Light Of Saturnalia Chapter 4: The Ghost of Possibility, a csi fanfic

Disclaimer: It's been a year; hopefully, by now, everybody knows CSI: Crime Scene Investigation does not belong to me.

Author's Note: For Mr. Hathaway, b8kworm. I will resurrect another figure from my past, Magister Guderian, Salve! Thank you for the laughs. I bow to the beta goddess named Angie. ::shrugs:: There was never a stipulation that I had to make any sense to anybody other than myself. :) The inspiration is fairly obvious; a nod to great literature: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Summary: You have to decide where to go from here. You've just seen Cath die and then, happier than she's ever been in life.

Rating: PG-13

Archives: the Graveyard, mine. Anybody else, email me. I like to go visiting.

Pairing(s): G/C

Spoiler(s): Anything after LHB that involves Eddie.

Follows Business On Samhain and Conscious About Mabon.

***** ***** *****

Title: Light Of Saturnalia

Author: Laeta
Email: ladylaeta@yahoo.com

Chapter 4: The Ghost of Possibility

They walked onto a scene similar to the first except the room was larger, and somehow it glowed more. There were three stockings hung on the pseudo fireplace, in which burned a merry gas fire. A real, amazing pine tree rested in the corner; its jovial skirt was painted with shiny gift-wrapped presents.

Grissom could smell sweet foodstuffs wafting from the kitchen, and two female voices sang along with the radio. The front door opened and two boys - one a child, the other almost a young man - greeted Grissom's counterpart. One of the boys called for Mother, who answered readily.

Grissom's counterpart stood in the doorway, slowly taking stock of his family's whirlwind of activity during the day. The woman who joined him was none other than Catherine.

Three teasing whoops could be heard; the young man proudly buffed his nails on his shirt. He pointed above their heads. The children had caught their parents beneath the mistletoe.

Happiness flowing through their veins, Grissom pulled Catherine towards him, slowing, prolonging the romance of the moment. He kissed her as gently as their first kiss. The young man nodded in approval, his sister sighed dreamily; they both knew this was love. The youngest simply shrugged and went to see how many stolen cookies he could eat before dinner.

They were still in the doorway, Grissom leaning his forehead against Cath's. Their conversation was too low, too private, to be overheard, but it was obvious that all was right in their world.

"I told you before there was two ways Cath's life could've gone. This is the other."

"How?"

Eddie decided to give Grissom a little benefit of the doubt; this scene was probably more difficult to accept than the previous one.

"You showed her a miracle."

The scene had changed. It was after dinner, and the tree, which the children had decorated so dedicatedly, was lit and the only other light was cast from the fireplace. Someone had brought the radio into the living room and it played a gentle waltz.

Catherine and Grissom swayed in the center of the room, their oldest children watched them. The boy had fallen asleep not too long ago on the couch.

"Mom, you make it so easy," the girl complained.

Catherine smiled and separated herself from her partner.

"It's because your dad makes it easy."

The girl pouted; she would be a heart breaker her parents mused. Grissom walked to his daughter and extended his hand.

"Miss Lindsey Grissom, may I have this dance?" he asked, as formally as he could.

She rose, giggling, and followed her father's lead. Catherine took her daughter's seat and her son wrapped his arm around her.

"You know, Mom, every year, I think I'm getting too old for Christmas."

Catherine hugged him close. "You're growing up too fast for me."

The young man smiled, and continued. "But Christmas always comes, and I can't think of a better place to be than here at home."

"Me, too, Steve. Me, too."

Steve grinned, showing off his youthful exuberance. "I'm going to save Dad from Lindsey's feet."

So the two men changed places and Grissom feigned a collapse beside Catherine.

"I'm getting too old for them."

Catherine burst out laughing, and the scene faded to gray.

"What did you think of that one?"

"I don't think I've ever heard her laugh that way before."

Eddie nodded.

"Could she really be that happy with me?"

"You saw it same as I did. What does the evidence show?"

"How old were they?"

"Who?"

"The kids."

"Well, Lindsey, you know -"

"She's the same age here?" Grissom interrupted.

"Yeah. Steve's thirteen or fourteen, I think. And Mark is seven."

"They look happy." And Grissom had to ask. "Where are you in that lifetime?"

Eddie was clearly surprised by the question. While he was free to show the former ties of friendship holding him to Grissom, he did not think they were still holding Grissom to him.

"I'm the uncle who spoils them rotten. See, I've realized that while I love Lindsey and always will, I wasn't cut out to be a father. I guess that's one reason why me and Cath didn't work out. You, on the other hand, you were always meant to be a father. It suits you, it really does."

"What happens now?"

"You have to decide where to go from here. You've just seen Cath die and then, happier than she's ever been in life."

"I don't know what I'm supposed to show her."

"Sure, you do. I put my vote of confidence in you."

"What if I don't figure it out?"

Eddie relaxed against the gray, crossing his arms across his chest. His face showed absolutely no concern. "Oh, I wouldn't be too worried about that. You already have."

But Grissom was too distracted by another point and could not move on until he had at least one answer.

"Eddie, can I ask you something?"

"I can't guarantee I can answer it."

"Understandable. Are you the ghost of Christmas past, present or future?"

Eddie glanced at Grissom, an odd expression on his face. He took a moment longer to answer. "Actually, I'm just a ghost." Then, he glanced off into the distance and said, "C'mon. It's time for you to go, you have a standing appointment with two gorgeous women."