Lizzie winced as she heard the arguing from upstairs. Her parents had been silent when they arrived home, but the minute they were upstairs, bedroom door closed, the arguing began. Jamie had retreated downstairs to his bug museum, Max going with him. Matthew was outside, shooting hoops.
"I should have gone with Lindsey to her dorm," she muttered to herself.
"He's my father! The children's grandfather!"
"He's a murderer!"
"He wasn't convicted."
Gil groaned. "Even you knew he was guilty, Catherine!"
"Gil, where did you THINK the money was coming from?" she threw back at him.
"I didn't, Cath! I didn't think because you've always been the smart one with our money!"
"Guess you'll be paying closer attention next time."
"Cheap shot."
"Oh, and attacking Sam Braun isn't?"
"He's not my father."
"No, he's not. He's your father-in-law."
"We're getting off the point here."
"What IS the point?"
"You lied to me!"
Catherine glared at him. "I have NEVER lied to you. In all our years of marriage, I have NEVER lied to you."
"What would you call this, Catherine? Forgetting to mention it?"
"You never asked!"
"Real mature."
She shook her head. "You know what, I'm not discussing this with you anymore. You're so goddamned pigheaded about anything that comes to Sam Braun, that there's no point. Grow up, Grissom!"
Before she went to leave, Gil grabbed her arm. She turned, her eyes turning to pure ice.
"I wouldn't, Grissom. Don't go there. I don't respond well to that kind of action."
Gil's eyes widened in pain and shock as he dropped her arm. "Catherine…"
"Leave me alone," she said, going into the guest room and slamming the door shut. Muffling the sound with a pillow, she collapsed on the bed and burst into tears.
Although she should have been grateful for the day off, Catherine spent the next day with her heart breaking.
Her marriage was falling apart.
"Mom?" Jamie said, peeking his head into the bathroom. "Can I come in?"
"Sure," Catherine replied, quickly wiping her eyes. "Is Kermit with you?"
"Nope," Jamie replied. "I have to go to school soon."
"Okay. Have you got everything you need? Lunch, homework, stuff like that?"
"Yeah."
Catherine rinsed the toothbrush in the sink. "Do you want to talk about something honey?"
"Mom?""Yes?"
"You're a girl."
Catherine arched an eyebrow. "I'm glad you noticed."
"Can we talk?" Jamie asked.
"Sure," Catherine nodded, taking his hand. She was about to lead him into the room she shared with Gil, but changed her mind and walked down to the room Jamie shared with Max. Luckily, it was empty.
"Okay, shoot," Catherine told her son.
"I think…a girl likes me." Jamie took a deep breath. "And I think…I might like her back."
Catherine's eyes filled up and she pulled him into a hug. "Oh, sweetheart."
"MOM!" Jamie growled. "I'm serious!"
"Sorry," Catherine replied, pulling back. She wiped her eyes again. "Okay, tell me all about it."
"Her names Maggie."
"Okay," Catherine nodded.
"And she kind of…follows me."
"Stalking you?"
"MOM! No! Follows me."
"Okay."
"And…I don't mind her following me."
"That's good."
Jamie looked up at her. "So what do I do?"
Catherine pondered this for a moment. "Perhaps you should try and talk to her. Maybe become her friend."
Jamie wrinkled her nose. "You think?"
Catherine smiled and ruffled her hair. "Well, your dad and I were friends for many years before we got married." She felt a pang as she thought of everything they had been through together. And to have it end here.
"Really?"
Catherine nodded. "Absolutely."
Jamie pondered the thought for a moment. "Okay! Thanks mom!" He kissed her on the cheek. "Bye! See you after school." He exited the room, bounding downstairs.
Catherine sat on the bed, alone, watching him leave. She sighed, and getting up, decided to head downstairs to the laundry. Life had to go on for the kids.
"Son of a bitch!" Gil said, hitting the wall.
Warrick paused in the doorway of Grissom's office, watching his friend. He had never seen his friend get physically violent before. It bothered him. "Griss?"
"Not now, Warrick."
Warrick came in, closing the door behind him. "Actually, I think now might be a really good time."
Grissom turned around to look at him. "What is it, Warrick?"
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Talk about what?"
"Whatever is going on between you and Catherine."
Gil sighed. "It's complicated."
"What relationship isn't?" Warrick continued to stare at him.
Gil sat down in his seat. "We're just…things are fine, Warrick.""Is that the same answer I'd get from Cath if I asked her?"
Gil frowned. "You'd have to ask her."
"I'm here as a friend, Griss."
Gil looked up. "I know, Warrick. It's just…"
"The case is taking a toll on you?"
"Something like that."
Warrick nodded. "She loves you, Grissom."
Gil glanced up sharply. "I know that."
"Then whatever is going on between the two of you…you can work it out. You have before."
"This is different."
Warrick arched an eyebrow. "It's always different."
"Well this one is."
"Must be pretty bad."
"It's…complicated."
Warrick leaned back in the chair. "You shouldn't keep everything bottled up you know. Or take it out on the wall for that matter. We just got it painted."
Gil folded his arms. "You're very astute, Warrick."
"Yeah. I think I caught it from you."
For the first time in a while, Gil cracked a smile. "Thank you."
Warrick grinned. "No problem." He stood up. "Just talk to her, Griss. I'd hate to see Sara's antics cause problems between the two of you."
Catherine heard the door to the guest room open.
"Are you and Daddy getting a divorce?" Max asked.
She turned away from the wall. She had been sleeping in the spare bedroom for two nights. Holding out her arms, she coaxed Max to come in and lie next to her. "Things are just difficult at the moment," Catherine murmured. "Everything's fine."
"It's not fine! You and Daddy are mad at each other!"
Catherine hugged him. "We're just disagreeing.""I'm not stupid, Mom. You're mad at each other."
"At the moment, yes. But everything will be okay."
"Promise?"
Catherine kissed his forehead. "I promise." Hugging him again, she smiled. "Now go to bed, Fang Man."
Max grinned at her. "Night mom."
"Night baby." Catherine watched him go, closing the door behind him. She sighed and rolled over, facing the wall again.
She started as she felt a warm body slip into bed beside her. Catherine turned over, finding Gil's arms around her.
"Gil?"
"I love you," he murmured.
Her eyes widened, then softened. "I love you too."
His fingers caressed her face. "I don't like sleeping without you. It feels weird."
"I don't like it either. Let's not do it again."
"Deal." His lips crashed down on hers and she moaned, snuggling closer to him.
"I'm sorry I hurt you," Gil told her, his hand stroking her arm.
Catherine's hand cupped his face. "What I said to you…I didn't realize at the time how much that must have hurt you."Gil hung his head. "I deserved it. I should never have…"
"Don't," Catherine said firmly. "You did not deserve that. And I should have told you earlier about Sam but…I was afraid of how you'd react."
"I just…I feel like it means I don't support you and our kids."
"Don't ever think that again," Catherine warned him. "You are an amazing father. And the most wonderful husband. You provide for us better than I could have imagined." She kissed him gently. "Sam offered when he heard what was happening. I didn't want Sara to be taking away the hard-earned money we had in our account. That's for the kids."
"He's a murderer, Cath."
She nodded. "I know. But this isn't about our jobs. It's about our family. And the kids don't have to know." Her face turned hard. "I won't let Sara take away anything that you've done for our family, Gil. I just won't."
"And I won't let her break us up," Gil said firmly. His hands went to her hips, tugging her against him. "I love you more than anything in the world, Catherine Grissom."
She pressed against him. "I love you more than anything in the world, Gil Grissom."
"Our kids are in bed."
"They better be."
Gil got out of the bed, hoisting her up in his arms. "Come on then."
"Where are you taking me?" Catherine giggled, as Gil looked furtively out into the hallway.
He took her into their bedroom and shut the door. "To bed."
Hours later, Catherine curled up to her husband, her chest heaving. "Wow."
"I'll second that."
She smiled up at him, sharing a gentle kiss. "Thank you."Gil arched an eyebrow. "For making love with you?"
"For forgiving me."
"There was nothing to forgive, Catherine. I should have let you tell me before I got upset." He kissed her again. "I love you. We're going to get through this."
Catherine nodded, twining her leg between his. "I love you back. And I know we are."
Gil kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep, baby. We have a big day tomorrow."
Catherine glanced at the clock. "Today. And you too."
They shared a deep kiss, content to be close once more.
Sara opened the door to her hotel room and widened her eyes. "Can I help you?"
"I'm Max Grissom. I need to talk to you." Max looked up at her, his school bag on his back. "We'll have to be quick about it though. I have to get home and on the school bus."
Still in shock, Sara opened the door a little wider, and watched the little boy walk confidently into the room and sit down on a chair. "Um, do your mom and dad know you're here?"
"No. And I'd like to keep this meeting private." Max's eyes locked onto hers. "If you know what I mean."
"Um, sure. Do you want something to eat or drink?"
His eyes narrowed. "I'm not here for breakfast, lady." He leant back in the seat. "Besides, my mom and dad never told me to accept anything from strange people."
"Okay." Sara sat down on the seat "So what can I do for you?"
A mischievous and sneaky smile that was eerily reminiscent to Catherine's broke out on his face. "I was hoping you'd ask that." Reaching into the schoolbag, Max pulled out a leather binder that he had swiped from his father's desk. He placed it on the table and opened it up, revealing several sheets of paper.
Sara went to look but Max held out a finger.
"Nuh uh. Not yet."
She pulled back, folding her arms.
Next Max pulled out a pen with a fluffy pink bobble on the end that he had swiped from Lizzie's room. He placed it next to the sheets of paper.
Sara watched the process with an interested eye.
Finally he pulled out a piggy bank, placing it on the table. He rezipped his bag and sat back on the chair. "However, today is more about how I can help you."
"Go on."
"I'm offering you a proposition."
Sara arched an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
Max gestured to the paper. "This is a contract. It spitulates the particulars."
"Which are?"
"You leave us the hell alone…" He paused. "Scuse my French." Max went back to his terms. "You leave us alone and go far, far away. He edged the piggy bank closer. "And you get my life savings."
"You're serious."
Max glared at her. "You're becoming a pain. I'd like to remove you from the picture in the most legal way possible."
"Legal?"
"Believe me, several thoughts have crossed my mind."
"Oh really?"
Max glanced at his Superman watch. "We have exactly twelve minutes and forty-five seconds to execrate this deal."
"I think you mean execute."
Max glowered at her. "Don't push me."
"Don't push you? Kid, you're nine years old! Even if I did sign that paper and take your piggy bank, it'd never be legally binding."
Max nodded grimly. He unzipped his bag, and deftly removed his piggy bank, pen and leather binder from the table. He stood up and headed for the door. "We tried it the nice way. Now, all gloves are off." He smiled sweetly at her. "Bye!"
Sara closed the door after the kid, shaking her head in amusement.
Until she saw the tarantula sitting on her coffee table.
Outside, Max grinned to himself as he heard the scream. "Oh yeah. I'm the man!" he chuckled, racing home.