Chapter Fourteen

Forgiven

Thanks to CissaMalfoy, Daydreamer1127, jwoods471, DrusillaBraun, Pandy Roxy Chick, myfairlady, Grammar Maven, and megslife for reviewing!

Sergeant, I've noticed. But you'll never be as difficult as me.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in CSI. I just write for fun.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

He hadn't moved. He hadn't gone anywhere. He could have walked away right then, but he didn't. He just stood there with his back turned.

"Gil…" Catherine pleaded.

He turned to cover her lips with his, showing her his feelings that he had kept hidden for so many years. She returned the kiss with every ounce of passion she had never felt with anyone else in her life. They pulled away for a second as he stroke her face and tucked a lock of strawberry blonde hair behind her ear. She smiled at him with a smile that emitted the radiance of a woman who had found what she had looking for, found what had been there all along. He leaned into kiss her again.

Neither of them were paying attention to the eyes that were watching them and cheering. Sara and Nick were locked in each other's arms as Cuddy looked on with shining eyes. They gave each other high fives.

When Catherine and Grissom finally had exchanged the kisses and words that were needed, they turned to the family at the door. Catherine pumped a fist in the air as Grissom laughed and planted a kiss on her temple. Finally they were together. No more pretending. No more dancing around the bush. It had finally come together for them.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Lindsey, careful with that." Catherine called to her daughter.

They were packing up boxes from Catherine's house. Grissom was helping out as well as they taped and wrote FRAGILE on a bunch of boxes.

Grissom walked over and wrapped his arms around Catherine's waist, nuzzling her neck. She laughed as Lindsey ran into the mixture, wrapping her arms around both Grissom and her mother. Lindsey then hit Grissom with the throw pillow that was still on the couch. Grissom retaliated with another pillow. Lindsey hit again, only this time her aim was off and got her mom. Catherine laughed and grabbed a pillow as well chasing Lindsey around as Grissom chased her. Shrieks of laughter filled the room that no one saw the women standing at the door.

"Ahem." Came a soft voice.

Catherine turned to see her sister with her mother watching her.

"Lisa!" she said happily.

"You packing or playing?" her sister asked with a small smile.

"BOTH!" Yelled Lindsey as she rock launched herself into her aunt's arms.

Lisa caught her as Catherine caught stares with her mother. Her mother had never been proud of her. Lisa had become a doctor, Nancy a business woman. Her brother, Mark, a lawyer. Catherine had run away, married a druggie, turned into a stripper, before finding herself as a criminalist. Lily was not proud of her daughter, not until now.

"Catherine." She said with a smile.

Catherine didn't answer. Grissom reached over and gave her hand a squeeze and a little push forward.

"Mom." She said.

Lily smiled at her daughter. "Catherine. I'm proud of you."

Catherine felt tears fill her eyes as she hugged her mother. Lindsey cheered as Lisa clapped. Lily pulled away to look at her daughter again.

"Mom." Catherine started. "I didn't sell this place."

Silence lingered.

"I know how much you liked this ranch so uh…I'm giving it to you. All the payments to it are taken care of, just take care of it." She said, uncertainly.

Lily started to cry. The ranch had been her home since she was little until they had no choice but to sell it. The familiar surroundings were welcoming to her.

"Thank you." She murmured. "Thank you."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They were back in Vegas. Catherine felt like shrieking with joy and excitement. Grissom's eyes were shining as he took Catherine's hand and helped her off the plane. Lindsey was right behind them, taking in the familiar sight of the desert.

"What's it like to be back in Vegas?" he asked.

"Heaven." She replied, kissing him on the cheek.

Moments later, they had their stuff in the back of the Tahoe that had been sent to pick them up. Then they were in front of the crime lab. Catherine drew in a sharp intake of breath. He gave her hand a squeeze.

"Nervous?" he asked.

She shook her head with a smile. "No, excited."

He smiled at her. Catherine had been offered a job as co supervisor with Grissom, working side by side with him back on graveyard shift. The job had been perfected and she was starting in a week.

They stepped out of the car hand in hand. Lindsey ran ahead to hug each of them in turn. The night shift were cheering and whooping. Brass and Sophia were also there, jumping up and down. Catherine laughed as she disappeared for a moment under the hugs of her friends that had become family.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They were finally settled after a week in Vegas. Lindsey was enrolled again in the Butterfly Academy Private School. Catherine was working nights with Grissom.

He was napping on the couch when Catherine came down the stairs, dressed neatly in a form fitting blazer and slacks. He raised an eyebrow as he woke up to watch her shrug her purse onto her shoulders.

"Where you going?" he asked.

"I got some unfinished business." She said, kissing him gently on the lips. "Don't wait up."

He was about to stop her. To tell her that he was coming with her to make sure she was safe. It was dusk and soon it would be dark. He didn't feel safe letting her go anywhere alone at the moment, especially not after the couple of scares that they had had.

She seemed to know what was on his mind. "Don't worry Gil. I'll be fine. My gun's in my purse and my cell phone's on okay? Try not to worry. I'll be home before you know it. This is just something I need to do alone."

Grissom dropped it. She had that look in her eye that told him that no amount of arguing would change her mind. Obviously this was something important. He gave her a swift hard kiss before letting her go. She gave him a smile and made her way to the car.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Catherine knelt before a cold marble tombstone as the desert wind whipped her hair. She laid down a single rose on the stone as she traced her fingers on the carved name on it.

Edward Willows

Forgiven but not forgotten

And

A blessing in disguise

She closed her eyes and finally came to terms with her past, her present and her future.

"Eddie, you have been nothing but cruel to me. Your abuse, your cruelty left me in shambles and Lindsey traumatized, but part of living is forgiving and moving on. I've done that. They say you can't hate someone's who's dead. They were right. I can't hate you anymore, because I know that if you hadn't done what you had done to me, I would have never found my way to Gil. You were the broken road that led me straight to him.

For that I will always remember you and I will always be grateful for you. You're lying in the place where I should have been. But many people and God has shown me grace for my mistakes and I'll show you grace for yours. Rest in peace, Eddie."

With that, Catherine rose. Her past was etched in every part of her, but now, she embraced it. Embraced with a gladness that was beautiful as it was radiant. The past made her who she was, her strength and own independence came from it. For that she was very glad.

When she got home, Grissom was asleep. He awoke when she slipped under the covers beside him, however.

"You finished your business?" he asked.

She nodded as she snuggled closer to him. "Yeah." She said with a smile. "It's done."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Author's Note:

One more epilogue and that's it. I had to put in the part about Eddie since I think he was the start of everything so maybe it was just right to the major part of the story with him, but then put in a scene of Catherine's life now. One more chapter with the aftermath of all this. Enjoy!