Chapter 8

After calling the number Dr. Haywood left her to get the patio door fixed, Sara checked her watch and decided to check on Catherine. She had always admired Catherine for leaving Eddie. She knew too many women who were too afraid to leave. Fixing a small tray of juice and toast she quietly enters Catherine's room. Her heart immediately breaks again as she sees her friend laying there in pain. She eases herself onto the bed and wipes a few stray strands of hair from Catherine's face.

"Hey. Dr. Haywood said I needed to wake you every couple of hours. Can I get you anything?"

"Uh, maybe some pain killer." Catherine manages to sit up in bed and sees the juice. "Thanks for everything Sara."

"No need to thank me, Cath. I told you anytime you needed something to call. I am curious as to why you called me instead of Grissom, though. Dr. Haywood said he helped you a great deal with Eddie."

"He did. I didn't call him because he would not have controlled himself. Grissom is the type of person that goes blind with fury when something happens to someone he cares about. He would have gone after Eddie without regard to law or his safety."

"It must be nice to have someone like that in your corner" Sara said as she handed Catherine the pain killers.

"It is. He would do the same for you Sara. You, Nick, Warrick, even Greg. We're all one big happy family in his eyes."

Sara hadn't ever given it much thought, but knew she was right. Grissom was like the patriarch of our little group. Catherine, on the other hand, was the "mother hen" of us. She never stepped in unless she felt we needed the advice.

"Dr. Haywood told me I should call Gris and fill him in. Do you want me to or would you rather I not" Sara asked not wanting to do so without Catherine's approval.

"As much as I hate to, go ahead. Actually, when you call, just ask him to come over that way he doesn't do something stupid first." "Ok. Can I get you anything else?"

"I'm fine for now, thanks."

"No problem. Get some rest and I'll be back in a bit to check on you."

With that, Sara left, closing the door behind her.

"Now to call Grissom" she said aloud. Catherine was right. He was absolutely going to blow a gasket when he found out. Sara picked up the phone and dialed his number.

The phone rang a few times before Grissom realized it was ringing. Looking at his bedside clock the mumbled, "Who would be calling me at 2 in the afternoon?" He picked up the phone and recognized Catherine's number.

"Grissom."

"Hey Gris, it's Sara."

"Why would Sara be calling from Catherine's?" he thought. "What's wrong Sara? Is Catherine alright?"

"She's fine Gris. She needs you to come over. Can you do that?"

"I'm on my way". Hurriedly he threw on some clothes. "Eddie must have gotten the papers from his attorney" he said to himself as he checked his gun.

Back at Catherine's, the repair guy had shown up. He certainly fit the doctor's description. He set to work right away, minding how loud he was. Grissom arrived and immediately recognized the little blue truck. He had been at Catherine's more times than he cared to remember when the same truck had come to fix whatever Eddie had destroyed. He reached the front door just as Sara opened it.

"Where is she Sara? He spoke with a stern voice.

"She's asleep Gris. She's going to be ok though."

Sara and Grissom went to the kitchen as the guy was finishing up.

Reaching out his hand to the man, "Hi Tyler. How are you?"

"Doing just fine Mr. Grissom. Been a long time since I saw you."

"Nothing personal Tyler, but not long enough. How's the rest of the house?"

"Getting ready to do that next, Sir. He sure did a number on the door here, though. I had to replace the entire unit. I can't tell if he just smashed it in or what. The track at the bottom is all bent to hell and back. There's a bit of splintering here on the frame like maybe he used a bat or crow bar or something."

"Thanks for getting here so quickly. Catherine always felt better after you'd been here."

"Ms. Willows is in a class all by herself, Sir, a real fine lady. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to check the rest of the house."

"Thanks Tyler."

"My pleasure Sir. It would also be my pleasure to meet Eddie alone in a dark alley."

"Mine too."

Tyler made his way through the rest of the house, checking to make sure all was as it should be.

Quite puzzled, "How did he know what Eddie used on the door? And how did he know to look for splintering?"

"Tyler used to be a cop. He got shot on a domestic call and had to retire. He decided to put his time on the force to good use. He hooked up with the organization Dr. Haywood is with. She welcomed such a big guy to the team. Ever sense, he has been the one to come help pick up the pieces after storms like this one. A lot of women feel they owe him their lives because of what he does."

"Wow. Angels all around, huh?"

"Pretty much. What time do you need to wake Catherine up? I'd like to be the one to do it."

"In about thirty minutes. Why don't I make some coffee."

"Good idea. I'm going to poke my head and check her. I'll be right back." Grissom quietly opened the door. He took one look at her and the memories of all the times before when Eddie had done this to her came rushing back, threatening to break the dam he had built around them. "That son of a bitch" he thought to himself. Catherine stirred slightly so he left her alone to rest.

"How's she doing" Sara asked handing Grissom a cup of coffee.

"Ok I guess. I'll find out more when I wake her. Was it bad Sara?"

"She certainly took a beating. The doctor said she had a mild concussion. She took most of the hits to the stomach and ribs. The doctor said he never hit her where someone could easily see."

"True. He never hit her face or arms. Any area that was hidden by clothing was fair game. See, he didn't want anybody at work to see. Everybody knew it though. They'd take one look at her trying to stand or move and they knew. Nobody could do anything though because she wouldn't' file charges."

"Why not?"

"Because he said he'd kill Lindsay if she ever did. What's a mother going to do? She feared for her daughter's safety anyway, threats like that just cemented her fear. I'm going to go wake her now. I want you here tonight with her. Eddie won't come back this soon and I can't be gone with you two out. Go home and pack a few things."