Spoilers: Inside the Box

Dedication: To the Graveyard Shift - the place to be for G/C!

Chapter Five

It was his night off, but Grissom was sitting in his office. Files and textbooks were open on the desk in front of him, but the supervisor's mind was elsewhere. He had been looking around the office for five minutes, his memory wandering over the time he had spent here, at the Las Vegas Crime Lab. For over two decades this job had been his life, but now he faced losing it all. As his hearing faded out once more, he turned his chair around and looked at the remaining wall of the office; the pictures hanging there; the books, well-worn, read and re-read. One picture caught his eye – a team photograph taken on Emily's first day. He pursed his lips as he looked at it, considering his options. He could carry on hoping that the problem would go away – knowing that ultimately he would lose his hearing completely. Or he could admit he needed help, and have the surgery.

He didn't notice Sara step into his office. She stood in the doorway and said his name several times when she didn't receive a response the first time.

"Grissom, tell me what's wrong? I can help... Let me?" she said quietly.

When he still ignored her, she sighed angrily and slammed the office door shut as she left.

Grissom faintly heard the bang of the door, and felt the vibration as it closed. He turned to see what had caused it, frowning, puzzled, when there was no-one there.

"There you are!" Greg exclaimed, walking into the break room where Sara was pouring herself a cup of coffee. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

Sara turned to look at him. "You should have looked harder."

Greg raised his eyebrows. "Still in a good mood I see?" he commented sarcastically.

"I tried talking to Grissom and he just completely ignored me," Sara said, a slight sulk surfacing on her face.

"You should have took my advice."

Sara glared at him harshly.

"Anyway," he continued quickly. "We don't have time for this... We got a match on the DNA from the hairs found on Tessa Mills. James Marriott. Record for assault in 2000, and cousin of - drum roll please – Mike Waters."

Sara's eyes widened. "So it's not Mike Waters?"

Greg shook his head. "But he could be behind it... Brass has gone for Waters, Warrick's gone for Marriott."

Warrick watched through the one-way glass as James Marriott and his lawyer were shown into the adjoining room, and took their seats at the table. Greg joined Warrick and the two of them made their way into the interview room.

Warrick sat down opposite Marriott, and Greg sat beside him.

"Are you and your cousin close?" Warrick began the interview.

Marriott frowned. "What kinda question is that?"

"A simple one. Your cousin, Mike Waters, are the two of you close?"

Marriott's lawyer cut in. "I don't think – "

Her client cut her off. "It's okay... Mike and I grew up together. I guess you could say we're close."

"Must have hit you hard when Mike got sent to prison?"

James shrugged. "I wasn't impressed, but then, he shouldn't have attacked that Cat."

"Cat?"

"That was her name, wasn't it? The one who left him with the scar? Catherine Willows."

"You remember her?"

"Of course. Was all her fault."

"But, like you say, he shouldn't have attacked her. So isn't it his fault?"

"She provoked him," the suspect stated plainly.

"Were you there?" Warrick asked.

He shook his head.

"Then how do you come to that conclusion?"

The other man gave a short laugh. "She was a stripper!"

"She was a dancer," Warrick said, defensively.

"Pot-ay-to, pot-ah-to," he said. "An exotic dancer. Those tiny outfits intentionally leave little to the imagination. Gyrating their bodies in front of you, seductive smiles, lustful eyes... They're asking for it."

"Asking for what?"

James raised an eyebrow as he again silenced his lawyer, before turning back to Warrick. "You know!"

"Asking to be mudered?" Warrick questioned, watching his suspect's face carefully for his reaction.

James remained silent. His face unchanging.

"Like Tessa Mills, Janey Heller and Liana Franklin? Were they asking to be murdered?"

He still didn't respond.

"Okay," Warrick said. "What about Catherine Willows? Does she deserve to die?"

"Do you have any evidence that links my client with any of these crimes?" the lawyer spoke up. "I suggest you start a relevant line of questioning."

Sitting back, casually, in his chair, James smirked at Warrick.

"We have DNA evidence that places you at the murder of Tessa Mills... Can you explain why you were there?"

The suspect shrugged again. "I've been to the French Palace... And I've been in the alley behind the French Palace... If you know what I mean," he smirked.

"Several of your hairs were found on the victim. Can you explain that?"

He looked thoughtful for a moment then said, "Nope."

Brass was in another interview room with Mike Waters and Sara.

"James has always been obsessed with Catherine Willows. He used to tell me, every week when he came to visit me, that he would 'sort her out' if I wanted him to."

"And did you want him to?" Brass asked.

"No... I was drunk, I tried it on, I deserved everything I got."

Brass raised an eyebrow. "How very understanding."

"I've done my time. I realised what I did wrong... I didn't ask James to try to kill anyone."

"You think he did it?"

"I think it's possible... He wouldn't drop the subject. Even when I got out he kept going on about her. After a couple of years I finally managed to shut him up. Then about eighteen months ago he saw Ms Willows on TV. Something about the hotel she works at, and he flipped. Said she had no right being successful in life after she ruined mine. I calmed him down, but he became obsessed again. I've been trying to avoid him ever since. I've got a new life now. I'm married, got a kid about to start school. I'm happy... Six months ago he turns up drunk at my new address, asking me if I was sure I didn't want Ms Willows to pay. I sobered him up and sent him home. Haven't seen him since."

"Why would he go after the other women?"

Mike shrugged. "I don't know. The guy's gone crazy... When we were younger he was always the sensible one... But these last few years, it's like I don't even know him... And there's been lots of times I've wished I didn't."

Both Brass and Sara felt that he was telling the truth. He didn't look or sound like he was lying.

"So you never wanted Catherine Willows to pay for what she did to you?"

"At first I did... But it was nearly twenty years ago. I've grown out of it. Like I said, I deserved it."

Greg had taken imprints of both of James's feet to confirm his shoe size. To his surprise, he discovered that the shoes James was wearing were a match to the footprints found outside Nick Stokes' house – not only in terms of size, but also make, and tread.

"Can you explain how your footprints appeared outside the house of Mr Nicholas Stokes?" Warrick asked.

"I don't know any Nick Stokes."

"Exactly... So what were your shoe prints doing all over his yard?"

James's lawyer opened her mouth to speak, but her client raised his hand to signal for her to keep quiet.

"I'm sure there are other people with shoes like mine. They weren't the only pair ever made."

"Does your cousin have a pair like that?"

Marriott's eyes widened with worry. "I don't think so."

Warrick turned briefly to Greg. "Actually we've got him in custody, we could find out."

Greg nodded in agreement.

"What you brought in Mike for?" James asked quickly.

Warrick turned back to him. "Well, Ms Willows was staying with Mr Stokes when she saw someone outside the house. That's when we found the footprints. So maybe Mike was there. Trying to get revenge on her for sending him to prison?"

James shook his head frantically. "Mike wasn't there! It wasn't Mike. You've got to let him go!"

"How do you know it wasn't Mike?"

"Because it was me! I wasn't trying to kill her. I just wanted to scare her! It was all just a warning!"

"All?" Warrick asked.

Any attempt by James's lawyer was cut off, as he was determined he was going to tell the truth to make sure Mike didn't end up in prison again.

"I wanted her to know that I could do it! That if I wanted to I could make her pay for what she did to Mike and me."

"What did she do to you?"

"She split us apart! Mike's been brainwashed while he was in prison! He can't see that she deserves to suffer like he did! I kept trying to make him remember, but he just got angry at me and tried to cut me out of his life!... It's all her fault!... I wasn't going to kill her. I just wanted her to think I was! I wanted her to live in fear!"

"So why did you kill the other women?"

"So she would know I could."

It was over. Warrick Brown had called and said that they had arrested Mike Waters' cousin for the murders and for stalking and attacking her. Two officers were driving Catherine to the station where she would just need to sign a few forms and then she could go back to her house, and her daughter.

Her body was flooded with relief as she sat in the back of the car watching the sights pass by. As they pulled into the car park of the station she saw police officers rushing out, and others coming in, handcuffed suspects being dragged with them, and she noticed the man from the crime lab, the one who always held open the doors for her, sitting on a wall, seemingly lost in his thoughts, looking like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

The car came to a stop and the officers escorted her into the building. Half an hour later, they had asked if she would like them to call anyone to come and collect her, but she assured them she would be fine now that James Marriott was locked up, she would get a cab.

She walked out of the building, into the cool early morning air, and took a deep breath, something she had felt unable to do since this all began. Taking another couple of breaths, and just enjoying the feeling of freedom, she began to cross the car park. She was almost to the road when a man approached her.

"Ms Willows?" he asked from behind her.

She turned and jumped back when she recognised the scar on his cheek.

"Don't come any closer!" she instructed, stepping away from him.

"Please, I just want to apologise for my cousin. I had nothing to do with it... I'm sorry for what I did to you back then, James just couldn't accept that. I'm really sorry."

From his seat on the wall, Grissom had seen Catherine's reaction when the man approached her. He ran across the car park towards them, ignoring the fact that his hearing was fading again.

"Are you okay?" he asked as he reached them.

Catherine turned to him, and smiled when she saw who it was.

"I just wanted to apologise," Mike Waters said to Grissom.

"When you were imprisoned for assaulting her, perhaps, night time, when the lady is alone, is not the best time to decide to apologise," Grissom said.

Mike nodded. "I'm sorry... For everything," he said to Catherine, then he walked away.

Grissom once more asked Catherine if she was alright, and she assured him she was. Then a look of realisation came over her eyes. "You're the CSI who handled that case," she smiled. "Grissom, isn't it?"

Grissom nodded. "You remember after all those years?"

"Sure I do," she grinned. "Still a CSI?"

"Yep..." he replied, but she detected a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

"You don't sound so sure."

"It's complicated," he said quietly.

"Ah," she said, nodding. "Well, thanks for helping me out there... If I can repay the favour..." she trailed off when she noticed a look of panic had swept Grissom's face and he seemed to be concentrating intently on her lips.

She frowned, then, remembering something he had told her about his mother when he had been working her assault case, she asked: "Can you hear me?"

Grissom looked surprised that she had noticed, and he shook his head slowly. "I'd better go," he said, turning away from her.

She watched him for a second then felt an overwhelming compulsion to stop him. She ran after him, and touched his arm. He jumped slightly, but turned round.

"Sorry," she signed, causing him to look surprised again. "If you need someone to talk to, I've got a few hours before my daughter'll be awake for me to pick her up."

Grissom looked unsure, so she continued signing. "And, selfishly, I could do with the company. I've been stuck in a safe house since yesterday morning with an officer who would only speak to ask me if I needed anything."

She smiled reassuringly, and he found himself not wanting to resist. "Okay," he signed to her. "Thank you."

Across the car park, Sara had just come out of the station. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness she saw Grissom walking to his car. She was about to run over to him when she realised he was with Catherine. She watched them, her heart aching, as they both got into his car and they drove away. She sighed, finally allowing herself to listen to the voice in her head that was telling her to get over him.

As she walked towards her car, a familiar Texan voice interrupted her thoughts. "Hey, is Catherine still in there?"

Sara looked up to see Nick Stokes standing before her. She shook her head. "No. She left already."

"Ah," Nick nodded. "Well I'll catch up with her later... Thanks." He turned to walk away, then turned back. "Are you okay?"

Sara gave a small smile. "I'll get there."

Nick smiled sympathetically. "Coffee can help with that. You wanna get some?"

"I'm working," Sara said. "But, maybe some other time?" she asked hopefully.

"Definitely," Nick grinned.

Grissom had found that talking to Catherine was incredibly helpful. In a couple of hours, he felt like he'd known her for years, and she had managed to convince to him to call and schedule his surgery while she was with him. They had given him an appointment for two days time, and so now here he was, sitting on a hospital bed, swinging his legs back and forth like a nervous child, as a nurse took his blood pressure.

As she finished, she told him they were preparing the room for him, and that someone would come for him in a couple of minutes. He nodded his thanks, and then was left alone. Butterflies were beating round his stomach, he felt sick with anxiety, but he kept trying to take steady breaths, reminding himself that this was what needed to be done.

He was brought out of his meditation when a voice came from the doorway.

"Hey!" it said.

He looked round. It was Catherine. "What are you doing here?"

She smiled that smile that he had already grown to love, and answered in her melodious voice. "I wanted to see you... And I didn't want you to go in without wishing you good luck."

Grissom gave a short smile, and stood up, walking over to the door as a nurse walked up behind Catherine with a wheelchair. He glanced briefly at the nurse then returned his attention to his visitor.

"Thank you," he said, quietly, his vulnerability showing in his voice and his face. "For being here."

She smiled again and wrapped her arms around him, the hug giving him all the encouragement and courage he needed. As they stepped apart, she conveyed her support to him through her eyes and smile, and he took a deep breath and turned to the nurse.

"I don't need that," he stated.

Catherine laughed a little, and turned, watching him as he walked bravely down the corridor. She smiled to herself. All those years ago she never imagined she would ever see the young, kind, gentle CSI who dealt with her after she was assaulted again, and now here she was watching him walk away from her in a backless hospital robe.

Perhaps there was such a thing as destiny.

TBC...

A/N: Didn't want to mention this at the beginning in case anyone guessed what was going to happen: This scene at the hospital contains actual dialogue from "Inside the Box". This was written by the show's writers, not by me, I simply borrowed it for my purposes.