disclaimer: you've seen the mess, you know i don't own them. i couldn't be that cruel to them

a/n: this chapter contains adult situations. the story rating has been adjusted accordingly.

"Catherine she's a teenager. She's just testing her boundaries." Gil watched as his friend fell apart in front of him realizing how just how much Lindsey's behavior had emotionally drained her.

"I just don't know who she is anymore."

"Cath, it's just a phase. She is stubborn. Hard-headed. Just like you. Like Eddie." He leaned against the car watching Catherine as she tried to regain control. Finally she came over and leaned beside him.

"Like you Gil." Her words were spoken softly and tinged with a regret Gil couldn't recognize.

"Well yes, I guess you could say that. She's been around me enough to pick up some of my habits." A small smile appeared on his mouth.

"What if you were?"

"What?"

"What if you were her father?"

"I'd probably lock her in her room for the next twenty years." He laughed gently at the idea of his being Lindsey's father. In all honesty he would lock her in her room now if Catherine would let him. She looked and acted much too much like her mother to allow teenage boys near her.

"I'm serious."

"I can't answer that."

"Just forget it." She banged her fists against the side of the car.

"Fine." Gil walked around to the driver's side, climbing in and starting the engine. When Catherine didn't move he rolled down her window. "Come on, we have a scene to finish processing."

"Of course. Process the scene. Take care of the lab. That's what you do best." She climbed back into the car. "I don't know why you even bothered to have surgery on your ears. You never listen to anything anyone says."

"I did try to talk to you last night and you pushed me away."

"Because you are an ass" she said as she slammed the door.

"I've already apologized Catherine. I was upset I didn't mean it."

"Like I need your criticism now."

"Fine. I'll just shut up because apparently I can say nothing right to you at the moment." He pulled out into traffic. They rode in silence for a few minutes.

"I hate it when you do this."

"Do what?" She was trying his patience.

"I thought you were going to shut up." She rolled her eyes at him before turning back to the window.

Gil pulled over again and looked at Catherine.

"Would you just say whatever it is you want to say to me instead of just yelling at me?"

"Wendy asked me to use Lindsey's DNA in a study she is doing and I agreed."

"The comparative DNA study?" That wasn't what he was expecting her to say.

"Yes."

"But there was a problem, the samples were contaminated or there was a glitch in the computer because when she compared Lindsey's DNA to Eddie's it wasn't a match. But that's not possible. Eddie is Lindsey's father. And I don't know why I'm so upset because I know the test results were wrong. It's just with everything that has been happening...I'm…she just made a mistake. That's all. She made a mistake."

"What are you talking about? What do you mean Eddie's not Lindsey's father?" He wasn't sure he'd heard her correctly.

"Eddie is her father. I'm her mother damn it! I should know."

"Cath slow down." He put his hand on her shoulder as if that could stop her but she pushed it away.

"Would you just leave me alone."

"Catherine what are you talking about?"

"I'm not..it isn't important." She was avoiding him and he knew it.

"Catherine. Look at me." He pulled her face towards him. "Is Lindsey my daughter?"

Catherine pushed his hand away, turned towards the passenger's window and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. Her mouth was closed but he saw her roll her tongue over her teeth, biting back whatever it was she wanted to say. After what seemed like an eternity she turned to face him.

"It's possible." She quickly turned away again.

Gil didn't know what to do so he just pulled back onto the highway. The two of them sat in silence as the words she'd said began to register with him. Eddie wasn't Lindsey's father. He was…no that wasn't what she said. He had a daughter? That wasn't possible. Catherine wouldn't have done that to him. She wouldn't have kept this from him. But she did. Lindsey was nearly 14 years old and he was just now being told. Catherine lied to him, lied to Lindsey, lied to Eddie. She lied to him. And she was telling him to shut up, to just forget about it. She was acting as if she was the one hurt and wanted him to fix it. Not this time. No way. He pulled the car into another shopping center.

"Get out." He refused to look at her.

"What?" Catherine's eyes were wide with shock.

"Get out." The words bubbled from his mouth as if they were about to explode.

"Gil?"

"Are you telling me I may be Lindsey's father?"

"Yes, but I…" She tried to explain only to be cut off.

"Get out Catherine." The warning in his statement cut through the air between them as if the words themselves were knives.

"…I didn't know, why are you…"

"Catherine, please. Get out now. I'll have someone come and pick you up, just please get out."

"Gil…"

"Catherine, please. I need to be away from you right now before I…" Desperation and anger were begging her to leave now.

"Before you what? Damn it Gil."

"Catherine."

Catherine stared at him blankly before grabbing her purse and getting out. She walked into the Chinese restaurant in the shopping center, taking a table and placing an order before she pulled out her phone.

"Hey, Nick. You busy? Can you meet me…yeah, I'm fi…no, I'm not. Please Nick." She gave him the name of the restaurant and hung up.

Gil pulled out of the parking and took off. He couldn't be near her right now and process what she had said. Fourteen years. Lindsey was nearly fourteen. His daughter was nearly fourteen and he was just now finding out about her. The daughter Eddie had held when she was a baby. The daughter Eddie had fed and changed and bathed. The daughter that had seen Eddie beat Catherine. The daughter he'd nearly lost because of Eddie's drug habit.

Why did she lie to him? Did she hate him that much? Did Eddie still, three years after his death, have that much influence over her?

Gil continued to drive not really paying attention to where he was going. Somehow he ended up at Lindsey's school. He drove around to the field looking for her in the crowd but she wasn't there. He then realized he didn't know her schedule and pulled away.

His daughter. He didn't know her schedule. He didn't know who her best friend was. He didn't know who she had a crush on, well he did but only because he read the note the teacher confiscated yesterday. If Catherine had had her car with her this morning he wouldn't even know that. He didn't know where she liked to shop. He didn't know when she stopped believing in Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny. He didn't know if she believed in God. She didn't know his mother. His mother. She was a grandmother and didn't know it. He looked at the dashboard clock and realized they should have been back at the crime scene over two hours ago. He made a couple of quick calls, reassigning Sara and Warrick to the scene before heading back home. He needed to think.

Catherine stood in the kitchen preparing dinner for her and Lindsey, a simple salad and spaghetti with garlic and pepper sauce. She wasn't going in to work tonight. The last 72 hours had taken its toll on her. She was emotionally drained, physically exhausted and in desperate need of sleep. On top of all of this she still had to deal with Lindsey's plan to sneak out.

She shook her head in an effort to clear her mind before ripping the lettuce into small pieces. In some small way the feel and sound of the leaves being torn apart gave her a sense of relief. She grabbed a tomato and began to slice it with a little more enthusiasm than she felt five minutes ago. More tension drained from her body so she grabbed another tomato and sliced it also. Suddenly her simple salad took on a life of its own. She shredded a block of cheese, sliced broccoli and cauliflower, minced some garlic, pitted a pepper and then sliced some carrots. She had just grabbed the celery when the doorbell rang. She set the celery down but for some unknown reason kept the knife in her hand as she went to answer the door. The bell rang again before she could reach the door.

"Coming!" The bell rang one more time before she could reach the door. "Good grief! Give me a minute will you!"

She tore the door open and stopped where she was. Gil was standing there, looking at her as if he could rip her in two. She slammed the door but he had his foot inside.

"I need to see her. Please." For a moment Catherine's heart felt sorry for him, but only for a moment as she quickly remembered what he had done to her earlier that day.

"I don't think that's a good idea right now." She was angry. Gil was Angry. Catherine was afraid that with all of them together that Lindsey would find out. She wasn't about to push her daughter further away from her by one of the blurting out the fact that Eddie may not be her father.

"I promise I won't say anything." Gil responded as if he had read her thoughts but Catherine didn't budge. "If she's my daughter…"

"Lower your voice." She opened the door just enough to step through and push him back, closing the door behind her. "I never said she was…"

"You said it was possible." The two of them were standing inches apart as their whispered voices spat at each other.

"You left me in the middle of nowhere…"

"I called Sara…"

"Of course you did…"

"I called Sara to pick you up. She said she couldn't find you."

"Feeling guilty?"

"No."

"Why are you really here?"

"I want to see Lindsey."

"You saw her this morning."

"That was different."

"How? Did she grow a horn or something I don't know about?"

"I'm not leaving."

"Fine. I'll call…"

"Who? Jim? Call whoever you want. You're the one who will have to explain why I'm being arrested to Lindsey."

"Fine." She didn't move. "But first tell me why you left me today."

"I can't. It's just…I can't. Catherine, please."

"One word and you're gone."

"I promise."

Lindsey had not felt this much tension at dinner since before her parent's divorce. No one was talking. Gil was staring at her and her mom was staring at Gil. She watched as Gil would open his mouth to speak only to close it again because her mother coughed or nudged him. Her mother hardly touched the food on her plate, instead she was stirring tracks in her spaghetti. Gil was swallowing his without chewing anything. He was on his third plate and Lindsey doubted he even knew what he was eating.

Lindsey finally had enough of the silence.

"Why are you staring at me?" Gil nearly choked on his spaghetti when she spoke. He thought his glances had been subtle, unnoticeable. "You've got more food on your shirt than in your mouth." Catherine glanced over allowing a slight laugh to escape as she noticed Gil's shirt for the first time. Lindsey looked at her mother and continued.

"You haven't even touched your dinner. You didn't put ex-lax in this did you?" This time Gil smirked. "Oh God! I'm gonna be sick!" Lindsey grasped her stomach and melodramatically keeled over.

"Lindsey Willows get out of the floor right now."

"Why are you guys acting like this? Do I have a big zit? Oh God! I have a zit! I bet it's huge." Lindsey picked up her fork trying to see her reflection in it.

"You don't have a zit but if you don't start washing your face like I told you to do then you will."

Lindsey rolled her eyes at her mother before continuing. She looked at her shirt, putting her hands over her chest.

"It's my breasteses isn't it" she announced with a solemnity usually reserved for funerals.

"What?" Catherine wasn't sure she had heard her daughter right.

"My breasteses. My boobies. One of them is bigger than the other." She grabbed them to emphasize her point.

"No Sweetie. They're perfect." Gil spoke before thinking about it. Catherine and Lindsey looked at him, mouths agape.

"Ew Gil! That's perverted. Why are you looking at my boobies?"

"Lindsey that's not what I…I wasn't looking…" Both Lindsey and Catherine were laughing at him.

"Yes you were…" Catherine choked out.

"I wasn't."

"You were too. That's so gross. You're old!"

"Lindsey…" Gil's face was what his mother would refer to as "beat red" and he was stuttering.

"Yeah, Gil. I thought Sara chasing you was strange, but this…"

"Ew, Sara! Oh my God! Did you kiss her?

Gil tried to get a word in but the two Willows women were on a role.

"I think he did."

"I bet it was like kissing sandpaper. Does she have a pokey beard to? I'll bet it was like two porcupines kissing."

Catherine made a smooching sound and Lindsey screamed "Ow!" They did this several times before Gil recovered his wits enough to speak.

"At least I can hold on to her. Your mother uses so much lotion that no man can keep her in his arms for more than a minute. That's why she has so many boyfriends." Lindsey roared. Her mother did use a lot of lotion.

"Stop exaggerating Gil." Catherine didn't think it was so funny.

"I'm not exaggerating." He grabbed Catherine who pulled away before he could get a good grip on her. "See!" He reached for her again but she stood up and left the table.

"Mom! He's right."

"Lindsey, don't be ridiculous."

Gil wasn't about to give up that easily. He followed her to the kitchen wrapping his arms around her waist. Catherine wriggled free and ran behind the counter.

"But Catherine, no one can…" Gil stopped mid-sentence when he saw Catherine slip on the floor and start to fall. He reached for her to stop her fall but was pulled down with her.

"Hey Gil! You got her." Lindsey was laughing so hard it hurt.

Gil looked at Catherine. He did indeed have her, his arms wrapped tightly around his waist and she couldn't get away. Evil thoughts filled his mind. He rolled her over, pinning her beneath him.

"Don't you dare!"

Gil dared. He tickled her mercilessly as she thrashed below him trying to escape.

"Lindsey! Help!" Catherine screamed at her daughter.

"Yes, Lindsey, why don't you help." Gil stopped long enough to turn and wink at Lindsey. She got the message.

"I'm coming Mom." She jumped into the pile, tickling her mother alongside Gil. Catherine attempted to get away but Gil had her solidly pinned beneath him.

"Stop it! Lindsey you are so going to be grounded again." Lindsey took it as the idle threat her mom had meant.

"I'm so not doing your paperwork anymore if you DON'T…" Gil had found an especially ticklish spot under her knee causing Catherine to yelp. She managed to free one of her hands. She reached forward, grabbed Gil by the shirt and pulled him towards her in order to stop him. Unfortunately she grabbed him with so much force that they butted heads. Catherine's eyes welled with water from the contact. Gil and Lindsey pulled away to let her up. Gil reached out an arm to pull her from the floor, reaching to check out the bump.

"I'm fine." She choked out as the tears began to fall.

"Catherine?" His own head smarted from the contact but he didn't think he had hit Catherine that hard.

"It just…I'm sorry." She took off down the hall slamming her bedroom door behind her.

"Lindsey." Gil started.

"I know. Clean up the kitchen while you check on her."

"That's my girl." He kissed her on the forehead before going to Catherine's room.

"Whatever. You know you could have just asked me to clean the kitchen instead of beating my mom senseless." Gil could hear Lindsey's tirade continue as he made his way to Catherine's bedroom. He knocked softly before opening her door.

"Catherine. Catherine?" He heard water running and walked to the bathroom door.

"Catherine?" He hesitated at her door.

"I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute" she said between sobs. Gil opened the door and walked on in.

"I told you I was fine" she spate out.

"No. You're not." He stood facing her back, watching her face in the mirror.

"I didn't know. I'm sorry."

"I thought we weren't talking about this."

"Whatever." It was the same tone Lindsey had just used with him.

"Well we know one thing. Lindsey is definitely your daughter." Gil half smiled.

"She'd better be after twelve hours of labor." Catherine paused as she splashed her face with cool water. "I would have told you if I had known."

"How can you not…"

"Eddie and I we didn't…"

"Didn't what?"

"We didn't…we weren't…" It had always been difficult to tell Gil about her sex life, especially if it involved Eddie.

"Intimate?"

"Yeah. Thanks…till after…there was no way I should have been pregnant."

The two of them stood silently for what seemed an eternity.

"She's beautiful." Gil's words were barely a whisper but Catherine heard him, a slight smile coming to her face.

"You say that like you've never seen her before."

"Not like this. Not knowing that I…that we…" Gil reached out, turned her to face him. His hands fell to her waist as he pushed up the tank top she was wearing.

"Gil." Catherine tried to push him away only to have him take her hand in his as he continued pushing the shirt up.

"Shh." He dropped to his knees and began to run his hand along her abdomen. "you were beautiful when you were carrying Lindsey." His fingers traced a faint line. "Stretch marks." He leaned forward, kissing the place his hand had marked, repeating this for each line he found.

"Gil." Catherine whispered.

"Shh." His hands continued their journey stopping at one particular spot.

"This is where you first felt her move." Several kisses were placed here before his hands trailed to another area.

"This is where I felt her kick for the first time." One long, soft kiss was placed at this spot. His hands were now high on her abdomen.

"Here. She stuck her foot out." Another long kiss was placed at the memory. He looked at Catherine seeing confusion in her eyes but not stopping. Slowly he stood up, lifting her shirt over her head and placing it carefully over the counter. Then he undid the clasp at the front of her bra, pushing it slowly from her shoulders. His hands made their way to her breasts, touching each one. His mouth encircled her left breast gently sucking the nipple till it was hard and taut.

"The first time I saw her you were feeding her here. You were tired, your hair still damp from giving birth, your make up gone and you had never looked more beautiful than you did at that moment."

"Gil. Please. Stop." He looked up to see tears falling from her face. Slowly he lifted himself to her face and wiped the tears from her cheek.

"We can argue later" he said as he pressed a finger to her lips. His other hand was on her neck, fingering her long hair.

"You cut it all off not long after she was born. You said it took too long to fix since you had to take care of her. You looked like a red-headed pixie."

He looked into her eyes and she snapped them shut. He then leaned forward kissing her on the forehead.

"You brought her to the lab one day. The two of you were sitting in the break room playing peak-a-boo. Lindsey was a bit overenthusiastic and head-butted you. You had a huge knot here for days." He kissed the memory of the knot again. Catherine shuddered. He wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her tightly to him. He felt her body tense. His other hand continued to run through her hair coming to rest in a place they both knew well.

"You came to me for help. I was angry, angry at Eddie for hurting you and angry at you for letting him. Instead of holding you like this I berated you. Catherine, I was wrong." His hand came around to cup her face as his thumb wiped away more tears.

"Let me hold you tonight. I need to hold you tonight." His thumb continued caressing her cheek as he waited for her to open her eyes.

"Gil. I…" Catherine struggled to get away from him. Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Mom? Are you OK?" Never had Catherine been so relieved at her daughter's bad timing.

"I'm fine Lindsey."

"Are you sure?" She turned the knob and Catherine pushed Gil from her, grabbing the door before her daughter could open it.

"Yes" she said as she cracked the door just enough for Lindsey to see her face. "We'll be out in a minute. Go find a movie on pay per view for us to watch."

She closed the door, locking it just in case. She reached around Gil grabbing her shirt and bra, throwing them on quickly.

"Catherine?" Gil looked at her with a desperation she had never seen. Her mind was in overload. She needed time but she had taken fourteen years away from him, even if it wasn't intentional. She couldn't push him away but she couldn't give him what he needed to hear either.

"I need to check on Lindsey." She brushed past him leaving him along.

The three of them sat alone in the family room. Lindsey was lying in the floor, Gil stretched out on the sofa and Catherine curled protectively in a chair. Lindsey felt rather than saw Gil's eyes on her but she wouldn't look at him. Instead she glued her eyes to the television, occasionally sneaking glances at her mother. She could see the pain in her mother's eyes and Lindsey knew she was fighting back tears. It reminded Lindsey of the times her mother and father would fight in their bedroom. She didn't want to think Gil would treat Catherine as Eddie had but the situation felt exactly the same. The only difference was that when the night was over Gil would go home and there would be no noise coming from her parent's room. For this she was grateful.

Gil was lost in his own world. He took turns staring at Lindsey and Catherine. He wanted to grab Lindsey and never let her go. He wanted to turn back the clock so he could experience her life as her father and not as an outsider. He looked at Catherine and confusion filled his soul. He wanted to pull her into his arms, make love to her, show her that he was grateful for his daughter but he also wanted to hurt her. To make her pay for taking his baby from him to be raised by another man. He wanted to take Lindsey away from her, having his daughter to himself like she had all these years. He wanted her to know what it was like to watch the one you love raise a family with someone else.

Catherine tried her best to shield herself from both of them. For once she felt she couldn't address a problem head on. Instead she wanted to run and hide until it went away, but she knew this problem would never go away. Her mind was still reeling from what happened in the bathroom. Gil had never been so gentle and he had never frightened her more. She knew he was angry with her but his caresses had been so full of love and tenderness. Her body felt more alive than it had felt in years but her heart told her that was his way of punishing her for hurting him while showing how grateful he was for her body's carrying his child. Instead of accepting this she had pushed him away once more. She closed her eyes in a vain attempt to escape only to find a memory lurking just below the surface.

i Lindsey was 10 months old, in diapers and walking. Catherine had been out of treatment for only a few days and was supposed to return to work an hour ago but Eddie wasn't home and she didn't have a sitter. She had been in the middle of changing Lindsey when the doorbell rang. She left Lindsey lying in the floor while she went to the door. Gil had driven over to pick her up so that she didn't have to double back from the lab as a welcome back gesture. Before either of them could say a word Lindsey had bolted out the door, naked as a jaybird, her dirty diaper hanging from her chubby little hands. They both took chase with Gil reaching her first, scooping her up diaper and all causing Lindsey to squeal with delight. But her delight was short-lived. Catherine yanked her daughter out of Gil's arms, admonishing her for running. Lindsey was too young to realize fear was behind Catherine's anger and immediately burst into tears. She pushed at Catherine, trying to get away from her. When that didn't work she stretched her arms towards Gil, babbling the only sound she knew, "da-da, da-da, da-da, da-da." Gil looked down at his shirt noticing the mess Lindsey had left behind. His face was filled with fury when he looked back at Catherine. i

At the time Catherine had assumed he was angry over the shirt. But now, with the three of them sitting in this room she realized his fury had been directed at her, that for a long time Lindsey had been a reminder of her leaving him for Eddie. She looked at Gil. All he wanted at this moment was to hold Lindsey, but she was thirteen and she didn't even allow Catherine to let her hold her often anymore. All he had asked of her was to let him hold her, touch her…and she had left him standing alone in her bathroom.

She stood and walked over to the sofa. She lifted his arm, laid her back against his chest, sitting between his legs. She pulled his arm around her, bringing it to rest on her breast. She turned her head towards him and with what she hoped was a sincere smile whispered "Tonight."

The three of them continued to watch the movie. Catherine nuzzled her head against Gil's neck. He shifted them slightly so that his back was lying against the back of the sofa and Catherine's head rested on the arm. She pulled the throw off the back of the sofa, blanketing their bodies from Lindsey's eyes. Her hands were under his shirt exploring his chest. Gil was frozen in fear. He wanted to move, to touch her in return but Lindsey was in the room. He felt her hands dip inside his boxers slowly stroking his manhood. He reached to stop her only to find her guiding his hand to her center. Gil looked at Catherine but her expression betrayed nothing. He was there, her hand on him, her other hand guiding his hand to her and the only expression on her face was laughter in reaction to something on the television. Her game continued throughout the movie. She instinctively knew when he was becoming too aroused and would back off for a while, choosing those moments to nuzzle into his neck again. Much to Gil's relief Lindsey decided to go to bed as soon as the credits began to roll.

"You know you two are worse than Mike and Lori and they are the make out champions." She mumbled as she went to her room.

They both stopped. It was only after Lindsey's light had been out for half an hour that Catherine moved again, this time sliding completely onto her back and pulling Gil on top of her.

"We could stay here but she's a light sleeper." She pulled his head to her breast, arching towards him as he tried to kiss her through the fabric. Her hand was again in his boxers stroking him. She felt his arousal growing and throbbing within her grasp. She wanted him as close to the edge as she could bring him before going to her room.

"I've forgotten you are so large" she whispered. He pulled her hand from him.

"Cath, we need…she might…" Catherine tried to snake her hand in again but Gil stopped her. She looked at him, cupped his face and smiled.

"Let's go to my room." She stood, taking his hand in hers as she walked down the dark hallway thankful for the split floor design. They walked into her room and she let go of his hand in order to turn on the light and lock the door.

"We don't want her walking in on us." She began to undress when she felt his hands on her. She stiffened.

"Catherine are you sure you want this?" His voice was soft, gentle and reassuring. She inhaled deeply forcing her body to relax before turning to face him.

"Are you?" She wound her arms around his neck pulling his head towards her. She traced his earlobe with her tongue before pushing his head lower. She felt his hands and mouth upon her breasts touching and tasting as he once again removed her bra. She concentrated on her breathing. Inhale. Exhale. She felt his hands push away the shorts she had been wearing, stopping briefly to admire her green boy shorts before pushing them away. He looked up at her from his place on the floor.

"How can you be even more beautiful than fourteen years ago?" She smiled a wistful smile, still breathing and replied "I need you."

Gil guided them to the bed, gently laying her on her back. He then began to slide his hands along her leg, trailing behind them with his lips, bypassing her center and making his way down the other leg.

"Come here." Catherine's voice was husky. He crawled up to her only to find himself being pushed back towards her center. He lapped at her core before sliding one, two and then three fingers inside of her. Curling and pumping his fingers he then began to alternate sucking and nipping at her bundle of nerves. Her hips thrust in encouragement. She continued to breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. He felt her as she fell over the edge. He pulled forward just enough for her to press his head into her abdomen. His kissed her softly. She exhaled.

"Gil. I need you. Inside. Now." He looked at her face, her eyes closed tightly. Her legs slid along his as her hand reached to guide his manhood to her. He eased himself into her, feeling her stiffen again and stopped.

"Catherine?" Everything she did and said was telling him that she wanted this, everything but the fleeting stiffening of her body.

"It's been a while. I just need a moment to adjust." Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

When Gil didn't move she thrust towards him, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist pulling him deeper into her. Reassured, Gil began thrusting slowly but Catherine demanded more. Each thrust became harder and faster. He looked at her, eyes closed and biting her lips. Her nails cut into his back.

"More. Gil." Inhale. Exhale. She felt his rhythm became erratic and she knew he was nearing the edge. She pulled him to her as her body began to spasm. A few thrusts more and she felt his hot seed exploding inside her.

They lay together until their breathing returned to normal. Gil pulled away, rolling onto his back. He reached out to pull Catherine to him only to find she had rolled away and was now curled up on the edge of the bed. He reached to touch her and she stiffened.

"Go to sleep Gil." Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

He pulled her to face him and saw the tears streaming down her face.

"Why?" His voice was clouded with anger and confusion at the realization of what had just happened.

"You needed this." Her hand cupped his face as she kissed his forehead. She turned away from him and exhaled.