---------------Gas-and-Go Station-----------------
Several police cars pulled silently into the gas station, followed by several Tahoes. The cops surrounded the building. One opened the door while three others rushed in, lead by Brass. Gerald Fremont woke up to see four beams of light pointed at his eyes. "Gerald Fremont?" a voice boomed at him from behind one of the lights.
"Who wants to know?" he replied smartly.
"Well, if you are, then you're under arrest for the kidnappings of Lindsey and Catherine Willows. If you're not, then please step outside while we look around." Two cops escorted him outside, where he stood between them while Sara got a DNA sample.
Nick walked into the gas station. "Any sign of Cath?"
"Nothin' yet." Warrick replied. "D' you think we got the wrong place?"
"I don't know, 's possible, I suppose."
Brass walked in, "Found her?" he was met with dejected sighs and head-shaking from the other two. "Well, on the bright side, we can hold the guy as a squatter for a few days, long enough to get a DNA match."
----------------The Little Shed out Back----------------Grissom watched as Fremont was pulled out of the building and escorted over to the cars. Nicky and Warrick rushed into the station, looking for Catherine, but there was no sign of her. He walked around to the other side of the building; still no sign of Catherine. Catherine, where the hell are you? Then he saw it - a little shack, behind the station. Running over, he turned the dead bolt that held the door closed. Catherine was lying on the floor at the far side of the shed, apparently asleep. Her face was covered in bruises, and her clothes were ripped open. Too choked-up to speak, he dropped to his knees beside her, and reached out to touch her face.
Catherine opened her eyes when she heard the door open. Pretending to be asleep, she watched him with half-open eyes. She couldn't see his face, silhouetted against the light as he was, but she knew who it was. He will have to kill me first! she decided. Or I will kill him!! He lowered himself to the ground and reached out to touch her. She swung her legs out, kicking him hard in the groin and knocking him over. He fell backwards, and she ran out the door.
Police cars surrounded the gas station, and cops were setting up crime scene tape. Turning around, she saw Grissom rising to his feet. Oops! "Gil, I'm so sorry! I couldn't see... I thought you were..."
At that moment, everyone else came running over. "Cath, are you all right?" "I'm fine"
"You're sure you're OK?" "Yes, I'm fine" They kept asking her; a few minutes later, someone realized who was missing.
"Hey guys," Sara started, "Where's Grissom?"
Catherine turned guiltily. Grissom was limping out of the shed. "Catherine, remind me never to piss you off."
Nick looked from one to the other, "Hang on - what happened?"
"Well, it's hard to see when you're looking into the light," Catherine defended herself. "Grissom walked in and I thought he was..." she gestured to where Fremont was being put into a cop car.
"She's got one hell of a kick!" Grissom emphasized.
The EMTs approached the group."Ms. Willows?" one started cautiously.
Catherine sighed. "I'm coming." As she climbed into the ambulance, she turned to Grissom. "Could you bring Lindsey by? I want to see her-"
"I'll go pick her up now. We'll be at the hospital as soon as possible." The doors closed, and the ambulance speed toward the city, followed by the police car holding Gerald Fremont.
---------------The Hospital---------------
As the nurse turned to leave after collecting the SAE kit, Catherine stopped her. "Do you have any make-up with you?" The nurse gave her a puzzled look "My daughter is coming, and I don't want her to see me like this." Catherine indicated the bruises covering her face. The woman nodded, and handed her purse to Catherine.
Later:
Grissom and Lindsey walked into the hospital room. "Mommy!!!!" Lindsey squealed, jumping onto the bed. Catherine winced as the bed shifted.
"Hey, baby! She embraced her daughter, trying not to show the pain that came with every movement. Grissom turned and walked out into the hallway to give them some privacy. About twenty minutes later, Lindsey cam running out into the hallway, clutching a dollar bill. "Mommy said I could get something from the vending machine!" Grissom peered around the door and, when she saw him, Catherine waved him in.
"My make-up started to run." She explained as she reapplied it carefully. Grissom could see dark angry bruises where her tears had washed away the concealer. When she had finished, he could barely tell that she had ever been hurt.
"How did you learn to do that?"
"Oh, come on, Gil, I was married to Eddie! This isn't the worst I've had to hide," she examined her face in the compact. "But, it's pretty close."
"D' you mean that Eddie used to..." Grissom started in shock.
"I... I thought you knew. Damn, I guess I'm better at hiding this shit than I thought." She paused, "Gil, I'm sorry about... I seriously thought you were Fremont.
"It's OK." The silence was deafening. The only noise was Lindsey running down the hall.
I shouldn't have mentioned Eddie. I always thought he knew, and just respected my wishes by not talking about it. - Well, maybe he would've said something.
Damn, I should've known about Eddie. I would've killed the bastard! But he's already dead. At least I can make sure this one doesn't get away. He noticed again how vulnerable she looked; trying so hard to pretend that nothing was wrong. Catherine, I love you! He sat back, stunned. Have I only just realized it?
He reached out to take her hand. "Catherine - I don't know how to say this..." he gave a self-mocking laugh. "I was so scared that I would never see you again; I guess I only just realized that I needed to tell you... to tell you that I love you." He looked down at their hands, worried about what her reaction would be. She squeezed his hand and their eyes locked on each other's. She didn't say anything, but she didn't need to - her eyes said it all. Leaning forward, Grissom kissed her gently - passionately.
"Mommy, look who else is here!" Catherine broke off the kiss and looked over to see Lindsey in the doorway, Nick, Sara, Warrick and Brass behind her. "Eeew, they were kissing!" Everyone flooded into the room, and Grissom moved away from the bed to let Lindsey get near her mother. As Catherine talked with all of her friends, her eyes met with his, and she knew everything would be all right.