook.” Catherine was washing up the breakfast dishes.

“I’m not but thank you.”

“No, you are. I can’t remember the last time I had homemade biscuits this soft, this buttery.”

Gil smiled at her and she smiled back. He had invited her over a couple of times since finding out about Eddie and her desire to not be home alone. They were just coworkers but she was easy to talk to and wasn’t freaked out by his creatures.

“So what are you going to do with your weekend?” He pictured Catherine heading out to the clubs, partying till all hours, especially after the stories she had told him about her past.

“Haven’t really thought about it. You?”

“Thought I might head out to Lake Mead for some camping and fishing.”

“You?”

“You say that like you’re surprised.”

“I am. I figured you for the kind who would be at a museum.”

“There are many things you don’t know about me.”

“Obviously.”

“Why don’t you join me?”

“What?”

“Or are you afraid of the great outdoors?”

“Gil…” She was going to tell him she grew up on a ranch and could probably outhunt and outfish him with both hands tied behind her back but the man just kept talking.

“I’ve got a spare tent. It will give you a chance to get away for a few days.”

“Why not.” It was better than spending the weekend in that house all alone.

---------------------------------------------
“Damn it, Ed! I told you not to do that till I got home.” Catherine was beyond pissed. She had pulled a double working a homicide.

“You were late.” Eddie was laid out in the floor, beer in hand. The living room mirror was on the floor beside him with a white powdery film covering it.

“I called.” She did call. She knew he was waiting on her to do the lines. She also knew he’d get tired of waiting if she didn’t call.

“I’ll get more.” His voice was agitated. He didn’t understand why she wanted to kill his buzz.

“With what? Damn it, Ed, I don’t get paid again for another week.” She was screaming with everything she had. It had been three days since her last line. They had agreed to ration their supply so it would last till payday and now this shit.

“Relax, I’ve got it covered.”

“Oh really.”

“We’re having a party.”

“What?”

“These guys I met at a club last night, they need someone to host a party for their album. I volunteered our place. Twenty dollars a head plus they bring a little something for the host and hostess.”

“And when is this party?”

“Tonight.”

“I’ve got to work.”

“No you don’t. Call in sick.”

“If I keep calling in sick, they’re going to figure something is up.” Catherine was already nervous about her job. If they ever found out she was doing coke, her career would be ruined.

“For me.” He walked to her on his knees, pulling her to him. He pushed her blouse up giving him access to her navel. He ran his tongue along the outside before flicking it in and out.

“You know I hate you.” She ran her fingers through his hair, enjoying the sensation the touch of his tongue was causing her.

“No you don’t.”

“Damn it, I don’t.”

---------------------------------

“I haven’t been fishing in years.” Catherine sat on the edge of the pier, fishing rod in hand and a bucket of worms beside her.

“Is that your way of saying you need me to bait your hook?” Gil was still unloading supplies from the back of the truck he’d borrowed from a friend.

“As long as you are offering…” She smiled coyly at him and held out her rod, letting him attach the worm to the hook.

They sat in virtual silence while fishing. Only when they were cleaning their catch did they begin to talk again.

“Thanks.” Her voice was so quiet Gil barely heard her.

“For what?”

“The invitation. I know how you like your privacy.”

“If I didn’t want you here, I wouldn’t have invited you.” His voice was steady and strong. Catherine never doubted the sincerity in his statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------

“Catherine, we need to talk.” Eddie stood at the bedroom door watching his wife spray her hair.

“Eddie, I’m late for work. It will have to wait.” Catherine ran past him into the living room, grabbing her handbag.

“Cath…” Eddie’s voice was tired. He watched as his wife flew around the room in a mad frenzy.

“Not now, Eddie. Where are my damned keys?” She was upending sofa cushions, rummaging through the mail and looking in bowls for the keys and not having any luck.

“Yes, now.” She stopped and turned to him. Then she spotted her keys on the wall behind him.

“You’ve got two minutes.” Catherine reached past Eddie and grabbed the keys.

“I’m leaving.” Eddie’s words were soft and solemn. Rather strange because Catherine felt as if she’d been hit by a Mac Truck.

“What?” Her arm was still beside his head, keys in hand. Rage filled her face. Eddie decided it was best to step back and maybe a little to the left.

“I’m leaving.” His voice was still calm, but with a little less confidence.

“What the hell? You wait till I’m walking out the door to…” Catherine was moving towards him. He knew what was coming.

“Stop yelling.” He kept his voice steady, hoping to avoid a repeat of last week’s fight.

“I’m not yelling.” She yelled. Then she looked at him, her eyes full of pain. “Why?”

“I miss you. And I can’t stay here knowing you aren’t here with me.” He was crying. She was crying. Nothing was making sense to either of them.

“Eddie, if I don’t work we don’t have a ‘here’ for me to not be with you at.” Her mind was reeling. They’d always had disagreements but nothing that they couldn’t work out.

“Your job is too important. I don’t matter now.” Catherine was shocked. She took the job so they would have a future. She took the job so Eddie could keep managing bands. She took the job because the lifespan of a stripper’s career wouldn’t last until they retired.

“That’s the most ridiculous thing…” Eddie didn’t let her finish.

“When was the last time we made love?”

“What does that have to do with…” Catherine wanted to scream. She wanted to hit him. She wanted him to hit her. Anything to end this conversation but Eddie stood his ground.

“When?” This time it was Eddie who yelled. He wanted an answer and he was going to have it.

“Eddie…” She was going to tell him she would stay home, that she would call in sick. She was going to tell him she loved him and needed him. She was going to tell him to make love to her right then and there. She was going to.

“Just tell me.”

“I don’t know.” Her head fell as she admitted this. It had been a while, a long while since they’d been together but it wasn’t Catherine’s fault. Her job was demanding. She needed to sleep when she was home so she would be alert on the job. Eddie didn’t understand.

Eddie kissed her softly before walking out of her life.
---------------------------------------


“I haven’t gotten laid in three months.” Catherine lay on Gil’s bed, screwdriver in one hand and remote in the other as she absentmindedly flipped through the channels on his television.

“I thought you and Eddie only split up three weeks ago.” Gil was lying on the floor playing with his spider.

“We did.” She glanced down at the two of them, more to make sure the spider stayed on the floor than any other reason, before turning her attention back to the television.

“Oh. That sucks.”

“Yep.”

“Four months.” He gathered his little friend in his hand and carefully put him back in the terrarium.

“What?” Gil had mumbled something but she had been looking at Sean Connery’s butt. The cosmic gods had been kind and she had flipped to “The Highlander” just as his kilt-covered bare-butt jumped.

“It’s been four months for me.”

“Cold showers?” She laughed at him.

“Bitterly cold.” He laughed back. Since Catherine and Eddie had split, they had been spending a lot of time together. He was amazed at how comfortable they had become around each other in such a short time.

“We should go out.” Gil sat upright when she said this, causing Catherine to backtrack trying to explain herself. “And meet people. I mean we should go out together to meet someone.” He looked at her and grinned broadly, the image of a threesome with a stranger playing in his mind. “Screw you. Your mind is in the gutter you know.”

“At least some part of me is.” She pegged him with a pillow from across the room.

--------------------------------------

“You know my divorce isn’t final yet.” They were laying on Gil’s sofa, half dressed, hands all over each other. For the past month, they had been fooling around, always stopping before things had gone too far, neither wanted to jeopardize the divorce. It was never easy for them to stop. Tonight was no different.

“You’ve been apart for four months, Catherine, it may as well be.” Gil’s mouth was on her breast, his tongue circling her nipple. Catherine shivered. God, this man was good.

“I know. It’s just technically I’m still married.” She pushed him back, cupping his face. Catherine hated doing this to him but she couldn’t bring herself to cheat even though all the papers had been signed for her divorce.

“Technically he left you.” Gil’s voice was impatient. He wanted her. He wanted her yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that, and he wanted her now.

“The divorce will be final in two weeks. We can wait a few more days.” She said it. She wanted to mean it. She tried to mean it.

“I can’t wait.” His mouth was on hers only a moment, hungry and demanding in a way she had never felt before. He stood up and took her hand in his, leading her back to his bed.

-----------------------------------


“What is it?” They were lying in Gil’s bed, wrapped up in each other after a long shift. Gil wanted to wind down before moving on to more important activities. Catherine wanted to move on to more important activities in order to wind down.

“Hmmm.” She was busy undressing him and wasn’t really paying attention to what he was saying. The man did that to her.

“There’s something you aren’t telling me.” Gil had quickly learned that Catherine was more aggressive in bed when something was bothering her. While he appreciated that quality, he felt the need to find out what was on her mind.

“Aren’t you more interested in…” Her head disappeared under the covers.

“Catherine…” A very reluctant Gil pulled her back up and held her against his chest. He looked at her pouting at him and laughed. “What’s wrong?” She tried to wriggle free from his grasp but he wasn’t giving way so finally she told him.

“Eddie called today.” It was not unusual for Eddie or his lawyer to call, but her tone of voice told Gil something was different about this call.

“And?”

“He wants to try counseling.”

“Catherine, the divorce is supposed to be final in two days.” Gil sat upright, holding her at arms length.

“I know. It’s just…” She didn’t want to hurt Gil but there was no way he wasn’t going to be hurt.

“Are you still in love with him?” The question had been lurking in his mind for a long time. Catherine had never been in a hurry to sign any of the papers that the currier had brought over, sometimes taking as long as a week to return them after signing.

“No.” Her eyes averted his.

“Catherine.” He cupped her face in order to bring her eyes to where he could see them.

“It’s just…I think I should give him this chance.” Catherine looked at his ears, his mouth, his nose hairs…anywhere but his eyes. She couldn’t look him in the eyes. He let go of her.

“He ran out on you.” His voice was laced with bitterness, causing Catherine to feel the need to defend Eddie.

“He felt like I wasn’t there.”

“You’re going back to him?”

“I owe it to him.”

“And you were going to tell me this when?” He grabbed his shorts, pulling them on in record time.

“I need to be with you.”

“No, you don’t. Not if you are going back to him.” He walked out of the bedroom slamming the door behind him.

“Gil.” He was gone though. She lay back in their bed fighting the tears. “Shit.”

---------------------------------

“I guess my cycle is a little off.” They had been sleeping in the same bed for three nights, literally sleeping. Tonight had been the night they were to make love. Catherine was on the verge of tears.

“I understand. We just wait a few days.” He held her close.

“Eddie…” She wondered if he’d always been this patient and decided that he had.

“Catherine, it’s fine. It’s been a while. We’re both nervous.” Eddie was afraid that pushing her would only push her away. He was far from lonely while they were separated but being with Catherine was different. She satisfied his needs in a way no other woman ever could.

“Thanks. I don’t understand. I’m never early.”

“Baby, it’s probably stress.”
-------------------------------------------



“I was just leaving.” She had a bag of clothes in one hand and her personal items in the other.

“Don’t stay on my account.” He stood holding the door open waiting on her to leave.

“Gil.” She wanted him to listen. She wanted him to understand. This wasn’t about her marriage. It was about her childhood. She watched her mother with man after man, marriage after marriage, only to go back to Sam Braun each time. She swore as a child she’d never give up on her marriage like her mother did. She wanted Gil to know but he was so angry she couldn’t tell him.

“Catherine, just leave. Please.”

“I’m sorry.” She bit her lip to fight back her tears. He wasn’t going to see her cry today.

“When did he get back?”

“He’s coming back on Tuesday.”

“Two days in that house by yourself. You’ll have to find a man to keep you company until then.”

“That’s not fair.” It wasn’t and Gil knew it. He wanted to hurt her like she was hurting him. From the way she was walking out, he thought he’d done just that. It wasn’t enough.

“No. This isn’t fair.” He grabbed her by the arm, kissing her. He wanted her to know what she was giving up. He wanted her to need him more than he needed her. He wanted her to walk out frustrated, craving his touch over Eddie’s. He wanted her.

“We’ve got two days.” Neither was sure who said it. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered anymore except the next forty-eight hours that they would spend wrapped up in each other.

--------------------------------------------

“God, I’ve missed you.” The two of them had spent the day in bed. Catherine’s period had been surprisingly short. Eddie hoped it didn’t mean that she’d start again when she normally would.

“I can tell.” She had forgotten how vigorous Eddie was in bed. She was definitely going to be sore later.

“You’re going to be late for work.” He patted her on the butt teasingly.

“Am I?” She was playing with the hairs on his stomach. Eddied was ticklish and she was getting ready to pounce.

“Yes.” He saw the look in her eyes and knew what was coming but he wouldn’t stop her. He wasn’t about to give up his vantage point.

“I thought I was calling in sick.” She pounced but not quickly enough.

“I like that idea.” Eddie rolled them over ready to make love to his wife again.
 
Coolc, I'm loving this fic! You've got a tricky story going on but I love the way you're tying it all together. More please :D
 
your twisted. in a good way. :D You might as well update soon, cause I wanna figure out that little bunny of yours!
 
Gil was looking at the photos from the party that he had laid out on the evidence table. So far they had been unable to find any explanation for the unexplained wounds on the victim. The kids that had been identified as being there were not talking. He was hoping that by looking closely at the photographs he would find something, some small item, that was out of place and would possibly provide them a lead.

So far all he had found were beer bottles, cigarettes and a couple of boxes that at one time held condoms. He shook his head trying to remove the image of Lindsey at such a party. She was a child. She had no business around any of this. If she were his daughter he’d lock her up until she was forty.

He continued to scan the pictures looking for anything that might explain what happened that night. He told himself that he was looking for an explanation for the boy’s death. He told himself that the pictures would tell the story of what happened. He told himself anything to avoid the real reason. He was looking for a reason for Lindsey’s behavior.

It would have been easy enough to put the blame on Catherine. She was her mother. She was the one raising her or not depending on your point of view. Gil knew that she did the best she could with the circumstances she had been given. He often wondered when she slept or if she even slept. Catherine tried to be there for all the important events in her daughter’s life. The only times he knew of her missing anything was when work interfered. Gil tried to make sure that didn’t happen often if for no reason other than he was the one to catch her wrath if she did miss an event.

He looked at one of the pictures and saw a pair of blue jeans with “Lindsey” written on them by what looked like a marker. He remembered seeing her at the party in the t-shirt and not much else. Why couldn’t she stay a little girl? Why did she have to grow up?

“Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Lindsey. Happy Birthday to you.”

The small group of friends and family had gathered at the Willows residence for their daughter’s first birthday. The birthday girl, dressed in a white dress, was wide-eyed at all the noise that seemed to be directed at her. Her mother and father stood beside her encouraging her to blow out the single candle on the cake. They were blowing at her trying to show her what to do. Lindsey giggled and blew a big burst of air back at her father.

“No babydoll. Like this.” He turned her face towards the cake and blew at the candle, encouraging his daughter to do the same. Lindsey mimicked her father and blew as hard as she could and saw the candle flame extinguished. Everyone was clapping so Lindsey clapped also. Catherine cut a small piece of the cake and put it in front of her daughter. She watched as Eddie rolled his fingers through the icing then let his daughter taste the icing. She snapped a picture of her daughter’s reaction to the sweet taste. Before she could wind the film to the next frame Lindsey dove in with both hands covering herself in icing and cake. Eddie looked at his daughter and laughed. Lindsey laughed with him as she smeared icing on her father’s face. Catherine put the camera down and picked up her daughter.

“Excuse us while we clean up.” She took Lindsey to the bathroom and quickly washed her daughter off. She started to redress her but decided that maybe a baby running around in just pampers wasn’t so bad.

When they returned to the room Catherine and Eddie took Lindsey’s gifts one by one and opened them for their daughter, letting her “oh” and “ah” over them like everyone else in the room was doing. They went through several gifts before coming to one in plain brown paper wrapped with a toy spider instead of a bow. Catherine looked at Gil and shook her head before returning to the package. Inside they found a large stuffed butterfly and a slightly smaller stuffed ladybug. Lindsey’s chubby little hands reached out for the toys and promptly stuffed them into her chubby little mouth. Eddie reached for the toys to put them aside so they could open the next package but the little girl screamed at the top of her lungs so he let her hold them as the rest of her gifts were opened. Lindsey couldn’t have cared less what the other packages contained.

Gil smiled to himself at the memory. Lindsey had been the perfect baby. It didn’t hurt that she found her father’s gift of a miniature guitar as interesting as watching grass grow. He knew Eddie adored his little girl and that she loved her father completely. However, Gil always felt a slight bit of satisfaction on the occasions where she preferred him to Eddie. It was if Eddie hadn’t won it all.

Catherine had announced to the lab she was pregnant two months earlier. She was still pulling field duty, determined to show she could do her job through her pregnancy. The two of them had been assigned a simple robbery and had been at the liquor store for two hours collecting evidence. He looked up when he heard a small crash. Catherine was standing frozen, her hand on her abdomen. Her expression was one of confusion. He was by her side in an instant.

“Catherine, are you alright? The baby?” Then he saw it. A smile he’d never seen before began to fill her face. It was full of a contentment he’d never seen in Catherine before.

“Shhh.” She pushed him away.

“Catherine?”

“The baby. I think she just moved.”

“What?”

“She moved. I felt it.” Catherine subconsciously grabbed Gil’s hand and placed it where she had felt the movement.

“I don’t feel anything.”

“Shhh.” She swatted his arm and Gil laughed. Did she think noise would make the baby hide from them? “She did it again.”

“I didn’t feel anything.”

“No, it’s too early. I don’t think you can.” She wasn’t making any sense.

“Then why…?”

“Instinct. I don’t know.”

“What did it feel like?” He was genuinely curious. Obviously this was something he would never physically experience himself.

“I don’t know. Like a flutter. Like a butterfly fluttering inside me.” Catherine still had the goofiest grin he’d ever seen plastered across her face. Gil reached for her face but stopped as she continued to talk.

“I’ve got to call Eddie. No. I’ve got to go. I want to tell him in person. You can handle this, can’t you?” It wasn’t a question because she was already packing her kit.

“Sure.” He felt the shell beginning to close over him as he watched her walk out the door. “Anytime.”

Gil continued to look at the photograph with Lindsey’s jeans. Something wasn’t right he just couldn’t place it. His stomach growled reminding him that Catherine should have been back by now. He grabbed his cell, flipping it open to call her when he saw it. There was a small broken brush laying approximately two feet from Lindsey’s jeans. The broken tip had a blotch of red, possibly blood on it.

Gil woke with a jolt. Someone was banging on his door. He looked at the clock and saw it read 11am. He pulled on his pajama pants, cussing under his breath as he made his way to the door. He yanked the door open prepared to yell at whoever was on the other side. His mouth was open but no sound came out. Standing before him was Catherine. She was holding a screaming Lindsey. But what caught his breath was Catherine’s appearance. She wore no make up, her hair was tangled and mated and her jaw was swollen.

“Are you just going to stand there or are you going to invite me in?” She was speaking faster than normal and her eyes were hollow, as if no soul occupied her body. Gil still didn’t speak.

“Fine.” She turned to walk back to the elevator. Gil flinched when he saw the back of her head.

“Catherine, what happened?” She kept walking, stopping only to push the down button.

“I’ve got to go. I shouldn’t have come here.” She hit the button repeatedly as if that would make the elevator arrive faster. Gil put his hand to the back of her head causing her to hiss in pain.

“That’s a nasty cut.”

“Yeah, well…” Her normally witty comeback wasn’t there. She was too tired to think of one. Lindsey was crying even louder now. Catherine bounced her on her hip attempting to quiet her.

“C’mon. I’ll help you clean it up.” His hand was on her free elbow, a gentle attempt to coerce her back to his door. She hit the down button a few more times before facing him.

“Fine. It’s better than standing here all day.” Gil took the diaper bag from her as they made their way inside his townhouse. Catherine sat Lindsey on the floor and flopped down on his sofa.

“I swear she never stops. All she does anymore is cry. She cries when I leave. She cries when I come home. She cries when I feed her. She cries when I change her. She just cries and cries and cries. I’m sick of it.” Gil looked at Catherine as if she were possessed. “All I ever do anymore is change her, feed her, wash her. And for what? She just screams at me. I should never have had her.”

Gil turned Catherine so that she was facing away from him. He pushed her hair out of the way to inspect the cut on the back of her head. It wasn’t deep but it was big enough to have caused a big bloody mess.

“Stay here, I’ll get the first aid kit.” He quickly made his way to the bathroom for his kit. He was almost back to the living room when he heard it.

“God! Would you just shut the fuck up!” Gil saw Catherine’s hand raise up against her daughter.

“CATHERINE!” He had grabbed Lindsey and was holding her close to him. “What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing. She won’t…”

“Bullshit! Catherine, you were about to hit her. What the hell is going on? What did Eddie do?” His yelling caused Lindsey’s cries to become even louder.

“Nothing.” She saw he wasn’t going to back down. “We had a little disagreement. Things got heated. That’s all.” She was walking around his living room like a caged lion.

“A little?”

“It’s no big deal.”

“That bruise you’ll have tomorrow and the gash on your head?”

“It was an accident. Give me my baby. I’m leaving.” She was trying to pull Lindsey from him but Gil wasn’t letting go. Instead he just looked into her eyes as the knowledge of what was really going on hit him like a ton of bricks.

“Catherine, you know that shit could cost you your job.” She froze unsure how she should react. After an awkward standoff she grabbed Lindsey and the diaper bag and stormed out.

“Go to hell Gil.”

Gil shook his head to brush the memory of that day away before calling Nick on his cell.

“Hey, I need you to find out if we processed a broken brush at the Henderson party and I need it now.” He slammed the phone into his pocket before making his way to the morgue.

Gil was walking out the door with his assignment when Brass stopped him.

“We need to talk. My office.” Brass walked off with Gil following behind. “Sit.” Brass closed the door behind him. Gil had no clue what was going on but he knew it couldn’t be good.

“Willows husband called me. Said she won’t be in for four weeks. Said she has the flu.” Brass paused in order to gauge Gil’s reaction. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Sounds like she has the flu to me.” Gil was lying. He knew it. Brass knew it.

“Grissom, no one has a scheduled flu. Are you going to tell me or am I suspending her?”

“Jim, you can’t. She needs this job. She has Lindsey.”

“I need to know what is going on.”

“Please, give her a break. I’m asking you to trust me on this.”

“Fine, but if she is even one minute late when she comes back you both are suspended.” Brass went to work on his pile of paperwork. Gil stood up, leaving as quickly as he could.

“Hey Doc, the boy from the Henderson party. Did you see anything that would indicate he was hit by a brush?” Gil had found Doc Robbins in his private breakroom, the one he had requisitioned two months ago. Doc had once told him no one questions anything a coroner wants.

“There was some unexplained bruising on the back of his head, no open wounds though.” Al finished making his coffee. “I’ll have to pull my report and take another look. But if memory serves me the size of the bruising would be consistent with a small hairbrush. Why?”

“I just remembered something I saw in the past.”
 
Author: Coolcatz
Disclaimer: oh no, not going there
A/N: Thanks to Allison and Rose for their help on this chapter.



From Crate and Burial:
GRISSOM: You any better?
CATHERINE: What are you talking about?
GRISSOM: Your little major-minor blowup about Lindsey not wanting a party.
CATHERINE: Oh, that. Yeah. I'm just afraid that I'm making her
weird, you know?
GRISSOM: No.
CATHERINE: I work 24/7. I have no time for my friends. My daughter rarely
sees me having any fun. And, all of a sudden, she doesn't want a party.
GRISSOM: And that's because of you?
CATHERINE: Yes. I'm her mother. She mimics me.
GRISSOM: Well, then she'll be fine. I mean, look at you.





Catherine finally arrived back at the lab, cherry roll for Gil in a small bag and a large cup of cold coffee in her hand. She worked her way through the hallways until she found Gil. He was still in Doc Robbins’ new breakroom.

“Nice.” She took in the new surrounds. Al was a great guy who knew how to work the system. She thought that maybe she should transfer to the morgue so she and her ducks would have their own space.

“Thanks. Come by tomorrow. My sofa is supposed to be delivered before shift.” Doc grabbed a remote and turned on his sound system. “Bose.”

“This is why I’m sharing an office with the Day Shift supervisor you know.” Catherine glared playfully at Gil who opened his mouth to speak only to be cut off by Doc.

“You’re welcome here anytime.”

Catherine handed the cherry roll to Gil and sat down between the two men.

“I thought we were working on a case, not hiding in the morgue.”

“Take a look. Gil handed her the photo with Lindsey’ jeans and saw her face flush with fear before she could mask it.

“Damn it, those jeans cost $60. I told her not to screw them up.” When in doubt anger covered fear very well. Gil leaned over and pointed at the broken brush.

“This is what I wanted you to look at.” Catherine looked at the photo, then pulled out her glasses and looked again. She noticed the blood on the broken tip.

“Looks like someone had a disagreement over something.” She continued to examine the picture. “Where’s the rest of the brush?”

“I don’t know. We’re going to have to go through everything again and see if we can find it. Right now, we’re waiting on Doc’s report to be delivered so we can re-examine the bruising on the victim.”

The three of them were comparing the picture of the broken brush with pictures of the bruising on the young boy’s body.

“There.” Gil held out one of the photos, pointing to a bruise near the base of the boy’s skull. Both Catherine and Doc looked at the photograph.

“Well I’ll be damned.” Doc spoke. “That bruising was consistent with bruising from the pool.”

“Evidence out of context till now.” Gil explained.

“You mentioned you’d seen this in a case before but I don’t remember anything like this.” Doc knew the details of almost every case that had come through in the last 15 years but couldn’t place the one Gil was talking about.

“I didn’t say it was a case.” Gil continued to compare the two photographs while sneaking a glance at Catherine who was looking at the floor. Doc, of course, noticed the whole exchange but kept silent.

“I know the brush wasn’t what caused his death so why are you…”

“Because the owner of the brush obviously had a problem with him.” Gil’s voice was short and curt.

“You’re assuming that the owner of the brush is responsible for that.” Catherine’s voice was low. She hated when he judged someone without reason.

“We find the owner and we have a lead.” Gil saw this as logical.

“The boy drowned.” Catherine saw this as logical. The brush wasn’t relevant.

“At the same party Lindsey was at.”

“What does that have to do with..” Catherine yelled at Gil. Their voices grew louder as each one tried to speak over the other.

“She’s just as much a suspect as anyone else who was there.”

“Hold it. Do you honestly think that my daughter…”

“She’s Eddie’s daughter too. Not to mention Sam’s granddaughter so yes I do.”

“She’s thirteen Gil. She’s not capable…”

“…of hurting someone? Catherine we see kids all the time who…”

“…oh get real. She snuck out. She had a few drinks. She didn’t…”

“She didn’t have a mother responsible enough to make sure she was home.”

“Don’t you dare. You know damned well I tried to transfer to days so I could be home with her.”

“At least Eddie was always there for her.”

They both froze. Doc sat silently to the side wishing that he could just disappear. He watched the wordless duel that played out between the two of them, each daring the other to make the next move. He was shocked when Catherine walked out without uttering another word, but not as shocked as he was when Gil finally spoke.

“Lindsey needs a real mother.”

Catherine was standing outside of Doc’s breakroom fighting back tears. She knew what Gil was referring to when he mentioned the brush. Her hairdresser reminded her of it every time she went in for a color.

*~~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*

C’mon babe.” Eddie lay beside her, nuzzling her neck.

“I’m tired.” As good as his body felt all Catherine could think about was getting some sleep. His hands drifted lower and she pushed them away. “I’m serious. I’ve had enough.”

“No, you just need a little pick me up.” He crawled out of the bed. She sighed with relief. Now maybe she would be able to get some rest.

Eddie crawled back in bed, spooning her as he pulled the hair off the back of her neck gently placing kisses from the base of her skull to her mouth as he turned her to face him. She opened her mouth to protest only to hear him shush her as he placed some pills inside her mouth.

“Trust me babe. You’ll be fine.” He then kissed her deeply. “You know you want it as much as I do.”

The truth was she did want it as much as Eddie but she had been working long hours on difficult cases. Then when she came home she still had an infant daughter who needed her, a husband who wanted her and a house to take care of. Something was obviously going to suffer and what suffered was her sex life with her husband. She looked into Eddie’s eyes seeing the desire and longing he held for her, remembered the promise she made to herself when they reconciled and swallowed the pills.

“How long before this stuff kicks in” she said as she pulled him to her.

“Don’t you worry about that.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

“Lindsey’s crying.” Eddie stopped what he was doing.

“She’s fine.” Catherine pulled him back to her, her body aching for more. But Eddie pulled away again.

“No, babe, she sounds upset. You need to go check on her.” He kissed her softly on the shoulder and tried to pull off again.

“What I need is for you to finish this.” Whatever was in those pills had definitely kicked in. She was wide awake, alert and horny as hell.

“Catherine, I can’t do this with her crying. You need to go check on her.” He pulled off his wife and waited for her to go tend to their daughter.

“Why don’t you go check on her? You’re her father.” Catherine’s mood had gone from horny to hateful in a heartbeat. All she had wanted was sleep. Eddie wanted sex. He gave her the pills and now she wanted sex. Only she wasn’t getting sex or sleep and he wanted her to deal with the crying baby. She rolled over and pulled the covers over her body.

“Catherine, Lindsey is hungry. She needs you.” He pulled the covers off of her.

“Well I’m not going so I suggest you either make her some formula or find a way to lactate yourself. She’s just going to get louder if you don’t.” She yanked the covers back towards her with enough force to pull Eddie with them. He crashed into her causing her to topple off of the bed. Catherine was now pissed.

She grabbed the phone off the nightstand and threw it at Eddie but he dodged it. He crawled off the bed, yanked her up by the arm and pulled her towards the door.

“Go feed her now!” He opened the door and pushed her through, hand still on her arm. Catherine slapped him with her free hand only to have him grab it also.

“Let me go” she spat at him.

“I don’t think so.” Eddie was now angry and horny.

He pushed her against the wall and bit into the soft skin below her neck. He could feel her struggling against him as his hands gripped her hips holding her to him. Catherine pulled at his hands but couldn’t move them so she kicked him instead causing Eddie to back off just long enough for her to break free. Eddie grabbed her tee shirt ripping it as he pulled her around to face him. Catherine threw a right hook at him connecting at his jaw line.

“So that’s how you want to play,” Eddie snarled. Catherine came at him again, both hands grabbing for his face as she jumped him causing them both to fall to the floor. Eddie shoved her off but Catherine came right back at him, straddling him as she went to deck him again. Eddie grabbed her waist and flipped them, pinning her body below him. Catherine kicked him hard in the groin and he fell to the side. She crawled back on top of him fists flying into his chest. Eddie flipped them again, this time sitting on her legs to keep her from kicking. Catherine pulled up from the floor ready to take another swing at him. Eddie reached her arms to pin them down but Catherine shifted under him causing his hand to connect with her jaw. She felt her teeth slam together as her head jerked back hard against the floor. The room was spinning around her. Eddie backed off giving her time to regain her senses. Catherine scrambled upright, grabbed a brush from the dresser and threw it at him. Eddie dodged the brush and it hit the wall cracking in two from the impact. He grabbed one piece of the brush and threw it back at Catherine. She turned to dodge but wasn’t quick enough as the brush crashed into the back of her head. She felt the blood dribble onto her neck and placed a hand on the wound to see how bad it was.

“You son of a bitch.” She ran at Eddie but he grabbed her, holding her still.

“Catherine, stop!”

“Let me go.” She screamed as she struggled against him but he held her even tighter.

“Catherine, you’re bleeding.” His voice had changed. It sounded almost like he was concerned.

“It’s not the first time.” Her voice was bitter. Their fights had been escalating for a few months.

“Catherine, you’re really bleeding.” She didn’t care. She was pissed off because she was being denied the two things she wanted most right now and the reason why was screaming loudly from the next room.

She jerked away from him and walked out of their bedroom and into Lindsey’s. She picked up her crying daughter, grabbed the diaper bag and walked out the front door with Eddie hot on her heels.

“That’s right. Go back to your boyfriend.” Eddie slammed the door and went to the kitchen. He opened the freezer, grabbed a handful of ice, wrapped it in a cloth and placed it on his jaw. Then he grabbed a beer from the fridge and went to watch a ballgame on ESPN.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Catherine slumped against the wall, her hand going to the place on her head where the brush hit her that night. A thousand memories were flooding her mind. Memories of Eddie, of Gil and of Lindsey. It was then that she heard Gil’s words to Doc…“Lindsey needs a real mother.”
 
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