Disclaimers: Not mine

Spoilers: Inside The Box

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THE PERFECT FAMILY

(Chapter 7)

"Your sister's very nice."

Catherine looked at Grissom with a surprised smile and waited until they were both seated in the living room before she spoke. "She thinks you're nice too."

Not noticing the lilt in her voice, he continued, "So how's your mother doing?"

"She's...fine." Before Grissom could respond, she shook her head. "No, I actually don't know if that's true."

"You haven't seen her yet?"

"I have."

"But?"

"But that's it. I've seen her. I haven't talked to her or anything." She shrugged nonchalantly.

"Do you want to?"

"Talk to her? Yes." She paused. "I'm just afraid when I do, I might not be able to control what comes out of my mouth."

"Are you going to tell her that you know about Sam Braun?"

"I don't know. You know, before you and the girls came back, I considered telling Katie but I just couldn't bring myself to say it. It's ridiculous, I know. I mean, I've accepted it to be the truth but I can't bring myself to say it out loud."

"You're going to have to someday."

"I know."

"At the risk of sounding self-righteous, your mother deserves to know."

"She knows. She's known this entire time."

"I meant that she deserves to know that you know."

"Right. Like I deserved to know who my real father was. Except what should happen doesn't always necessarily happen, does it?"

Ignoring her bitterness, Grissom said calmly, "Have you considered the possibility that maybe by talking to her about it, you can finally let go of all this anger and bitterness?"

"What? And force myself to live in a happier world? No way." Catherine laughed cynically.

"Catherine, I didn't come here to push you to do something you're not ready to do but I think that you should at least open your eyes to new possibilities. It's possible for you to have a healthy relationship with your mother. You just have to be open to the idea. And the fact that you came to Montana is proof that you're not entirely closed off to it."

"I hope you didn't expect to change the way I feel by coming here cuz you, of all people, should know that that's impossible."

"I came here to help, Cath. But I can't if you don't let me."

*To be continued*