Disclaimer: Sadly enough, I don't own anything. This is written for pure enjoyment only and no profit to be gained.

CHAPTER: 14

Ringing echoed throughout Catherine's bedroom. She sprang upright in bed so fast that you'd think she had fallen onto a hot stove. Slightly dizzy from her quick movement, she blinked a few times as tears fell down her face.

"Oh god…oh no." She whispered, literally shaking. "G—Gil...Oh god! No, No, No!" She faintly gasped.

She felt hollow inside, as if her heart had been ripped out along with the rest of her insides. She looked like hell. Her face was clammy and drenched in sweat. She gasped for breaths as her body physically relived what went on in her head moments ago. She felt like she was going to pass out. The features on her face were marred as she shook. She wept.

She was still crying when she realized her damn phone was ringing. She gazed at it for a few moments, trying to steady her breathing before she answered it. Taking a deep breath through the tears that were still falling, she hesitantly reached for it. Staring at it vibrating in her hand, she flipped it open.

"Y—yeah?" She said, not even bother to answer by her last name as she always did. She was still trying to process what the hell was going on when a man on the other line spoke.

"Catherine?" Are you—" He was cut off, unable to finish his question.

"Gil! Oh my god!" She literally screamed. She swore she'd jumped 5 feet off the bed. She pulled her phone from her ear to stare at it and, sure enough, the caller I.D. said, Gil Grissom.

How did I not see that before I answered?

"Catherine, are you ok? I've been trying to call you." Gil asked concerned, immediately straightening up in his chair. His heart was now racing at the same pace as hers.

Catherine sat mesmerized. It was a dream, everything, a dream. No, no…it wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare. She was beginning to get her strength back, but she was still in horror.

It was a dream…all of it, a dream…but, it seemed so real. Too real.

"Catherine?" Gil asked again.

Catherine pulled the phone back to her ear after hearing him call her name.

"Yeah?"

"I asked if you were ok."

"Yeah, everything's fine."

"Are you sure?" Gil asked, aware of her unsteady voice.

"Yeah, I'm ok. Just a bad dream."

Oh god. He thought. She had another nightmare.

"Oh…so…you sure you're ok then?" He asked again. Someone how he didn't believe her.

Am I ok? He's asking me if I'm ok. If he only knew…

"Yes, Gil, I'm fine. Did you need something?"

"Well, I—" His mind temporarily at a loss for words. He'd completely forgotten what he called her for; too focus on Catherine. Work, right. He mentally stabilized himself. "I was just wondering if you're coming into work today." He asked, although the only thing on his mind right now was the concern he had about her dream. She seemed so upset when she answered.

"I was planning on it, why?" She answered as her heart still rapidly constricted. She felt as if her chest was going to explode. She wondered if she was dreaming now. That maybe she was going to wake up and find that Gil had indeed died. She had to see him to know for sure.

"Well, you're late." He exclaimed.

Catherine looked over at the clock. She had overslept by over three hours; her shift starting a little over an hour ago.

How could I have over slept? She checked her alarm clock; it was set but never went off.

"Weird." She muttered, unaware that she had spoken out loud.

"What's weird?" Gil asked, hearing her over the line.

"Huh? Oh, nothing, Gil. Sorry, I'll be there as soon as I can."

"It's ok, Catherine. Take your time, it's a slow day. Just curious as to why you weren't here." That was true, but that wasn't the only reason he called her. Gil was also worried about her. He needed to know that she was alright.

"Ok, thanks, Gil. And, Gil?"

"Yeah, Catherine?"

"Um…never mind. See you at work." She hung up the phone before he could say anything more.

Sighing heavily, she threw what was left of the covers, off of her. She figured by the lack of covers that were left on the bed that her body was physically aware of the nightmare as well; and it had definitely reacted to it in a negative way. The only piece of bedding that was left on her bed was a tangled up sheet that partially covered her before she threw it on the floor to join the rest of the covers.

She wanted…no, she needed to tell him how she felt. She felt like she was getting a second chance at it after the nightmare she had and she damn well wasn't going to throw it away. It felt so real, so real that when she woke up, she still thought that it had happened. That is until she heard Gil's voice. When she does decided to tell him how she feels, she wants to make sure it's the right way and over the phone was not the way she visualized it. That's why she hung up on him. She needed time to think.

I wish he was here with me.

Gil stared at the phone briefly before hanging it up slowly. He was shocked at the sudden hang up. He couldn't help but wonder what her dream was about and he shivered unconsciously as he contemplated several things.

It had to be something about the previous case…her and Lindsey possibly? Damn, I wish she'd stay with me, even if it was just for one more night, but of course, I can't ask her that. I know she'd turn it down. She'd probably figure that I'd think she was weak…that, that she couldn't take care of herself. Of course she's not weak. My opinion of her is quite the opposite in fact. I've never met such a strong, though stubborn, woman like she is. She's had a tough life but she made it, pushed past all the negative sides of her life. She's successful at her job and she's raised a beautiful daughter.

Surprisingly, Catherine took longer than normal to get ready. She knew she was late and she desperately wanted to see Gil, but she paced herself. She couldn't run around the house like a mad woman crying. She was mad about her alarm clock, pissed that she hadn't heard it go off. That nightmare on the other hand, well, it was the last straw. It was just too damn much. She could never disregard what her mind was telling her. She now knew what it would be like to loose Gil.

She shook while in the shower. She shook as she slowly got dressed. She couldn't control her tremors. She had no idea what she was going to tell Gil, but she was sure he'd have questions…especially after the way she answered the phone.

As she stepped out of the shower, she froze.

Oh god, I can't face him.

She almost forgot with all that had been running through her mind. Those few words, that sentence that she practically screamed in his face, "...how I slept my way up the ladder by staying at my supervisors house all weekend and fucking him until—" she repeated out loud as she looked at herself in the mirror. She shook her head and began to cry again. She never meant it the way it came out. She knew Gil would never do something like that.

Catherine didn't know how she was going to face him. She recalled the look on his face the last time she saw him and it was pure anguish. She felt as if she had shattered his heart. He had taken care of her all weekend and what did he get in return?

A put down. A dagger in his heart.

You're quite the fuck up, Catherine. She silently cursed herself. She really was. She might possibly have ruined the greatest and loyalist friendship she had ever had.

A/N: Well, what did you think? See, I didn't kill him off! Or did I? (Evil Laugh). Ok, Ok, so here's a hint. When I write a character death story, I will ALWAYS (at least I think I will) put in the description, 'character death.' Now, before you go to look over the description of the story to see if I put it in there, go review like good little readers!

-Snyder-