Title: The Revolving Door

Author: Angie

Email: 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.

Author's Notes: It's been a long time... anyone even remember this fic. The first eleven chapters can be found on , for those that don't remember... or need a refresher on the fic. I have to say any similarities to anything that may have happened in "King Baby" is a complete coincidence. This chapter has been finished since January, it just took me a while to get it to my beta.

Many thanks to Marianne, as always, for being a wonderful beta... not to mention answering all my doubts.

Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: anything and everything is fair game but nothing specific

Distribution: The GraveshiftCSI Homepage

XOXOXO

"I want to go with you."

"We've already discussed this, Cath." Gil said turning from the dresser, pulling the shirt over his head.

"No, we haven't. I should be there Gil."

He picked the ointment up off the dresser and walked across the room, sitting on the bed and placing her arm in his lap. He began unwrapping her arm as he talked. "You haven't been released for work yet."

"This isn't work, it's a meeting. I'm perfectly able to sit in an office…"

"I know you are, Cath. But I don't want…"

"You can't protect me from everything, Gil." She looked down and watched as he finished applying the ointment and rewrapped her hand. "I know that's what you are trying to do. But I'll be fine. We need to face Mobley together. If you go there alone, you're just going to prove to him that we can't keep our private lives separate from our personal lives."

"You're not going to let me win this one."

Catherine grinned her victory. "You don't have a chance."

"I just want…"

"I know what you want. And it's sweet. But I don't need to be protected from Mobley. I want to fight for us as much as you do."

He rose from the bed, taking the medication and old bandages with him. He tossed the bandages into the trashcan and turned back to her. "What do you want to wear?"

XOXOXO

Catherine turned her head and watched Gil as he shifted in the chair once again. "Would you quit fidgeting? I don't think I've ever seen you so nervous."

"I can't help it. How can you sit there so calm? Our entire lives are resting in his hands… and he isn't exactly the most sympathetic person in the world."

Catherine couldn't help the laughter that bubbled out of her.

"I don't really see this as a laughing matter."

"I don't think I've ever seen you this melodramatic. Everything is going to be alright, Gil."

"How can you say that?"

"What's the worst that can happen?"

Gil looked up at her, studying her intensely.

"Just answer my question. What's the worst that can happen?"

"He splits us up. Moves you to days."

She nodded, looking around to see if anyone was watching and then put her hand over his. "I get moved to days. It would suck, but it's not the end of the world. We'd still have our evenings together. We would still be together. It's not the end of the world."

"I'd miss working with you."

"So would I. I don't want it to happen, but if it does it wont change our relationship."

They pulled back at the sound of the door opening and both looked up to see Mobley watching them.

"I'm ready to meet you now." He said before turning back into his office.

Gil cleared his throat and stood, moving behind Catherine to push her into the room. "Watch your hands, I don't want them getting caught in the wheels." Waiting until her arms were in her lap, he pushed her into the office, shutting the door behind them. Once he was sure Catherine was settled, he moved to the chair next to her.

"Catherine… how are you?"

"Doing better. I'm hoping to be back at work in another week."

"Don't push it. Take off as much time as you need." Mobley cleared his throat. "I'm pretty sure you didn't ask for this meeting to fill me in on Catherine's progress."

Catherine glanced at Gil, waiting to see if he would talk first.

"Sheriff, um… well I'll get right to the point. Catherine and I are dating."

He looked back and forth between them before saying anything. "How long has this been going on?"

"Not very long. A couple of months."

"You know there are rules against…"

"Rules against police officers. We're not cops. And there is nothing…"

"I'm sure it's implied."

"But…"

"Excuse me." Catherine interrupted the two men before they got carried away. "As Gil was saying, there is nothing listed that says we can't work together. Our relationship hasn't effected our work at all."

"Yes it has." Mobley said, stopping Catherine from continuing her speech. "If this had happened a year ago, Gil wouldn't have taken off work to…"

"Yes I would." Gil interrupted. "Catherine and I have been friends for a long time. As much as she protests, she needs help right now and I would never let her go through this alone. I wouldn't let anyone go through this alone if I could help."

"I don't…"

"Just give us a chance." Catherine asked. "Let us prove that we can do our job while continuing our relationship. I go back to the doctor next week. Once I get the walking cast put on, I'll be able to move on my own, I'll be able to start back at work. We've been dating for two months without anything spilling over into our working lives. And if it wasn't for… this… no one would have known anything was going on. All I'm…"

"Catherine. You can stop talking now." Mobley remained quiet, watching the two of them nervously glance at each other. "The time you are recuperating won't be included in your trial time. Once you are back in the field I'll give you a month to prove to me you can continue working together. Gil, you may want to spend the time learning a bit from Catherine. State your case without trying to argue with me. I'm not that hard to get along with."

"I have another question." Gil spoke up, immediately getting the attention of the other two in the room. "I need to requisition the use of one of the Tahoe's for personal use."

Brian looked at Gil then turned his attention over to Catherine and the wheelchair. "That's fine. I take it it's just until after the doctor's appointment. If you need it longer just let me know." He stood from the chair and went to the door, opening it for them. "See… I'm not hard to get along with."

XOXOXO

"Gil?" Catherine asked as he pushed her down the hall.

"Hmm?"

"While we're here… could we just?"

"We are not going to the lab."

"I just want to see…"

"I know what you want to see. But you can't concentrate on the case right now. Let them deal with the details. We just need to concentrate on getting you better."

Catherine put her hand down towards the wheels, quickly grasping the hand rest when Gil screeched to a stop.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting you to stop. Did I just hear you say that I need to let someone else handle a case?"

Gil walked around to the front of the chair, kneeling in front of her. "Sounds foreign coming from me." He smiled and reached for her hand. "Trust me, there is no other case I would rather be working right now. But I want this case solid. I don't want anyone getting off on a technicality. And if that means that I have to stays hands off, then that's what I have to do."

Catherine nodded and crossed her hands in her lap, watching as Gil stood and went back behind the chair. She remained quiet as he pushed her out of the building towards the car. "This is hard."

"I know. It's hard for me too." He opened the car door and lifted Catherine into the passenger side. Once he secured the buckle, he put the chair in the back and moved to the drivers side. "Ready to go back home?"

Catherine smiled and turned to him.

"What?"

"Home. You never call your place home. I like the sound of that."

"I guess it's never really felt like a home before. I like having the two of you there."

"That's something you never would have said a year ago."

Gil smiled and reached for her hand. "I didn't have a home a year ago. It took you to make it a home."

XOXOXO

to be continued...