Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters from the show. Erm. so don't sue.

Spoilers: None

Author's Note: Please review. Thanks to all of you have already- you make me hyper and giddy! YAY!

Sorry it's taken so long - I've been helping on the farm n going horse racing with my dad n stuff. Plus revision *ahem* and schoolwork. The week at school wasn't exactly what you'd call a good one either. Plus, every time I tried loading it up before FF.net said it was busy. aaaarrrrggggggghhhhhh

K, here it is. bit longer than usual I think to make up (

Revelations

Chapter 4

"Could you send them over? I know I'm not supposed to but it's not for me." He paused and rubbed his forehead, listening to the person on the other end of the line. "Charlie, let me finish. They're for a case. I think- I think they got Jess too. I need the case files for comparison. Thanks, Charlie, soon as possible okay. I'm fine. Tell John and the others I said hi." With that he put the phone down and sighed. He closed the folder in front of him and leant back in his chair, wincing slightly at his aching muscles.

"You can come in now Cath," he called out, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Um- how?"

"I saw your shadow outside the door," he said, and nodded for her to sit down.

Looking at him in the faint light of the computer monitor made him look older than she had ever seen him before, sad creases lining his face.

She wanted to ask him how he could tell her from her shadow, but thought better of it.

"Who was that?"

"Charlie," he stated, a slight twinkle in his eye that hadn't been there for days.

"Never," she retorted sarcastically.

"She used to be back on my team in LA. I asked her to send the files and stuff over."

"She?"

"Her real name is Charlotte. You've no reason to be jealous Cath," he said, laughing slightly.

"I'm not jealous," she said, raising her hands in mock defence. "So," she started seriously, "she knew Jess?"

"Yeah."

Sensing that he didn't want to elaborate further, she stood up.

"Come on we'd better go. The others are waiting."

Grissom and Catherine entered the break room. The CSIs, Brass and Greg stopped the quiet chatting and a noticeably sombre mood fell on the group. Catherine sat down on the sofa and waited for Grissom to start. She could see that he was trying to keep a neutral expression on his face but every couple of moments he drew in a quick breath to try and repress the sobs of grief.

"Fifteen years ago my wife, Helena, was murdered. She was stabbed in the chest repeatedly and died of the blood loss before she could get to the hospital. Our daughter, Jessica, was unscathed." Grissom paused, unsure how to continue. He quickly glanced at Catherine who gave him an encouraging nod. "The murderers were convicted but were part of a gang. For this reason Jessica was put up for adoption with the intention that her foster parents would bring her up in a safe environment." He drew in a deep, shuddering breath and looked at the faces of his audience. Only Catherine would look at him directly, everyone else, even Brass, looked determined to avoid his gaze. Greg, Nick and Warrick looked stunned; Sara disappointed and slightly hurt.

Grissom shook his head and sunk down in to a chair at the table.

"Look. It just keeps on going round in a vicious cycle. First I convicted one of them for a drive by shooting. They killed my wife. I got the people who did it. Fifteen years later, they kill my daughter. Something tells me it won't stop. But it needs to. Warrick, you were on this case from the beginning, so you carry on and I want Catherine to help you. Nick, Sara, you two have got the job of keeping this place running, any other cases are yours. You are some of the best people in your fields in the country. Guys, I'm sorry I kept this from you."

After a brief pause Warrick stood up and Catherine followed him to restart examining the evidence collected from the scene. Nick, Sara and Greg soon left, leaving Grissom alone with Brass.

"Sorry, Gil." He shook his head slowly then departed.

+++

"God, I never knew this stuff about Grissom. I thought he was."

"An enigma?"

"Yeah but. I never expected that." Nick glanced over at Sara, who shrugged.

"Neither did I. It must be really hard on him, going through that alone."

"He's got Catherine to look after him now. Didn't you know anything, Sara? You did know him before any of us, he brought you in."

"No," she said, a hint of resentment in her voice.

Nick knew the conversation was over so he announced that they were at the scene and they both got out of the Tahoe. They collected their cases from the back of the vehicle and made their way over to the detective in charge.

"Black male. Around forty." He pointed to a body covered in blood slumped slightly against the wall. "Looks like he was shot from somewhere across the street when he came out of the bar. There was another victim; she's been taken to the hospital. The shooter got her in the leg."

"Were the two victims together or was it just an accident she got hit?" Sara asked.

"The bouncers said that they arrived separately. Apparently they'd been eyeing each other up all night then they started talking and dancing then left together."

"They didn't get very far," Nick stated, then knelt down by the man's body. After taking a few photos of him from different angles, he reached into the pocket and pulled out a wallet. "Whoa. This guys got more than a few dollars in here."

"Any ID?"

"Hang on." He pulled out a driving licence and scanned it. "Andrew Phelps. Lives a few miles from here."

+++

"Here are the bullets recovered from the foster parents." Warrick handed two plastic bags over to Grissom. "Ballistics hasn't got a match yet but they're still running it. Seems a bit weird though. They shoot the foster parents but stab Jessica."

"Not really. They were recreating the scene. That is, of course, if it's the same people."

Catherine, Warrick and Grissom turned round to see the owner of the voice. A woman with short blonde hair was stood at the door.

"Charlie!" Grissom said, surprised, then was enveloped in a huge hug. "How are you?"

"I'm good. You?"

"Fine," he mumbled. "This is Charlie, well, Charlotte Ridding. I worked with her in L.A. This is Catherine Willows and Warrick Brown."

She hitched her bag up further on her shoulder and shook hands with Catherine and Warrick.

"I wasn't expecting you."

"Gil, how else was I going to get you your case files."

"You could have faxed it."

"No matter how hard you try you won't get hair samples down the fax machine." Holding out the large envelope that she had in her other hand she said, "Here's the case file you wanted, the other stuff is in the car."

Catherine watched their retreating backs down the corridor; Charlie was talking animatedly about their old colleagues. She turned back to the evidence on the table and saw Warrick's smirk.

"What?"

"Nothing," he said innocently. "Just you got the hots for him don't ya!"

"What?" she repeated.

"Please. If looks could kills. the way you were looking at Charlotte. Man, they're old friends. There's nothing to be jealous about!"

"I wish people would stop telling me that," she muttered under her breath as she bent down to look through the microscope.

"What?"

"Nothing."

+++

"Excuse me Miss-"

"Please, call me Cassandra."

"Okay, Cassandra. Could you tell me exactly what you were doing at the bar?" Sara asked her. She was in a hospital bed, her leg bandaged where she was shot.

"Well, I was having a girly night out and-"

"Honey, I just got the phone call at work. Are you okay? What happened? Why- " The man the had just burst through the curtains stopped abruptly when he saw Sara.

"Excuse me Sir, could you wait outside."

"But I'm her husband."

"And I'm Sara Sidle from the Crime Lab and I need to ask her a few questions."

The man threw a horrible glance at Sara then left reluctantly.

"I'm sorry about David, he's a bit. over protective of me."

"So," Sara continued. "You were at a bar getting drunk with your friends then left with a man who was shot dead. Who was the man?"

"I don't know. He certainly wasn't my husband!" She laughed highly at her own joke.

"Do you know why he might have been targeted or did you see anyone?"

"Like I said, sweetie, I don't know. He was loaded if that's any help. I like a man with a lot of dosh." She started giggling and Sara decided she wouldn't get anything else out of her. Outside of the cubicle she told the doting husband that he could go in then made her way back to the lab.

+++

"So, how's John and everyone?"

"Great. He's finally got together with Michelle."

"It's took them long enough."

"Yeah," Charlie said, placing her coffee down on the table. "I guess some people are meant to be together, it's just that they don't know it yet." She quickly glanced across to see how Grissom received this statement. He was deep in thought so she let her mind wonder and she gazed around the break room. It was different to how she had pictured it. Although being a normal room with a dull colour scheme, photos of the team and other personal effects were placed around the room giving it a friendlier atmosphere. "You have a good team here. They seem really nice too. Gil, I'm glad you're happy here."

Grissom smiled back at her and set his own coffee on the table.

"Thanks Charlie, for everything. I've got to get going now but I'll see you soon, okay. You can stay at my place tonight if you want."

"I'm all right, I've booked a place at hotel. We're in Vegas, it's not exactly short of places to stay."

"Point taken. Ring me." He hugged her goodbye and watched her leave. Suddenly, he felt like he was being watched. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Catherine watching him and when he turned to see her properly she left quickly. Grissom got the distinct impression she wasn't happy about something. He started to follow her but was intercepted by Sara.

"Hey Grissom."

"Oh, hi Sara."

"Were you just leaving?"

"Er. no, no. How's your case going?" he asked distractedly.

"Okay. We have a shooter outside a bar. Ballistics is running the bullets now." Sara looked at her hands intently for a moment. She realised that this was the first time they had talked since he told them about his past. "Gil, I'm sorry. I know people have probably been saying that to you a lot lately, but I really am. I never realised what you've been through and I want you to know that even though I was a bit hurt at first I understand why you kept it a secret." She faced Grissom who smiled at her.

"Thanks Sara. You probably have no idea how much that just meant to me."

Sara smiled nervously and was going to say something before her pager went off. A couple of seconds later so did Grissom's.

"That's weird. Who's yours from?" Sara asked.

"Ballistics. They must have found a match."

"Same here."

The ballistics lab never failed to amaze Sara. Even though she was surrounded by so many weapons that could and did seriously injure and kill people she couldn't help wonder about them and the refined skill of the people that worked there. Bobby welcomed them in and called them over to the comparison microscope. He pointed to the television screen which showed the strafe marks of two spent bullets.

"Now. I'm still running the bullets that you two gave me, except that it's now only one bullet. Bullet number one on the left, taken out of the foster parents at Grissom's scene. Bullet number two." He pointed at the other bullet on the screen. "This is the one pulled out of Sara's vic. As you can see, they are the same."

"So it was the same person," Sara whispered.

"Well, same gun at least."

"I need to ring Nick."

"Yeah," Grissom said. "I guess we're on the same case."

++++

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

The door opened slowly and Catherine leant on the doorframe for support, trying not to succumb to the exhaustion.

"Gil, what do you want?"

I just dropped by to see if you're okay," he said awkwardly.

"I'm fine, Gil, really. I'm just.. I'm just really tired, that's all." Her tone was so final that he sighed in resignation and turned to leave until he heard running footsteps in the hallway.

"Mommy, who is it?" Lindsay peered round the door and her face lit up. "Uncle Gil" Mom, can Uncle Gil come in and play. I wanna show him my drawings." Without waiting for a reply she had grabbed hold of his hand and dragged him into the house. Grissom saw two plates on the table.

"Sorry if I dragged you away from your dinner," he apologised.

"It's all right. I'd finished anyway," she said, clearing the table. Gil detected a hardness in her voice.

"Catherine, is everything okay?"

Catherine turned round to face Grissom and eyed him carefully.

"Linds, will you take your ice cream into your bedroom whilst Uncle Gil and I talk."

"But you said I'm not allowed food in my room-"

"I know sweetie, just this once."

Lindsay shot suspicious looks at them but gathered her bowl of ice cream and departed down the hall and into her room. When Catherine heard the door close she sat down on the sofa and rested her head in her hands. Grissom pulled himself closer and went to slide his hand up her back but she jerked away uncomfortable.

"Catherine?"

"I'm sorry Gil. It just doesn't feel right," she said quietly.

"But I thought."

"Gil, I do love you, but."

"But?" Grissom questioned, getting slightly angry.

"I don't know. I guess seeing you with Charlie made me realise that I've missed such an important part of your life. It's a lot to get used to. I can't help feeling that what I knew - who I knew - was a lie."

"It wasn't a lie," he almost yelled.

"But it felt like it was. It still does."

Grissom stood up and gaped at her.

"It was to keep you safe. I didn't tell you so you wouldn't get hurt."

"Yeah, well, Grissom. I'm hurting now," she yelled as she stood up to face him.

"You don't think I'm hurting? My wife and now my daughter have been murdered."

"You put her up adoption. You could have kept her close and given her a life with her father. You deprived her of something so unimaginably important. You think you're the only one who's had a hard life. God, Eddie was an alcoholic, abusive utter bastard of a husband but Lindsay still needed him. And now he's dead and he nearly killed Lindsay too."

"Are you comparing me and Eddie?" Grissom asked dangerously.

"No. But at least with Eddie I knew where I was?"

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Gil, I know I love you. I'm just not sure yet if want to love you. Now go. just go."

Grissom paused then stormed out of the house leaving Catherine stood alone in the middle of the living room. Lindsay appeared out of her room and saw her mother and led her over to the couch. Wrapping her arms around her she felt her body shaking.

"It's going to be all right mommy."

"I'm not sure about that."

TBC.

Ta daaaa!!!

Well, what d'ya think. There you have it. their 'relationship'. I can't believe I just made them fight. It's a bit longer than normal to make up for being late!!! *grins sheepishly* sorry 'bout that!

Review. feed my obsession. mwa ha ha

Thank you to all of you that have reviewed so far! The Madhatter - thanks, my exams were okay, got English, Lit and Art left. Barb - that enough danger from the rest of the team or shall he suffer even more. mwa ha ha GIL - don't cry. oh go on then. ;-)

Review. plz. I will hurry up on next chapter and have less caffeine. I will hurry up on next chapter and have less caffeine. I will hurry up on next chapter and have less caffeine.

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