In the next chapters I'll be introducing the new character and her relationship with Catherine. But don't worry, Vartann will be coming up soon.
PART ONE: Who Are You?
It was 2003, Grissom and his team had just been called to a case. A murder with a witness, in the darkest part of town. The fact that there was a witness could mean good news to them but when they arrived at the crime scene and Catherine Willows put her eyes on the 14 year old girl next to police officer, and the social worker, her mind changed and her maternal side kicked in. She didn't have to say anything, she just looked at Grissom to have his permission.
"Hi... My name is Catherine Willows and I'm with the Crime Lab. I need to do some tests on you if that's okay?"
The girl didn't say a word, she just simply nodded.
"What's your name, sweetie?" asked Catherine as she took material from underneath the little girl's nails.
"Grace."- she replied with her eyes in the horizon.
"That's a beautiful name." – said Catherine looking back at the girl.
Her eyes were dark brown, maybe even black. Her hair was dark, long and wavy. She seemed so innocent.
"Do you have your parents number so we can call them to come pick you up?"
Grace looked up to the social worker who was standing right next to her.
"She is with us. She runaway from her foster care."
"She what?!" said Catherine a little perplexed.
"And it's not the first time... " said the Social Worker looking down at Grace.
To Catherine's eyes she seemed so innocent, so fragile. But somehow she had escaped from a place that was supposed to protect her.
They were sitting in the bench outside the interview room. Catherine looked to Grace and said:
"What made you run?" - that question had been haunting her.
"I didn't like it there. They'd always look over me like I was a monster, a freak!"
"Why do you say that?"
"'Cause I am! I was addicted before I was even born! I grew up with it. And I knew where and whom to go to to get it. That's why I run. That's why I keep being pushed from foster family to foster family. I promise I won't do it again. But ... no one wants me, all they want is babies and blue eyed girls. And I'm neither one of those things."
Catherine just stood there, looking at her with tears forming in her eyes, she just stood there not knowing what to say.
"What did you take..."? she asked not sure if she wanted to hear the answer.
"I ... I mostly smoke weed and I took some pills... and I ... I also drink ... a lot! humm... mostly beer and whiskey... sometimes vodka... But my mom used coke while she was pregnant with me. And that guy, the one that was shot... he hmm... was trying to sell me some..." – Grace was mad with herself but at the same time she felt relieved. She had never been so honest with someone. But this strange woman, whom she had just met, made her feel safe. For some reason, she felt safe.
Catherine took out a card from her wallet and gave it to Grace.
"Here, call me anytime you want. Do not just do it when you need help. Call me when you feel like talking."
She stood at the bench as she watched the little girl fade away with the social worker. She hoped she'd called her even just once. She wanted to make sure she was safe.
It had passed three months since Catherine had met Grace. And ever since, Grace had called her every single day. Most of the time she'd call her just to say goodnight. But tonight, tonight she had called to say that she had broken her promise. The promise that she'd never touch alcohol again.
"I gotta go, Gil!" she said as she walked into his office.
"Did something happen with Lindsey?" asked Grissom concerned.
"No, she's fine. She's over my sister. It's Gracie" replied Catherine.
"Grace? The eye witness from that case a couple of months ago?" asked Gil intrigued.
"I'll tell you all about later! I really gotta go!" said Catherine as she walked out of his office.
She had barely had any sleep. She hadn't seen her daughter yet, she had called her sister and asked if Lindsey could stayed there the day as well. She was standing in hallway about to knock at the door when it opened.
"Hi Mugs! So good to see you!" said Sam Braun as soon as he opened the door.
"Sam, I really need your help!"
"What's wrong, Mugs?" he asked worried.
"I need to get this girl out of the foster care!" she said as she showed him a picture of Grace.
"Mugs..."
"Sam! She's 14! She's an alcoholic! She almost died last night!"
"Mugs, you can't save everyone..."
"She has no one. Literally no one! Sam, she asked me... she begged me to take her out of there!" - Sam could see in her eyes how worry she was. And how much she cared for that little girl.
"What about Lindsey?" he asked with concern.
"She has met her. She loves her! She's says it's like having a big sister." - a smile appeared on her face as she said these words.
And with that smile Sam Braun just couldn't say no to his Mugs.
