Chapter Ten- A Time Like This

Thanks to disneygal16, Lady Heather, DrusillaBraun, CissaMalfoy, Nisha14, Pandy Roxy Chick, Teliko. x3, myfairlady, and soliz for their reviews!

Special thanks to Sergeant Happy Bunny…what would I do without you? Oh yeah I know…get lost every single day and go insane and have to be admitted to an asylum with foam walls and straight jackets. Thanks for keeping me together and for dealing with me and all my grouchy and mood swingy moments.

Also this update is mainly for myfairlady…for PMing me and making me write this. Lol. You're the reason why it's gotten out so fast.

Idea: I am thinking about writing another story with either all of the CSIs in high school or one of them all in medival times. Or perhaps both. How does Princess Catherine sound? Lol. Pop me a review with YAY or NAY.

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"Catherine!" Grissom called, running after Catherine down the hallway.

She didn't stop, but walked faster. Finally Grissom caught up to her and reached for her arm. She pulled away, wincing in pain.

"Oh I'm so sorry." Grissom apologized.

"It's fine." Catherine said shortly.

"No it's not." He blurted out.

She stared at him. He took a deep breath.

"Catherine, what has Eddie been doing to you?" he asked, his words quiet and caring.

His tone almost made Catherine cry. Why does he always have to make me feel loved, but never show that he cares any other time? She asked herself.

"Nothing that I can't handle." She responded, masking her thought with a bleak tone.

"Catherine..." Grissom began, but Catherine didn't let him finish.

"I'm a big girl, Gil. I can handle myself." She told him, before turning away and walking back into the lab, to check on how things were going between Lindsay and Greg.

Grissom watched her through the glass. She was feigning a smile in front of her daughter and in front of Greg. Greg looked up and caught sight of Grissom standing outside. He slipped out of the room.

"How long do frogs live?" he asked, randomly. He had been testing the water where Eddie's car had been found and the question just popped into his head.

Grissom didn't answer, just stared at the two girls in the room…Catherine teaching Lindsay about the pieces of evidence that she was looking at through the microscope and Lindsay staring in fascination.

Greg elbowed his boss. "Hey Griss?" he asked, waving his hand rapidly in front of Grissom's face.

"Uhh…no." he said, not really paying attention.

Greg scrunched up his face. "Uhhh Griss?" he asked.

Grissom ignored him and walked into the lab. Lindsay started babbling about how she wanted to be a CSI. Catherine was giving him a look that said don't-you-dare-mention-anything. He complied, knowing Catherine would never forgive him if he scared Lindsay.

"Can we talk?" he asked softly, a look of longing in his eyes.

Catherine didn't want to be questioned. Didn't want her life stripped down to the parts that hurt the most in front of Grissom. He may be her best friend, but she had an image. She had pride. She had never been weak and she wouldn't allow it to show now.

"Gil, I got a case." She said hurriedly, heading out of the room. "Maybe later."

Grissom didn't follow her. He knew her by heart by now. He would have to leave her alone for a while and not pry despite the worry he felt. If he tried, she would bit down her tongue and refused to tell him, just because. Not to mention, her temper scared even him. Lindsay was staring at him curiously. He flashed her a small smile.

"Have fun and don't mess anything up." He said, ruffling her hair.

"I won't let her." Greg said, saluting as he walked in.

"Actually I was talking about you." Grissom said matter-of-factly. "So let me rephrase. Lindsay don't let Greg mess anything up."

Lindsay giggled which brought another smile to Grissom's face. He walked out on a pouting Greg and a happy Lindsay and headed for his office, wanting a distraction from Catherine.

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An Hour Later

Catherine was practically running down the hall with an evidence file. She had to show it to Grissom. She had samples for Greg to test and she was tired of interns badgering her for a piece of advice on how to get in Grissom's good books and be accepted for a job in the graveyard shift.

She turned to the corner and saw the one person she never wanted to see again. Eddie…drunk. He spotted her before she had a chance to run in the other direction. He stormed up to her and she lowered her face, letting her hair cover the areas that were bruised from his tantrum the night before.

"Catherine!" he yelled at her, his words slurred. "Lindsay's supposed to be with me."

"No way in hell." She yelled right back at him, losing her temper immediately. People were turning to stare but she didn't care. "You nearly got her killed."

"I get partial custody." He slurred.

Catherine met his eyes with defiant blue eyes. "You get visitation rights and after this incident, it'll be over my dead body before you see her ever again." She growled at him.

"That can be arranged." He said angrily, grabbing her by the shoulders and throwing her against the glass wall.

Catherine felt the breath being knocked out of her as she caught a whiff of Eddie's breath. He let go of her and she slid to the ground, where he kicked in the stomach. She cried out in pain and then quieted with only soft whimpers. Nick saw what was happening and knocked over his chair in his hurry to get to her. Before he reached her, however, Eddie felt a tap on his shoulder.

He spun to come face to face with Grissom. Grissom felt his anger consume him. Eddie spat at Catherine.

"Don't tell me you guys are gonna stand up for this whore." He said, spitting at Catherine.

Grissom lost it. He socked Eddie in the face, breaking his nose. Eddie howled in pain as he tried to hit Grissom back. The other CSIs started to race toward Grissom and Eddie. Nick reached for his gun and drew it.

"Back away from Catherine and Grissom." He said coldly, his gun leveled at Eddie.

The other CSIs followed suit. Eddie stared at the group standing before him. They had all drawn their weapons except for Greg and Sara, who were doing their best trying to keep Grissom from tackling Eddie. He turned toward Catherine who was huddled in a tight ball on the ground with a look of pain in her eyes.

"Watch you back bitch, I'll come for you when you're friends aren't around." He threatened before spinning on his heels and walking away.

Nick tried to help her up, but she dragged herself to her feet, wincing from her many bruises.

"I'm okay Nicky." She insisted.

"Behave." Sara said firmly, before she and Greg let Grissom out of their grasp.

He had Catherine in his arms, before she even realized what was going on. He was gentle and Catherine felt safe. She buried her face in neck and started to cry. The others slipped away quietly, giving them some privacy.

Grissom felt himself hurt listening to Catherine's broken sobs. He rubbed her back gently and murmured soothing words in her ear. Catherine's sobs quieted, but she didn't move away. She just stayed there, feeling something stir in her heart that she hadn't expected to feel at a time like this.

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TADA! This is an hours worth of work or play. Lol I'm not sure which one yet. Hope you liked it!