Chapter Nine- Makeup Won't Cover Up

Thanks to sparkling-strawberries, CissaMalfoy, soliz, Nisha14, myfairlady, and DrusillBraun for their sweet reviews. Thanks a lot guys!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Catherine tried every makeup trick in that she knew before finally she was able to mask most of the bruises on her face. They were still there, but between the makeup and the darkness of the lab, they would go unnoticed. The ones on her wrists and arms were another matter. No amount of concealer would cover them. She went into her closet and pulled out a long sleeved shirt that went past her wrists to cover part of her hands. She winced when she pulled on her belt and tucked her gun at her hip. The bruises there were massive. She ached every where thought.

Lindsay wandered into her mother's room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Catherine had slipped quietly out of her daughter's room very early that morning.

"Mommy?" Lindsay called her mother sleepily.

Catherine was immediately at the little girl's side. "What's wrong sweetie?" she asked gently in the soft tone that she reserved only for her daughter.

"Nothing Mommy, I was just wondering where I was going to stay while you're working." Lindsay said, looking at he rmother.

Catherine thought it over. Having Lindsay stay with her father was out of the question. She really had no other choice.

"You can come to work with me." She decided.

Lindsay clapped her hands and cheered. "YAY!" She quickly ran out of Catherine's room and into her own to change into what Lindsay called her little CSI uniform.

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Fifteen minutes later, Catherine and Lindsay were in the car on the way to the Las Vegas crime lab, Catherine in clothes unusually warm for the hot weather and Lindsay in one of Catherine's tighter shirts and a bulletproof vest. Catherine had nearly died of laughing at the sight of her little girl trying to be just like mommy. They pulled into the parking lot and Lindsay was out of the car before Catherine completely stopped the car.

"Lindsay don't you dare do that again." Catherine said firmly.

Lindsay lowered her head for a second before happily replying. "Yes Mommy, but I'm so excited."

Catherine had to smile at that. "I know honey. I know. Come on, let's not keep everyone waiting." She led her daughter into the lab.

Immediately they were bombarded by the entire CSI team. Gil was in the lead.

"Hey Butterfly." He called as the little girl wrapped her arms around his legs.

Nick wasn't far behind and he picked Lindsay up and spun her around with her giggling hysterically the whole time. Catherine watched with a smile on her face.

"Hey Greg, can Lindsay help you out today?" she asked.

Greg was more than happy to oblige. It was rare that Catherine would allow her daughter to even graze the world the CSI worked in, but it was always a pleasure to teach Lindsay since she had the same curious and quick witted nature as her mother.

"Sure." He said, beckoning to Lindsay. "Let's go drive Sara nuts."

"Please no cashews." Sara retorted as she followed them out.

Nick laughed as they left. "Well me and Warrick here got a scene out in the desert." He said heading out.

"Hey Cath…" Warrick said on his way out. "Promise I won't do anyting stupid."

Catherine laughed. "Right Warrick, right."

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Ten minutes later, Grissom and Catherine were sitting in the lab, waiting on DNA results from a previously processed crime scene. Catherine wasn't happy about Sara covering her case, but she couldn't do anything about it. She hand combed her hair and then plopped her forehead into her hand with a groan. The machine beeped.

Grissom and Catherine were both at the machine before it stopped beeping. Catherine glanced at the lab report.

"Silicon." She said, exchanging glances with Grissom.

"That's everywhere in the desert." He pointed out, surveying Catherine. "Are you wearing more makeup than usual?"

Catherine made a face. "I don't think that matters to you." She said.

He gazed at her, admiring her features. She was always so strong, so independent. When she went back to Eddie, Grissom had thought things were over for him, but after the night before, he knew that were definitely over. Catherine would never trust another man again. Not after Eddie had put her only daughter in danger. Grissom could only wish that he would be able to live up to what she needed and get her to trust again. Somehow he wondered if it was even remotely possible.

Sara called them into the garage. Catherine was nearly sprinting while Grissom hurried to catch up.

"What did you find?" Catherine asked.

Sara held up about twenty vials of the same blue liquid that Catherine had found on the dash.

"Found these under the seat." Sara said, handing one of them to Catherine.

Catherine examined it as Grissom picked up another vial. "Did we ever figure out what it was?" he asked.

"Yeah. It's a drug known as PCP." Sara said handing him the test results. "Gives you hallucinations."

Catherine was staring at it in disbelief. "Eddie was taking this in front of my daughter." She said softly.

Grissom reached to rub her shoulders, but she violently pulled away. He stared at her in confusion. She had never done that to him before.

"Just figure out who else was in the car with them." Catherine said harshly.

"Yeah shut the door I wanna check the tires." Sara said.

Catherine slammed the door shut but part of her sleeve caught onto the door and when she pulled away her sleeve lifted high enough for Grissom to catch a glimpse of angry looking bruises on Catherine's wrists. She caught his stare and fixed an icy cold stare of her own at him before turning around and walking away.

Grissom was left with a massive ache in his heart. He knew Eddie was crazy and high, but he never thought he would go as far as to physically hurting Catheirne, but then again, Grissom didn't know much about their marriage or their divorce. Catherine kept that to herself, despite Grissom's efforts to make her open up. He watched her retreating back. His heart ached and he felt a forlorn feeling. Something about her always got to him.

"What the hell did he do to you, Catherine?" Grissom wondered under his breath.

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Sorry that was short and so late, but I hope you guys liked it. I'll update it again as soon as I can.