Title: Love Don't Lie

Author: Angie

Summary: What happened in their past?

Disclaimers: 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: As usual, many thanks go to Marianne, who is just an excellent beta and great person all around. This story is, well it's a bit Alternate Universe. Gil and Cath are still Gil and Cath, but this takes place in the past. A sort of... what if?

Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: Anything in the series is fair game...as of now it's just general ideas.

Distribution: The GraveshiftCSI Homepage

Chapter 12

XOXOXO

Catherine darted across the living room, looking for the notebook and text for this morning's class.

"Cath…stay here with me."

She nervously rubbed her hand across her face before turning around. "I can't. I've missed too many classes as it is. I only have six more weeks until I graduate. Then…"

"Then you'll start looking for a real job and we'll be poor again. What's wrong with you stripping?"

"Eddie, we've had this argument over and over. I am not going to be a dancer for the rest of my life. I want more then that. I want a family some day. A child. What kind of an influence would I…? No! We are not starting this again. I've got to go. I'll be back after our study group." She picked up the two items she had been looking for and headed for the door. "Go back to bed. I'll be home later."

Catherine shut the door behind her, shaking slightly as she leaned back against the house. Taking a breath, she dug the car keys out of her pocket as she began walking towards the car. She tossed the book and notebook onto the passenger seat and slid into the car, making the familiar way to the college without thinking.

XOXOXO

"I have to go."

"You can't leave in the middle of a case."

"Brass, I told you. I have plans this morning. Unbreakable plans."

He looked up from the paperwork, taking in Gil's features. Anxiousness was apparent on his face. "What was it you were doing again?"

"Just helping out a friend. I told you that."

"But that's all you told me. Can't you give me just a few more details?"

"Brass…"

The supervisor held up his hand, indicating Gil to stop. "I take it you didn't leave anything at a critical point?" At Gil's head shake he continued. "I'll see you tonight then. Have a good time." He watched Gil glance at his watch before turning and running out of the lab. He didn't know what Gil had to do, but he was sure he was going to be late.

XOXOXO

"Catherine! Hey, Catherine! Wait up!"

She turned at the sound of her name and saw Brenda, the girl who sat next to her in her chemistry lecture. Stopping in the hall, she waited for Brenda. "What's up?"

"Did you hear the news?"

"What news?"

"Dr. Martin isn't here today."

"No class then? I could have stayed home in bed…"

"We still have class. Someone else is coming in. I heard he is really cute."

Catherine nodded, barely paying attention to Brenda as they continued down the hall. She opened the door to the class room letting Brenda enter first. Glancing towards the front of the room and finding it vacant, she found her seat and sat, opening the book to the current chapter.

XOXOXO

Gil looked down at the piece of paper. "361." He shifted his focus to the room number. 361. He fiddled with his tie and jacket before taking a breath and walking towards the door. Another check of his wardrobe and he opened the door, heading straight for the front of the room. He placed the pile of books and papers on the desk and turned to face the room.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Don't quite know my way around." He looked up and froze.

XOXOXO

"I'm sorry…"

Catherine's thoughts were immediately frozen as soon as she heard the voice. She looked up, watching as he addressed the room. He stopped speaking and she immediately knew he had spotted her. "He looks so good." She whispered. She blinked rapidly, trying not to let her emotions overcome her. She hadn't seen him in almost a year. She wasn't sure she ever would again.

XOXOXO

He heard a slight snickering in the background, and he forced himself to look away from Catherine. "Um, sorry. Dr. Martin had a little family emergency today, but he'll be back for the next class. So today we are going to stray from the syllabus just a little. I'm Gil Grissom and I work with the Las Vegas crime lab. Dr Martin wanted me to give a pop quiz today." He paused, waiting for the inevitable moans. "I didn't think it was a good idea either. So the two of us talked and decided to give you a choice. Pop quiz or a little lecture in my specialty. It's up to you."

There was barely a pause before the class was asking for the lecture. Gil was sure the class was just picking the lesser of the two evils, but he would take what he could get. He turned and grabbed the stack of papers off the desk, handing them to the first row to distribute to the rest of the class.

"I was hoping you would be interested in the lecture. Anything is better then a quiz, right?" Gil took a risk and glanced at Catherine. She was passing the packet behind her and he quickly diverted his gaze before she could notice. "As I said, I work at the Las Vegas Crime Lab. What we do is gather evidence from various crime scenes …"

XOXOXO

Catherine tried to focus on the lecture but her mind wandered from the words he was saying to the sound of his voice. Even as he talked about maggots, she couldn't help but be captivated by the sound of his voice.

"Catherine."

She turned and looked at the person sitting next to her. "What Brenda?" She whispered, trying not to draw attention to herself.

"Those rumors were true."

"What rumors?"

"He is cute."

Catherine just shook her head, turning her attention back to Gil.

XOXOXO

Catherine walked out of the room, Brenda rushing along side her.

"I think he likes you."

"What are you talking about?" Catherine slowed down, turning to look at Brenda.

"Dr. Grissom. He kept staring at you."

"No he wasn't…"

"And then he would forget what he was saying. And I saw you watching him too."

"I was not." She denied vehemently. "I was paying attention to the…"

"Catherine?"

They both stopped, turning around to see Gil standing before them.

"Could I see you for a minute?"

Brenda didn't give Catherine a chance to answer. "I'll just catch up to you later, Cath." She pushed her in Gil's direction before turning and leaving the two of them alone.

"Umm… do you have a class? You don't have to…"

"It's alright. My next class isn't for a couple hours. Do you mind if we go somewhere else? I don't really want to be the gossip of the school."

Gil nodded in agreement. "Let me just get my things."

Catherine followed Gil back into lecture hall and shut the door behind them. "How are you?"

Gil turned and looked at her, leaning against the door. He sat on the edge of the desk and watched her for a minute before answering. "I'm alright. How are you?"

"Fine."

"I didn't really want to do this here."

"Do what here? Gil… I just… what is this? It's been a year."

Gil sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's been a long year. I've missed you."

Catherine looked down, kicking her feet back and forth across the floor. "So have I."

"You look good. Have you…"

"Can we stop with the niceties, please? I know this isn't what you wanted to talk to me about."

"Do you still talk to Jim?"

"What?"

"He stopped talking about you."

Catherine looked up, bringing her full attention to him. "He talked about me?"

"All the time. Always pushing me, trying to get me to call you."

"Why didn't you?"

"I did."

"But you hung up."

"I knew you were…"

"You didn't know anything. You assumed. And I can guess what you assumed. I was just stringing you along, killing time until Eddie showed up."

"And he did."

"I didn't invite him. He just showed up."

"Can we talk somewhere else? Somewhere a bit more private?"

Catherine nodded. Now that Gil had finally broken his silence, she was sure he was going to have a lot to say.

"There's a coffee shop over on…"

"Why don't I drive you?" Gil interrupted, standing with his papers and walking across the room before Catherine could protest. He gently grasped her hand and pulled her away from the door. Keeping a hold on her hand, he opened the door and led her to the parking lot.

XOXOXO

"Take a right here." Catherine directed.

Gil turned where she had indicated and pulled into a parking space. "Do you want to go in? We could just stay out here. It's a little more private."

Catherine turned in the seat, taking in Gil's features. "I suppose privacy wouldn't be a bad thing."

"What happened that night? After Eddie showed up?"

"I'm sure Jim told you…"

"I want to hear it from you."

"Gil…"

"It can't be anything worse then what I've been imagining."

"Then why did you hang up? Why didn't you check on me? Make sure I was all right?"

"Honestly, I didn't even think that anything could be wrong until Jim mentioned something. And then I just couldn't believe my own stupidity. As soon as Jim left, I knew he was going to see you. I knew he'd be there for you."

"I didn't want him. I was waiting for you."

Gil reached for her hand, grasping it in his own. He looked down as his fingers came into contact with a foreign object. "What's this?"

"You know perfectly well what it is."

"Who?"

"Eddie."

"But… I thought."

"What? Did you think I would wait around for you for the rest of my life? It's been a year, Gil."

"But Eddie? He hit you!"

"Can we not talk about my marriage? I know that isn't what you wanted to talk to me about."

Gil opened his hands letting hers' fall from his hold. The feel of the ring caused a burning pain straight through his heart. "What happened to us?"

"You gave up on us."

"No I didn't."

"Then what do you call it? You never let me explain. When you finally did call me you hung up. Then I don't hear from you or see you for a year."

"You didn't try to see me either."

"Gil! I called you every day for a month. You never picked up, never returned my calls. What was I supposed to think?"

He remained silent, shifting forward in his seat.

"Say something." Catherine whispered.

"What do you want me to say? You're right. I should have called. I should have said something. I wish I could take it back, but I can't."

"I can't either. I'm married, Gil. Still."

"Are you in love with him? Are you happy?"

"I'm married, Gil. That's what matters. I can't… the two of us… it's too late."

"Friends?"

"I thought you couldn't be friends with me?"

Gil leaned back, crossing his arms and stared at the ceiling. "I'd rather be friends with you than have nothing at all. This last year has taught me that."

She turned at watched him, his gaze still focused on the ceiling. "Look at me, Gil."

He let his head drop to the side, shifting his gaze over to Catherine.

"It's going to be hard. You know that, right? I'd still like to give it a try. But things are different now."

"Eddie."

"Yeah. And… well, I have a new job."

"You finally stopped working at that strip club? I know waitresses there had to have paid pretty well, but…"

"I still work there."

"I thought you said you got a new…" Gil stopped, finally understanding what she was saying. "Bartender?"

Catherine shook her head. "It's only for a few more months. School is almost finished, then I can get a real job."

"Have you ever thought about the lab?"

"What?"

"You'd have the qualifications. I'm sure Jim could arrange for an interview for you."

"But…"

"You'd be a tech. I'm sure you could advance pretty far though. Just keep it in mind."

"How would you feel about that?"

Gil remained quiet for a minute.

"That's what I thought."

"No, Cath. I was just thinking. It would be great. Honest."

"People who are truly honest don't have to say they are honest."

"It would be great." Gil quickly confirmed. "I'll just have to remind myself that I'm not allowed to love you anymore."

"Gil…"

"I'm sorry. It's just that…"

"Your timing stinks." Catherine supplied for him. "Maybe you should just take me back."

"Can I call you?"

"I don't know if that's a good idea. Eddie…"

"He wouldn't like the idea."

"No. Is your number still the same?"

Gil nodded. "Catherine, if our friendship is going to be something that interferes with your marriage, if it's going to be something that causes you pain, then I don't…"

"It won't. I promise I won't let it interfere."

"How much longer do we have?"

Catherine glanced down at her watch, sighing. "Maybe half an hour."

"Do you want to go in and get a sandwich or something?"

"I'm not really hungry. Do you?"

"I'm fine."

"You think we're ever going to get past this awkwardness?"

Gil watched her momentarily before answering. "I have no doubt. We will. It's just going to take us a little time. Time to learn where our new boundaries are."

"Good." Catherine took a minute to look back at Gil before continuing. "I've missed you. Did I tell you that earlier?"

"You may have said something like that. I may have been a bit too distracted by you to notice though."

"Brenda sure noticed that."

"Who?"

"The girl I was talking to in the hallway. She was busy telling me how you were staring at me."

"She said that?" His face immediately became flush. "I didn't think… well I was hoping that no one would notice. I didn't have any idea that you were in that class."

"I didn't know you were going to be teaching it. I was distracted by you too."

"Catherine, we shouldn't."

"I know. I'll drive you back."

"Okay."

The two remained silent on the short drive back to the campus. Catherine turned to Gil as he pulled the car to a stop outside her building. "I'll call you. I promise."

XOXOXO