Part 8

The entirety of this part is posted at my website. This is the R version

"Gil?"

Gil looked over at Catherine who was curled up on the couch reading. "Yeah?"

"When are you going back to work?"

"I'm taking extended leave."

"It's been a month."

"Hence the extended part."

She put her book down. "Maybe you could go in to do some paperwork."

Gil arched an eyebrow. "Why would I want to do that?"

Catherine paused for a minute. "Because maybe I could come with you."

Gil put down the journal on entomology that he was reading. "You want to come and do paperwork?"

Catherine smiled slightly. "I feel safe with you, Gil. And I don't want to spend the rest of my life being scared. And I thought maybe…I could come with you and say hi to the team. Slowly."

"I'm sure they'd like that. They've been asking after you."

Catherine nodded. "So…what do you think?"

"I think it's a good idea. If you're ready." He looked at her. "Would you like to try a night next week?"

"Okay."

Gil smiled at her. She grinned back and slowly made her way over to him and nestled herself in his lap.

He put his arms around her. "You're doing so well, Cath. I'm so proud of you."

"I couldn't have done it without you." She placed her hand in his. "Love you, Gil."

"I love you too, Catherine." He kissed her forehead. "Very much."

"Have you got your toothbrush?"

Lindsey looked over at Gil. "Yes, Uncle Gil."

"And your pajamas."

"Yes, Uncle Gil."

From the passenger seat, Catherine glanced over at Gil, trying to hide a smirk.

"And your friends birthday present?"

"Yes, Uncle Gil."

Gil pulled up in front of the house and took off his seatbelt. Lindsey looked at him, aghast.

"You're not coming in, are you!"

Gil glanced at Catherine, who gently shook her head.

"Um, no of course not. I just…just wanted to be able to turn around to give you a kiss goodbye."

Lindsey giggled and kissed him on the cheek. "Bye Uncle Gil! Bye Mom! Have fun tonight." She got out of the car and made her way up to the front door.

Gil and Cath waited until they saw her go in, and the mother wave from the front door.

"Home?" Gil asked Catherine.

She nodded.

Catherine sat down to the candlelit dinner table. "Gil…you didn't have to go to all this trouble."

"I wanted to," he replied, sitting down opposite her. "You deserve a nice meal."

"And I love steak," she said, smelling the dinner.

"Enjoy," Gil told her.

They ate in companionable silence, and when they had finished, Gil took the plates into the kitchen to clean up. Catherine blew out the candles and followed him in.

"Can I help?"

Gil turned around and smiled at her. "Almost finished. The magic of dishwashers."

Catherine smiled back. "I…was going to take a bath. You…uh…want to come with me?"

He nodded and took her hand as they went up to the bathroom.

Catherine slowly started getting undressed, and Gil ran the water for her.

"You can look, you know," Catherine said, smiling softly when she realized that he was staring at the bath.

"I just wanted to give you your privacy."

"Gil. Turn around."

He turned around, his eyes locked on hers. He slowly glanced at her, noticing her bruises were starting to heal. "Your bath is ready."

Gil helped Catherine slide down in the bath, and she groaned in relief as the hot water hit her body.

Catherine's eyes jerked to his, as she felt his hand stroke across her shoulder. "Gil?"

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

She nodded slowly.

"Will you let me do this for you?"

She nodded again, knowing instinctively what he was going to do.

"If you want me to stop, just say," Gil promised her.

"Okay," she said quietly, her eyes locking on his.

Keeping his eyes on hers, Gil's fingers caressed her shoulders and neck. He smiled at her. "You're beautiful, Cath."

Catherine smiled shyly at him.

Gil felt her tense slightly when his hand touched her left breast. He didn't remove it, but just watched her eyes. "Is this okay?"

"Yes," she whispered, her voice not quite steady.

He smiled softly at her. "Good," he murmured. "I want to make you feel good." His fingers stroked tenderly, circling her nipple then moving outwards again.

Her eyes watched his hand as it traveled across to caress her right breast, lavishing the same attention as he had given the left.

"Lean back," he entreated, helping her lean back against the head of the bath.

Blue met blue as his fingers traced down her body, pausing to caress her stomach, which twitched under the stimulation.

"Gil…"

Movements stopped again. He looked at her. "It's okay, Cath. Whatever you want…"

"Don't stop," came the whisper.

His eyes widened for a moment, but then he smiled and nodded.

"Gil."

Gil smiled softly at her. "Hi, beautiful."

"I…wow."

"Want some help out of the tub?"

She nodded, and he helped her stand up on shaky legs. After rubbing her down, they made their way into the bedroom, and curled up on the bed together.

"Thank you," she whispered, her trembling fingers resting against his chest.

"What for?" Gil asked, kissing the top of her head.

"It wasn't him."

"I don't understand, baby."

"It wasn't him forcing me, it wasn't him that I saw. When I came, I saw you. It was you. And me."

Gil let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "I'm glad."

"Sleep now," she decided, resting her head on his chest.

Gil grinned. "That's right. Sleep now."

TBC