A week later, Lindsey came home from the hospital. She was excited to be back in her own room with her things and her telephone. Catherine wanted to make a special dinner for her that night and Gil volunteered to help. For Catherine, the evening was glorious; her daughter was home and Gil was there too. It had both amused her and tugged at her heart as she and Gil worked in the kitchen, quickly falling into sync performing the various tasks for the meal. She knew he felt it too because every so often he would glance sideways at her and smile.

The meal was a noisy one as Catherine and Lindsey babbled about Lindsey's friends, what she had missed in school, and plans for her return. Gil watched quietly, having nothing to contribute but enjoying the festivity. He and Lindsey had a tacit understanding between them and he was content with things as they were for the time being. He could feel her opening up to him more as each day passed and he looked forward to the day when she would come to him with acceptance.

After dinner Lindsey went back to her room and Catherine began cleaning the kitchen. Gil joined her and soon they were standing at the sink, washing dishes. Gil washed and Catherine dried. She had music playing; Gil thought he recognized it as Tony Bennett. As she often did, Catherine began to sway with the music, her hips moving in perfect rhythm. As she swayed toward him, her hip met his and the slight bump sent thrills through his body. "Come on, Gil…get with it," she teased.

Much to her surprise, and his too actually, he began to move with her. Lindsey had come to ask her mother if one of her friends could come over the next day but stopped in the doorway. She smiled as she watched two sets of hips moving in harmony with the music and each other as the owners worked together as one. Her parents were in their own special place, she realized. Quietly she left, giving them this uninterrupted time. Back in her room she contemplated what she had witnessed. She didn't remember ever seeing her Mom and Eddie in such a simple, subtle romantic situation. Mom finally got it right, she thought to herself.

Gil had to work that night and as he got ready to leave, he wrapped Catherine in a warm embrace. "I really enjoyed tonight."

"Mmmm, me too. I like you in my kitchen," she said amorously. "You'll be back for breakfast?"

"Honey, until things are more…permanent, I think I should sleep at my place. I don't want to do anything to upset Lindsey."

"Gil…." Catherine almost whined. "I think she knows that we 'do it'. I don't think it will upset her if you stay here."

"Tell you what, I'll come for breakfast. But then I'll get Hank and go back to my place to sleep."

Catherine looked very disappointed. "If you insist. I'll see you in the morning then."

"Yes you will," he smiled. She watched as his blue orbs focused on her face and then her lips. Then his lips were on hers and she knew without a doubt that he would indeed be back. There was such longing in his kiss.

"I'll miss you," she whispered.

"It's not like I'm leaving or anything," he whispered back.

"But I like having you in my bed."

"Yeah, you have a very nice bed," he teased. He kissed her again and then moaned. "I have to go or I won't be able to leave. I'll see you in the morning." He slid out of the front door as she stood and watched him go. It would be a long night.

As the days passed, they fell into a routine of Gil having breakfast with his girls and then driving Lindsey to school. He would go back to his place to sleep. His townhouse was no longer home to him, simply sleeping quarters. They had tried having Hank at the townhouse but with Gil spending so much time at Catherine's the dog was feeling abandoned and got cranky. So Hank moved in with Catherine and Lindsey, giving Gil even less of a reason to spend time at his place.

To the amazement of everyone at the lab, he began keeping regular hours, rarely clocking any overtime. Ecklie was pleased to see that he was spending more time in the building and keeping up with his administrative duties. For Gil it was a simple equation. The less time he spent in the field, the less likely it was that he would get caught up in an investigation that required overtime. And that meant he had more time to spend with his family. He liked the thought of that, his family. He smiled inwardly every time the thought crossed his mind. He, Gil Grissom, supernerd, the quirky enigma, the bugman…. was a regular guy with a family. And he liked it.

The shift finally came, however, that forced him into a complicated investigation and he pulled a double. He called Catherine, exhausted and told her that he had to get some sleep. He would call her when he woke up. She was understanding but he could hear the disappointment in her voice.

He let himself in his house, tossed his keys and other items on the counter, and checked his mail. Finding nothing requiring immediate attention, he headed for bed. After he brushed his teeth he closed the curtains in the bedroom. He was so tired he didn't even bother with changing; he just stripped down to his shorts and fell into bed. Within minutes he was sound asleep.

Hours later he awoke, vaguely aware of being watched. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he smiled. "How long have you been sitting there watching me?"

"Only a few minutes," Catherine answered.

"Kind of boring, isn't it?"

"No, I was enjoying myself."

He reached over to the bedside table and turned on the lamp. Sitting up, he leaned his back against the headboard and gazed at her at the opposite end of the bed. Once his eyes adjusted to the light, a small grin began to form on his face. "You're wearing it aren't you?"

"It," she answered coquettishly. "What it are you referring to?"

His eyes raked over her body as a genuine Grissom smile bloomed on his face. "You know what it." Suddenly he moved across the bed, scooping her into his hold, his arm encircling her waist. He pulled her down on the bed and leaned over her, his blue eyes seeming to cut through her clothes, warming her to her core. "The blue it," he said just before he kissed her.

"Augh….yuck Gil," she giggled.

"What?" he said in surprise. Then his face flushed as her realized his mistake. "Be right back," he promised as he slid off the bed and headed for the bathroom. "Sorry about the morning breath," he said over his shoulder. Catherine watched him pad across the floor, his bowlegs fully exposed, along with most of the rest of him. Occasionally he did remove his shirt while he was out in the yard, but his legs hadn't seen the light of day in years. Gotta do something about that, she thought to herself as he came back to her.

He pounced on her, pushing her back down and this time his kiss lasted awhile, a long while. His lips revealed his need to her as both their demands and their heat built. His tongue demanded entry and began immediately to dance with hers. She felt it as he allowed himself to be carried away by his feelings, taking her with him.

"Who is with Lindsey?" he managed to mutter between assaults on her mouth.

"My mother," she breathed into their next kiss.

"Good," he whispered as his lips left hers and travelled to her neck. "Gives me plenty of time to prove it."

"Prove what?" she teased.

"That you are wearing it," he finished as his lips continued their journey around her neck.

Catherine was no novice at making love. All those years of Eddie and a few guys before and after had given her a broad experience. But the thought crept through her foggy mind as she lay there, the object of this man's interest, that no one had made her feel like he did. She wasn't denying the physical part of his attentions, but with the others, that was all that it had been, physical. With Gil, there was something different….spiritual even. He was the most considerate lover she'd ever had, the most giving. Which was odd in itself she realized, since he was the least likely to give up anything about himself in their daily reality. But in his kisses and caresses, he exposed himself completely to her, sharing his innermost feelings and desires and opening his heart to her. In true Grissom style, he was slow and methodical…frustratingly so at times. But at the pinnacle of their love making, she appreciated his method because the rewards were so great.

As their passion was satisfied and began to cool, gently allowing them to descend back to the surface of the bed, he smiled smugly. "See, I knew you were wearing it," he said as he held up the blue teddy he had given her just a few days before.

She smiled that big smile of hers that lit her face; the one that warmed him to his core. They continued to talk and cuddle, relishing the quiet intimacy. Their hands continued to caress and stroke one another, neither wanting to lose the physical connection between them. They whispered and murmured, teasing and chatting, sharing until Gil felt a familiar glow growing deep within and his caresses became more intentional. Catherine was heating up again also and responded eagerly. Slowly their passion built as they lost all sense of their surroundings, captivated by one another.

------------------------------------------------

As always, reviews are wanted. What can I bribe you with? Little button is still there; I just checked.