Disclaimers: I don't own the characters of CSI. I know, it's a big tragedy that none of us own them. ::sighs:: Oh well, everything can't go my way. (Dangit!!) LOL

Summary: Catherine has had enough of Eddie's abuse. But who will she
turn to if he goes too far? C/G. My first fic, please be kind.
Pretty please?? LOL.

ENJOY!!!!!

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

Lindsey Willows sat up in her bed, unable to sleep over her parents arguing. This fight has been going on longer than the other ones usually do. Suddenly she heard a loud crash and the sound of glass breaking. And she knew he was hitting her again. Usually she would hear her mother scream or cry loudly, but this time there was nothing. Just silence. All she could hear now was her father yelling. After a few moments she could hear her mother screaming, pleading with him to stop. Finally she had an idea. She though if she stood in front of her mother, he would stop hitting her, because he would never in a million years hurt his daughter for anything. So she got up and tiptoed down the hall into the living room.

She turned the corner and saw a horrific sight. The loud crash she had heard was her mother falling into the glass coffee table. She was bleeding from her face, back, arms, and legs. Then she saw her father, on top of her mother, pinning her down on the small shards of glass. He was still hitting her, swinging left and right, having no mercy on her defenseless mother. He turned around and saw Lindsey, He had a look of mixed emotions. She was the unexplainable look of anger for her mother. And the other, a shameful look, for hurting his wife so badly in front of his little girl.

"Lindsey, go back to bed!" He yelled.

"Daddy stop it!" She yelled running in front of his swinging fists.

"Lindsey move!"

"No! Stop it! You're hurting mommy!"

She moved away from her mother and ran behind him and grabbed his arm.

"Lindsey! I said go back to bed!" He yelled as he moved to release her grip. Not realizing is strength, he swung to grab her so he could move her, but hit her head instead. He swung his other arm and Lindsey could feel herself falling backwards as she stumbled and felt something hard hit her head.

"Lindsey! Run!" She heard her mother yell weakly. She ran to her room and crawled underneath her blanket. She laid down and began to cry, until she finally fell asleep.

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

After a while Lindsey woke up to the sound of footsteps approaching her room. She pulled the covers up to her neck and pretended to sleep. She heard the door squeak as it opened. She closed her eyes really tight, she was so scared that it was her father and that he was going to hit her for disobeying him. She was about to start crying when she felt her mother's gentile hand on her cheek. Catherine knew Eddie hit her. And she knew that she wasn't really sleeping either. She sat down on the bed and stroked her daughter's golden blonde hair.

"Lindsey?... Don't be afraid. I promise, daddy will never hurt either one of us ever again."

"Mommy?" Lindsey said sitting up, "I'm scared."

"I know baby, me too." She said hugging her tightly. "Come on, get in the car. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Okay mommy. Where are we going?"

"Just get in the car okay."

"Okay mommy."

Catherine tiptoed into her bedroom, so Eddie wouldn't wake up and catch her leaving. She grabbed some of her clothes and some of Lindsey's clothes and favorite doll, Pollyanna. She ran outside and stopped as she reached the car and felt a rush of freedom she felt every time she left the hands of her husband for the surprisingly less stressful job that she loved so much.

****** and she takes another step

slowly she opens the door

check that he is sleeping

pick up all the broken glass and furniture on the floorbeen up half the night screamingnow it's time to get away

pack up the kids in the car

another bruise to try and hide

another alibi to write

another ditch in the road

you keep moving

another stop sign

you keep moving on

and the years go by so fast

wonder how I ever made it through ******

When she got into the car, she found Lindsey asleep in the backseat. She knew that Lindsey felt the same freedom too. And Catherine was glad she was able to sleep peacefully now.

Catherine drove down the brightly lit streets of Las Vegas looking for a hotel to stay at until work the next night.

She drove around for about a half an hour until she decided to stay at the Tangiers Hotel. She winced as she picked up Lindsey to bring her to their room. When she stepped into the light, she noticed something she hadn't seen before. Lindsey had a cut and a bruise on her forehead from when she had fallen back. When she saw it, she started to cry. Her husband hurt her little angel, her baby, her entire world. And now she wanted him to suffer for her daughter's pain and for the pain she ha endured through the years she had been with him. She tucked Lindsey into the bed and saw how beautiful she had become, despite her father's rage and her mother's past. Then she reached for the phone and called the only person who could help her and protect her at the same time. She called her best friend.

****** and there are children to think of

babies asleep in the back seat

wonder how they'll ever make it

through this living nightmare

but the mind is an amazing thing

full of candy dreams and new toys

and another cheap hotel

two beds and a coffee machine

but there are groceries to buy and she knows she'll have to go home

another ditch in the roadyou keep moving

another stop sign

you keep moving on

and the years go by so fast

wonder how I ever made it through ******

Gil Grissom was working on a crossword puzzle in the living room of his townhouse when the phone rang. He checked his caller ID to make sure it wasn't a wrong number or something. He didn't recognize the number so he let the answering machine take the call.

"Gil? Gil pick up it's me." He heard the voice of a weakened Catherine. He could hear in her voice that she had been crying.

"Catherine? What's wrong?"

"He hit us." She said starting to cry once again, surprised that she had any tears left.

"Us? What do you mean he hit us?"

"He hit me and he, and he hit Lindsey too."

"What! Why? He has never hit her before!"

"I know. She couldn't sleep because of our arguing, and she came out to see what was happening. And she . . . she tried to get him off of me and he just hit her." She said bursting into tears again.

"Shh. Cath it's okay. It's going to be okay. Where's Lindsey now?"

"She's asleep."

"Where are you?"

"We're at the Tangiers."

"Okay, I'll be right there."

"Okay . . . Gil?"

"Yeah?" "Thank you. You don't know how much you mean to both of us." "You know you mean a lot to me Catherine, you and Lindsey. I'm always here you need me, you know that."

"Thanks Gil. You have on idea how much that means to me right now."

"Well you know me. I always speak the truth. And that's what it is." He said smiling to himself as he heard a weak laugh from her. It made him feel good knowing that he could make her laugh in a rough situation. Okay, sit tight. I'll be there in a minute."

"Okay, bye."She said slowly hanging up the phone.

She sat on the bed next to Lindsey and closed her eyes. Images of the night's events flashed in her mind. Eddie hitting her. Feeling herself falling into the coffee table. She felt the tiny cuts all over her body sting, and it made her shiver. The next thing she saw was Lindsey falling backwards and hitting her head on one of the end tables. Then she opened her eyes and looked at her sleeping daughter. 'How could he do this? Why did he have to hurt her? He could've killed me if it had kept her from getting hurt at the hands of her own father' she thought to herself. Lindsey moved a little at the sound of a knock at the door.

"Cath? Catherine it's me open the door." She heard a comfortably familiar voice say from behind the door.

She opened the door and saw a look of sympathy for her and Lindsey and anger for her heartless husband. As he stared at her, horror formed on is face when he saw the bruises and cuts all over her body.

"Hey." She said trying to be strong and not cry.

"Oh, Catherine. How could he have done this to you?" He said walking to her, and gently putting a hand on her face, careful not to hurt her.

"It's not so bad, really."

"Not so bad? Catherine look at you. You're all cut up and bruised. I never should have let you stay at work so late, this never would have happened." He said regretfully.

"No Gil, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself."

"How's Lindsey?" He said looking toward the sleeping child. "She's . . . fine."

He walked over to Lindsey as she moved again. He got closer and saw the wound on her head. More anger built up inside of him. It was bad enough that he had crossed the line years ago and hit Catherine, but now he had gone way too far when he hit Lindsey. She was like a daughter to him. Catherine and Lindsey were like the family he never had. So he had to take care of them. He sat down on the bed and brushed a few stray hairs from her delicate angelic face.

Lindsey turned over and whimpered softly. She turned over again onto her back. Suddenly she shot up and screamed. She was crying heavily as Grissom took her into his arms. Catherine, who had gone to take a shower, came running from the bathroom to see Lindsey with her arms wrapped tightly around Grissom's neck with her head buried into his chest.

"Shh. It's okay sweetie. It was only a bad dream. It's going to be alright." Grissom whispered into her ear.

"Lindsey honey what happened?" Catherine asked sitting next to them on the bed.

"I had a bad dream. You were there, and daddy was there. He was hurting you again. And I fell again too. But this time you didn't get up. And daddy started hitting me too. I cried but he wouldn't stop. I was so scared." She said still crying and holding on to Grissom's neck.

"Oh, honey. Come here." Catherine said taking her daughter into her arms. "It's okay. I promise daddy will never hurt you again. I promise." She said starting to cry again.

Grissom moved closer to Catherine and Lindsey and wrapped his arms around them. He wanted nothing more to comfort them. He also wanted to kill Eddie for causing them such pain. He thought to himself, 'if it wasn't against the law, I probably would have killed him years ago.' But he knew, an investigator with such a high stature being arrested for murder wouldn't look good, no matter who he was defending. And Catherine knew how he felt about Eddie and it made her feel good. He made her feel good. He made her feel like she had never endured any pain in her entire life. She knew for certain that he would never hurt her, and it made her feel safe.

****** another bruise to try and hide another alibi to write

another lonely highway in the black of night

there's hope in the darkness

I know you're gonna make it

another ditch in the road

keep moving

another stop sign

you keep moving on

and the years go by so fast

silent fortress built to last

wonder how I ever made it ******

"Okay, let's go." He said finally.

"What? Go where?" Catherine said looking at him, puzzled.

"You're coming home with me."

"No, Gil you've done enough. We'll be fine here."

"Catherine, don't argue, it's no trouble really. You can stay in my spare bedroom, and Lindsey can use the roll-away bed."

"No. If Eddie finds us there, it will just say to him that all of his suspicions were correct. Even though you and I both know that it isn't."

"Don't worry about Eddie. He won't come near either one of you. I promise."

"Okay, fine. If it will make you happy, we'll stay with you. But only for a few days." She said seeing that there was no way of getting around it.

"Thank you. Now let's get you guys packed up so we can get out of here." He said leaving Lindsey on the bed, he went to the dresser and started to put their things back into the bags. "Gil. Thank you. I just want you to know that I'll pay you back somehow."

"No. Don't be crazy. I just want to know that you guys are taken care of."

"I wouldn't feel right staying with you for free. There must be something I can do for you."

"Well. You can cook. Lord knows my cooking is terrible. I said I wanted to take care of you, not kill you with my cooking." He said making her laugh, which made him feel better. They smiled at each other and continued to pack while Lindsey tried to sleep once more.

Finally about twenty minutes later they were finished and ready to leave. "Okay, lets get going. I'll take Lindsey with me if you want, and you can follow me." Grissom offered to the tired woman sitting on the bed across from him.

"Sure, that would be nice." Catherine answered softly.

"Once we get you settled in, we should go to the hospital and get you guys checked out. I'm not sure about you, but Lindsey's wound looks deep."

"Yeah, I know. When I first saw it, I thought the same thing. But I didn't want to go unless I really had to, because they would want to keep a record. And I wouldn't want to have records documenting what happened."

"I understand why you would be scared Catherine. I really do. You are so strong which is how you have stayed alive. Lindsey is just like you, she is strong too."

"Why are you so nice to me? You know I have an attitude that is worse than the whole team plus Ecklie times ten right?" She said smiling at him. "Yes I do. And that's what I love about you. You don't take crap from anyone, not even me." He said returning the smile.

"Yeah, anyone but Eddie." She said no longer smiling.

"No, you don't take crap from him either."

"Then why do I let him hit me so much?"

"He hits you because he is scared of you. He thinks if he hits you enough, you won't be so strong anymore. But I know it only makes you stronger." "Wow, you really know how to make a girl feel good. You know that Mr. Grissom." She said smiling gratefully at him.

"Well, we should get going."

"Gil. Thank you. This means a lot to me." She said walking up to him and hugging him. She loved how safe she felt when she was with him. She knew he wouldn't let anything happen to her or Lindsey.

"You know how much I care about you."

"Yeah, I know. And it means a lot." She said walking over to her daughter and stroking her golden blonde hair. "She's so beautiful isn't she?"

"Yeah. She's just like her mother." He said smiling and seeing her blush at his compliment.

"She really loves you a lot."

"I love her too." He said smiling at the sleeping child.

"Well, let's get going. I can't wait to get out of here."

"Okay. I'll get Lindsey." He said picking her up.

"Okay. I'll follow you to your place. But I need to bring the key to the front desk first." She said grabbing the bags and locking the door.

"Okay. I'll wait for you and then we'll get going."

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

They finally got to Grissom's house and settled in at about 4:30 in the morning. Lindsey was still sleeping, which made Catherine feel better knowing that she was getting her sleep.

"Okay, as you know, the bathroom is the next door down the hall and my room is at the end in case you need anything. My house is your house, so help yourself to food, anything you want. You don't have to ask me."

"Thanks Gil. I really appreciate it."

"You know you're always welcome Catherine. We should get you two to the hospital to see if you need any stitches."

"Okay. I'll get Lindsey this time." She said walking off to the spare room where she had been sleeping.

She walked into the room and sat down on the bed next to Lindsey. She kissed her cheek and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Lindsey. Lindsey honey wake up we need to go."

"Mommy? Where are we going?"

"We need to go to the hospital so a doctor can see if we need any stitches for out cuts or not."

"I'm still tired mommy."

"I know sweetheart. You can sleep on the way there if you want."

"Okay." She said as she closed her eyes half way and felt her mother picking her up.

"Come on sweetie, let's get you into the car. Gil, we're ready to go." She called into the living room.

"Okay come on." He said leading them to his Tahoe. ~*~*~*~*~*~*

Fifteen minutes later they reached the hospital. Catherine held Lindsey while Grissom talked to the doctor. He explained how he needed it done as confidentially as possible for Catherine and Lindsey's sakes. Catherine looked at him expectantly as he walked toward her.

"So?"

"She said she will keep it as confidential as possible."

"Good. If Eddie finds out I was here, he will start looking for me."

"I won't let him near you okay? I promise. And the doctor said she can start with either one of you."

"Okay. I'll go first so Lindsey can sleep a little longer. I'll probably be a while anyway." "Okay. I'll watch her for you."

"Thanks." She said handing the sleeping child to him carefully so she wouldn't wake her.

"Okay, Ms. Willows if you would just follow me please." The doctor said walking down a long white hallway.

They entered a room that was not unfamiliar to her. She had been here many times. Which is why she was worried. Because every time she came, she had to go home. And when she went home, Eddie was always there ready and waiting for her. And he would accuse her of going to Grissom's house instead of the hospital which is in fact where she had been.

"Okay, Ms. Willows if you could put on this gown please we can get started." She said handing her a hospital gown.

"Thanks. You can call me Catherine."

"Alright catherine I'll leave you alone and you just open the door when you have changed okay?"

"Okay, thank you doctor." She said as the doctor left.

After she changed the doctor came in and started to examine her and ask her questions. Catherine thought it would never end. The doctor would ask a question and write something down onto her clipboard.

"Can you tell exactly what happened tonight?" She asked hoping to help her through her pain.

"I came home late from work. My boss, the gentleman in the waiting room, had asked me to stay late. And since we are friends and he needed my help, I stayed. Eddie was drunk, and he is always looking for something to fight about, so he used my coming home late. He knows that Mr. Grissom and I are good friends so he accused e of having an affair with him. When I told him the truth, he said I was lying and he hit me. He was screaming loudly and woke up my daughter. He pushed my into the glass coffee table and it broke underneath me. Bits of glass went into my back and head, but not enough to make me bleed a lot. Then Lindsey came out to try and make him stop but he hit her too. He hit her so hard, and I remember seeing her hit her head on one of the end tables. I told her to run away, and I didn't see her again until my husband fell asleep and we left."

"Okay Catherine, I'm going to need to take a look at you back please." Catherine undid the strings on the back of the gown to reveal her back. The doctor had never seen such wounds on a domestic violence case before. She felt sorry for her and for Lindsey. She saw glass still in a few of the wounds. And some of them were really deep.

"Okay, some of these wounds still have some glass in them and I need to take them out. Now this might hurt a little." She said feeling Catherine wince as she pulled out the first and biggest piece of glass. When she was finished taking out the glass, stitching her wounds and bandaging them up, she told Catherine not to do any lifting at home or work and to take it easy for a few days so the stitches wouldn't come out.

"Okay Catherine, I'm all done. You can change then we'll go and get Lindsey."

"Okay thank you." "You're welcome. I'll be right outside."

She changed slowly and tried not to make the stitches come out. She was in so much pain. She just wanted to sleep. She hadn't slept in over twenty four hours due to overtime. When she was done she walked with the doctor back to the waiting room where Lindsey was sitting, awake on Grissom's lap.

"Hi mommy. Uncle Grissom told me you saw a doctor. Do you feel better?"

"Hi baby. I feel a little better. How did you sleep?"

"Good, until uncle Grissom woke me up." She said looking up at him innocently as Catherine gave him a 'why did you wake her up' look.

"What? I had to go to the bathroom." He said as Lindsey giggled.

"Okay Lindsey, it's your turn. Can you come with me?"

"Can mommy and uncle Grissom come with me?"

"Sure if they want to come, they can."

"Hey Lindsey, why don't we let mommy stay here so she can get some rest okay?" He said looking at a half sleeping Catherine.

"Okay. Bye mommy." She said giving her mother a kiss and running to catch up with the doctor.

"Bye honey." Catherine called after them.

The doctor went through th same changing procedure as she had done with Catherine and went back into the room to ask her some questions.

"Okay Lindsey. Before I look at you scratch I need you to tell me what happened okay?"

"Okay." She said holding on to Grissom's hand. "I was trying to sleep when mommy and daddy started fighting. I heard a loud crash, and then daddy started screaming again. I got up to see if mommy was okay and I saw daddy hitting her. I ran in front of mommy so he would stop hitting her and he told me to go back to bed. I ran behind him and tried to stop him and he hit me and then he pushed me. I hit one of the little tables and mommy told me to run to my room. I hid under my blanket until we left to go to the hotel.,I'm so scared that he will hurt mommy again." She said as she started to cry.

"Shh it's okay Lindsey." Grissom said holding her. He had his hand on her back, and as he lifted it he saw tiny spots of blood on his hand. He sat her back down on the table and picked up her shirt and saw blood on it as well.

"Doctor, can you take a look at her back please? She has blood in her back and her shirt."

"Okay. Lindsey can lean forward please? Thank you." She said as Lindsey leaned forward. "Lindsey, when you fell and hit your head, did you land close to your mom?"

"Yes. I landed next to her and daddy, that's when she told me to run away"

"Okay thank you sweetie. She is going to need a few stitches on her forehead and a few bandages on her back. Excuse me while I get the things I need."

"Yes, thank you doctor."

"What are stitches uncle Grissom?"

"Do you remember when you came over for dinner and you asked me what I did to my hand? And how you said it looked like you teddy bear when mommy had to sew a tear in stomach?"

"Un huh." She said nodding.

"Well those were stitches in my hand. You need stitches when you have a very deep cut and the doctor has to keep it closed so it won't get infected. Do you understand?" "You mean the doctor has to sew my cut?"

"Yes, but the stitches will only have to stay in for a few days."

"Oh okay. Does it hurt?"

"Only a little, but you should be alright. And I will be right here with you okay."

"Okay."

The doctor came back with a handful of supplies and told Lindsey that it shouldn't hurt. It took about ten minutes to finish the stitching. Lindsey was scared but it didn't hurt as much as she thought it did. They went back to the waiting room and saw Catherine asleep across a couch in one of the corners.

"Catherine? Wake up." Grissom shook her lightly hoping he didn't hurt her.

"Hey. Done already?"

"Yeah. You know, I would've carried you to the car but if I tried to pick you up from that angle, I might hurt myself, and that wouldn't anyone a bit of good." He said smiling to her.

"Hey kiddo, how did you do?" She said looking at her daughter.

"Okay I guess."

"She did great. She is very brave. You have a beautiful daughter Catherine, I'm glad to see she is cared for and surrounded with people who love her." She said as she started to walk away.

"Thank you doctor."

"You're welcome. Now remember to be careful so you stitch es don't come out."

"We will doctor." She replied as they headed outside to Grissom's Tahoe to go home and rest which hadn't come easily to them within the past few hours.

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

The next morning, Grissom woke up to the smell of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. He went to the kitchen to find Catherine at the stove cooking breakfast.

"Good morning sleepyhead." She said with a smile he hadn't seen in what felt like days.

"Hey. That smells good. How are you feeling?"

"A little sore but I think I'll live." She said handing him a plate.

"Wow, this looks great Catherine." He said as Lindsey came around the corner.

"Hey sleeping beauty." Catherine said to her sleepy-eyed daughter.

"Good morning mommy, good morning uncle Grissom."

"Hey sweetie. Come sit here next to me and have some breakfast."

"Okay." She said hopping up onto the stool next to Grissom.

"How did you sleep? Was the roll-away bed comfortable enough for you?"

"Yes uncle Grissom. Yum! Bacon my favorite!" She squealed.

"I know that's why I made it."

"Cool! Thank you mommy."

"You're welcome sweetheart."

"Wow! That was fast. Somebody must have been pretty hungry." Grissom said staring into Lindsey's bright blue eyes. "Uncle Grissom, can I look at your butterflies? Please?"

"Sure, go ahead. But be careful."

"Thank you." She said running into the other room to admire his large collection of moths and butterflies. "Gil? I... I want to go back to work today."

"What? Catherine you can't."

"Gil, we need to get back to our normal way of life. I don't want what happened to be a big thing in our life, that makes everything stop. I want to get back to normal."

"Okay, but you don't go out into the field. You stay in the lab. You either process evidence or do paperwork. Deal."

"Okay. Lindsey is coming too right?"

"Of course. I wouldn't want to leave her at your sister's house and have Eddie go there and find her. She can come to work with us. Besides, she'll have fun helping Greg in the lab." He said smiling at her thinking what kind of trouble Greg and Lindsey would get into during the day.

"Thanks. She won't cause too much of a distraction, I promise."

"If it was any other child I would mind, but for Lindsey, I wouldn't mind a small distraction from her every now and then." He said making Catherine laugh.

"Well, I guess wh had better get moving if we don't want to be late. Uh, breakfast was great by the way." He said with a wide smile.

"Why thank you. I told you I would pay you pack." She said smiling back at him.

"Do you have everything you need for work?"

"Oh crap! I didn't grab any of my work clothes, my make up, or my kit."

"Hey, it's okay. Is Eddie supposed to work today? If he is, we can go pick up some of your stuff." "Yeah, I think he has to work today. I can call his boss to make sure."

"Okay, hurry or we won't have time to stop at all."

"Okay. I'll call Eddie's boss and you can get Lindsey going if you don't mind."

"Sure. Lindsey! It's time to get dressed and ready to go!" He called into the living room where Lindsey was sitting on the floor looking at his butterfly collection.

"Okay uncle Grissom." She said running up to give him a hug and just as fast, running to the spare bedroom to get dressed. While Catherine called the studio where Eddie worked.

"Hi Bobby, this is Catherine, Eddie's wife."

"Oh, hello Mrs. Willows. What can I do for you?"

"Is Eddie working today?"

"Um, let me check the schedule. Yeah, he's supposed to come in any time now."

"Thanks Bobby."

"You're welcome. Uh would you like me to tell Eddie you called?"

"No. Please, you don't have to tell him. Thanks again."

"No problem Mrs. Willows." He said hanging up, sounding slightly disturbed at her tone.

"Okay we're ready!" She heard Lindsey yell as she ran from the hall way into the living room followed by Grissom who caught up to her and grabed her from behind and kissed her cheek.

"Gottcha!!" He said tickling her. Lindsey wiggled out of his arms and ran to hug her mother.

"Okay Lindsey, let's get your things in the car while mommy get's dressed."

"Okay uncle Grissom." She said running and jumping on his back so he could carry her piggyback outside.

Catherine got dressed in about five minutes. The whole time thinking of how good Grissom was with Lindsey. He was the closest thing to a father figure she had. The other guys on the team were more uncle types, except Greg. She thought he was more of a playful big brother type. She silently smiled to herself when she remembered the last time she brought Lindsey to the lab to stay with Greg. He was on break and helping Lindsey with her multiplication tables, he was using M&M's as examples. He would let her eat one when she got it correct. She remembered that when she had to be tested on it at the end of the week, she got an A+ and bought Greg a King-Sized bag with her allowance as a thank you.

"Catherine? Are you ready to go?" She heard Grissom call as she lost her thoughts.

"Yeah, I'm coming." She said jogging out to the car and carefully climbing in.

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

They arrived at Catherine's house and were grateful to see Eddie's car not in the driveway. When they walked into the house, Grissom was horrified at the scene in front of him. He saw the broken glass and the blood on the floor and couldn't believe it had happened to them. He thought it looked like a crime scene where the victim never would have survived. But Catherine did, and so did Lindsey. They grabbed more clothes, and toys for Lindsey so she could keep busy (not that Greg wouldn't keep her busy enough in the lab anyway), and more clothes and makeup for Catherine.

The longer Catherine stayed in the house, the more fear built up inside her. She was scared that Eddie would've forgotten something or come back just to see if she was there. She was scared that he would come back and hurt her, or that he would hurt Lindsey. Grissom finished walking through the house and came to check on her. When he appeared in the doorway, at first she was startled, but then she felt safe once more now that she was sure he was there with her. They put their bags into Grissom's Tahoe and headed for the lab. Knowing how worried their other friends would be when they saw the pain Eddie had inflicted upon them. And Catherine was prepared, or at least she thought she was.

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

They got to the lab at about 9:00, and since the graveyard shift was coming in earlier during the summer, they knew the whole team would be there. As they walked down the corridors, people looked at Catherine not as a co- worker, but as a new victim in one of their cases. Grissom was first to walk into the break room followed by Lindsey.

"Hey boss. Oh hi Lindsey. What are you doing here? What happened to your...." Nick was cut short as Catherine slowly walked into the room. He was stunned when he saw her. She had covered some of the bruises and cuts with makeup but they were still visible.

"Oh my god. Catherine what happened to you?" Warrick said standing up to offer her his chair. But he had known Catherine longer than almost the whole team, and he knew it was Eddie.

As Catherine was sitting down, Sara walked into the room not noticing her. But instead as usual eager to get to work.

"Hey Grissom sorry I'm late I.... Oh Catherine, what happened? Are you okay? Have you seen a doctor?" Sara went shooting out the usual questions of a worried friend.

"Whoa Sara! Calm down! We're fine." "We?" Sara said seeing Lindsey stand up from her spot on the floor. "Hi Lindsey. I didn't see you. Ouch! What happened to your head kiddo?" Sara asked the silent child. "Eddie hit her last night too. She tried to get him off of me and he hit her." Catherine said trying not to cry in front of her co-workers.

"Have you seen a doctor yet?"

"No Sara, I did the stitches myself! Of course I saw a doctor." She said sarcastically to her friend.

"Okay. I just want to make sure you are okay."

"Thanks for your concern Sara, but we're fine I promise."

"Okay, I'm sure you all want to know what happened to Catherine, and if she want you to know the details she can tell you later, but for now, we need to get to work." He said hoping not to sound too stern or heartless. "Okay we're running slow today so it shouldn't be too tough. You may even get to leave early. But don't work sloppy we can't afford that. Okay?"

"Yeah sure boss." Nick said followed by Warrick and Sara.

"Alright, Nick, Catherine, and Warrick, you have a robbery at the Monaco Casino. Catherine, you and I discussed earlier what you need to do."

"Yeah, process evidence, lab work, and paperwork, which is my favorite thing to do fo course." She said causing light laughter among them.

"Uh. Sara, I need to talk to you and Catherine outside for a minute please."

"Sure." She said as she walked out, followed slowly by Catherine.

They went into the hall not sure of what he was going to say. But having an idea that it had something to do with Catherine and what had happened the night before. "Okay Sara, I didn't give you an assignment because before I do I need Catherine's permission to put you on her case or if I should give it to someone else. What do you think?"

"Well, it's up to Catherine, if she wants me to take it I will." "Besides me," she said with a sarcastic grin, "I couldn't think of a better person." She said smiling.

"Okay great. Sara start a Catherine's house. Take photos, collect samples, the works. Catherine you are not to touch that evidence for any reason whatsoever. Even if Sara drops it on the floor, don't touch it. That could get us into a lot of trouble if this case goes to court."

"Okay well then who is going to help her?"

"I will. We both know that she will need the help collecting the evidence."

"Wait. You've been there?" She asked him with a sideways grin.

"Yes. Catherine had to get a few things this morning."

"Grissom, you can't handle this evidence. You've been to the scene outside of work."

"You're right, so I'll take Nick off the other case and he'll pair up with you."

"What do I put in my report?"

"You put that I went back with Catherine after the incident and after Eddie was gone. I'll help Catherine and Warrick with the robbery so I need to get to that scene. Do your very best work Sara. Eddie needs to pay for what he did to them." He said soft enough so Catherine couldn't hear him.

"Yes sir."She said as he walked away. "So Catherine where are you staying? I want to know because I'm your friend =, but I need to know for my investigation." "Oh, right. Lindsey and I are staying at Grissom's house, in his spare bedroom."

"Okay, I'll go to your house and start gathering evidence, I'll need to talk to you later okay?"

"Sure Sara, I'll see you later." She answered waling back to the break room where Lindsey was sitting quietly, daydreaming.

"Hey baby."

"Hi mommy. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Where's Greg?"

"Uncle Warrick said he wasn't here yet."

"Well I hope he get's here soon, I know how much you love spending time with him." "Me too.... Greg!!" She said jumping out of her chair and running into the hall.

"Hey gorgeous!" he said picking her up. "What happened, did you bump your head?" He said. Again Lindsey was silent. Then he saw Catherine in the doorway.

"I don't think she really wants to talk about it." She said softly.

"Catherine? What happened? It wasn't Eddie was it? Please, tell me he didn't." He said to her as she stared at the floor. "Catherine, I'm so sorry." He said walking up to her.

"It's okay. Sara's on the case, so I know charges will be put against him. But, I have some things I need to do. I'll be here in the lab all day if you need me. You don't mind watching Lindsey do you?" She said smiling since she already knew her answer. "Absolutely. I have more M&M's" he said making Lindsey's smile come back. Which made both Catherine and Greg feel better.

"Okay so I'd better get going. You kids have fun!" She said walking down the corridor.

"Okay. Bye mommy!" She said following Greg to the lab.

~*~*~*~*~*~* Sara walked into Catherine's house and almost cried. 'So this is what happened last night. This is the pain he put her through.' she thought to herself. She did as she was told and took pictures of the table where Lindsey hit her head. And the remains of a glass coffee table where Catherine's blood stained the vanilla colored carpet. After she gathered evidence from Catherine's house, she got permission to take the clothes they had been wearing from Grissom's house.

While Sara did that, Catherine had to make sure Eddie couldn't come near her or Lindsey, so she filed a restraining order against him. But since he had to be in the police station she only issued it for thirty feet away from them.

First Catherine was questioned as a matter of protocol, then it was time for Lindsey. Sara told her that it was them just talking as friends. Catherine watched from behind the glass to make sure Lindsey was okay.

"Hey kiddo." Sara said as Lindsey entered the room.

"Hi Sara...This is about daddy isn't it?"

"Yes. It is. But even though I'm working, this is just you and me talking okay. You always talk to me, this doesn't have to be any different okay?" She said as Lindsey nodded.

"Okay so tell me what happened."

"Okay. I was really scared." "It's okay, you don't have to be scared anymore."

Lindsey told Sara all that happened. By the time she was finished, Catherine was crying from behind the glass, and Sara was holding back her on tears.

"After we left, we went to a hotel. I fell asleep and I had a dream about it, except mommy didn't get up and daddy came over and started hitting me too. I screamed and I when I woke up, uncle Grissom was there. He told me everything was alright. He said he would never ever lat anything happen to me or mommy ever again. And it made me feel better because he never lies." "Your mom told me you were pretty brave when you went to the hospital."

"Yeah, but that's because uncle Grissom was there. Sara?"

"Yeah?"

"If I told you I was still scared, do you think mommy would still think I'm brave?"

"Of course she will. She loves you so much."

"I know. Sara? Are we done now?"

"Yeah sweetie, you can go, Greg is waiting for you."

~*~*~*~*~*~* Grissom was on break and wanted to see how Catherine was doing. At the same time, Sara was about to question Eddie when there was yelling in the hall.

"Where are they! I need to talk to them! Catherine! Lindsey! Where are you!"

"Mr. Willows you need to come with me."

Grissom walked down the hallway to see what was going on. Catherine came up behind him with Lindsey.

****** You're throwin' around a lot of serious accusations Ain't too hard to tell what you're insinuating' You think I'm the one who stole her away And if not for me she'd still be yours today We're both men here so why play games Why don't we call a spade a spade

Man to man Tell me the truth, tell me Were you ever there when she needed you Man to man Look me in the eye, tell me If you really loved her Why'd you make her cry Man to man Who cheated who You're the one to blame Tell me it ain't true Man to man Man to man ******

"Grissom! Can I bring Lindsey to McDonalds for break? It won't take long."

"Catherine! Tell these people to let me go! Please I need to talk to you. Lindsey honey come see daddy" He called to his daughter but she hid behind Grissom."Oh, what you already took Catherine away from me and now you have turned Lindsey against me too?"

****** Well you think all you anger is justified Me, I think, it's just your wounded pride What did you really think she was gonna do She's a real woman, not a doormat for you You want her back, but it's too late Why don't we just cut to the chase

Man to man Tell me the truth, tell me Were you ever there when she needed you Man to man Look me in the eye, tell me If you really loved her Why'd you make her cry Man to man Who cheated who You're the one to blame Tell me it ain't true Man to man ******

"Catherine, Lindsey, would you go to my office please." He said as Lindsey followed Catherine to Grissom's office. "I didn't turn either of them against you, you did. You've been abusing Catherine for years, but you had no right to hurt Lindsey. That child doesn't deserve a father like you, both of them deserve a lot better."

"You watch, when I get out of here, not only will I get my family back, I'll make sure you never interfere with our lives again,"Just then brass walked up to them with two officers.

"Eddie Willows, you're under arrest for violation of a restraining order, domestic violence, spousal abuse, oh yeah and threatening an officer. Let's go pal." He said handcuffing him. ~*~*~*~*~*~*

Grissom went back to his office to find Catherine hin his chair with Lindsey in her lap. "Is he gone?" Catherine asked softly.

"Yeah, he's going to be locked up for quite a while. He added threatening an officer to his list of charges. He didn't have to be questioned. His little 'episode' in the lobby got him arrested anyway."

"Good." She said relieved.

"Catherine? You don't have to be scared anymore. It's over."

"Thank you Gil. For everything."

"You're welcome. I just wanted to be sure you were taken care of. And you will be from now on, I promise. And you know I never break a promise."

"I admire that about you. Not many guys have that quality. But then again, you are one of a kind." She said giving him the smile that he adored, and he was glad to see it again.

"Mommy can we go eat lunch? Pleeeease?" Lindsey begged.

"Fine we can go, on one condition."

"What is that?" Lindsey asked ready to do about anything.

"Grissom, you have to come with us."

"What? No, I haven't had McDonalds in years, and plus I really need to finish the..."

"Please uncle Grissom! Please, please, pleeeease!!!!!" She begged.

Obviously seeing that he wasn't going to win against those big blue diamond eyes, he agreed.

"Fine I'll go." "YAY!! Thank you sooo much!"

"Now let's get out of here I'm starving!" Catherine said grabbing her purse and Grissom's keys, "Oh yeah I forgot one other thing, I'm driving!"

"Wow Catherine you're worse than Greg!"

"And your point?"

"Never mind, let's just get lunch, but if you drive, you do my paperwork for the next two weeks."

"You wouldn't!"

"Oh yes I would!"

"Fine you win. But I'll get you back later, somehow." She said sheepishly.

"Of course you will dear." He said laughing as she slapped his arm.

"Come on! I'm hungry!" Lindsey begged.

And finally they left. Differently then they came in. The pain, suffering, and anger was all gone. And now they were all free.

A/N: This fic contained lyrics from 'Two Beds and a Coffee Machine' by Savage Garden and 'Man to Man' by Gary Allan. Just in case you were wondering! LOL. Please r&r. I need the help I know. But please be kind, this is my first fic. Thanks for reading my long story. I'm sorry I didn't separate it into separated chapters, I wasn't sure where to cut off between chapters. So if I could get some tips on that for my next story, I would be SO grateful. Thanks!!
-) Sweet Jorja