Disclaimers: Not mine

Spoilers: Lady Heather's Box, Inside The Box (what is with this show and the word BOX?)

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THE PERFECT FAMILY

(Chapter 12)

"Good morning."

"Hmm. Indeed." Grissom answered with a surprised smirk. At Catherine's raise of an eyebrow, he explained, "The last time we spoke, I had the impression you were ready to leave. By the look on your face, I can see that's changed."

"I wonder sometimes..."

"About?"

"Why you became a CSI and not a psychologist."

"Being a CSI entails the ability to read people so I suppose we both have a little psychologist in us."

"Why are you so happy today? It's really too early for anyone to be as happy as you are."

"I'm happy because all that tension in this house is now gone."

Catherine frowned and shook her head. "This sounds oddly like an episode of 'Touched By An Angel'."

"Of what?"

Laughing, she shook her head again. "Never mind."

"So Lindsey will be happy to hear that you're staying a little longer."

"Yeah..." Catherine peeked out the window into the backyyard where Lindsey was already hard at play with her cousin.

"It's been a while since I've seen her this happy."

"It's been a while since you've seen her." She looked at him pointedly before turning back towards the window.

"I didn't think you'd bring that up."

"I shouldn't have. It's not a big deal."

"It is if you can bring it up and then pretend like it's not a big deal."

"Grissom, it's nothing. Your job as supervisor takes up a lot of your time. I understand. So does Lindsey."

"Ah...so both you and Lindsey are angry with me."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to." He paused. "I knew things were bad when you wouldn't talk to me about Eddie."

She looked at him with a puzzled look. "When?"

"When he passed away. I asked you if you were alright, if there was anything I could do and...you brushed me aside."

"I wasn't thinking straight."

"No, I think you were thinking very straight."

"Look, it's really not a big deal, ok? I'm not angry. I'm sure Lindsey isn't either."

"I should've been around more." He ignored her attempts at ending this conversation. "I'm sorry that I didn't keep my promise."

Catherine froze, her eyes still glued to the children outside. "It's ok." She answered softly.

"No, it's not. When you broke things off with Eddie, I promised you I would be there for you and Lindsey. I haven't kept my promise and I'm truly sorry for it."

"I can't believe you remembered..." She laughed in disbelief.

"Of course I remember. It might not seem like it but I remember every promise I've made to you."

Catherine snapped out of her daze and looked at him. Before she could figure out what he had meant, her sister walked into the kitchen. "Hey, wow, everyone's up bright and...ear...ly." Katie looked from one to another. "I should go check on the girls..."

"No." Grissom stood up, folding up the newspaper he had been holding in his hands. "I'll go check on them." At the women's questioning looks, he shrugged, "I told them I'd teach them more about horses."

Katie waited until Grissom was out the door before sitting down in his vacated seat. "I screwed up, didn't I? Dammit, I have just about the worst timing in this entire world."

"What are you talking about, Katie?" Catherine sighed, trying desperately to hide her disappointment.

"You two looked like you were on the verge of some major breakthrough when I walked in."

"We weren't."

"Right. Is that why you looked like you were ready to jump his bones?"

"Katie!"

The younger sister laughed, patting Catherine's hand. "It's ok, Cat. If I wasn't happily married to a beautiful man of my own, I'd want to jump Gil's bones too."

Catherine shook her head and laughed along, not knowing what else to say. Was it that obvious how she felt about Grissom? If so, how did Grissom feel?

*To be continued*