Disclaimer: I do not own CSI.
Author's Note: I promised this to someone last week and it took me longer than expected to get it typed up. Here it is now, and I hope you enjoy it, next1!
"Will it ever get any easier?" Heather Kessler inquired softly. While her voice was normally strong and confident, she was considerably quiet that afternoon. Her companion had a feeling that the woman's vulnerable state had been caused by the events of their afternoon together. Visiting the grave of Heather's daughter had been harder on her than either had planned for, and now both felt foolish for thinking that they could plan ahead for this sort of thing.
Standing next to the somber woman was her, for lack of a more suitable word, escort for the day, Gil Grissom. The aged man's brows knitted together in concentration. Although thoroughly educated, Gil did not have a clue as to what he should say in reply to her question. He struggled to find the correct words, not wanting to upset Heather any more than she always was. "Losing a child is not something that you will easily overcome," He replied gently, his tone matching hers exactly.
Heather nodded, keeping her green eyes cast downward. She read the stone grave marker, the one she had read so many times before. "Zoe Kessler". Tears suddenly filled her eyes and she blinked them away, not wanting to cry in front of Grissom. She had already let her guard down for him too many times. That was a mistake that had been repeated too many times.
"I miss her," Heather said suddenly. Of all the things the brunette felt, guilt was the greatest emotion. She felt guilty for not apologizing to her daughter, for not correcting their relationship before Zoe's death. Heather felt remorseful that the last conversation she ever had with her daughter was a heated argument.
Gil merely listened, knowing that there was not a single thing he could say to make the situation okay. Instead of words that he knew would never be enough, Gil instinctively and gently wrapped his arms around Heather. She was tense at first, even her breathing coming to a halt, but slowly dissolved into the comfort of his embrace.
Heather could not contain her overpowering emotions any longer. She allowed herself to cry, despite her better judgment of doing so in Gil's presence. He was the only one she had left. No matter how much she disliked that fact, it was true. He was the only one willing to help her, to stay with her. As she sobbed, Gil stroked her back with the arm that was not wrapped around her waist. Gil realized that although her daughter had been murdered over a year ago, she was still just as fragile as she had been back then. Whispering soothingly in the distraught woman's ear, Gil promised that he was there for her. And surprisingly to both of them, he really meant it.