Light worked it's way into Catherine's consciousness. But things felt different. She wasn't in her bed in her room and she had the impression that there was someone else in the bed with her. And then she remembered. Her eyes fluttered open to the sight of crystal blue ones gazing at her. A smile crept across the face of the owner of those eyes. "Good morning," he whispered.
She snuggled closer to him and mumbled a "morning" back to him. "Feel good," she cooed as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "Yes, you do," he answered.
They stayed like that for a few minutes; warm and content. Her senses drank in all that he had to offer; the warmth of his touch, the smoothness of his skin, his special smell, and as she gently kissed his chest...there was his taste. It had all seemed like a fairy tale last night, but now she was awake and he was still there...very real. She intended to relish every moment, especially moments like this one. But, she thought to herself, we'll have many more of these moments now. Every morning, in fact. Cheerfully she realized that this would be her waking up ritual from now on. She had never been so happy.
Finally, he began to move. Her hand lingered on him and she could tell he was reluctant to untangle himself from her. "Cath if I'm going to meet Gillian, I have to get moving. I need to run by my place and change. I'll drop you off at your house first."
"Yeah, okay...guess the honeymoon is over, huh?"
Roguishly he looked her over. "Honey, as long as you sleep in that outfit, the honeymoon will never end."
Catherine giggled as she realized she was wearing absolutely nothing. "Deal," she said, "as long as you sleep like that." she said winking. He wasn't wearing anything either.
A sheepish grin grew on him as he blushed slightly. "I think I get the better part of the bargain, but I'm happy to participate." He leaned over and gently kissed her and then headed to the bathroom.
When they arrived at her house, he walked her inside. "I'll be back later," he said. "When do you plan to tell Lindsey about Gillian?"
"Well, there's so much happening. But I suppose I can't keep it from her any longer. Tonite, I guess." She wasn't looking forward to it.
"Okay, well...I want to be here with you. I know Lindsey is your daughter and I'm ...just the new step dad, but I helped you create the situation with Gillian ...and besides, I want to be here for you...and Lindsey too."
He never ceased to amaze her. For someone who wasn't good with people and definitely not with overly personal situations, he sure was jumping in the deep end. "Then I'll wait until you get back. Besides, I was kind of hoping you might want to spend the night with me again." She was teasing now.
"Thought you'd never ask..." he returned her teasing mood. "I love you, Mrs. Grissom." He smiled as he said her name.
She watched as he drove away. Her heart and her head were full of so many thoughts and emotions, but happiness was first and foremost. "Wow," she said to no one in particular. "Is he ever full of surprises."
Gil picked Gillian up at her hotel and they had a bite of lunch at the team's favorite dinner. No one from the crew was there, so he didn't have any explaining to do...not yet anyway. She seemed to appreciate that he was letting her into his world this way and tried not to push too far. He appreciated her consideration. "Gillian," he stated, "We...I, um...well, no one knows about you. Catherine didn't come today because she was afraid if people saw you two side by side, well...it might start a lot of questions. Honestly, we're still trying to adjust and get to know you...and, we're just not ready for everyone else's reaction. I hope you understand?" His eyes begged forgiveness.
To his surprise, she seemed happy that he wouldn't be introducing her as his daughter. "I'm still new with all of this too," she said. "Let's just take it a little at a time. I do want to see where you work...understand it better. But I don't want to intrude. So, for anyone that asks, I'm Gillian Riley...a friend from out of town...maybe make that a daughter of a friend...okay?"
Warmth and a growing affection for his mid life surprise was growing in Gil. He was hoping that one day he would be introducing her as more than the daughter of an old friend.
They toured the lab and even managed to avoid the CSIs and labrats that might actually ask questions. Gil was feeling very lucky when he managed to avoid Ecklie also. She had been impressed with the lab and even more so with his office. She had examined every one of his specimens and met his pet tarantula. He showed her Catherine's office too. After two hours, they left.
"Well, I'm very impressed," she said as they climbed inot his car. "I had no idea that so much went into catching criminals. I thought the cops just hunted them down."
Gil smiled as he listened to her. "Well, there is some of that too. But more and more, the evidence that we collect and analyze is what gets them convicted. It's an exciting time to be in forensics."
"I see that."
"So...you're a Chem major? Where do you go to school?"
"I'm at a community college right now, getting my core classes. It's cheaper that way. I hope to transfer to a university next fall."
Thinking for a moment, Gil finally offered..."We have an excellent school here, you know."
"I do know. But I would be an out of state student. I'm not sure I could afford that. But it would be nice...give me a chance to get to know you and Catherine better. Maybe even...well, I don't know...sort of be like a family on the weekends or something." Her voice had gotten quiet at the end, as if she were afraid he wouldn't want that.
Trying to come up with a good response, Gil finally sighed. "I'd like that. And I'm sure Catherine would too. She has a daughter, Lindsey, from her marriage...well, he died a few years ago. Anyway, Lindsey doesn't know about you yet. Cath is telling her tonight and I'm going to be there too. I feel like we keep leaving you alone, but if you can just hang in there one more night...I'd like for all of us to have dinner tomorrow night. Okay?" He smiled across the front seat at her.
Her face lit up. "Sure that sounds great."
"Good. Once Lindsey knows, it'll make things a lot easier. You won't have to be a secret anymore."
They spent another hour together over a snack in one of the hotel eateries. He walked her to her room and then said good bye at the door. "We'll see you tomorrow morning, okay?"
"Yes," she smiled. "And good luck tonight."
"Thanks." He headed back to his car feeling very good about the afternoon with his daughter...my daughter...wow Grissom, you're in with both feet now, aren't you?He reflected on his situation...all the changes over the past couple of days. Normally he hated change...it frightened him. But right now, fear was the last thing Gil Grissom was thinking about.
He drove back to Catherine's house and waited with her for Lindsey to come home. As they sat on the couch snuggling, he told her about his afternoon with Gillian. "Cath, what would you say if I said I'd like to help her with her then she could afford to come to school here and we could see more of her...get to know her better."
"I think that's a great idea, Gil. But we have to be careful. It has to be what she wants too."
"I know. I just don't want us to lose her again."
A little pang of guilt shot through Catherine as she realized how important all of this was to him. He'd have been a good father.
"I still think it is amazing...I mean...well, she's a part of us, Cath. Everything that we are went into making her. It...well...it's amazing." He was at a loss for more words but his feelings were evident in his face.
"She is very special Gil. And I'm happy that you are so happy about all of this. More than that, I'm happy for me...that you'll be my bed buddy for the rest of our lives."
Laughing at her last remark, he nuzzled her neck. "Oh, I want to be more than just a buddy, Mrs. Grissom. Last night was only an introduction to my intentions." Then he firmly planted a kiss on her lips, first devouring them and then invading her with his tongue. Her response told him that she was feeling as desirous as he. But then she pulled away.
Straightening herself a little she said through deep breaths, "Lindsey will be home soon. And if you do that to me anymore..."
"Okay," he smiled. "I'll be patient. But I do intend to pick up where I left off. After all, we have a lot of years to make up for."
"Oh, you bet we do and I'll hold you to it. But first, I have to talk to Lindsey. And I have to be able to concentrate when I do...so no looking so damned sexy while I'm talking to her." She was smirking.
"You think I look sexy?"
Catherine was stunned by his surprise at her off hand remark. "Gil...you don't realize your effect on women? I mean, really...you don't?"
His questioning expression told her that he didn't. "Damn Gil...with those eyes and that those lips...hearts flutter when you smile. And the way you treat women...that's sexy in itself. When you had the trimmed beard, you were even more devastating...grow it back...please...for me?" She was wearing her 'pretty please' look that Gil couldn't refuse.
"My beard was devastating?"
"Oh god, Gil..." she flushed and took a deep breath just to emphazise her point. "I can't believe you were that unaware..."
"And I can grow it back?" he was teasing her now.
"Only if you want me all over you, all the time."
A huge grin broke out on his face. Then he got serious, "Sara made me shave it...said she didn't like it on me..."
"She just didn't like how it affected other women. But it's okay with me because I know..."
"Know what?"
"You are mine and any woman that dares to lay a hand on you will end up on Al Robbins' slab. They can look all they want and then they can envy me because I'll be the woman on the arm of sexiest man in Vegas."
She was teasing but Gil sensed that she meant what she was saying. "You're scary." He laughed.
"Just remember...looky, no touchy."
"Oh you don't have to worry about me. I won't notice if they are looking because from now on, the only woman I'll be looking at is you." He pulled her closer to him and hugged her tightly."I love you Cath...more than I have words to say it with. But I do...with my whole heart and soul."
It was then that Lindsey walked into the house.
--------------------------------------------
Please feed the review monster:-)
