Chapter 9

-Catherine-

She came home earlier, well more like to Grissom's earlier, and I wanted to scream at not getting a call. My mother is at the house constantly dealing with the influx of get well items that Ecklie keeps sending or he himself brings to try to verify I am sick. She just promises to take them to me at her next visit to the hotel. Of course they police can search hotel records for visitors and I'm not listed. But a good about of Jane Does and Betty Sues and other obviously fake names are and so they have no idea where I am. Even Sam has been getting bugged about it and he assures them his hotels are not being used for such purposes. I dealt with all that. But the moment my daughter entered Grissom's little condo with stitches on her head, a bump forming, and Jim Brass holding a brown pharmacy bag I lost it.

It took my daughter telling me what happened for me to relax. I couldn't come because I was sick. I'm hidden away so I can't be used. If no threats can be given I can't possibly do what is needed. Already Nick and Warrick are getting more evidence. Greg and Sara have taken over the rape case trying to keep it from going cold they claimed. Graveyard is once more working together to solve a case. I already know what needs to be done. Barge into the bastards office and play him for his own game.

"Really do sound like Sam sometimes. If you can't best them destroy them," Brass speaks sipping on a glass of lemonade as he waits. As Lindsey's bodyguard he's with us. I didn't realize I spoke out loud with my last thoughts. Glaring at him only results in a shrug and raised arms. "Don't blame me. He said it in plenty of newspaper articles. Claims its how he made Vegas what it is. Now you can't seem to best Ecklie so you want to barge into his office with accusations far worse and destroy him. I saw let Grissom handle this one."

"It's not his …" I stop closing my eyes and looking down. Grissom entered the room and already I can't even say it. Can't say it's not his daughter because it might as well be. Yes, Eddie demanded tests to prove she was his and she was. But for everything that truly matters, every damn thing it is Grissom that is her father. He helped her with her bumps and bruises. Helped her with homework. Took care of her with I could and he just was there for her. "It's not fair to Lindsey to have to deal with all this. These girls look just like her. They are in families with high maintenance jobs, just like her. He has targeted her and I can't stand back and do nothing."

"Touch the case and it becomes obsolete. Everything you do becomes worthless." Grissom reminds me for the millionth time.

"I know okay. I know. I just … it's not easy. You said the same when Eddie died and I'm telling you the same. I can not just watch as my little girl gets tormented."

"We can get him on assault." Brass speaks up his glass clinking softly against the counter. "Bring it up with Ecklie. Tell him Nick and Warrick are already having vehicle fibers found on both girls clothes and backpacks ran right now. Lindsey's statements and the assault charges might just -"

"What if I have evidence?" Lindsey's voice is soft as she comes into the room from Grissom's bedroom. It's where she was resting. I turn and look at her with so many emotions I'm not sure how I'll respond. The others look shocked at that statement but I'm more then that. If she has evidence then that means he did something to her. That means he's done something that she can get evidence from. How could I have missed that. "It's not anything major but … I mean … mom was late and Grams forgot and he gave me a ride. Said I could wait at his place until I can be picked up."

"Oh dear god," I nearly collapse. It's the exact same. Grissom is lowering me into the barstool I should already be sitting. He keeps a grip on me as she looks on nervously. I don't know what to say. How do I tell her I know the rest of it. That the two cases she's heard us discussing started off with that exact statement in one way or another. My mom forgot and dad was late. I only have dad and he had to work late and he forgot to call someone to come get me. All the same statements. Everything. Why do I keep feeling like this barstool is not cooperating with me?

"It was while mom was still on nights. She was pulling a double and grams was pissed about it I guess. Normally mom sleeps then comes and gets me. Grams decided to go out. I … we got to his place and he helped take my backpack off and remove my coat. He was nice and I really liked him. Then he … I told him no and he got upset. Claimed I was a tease and that I shouldn't bother trying to act like an older women if I couldn't be an older women. I told him I wasn't acting like anything and he was an ass and left. I used my phone to call Grandpa Sam and he came and got me at the park corner. Took me home before mom got back. Grams was sleeping it off he told me and to call him if he needed me."

"Lindsey …" Brass looks shocked now. "Is it the same individual that attacked you today?"

"John Ecklie. Yeah, he's an asshole and I haven't worn the same jacket or clothes since. Don't even use my backpack. They've been sitting in my room in a corner. I didn't even want the clothes to get washed in case they …"

"Its okay," I finally whisper understanding what she couldn't say. She's in my open arms in seconds while Grissom is calling Greg to go to my house and collect the evidence. I hear him have to say it a few times before Greg came get past the fact its my house. "Charge him with assault. If the fibers match we have proof. If not … well then at least he is away for the assault."

"I'll call it in."

It isn't long really. It felt like it was days but it's the next morning that Ecklie finally gets to see me. I come in on my own so to speak. Grissom and Brass came as well but they are taking Lindsey to go give her statement. I've signed permission to not be present. So as to not taint the evidence so to speak. Brass and Grissom aren't even going to be talking to her. Someone else entirely and I know it's okay. We have each others backs. Sara, Nick, Greg, and Warrick watch me pass by and I ignore them for now. I go straight to the conference room he is in. My two have already pulled twenty four hours for this. Grissom's well over as they started the night of the party.

"Fibers found on three victims clothing matches a vehicle to a recently charged eighteen year old young boy attending Butterfield Academy." I drop the file before him on the table. I ignore the fact he isn't alone. He's manipulated me into doing what he wanted for a week now and I can't wait to show him what we have. The others I know are the Sheriff and other political figures within our little organization. He opens the file and I watch his throat constrict as he tries to hide his emotions. "Clear, 100% match. No question about it. That individual is responsible for the rape of two young girls and the -"

"Where is he?" He hisses out and I place my hands flat on the table and look him in the eye. I see it clearly. The way he wants to defend his son with every fiber of his being. I see the same look I get when someone comes at Lindsey. I also see he is pissed at me for this. For such embarrassment but I'll live.

"Is it worth it?" I reply calmly. "The evidence is clear. Statements are clear. He didn't call or ask for a lawyer. Is confident he will get off. Even on an assault video surveillance clearly shows him doing. School videos by the way. Not someone watching so don't try that. I know you will because I would. I don't care who this kid is he doesn't have the right to break the law. No does," At that I look around the room. "My personnel file will be appearing on the desk of those necessary shortly. Two files actually. The current modified one. And the one holding the truth. The one holding what my supervisor at the time, one Detective Jim Brass, deemed was necessary to do to protect me. If you see fit the statements provided to correctly modify my file can be added. If not very well. I don't care. I," Once more I look to Ecklie. "Am willing to give up everything to ensure that no one can get away with breaking the law."

I leave without letting anyone respond. I go to the hall connecting the lab to the First Precinct. I go to where my daughter is providing her statement and check in. Once done I go to see what John Ecklie is up to. I'm not surprised to find him asleep in one of the holding cells. He doesn't call his father for help. Just assumes it will all go away for him. With ease I turn and see the two girls being held by their respective families. They did a line up. They recognized him. I know this because it occurred before we came. It was in the file I gave to Ecklie. Once they saw him they remembered so much more both of them just breaking down and spilling forth what was playing in their head.

They thank me though I can't imagine why. It wasn't me who did the work. As I walk back into the lab I remember a week ago doing something similar. Walking through the lab, checking my watch, seeing where everyone was at. Wondering about who is in charge and who isn't. Now, as Hodges looks at me and nods I know it's not about that. I knew it before I just couldn't see it at the time. The lab techs simply nod respectfully at me as I walk by. I see Ecklie do the same from the conference room as I come down that all. I nod back. We will see what happens but he has pushed the file to the others. Letting them know. He accepted he can't let his son get away with this or try to cover it up. Not if I'm willing to let my flaws be known by all.

Next room I spot is the break room and I smile as Nick, Warrick, Greg, and Sara are all engaging in some much needed release on the video games. We shouldn't have them but they help on the most difficult of cases. Brass is leading the families out and I nod at him as he does the same to me. Grissom stands just down the hall watching just as I am. With a deep breathe I know that even though I might be alone I'm really not. It might be just me at times up on that plate swinging away, might be just me ducking as the fan comes falling down on top of me, just me working to get what needs to be done taken care of. That even in those moments even when I feel like all I have is me, in the end it isn't. We are a team, a family. And we all work together no matter what. We make mistakes and piss each other off but in the end we help each other do what's right.

That is really what it is about anyways. Helping each other out. With a smile I walk into the break room and let my two know they can take the day. I'll handle anything that comes up along with the others, who would be showing up any minute now. Instantly the four are cheering and calling for some sort of celebration and I laugh as they leave. It's perfect really. The four youngest running off to enjoy the day while Grissom and Brass come and join me for coffee. While we discuss what is up next on our list of cases and things to concern ourselves with in the lab. It's back to normal, well for now anyways. Who knows what tomorrow holds.

End.

A/N: Okay I know there is more then likely grammar mistakes and spelling mistakes. Tried to catch all as I went and don't have anyone to beta for me. Never really do. Kind ago back and do it myself actually. Anyways, I've actually had no idea how to continue this story. Spent today making sure all my stories were on my computer and opened this one up after words. Read what I have just to be sure I remembered it and had a decent idea of where I had been going with it. Just started typing away and here you go. Let me know what you think. I am so sorry it took this long to get updated. I'll try to do better, can't make any promises or guarantees. Have no plans for a sequel on this one but if enough people would like more let me know and maybe I'll work on one.