Disclaimers: Not mine

Spoilers: Inside The Box

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THE PERFECT FAMILY

(Chapter 10)

"I honestly wish there was a definitive answer to solve your problems but there isn't, Catherine. I can't tell you what to do cuz in the end, it's about you and your mother. Not me. Not your sister. Not anyone else."

Grissom's words replayed themselves over and over again in Catherine's mind as she settled in 'her chair' in the living room. It felt familiar, yet oddly uncomfortable for her to be sitting in the seat she used to always curl up in when she wanted time to think. The armchair had a side view out of the bay window looking out into the vast backyard. This was where she used to sit, watching the day turn into night, when she was a child. She hadn't sat in this chair for so long now...

"Lindsey asleep?"

Catherine answered her sister with a simple nod.

"Did you talk to her about Mom?"

Catherine shook her head.

Katie watched her older sister in silence for a moment before sighing, "I'm going to call it a night. I'll see you in the morning, Cat."

"I'm leaving."

Her sister's voice stopped her dead in her tracks. Katie turned around and looked at her sister again. "What?"

"I'm leaving. Tomorrow morning." Catherine finally raised her gaze to meet with Katie's. "I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry."

It was only now that Catherine was looking directly at her that Katie saw the tears running down her sister's face. "You didn't even try." She said, more disappointed than angry.

"I know." Catherine returned her attention to the window. "I just can't, Katie. I'm sorry."

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to."

"Don't do this! Don't make me out to be the bad guy here!"

"Why not? Mom's not the one who's leaving."

"No, ok? No, I'm not going to fight with you. I've already lost Dad and Mom, I...I don't wanna lose you too."

"You haven't lost any of us, Cat. So stop throwing yourself a pity party like we're all dead or something."

"You don't understand..."

"Of course I don't! I'll never understand how you could hate our own mother the way that you do! I'll never understand it!"

"Katie, wake up! She's not the perfect mother that you think she is! She's lied to me and to you, for that matter, for our entire lives!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm not your sister, Katie! Well not fully, anyway..."

"Cat, what the hell are you talking about?"

"The man who you call your father, the man who I've called my father for my entire life, is not actually my father. You remember Sam Braun?"

"How can I forget?"

"Well he's my father, ok?"

"That's ridiculous."

"Yeah well it's also the truth."

Katie stopped for a second and studied her sister with suspicious eyes. It didn't take long for her to realize Catherine was telling the truth. "How can this be? When did you find out?"

"Recently. Remember when Sam was arrested? I found out then."

"And you never told me?"

"I've barely been able to accept it myself, Katie."

"And you're saying that Mom's lied to us all this time?"

"Well she definitely never told us the truth, did she?"

"Have you talked to her about it?"

"No, but she doesn't need to anymore."

Both Catherine and Katie turned their heads towards the doorway separating the living room from the hallway. There stood their mother, looking stronger than she realistically was.

*To be continued*