Disclaimer: CSI and its characters are the property of CBS, et al. I only claim this story.

Life After

Part I: Reactions

"Warrick, I said I was fine. I'll drive home under my own power after I finish this report." Warrick looked at his colleague warily. She hadn't allowed anyone to bandage her cut and the red welt stood out from her forehead.

"Cath, I'm worried. You need to get checked out." Catherine glared at him as he stood in front of her. Warrick's face was filled with concern for his friend. He felt guilty that he hadn't been there to keep her from getting hurt.

Catherine saw the guilt in his eyes. "Oh no you don't. Don't blame yourself for not being there sooner. I'm fine. I'll have a headache for a few days, but you aren't responsible." Warrick looked down at his feet in resignation. "Listen, if it will make you feel better, I'll hitch a ride with one of the others."

"I can stay an..."

Catherine looked at her friend. He had been there when she needed to confide in someone. She knew he still felt guilty about leaving Holly alone, but this time it was different. If only she could get him to see that. "Warrick, I appreciate your concern, but I just need some time now. I'll call if you can do anything for me, okay?"

Knowing he wouldn't be able to change her mind, he nodded silently and turned to leave. "You'll be sure to call when you get home, right."

"Yes, Mom, I'll call. Go home and relax."

"Okay. Good night, Cath." Warrick left Catherine to do her report. He looked around hoping to find any sign that the others had returned from their scene. He noticed that Grissom's office door was slightly ajar. Pushing it open he found Grissom at his desk staring off into space. He waved his hand trying to get Grissom's attention. Hoping that the bass would work this time, he stepped into the office; it remained silent. "Hey Gris. You got a moment?"

Grissom was startled by Warrick's voice. The rest of the team had gotten their paperwork in, but Catherine and Warrick's hadn't been turned in yet. He felt that was strange because according to Greg and the detective they had finished up before his team got back to the lab. He motioned for the younger man to take a seat, "Yeah, and I have question for you."

"I'm worried about Catherine," Warrick said after waiting for a few moments for his boss to continue.

"Catherine?" Grissom grew concerned when Warrick didn't look at him directly as he talked. That concern quickly turned to panic when he looked down at his feet before continuing.

"Yeah. She, uh. She had an altercation at the scene. She keeps saying that she's fine, but..." Warrick looked up at the sound of footsteps quickly leaving the room and found that he was speaking to an empty office. Grissom was probably on his way to see Catherine. Maybe he could get her to listen to reason. Warrick stood up and headed for the locker room. He was still worried about Catherine, but knew that if anyone could get her to slow down and take care of herself, it was Grissom.

Grissom registered the words "had an altercation" and the first thing to pop into his head was Holly Gribbs. He was out of his seat before Warrick could finish the sentence. He found Catherine in the break room getting something out of the refrigerator. "Why didn't you call?"

Catherine swung her head around at the sound of Grissom's voice. The quick movement caused her to become dizzy and sway. She put her hand out to help steady herself. Grissom was at her side in seconds, concern written all over his face. 'Damn. He got to him before I could,' Catherine thought as she allowed Grissom to guide her to a chair. She looked at her friend hoping to find an excuse not to tell him what happened.

"I'm fine, Gil."

"Catherine, don't tell me you're fine. You're dizzy and your head probably feels as though it's going to explode any minute, right?" Catherine's glare didn't deter him. "Why didn't you call me, Cath?"

"What would you have done? You had to be at the convention, not holding my hand!" Catherine nearly shouted. She hated that he was right. Every word reverberated inside her head and it was a struggle to keep the room from spinning. She focused on Grissom's face and saw the pain inflicted by her words flash in his eyes. No one else would have picked up on it, but she did and she hated that she was the one that caused it. "I'm sorry. I just hate it when you're right. I think I need to lie down for a bit. The report is on the counter."

Grissom nodded and picked up the folder. He returned to his friend and helped her to her feet. "Come on, we're going to the hospital."

"Can't. I need to see Lindsey before she goes to school."

"We'll stop by on the way, okay?"

"Okay," she said giving up on trying to get her own way. Grissom would somehow manage to get his way no matter what she did or said. They left the break room slowly so she wouldn't get dizzy. Grissom stopped by his office and picked up some more files and they left in his car.

Catherine rested her head against the slightly cooler window as Grissom navigated the early morning traffic. He glanced over at her as he drove; she was paler than normal, which made the cut on her head stand out even more than it would normally. Turning on the radio, he searched for some classical music. The soft strains of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata filled the silence between them. He knew that she loved classical piano music and hoped that the soft music would help alleviate some of the pain that she was dealing with as it often did for him.

"Catherine." He spoke softly as he touched her arm. She started from the half daze that she had been in during the ride home. "We're home."

She looked out the window at her house. The last notes of the sonata faded away when Grissom turned off the motor. She hesitantly opened the passenger door and started walking toward her home. She felt a nearly uncontrollable urge to turn and hide in the vehicle where she knew she was safe, but the combination of Grissom's door shutting and the fact that her daughter was sleeping inside kept her on her current trajectory.

'This is ridiculous. This is *my* home, not some stranger's place where I'm going to be attacked.' Catherine couldn't believe the fear that coursed through her veins. She opened the door and looked into the darkened hallway. Stepping inside she found evidence that her daughter was awake.

Grissom noticed her hesitation in the car and the slow determined steps that she made walking toward her home and it worried him; even the cases that involved kids Lindsey's age didn't do this to her. He tried to take his time so she wouldn't feel rushed. As she slowly opened the door, he was scared by the thought that his closest friend, who had bravely faced an abusive marriage without faltering, was nervous about stepping inside her own home.

"Mommy!" Lindsey's voice brought a smile to both of their faces. Catherine felt the fear she had dissipate as her daughter hugged her. Grissom saw her relax immediately and watched as the woman before him kneeled down to hug her daughter back.

"What are you doing up so early, kiddo?" Catherine asked when she finally let go of her little girl.

"I wanted to make breakfast for you." Lindsey looked at her mom closely for a moment. "Are you hurt, Mommy?"

Catherine had forgotten that she hadn't allowed anyone to bandage her head, even after she was processed as part of the scene. "Yeah, but Mommy's doing a lot better now. So what's for breakfast?"

Lindsey looked at her Mom, not sure if she should believe her. Grissom stood in the doorway watching the exchange between mother and daughter. When he saw the indecision on Lindsey's face, he mouthed that Catherine would be fine. Lindsey smiled then answered her Mom's question, "We're having cereal, unless Uncle Gil doesn't want that."

"Cereal's fine with me, Linds," Grissom answered. He set Catherine's purse down on the hall table and shut the front door. "Cath, why don't you go clean up? Lindsey and I will finish getting breakfast."

Catherine nodded slowly and watched as her child took her best friend's hand and practically pulled him into the kitchen. Lindsey had told her on several occasions that she liked it when "Uncle Gil" visited because he made it a point to always tell her something new and exciting, which she would then share with her friends at school. Catherine went to her room to change.

~~~

"Uncle Gil?" Lindsey looked up at Grissom looking worried. He didn't want to see her worry, especially about her Mom.

"Yeah."

"You'll take care of Mom while I'm at school, right?"

Grissom picked up the little girl and set her on the kitchen island. "I'll always take care of your Mom to the best of my abilities. *Always*."

"Thank you, Uncle Gil." Lindsey hugged the older man. "Now, what kind of cereal do you want?"

Grissom thought about the conversation he just had with the almost ten-year- old as she rattled off the types of cereal they could choose from. She was too young to be worrying about grown up stuff like her Mom getting hurt while working. "Let's have the Lucky Charms."

"Yes!" Lindsey jumped from the counter to get her favorite cereal from the cupboard. Grissom grimaced as he realized that Catherine probably would be a touch upset with him, but he would deal with that matter later.