When Ellie returned from her shower she looked much better. Just like any other teenage girl. The blood on her forehead had been washed away and she had covered the bruise up with make-up. Catherine was glad that it had been her, not Laura, who had woken up Ellie. She was sure that Laura had seen her daughter in worse states, but she was also sure that Laura was balancing dangerously close to the edge and one more little thing would push her over.

Catherine sipped her coffee, and then turned to her niece.

"Tonight's my night off. Lindsey's sleeping over at a friends. What do you say you come over and we have a girly night in? Just the two of us. You know, movies and pizza."

She waited expectantly, desperate for an opportunity to bond with Ellie.

Ellie looked distant, as though she was considering something that would have no place in this room. Then she sighed.

"Yeah. Whatever."

"Great!" Catherine exclaimed, a little more brightly than she'd intended. "So, I'll pick you up from her at six o'clock."

"Nah uh," Ellie said immediately, "No can do."

"Ellie!" Laura scolded, "Cath is giving up her free time for you. The least you could do is act grateful."

"Mother. If you had just let me finish," said Ellie with exaggerated calmness, "I was going to say. I have karate tonight. Do you think you could pick me up from training about eightish?"

"No problem."

Catherine pulled into the parking lot as the time approached eight thirty. Just as she'd been heading out the door the phone had rung. It had been Warrick. He'd wanted to ask her some questions about an old case they'd worked together on, so he could finish the report.

The parking lot was dark and deserted. Catherine swore to herself. Then, through the gloom, she could just make out a lone figure sitting on the wall. As she jumped out of her car, she noticed that a glowing cigarette end pinpointed the figure.

"I thought you'd forgotten about me," a voice called out of the darkness.

Catherine apologized as she walked nearer. Ellie slid off the wall and tilting her head back towards the brightly shining moon, she slowly blew out a cloud of smoke.

"You know smoking's bad for your health."

Ellie shot her a 'the devil may care' look.

Catherine reached forward and plucked the cigarette from her niece's fingers. She placed it between her own lips and inhaled deeply. Fixing her eyes steadily on Ellie's face, she exhaled delicately into the night air.

Ellie giggled, delighted. "Catherine Willows!" She exclaimed. "And I thought you'd joined the goody two shoes, saintly Girl Scout ranks."

Catherine's face remained hard. She dropped the cigarette to the ground and crushed it beneath the toe of her shoe.

"Oh I'm a good girl alright, but old habits die hard." She grinned.

Catherine unlocked the car and Ellie threw her bag containing her gi on the back seat. She'd changed after practice into a pair of jeans that fit even more closely than the ones she'd slept in earlier and a tight, low-cut vest top.

Catherine peered overt he top of the car.

"Are you ready for pizza?"

"I know," said Ellie, as though an idea had just occurred to her, although clearly it hadn't. "Let's go along the strip."

Catherine frowned. "We can't do that. You're only seventeen."

"So?"

Catherine still looked unconvinced.

"Cath, please," Ellie begged, "I've got to show you something."

Catherine eyed her suspiciously. "Show me what?"

Ellie's face darkened. "Show you that some things never change."



A/N Thank you for the reviews. I love hearing what other people think. The other characters will feature in this quite significantly, but all in good time!