Warrick adjusted his tie.
"You look great, War," Catherine said, walking over to him.
He looked down at her. "Thanks. How are you doing?"
"Not bad. Just a little overwhelmed." She gestured to where Gil was talking with Jennifer. "He's a little protective."
"Do you blame him?"
Catherine's eyes softened. "No. But I am keeping a close eye on him." She sighed. "I love him, Warrick, and he's taking this hard."
"He loves you, Catherine. That's why he's taking it so hard."
Gil came over then, his hand immediately seeking Catherine's. "Hi Warrick."
"Hey, Griss. I'm all ready to go."
"I know you'll do fine, Warrick. It's all in the evidence."
Warrick nodded. He placed a hand on Catherine's shoulder and then headed off to see Jennifer.
"Everything okay?" Gil asked, not having missed the looks and intense conversation that had occurred between the two.
Catherine turned in his arms, looking up at him. "Gil…are you jealous?"
"Of course not," Gil protested. He paused. "Maybe a little."
She looked up at him, eyes soft and loving. "You have nothing to be jealous about, Gil. I love you more than anything in the world." Her hand rested on his chest. "I was just telling Warrick that I was worried about you."
"What have you got to be worried about?" Gil asked her. "I'm fine."
"Because sometimes I wonder if this is harder for you than it is for me."
Gil's arms went around her. "I won't deny that this is really hard for me. But I know that it can't be even a fraction of how hard it is for you." He hugged her tight. "But we will get through this, Cath. I promise."
Warrick stared back at Jennifer Cowen, ready for his questioning to begin.
"Mr. Brown, you were the lead CSI on this case, correct?"
"Yes."
"What other CSI's worked with you on this case?"
"Sara Sidle, Greg Sanders and Nick Stokes. We also had various lab technicians helping us."
"What area of evidence were you looking at, Mr Brown?"
"I helped work the scene of the crime. We recovered some shoe treads in the area. I also did some work regarding Stan Graves."
"Could you please tell the court about the shoe treads?"
"There were several in the particular area of the attack. We were able to identify treads from Ms. Willows' shoes, from Officer Graves' shoes, and from Dale Graves' shoes."
"Could you tell the court how you were able to work this out?"
"We first looked at the size of the shoe. Each shoe had a specific tread, so we were able to work out the make of the shoe. Because of natural wear and tear, there were also distinct markings. During the search of Mr Graves' house, we discovered a pair of shoes that matched exactly to the tread taken from the crime scene."
"Anything else?"
"There was also dirt present on the sole. Technicians from our lab were able to work out with a reasonable amount of certainty to where the dirt came from, due to organisms present in the soil."
"Thank you, Mr Brown."
Stan Graves' lawyer, Michael Jardine, stood up. "Mr. Brown, would Officer Graves' shoe treads be there because he was on the scene with Ms. Willows."
"Yes. But…"
"No further questions."
"Your turn tomorrow."
"Yep."
Catherine looked over at Gil, watching as he got into their bed. "Nervous?"
"No."
"No?"
Gil looked over at her and smiled. "I just tell the truth, Catherine. We know what happened that night. Not only because of you, but because of what the evidence told us. They're not going to get away with this, Catherine."
Catherine snuggled up to him, resting her hand over his. "You're so optimistic, Gil."
"I believe in the evidence. Most importantly, I believe in you." He kissed the top of her head. "Always have. Always will."
Catherine leant up and kissed his lips gently. "I love you, Gil."
"Love you back." He hugged her tight. "Get some rest, Catherine. And don't worry about tomorrow. Everything is going to be fine."
Catherine padded towards the front door. She was almost ready to leave for court, but the doorbell had rung.
She opened the door and her eyes widened as she saw Sam Braun on the other side.
"Sam?"
"Catherine."
"What are you doing here?"
Sam looked slightly hurt at first, but said nothing to indicate it. "I had to come and see you, Catherine. I know what happened to you was a few months ago…but I didn't think you'd want to see me straight away."
"Cath, who's at the…" Gil appeared behind Catherine, his eyes darkening when he saw Sam Braun.
"Sam, you remember, Gil Grissom?" Catherine murmurs, still in shock that Sam has come to see her.
"Nice to see you again, Grissom," Sam said. He'd already had Gil checked out, and trusted him. To a certain extent.
"Sam," Gil nodded.
"Would you…like to come in?" Catherine asked, shocking herself.
Sam nodded and Catherine opened the door a little wider. He went inside, following them as they took him into the lounge room.
The silence was awkward at first. Gil sat next to Catherine, holding her hand. Catherine was as close to him as she could get without being in his lap. Sam sat on the opposite chair, looking at them both.
"I'll cut to the chase," he said. "I haven't been a good father. I haven't even been an okay father. But I will not sit by while my daughter is attacked and almost killed by two maniacs." His eyes met Catherine's. "I know it's against the way you work, but I can have them disappear on a second's notice."
Catherine's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"
"I can't let these men get away with what they did to you."
Gil stood up. "Cath, how about you finish getting ready? I just want to talk to Sam for a moment."
Sam and Catherine both looked surprised, but Catherine nodded, heading upstairs. Gil sat down, opposite Sam.
"Let's get the first thing clear," Gil said. "I don't trust you. I'm not sure that I ever will. But you're Catherine's father. And I love Catherine."
"I can see that," Sam said quietly.
"Then don't suggest you're going to murder two people for her. Catherine had enough trouble having to watch a man receive the lethal injection. Do you really want to have her living with the thought that her father illegally murdered two men because of her?"
Sam Braun paused. "Then what do you suggest I do? I don't think you understand, Grissom. I have one son in the ground, one in jail. Catherine is all I have left."
"Do you understand, Sam? You've used her as a means to an end. You have to start treating her as a daughter."
"You seem to make her happy."
"I do whatever I can to do that."
Sam nodded. "I gave her money."
"Money isn't everything."
"Then what would you suggest, Grissom?"
"Be there for her when she needs support."
"Isn't that your job?"
"You can never have too much of a support team," Gil replied.
"Gil?" Catherine appeared in the doorway. "I'm ready."
Gil stood up, smiling at her. "You look beautiful."
Catherine took the hand Gil had offered her.
"I'm going to go," Sam said. "Catherine, anything you need, or want, all you have to do is call."
"Thank you, Sam," Catherine replied, following him out to the door.
Gil was right beside her, his hand resting on her hip.
After he had left, Catherine turned back to Gil. "He came to see me."
"I would expect no less," Gil replied, caressing her cheek. "Ready to go?"
Catherine nodded. "I'm ready."
"Dr Grissom, could you tell us your involvement in this case?"
"I received a phone call from my colleague, Warrick Brown. He told me that Ms. Willows was in hospital and she had been attacked. She wasn't letting anyone near her, and was asking for me."
"So you went to the hospital."
Gil nodded. "Yes. Ms. Willows let me into her room and allowed me to take evidence from her."
"What sort of evidence did you take?"
"I did a standard rape kit. I took scrapings, photos and any other evidence. We also took Ms. Willows' clothes."
"Then what happened?"
"Ms. Willows wanted me to stay with her. I gave the evidence to Warrick Brown, as noted in the chain of evidence."
"Dr Grissom, after collecting this evidence, what else were you involved in with this case?"
"I took Ms. Willows' statement."
"Was there a particular reason for this?"
"Everyone working on the case, including Detective Brass, felt that Ms Willows would be more comfortable if I took her statement."
"So Dr Grissom, you believe you conducted a thorough investigation?"
"Yes."
"No further questions, your honour."
Jennifer Cowen sat down. Dale Graves' lawyer stood up, a small smile on his face.
"Dr Grissom, were you having sexual relations with Ms Willows at the time of the attack?"
Gil stared blankly at the lawyer. "Considering your client was raping Ms Willows at the time and I was across town, I'd say that questions is a little ridiculous, wouldn't you?"
"Your honour, the witness is being hostile."
"Rephrase the question," the judge directed Dale's lawyer.
"Dr Grissom, at this time were you, or had you been, having sexual relations with Ms. Willows?"
"Objection!" Jennifer cried, jumping up. "Ms. Willows previous sexual activities cannot come into discussion here!"
"I was talking about Dr. Grissom's sexual activities."
"And yet I am unmoved," the judge replied. "Move on."
Dale's lawyer frowned. "Dr. Grissom, how long have you known Ms. Willows?"
"Twenty years."
"And what is your relationship with Ms. Willows?"
Gil paused. "When?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"When do you mean?"
"When Ms. Willows was allegedly attacked."
"We were coworkers. Friends."
"Falsifying evidence sort of friends?"
"No."
"So if Ms. Willows was in any trouble you wouldn't lie for her?"
"Ms Willows isn't in trouble."
"That's not an answer, Dr Grissom."
"I can't answer that question. Not out of context."
Catherine's eyes locked onto Gil's. He smiled reassuringly at her.
"Dr. Grissom, what evidence did you collect from Ms. Willows at the scene of the crime?"
"I collected Ms. Willows' clothes and I also did a rape exam."
"Did you find any evidence of fluids during the rape exam?"
Gil narrowed his eyes. "As the report states, your client wore a condom." His eyes fastened on Dale Graves. "The only thing about that man I'll ever be thankful for."
"Your honor?"
The judge bit her lip. "Please stick to the answers, Dr. Grissom."
"Yes, your honor," Gil said sweetly.