Part 20

As always, the NC-17 version of this part can be found at my website or at csiforensics.

Gil glanced over at Catherine, who was nervously flipping through an old magazine and alternately fidgeting with her fingers.

He reached over, taking one of her hands in his. She turned to face him, a nervous smile on her face.

"It's okay, Cath," he murmured.

"You'll come in with me, won't you?"

He nodded. "If you want me to, of course I will."

"I want you to." She turned back, looking at the magazine. Eventually, with a sigh, she placed it on the magazine table. "Why am I so nervous? I've talked with Philip before."

Gil's thumb gently stroked the top of her hand. "Because when we've talked to him before, it's always been about someone else."

Catherine wrinkled her nose. "That's true."

"Catherine? Gil?"

Gil felt Catherine tense and he gently squeezed her hand. "Hi, Philip."

"Come on in," the man smiled, gesturing towards his room.

Guiding Catherine into the room with his hand on the small of her back, Gil gently caressed her skin as they walked.

They sat down in the chairs that Philip offered them, and Catherine returned her small hand to Gil's larger one.

"How are you both today?" Philip asked, sitting down in his chair.

"Doing a bit better than yesterday," Catherine murmured. Her hand was still gripping tightly to Gil's.

"Gil?"

"I think we're both a lot more relaxed today."

"I'm glad to hear it. There's nothing more exhausting that being at a trial day after day."

"We decided not to go today," Catherine said. "It was the day for the Graves' to testify."

"I put my foot down," Gil said, caressing her palm. "I didn't think Catherine needed to be there."

Philip nodded. "That's understandable. I wouldn't want to be there either."

"I'm glad Gil said we weren't going." Catherine looked up at Philip. "And I'm glad he was talking to you."

Philip smiled. "Gil and I had some good conversations. He's been very worried about you."

Catherine glanced at Gil. "I know," she murmured.

He smiled, squeezing her hand.

"Catherine, Gil mentioned on the phone that you told him some things the other night and then you asked him to help you. Do you want to tell me those things?"

Gil glanced at her. "Only if you want to."

Catherine wrestled with her thoughts for a moment. She needed help, and Gil was trying everything he could to help her. So it all came out in a rush.

"I can still see him on me. He's there. I allowed myself to get raped and brutalized and because of what I was, I was asking for it."

It had broken his heart to hear it the first time, but Gil shattered when he heard it again. "That's not true, Catherine. You were not asking for and you didn't allow it."

"I had an orgasm, Gil! What does that say to you?"

"An involuntary reaction! You're a scientist, Catherine. You know that these things happen."

Philip intervened. "Let's stop for a moment. We'll deal with things one at a time." He waited for them both to calm down a little. "Catherine, I gathered that you and Gil have been intimate. Why was that different to what Dale Graves did to you?"

There was no hesitation before her answer. "Because I wanted it more than anything. I love him."

Gil's hand squeezed hers again.

"Okay, so when Gil touches you, it's what you want. When Dale touched you, you didn't want it."

Catherine nodded.

"That's the difference between rape and love, Catherine. It's a big difference. And Dale Graves knew you didn't want it, so that makes it rape."

Catherine said nothing. Gil watched her carefully. Philip looked at them both.

It was going to be a long session.

It had been a quiet trip home and an even quieter lunch. Catherine had excused herself afterwards, saying she was going to have a bath.

Gil cleaned up, and walked upstairs. He peeked around the door.

"You can come in if you want to."

Gil accepted the offer, going in and sitting beside the bath.

"Do you remember the first time we were in here?" Catherine asked. "And when you came in here that night, and touched me?"

"Of course I do," Gil replied.

"Why did you do it?"

"Because I wanted to. I wanted to touch you, and I wanted to watch you orgasm. And because I knew you trusted me."

"I always have. Still do."

Gil reached his hand over, gently caressing her. "What do you see?"

"What do you mean?"

"Watch my hand. Watch me. What do you see?"

Her eyes looked into his for a moment, before watching his hand glide across her skin. "You. Touching me."

"On your skin. I'm on your skin. Not him. Me. That's how it's going to be from now on, Catherine. Me touching you, me on your skin, me giving you pleasure." He caressed her cheek. "Okay?"

She smiled at him. "Okay."

Catherine stepped out of the bath, smiling as Gil surrounded her with a towel. He gently dried her down.

"Thank you," she murmured.

He was about to get her robe, when she put a hand on his arm.

"Gil?"

"Mhm?"

"I want to feel you touching me. I want to feel you on my skin and feel you giving me pleasure. I want to make love with you."

His finger rested on her chin, tipping her face so that she looked him in the eyes. "Are you sure? It's been a rough day for you."

"It's been a learning day. And a good day." She took his hand. "Please."

"You never have to plead with me to make love to you," he smiled. "I love you too much."

She kissed him gently and then cried out in surprise as he lifted her into his arms.

"Gil!"

He grinned at her, carrying her into the bedroom and laying her tenderly down on the bed.

She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Raising a hand, she caressed his cheek. "You're good for me, you know that?"

"Funny, I was going to say that about you," Gil replied, turning slightly and kissing the hand.

Catherine watched his hands slide down her naked body. A slow burn started inside her, as he touched and caressed his way back up. Finally he was cupping her face and leaning in for a deep kiss.

Her hands ran up his chest, sliding around his neck and pulling him closer.

"Shirt off," she murmured, running her fingers underneath it.

Gil grinned, sitting up slightly and taking his shirt off, tossing it over the side of the bed. Catherine sighed with satisfaction, and ran her fingers over his bare flesh.

"I love it when you do that," he told her, his eyes closing.

She grinned and leant up, capturing his lips with hers again. The kiss was long and deep, until Catherine broke it with a moan as Gil's hands cupped her breasts.

He leaned down, whispering in her ear. "My hands on you, Catherine."

Her eyes opened, looking at him in dazed lust and love.

"That's right, baby. Watch me."

Catherine curled into him as he pulled the comforter over them. She clung tightly, resting her head on his chest.

"I love you," she whispered. "Thank you."

"Shh," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "You don't need to thank me for making love to you. Remember, I enjoy it as much as you do."

Catherine chuckled. "I noticed."

Gil grinned, holding her closer to him. "I thought you might." He kissed her cheek. "Sleep, sweetheart. You've had a big day."

"Gil?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I'm going to be okay." She looked up at him, sincerity in her eyes.

He smiled at her, pressing a kiss to her lips. "Catherine, I know you're going to be okay."

TBC