Post-Butterflied

Disclaimer: I still don't own CSI and get no profit from writing these stories…yadda yadda yadda.

Chapter 16

Catherine was vaguely aware that someone was moving around the room. She was still very tired and tried to ignore the movement. Then it hit her that she was in the hospital. She sat up and realized she had been sleeping on Warrick's shoulder. He was still sleeping as the nurse apologized for waking her up.

"It's okay," Catherine assured her.

"I was just finishing checking up on everything," the nurse said, "I'll be back later."

"Mommy?" Lindsey's small voice cried out.

"I'm right here, Linds," Catherine took her hand.

"I'm sorry Mama," Lindsey sobbed.

"Let's not talk about it right now, baby, I'm just glad that you're okay," Catherine said.

"Am I in trouble?" Lindsey asked softly.

"Yes," Catherine answered shortly, Lindsey seemingly wanting to press the issue right now.

"I'm sorry," Lindsey looked at her mother's blank face.

"Do you have any idea what you put me through?" Catherine's voice raised.

"No," Lindsey answered in a tiny voice.

"God, Lindsey, I didn't even have a clue where you were. I thought maybe someone kidnapped you or something. Then I heard that you skipped school, I'm so upset with you. You should know better than this, but it seems like lately you're just testing me. I can't do this anymore, Linds. You're killing me," Catherine shouted.

"Mom, I-" Lindsey started.

"No, I don't want to hear anything out of you right now. I know things are hard for you. But it seems that ever since your father died, you are nothing but trouble. I don't know what I'm going to do with you. I thought I could take care of you by myself, but this just proves that I can't do it. You are too much for me. I don't know what to do anymore," Catherine started to cry.

Lindsey remained silent this time, tears running down her face. She was pretty scared because she knew she had gone too far this time. Her mom was really mad at her. She was afraid of what was going to happen to her right now.

"Look, let's deal with this later," Catherine sniffled, "okay. I'm mad at you, but baby, I still love you and I am so glad that you're alive."

"I'm sorry, Mom," Lindsey cried, leaning into her mother's hug.

"Just promise me that you're going to start trying to act better. I understand that you are frustrated with me at times, but you have to help me out here, honey," Catherine wiped away some of Lindsey's tears.

"Okay, I promise I'll try to be better," Lindsey said shakily.

"You know I love you Lindsey, you're my life. I know I work a lot, but baby, it's for you. I have to have a job to support you," Catherine explained.

"I know, Mom," Lindsey nodded, "I really do. I don't know why I'm being so bad."

"It's okay, just as long you promise to work on this with me, I think we'll be okay," Catherine hugged her again.

"I love you, Mom," Lindsey told her.

"I love you too, Lindsey," Catherine said.

Through all of this Warrick continued to pretend he was asleep. Catherine's loud words had woken him up, but he decided it was to pretend he was asleep. This was not something that they needed him present for, but he was sort of trapped in the room.


"Time to wake up," Grissom announced cheerily.

"Why are you so happy?" Sara sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"I don't know, I slept great last night," he smiled at her.

"Me too, as a matter of fact," she stretched.

"So, I was thinking about something, but I'm almost afraid to tell you," he started.

"Well now you have caught my interest, you have to tell me," Sara patted a spot on the bed next to her.

Grissom sat next to her, "Well, it seems that we're spending a lot of time together lately."

"Yes," Sara urged him to continue.

"I don't know, it seems sort of a waste that someone's place is always empty," Grissom said slowly, "maybe we should think about living together."

"Whoa, are you serious?" Sara's jaw dropped.

"I knew it was a bad idea, I'm sorry," Grissom said quickly.

"Hey now, I didn't disagree, I just thought it was really bold of you to suggest it," Sara smiled, "I actually think it's a good idea. I mean, we don't necessarily get to spend a lot of time together at work, so coming home to each other would be nice."

"And I don't know about you, but the last couple times when we've slept together, I've slept better than I have in a long time," Grissom continued.

"You know I have," Sara agreed, "I don't know, I feel more…secure when you're with me."

"I'm glad we're on the same page," Grissom brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes.

"Me too," Sara smiled, "I'm glad that you really seem to be changing a lot. First skipping work for me, now you want to live together. Gil Grissom, you are a different man."

"I guess you've been the catalyst that I was lacking all along," Grissom said, "who would have thought the one thing I was most afraid of is the one thing that I really needed in my life."

"See, I'm not all that scary am I?" Sara joked.

"No, you aren't. I mean, I'm still a little bit frightened at every new turn, but so far it has felt good to keep moving. You don't think we're moving too fast do you?" he asked suddenly.

"Not at all," she assured him, "this feels just right."

"We don't even have to officially move until your foot heals up. I'm sure the last thing you want to do right now is move a bunch of stuff," he said.

"You're right. I really can't wait until I get that walking cast. At least then I can feel useful at work," Sara told him.

"For now, you're helping out by just being at the lab. Catherine will really appreciate letting her take some time off right now," Grissom said.

"Anything I can do to help her," Sara said, "so what do you have to eat around here that's not meat?"

"Um. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" Grissom offered sheepishly, "I haven't shopped in a while."

"Actually, that doesn't sound too bad," Sara said, "I haven't had one of those in a long time."

"Probably because you're over the age of 12," Grissom laughed.

"I ate a lot of them in college actually," Sara shook her head, "what else can you eat when you're poor?"

"I believe that hot college diet right now involves a lot of Ramen noodles," Grissom said.

"Now that stuff is cheap," Sara agreed, "well let's go eat, I'm suddenly very hungry."

"Me too," Grissom stood, "but you just sit in the living room, I'm not letting you make your own sandwich. I think I can manage to make one for you."

"I don't know, can you handle making a PBJ sandwich?" Sara asked.

"We'll find out soon enough," Grissom slipped into his kitchen.

A few minutes later, he returned bearing two sandwiches.

"Let's see if I can make a simple sandwich, shall we?" he sat the plate down on the coffee table.

Sara picked up a sandwich half and bit into it, "Wow, that's actually pretty good."

"So I'm not a complete failure at cooking," Grissom smiled, "it's pretty hard to screw up a sandwich."

"I'm sure it's possible," Sara laughed.