Disclaimer: Don't own this (really as simple as that!)
Archive: Here, and Graveyard Shift.
A/N: Hello all. Well you guys win, there's a second chapter and even * shock horror! * a third!!!! Talk about crazy lol! Special thanks to Emily who beta-ed this for me and Charming-Storm for the push. Also everyone reviewed the last chapter: Annie Lune, EosAphrodite, NLD-diva, jess, Charming-Storm, gilcathlover, cRaZyPiXiE, krisnina77 and The Madhatter. Thank you!!! Also a special 'Hi' to everyone at the Graveyard Shift. Also I've made a few minor changes to the first chapter. You may have to wait a bit for the next chapter, 'cause I'm disappearing to Austria for a few weeks. Anyway R&R and ENJOY!!! - Bex
Your eyes flutter open and you rapidly blink in an attempt to rid your mind of the last clouds of dreams that drift past like a mist. You lie there contemplating the last words you heard in your sleep. Words that flowed from her flawless lips. Words that perfectly mirrored your deepest feelings. Words that would never leave her mouth in reality. Yet they sounded so real that you could have sworn that she had actuality spoken them. But you know your heart will still have to cling to that precious illusion dreaming creates. Illusions that are shattered by the new dawn.
Then you remember who lays sleeping in the living room. You hurriedly push yourself out of bed, wrap a dressing gown around yourself, and walk out your room in the hope to be granted the guilty luxury of secretly watching her rest. But she is no longer there. All that lies on the couch is the ruffled sheet and pillow from where her phantom once slept.
"Catherine?" You call, confused, into the forlorn townhouse.
You're answered by the familiar silence. You try again as you search the house momentarily. She's gone. Sighing, you flick on the kettle out of habit. You sit alone with your heavy heart for company, thinking about her, about the night before. Why did you let her leave after the attack when you knew she wasn't ok?
You cringe at your stupid mistake and allow your self-torment to take a stab at you. The thoughts are dispersed by the kettle's high pitch whistle. Pouring yourself a cup, you allow a fond smile to play on your lips as you remember how you can never get her coffee quite right, and yet somehow she gets yours spot on without trying.
You breathe in the rich aroma and let it stir memories of nights long ago.
~*~*~*~*~
The dim lights blurred out the faces of the customers, whilst the ones on stage clearly illuminate the merchandise. Catherine's clammy palms caressed the cool pole as she slid down it. Greedy eyes hungrily fed off the sight of her teasing them with her grace and presence. But she never noticed them anymore; her thoughts were swept hopelessly along with the music as she allowed the rhythm to control the fluid movement of her body.
The song ended and she marched confidently off the stage. She ran a hand through her sweaty hair and wrapped a gown around her half-naked form. Catherine didn't care what these people thought of her - what anyone thought of her - she knew who she was and that was good enough for her. Even though she made a living prostituting the image of her body, she had never felt that there was a thing she needed to feel ashamed of. 'As long as they remember to look and not touch,' She thought to herself.
She ordered water from the barman, her system demanding to replenish the fluids lost in dancing. That was the first time she noticed him. What made him stand out was the way he blended into the background. Brown hair was even then beginning to speckle with grey and he was dressed smartly in a blue shirt and black slacks. He was the complete opposite of her.
But, unlike every other male that surrounded him, he sat at the bar with his back to the stage, nursing a half empty drink in his hands, eyes remaining glued to the glass.
Ever so often he would look up and steal glances at her in the mirror on the wall behind the bar, his gaze leaving the glass to meet hers before he turned away. She knew that he assumed his actions were going unnoticed, but she had seen him.
"You know, I'm used to men paying to watch me," She informed him, catching him completely off guard.
His startled eyes flickered quickly at her, then resigned to staring embarrassedly down at the bar again. She couldn't help but let her lips spread into a wide, victorious smirk. Cath sipped the ice-cold water and looked up just in time to spy him shyly glancing at her in the mirror again.
"Do you want a private show or something?" She asked demandingly, frustrated that she couldn't figure out what his game was. He feebly shook his head, completely avoiding eye contact. "Can you speak?"
The question caused him to look straight at her. Unlike every man she'd met in here, his gaze stayed fixed on her neck upwards, never once roaming the rest of her figure. It took her by surprise, though not as much as the eyes themselves. They were such a shade of deep blue that Catherine could swear that she began to drown in them as they locked intensely with hers.
"I only came here for a drink," he spoke finally.
"Really?" She scoffed at the answer and rolled her eyes.
"Really," he repeated firmly. "I had a bad day."
"Oh, and what would be the cause of that?" She inquired, leaning on the bar next to him. Something about him completely fascinated her. After the usual scan of the hands for a wedding ring, she concluded there wasn't a wife to be the source of the problem. "Work?"
He shook his head slightly. "I'm still in training."
"For what?"
"To be a Crime Scene Investigator."
She couldn't suppress the light chuckle that fled her lip nor the amused smile. "Well, Mr CSI-Wannabe, you have a name?"
"Gil Grissom," he replied after a hesitant pause. "You have a name yourself?"
"Nope. Been meaning to get me one of those," She laughed, giving him a dazzling smile. "It's Catherine."
~*~*~*~*~
Your smile grows when you remember how, even back then, she adored teasing you. And how you love to be teased. You recall how enthralled with her you were, even at first sight; how she bewitched and challenged you, how you were determined to challenge her back and support her when she chose to become a CSI as well.
How magnetic she was. Her personality as deadly as quicksand; you never had a chance to escape it when it drew you in. Who could help but fall for her?
The smile vanishes when you recollect how you left her for San Francisco. Left because you were scared about your growing feelings for her - the ones that surpassed friendship - and the fear she'd just reject you. Your heart ached from being parted from her, but it was the return that delivered the final blow to split it in two.
She was married.
~*~*~*~*~
Catherine carefully rummaged through the large box marked 'Kitchen' for a pair of mugs, laughing triumphantly when she finally found them and, with a wide smile, passed them to Grissom. He gratefully took them, poured the coffee and slid it back over the surface to her. She took a sip and tried desperately to hide a grimace.
"I got it wrong again, didn't I?" he stated sheepishly, not really a question.
"No. No! It's...great...wonderful...fine," she lied, then, off his unbelieving look, admitted, "Tastes like crap." She laughed and it quickly infected him as well.
"I can never get it right can I?" He chuckled and she just shook her head.
Grissom's eyes then landed on her new wedding ring. It clung to her slim finger, gloatingly shining as it caught the light. He began to feel sick from looking at it, yet he couldn't avert his gaze from the infliction. She followed his gaze and nervously twiddled the gold band. He looked away, allowing awkwardness to settle between the two friends.
"So..." she began, attempting to break the silence, "Why did you leave San Francisco?"
"So many reasons." he replied vaguely.
"Such as?" Cath pressed.
"I didn't like it."
"That's only one answer, Gris," She teased, but it fell flat. She caught him darkly eyeing her ring again. "Why didn't you come to my wedding?"
He gave her a curt shrug. "Weddings have never been my thing."
"Of course not," She murmured disappointedly into her mug as she absentmindedly sipped the coffee. Her face screwed up again. After a pause she placed it down, and to his surprise, she stood up and grabbed her coat. "I should go. Eddie is expecting me."
Grissom merely nodded. She gave him an irritated glare and turned to leave. She was half way to the door when she turned back.
"Grissom?"
"Yeah?"
She smiled faintly. "I'm glad you're back."
~*~*~*~*~
It was 2 months before you noticed the bruises. 4 months before you confronted her about it and her night time arrivals on your doorstep started. The birth of Lindsey Willows managed to keep the peace for a while, but it wasn't long before the lull ceased and Eddie Willows was back to his old self.
Then the blows became more and more violent, and she was fleeing more regularly with Lindsey from her house to seek refuge here. The young child would play, unaware of the argument being constantly exchanged by the adults in the next room. You always argued, even after you'd finished tending angry swelling or holding her whilst she cried.
But your shouts and pleas did no good: she always went back to him. You cursed that man a thousand times; the man who possessed everything you yearned for yet never realised how blessed he was. The one who had her love, yet broke her heart.
~*~*~*~*~
"I had to catch my husband fucking another woman in my bed before you admitted you knew Eddie was having an affair?" Catherine shrieked through the sobs. "Why didn't you tell me? Why Grissom?"
Grissom opened his mouth to answer, but all good reasons left him. Instead, he just shut his lips tightly and looked away, ashamed. He could still feel the anger behind her teary eyes, burning into him. He could still hear the incoherent muttering as she cursed him, her husband and the slut he was sleeping with.
All he wanted to do was protect her from this; to stop her from feeling this anguish, to stop her from adverting her anger from being solely placed on Eddie and making him share the wrath.
"Why?" She demanded again at the top of her voice. When she received no response she began to swear. "Fuck you. Fuck you."
He turned back and grabbed her before she could leave.
"Cath..." he tried earnestly to begin but her screams cut him short.
"You asshole! Out of all the people in the world...How could you do this to me? I trusted you." Without any warning, she began to pound her fist against his chest hysterically. Grissom allowed her to exhaust her fury, he closing his arms around her in a secure embrace, letting her weep there until she physically couldn't anymore.
~*~*~*~*~
It took you ages to repair the thin threads your friendship was left in. Ages for her to forgive you. After that you promised yourself that you would never let anyone treat her like Eddie did - hurt her like Eddie did - but yesterday you failed.
You feel infuriated at yourself for failing her. For failing even now to look after her and treat her right. You slam you mug down, causing the black liquid to slosh over the sides. You begin to pace back and forth. Every since she walked into you life, it's become all about her. You came back to Las Vegas because of her. You didn't attend her wedding because of her. You fought about Eddie, even though it pained you, all because of her. And you wouldn't want it any other way. She stole you heart and you don't want it back.
These thoughts are shattered by the phone's loud ringing. You quickly cross the room and pick it up, hoping it's her.
"Hello?"
"Is this Mr Grissom?" a voice on the other end asks.
"Yes. Who is this?"
"Mr Grissom, I'm calling from the Las Vegas hospital because you are Miss Willows emergency contact number-"
Your heart jerks sharply in your chest and in your desperation you butt in. "What's happened? Is she alright?"
"I'm afraid to tell you...there has been a car accident..."
A/N: DUN, DUN, DA!!! I decided as revenge for extended this I'd leave a cliff-hanger! Lol, not really, this idea just came to me (amazing how the do). Anywho, I really want to know what you think and I know that you really want to tell me. So why are you just sitting around? GO HIT THAT BUTTON NOW!!! Lol :o)
Archive: Here, and Graveyard Shift.
A/N: Hello all. Well you guys win, there's a second chapter and even * shock horror! * a third!!!! Talk about crazy lol! Special thanks to Emily who beta-ed this for me and Charming-Storm for the push. Also everyone reviewed the last chapter: Annie Lune, EosAphrodite, NLD-diva, jess, Charming-Storm, gilcathlover, cRaZyPiXiE, krisnina77 and The Madhatter. Thank you!!! Also a special 'Hi' to everyone at the Graveyard Shift. Also I've made a few minor changes to the first chapter. You may have to wait a bit for the next chapter, 'cause I'm disappearing to Austria for a few weeks. Anyway R&R and ENJOY!!! - Bex
Your eyes flutter open and you rapidly blink in an attempt to rid your mind of the last clouds of dreams that drift past like a mist. You lie there contemplating the last words you heard in your sleep. Words that flowed from her flawless lips. Words that perfectly mirrored your deepest feelings. Words that would never leave her mouth in reality. Yet they sounded so real that you could have sworn that she had actuality spoken them. But you know your heart will still have to cling to that precious illusion dreaming creates. Illusions that are shattered by the new dawn.
Then you remember who lays sleeping in the living room. You hurriedly push yourself out of bed, wrap a dressing gown around yourself, and walk out your room in the hope to be granted the guilty luxury of secretly watching her rest. But she is no longer there. All that lies on the couch is the ruffled sheet and pillow from where her phantom once slept.
"Catherine?" You call, confused, into the forlorn townhouse.
You're answered by the familiar silence. You try again as you search the house momentarily. She's gone. Sighing, you flick on the kettle out of habit. You sit alone with your heavy heart for company, thinking about her, about the night before. Why did you let her leave after the attack when you knew she wasn't ok?
You cringe at your stupid mistake and allow your self-torment to take a stab at you. The thoughts are dispersed by the kettle's high pitch whistle. Pouring yourself a cup, you allow a fond smile to play on your lips as you remember how you can never get her coffee quite right, and yet somehow she gets yours spot on without trying.
You breathe in the rich aroma and let it stir memories of nights long ago.
~*~*~*~*~
The dim lights blurred out the faces of the customers, whilst the ones on stage clearly illuminate the merchandise. Catherine's clammy palms caressed the cool pole as she slid down it. Greedy eyes hungrily fed off the sight of her teasing them with her grace and presence. But she never noticed them anymore; her thoughts were swept hopelessly along with the music as she allowed the rhythm to control the fluid movement of her body.
The song ended and she marched confidently off the stage. She ran a hand through her sweaty hair and wrapped a gown around her half-naked form. Catherine didn't care what these people thought of her - what anyone thought of her - she knew who she was and that was good enough for her. Even though she made a living prostituting the image of her body, she had never felt that there was a thing she needed to feel ashamed of. 'As long as they remember to look and not touch,' She thought to herself.
She ordered water from the barman, her system demanding to replenish the fluids lost in dancing. That was the first time she noticed him. What made him stand out was the way he blended into the background. Brown hair was even then beginning to speckle with grey and he was dressed smartly in a blue shirt and black slacks. He was the complete opposite of her.
But, unlike every other male that surrounded him, he sat at the bar with his back to the stage, nursing a half empty drink in his hands, eyes remaining glued to the glass.
Ever so often he would look up and steal glances at her in the mirror on the wall behind the bar, his gaze leaving the glass to meet hers before he turned away. She knew that he assumed his actions were going unnoticed, but she had seen him.
"You know, I'm used to men paying to watch me," She informed him, catching him completely off guard.
His startled eyes flickered quickly at her, then resigned to staring embarrassedly down at the bar again. She couldn't help but let her lips spread into a wide, victorious smirk. Cath sipped the ice-cold water and looked up just in time to spy him shyly glancing at her in the mirror again.
"Do you want a private show or something?" She asked demandingly, frustrated that she couldn't figure out what his game was. He feebly shook his head, completely avoiding eye contact. "Can you speak?"
The question caused him to look straight at her. Unlike every man she'd met in here, his gaze stayed fixed on her neck upwards, never once roaming the rest of her figure. It took her by surprise, though not as much as the eyes themselves. They were such a shade of deep blue that Catherine could swear that she began to drown in them as they locked intensely with hers.
"I only came here for a drink," he spoke finally.
"Really?" She scoffed at the answer and rolled her eyes.
"Really," he repeated firmly. "I had a bad day."
"Oh, and what would be the cause of that?" She inquired, leaning on the bar next to him. Something about him completely fascinated her. After the usual scan of the hands for a wedding ring, she concluded there wasn't a wife to be the source of the problem. "Work?"
He shook his head slightly. "I'm still in training."
"For what?"
"To be a Crime Scene Investigator."
She couldn't suppress the light chuckle that fled her lip nor the amused smile. "Well, Mr CSI-Wannabe, you have a name?"
"Gil Grissom," he replied after a hesitant pause. "You have a name yourself?"
"Nope. Been meaning to get me one of those," She laughed, giving him a dazzling smile. "It's Catherine."
~*~*~*~*~
Your smile grows when you remember how, even back then, she adored teasing you. And how you love to be teased. You recall how enthralled with her you were, even at first sight; how she bewitched and challenged you, how you were determined to challenge her back and support her when she chose to become a CSI as well.
How magnetic she was. Her personality as deadly as quicksand; you never had a chance to escape it when it drew you in. Who could help but fall for her?
The smile vanishes when you recollect how you left her for San Francisco. Left because you were scared about your growing feelings for her - the ones that surpassed friendship - and the fear she'd just reject you. Your heart ached from being parted from her, but it was the return that delivered the final blow to split it in two.
She was married.
~*~*~*~*~
Catherine carefully rummaged through the large box marked 'Kitchen' for a pair of mugs, laughing triumphantly when she finally found them and, with a wide smile, passed them to Grissom. He gratefully took them, poured the coffee and slid it back over the surface to her. She took a sip and tried desperately to hide a grimace.
"I got it wrong again, didn't I?" he stated sheepishly, not really a question.
"No. No! It's...great...wonderful...fine," she lied, then, off his unbelieving look, admitted, "Tastes like crap." She laughed and it quickly infected him as well.
"I can never get it right can I?" He chuckled and she just shook her head.
Grissom's eyes then landed on her new wedding ring. It clung to her slim finger, gloatingly shining as it caught the light. He began to feel sick from looking at it, yet he couldn't avert his gaze from the infliction. She followed his gaze and nervously twiddled the gold band. He looked away, allowing awkwardness to settle between the two friends.
"So..." she began, attempting to break the silence, "Why did you leave San Francisco?"
"So many reasons." he replied vaguely.
"Such as?" Cath pressed.
"I didn't like it."
"That's only one answer, Gris," She teased, but it fell flat. She caught him darkly eyeing her ring again. "Why didn't you come to my wedding?"
He gave her a curt shrug. "Weddings have never been my thing."
"Of course not," She murmured disappointedly into her mug as she absentmindedly sipped the coffee. Her face screwed up again. After a pause she placed it down, and to his surprise, she stood up and grabbed her coat. "I should go. Eddie is expecting me."
Grissom merely nodded. She gave him an irritated glare and turned to leave. She was half way to the door when she turned back.
"Grissom?"
"Yeah?"
She smiled faintly. "I'm glad you're back."
~*~*~*~*~
It was 2 months before you noticed the bruises. 4 months before you confronted her about it and her night time arrivals on your doorstep started. The birth of Lindsey Willows managed to keep the peace for a while, but it wasn't long before the lull ceased and Eddie Willows was back to his old self.
Then the blows became more and more violent, and she was fleeing more regularly with Lindsey from her house to seek refuge here. The young child would play, unaware of the argument being constantly exchanged by the adults in the next room. You always argued, even after you'd finished tending angry swelling or holding her whilst she cried.
But your shouts and pleas did no good: she always went back to him. You cursed that man a thousand times; the man who possessed everything you yearned for yet never realised how blessed he was. The one who had her love, yet broke her heart.
~*~*~*~*~
"I had to catch my husband fucking another woman in my bed before you admitted you knew Eddie was having an affair?" Catherine shrieked through the sobs. "Why didn't you tell me? Why Grissom?"
Grissom opened his mouth to answer, but all good reasons left him. Instead, he just shut his lips tightly and looked away, ashamed. He could still feel the anger behind her teary eyes, burning into him. He could still hear the incoherent muttering as she cursed him, her husband and the slut he was sleeping with.
All he wanted to do was protect her from this; to stop her from feeling this anguish, to stop her from adverting her anger from being solely placed on Eddie and making him share the wrath.
"Why?" She demanded again at the top of her voice. When she received no response she began to swear. "Fuck you. Fuck you."
He turned back and grabbed her before she could leave.
"Cath..." he tried earnestly to begin but her screams cut him short.
"You asshole! Out of all the people in the world...How could you do this to me? I trusted you." Without any warning, she began to pound her fist against his chest hysterically. Grissom allowed her to exhaust her fury, he closing his arms around her in a secure embrace, letting her weep there until she physically couldn't anymore.
~*~*~*~*~
It took you ages to repair the thin threads your friendship was left in. Ages for her to forgive you. After that you promised yourself that you would never let anyone treat her like Eddie did - hurt her like Eddie did - but yesterday you failed.
You feel infuriated at yourself for failing her. For failing even now to look after her and treat her right. You slam you mug down, causing the black liquid to slosh over the sides. You begin to pace back and forth. Every since she walked into you life, it's become all about her. You came back to Las Vegas because of her. You didn't attend her wedding because of her. You fought about Eddie, even though it pained you, all because of her. And you wouldn't want it any other way. She stole you heart and you don't want it back.
These thoughts are shattered by the phone's loud ringing. You quickly cross the room and pick it up, hoping it's her.
"Hello?"
"Is this Mr Grissom?" a voice on the other end asks.
"Yes. Who is this?"
"Mr Grissom, I'm calling from the Las Vegas hospital because you are Miss Willows emergency contact number-"
Your heart jerks sharply in your chest and in your desperation you butt in. "What's happened? Is she alright?"
"I'm afraid to tell you...there has been a car accident..."
A/N: DUN, DUN, DA!!! I decided as revenge for extended this I'd leave a cliff-hanger! Lol, not really, this idea just came to me (amazing how the do). Anywho, I really want to know what you think and I know that you really want to tell me. So why are you just sitting around? GO HIT THAT BUTTON NOW!!! Lol :o)