Title: holding on to it all...

Summary: A continuation to my fic " Secrets from their past."...

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Chapter 3

Rating: CSI 2..i guess

Catherine was sitting at her desk watching as the time neared the end of her shift. She had just told Warrick and Nick to head home due to an uneventful evening and she was finishing up the last of her paper work when he knocked on her door.

Poking his head through the half open door he watched her " Hey." he smiled stepping in and closing the door behind him. " How was your shift?" he sat down across form her.

Catherine dropped her pen " People decided to wait until my shift was over to start killing each other." she smirked " Had a small break and enter..inside job..mother's son and his friends."

Gil nodded " Kids." he replied " Catherine sighed " Yep..kids.So" she sat back and put her leg up " Whats brings you by?" she smiled

"Well" Gil handed her a slip of paper " Our wedding planner told me he couldn't get through on your line so he called me to confirm our rehearsal for tomorrow night."

Catherine nodded " What? I didn't forget" she commented when she noticed him staring at her.

Gil nodded " Oh, I know you didn't" he paused " Are you okay?"

Catherine put her feet down " Yeah..I'm fine why?"

"I don't know..you seem distracted..or..upset."

Catherine shrugged " No..not me, I'm fine..I'm getting married in a week, I haven't a worry in the world." she whispered walking around to sit on his lap. " Did you lock the door?" she whispered in his ear.

Gil nodded and began kissing her neck, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. " Shouldn't you be getting ready to hand out assignments?" she whispered

"In a minute" he replied

"You're team is waiting" she teased " You shouldn't make them wait."

Gil pulled away " You're not funny." he smiled pressing his lips against hers as he lifted her to sit on her desk.

"I guess the team can wait" she replied running a hand through her hair and " I.."

Catherine was cut off when her cell phone vibrated against her thigh. Before answering she looked at the screen.

"Who's that?" he wondered hoping it wasn't an emergency with Lindsey

Catherine looked at the screen " Ahh.." she paused looking back at him " It's nothing." she pressed the ignore button and put the phone back in her pocket.

"You sure?" Gil replied looking at her curiously.

Catherine nodded " Yeah.." jumping off the desk " I should get going mom wants to get home for bingo."

"You're mom plays late night bingo?" Gil replied

Catherine nodded " Yeah..I'll see you in the morning?"

Gil nodded " Okay." he leaned in to kiss her " Love you"

" Love you too.." she replied " heading out of the office before him.

Gil stayed behind wondering what had just happened, even though he had a pretty good idea.

Catherine climbed in her vehicle and pulled out her cell phone. It had been two weeks since she had last seen or heard from Eddie and wondered why all of a sudden he was contacting her again.

She pulled out her cell phone and scanned through the contact list, she skimmed quickly and found Eddie's home number. She hesitated for a moment and flip her phone shut and threw it on the seat. You don't have to call him Catherine, He's a big boy...you don't owe him anything..he can take care of himself."

Catherine started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. Halfway from her home her cell phone began to ring. She looked over and grabbed it up. Her heart hoping it wasn't him and at the same time wanting to know if he was okay " Gil?" she answered looking at the id " I'm on my way."

"Your ex keeps calling here." she didn't even say hello " You want to tell me when that happened?"

Catherine sighed " Hell to you to mom,"

"Cathy..I'm serious. I thought you were getting rid of him...for good."

Catherine rolled her eyes " Mom..what are you talking about..when did he call?"

"Oh I don't know" she began " Every hour for the past six..your daughter has school tomorrow and he keeps waking her..now she's all upset because he said something to her on the phone and she wanted me to take her over there."

"Don't "Catherine firmly replied "and stop answering the phone, I have caller id you know."

Her mother sighed " Whatever Cath..I'll see you soon."

Catherine nodded " Yeah mom, in about an half and hour, I just remembered I forgot something at he lab and I have to run back."

Her mother sighed " Catherine..I have bingo later you know."

I know.. I know.. I 'll be there soon mom." she replied pushing the end button on her phone.

Back at square one she threw her phone on the seat and pulled to the side of the road. " Catherine...stop worrying about it." she whispered to herself

Catherine took a few minutes and soon she was on her way.

Gil headed back to his office after handing out his assignments and sat down at his desk. He grabbed his pen and began the treacherous paper work. After only two sheets he was to distracted to continue.,he dropped his pen and grabbed his phone. Seeing as how Catherine hadn't called to say she had gotten home yet he took the initiative and called her instead.

Catherine sat in the driveway and stared at his house. It seemed as quiet and still just like the last night she had been there.

Not anting to waste more time sitting she climbed out and headed toward the door. She grabbed her cell phone and dialed his number on the way to the door.

Getting his machine she rapped o the door and waited for the beep. " Eddie...it's me..I want to make sure okay.." she paused " Okay well...I'm outside so I guess you're doing fine or else..."

She paused when she heard the front door open but he never appeared

"Eddie?" she pushed the door and stepped in. The house was dark and cold and the stench of alcohol filled her nose. " Ed?" she called into the darkness. " Ed?" she turned quickly when she heard the door slam " Eddie" she turned to see him standing in front of the door. " Eddie are you okay?"

Eddie didn't reply, he stepped toward her and brushed passed her. Not saying anything he grabbed a half empty bottle of vodka and headed out to the backyard.

Catherine didn't follow, instead she flipped on the light and looked around. The house was a mess.It looked as if at one point Eddie had tore the place apart in rage and and decided not to put anything back where it belonged. She walked toward the kitchen..same mess all around. She looked in the sink dishes that had been in the sink since the murders..everything seemed to stand still. She looked in his cupboards and in the fridge. Eddie was clearly not eating due to the fact that almost everything edible had gone far past it's due date.

Catherine sighed and headed toward the backyard when she felt her cell phone vibrate once more. Knowing it may be her mother she pulled out the phone. she was about to answer she saw Gil was calling. She wanted to answer and tell him where she was but she didn't want to upset him. So she ignored him " Eddie?" she called heading outside " Ed" she sat down next to him " You can't live like this..you need to clean up and you need to eat something."

Eddie grunted and took a swig from the bottle. " You want some?" he replied offering her the bottle

"No" she shook her head " Eddie what have you eaten."

Eddie held up the bottle indicating the drink was all he needed

"You'll get sick Ed.." she paused " Okay..don't respond..tell me one thing...why did you call Lindsey? what did you say to her?"

Eddie turned to her " Nothing..I just wanted to hear her voice" he put the bottle down " How is she?"

Catherine shrugged " She's doing good..I think she misses you.. you just stopped coming around.."

Eddie got up from the bench " I miss her"

"Who? Catherine replied

"Lindsey" he whispered "You" he added

Catherine walked toward him " I never kept you from her." she replied ignoring the last part

Eddie nodded " I know.." he paused " Thank you for coming."

Catherine nodded " I can't stay Ed..I just wanted to see if you were..." she paused " I have to get home my mom's waiting."

"Wait" she stopped her " I don't have much food and ...up until now I haven't felt like eating or..doing anything for that matter You .. just being here helps me so much..you always did have that affect on me though.I can't believe I screwed up what we had. I wish I could turn..."

Catherine turned back and sighed " Eddie I...I ..I'm sorry I really need to get home." she replied before he could finish.

Gil was at his desk when he got the call from Catherine's mother.

"Grissom." he answered

"Gil" she began " Is Catherine on her way?"

Gil looked around him " No..she left almost an hour and a half ago..she's not home yet?"

Her mother was upset " No.. and I talked to her about an hour ago..I told her to hurry home, we talked about Eddie ad I told her he keeps calling and that Lindsey was upset. The she said she would be home in a half an hour, that she had to go back to the lab.I have to leave"

Gil stood up from his chair and grabbed his keys " Give me fifteen minutes, I'll be home so you can leave."

Gil arrived home before Catherine and Lily was on her way. Lindsey was still sound asleep and Gil was worried and upset. He sat down in his lazy-boy chair and waited.

He wasn't waiting long when he heard her keys in the door.

When she stepped inside the lights were low and she didn't see him at first.

"What happened to you?" he stood up as she set down her keys.

"Gil?" she replied " what are you doing home?"

Gil sighed " Your mom called she was a little worried. a little upset. A little annoyed."

Catherine sighed " I had somethings that need to be taken are of."

"Eddie" he replied

Catherine sighed " Yeah..Ed. needed help."

"Again?" he replied coldly

Catherine raised her eyebrow " Whats' the problem Gil?"

"I just don't see why you need to run off to him and keep it from me..and lie to me."

"When did I lie to you?"

Gil shook his head " Tonight in your office you lied..you said it was no one." It was Eddie."

Catherine shrugged and headed toward the kitchen " He's not well Gil..he has no one.and he needs someone."

"It doesn't have to be you" he replied " Why does it have to be you?"

"Why not. Why are you so worried?"

"Because I know Eddie and I know what he's capable of."

Catherine sighed " He changed"

Gil shrugged " Maybe."

"GIL!"she snapped " Stop! okay, He's Lindsey father for crying out loud!"

Gil stopped her " What? " she spat " don't look at me like that, you sit here and wait for me in the dark..like so some over possessive..." she stopped " Look I'm tired.I'm not doing this with you right now."

"I'm not being possessive. I just don't want you rushing off to him anymore."

"What?" she replied " Are you serious?"

Gil nodded " I don't trust him and neither did you.at a point in time."

" You mean you don't trust me." she shot back " Well that's not my fault."

Gil sighed " I do to trust you I just...I don't...I don't want to lose you..I feel like I'm losing you.."

Catherine turned to him " You're not.." she replied taking his hand in hers " Were getting married next week Gil I don't want everyday until then to be a fight ."

"I just don't want you to get hurt. I'm begging you..just stop going over there."

"I can't.."she replied " not until I know he'll be okay."

"So my wishes mean nothing to you?"

Catherine sighed " You know that's not true.It's complicated and you're not even trying to understand" she dropped his hand " I'm heading to bed..you going back to work?"

Catherine then disappeared into the bedroom and Gil left the house to go back to work.

Eddie was lying on his couch when he heard the vehicle drive up. Wondering what she had come back for but happy that she had he jumped off the couch and ran to the door. He had the front door open before he realized that it wasn't Catherine that had come back and that standing at his front door was Gil Grissom

TBC