Title: A Normal Christmas Eve
Author: sitarra
Rating: CSI-2
Disclaimer: I own nothing but I really wish I did.
Spoilers: Could be but this story does take place when the team is back together.
A/N: In explanation, I'm used to a Christmas with snow and a large family present. Here you will see that. My family is in this one, too. There just too good to pass up. Plus at a 50th anniversary party for my aunt and uncle I got a lot of good stories.
A/N2: Grissom's mother is not deaf and most conversation would actually take place if two people like Gil and Cath were in our family. The people are real, the dog is real, the house is real, the location not so much, and the scenery is actually that of southern Indiana. I started this at the end of October and finished it in the middle of November. I did not want to quit writing it. I've been in such a holiday mood all year and I hope that after reading this, all of you will be too.
Chapter 1
December 4, 2005 Beginning of shift
The halls of CSI were unseasonably warm for early December. A cold front had moved in due to all of the hurricanes down south months before. Any other winter and it wouldn't be so cold. It actually felt a bit like fall or early spring. A breeze was ever present in the air; birds were chirping with glee everyday. Clouds were few and far between and the sun was almost always out. People always had smiles on their faces because of the upcoming Christmas season, except for the modern day Scrooges.
Catherine Willows was no different. She couldn't help but have a healthy pearly white smile on her face. But when she heard a certain phone call that day, that smile actually faltered.
She felt good walking into work that night. She was wearing her favorite black boots that she practically wore with everything. She had on her favorite black leather jacket and a pair of slightly flared black pants that were the most comfortable things she'd ever put on. A navy blue button down blouse completed her ensemble, bringing it all together.
A necklace with two hearts hung from her neck, a gift from many years ago at Christmas. For once, she didn't have a single ring on her fingers. Her hair fell straight in some places but loose curls fell in some spots. Her bangs, what little were there, were pushed off to the side after a battle in the bathroom mirror that evening. She felt wonderful… but then she heard it. She heard the phone call. One side of it anyway.
Stopping outside her supervisor and best friend's office, she couldn't help but listen in to his conversation.
"What time on Saturday?"
Her heart constricted. Was he going out on a date? Was it just a meeting with someone from work or was it a date with a woman? A woman other than her?
"Of course I'll be there. What makes you think I won't be? … Yes, but for once, that wouldn't stop me from visiting."
Catherine's forehead creased in confusion. She pressed her body closer to the door, trying not to get noticed.
"And where did you hear about her? … Do you always sneak around behind my back to find out information? … You could have just asked me. … You're right."
She peeked around the corner into his office. He looked so… comfortable. She'd never seen him look that comfortable talking to anyone, except maybe herself.
He sat at his desk, his body relaxed as he leaned back in his chair. He had on his blue forensics jacket that she loved to see him in. It was unzipped so she could see his dark blue button down shirt beneath it, the top few buttons undone. He had a pen in his right hand, jotting down what she guessed was information. He rested the phone between his shoulder and ear so he could hold the paper stationary.
"I'll ask her but I'm not guaranteeing anything. … Yes, both of them. … All right, I'll see you then."
Now she was really confused. He hung up the phone and didn't look up from his desk. He continued writing something down and gave no impression he could see her.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you it's bad to eavesdrop, Catherine?" Gil voiced to her, still not looking up.
Her mouth dropped open in surprise. Straightening herself, she sauntered into his office with a guilty smile.
"You know, I always knew she was leaving something out," Catherine joked. She sat down with a plop in her claimed chair in front of his desk. "How'd you know I was there?"
He finally looked up at her, a twinkle in those favorite blue eyes of hers. "I always know when you're there," he answered simply.
She couldn't deny the sparkle in his eyes mirrored the one in hers. They'd grown closer since the team had been brought back together. She didn't hesitate to tell him anything and everything about her time being a supervisor. She certainly didn't stop him when he told her everything that went on during Graveshift. They were bonding again and she couldn't deny the strength of her feelings anymore. It had been too long.
"So who was that?" she asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Why do you care?" he said in a teasing tone.
"You know I'm nosy, Gil," she clarified. He nodded in agreement.
"That was my aunt. She wanted to know if I'm coming up for Christmas Eve this year. Last year I was working, I believe," he explained. "The family has expanded and she wants me to see her new house."
"I've never heard you talk about them before. Are you close to them?"
"Yes, we're a very close family. But I don't see them often."
"But how come I've only met your mother?" She leaned forward in her chair, resting her elbows on the edge of his desk.
"Because she was visiting and it was inevitable," he explained, leaning forward as well. She smiled at his smart aleck behavior. There was something different about him today.
"That doesn't change the fact that we get along," she pointed out, pointing a finger at him. "We get along better than I do with my mom."
"And apparently she's telling the rest of the family about you," Gil shared with her. "You've made quite the impression."
She held up a hand to stop him but she had a smile on her face. "Before I make you tell me about that, finish your previous thoughts."
He chuckled at her directness. Always right to the point with her. It was one of the many reasons he loved her.
"As you know, my mom lives in Marina del Ray still but she's thinking about moving here. The rest of my family lives in the southern Nevada region. My aunts often "threaten" me and tell me I don't see the family often."
"When did you last see them?" she interrupted.
"Thanksgiving."
"You mean you weren't at work?" She teased.
"Ha ha. No, I was with the family and then I went to work," he corrected.
"Who was this 'her' you were talking about?" she wondered. She was dying to know. She didn't know it could deal with the thought of him having a … girlfriend.
"That would be you." Her eyebrows shot up to the ceiling. He walked around the desk to sit in the vacant seat next to her, laughing at her still confused look.
"Me?" she squeaked out.
"Yes you. At Thanksgiving, I was asked about my work. I mentioned the team had been brought together again and my mom said 'does that include Catherine?'"
"You talk about me," she said in a knowing tone. A smile crept its way back to her face as she leaned back in her chair.
"Well, Catherine, it has been what? Twenty years? Your name was bound to come up eventually," he pointed out.
"So what was all that 'I'll ask her' stuff?"
The room encased itself in silence save for the sound of him clearing his throat. He leaned forward slowly as if in slow motion and took one of her hands in his. Her eyes went to their hands. Her whole body noticed the tingling sensation that came over her. Her heart began to beat a little faster, just as it always did when he was near.
"I recall you saying," his voice reunited her with the present, "that you never did anything for Christmas Eve and that Eddie always took Lindsey on those days."
"Yeah?" She was confused as to where he was taking this.
"And that it's been how long since you've seen a white Christmas?"
She looked upward in thought. He could see her calculating the years in her head.
"Oh, about twenty-five years."
"And that Lindsey's never seen a white Christmas?"
"Where are you going with this, Gil?" She wanted him to spit out whatever he was trying to say. She wanted him to ask her the question she knew he was going to ask. She wanted to hurry up and say yes before he changed his mind. She wanted… she wanted to pounce on him and kiss him for all she was worth.
"My invitation still stands from years ago. Will you accept it yet?" Gil asked. Her fingers one by one laced with his and he couldn't deny the effect it had on his body.
Catherine nodded he head after what seemed like an eternity. "Yes, I will finally accept you invitation."
She could feel her heart pound a little more when he smiled a genuine smile towards her. It wasn't often people got to see him actually smile. There was the smirk or the grin or the moment smile that was gone the moment you blinked. This smile she liked to think was reserved especially for her.
"Why'd you refuse the offer in the past?" he wondered.
Her smile faltered for a second time that day. "I have my reasons, Gil. Let's just leave it at that," she pleaded.
He stood with her when she rose from her chair to leave. Their hands were still clasped tight, tighter even. They didn't want to let go. Not yet.
"Besides," she said but she didn't know why, "Lindsey will get to see snow; I'll get to see it for the first time in half my life. I can continue on my quest again to open you up to the world by hounding your family for information and embarrassing stories."
He chuckled at her confident tone. He tugged her close, putting them very much in each other's personal space.
"You'll come? Both of you?"
"Yes, we will. I won't back down from it again." She couldn't; it wasn't an option. She had to get him alone to finally tell him. "I have to get back to work now. Or rather I have to start work."
"Then I won't keep you."
She reluctantly let go of his hand but she didn't leave. She seemed hesitant to go. He immediately recognized her actions.
"Case getting to you?" he correctly guessed.
She smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, can I…?"
"You never have to ask," he assured. "The offer's always here."
She smiled gratefully and moved into his open arms for a much needed hug. "I'll remember that. And by the way, it's been twenty-one years."
7979797979797979797979
December 23, 2005 11:17 PM
Catherine entered the break room on December 23rd to a quiet and suspicious scene. Nick, Sara, and Greg were sitting around the table in quiet conversation that stopped the second she walked through the door.
"Don't stop because of me," Catherine said, walking straight for the small refrigerator to get a bottle of water.
The three argued wordlessly at the table before finally Nick kicked Greg under the table, causing him to yelp in pain.
"Problem, Greg?" Catheirne asked, not fully paying attention.
"No, not at all," he assured, rubbing his injured leg. "Um, Cath, what'd you get from Grissom for Christmas?"
She turned around, a smart smile on her lips. "Pick a year."
"This year," Nick filled in.
"Nothing yet and I've given up trying to guess."
"What about last year?" Sara asked.
She had to stop and think about that one. "A book."
"A book?" they all repeated.
"Yes, a book that I loved when I was a little girl," she shared willingly.
"What about two years ago?" Nick asked.
"A diamond ring," she said with no hesitation.
Three jaws dropped open in shock.
"Close your mouths," she advised with a small laugh. "It was a diamond and sapphire ring. I saw it in a window of a jewelers a few years after I came to Vegas. I was twenty one. He was with me and I told him it reminded me of the one my great-grandmother had when I was little."
Nick was the first to speak. He always knew his former and current supervisor had something special between them. It reminded him of his parents.
"Wow, that's really sweet. I'm surprised he remembered after all that time."
"Surprised me, too."
Catheirne glanced over at Sara. They had managed to set aside their differences but they sill weren't the best of friends. They never would be. Now she just looked mad and jealous.
"And you guys have been doing this for how long?" Greg asked.
"Twenty years, why?" What she didn't realize was that she was opening them up to he very private life. Gil's, too.
Greg shook his head. "Just wondering. What are you doing for Christmas Eve?"
"Going with Grissom to visit his family." Now she was teasing them.
"Wow, you guys really are tight," he pointed out, crossing his fingers in example.
"We always have been: we always will be. Never forget that."
And with that she walked out of the break room in search of the object of her affections.
Sara huffed in her chair, crossing her arms angrily. Greg and Nick just smiled widely and knowingly.
"You think there's something goin' on between them?" Greg asked the two others in the room.
"Oh, yeah, definitely," Nick answered with confidence before taking a sip of his water.
79797979797979797979797979797
December 24, 2005 1:45 PM
The sound of a familiar bell rang throughout the house of Catherine and Lindsey Willows. Happy that her mother was still getting dressed, Lindsey bounded for the door, a smile on her face.
"Good afternoon, Lindsey," Gil greeted. "You're looking very lovely today."
What he didn't tell her was that it was a big improvement from last year. She was turning her behavior around and she deserved to hear it.
"Thank you. I tried to match mom the best I could but that didn't go so well. She's still getting ready."
Lindsey had on a pair of dark blue flared jeans with a butterfly embroidered into the left pant leg. Her dark blue shirt brought out her eyes, just like her mother. She had on her favorite necklace, one she had received upon birth from her godfather and favorite uncle. She had chosen to wear her hair down for the occasion. To Gil, she was growing up right in front of his eyes.
The pre-teen stepped aside to let him enter, shutting the door behind him.
"I don't get a hug?" Gil wondered, mock hurt in his words. She smiled at his usual playful nature whenever he was around. She quickly embraced him, knocking him back a step.
"There's gonna be other kids there my age, right? I won't be surrounded by adults?" Lindsey asked, looking up at him.
"Well, the two closest to your age are sixteen and ten." He sat down with her on the dark green couch.
"What are their names?"
"Jennifer is the sixteen year old and Kierra is the ten year old. She's incredibly shy so we'd all appreciate it if you would just talk to her a little."
"No problem."
He smiled. 'Just like her mother,' he thought. Lindsey always was one to make others feel more comfortable in their surroundings.
"I'm really excited, Uncle Gil. I've never seen snow before, except in movies. I've never been up to Mount Charleston before either," she confessed to him even though he already knew. "I can't wait."
"I bet you'll have a great time," he told her, happy to see elation on her face, in her eyes.
Before Lindsey or Gil could say anything more, Catherine entered the room. His eyes immediately went to her. He noticed her black stocking clad feet. She obviously had yet to put her shoes on. She had on a long flowing black skirt and a semi bright red shirt for the holiday. He noticed she was wearing the ring he have her many years ago on her right hand. He could see three earrings adorned each ear when she brushed her hair aside. He noticed she chose to wear her hair straight. She was letting it grow out again.
She stopped in front of him. "Is this all right for today? I know you said casual but I'm used to formal holidays," she shared with him.
"It's beautiful," he promised, standing.
She held him under her suspicious eye. "You're just saying that."
"No, I'm really not. I mean it, you look beautiful. You always look beautiful."
She laughed nervously. "Now I'm scared. Who are you and what have you done with my Gil Grissom?" she teased.
"I'm going to get my stuff," Lindsey interrupted but neither heard her. She managed to back out of the room unnoticed.
"So now I'm your possession," he said, the same teasing tone in his voice as hers. "When did that happen?"
"Twenty one years ago October," she said with no hesitation. She smiled slyly when he raised an eyebrow at her. She'd grown to that quirk of his. 'Now I have to find my shoes so if you'd care to help…"
She didn't give him a chance to answer. She was intent on finding her shoes.
"Did you check by the doorway?" he mentioned, having seen a pair of long black shoes when he walked in.
His only response was her breezing past him, her hair hitting him in the chest. She returned moments later with a pair of thigh high fitted black leather boots with a three inch heel. He knew instantly those were a pair of her favorite shoes that she didn't get to wear as often as she liked.
"Well, I think all the men in my family will just fall in love with you," Gil told her, watching as she slid one boot up her leg. "Boots or not."
She smirked. "What, you don't like 'em?"
"No, I love 'em. They're nice. You should wear them more often."
Her smile grew. "Now I know something's definitely wrong with you."
She stood, now of almost even height to him, and took notice of his relaxed state. After working with him for years, she'd come to know all his moods, postures, and body state. It came in handy.
"What can I say? The holiday brings out the best in me sometimes," he shrugged. "They will love you, though. You'll get along with them great."
Her smile seemed to be permanently glued on her face these days. Her eyes glanced behind him for a second, seeing Lindsey walk in the room with her bag. She shifted her eyes back to Gil's, seeing a spark of something there she'd never seen before.
"Well as along as you… get along with me, I'll be fine," she told him in a surreptitious tone.
His only action was to hold open he coat for her with a smile on his face.
79797979797979797979797979797
"Gil, you suck at car games."
"I know; I just don't see the point in them."
'They're not supposed to make any sense. They're just for fun."
"I hardly find it fun when it's confusing."
"I find it hard to believe that a man with your IQ finds anything confusing."
"Well, it happens."
"But not often."
"Right."
Catherine laughed sweetly, causing his heart to beat a little faster. She leaned her head back against the seat, her head rolling to look at him. His eyes were on the road as they should have been but he occasionally glanced briefly out his window. She'd never seen him look more handsome.
"Tell me a secret, Gil," she asked, not even thinking he would deny her wish.
"Only if you tell me one."
She scrunched her face. Obviously she didn't like that.
"Actually I thought we agreed not to keep secrets from each other anymore. And I thought this time we actually meant it," he continued, reminding her of a conversation they had when she moved back to Graveshift.
"I know. Secrecy's not good for us."
"Tears us apart," he added.
She nodded. "But there must be something you've never told me. Everyone had their little secrets."
"Good point," he praised. "All right, um… oh, I got something I've something I've never told you before. I'm extremely glad and thankful I met you on that fateful day."
She perked up in her seat. Her eyes shone with wonder. "What?"
He glanced over at her, nodding. "It's true. And I'll never forget the day either."
"Well, I bet it's pretty hard to shake the image of a woman dancing naked on a stage," she snorted. She was glad Lindsey had her headphones on, music blaring through them.
"That's not why I remember that day."
She knew he was telling the truth. When she caught sight of his dark azure eyes before her dance started, their eyes never left each other's the entire night. She had found him by the bar later that night and his eyes never strayed down her body. He remained eye contact with her. He still did. But occasionally she could catch his eye roving. Surprisingly it made her feel good.
"Why will you always remember that day?"
"Because that was the day a beautiful woman actually acknowledged me and spoke to me without some real cause. And it amazes me that twenty one years later, that same beautiful woman is still talking to me," he confessed.
To her dismay, she actually felt tears stinging her eyes. It was often when men told her she was beautiful. She got a rush out of it when it came from someone young but when it came from Gil… She couldn't even begin to describe the fire that coursed through her blood or the butterflies that fluttered wildly in her stomach or the pounding her heart acquired every time he was near.
"I think you're lying every time you say you have no people skills," she finally managed. "That or you're lying right now."
He turned his head to look at her. "Why would I lie to you? I'm not…"
"I know you're not lying," she interrupted. "I'm just messing with you. Thank you for sharing."
He turned his head back to the road. "Now it's your turn."
She slumped back in her seat, her smile turning to a pout. When she realized he wasn't going to fall for that, she pulled a secret from the back of her brain.
"I'm glad I'm back on Graveshift," she confessed.
"Really?"
She nodded even though he didn't see it. "Yeah, I really am. As great as it was being supervisor, there was something missing."
"Chemistry," he filled in.
Catherine looked at him. "Yeah, I mean, we all work so great together. We have for years and then it was taken away from us."
Gil reached over and found her hand. He laced their fingers one by one, causing her to smile. "You do deserve to be a supervisor though."
"Yeah… but you need me more."
7979797979797979797979797979797
It had been just ten minutes since they stopped talking. Catherine didn't mind; for some reason she welcomed it. She loved talking to Gil but now she wanted to be left to her thoughts.
Soft music was playing in the background. Beautiful scenery she'd never been privileged to seeing in Nevada was passing before her eyes.
She could see an abundance of illuminating crystal white trees from the winding roads atop the mountain. Stone was etched beautifully in the walls of the roads. Rolling hills laden with trees that stretched on for days were to her left. There were a few dead or cut down trees haphazardly strewn about covered by snow. Above her through the trees were white fluffy clouds that seemed to fit with her jolly mood. The roads were freshly paved for the winter season with new roads on the small bridges that said 'Watch for ICE on bridge.' When she looked out her window she could see white pine trees that seemed to keep going up. When they passed around a corner of the mountain, she could see a partially ice covered river stretching out in front of them. Looking up from the river, she could see cabins peeking through the snow covered landscape. She'd never noticed how beautiful the countryside was before. Then again, she'd never been to the countryside. She was glad her first time was with Gil and her daughter.