Disclaimer: Still don't own!
Archive: Here and the Graveyard.
A/N: Hello all. Yes this story does exist! I'm sorry it took me so long for the final chapter, but I've had a few (major) set backs on the way. But thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter: cRaZyPiXiE, Lovely, Caspian raider, jd burns, Jaecen, Annie Lune, The Madhatter2, krisnina77, Charming-Storm, pinkyfish and pfk killer. And special thanks to Nicole who beta-ed this for me and Emily who proofed the previous chapters. I'm trying my best to update other fics, but I've been doing a lot of course work as well as revising for some important test. Any who, enough of this waffle. R&R and ENJOY!! - Bex
'Is she breathing?'
'I have no idea'
'Miss can you hear me?'
'Everything's going to be alright'
'Hold on, helps coming. Just please hold on'.
Flashing lights. Blue. Red. White. Everything's hazy and blurred. Why doesn't anything make sense? Why can't you see?
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The blinding white light that dazed Catherine's eyes faded and she blinked at her surroundings. It took her head a few minutes to process where she was. Even though the room was surreally whiter, Cath recognised it as the young victim's bedroom where she'd been the day before. Where she'd been attacked. 'So what am I doing here now?' She asked herself, confused.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
All the memories of the previous events swam into the next, colliding and merging into a spinning mess. Her head throbbed intensely and her body ached with pain.
Catherine became aware of another person in the room. Sitting on the bed - engrossed with writing in her diary - sat a young girl. For an instant, Cath could have sworn it was Lindsey, but then she realised that the child was older.
"Hey!" She called out to her. The girl looked up and Catherine recognised immediately. "Alice Beckett?"
The girl nodded and regarded Cath with sadden eyes. "I didn't expect to see you here," She spoke softly after a pause.
Cath's eyes skittered around the room as she walked closer, then finally they locked again with the girl's. "Where is here?"
The girl merely shrugged.
"Am I dreaming?" Catherine asked unsurely.
Alice gave her a tiny half-smile. "I don't really think I'm the right person to answer that, do you?"
Beep. Beep. Beep.
~*~*~*~*~
You can't feel a thing. The bleach and antiseptic that clings to the hospital air stings your nose. You are sure that there is noise around you, but it sounds so far away. All you can do is hopelessly follow the nurse, catching snippets of her words. Something about a car jumping a red light and that they're doing everything they can. You try to prepare yourself for the sight waiting for you through that door. But nothing could prepare you for what you see.
She lies before you; stiff green sheets are wrapped tightly around the immobile body. Not once does she shift. She just lies there perfectly still, whilst wires and tubes stick into her, trapped in suspended animation. Right now she's neither dead nor alive: merely existing.
The sound of the life-support machine echoes deafeningly around the room. You walk torpidly beside her. You run a hand gently down her cheek, feeling all the cuts underneath your touch. Her eyes are closed and sunken as if in some sort of eternal slumber. When you take her hand in yours, you gain no response from her limp fingers. You sink down in the chair next to her and silently beg her to come back to you. You need her to come back.
~*~*~*~*~
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"I guess you're feeling a bit like Alice down the rabbit hole."
Catherine stared at the girl, puzzled by her statement. Alice just laughed. " 'Alice In Wonderland'. Didn't you ever read the book?"
Cath shook her head as she recalled her dislike for reading as a child and now she never had the time. "It was my mother's favourite," the child continued. "That's why she called me Alice."
Alice shifted over, allowing Catherine some space to sit down on the bed. She did so and took the opportunity to inspect the girl. Other then the ghostly pale skin, she looked exactly the same as when Catherine first saw her at the bottom of the stair; except the fear and pain had left her eyes.
"Do you know why we're here?" She asked.
"I think it's because we're not ready to move on yet," Alice guessed. "That people haven't let go of us."
She considered this idea before a serge of agony shot through her systems. Desperately, she clutched her head, wishing the pain to pass.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Are you OK?" The girl asked, obviously panic filled her voice.
"I'm just got a headache," Cath reassured her, then she glared irritably, "I wish that goddamn beeping would stop!"
Alice express turned very sombre very quickly at these words. "Trust me, you don't want that."
~*~*~*~*~
The steady rhythm of the life-support machine becomes irregular and erratic. Alarms blare as nurses and doctors swarm into the room. You frantically try to ask the nurse ushering you out of the room what's happening. "We're not sure," She tells you, "But if you want to help her, Mr Grissom, then let us do our job."
She leaves you outside and rushes back in, shutting the door behind her. You thump the wall in frustration; any pain is cancelled out by the worry gripping you.
"Uncle Grissom?" You turn to see other people sitting behind you. Your other CSIs regard you with concerned eyes. Lindsey sits on Warrick's lap, being hugged as tears streak her face. She wriggles from his embrace and runs over to you. Her arms fling tightly around you. Numbly, you return the hug, unconsciously stroking her hair. What are you going to do?
The nurse appears and you free yourself from the girl's hold. She wants to come with you, but you're not sure if it news she should hear. You're grateful when Warrick takes her to sit down again.
"What's going on?" You demand from the nurse when you're out of earshot.
"There have been a few complications. It appears that Miss Willows has some internal bleeding we didn't detect before. She's on her way up to surgery now," She informs you, using the same emotionless tone you've used yourself. How you hate that tone.
You swallow hard. "Is she. Is she going to be OK?" The nurse hesitates but you pursue an answer: "Please, just tell me."
"We're not sure. She's a fighter and has done amazingly to hang on so this well this far. She has a chance, but it might be best to prepare yourself for the worse," She answers honestly. "I'm sorry."
And with that, she's gone again. You feel like you're sinking. Prepare yourself for the worse? Does that mean you're about to lose her? Lose her when so much remains unsaid? You can't imagine a life without her in it.
Somehow you reach the chairs outside that dreaded room again. The last ounce of strength left in you flees and you collapse into a chair. Lindsey hurries over and curls up on your lap. "Mom's going to be OK isn't she?" She pleas more then asks you.
"Yeah she is," You reply, trying to reassure yourself as much as her. "Everything's going to be okay."
She buries her head into your chest, clinging firmly to your shirt for comfort. You hold her securely, as if afraid that she might be taken from you if you let go. Just like her mother.
All that there is left to do now is wait. Wait whilst the seconds kill you inside. Wait for the unseen future to catch up. Wait for time to decided Catherine's fate. Just wait and see.
~*~*~*~*~
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Are you alright?" The child asked, her voice wavering with worry.
Catherine managed to straighten up. She'd just blacked out completely, leaving her with out a clue to what just happened. Feebly at first, she picked herself off the floor, and then strength seeped back into her muscles.
"Yeah," She responded finally as she pulled herself back onto the bed. "The pain's gone now." Her strong smile seemed to reassure the girl.
"I thought I'd lost you," She admitted timidly.
"Lost me?"
"That you had died and moved on."
"I'm not already dead?" The girl shook her head. "But you are?" The girl nodded. "Then why are you here?"
"I told you, I'm not ready to move on yet. Not everyone has let go of me," Alice repeated.
"Who's still holding on to you?"
"You," She replied simply to Cath astonishment. "I know you feel bad about what happen to me and mum. And I know that you imagine that the same thing might have happened if you'd stayed with Eddie, but it didn't. You moved on, so please let me."
Catherine took this in and nodded, causing the girl to smile. "I think you need to go back. They need you," Alice stated.
"Who need me?"
Alice laughed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Lindsey and Gil silly."
"Gil needs me?" Cath repeated in disbelief.
"More then you know. You need them as much as they need you. So what are you waiting for?"
Beep. Beep. Beep.
~*~*~*~*~
The life-support machine's steady rhythm has return. She made it through the surgery, but they still can't tell you if she's ever going to wake up. 'It's all a matter of time Mr Grissom. We just have to wait and see.'
You take her hand in yours and gently squeeze it. And to your shock, she squeezes faintly back. Her eyelids gradually flicker open and a groan erupts from her throat. "My head."
Without a second thought, you hug her. It takes her by surprise, but she soon hugs you back. You can't begin to express your relief. So many emotions flood you head right now sending you into a giddy daze. You can't believe how close you came to losing her. You hear her moan again in pain and you reluctantly let her go.
She weakly smiles at you as you beam back. "Hi there," You greet her feebly, all other words failing you.
"Hi yourself. Why are you crying Grissom?"
You didn't realise that you had been and hurriedly wipe those tears away. "No reason," You lie sheepishly.
She begins to roll her eyes until she realise how much it hurts. She raises a hand groggily to her head. "Are the others here?" She asks, her voice still croaky.
"Yes they'll all here. Well except Jim. He's busy hunting down the guy who did this." Your smile widens when a light chuckle escapes her lips. "Lindsey is going to be so happy to see you. I'll go and get them."
You turn to leave but she grabs your arm. "Grissom," She starts softly, "There's something I need to tell you."
You look straight at her and nod for her to continue. She pauses as if in thought, looking uncomfortable for the first time since you met her. The suddenly, out of the blue, she blurts out: "I love you."
The words take you by surprise and you blink a couple times in bafflement. Did she just say what you think she said?
Her cheeks begin to turn more scarlet than the open wounds and she avoids your intense gaze. "I guess after today, I mean, what happened.. I figured you should know, in case I didn't get a chance to tell you before something happens." She rambles embarrassedly.
"Cath," You cut her off and she makes eye contact again, "I love you too."
She looks stunned for a second, then a smile lights up her face. She shuffles over so you can sit down next to her on the bed. You oblige and wrap your arms protectively around her as she leans on you chest. You're never going to let her go again.
You both stay in comfortable silence for several moments, listening to the hypnotic beeping of the machine and your hearts beating in time.
"Gil," She murmurs breaking the stillness.
"Mmm?"
"I can't believe my life had to get so messed up before it could start to become so good."
A small smile touches your lips and you tenderly kiss her head.
"Maybe it's about time we picked up those pieces," You suggest, entwining you fingers with hers. When you look down, for a perfect moment you forget whose hand is whose. And there's not a doubt in your mind - this is the way it was always meant to be.
You squeeze her hand gently. "Together."
~The End~
A/N: But I still want to know what you think. Thanks so much to everyone who's reviewed so far, you guys are amazing! * round of applause * Well, I've finally deliver the last part, so I only think it's fair that you hit the button and leave some opinions in exchange! Go on. What are you waiting for?
Archive: Here and the Graveyard.
A/N: Hello all. Yes this story does exist! I'm sorry it took me so long for the final chapter, but I've had a few (major) set backs on the way. But thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter: cRaZyPiXiE, Lovely, Caspian raider, jd burns, Jaecen, Annie Lune, The Madhatter2, krisnina77, Charming-Storm, pinkyfish and pfk killer. And special thanks to Nicole who beta-ed this for me and Emily who proofed the previous chapters. I'm trying my best to update other fics, but I've been doing a lot of course work as well as revising for some important test. Any who, enough of this waffle. R&R and ENJOY!! - Bex
'Is she breathing?'
'I have no idea'
'Miss can you hear me?'
'Everything's going to be alright'
'Hold on, helps coming. Just please hold on'.
Flashing lights. Blue. Red. White. Everything's hazy and blurred. Why doesn't anything make sense? Why can't you see?
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The blinding white light that dazed Catherine's eyes faded and she blinked at her surroundings. It took her head a few minutes to process where she was. Even though the room was surreally whiter, Cath recognised it as the young victim's bedroom where she'd been the day before. Where she'd been attacked. 'So what am I doing here now?' She asked herself, confused.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
All the memories of the previous events swam into the next, colliding and merging into a spinning mess. Her head throbbed intensely and her body ached with pain.
Catherine became aware of another person in the room. Sitting on the bed - engrossed with writing in her diary - sat a young girl. For an instant, Cath could have sworn it was Lindsey, but then she realised that the child was older.
"Hey!" She called out to her. The girl looked up and Catherine recognised immediately. "Alice Beckett?"
The girl nodded and regarded Cath with sadden eyes. "I didn't expect to see you here," She spoke softly after a pause.
Cath's eyes skittered around the room as she walked closer, then finally they locked again with the girl's. "Where is here?"
The girl merely shrugged.
"Am I dreaming?" Catherine asked unsurely.
Alice gave her a tiny half-smile. "I don't really think I'm the right person to answer that, do you?"
Beep. Beep. Beep.
~*~*~*~*~
You can't feel a thing. The bleach and antiseptic that clings to the hospital air stings your nose. You are sure that there is noise around you, but it sounds so far away. All you can do is hopelessly follow the nurse, catching snippets of her words. Something about a car jumping a red light and that they're doing everything they can. You try to prepare yourself for the sight waiting for you through that door. But nothing could prepare you for what you see.
She lies before you; stiff green sheets are wrapped tightly around the immobile body. Not once does she shift. She just lies there perfectly still, whilst wires and tubes stick into her, trapped in suspended animation. Right now she's neither dead nor alive: merely existing.
The sound of the life-support machine echoes deafeningly around the room. You walk torpidly beside her. You run a hand gently down her cheek, feeling all the cuts underneath your touch. Her eyes are closed and sunken as if in some sort of eternal slumber. When you take her hand in yours, you gain no response from her limp fingers. You sink down in the chair next to her and silently beg her to come back to you. You need her to come back.
~*~*~*~*~
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"I guess you're feeling a bit like Alice down the rabbit hole."
Catherine stared at the girl, puzzled by her statement. Alice just laughed. " 'Alice In Wonderland'. Didn't you ever read the book?"
Cath shook her head as she recalled her dislike for reading as a child and now she never had the time. "It was my mother's favourite," the child continued. "That's why she called me Alice."
Alice shifted over, allowing Catherine some space to sit down on the bed. She did so and took the opportunity to inspect the girl. Other then the ghostly pale skin, she looked exactly the same as when Catherine first saw her at the bottom of the stair; except the fear and pain had left her eyes.
"Do you know why we're here?" She asked.
"I think it's because we're not ready to move on yet," Alice guessed. "That people haven't let go of us."
She considered this idea before a serge of agony shot through her systems. Desperately, she clutched her head, wishing the pain to pass.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Are you OK?" The girl asked, obviously panic filled her voice.
"I'm just got a headache," Cath reassured her, then she glared irritably, "I wish that goddamn beeping would stop!"
Alice express turned very sombre very quickly at these words. "Trust me, you don't want that."
~*~*~*~*~
The steady rhythm of the life-support machine becomes irregular and erratic. Alarms blare as nurses and doctors swarm into the room. You frantically try to ask the nurse ushering you out of the room what's happening. "We're not sure," She tells you, "But if you want to help her, Mr Grissom, then let us do our job."
She leaves you outside and rushes back in, shutting the door behind her. You thump the wall in frustration; any pain is cancelled out by the worry gripping you.
"Uncle Grissom?" You turn to see other people sitting behind you. Your other CSIs regard you with concerned eyes. Lindsey sits on Warrick's lap, being hugged as tears streak her face. She wriggles from his embrace and runs over to you. Her arms fling tightly around you. Numbly, you return the hug, unconsciously stroking her hair. What are you going to do?
The nurse appears and you free yourself from the girl's hold. She wants to come with you, but you're not sure if it news she should hear. You're grateful when Warrick takes her to sit down again.
"What's going on?" You demand from the nurse when you're out of earshot.
"There have been a few complications. It appears that Miss Willows has some internal bleeding we didn't detect before. She's on her way up to surgery now," She informs you, using the same emotionless tone you've used yourself. How you hate that tone.
You swallow hard. "Is she. Is she going to be OK?" The nurse hesitates but you pursue an answer: "Please, just tell me."
"We're not sure. She's a fighter and has done amazingly to hang on so this well this far. She has a chance, but it might be best to prepare yourself for the worse," She answers honestly. "I'm sorry."
And with that, she's gone again. You feel like you're sinking. Prepare yourself for the worse? Does that mean you're about to lose her? Lose her when so much remains unsaid? You can't imagine a life without her in it.
Somehow you reach the chairs outside that dreaded room again. The last ounce of strength left in you flees and you collapse into a chair. Lindsey hurries over and curls up on your lap. "Mom's going to be OK isn't she?" She pleas more then asks you.
"Yeah she is," You reply, trying to reassure yourself as much as her. "Everything's going to be okay."
She buries her head into your chest, clinging firmly to your shirt for comfort. You hold her securely, as if afraid that she might be taken from you if you let go. Just like her mother.
All that there is left to do now is wait. Wait whilst the seconds kill you inside. Wait for the unseen future to catch up. Wait for time to decided Catherine's fate. Just wait and see.
~*~*~*~*~
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Are you alright?" The child asked, her voice wavering with worry.
Catherine managed to straighten up. She'd just blacked out completely, leaving her with out a clue to what just happened. Feebly at first, she picked herself off the floor, and then strength seeped back into her muscles.
"Yeah," She responded finally as she pulled herself back onto the bed. "The pain's gone now." Her strong smile seemed to reassure the girl.
"I thought I'd lost you," She admitted timidly.
"Lost me?"
"That you had died and moved on."
"I'm not already dead?" The girl shook her head. "But you are?" The girl nodded. "Then why are you here?"
"I told you, I'm not ready to move on yet. Not everyone has let go of me," Alice repeated.
"Who's still holding on to you?"
"You," She replied simply to Cath astonishment. "I know you feel bad about what happen to me and mum. And I know that you imagine that the same thing might have happened if you'd stayed with Eddie, but it didn't. You moved on, so please let me."
Catherine took this in and nodded, causing the girl to smile. "I think you need to go back. They need you," Alice stated.
"Who need me?"
Alice laughed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Lindsey and Gil silly."
"Gil needs me?" Cath repeated in disbelief.
"More then you know. You need them as much as they need you. So what are you waiting for?"
Beep. Beep. Beep.
~*~*~*~*~
The life-support machine's steady rhythm has return. She made it through the surgery, but they still can't tell you if she's ever going to wake up. 'It's all a matter of time Mr Grissom. We just have to wait and see.'
You take her hand in yours and gently squeeze it. And to your shock, she squeezes faintly back. Her eyelids gradually flicker open and a groan erupts from her throat. "My head."
Without a second thought, you hug her. It takes her by surprise, but she soon hugs you back. You can't begin to express your relief. So many emotions flood you head right now sending you into a giddy daze. You can't believe how close you came to losing her. You hear her moan again in pain and you reluctantly let her go.
She weakly smiles at you as you beam back. "Hi there," You greet her feebly, all other words failing you.
"Hi yourself. Why are you crying Grissom?"
You didn't realise that you had been and hurriedly wipe those tears away. "No reason," You lie sheepishly.
She begins to roll her eyes until she realise how much it hurts. She raises a hand groggily to her head. "Are the others here?" She asks, her voice still croaky.
"Yes they'll all here. Well except Jim. He's busy hunting down the guy who did this." Your smile widens when a light chuckle escapes her lips. "Lindsey is going to be so happy to see you. I'll go and get them."
You turn to leave but she grabs your arm. "Grissom," She starts softly, "There's something I need to tell you."
You look straight at her and nod for her to continue. She pauses as if in thought, looking uncomfortable for the first time since you met her. The suddenly, out of the blue, she blurts out: "I love you."
The words take you by surprise and you blink a couple times in bafflement. Did she just say what you think she said?
Her cheeks begin to turn more scarlet than the open wounds and she avoids your intense gaze. "I guess after today, I mean, what happened.. I figured you should know, in case I didn't get a chance to tell you before something happens." She rambles embarrassedly.
"Cath," You cut her off and she makes eye contact again, "I love you too."
She looks stunned for a second, then a smile lights up her face. She shuffles over so you can sit down next to her on the bed. You oblige and wrap your arms protectively around her as she leans on you chest. You're never going to let her go again.
You both stay in comfortable silence for several moments, listening to the hypnotic beeping of the machine and your hearts beating in time.
"Gil," She murmurs breaking the stillness.
"Mmm?"
"I can't believe my life had to get so messed up before it could start to become so good."
A small smile touches your lips and you tenderly kiss her head.
"Maybe it's about time we picked up those pieces," You suggest, entwining you fingers with hers. When you look down, for a perfect moment you forget whose hand is whose. And there's not a doubt in your mind - this is the way it was always meant to be.
You squeeze her hand gently. "Together."
~The End~
A/N: But I still want to know what you think. Thanks so much to everyone who's reviewed so far, you guys are amazing! * round of applause * Well, I've finally deliver the last part, so I only think it's fair that you hit the button and leave some opinions in exchange! Go on. What are you waiting for?