Disclaimer - see chapter one
Chapter Six - Run
Criminals have extremely bad timing. It was now three in the morning and far too late to call Catherine. Or was it? She would have to be back on nightshift hours ready for work the following night, maybe she would still be awake. Maybe he just wanted to believe that it was too late. Or perhaps it was too late. He should have followed her. He should have stopped her. Why didn't he stop her? He threw his pen across the room.
"Well I did say you could throw it about as much as you like."
"Cath. It wasn't that pen."
"I know," she said simply.
"I don't think you're stupid. I don't think you're easy. I have never thought of you as a glorified hooker. And I certainly did not expect what you implied in return for that present. I am so sorry." He said it all in one breath, no hesitation.
She smiled, slightly, holding back tears, "I know."
"Will you re-accept the bracelet?"
She nodded. Her energy consumed in her determination not to cry. He picked up the bracelet from his desk and walked towards her.
In one hand she held an envelope. She lowered that arm holding out her other wrist for the bracelet. As he approached he locked his eyes with hers. Her breathing deepened as he got closer. She recognised the feeling. She'd been forcing herself to repress it for years. He stopped in front of her and wrapped the bracelet round her wrist, looking away only briefly to ensure it was securely fastened, then his eyes were back on hers.
He leaned in towards her. Shocked, she took a sharp intake of breath. His hand brushed against hers and he took the envelope.
"What's this?" His eyes were still fixed tightly on her. She looked down. Tears trying to come through again. He lifted her chin so her eyes met his again.
"Cath?"
"I want some time off."
"When?"
"As soon as possible, if that's. possible."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded, "Yeah."
"Okay. Start tomorrow. Take as long as you need."
"What? Won't you -"
"We'll survive."
"How are -"
"My shift, my team, my decision.. Do you have anything planned?" With his question he returned to his seat. Shock fixed Catherine to the spot.
"I've been invited to Miami. Open invitation. Come any time. Thought now was as good a time -"
Grissom's heart sank. Suddenly it all clicked into place. The only response he could manage was a nod and, "Have fun."
She turned to leave. This was his chance. Maybe he would take it.
"Catherine."
She turned back.
"Horatio Caine?" he said, moving his head to indicate her necklace.
"Yeah," she said, disappointed at his choice of topic.
"Merry Christmas Sexy?"
"A joke."
Grissom managed a small, false smile. "I'll see you when you get back."
Catherine nodded, then started to leave again.
"Cath -"
She turned.
"You are coming back?"
"Do you see a letter of resignation?" she flashed a slightly saddened version of her mischievous smile then left.
Grissom relaxed slightly with the relief that she wasn't going forever. Then, sitting back, he noticed the envelope. He hadn't opened it.
TBC..
Chapter Six - Run
Criminals have extremely bad timing. It was now three in the morning and far too late to call Catherine. Or was it? She would have to be back on nightshift hours ready for work the following night, maybe she would still be awake. Maybe he just wanted to believe that it was too late. Or perhaps it was too late. He should have followed her. He should have stopped her. Why didn't he stop her? He threw his pen across the room.
"Well I did say you could throw it about as much as you like."
"Cath. It wasn't that pen."
"I know," she said simply.
"I don't think you're stupid. I don't think you're easy. I have never thought of you as a glorified hooker. And I certainly did not expect what you implied in return for that present. I am so sorry." He said it all in one breath, no hesitation.
She smiled, slightly, holding back tears, "I know."
"Will you re-accept the bracelet?"
She nodded. Her energy consumed in her determination not to cry. He picked up the bracelet from his desk and walked towards her.
In one hand she held an envelope. She lowered that arm holding out her other wrist for the bracelet. As he approached he locked his eyes with hers. Her breathing deepened as he got closer. She recognised the feeling. She'd been forcing herself to repress it for years. He stopped in front of her and wrapped the bracelet round her wrist, looking away only briefly to ensure it was securely fastened, then his eyes were back on hers.
He leaned in towards her. Shocked, she took a sharp intake of breath. His hand brushed against hers and he took the envelope.
"What's this?" His eyes were still fixed tightly on her. She looked down. Tears trying to come through again. He lifted her chin so her eyes met his again.
"Cath?"
"I want some time off."
"When?"
"As soon as possible, if that's. possible."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded, "Yeah."
"Okay. Start tomorrow. Take as long as you need."
"What? Won't you -"
"We'll survive."
"How are -"
"My shift, my team, my decision.. Do you have anything planned?" With his question he returned to his seat. Shock fixed Catherine to the spot.
"I've been invited to Miami. Open invitation. Come any time. Thought now was as good a time -"
Grissom's heart sank. Suddenly it all clicked into place. The only response he could manage was a nod and, "Have fun."
She turned to leave. This was his chance. Maybe he would take it.
"Catherine."
She turned back.
"Horatio Caine?" he said, moving his head to indicate her necklace.
"Yeah," she said, disappointed at his choice of topic.
"Merry Christmas Sexy?"
"A joke."
Grissom managed a small, false smile. "I'll see you when you get back."
Catherine nodded, then started to leave again.
"Cath -"
She turned.
"You are coming back?"
"Do you see a letter of resignation?" she flashed a slightly saddened version of her mischievous smile then left.
Grissom relaxed slightly with the relief that she wasn't going forever. Then, sitting back, he noticed the envelope. He hadn't opened it.
TBC..
