"Max Nicholas Grissom," Max said proudly. "I'm nine years old." He turned to Sara with a glare. "And you can't have my brother."
Catherine sighed.
Lindsey Dole decided to capitalize on this. "Max, why are you so worried about Ms Sidle taking away your brother?"
"Because he's my brother and he's part of my family," Max said. "And she can't have him."
"Tell me about your family, Max," Lindsey asked.
"Well, there's mom, dad, Lindsey, Matt, Lizzie, Jamie and me," Max said proudly.
"Tell me about your brothers and sisters, Max."
"Lindsey is my big sister. She lives at college. I've been there to visit too. Her dorm room is really cool. Matt is my biggest brother. He's cool as well and he lets me hang out with him sometimes. Lizzie is my next sister. She likes to boss me around sometimes, but she's not too bad. And Jamie is only a year older than me. He likes 'xperiments."
"And what about your parents, Max?"
"They're cool! They came to my school and told everyone what they did. It's the coolest job! The only thing is, mom wouldn't bring any dead people."
Lindsey Dole chuckled. "Okay, Max. How long have you known Matt wasn't your biological brother?"
Max shrugged. "I dunno. A long time. But he's my brother."
"Max, do your mom and dad work a lot?"
Max shrugged again. "Sometimes. But they're always there if I want them. Same with all of us."
Catherine smiled at her son, her hand tight in Gil's.
Lindsey Dole threw a triumphant look at Andrews. "No further questions."
Andrews skimmed his eyes over the papers on his desk, before getting up. "You don't like Ms. Sidle, do you, Max?"
Max glanced at his mother, who he was sure would skin him alive if he gave his "uncensored" version. " "No," he said slowly.
Andrews arched an eyebrow. "From what I've heard, it's a lot more than no."
"I'm being polite," Max said, folding his arms. "Just like Mom and Dad taught me."
Catherine hid a small smile.
"But are you sure he's your dad?"
Everyone in the courtroom froze.
"Huh?" Max asked, looking confused.
Catherine's eyes became concerned and she glanced at Gil, who also looked worried.
"Your mom used to sleep around. That's why we're asking…are you sure Mr Grissom is your daddy?"
Max looked confused. "I don't understand…"
"Your mother used to take her clothes off for men she didn't know. Now if she hasn't told you that, what else hasn't she been telling you?"
"Mommy?" Max said, his little face starting to crumple.
Catherine tried to get up to go to him, but Lindsey sat her down.
"We can't," she whispered.
"He's upset," Catherine cried.
"We can't," Lindsey said firmly.
Gil held his wife to him, anger and hurt written in his eyes.
"You don't have an answer?" Andrews asked him.
"Your honor," Lindsey said, jumping up. "The witness is nine years old. Mr. Andrew's is purposely upsetting him…"
"His parents already did that. I'm just asking simple questions, your honor."
"I'm ordering a ten minute recess," Judge Barton said. "And I will see both of counsel in chambers."
"I wanna go home!" Max cried.
"Shh," Catherine soothed, rocking her little boy in her arms again. "Shh. I know you do."
Gil looked at his son and then back up at Lindsey. "Can we take him home?"
Lindsey shook her head. "We haven't finished questioning him."
"He's upset," Catherine said, holding Max to her.
"I know, and I'm sorry," Lindsey replied. "But he has to keep going."
Gil had gone for a walk, needing to clear his head after what had happened in the courtroom. Lindsey Dole had come out to find him, telling him that she couldn't find Max and Catherine.
Gil immediately returned to the room where he had left them. When he found both their things missing, he sighed and rang the house.
"Grissom house. Jamie speaking."
"Hi, Jamie. Is your mom there?"
"Hi Dad! You coming home soon? Mommy and Max are here. They're in your bedroom. Max is really upset. What happened today?"
Grissom sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Can you put your mom on the phone?"
"I'm not s'posed to go in, Dad. She made me promise not to disturb them unless someone was about to die or the house was on fire."
"It's very important, Jamie."
There was an audible sigh on the other side of the phone. "Okay. I'll go ask."
A few minutes later, Catherine's tired voice came on the phone.
"Gil?"
"Want to tell me what's going on?"
She sighed. "Max was upset. He needed to come home."
"The judge wanted to know where he was."
"He's nine years old, Gil! He's upset and confused. He's curled up on our bed, sleeping because he was so worn out from today. I'm not bringing him back down there. You can put me in jail first!"
Gil rubbed his temple. He felt a migraine coming on. "I'm sure it won't come to that. But we need to talk about this." He heard Max's voice call out for Catherine.
"Fine. I have to go. Max is calling me."
Gil arrived home, closing the door to the house behind him.
"Hi, Dad," Matt said, looking up from the TV.
"Hi, Matt,' Gil smiled tiredly. "Where is everyone? It's strangely quiet for a change."
"Jamie is in the bug museum. Lizzie and Lindsey are in her room and mom and Max are in your room."
"You want to order pizza for dinner? I need to go talk to your mom."
Matt nodded. "No problem. Is everything okay?"
"It will be," Gil assured his son, making his way upstairs.
When he arrived in his bedroom, he found Catherine curled up on the bed, a sleeping Max snuggled up to her. She looked up at him when he entered the room and their eyes met for a brief moment.
Catherine sighed and gently disentangled herself from her son, covering him up with the quilt as she motioned for Gil to follow her into the spare bedroom.
She closed the door behind her and leant against it. "I know you're mad…"
"Among other things." Gil folded his arms. "How the hell was I to know that something hadn't happened to the two of you?"
"Well obviously you knew because you rang home first."
"You decided not to include me in the master plan because?"
"I knew you wouldn't have let me take him home."
"Damn right I wouldn't have. Catherine, we're doing this for the family."
"And yet the one time it seems to upset the family we still keep doing it."
"He's a big boy, Catherine."
"He's nine years old!" Catherine glared at him. "For god's sakes, Gil, we promised that our past was our past and there was no need to bring it up in front of the children again."
"I can't control what happens in there, Cath!"
"No, of course you can't. Which is why I spent the last few hours assuring our son that yes, you are his daddy and no, someone's not going to come back and take him away!"
Gil felt a flash of pain again. "Catherine…"
"He's not testifying. No more, Gil. I'll go up there, you can go up there. Hell, even Matt can have a go. But I am not subjecting Max to one more day in that courtroom!"
TBC