Title: Among The Dead
Author: Angie
Summary: What if it was Cath?
Disclaimers: Fortunately, CSI Crime Scene Investigation does not belong to me, they are the property of CBS, Alliance Atlantis, Jerry Bruckheimer and the wonderful actors who portray them. If they did belong to me, I'm sure no one would have ever heard of them. The episode "Grave Danger" was written by Quentin Tarentino, Naren Shankar, Anthony Zuiker and Carol Mendelsohn.
Author's Notes: Reading some of this fic may seem a little like deja vu. If I managed to succeed in my intentions that will be the case. This story started off with the idea of, "What if it was Cath?" and it escalated from there. There are lines in this which are extremely similar to the episode "Grave Danger" and some which are exact, that's done intentionally. Thanks for the reviews, they are much appreciated and will go in my little review collection with my others, for use when I'm stuck on a story and start thinking I suck. For those wondering, I am thinking about writing a follow up story to this, before anyone decides they want to kill me...
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Major Spoilers for "Grave Danger" if you haven't seen that episode and don't want to know what happened, DO NOT read this fic. There are also minor spoilers for "A Little Murder" and "Weeping Willows" and the possibilty of minor spoilers from any other episode through the end of season five.
Distribution: The GraveshiftCSI Homepage
XOXOXO
Catherine held the glow stick tightly in her hand, her eyes continually darting around the box. She shifted uncomfortably, her muscles beginning to protest her continual state of idleness. "I don't know how much longer I can do this." She said, her mind comforted by the sound of her voice. "Maybe I should keep talking… at least then I'm not in complete silence. How did Gil handle that when his hearing went out?"
Her talking lapsed as she let her mind wander to her friend. "What are you doing now, Gil? Does anyone even know I'm missing? Why didn't I get my will updated?" Her mind drifts to Lindsey and the tears overtake her. "I don't want my baby to grow up alone."
XOXOXO
"Keep it together, Cath." Gil whispered, trying to keep his own emotions in check as he witnessed Catherine's emotional roller coaster. "We're looking for you, just please keep it together until I get there." He watched as she took deep breaths, her hands moving up to wipe her eyes.
XOXOXO
Catherine started at the strange sound. Her eyes scanning her environment trying to figure out what was causing the sound. She raised her head, glancing down to the bottom of the box. Her eyes opened in fright as she saw the cracks developing in the Plexiglas. "No!" She screamed, panting heavily as the cracks traveled up the case. "What did I do?" She used her hands to push herself towards the top of the box, grateful for the extra room her height allowed her in the case. Her hand reached to the tape recorder and she picked it up, looking for the record button.
"My name is Catherine Willows. If anyone finds this tape, please turn it in to the Las Vegas Police Department, or Crime Lab. There will probably be a reward for any information you give. If someone at the lab gets this, please give a copy to Lindsey. Lindsey, baby, I love you. I know you didn't always believe me when I would tell you. But I do. More than anything. I'd do anything for you, and I always tried my best. I tried to set a good example for you. Make you see that you can do anything you put your mind too. I'm sorry I wasn't always there when you needed me. I hope where ever you are now, you're happy. That's all I've ever wanted… to see you happy. Mom… I know I wasn't always the daughter you wish you had. Our relationship wasn't what you hoped it would be, it wasn't what I had hoped it would be either. But I'm glad these last few months we were starting to get along again. I just wish we'd had more time to make things right." Catherine cleared her throat, kicking the dirt that had seeped into the box away from her legs. "Sam… I don't know what to say. I wish I had found out sooner. I spent the first part of my life thinking of you as a father figure, wishing you were. And the last few years so angry that you had lied to me about it. I just… I don't know, I wish things had been different. I know you told me I make things difficult, that I choose to make my life harder then it needs to be. But I can't help that. I was always fending on my own, fighting to get what I wanted. You knew that, you watched me. Don't hold that against me know. And please… just… don't go overboard with Lindsey. I know you are going to try and give her everything in the world. I don't want that, don't kill her spirit, her need to fight and feel accomplishment at achieving her dreams on her own."
XOXOXO
Gil watched her, his eyes taking in every word she said.
"Nick, Warrick… these last few months… I know they've been a lot to adjust to. It's been a lot for me to adjust to as well, I went from being your friend to your boss. We went from working together, to me having to tell you what to do. I'm sorry my promotion meant you two having to leave night shift, having to adjust to a new boss. That isn't what I intended. Thank you for sticking by me. Greg, I have to say it, you're doing good. I don't get to see you much anymore, but I still keep tabs on you. You are going to be an excellent CSI. Just stay focused and don't let anyone tell you different."
Gil swallowed past the lump in his throat, fighting off the tears at watching her leave her final goodbyes.
"Gil… I don't know what to say. We've been through so much together. You were there when I started, just a tech in the lab, much like Greg. I know he can drive you nuts, but so did I. We've had some great times, Gil. Some not so good times as well, but remember the good ones. That's what I want you to do, remember the happiness. I loved watching you smile. I want you to remember me and smile, don't think about now… about all of this. Promise me that, Gil. I want you to find happiness, somewhere."
"I promise." Gil whispered, his head ducking down, trying to get his emotions in check before anyone else in the room could notice.
"Something's wrong." Sara said, watching Catherine writhe on the screen. "She's freaking out."
Gil snapped his head up, noting the sudden change in Catherine's temperament.
"What's happening? She's been so calm." Sara asked, staring at the screen.
"I'm not… wait a minute." His eyes scanned the screen as he forced himself to not focus on Catherine. "There it is." He said, pointing to the bottom corner of the screen.
"What is that?"
"Ants." Gil said, his eyes moving back to Catherine, watching as she suffered through the assault. "She's being eaten alive."
XOXOXO
Catherine screamed in pain. Her hands instinctively trying to brush the offending creatures off her skin.
XOXOXO
"Stay calm, Cath. Don't fight it. They wont bite as much if you keep still."
XOXOXO
Catherine closed her eyes, hearing Gil's words echo through her mind. "They just react to you, Catherine. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone."
She dug into her pocket, trying to find anything to cover her orifices as she felt the ants move up her body. Retrieving some gloves from her pocket, she placed the fingertips of one glove in her nostrils, creating a barrier, then repeated the process on her ears. She moved her hands up, covering her mouth and closing her eyes.
"Please find me soon."
XOXOXO
"That's it Cath, stay calm." Gil said aloud, watching with pride as she once again overcame her obstacles. "Now we just need some luck." He moved to the computer, his hand in position over the mouse. He kept focus, waiting. "Come on."
Sara and Greg stepped behind him, both watching Gil at work.
"Just a little more." He muttered, talking to the screen. He watched as one of the ants moved over the camera lens. "That's it!" He yelled, his finger quickly pressing on the mouse. He heard the printer whirl and swiveled in his chair, grabbing the paper and heading out of the room. He rushed to his office, putting the piece of paper on his desk and grabbing a reference book from a shelf. He quickly flipped through the book glancing between the book and the paper he had printed out. "Aha!" The smile came out on his face as he looked at the book. "Solenopsis invicta."
Gil walked out of his office, motioning for Greg and Sara to join him. He stepped into the layout room, watching as the others gathered around the table. "The ants. Fire ants. Very rare in Nevada, they don't like our soil. The only place they will be is a nursery."
Nick nodded, typing the new information into the computer. "There are eleven nurseries in the Las Vegas area." Nick informed the others.
Archie nodded, pointing to a large map of the city on the table. "I've got the web cam traced down to this area." He said, drawing a circle on the map.
Greg stepped over to the map drawing a circle of his own. "The information from the Ford's black box is narrowed to a twenty-three mile radius."
Warrick looked at the map, quickly glancing at the sheets Nick had just printed of the nursery listings. "There are two nurseries in the overlapping area." Warrick told them, taking one of the markers. "Here and here." He said, marking the spots on the map.
"Wait a minute." Sara jumped in. "Kelly Gordon worked with plants. Where's that file?"
"My desk."
Sara ran out of the room, returning seconds later with the file in her hand. "You guys, Catherine is here." She said pointing to one of the marks on the map.
XOXOXO
Gil could feel his pulse racing as he sped towards the nursery, his eyes trying not to focus on the hundreds of flashing red lights. He glanced at his watch, the time slowly counting down. "Just hang on, Cath. I'm coming."
He squealed to a stop, jumping out of the Denali and rushing over to the nursery owner. "You said on the phone you had a fire ant mound. Where is it?"
"People usually prefer to stay away from it." He led him down the dirt path, stopping in front of a mound of dirt.
"Okay fan out. Look for loose soil or anything that might have been dug up recently." Gil watched everyone spread out. He glanced down to the machine he had with him, walking south as he scanned the ground, looking at the machine to see if the transmission from the web cam was any stronger. He walked forward, watching as the bars on the machine lit up. His pace sped up, as the number of bars lit increased.
"I'm getting something over here." He yelled, letting the others know where he was at. He continued looking down at the monitor as he walked forward. He glanced briefly over his shoulder, seeing that the others were slightly behind, following his move. Rounding the corner, his eyes swept out over the dirt road and he carefully continued forward, his mind reminding him that he was quickly running out if time. He stumbled slightly, his eyes glancing back to the ground behind him. Eyes opening wide, he fell to his knees, pushing aside the pain as the digital readings fully lit up. He started digging with his bare hands, praying he'd finally found her. Seconds later, his fingers scraped over a foreign object. Concentrating on that section, he unearthed a plastic bag, looking closer, he realized it was the transmitter.
"I found her! She's right here!" Gil yelled, scrambling over to the second black bit of plastic sticking out of the ground. "Catherine, I'm here! Hang on, I promise you'll be out of there soon. Just hang on!" He started pushing the dirt aside with his hands, looking up as he felt himself being pushed out of the way.
"Let them use the shovels, Gris… it'll be faster." Sara said, clearing the way for the others.
Gil stood back, watching the frantic digging taking place before his eyes. He moved over to one of the black pipes, kneeling down before it. "Just hang on, Cath. We're almost there."
There was a beep, and Gil looked to his watch, glancing up to see the others had done the same. The countdown was over.
"Don't give up, Cath. Just a few more minutes, I promise."
XOXOXO
Catherine flinched. She was hearing voices. She had yet to determine if it was reality or just her mind playing tricks on her, when she heard the sputtering of the fan. Her eyes opened in shock, immediately closing again as she felt the ants moving on her face. 'Oh God.' She groaned in realization that she would soon be out of air. She made a conscious effort to slow down her breathing, her mind trying to slip away to past memories but the continual pain from the ant bites coupled with the crawling sensation washing over her body was counteracting any efforts she made.
"Don't give up, Cath. Just a few more minutes, I promise."
She heard the voice again. Gil's voice. With the same message as before. She clasped her hands tighter over her mouth, screaming. Praying that someone would finally hear her.
"Just hold on!"
Gil's voice again. Her mind working the possibilities. She worked harder, trying to control her breathing and not panic, her mind believing the voices she was hearing.
XOXOXO
Gil kept his eyes trained on the hole, watching as it became deeper and deeper. A thought entered his mind and he turned to Greg. "Go get a fire extinguisher from one of the Denali's. We're going to need it for the ants." He watched as Greg ran off, his mind barely registering the ringing phone. He watched Nick climb out of the whole, handing his shovel off to someone else to continue digging.
"What?"
Gil turned his focus to Nick, watching the disbelief come over his face.
"I hit something!" Warrick shouted, immediately getting the attention of everyone but Nick. He dropped to his knees, using his hands to brush the dirt off the box. He smiled as the clear box came into view.
"Stop digging. Get out of the hole!" Nick ignored the looks on everyone's faces. "Hodges just called. Those marks on the bottom of the prototype… he ran them… semtex. That box is rigged to explode."
Gil looked as everyone quickly scrambled out of the hole, everyone but Warrick.
"Warrick stay there!" Gil yelled, his mind quickly figuring out the calculations. "What are the odds he had this planned with Catherine in mind?" He asked, climbing in the hole with Warrick.
"I thought we determined it was random?" Sara said, watching as Gil took position next to Warrick.
"Exactly." Gil agreed, motioning for Warrick to leave.
"I don't want…"
Gil didn't let him finish. "She wont be alone. Go on." He assured, giving the man a slight push in the opposite direction. "It was random. If the trigger is weight related, and it probably is…"
"Catherine doesn't weigh enough." Greg said in realization of what was happening.
"Exactly. It's probably configured for at least one hundred fifty. Cath's not close." Gil said, kneeling onto the top of the container. He brushed away more of the dirt, barely making out Catherine's face through the condensation on the top of the box. "Get a crowbar." He directed, his hand making a sweeping motion over the top of the lid, before knocking lightly to get Catherine's attention. "Just a few more minutes, Cath. I'm not leaving you." He looked up to see Warrick with the crowbar. "I need you to try and pry the lid up, just a little, with me on it. Greg, have that fire extinguisher ready. Short bursts, so you don't suffocate her." He looked back to Catherine, knocking again. "Cath?" He waited for her attention. Not getting a response he tried again. "Cath, listen to me. We're gonna raise the lid just a little and kill those ants. Okay?" He saw the slight movement of her head, the only indication she had heard.
Warrick climbed down the side of the hole, moving aside enough dirt to get the crowbar under the edge of the lid. He pressed down, Greg beside him, ready with the fire extinguisher. The top raised a few inches and Greg managed a couple bursts from the fire extinguisher before a sickening crack stopped them in their tracks.
"Lower the lid!" Gil yelled, brushing aside more dirt. Revealing more of the lid, he tried to cover his disappointment as he uncovered the multiple cracks. He looked around trying to decide what to do.
"Can we take the lid off in sections?" Brass said, looking down at him.
"Not sure how we do that without the possibility of hurting Cath. It's already weak, that may cause the Plexiglas to shatter." Gil remained still, ignoring the pain in his knees as he stayed in position over the coffin. Sensing movement, he glanced down.
Catherine moved her hands, brushing the dead ants off her face and opening her eyes. "I'm not hallucinating." She said to herself as she realized the new light she was under. She blinked rapidly, her eyes adjusting as she wiped the condensation off the top of the box. She peered out, moving her hand to shield her eyes from the light, Gil's voice still echoing through her mind.
"Cath?"
Her eyes searched out the voice saying her name, when suddenly his face was directly over her.
"Hold on, okay. We're working on it."
She nodded, tears springing to her eyes. "Gil." She pushed up, feeling the slight give on the lid. Her eyes once again turned to Gil, realizing he wasn't moving. She pushed again, the panic rising as she realized Gil was the one keeping her locked up. "Move, Gil. Let me out." She pounded her fist to the top, kicking up slightly with her feet.
"Catherine! Listen to me." He watched as she continued to struggle, her fear escalating. "Cath!" He yelled, his hand slamming to the top of the lid, forcing her attention. "Listen to me." He gulped at the fear covering her features. "Cath. You know me. I wouldn't keep you in there unnecessarily. The box is wired to explode. I believe it's weight triggered. Do you understand me?"
Catherine nodded, letting her feet fall back down, her hands falling dejectedly to the side.
"You're too light, Cath. We're trying to figure out how to get the lid off without me having to move. Just give us a little time."
She raised her hand, splaying it out against the top, watching as Gil placed his own hand above hers.
"I'm not leaving, Cath. I'm right here with you. You're going to be fine."
Catherine was about to reply when the ominous cracking started again. She watched as the cracks moved up the lid, stopping just over her face. "Gil…."
"I'll think of something." He interrupted, trying to remain perfectly still.
"Gil, listen to me. Have Warrick pry up the lid again. That should…"
"I don't want this to shatter on you, Cath."
"I can handle it. I need the air…"
His eyes suddenly locked on her, noticing the labored breathing. He looked up, motioning for Warrick to come down. "Get the crowbar. Nick find a rope, we're getting this lid off here."
Nick soon returned with the rope, looking down the hole to Gil. "What do you want me to do?"
"Toss it here."
Gil caught the rope and quickly reached for one of the ends. "Cath, this is what we're going to do. When Warrick lifts the lid, I'm going to slip this end of the rope to you, I need you to poke it out of the other side. Okay?"
Catherine nodded, moving her hands above her head to grab the rope.
"On the count of three." Warrick directed, looking back and forth between the two. "One, two, three!" He grunted, pressing down and keeping steady pressure as Gil passed the rope into the box, moving it to the side before retrieving the end from Catherine.
Gil pulled the rope through the box until a couple of feet now rested on the other side, then motioned for Warrick to lower the lid. He took the two ends of the rope and made a slip knot, pulling it tight against the lid. "Nick!" He called, throwing the rope back up to him. "I need you and the others to pull the lid off, hopefully it will just slide out from under me. Go slow, I don't want to crush Cath when I fall into the box." He felt the lid raise slightly and he moved to the side of the rope. The lid started cracking, again, and Gil yelled up to the others. "We're gonna have to go faster, it's not going to hold my weight." Gil moved further to the side, being careful to keep his weight steady. Once the lid was over far enough, he pushed his hand into the box with Catherine, resting it next to her head. Using his arm, he began pushing the lid, grunting with the effort. Suddenly, the lid slipped out from under him. His hand caught his upper body, while is left knee crashed to the base of the coffin, just missing Catherine's leg.
She took a deep breath, relishing the fresh air. She brought her hand up, cupping Gil's cheek, smiling as he mimicked her actions. "Now what?"
"Same concept. We'll put the rope around us."
"They won't get us pulled out before the explosives…"
"I have a plan." Gil whispered, brushing his thumb across the red bite marks on her cheek. "Those bites will heal soon, I promise." He shifted slightly, pulling Catherine into his arms as he slid onto his side. "Throw that rope back down here." He reached for the rope, glad to see the slip knot still in tact.
"Wait, Gris." Greg called, suddenly appearing over the edge of the hole. "Use this." He tossed the karabiner down to Gil.
Gil took the karabiner and fastened it around his belt, then looked at Catherine's waist. He frowned when he noticed she wasn't wearing a belt. "I don't suppose…" He felt around her waist, his frown deepening. "No belt loops either. Trust me?"
"Always." She replied without hesitation.
"I promise I won't let go." He moved the karabiner to the back of his belt, after he tied the rope to it. "Can you make sure the rope is secure?"
Catherine moved her hands around him, tugging on the rope. "It's secure." She told him, her hands sliding back around to his chest.
"Warrick?" Gil called, turning his head to look out of the hole. "Can you get the rope?"
Warrick stepped into the hole reaching for the rope.
"Careful." Gil cautioned, as he passed the rope off. "I need you to find someone that can operate that backhoe. Get the shovel filled with dirt, at least two hundred pounds."
Warrick nodded. "I'll be right back."
Gil turned his attention back to Catherine.
"You're going to have them bury us."
"Just temporarily. They'll pull us out. I just need you to hang on as tight as you can." Gil told her, his hand gliding up to her hair, brushing it aside. "I just want to tell you…"
"Don't. Don't say anything. This is going to work, I know it."
"I saw you… earlier. When you were leaving that message."
"Gil…"
"You still drive me nuts, you know." He smiled, and before she could say anything in reply he ducked his head, pressing his lips to hers in a short, yet intense, kiss.
"You two ready?" Warrick called into the hole.
"Give us a second." Gil told him, looking back at Catherine. "Lock your legs around me and wrap your arms around my neck." Gil rolled Catherine onto her back, resting on top. "I'm sorry if I smash you."
"You're fine." Catherine said, resting her forehead on her arms, now tightly wrapped around Gil's neck. She tucked her head into Gil's neck, preparing for the next step.
"Don't panic, it wont be long." He raised his head slightly to avoid yelling in Catherine's ear. "We're ready." He called, feeling the pull on the back of his belt.
They took a deep breath, waiting for the inevitable.
The countdown started and Catherine squeezed her eyes shut, tightening her grip on Gil. She fought back the scream as the impact of the dirt falling hit.
Gil tightened his grip on Catherine, feeling the slight pull on his belt. Seconds later, he was flying through the air, fighting his body's urge to panic as he fought to keep his arms firmly around Catherine. The heat shocked him, as he felt the explosion propel their bodies forward. He landed on the ground, hard, grateful that he had been the one to hit first. Loosening his hands, he slowly raised his arms, feeling the slight rise in Catherine's chest and smiling in relief. "Cath?"
She shifted slightly, leaving her hands around Gil's neck. "Ow." She murmured, keeping her head hidden in the side of his neck.
"Are you alright?" Gil asked, resisting the urge to kiss her again.
"I think so." She shuddered, the full impact of the events coming to her mind. "Gil…"
"It's alright Cath. Everything is going to be alright." He whispered, his hands rubbing her back slightly. He was about to ask another question when he detected the presence of the rest of the team. Slowly, he opened his eyes, looking at the numerous worried faces surrounding them.
"Let us through."
Gil watched as the crowd separated, two paramedics coming their direction. Again, he saw the unfamiliar hands coming towards them, this time reaching for Catherine instead. They quickly did their examination, as much as they could without moving her.
"Ma'am… how do you feel? Are you having any pain?"
"Of course she's having pain." Gil answered.
"Any pain in your back or neck?" The man asked, ignoring Gil's previous statement.
"No."
"Okay, just to be safe, we're going to strap you to this backboard." The paramedic told her as his partner settled the board against her back. The two worked quickly, holding her upper body firmly against the board and rolling her off Gil. While the first paramedic continued holding her head in place, the second strapped her to the back board before securing the c-collar around her neck. After quickly assessing Catherine, they turned back to Gil.
"Get her to the hospital." He waved them off, his eyes staying on Catherine.
"There's room in there for the two of you." The paramedic told him. Taking another collar, he secured Gil's neck before the two rolled him to his side, placing the back board beneath.
"Before you strap me to that, can you unhook that karabiner?" Gil asked.
The man unhooked the metal object from Gil's belt then strapped the backboard into place and carefully lowered Gil back to the ground. Before Gil could think about what was happening, the two paramedics left his view. Moments later, Gil saw Catherine being moved onto a gurney then lifted into the air, quickly repeating the actions on Gil. He lost sight of Catherine, listening as she was wheeled away from him, his eyes focused on the moon above. Feeling the movement underneath him, he shifted his eyes to the paramedic. "Wait." He was slowed to a stop and Gil took a breath. "Ecklie." He yelled, waiting for the man to step over to him.
"Gil."
He looked intently, letting his eyes convey his seriousness. "I want my team back."
