EDDIE chapter 9

summary: Catherine leaves Eddie, but he won't let her go. As the

cycle of abuse continues, Lindsey's safety is threatened and

Catherine is faced with a tough decision, when her best friend

threatens to take her daughter away...

Catherine rolled Eddie off of her and quietly slipped out of her bed, grabbing her clothes off of the floor and headed toward the bathroom. Halfway her legs gave out and she fell to the floor. The pain going through her body was the most unbearable pain she had ever felt and she wasn't sure she could make it to the bathroom without passing out.

After making it to the bathroom she used the counter and the wall for support and tried to stand once more. She redressed and the stared at her bruised face in the mirror.

A few seconds passed and Catherine felt her knees wobble, her head began to spin and she had to reach for the sink before she fell to the floor.

She slid down to the floor and began to cry.

-

Gil had only been asleep for few a short time when his doorbell rang.

Gil shoot up, unsure if he was dreaming or if he had actually heard the door ringing. He quickly got up and headed for the door.

When he opened it he found Catherine standing on his front porch, the rain pounding down on her, fresh bruises on her face and tears in her eyes.

"Catherine?" Gil said giving her room to enter the house " Come in, quick."

Catherine took one step forward and her legs gave out once more.

Gil caught her before she hit the ground and carried her to the couch.. He ran to close the door and was promptly back at her side.

"Gil?" she whispered " I..I.." she tried to speak " Lindsey?" she whispered

Gil kneeled down beside her " Lindsey's asleep, don't worry, tell me what happened, do you need to go to the hospital?"

"It hurts" she whispered " I can't..I have to.." she tried to speak but the pain she was feeling was overwhelming.

Gil rubbed her cheek " Cath? Keep you're eyes open. Talk to me."

Catherine opened her eyes and the tears kept falling. " He was on me..., I couldn't get him off..., I couldn't get him to stop.. he was..he was.." Catherine sat up " I need to see Lindsey...please."

Gil nodded " In a minute Cath, I think you should go to the hospital."

Catherine shook her head " Eddie passed out, I ran, I had to walk here, he took my keys..I had to walk..I can't go to the hospital..he'll find me, they'll call him."

"Okay..Okay, but you need someone to check you out."

There was a brief silence " I have a friend at Desert palms, her name is Jess...you've met her before.. I could call her she can come her and make sure you're okay."

Catherine nodded " Okay" she whispered." While were waiting can I see Lindsey."

Gil nodded " Can you walk?" I can go get her, I promised I would wake her when you came."

Catherine tired to get up but fell back down.

"I'll go get her." Gil made his phone call and then he disappeared into the bedroom and came back hand in hand with Lindsey.

"Mommy!" Lindsey ran to her but saw she was hurt so she refrained from hugging her " Mommy, ..Daddy hurt you again!"

Catherine sat up " I'm okay, mommy had a little accident trying to get here, but I'm okay!" she lied "I just wanted to say goodnight to you."

Lindsey hugged her " I love you mommy, and don't worry Uncle Gil is going to help us now. " she yawned " Mommy, I really want to stay up but can I sleep now?"

Catherine nodded " Yeah, baby, I 'm just wanted to see, you.. you can go back to sleep now."

-

By the time Catherine had been checked out by Jess, it was far past three in the morning and she could barley keep her eyes open as Gil carried her into his bedroom and laid her on his bed.

"Gil" she grabbed his arm as he went to leave " Please stay here." she whispered.

Gil sat down " So..Do you want to tell me what happened? What did Jess say?"

Catherine sat up " She didn't tell you?"

Gil shook his head " She would never do that, it's up to you, if you want me to know." he pause " What happened that made you come here?"

Catherine sighed and stared at her hands " I tried to leave..Eddie got mad..he hit me and then he made me..He wanted to have sex."

Gil put his hand on hers but she pulled away " It's okay..it's not the first time, I'm fine..besides, I'm his wife right...it's not really rape."

Gil shook his head " What did you just say?"

Catherine sighed " Please just let it go...just let it go..Jess gave me some painkillers..I'll be fine" she paused " Gil.. I'm going to go to sleep now..Will you stay?"

Gil nodded sliding down beside her " Is this okay?" he asked not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

Catherine slid down beside him " Yeah..that's okay" she whispered taking his hand in her's

Before the two fell asleep Catherine whispered to him " Gil? Just so you know..I don't regret what happened yesterday, I just... It's going to take time now, after what Eddie did to me, but I want to be with you..just give me time."

Gil squeezed her hands " I understand..you get some sleep."