Disclaimer: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation does not belong to me. The characters are full of inspiration, intelligence, and intrigue that I can't help but borrow them a short while. I heartily enjoy the show and its premise. The events of this story are mine, but the characters are definitely not.
Author's Note: This is for b8kworm. Thank you for watching CSI in the first place. Thank you for getting me hooked. You know that I'll make you sorry for it.
Archives: ShipperworldCSI, Working Love, mine. Anybody else, email me. I like to go visiting.
Pairing(s): Gil/Catherine
Spoiler: None.
***** ***** *****Title: To Lose Control
Author: Laeta
E-mail: ladylaeta@yahoo.com
Chapter 5: Destiny Is A Beautiful Thing
He was glad Catherine heeded the words of his note and stayed at home that night. He had had enough while dealing with Warrick.
His first glance at Warrick showed a man who barely dozed because guilt filled his mind. Contrary to popular opinion, Grissom was not completely devoid of compassion and it was compassion that drove Grissom to keep Warrick lab-bound for the duration of the shift. He knew Warrick would not be able to handle dealing with a crime scene and suggested he just handle the evidence to any cases as they arrived at the lab.
Thankfully, Warrick did not argue; he just took himself to join Greg in losing his tympanic membrane. Grissom was also thankful that Catherine had called unexpectedly; he confessed that he wondered about calling her. He hoped to hear her voice and to know she was still doing alright. She gave him affirmatives on both counts.
It seemed as though life knew exactly when to throw curve balls and when not to. Tonight, there were a number of straight-forward cases; it was quantity not fascination that kept Sara, Nick, and him busy. Lab work progressed quickly since Warrick was over there with Greg. With a few scant hours left in the dwindling hours of shift, the ever popular paperwork engrossed everybody's attention and Warrick was left with his face smashed into a table. Grissom sent him home.
Dawn broke predictably over the desert horizon, and Grissom found himself drawn to Catherine's house. For a few moments, he debated on using his key to quietly enter the house. Maybe he would be able to watch her sleep again; with a shake of his head, he convinced himself to walk to the back of the house instead.
Bathed in the morning light, she appeared to glow with the vibrancy of her health and a good night's sleep. She was reading the paper and her posture said that she was waiting for someone. Lindsey was not up yet, that much was obvious; the house was too quiet since the morning cartoons could not be heard. Grissom noted a finished mug of coffee was near her left hand and it stood sentinel with a glass of iced tea that was slowly condensing the air around it. They were guarding section A and the crossword puzzle of today's newspaper, which lay folded in front of the seat to her left.
She gave no indication that she heard him approach the patio steps, but she was not surprised when he spoke.
"Expecting anybody?"
"Aside from the one who just showed up? No." She was not looking at him so she missed his unconcealed surprise.
Then the iced tea was for him and she must have removed the crossword puzzle from the paper so Lindsey would not commandeer the section to read the comics. She was a feisty little angel already with her own set of habits.
He took the seat Catherine initially offered him and glanced quickly at the headlines. "Anything new?"
"You guys made a little inset on page five."
"Why?"
"Something about going to great lengths for justice. Some essay; it said nothing in so many words."
"Give it to me in a hundred words."
Finally, she looked up from newspaper and flashed a grin. "If you put it that way."
"One hundred and counting. Tick, tick."
"The criminalists of the Las Vegas Crime Lab are on the frontiers of science; they use cutting-edge technology, old-fashion detective work, and a whole lot of intelligence to solve crimes. Their understanding in many areas of expertise gives them an unsurpassable knowledge of the interior workings of a crime. They're smarter than us. Don't be stupid and commit a crime; they'll catch you. They'll even enjoy every double shift it takes to do it. Another thing, we'd recommend trying not to find the perfect murder; with them around, there's no such thing. Pure gibberish."
He gave a rare, broad smile. Twenty-four hours ago, he would never have thought that he would be having this conversation with Catherine. It seemed that his life had been on hold all before that. Unfortunately, it took Catherine's accident to catalyze the past twenty-four hours; he had gone from the pits of despair to the heights of acknowledging his love for her.
Suddenly, she reached over and captured Grissom's hand. She held it like a lifeline. "We've had a wild ride, haven't we?"
Throat dry, he used his free hand to find the ice tea. "Yes, it's amazing how much change occurs over a single night."
"But I noticed one thing has never changed - our friendship. It's grown to become one of two things I cherish the most." There was no need to state that Lindsey was the most important thing in her life.
"I value it highly, too, but I think that it has changed. We've changed so that changes the nature of our friendship."
"True. Friendship is defined by our experiences and feelings, isn't it?" She mulled over the concept and she looked mysteriously happy. "Then I'm glad we've changed."
"What do you mean?"
She brushed her thumb intentionally over his confined hand as she whispered, "Someday, I'll tell you. When I'm ready."
His heart fluttered. He desperately wished to continue the thread of conversation, but the time had past. Lindsey could be heard within doors and, for Grissom, it was time to begin the first day of the rest of his life. Sometimes anticipation is an excellent form of mania.
Lindsey bounded out the back door and cheered at Grissom's presence at the table. Quickly giving her mom the customary hug and kiss, she climbed into Grissom's lap. That rare, broad grin lightened with the little girl's innocent affection. It was also a spring balm to both adults.
If any of the neighbors glanced out their windows at that moment, they would have seen a long practiced tradition: a family eating breakfast together on the back patio. They would have seen the form of ordinary parents whose love for their daughter shone brightly. Family need not necessarily be defined by blood ties; happiness in the company of another is a far better definition.
Would Catherine and he eventually voice their love? He could not predict the future, only the unknown past, but it felt good to abandon the rest of his life to fate. He was sure destiny would ensure a time and place for them though he still felt compelled to ask: was it truly essential? They already acquired everything anybody ever looked for in a married relationship. They had a constant friendship, a true companion in each other, and devotion beyond the sacred vows of marriage. Maybe they even received more than most people; this was what made their relationship especially unique.
However, had Grissom possessed Warrick's uncanny skill with betting for the winning side, he would have gambled on "yes."
FIN
***** ***** *****
© RK 13.Nov.2002