A/N: More for you readers. Enjoy. Do review, I enjoy reading peoples opinions.
Chapter 10:
-Catherine's House-
Catherine pulled up in her Denali unaware of her surroundings. Since she left, her bail paid, which she fully planned to return the favor, she had been unaware of everything. Ran three red lights, nearly got hit by another car, and even accepted the invitation of breakfast from Silvia without thinking. She was on pilot now. Not aware of what she was doing or saying really only moving around empty. Her clothes, the black slacks and low-cut red shirt, purposely pulled on in or to tease Grissom, including the tucking of the shirt into the slacks because that made it a little tighter and more revealing, were rumbled and stained. The black boots were caked in mud.
Grissom watched all of it from his own Denali. He had gown home and changed into jeans and a button down black shirt. It had taken five hours since he saw her at the diner for her to come home. Five hours of her without an alibi. Five hours for her to go out and do something and cover it up better than any professional hit man. 'She's not a criminal,' Grissom reminded himself not liking that his mind was already labeling her as one. He stepped out of his vehicle as Catherine stopped at the door fumbling with her purse trying to get her keys. Both stopped as a blue convertible turned the corner leaving behind skid marks.
"What the hell do you want!?" Catherine hollered at the car and Grissom knew she was drunk. 'Five hours getting drunk,' Grissom told himself walking around the vehicle just as the convertible threw something onto Catherine's yard. She was screaming and hollering and cursing at the driver. Her voice was hoarse like she's been crying and screaming at the world. Stepping into the yard he picked up the single Easter lily and looked up at her. She stumbled a little on the porch and he knew something was eating at her, destroying her. "What the fuck do you want?"
"To talk to you." He was calm about it. She just flicked him off. "Very mature Catherine."
"I'm a child killer … or have you forgotten that," She turned and tried to open the door. He tried not to laugh as she started banging and kicking the door. Walking up to the porch, still calm, he pulled out his key and opened the door for her. "Go to hell Grissom. Just go to hell."
"I was wrong," Grissom whispered. "And I'm sorry about that."
"You might want to be careful," She leaned into him. "You might lose your job since your with me. Criminal and criminalist. Kinda a funky couple don't ya think?"
"You need to sober up." He ordered and she rolled her eyes. "Fine, play it hard." He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. She screamed and he waved at her neighbor who smiled knowing the two were together. He slammed the door shut behind him. Marching down towards the bedrooms he barged into the master bedroom. What he found shocked him. Alcohol bottles were laying about the room, eighteen vases of Easter lilies were laying around the room in various locations, the bed was a mess, clothes were flown about the room as if it had been searched by police, and worst of all in permanent marker the words 'I'm guilty' were written in big bold letters above the bed.
"Put me down!" She hollered. He had been frozen by the words. They were bubble letters but drawn perfectly, and he was sure while she was drinking. Each letter was capitalized and colored in perfectly. Not a single extra mark on the wall, nothing to indicate hesitation or doubt. The dark, black color contrasted against the white dove of the room. He had loved the white of the room. The white bedspread, the white curtains, and the white walls … everything shouting the pureness of Catherine to him. It had been perfect. His room was dark to hide the sun and life out of his world. This one was light and inviting and he loved it. But now, it was killing him to look at. "Put me down!"
"You want down," He spoke walking into the bathroom and dropping her into the tub. She looked up at him shock written all over her face. He turned on the shower and she began to splutter as water entered her open mouth and filled up. She tried to fight him and get out but he pushed her back into the water. "If you move out of this tub I will have you arrested for drunk driving."
"You wouldn't dare."
"I thought you were a child killer," He spoke and her eyes widened. "Drunk driving won't do much more." He left her alone to scream and holler and curse. Relief filled him as he remembered that Lindsey was with Eddie. Every room in the house had some sort of alcoholic beverage in it and room by room he cleaned. Making sure that everything was thrown away and dumped out if any remain in the bottles. It was all bagged and tagged in his head for processing. The need to know exactly how much she drank in the last sixteen hours stronger than his need to work. After everything was picked up he went into the kitchen and started working on making something to eat and some coffee.
"Gil Grissom I'm going to kill you!" Catherine hollered and he heard a thump.
"Get back in the tub!" He hollered. "I'm calling Brass now!" He smiled at the cursing and hollering and bitching as she climbed back in. Pouring a large glass of water and grabbing some aspirin out of her purse he checked on lunch. The water had begun to boil and he added the pasta noodles. Stirring the spaghetti sauce and adding a few more spices he turned the temperatures down for both. Picking up the glass of water, the aspirin, and a mug of coffee he went back to her room. This one he was leaving for her to clean. This was her mess not his and he was only going to offer help.
Entering the bathroom he looked at her soaked body. Her hair was wet and stuck to her face and neck and clothes, some of it going down the front of her face. Her mascara was running down her face along with tears. Her make-up was streaked from the water and her fight. Her lip gloss was gone leaving her lips the perfect pink they were. Her shirt was stuck to her and the thin material revealed her hard nipples. Her slacks stuck to her skin and the tub as the water pelted down on them. The boots were the only thing to remain relatively dry through the whole thing. Her skin was what got him though. She was covered in goose bumps and pale from the cold water and from her ordeal. But the worst thing he saw was a large cut on her arm that was currently bleeding blood.
"Get out you asshole! Get out!" She hollered at him but he merely bent to turn the water off. He gave her two aspirin first without talking and then the water. She drowned the whole thing and he smiled offering his hand. She stood stumbling a little but getting out of the tub. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her. "Damn it talk to me."
"Coffee is in the bedroom." He spoke. "Change and then come eat lunch. If you aren't out in ten minutes I'm coming in and dragging you out weather or not you are dressed. If anything is moved from the spot it is in besides clothes I will put you back under that shower. Do you understand?"
"Bossy butt," She stuck her tongue out and he left her there. She followed his orders stripping her clothes, save for her black bra and thong, and pulled on sweat pants and one of his white button ups. She looked around the room and fresh tears began to fall. Her boots and wet clothes lay in the bathroom leaving the mud and water to soak into the white rug. Grabbing the mug of coffee she drowned it wishing there was alcohol in it. Without once looking at the words she had written on the wall she left her make-up still on her face. The moment she sat down at the table a plate of spaghetti and garlic bread was placed in front of her.
"Eat." He ordered pouring another mug of coffee for her. She just looked at the food, jumped up, and ran to the nearest bathroom. He listen to her throw up and wondered how many times she had done that today. For the next ten minutes all the house heard was her throwing up and him pouring himself his second cup of coffee. When she returned, holding onto the wall for support, he looked her over. The sweats and the shirt were his and slightly wet from the wet skin she hadn't bothered to dry and the undergarments she hadn't changed. The make-up was still on her face and making her look like some horror movie monster. Her hair was curling as it dried but still clung to her in spots. But the one thing that got him was her eyes. The usually emotion filled orbs stared at her plate of food empty, void of everything. She had been beaten and destroyed and he wanted to know by what.
"Why are you here?" She asked clinging to the door jamb for support. It was as if she was afraid to walk into the room he sat in. When he didn't answer he saw the anger in her eyes flare up. He'd continue to make her angry if it meant her eyes would show emotion. "Damn it answer me!"
"I'm here because I love you and I was wrong." He said easily. "I'm here because I want to help you and I know you didn't commit murder at any point in you life. I'm here because there isn't any other place in this world that I want to be at more than I want to be here."
"Why?" She asked sitting down carefully and slowly beginning to eat. He watched her for awhile. When she was half way through eating she looked up at him wanting to know his answer. He laughed and she raised an eyebrow. Pointing to his chin he smiled. She carefully raised her hand and wiped her chin. She started laughing when sauce covered her hand. "Sloppy eater."
"No … you're hungry." He smiled. Without responding or even trying to get the answer to her question she went back to eating. Sober was not exactly what she was totally but she was not a drunk anymore. Her hang over was going to be hell and she knew it but instead of thinking of the could of, should of, and would of she ate. Silence filed the house as she took bite after bite. Everything just filling the void between the two, the void she had caused, as the seconds ticked by one o the other. Once she was done she looked into the living room which was in clear view. A room she had began to dread going into. "I'm sorry that I didn't trust you and I'm sorry that I forgot what you are going through right now. Catherine ... you have always been the strong one on the team. The one who holds us all up on your shoulders, taking blow after blow. Never letting anything bring you down. You've always been strong and I just thought that this wouldn't bring you down. I know now that even you have to fall at some point and I'm sorry that I lacked the trust I needed and wasn't there to support you."
"I've already forgiven you for that." She spoke and turned to look at him. Tears were pouring down her face and she held up her hand to stop him from coming to her. "What I can't forgive is my actions."
"The ring is still yours." He pulled out the black velvet box and placed it on the glass table beside him. She looked to it and he saw for himself she wasn't taking it back.
"That wasn't what I was talking about. I made the right choice by giving it back. I'm guilty, Gil. A little girl is dead because of me. I'm packing for my trip to Montana. I won't be returning. Eddie will be receiving full custody of Lindsey and I want you to keep an eye on them. Make sure things are good. Don't let her go to Montana to visit me or see me die. I don't want any of that. Just stay here with her."
"Catherine, you aren't going to die."
"DA in Montana is seeking the death penalty," She spoke. "Silvia told me that this morning. She has a search warrant, so if you don't mind I'd like you to leave so I can get this place presentable."
"I'll help."
"No. This is my burden to bear and I'll bear it by myself."
"You have I'm guilty written on your bedroom wall in big black letters. Catherine … you need help getting this house presentable if you plan to argue that your innocent. That's as good as a confession in there. You know it and I know it."
"Fine." She snapped walking past him and back to her bedroom. For the next to hours they scrubbed, cleaned, and scrubbed the house again. By the time they were done and the house was sparkling Grissom's phone was ringing. Looking to his watch he realized he should be getting ready for work. Catherine slipped out onto the front porch and within five minutes was asleep on the rocking chair. Going to his phone he picked it up and looked at it.
"Grissom," He answered. "No … Warrick I won't be coming in today … Silvia's delivering a search warrant on Catherine, I'm going to stay here with her ... no you have to run the shift today … Warrick, we don't need anyone getting fired over this … thank you, bye."
Two hours later and it was rounding onto eight o'clock. Grissom looked out the window at Catherine's sleeping form and smiled a little. Her make-up was still a mess, her hair was pulled into a very sloppy bun with strands of her hair falling onto her face, and her clothes made her look smaller than she really was. Walking into the kitchen he decided to make her a nice dinner. Some chicken salad, pork chops, and a nice chocolate cake for desert. There would be leftovers but that would be fine. The work was easy and soon everything was cooking and he was sitting on the couch reading a crime novel.
The moment he heard Catherine scream the book was on the floor and he was sprinting to the door. Throwing the door open he rushed out tripping over the mat and landing flat on the concrete. He groaned in pain as he looked up. Catherine was jumping up from the rocking chair and the junior CSIs and Greg were backing away, nearly flying over the rail. She had a hand over her heart and was breathing quickly.
"Warrick," He groaned standing up. Warrick gave him a look clearly saying 'what?' and Grissom walked towards him.
"We have an hour until you told us to be into work, four until shift starts. Technically, this is our free time and we are visiting a friend." Warrick smiled knowing he won this one.
"Everyone in the damn house now," Catherine hissed and they all were quick to enter. She sent a glare at Grissom. "I don't want you investigating this."
"Tough luck, we love you and are willing to put our jobs on the line to prove your innocent."
"Inside," Catherine snapped and he entered the house. When she stepped in she smelt the food cooking and had to force herself not to smile or break down. 'Damn it, Catty, you have to remain strong for them.' She told herself mad the voice sounded more like Silvia than her own. Grissom went into the kitchen to check on the food and she went to the living room where her 'kids' sat looking guilty. "Don't lose your jobs over this. Stop investigating and just let Silvia do her job. Is that understood?"
"No can do Super Cat," Greg spoke getting the others to laugh. "Seriously, we cleared you of Anna … sort of at least. Your DNA is no longer valid but I does get …"
"It pins me for the Jane Doe. Look, don't lose your job on –" The doorbell rang ending her speech. They all stood instantly as Catherine moved to the door. Banging was soon heard followed by someone screaming about a search warrant. "Welcome," Catherine's voice cut it all off. No one spoke surprised at how welcoming she actually sounded. "It be nice if you stop screaming so that my neighbors children won't be woken. Come in."
"Catherine Willows we have a warrant to search your premises." Silvia spoke handing over the warrant. She looked around and then back at Catherine. "You cleaned."
"I like to look presentable to the world." Catherine spoke. "I'm not hiding anything though. Haven't thrown anything out but the trash. Please keep Lindsey's room clean … she doesn't know this is going on."
"Start in the living room," Silvia ordered the two CSIs that had come with them. Ecklie smiled at Catherine and entered her living room with a large grin. She didn't recognize the other CSI. "One from your lab and one from our district."
"Everyone into the kitchen," Grissom ordered his team. "Make yourself a plate and take it stay in the kitchen."
"You are having dinner?" Silvia spoke and she actually looked sorry.
"Want some?" Catherine smiled at her. Silvia shuck her head shocked at Catherine. "You are doing your job. Not going to hold it against you. Make a plate. CSIs can't eat on the job though," she smiled to Ecklie. "Have fun perusing through my personal things." She went to the kitchen with Silvia following. Only Catherine didn't take a plate. She just stood and watched the two searching through her house.
"Catherine … I am sorry about this," Silvia said.
"So am I," Catherine spoke. "She never should have died." Silvia looked up from her plate shocked. "That's not a confession, Silvia, only the truth. I'll be out front," She left the house and laughed a little as Brass stood from his position against his car. "Jimmy … don't tell me you are here to beat the crap out of her."
"Nah," He opened his arms and she walked over into them. "Just here to give you this hug."
A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter. I lost some of it and had to rewrite it but I like what I did. Please review.