Chapter 11- Three Parts Dead

Thanks to Daydream1127, Nessa.Willows, CissaMalfoy, Pandy Roxy Chick, soliz, Nisha14, Teliko. x3, disneygal16, DrusillaBraun, and myfairlady for their reviews.

Once again, thanks Sergeant. You know what I want to say.

Disclaimer: Own nothing for any of my stories.

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Catherine felt stupid, betrayed, and angry. She had fallen for Eddie once again. It was stupid. It was dumb. It was the biggest mistake she had ever made. He had tricked her with his charm again and she had followed him like a blind dog. She buried her face deeper into Grissom's chest as hot tears flooded her eyes and seeped through his shirt.

He rubbed her back gently. "There let it out." He said softly.

She sniffled and then pulled away. "Sorry about that." She ssaid softly. "I just lost it."

He reached for her hand. "Nothing to be sorry about. I'm here. Always and forever."

"I know Gil." She said softly.

Grissom knew it was wrong, but he couldn't resist the temptation. He was so close to her and he could almost brush her lips with his own. He couldn't fit it. He knew it was the wrong time, but he couldn't control himself anymore. He wanted her so much. He leaned down and kissed her. When he pulled away, the expression on her face, told him that he had just made the biggest mistake of his life.

"Cath…" he began.

She turned away. "Gil. Just let it go. I can't do this." She said softly. "I just can't."

Tears were filling her eyes again. It broke Grissom's heart to know that he put them in there. He tried to apologize, but she was already walking away. Her steps were rushed, not the usual confident steps of Catherine Willows. Grissom watched her walk away, feeling forlorn.

Catherine couldn't believe what was happening. Seconds ago, she felt like she had Grissom standing by her side, but now she wasn't sure. Her thoughts couldn't help but travel to the worse case scenario. She knew Grissom would never be like Eddie, but was he taking advantage of her as well? She couldn't tell anymore. She was scared. Scared of having another man in her life like Eddie. She wasn't brave anymore. She could handle any crime scene she ever had to face, but her own love life was something she could not handle.

Luckily, she ran into Warrick, who was just heading out to a crime scene, that had nothing to do with her. She hadn't been pulled off the case, so she gladly tagged along. He didn't mention what had happened between her and Eddie and she didn't bring it up. He just reached over and gave her hand a squeeze, telling her everything she needed to hear. She managed a faint smile before sliding into the passenger seat of the car. He gunned the engine and they were off to another crime scene, doing what they did best. Find evidence.

Catherine was glad for the distraction. Anything to take her mind off of Gil Grissom.

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Grissom stared at the butterfly in his office. It's wings were closed, the exposed side of pretty, but the pattern on the other side was beautiful. The insect remind him of Catherine. She was beautiful, but she always closed her wings to keep anyone from seeing the real her. She hid behind brains and a sarcastic attitude. She never let herself into the vulnerable position where her feelings were exposed to the world. She was like him in this sense, but she did it in a way that was so much more discreet. Butterflies were beautiful and no one could look away. Same thing with Catherine. She had something about her that drew people to her. He closed his eyes. He had to fix things between them, before it was too late.

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Warrick and Catherine worked in silence. It was a comfortable one, for they had been working together for a long time and knew each other too well for there to be any awkwardness between them.

Warrick could easily tell Catherine was too intently focused on the blood splatter before her. He moved beside her. She was squatting in front of the splatters, staring at them. He looked down at the top of her head.

"Catherine? If you put your face any closer to those stains, you're gonna kiss them." He said wryly.

Catherine glanced up at him and stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm just focused."

Warrick knelt down by her side. "You always focus, Cath, but right now, you're practically touching the drops with your nose. Something is wrong and I know it isn't Eddie."

Catheirne didn't answer. Warrick sighed.

"Catherine. I've known you for a very long time now. I think over five years. You've helped me out when I was addicted to gambling and nearly lost my job. I testified for you when Eddie brought on that child neglect charge. You helped me through some tough times with my marriage. I think I owe you a favor."

"Warrick, I don't think there's anything you can do." She replied softly.

"Perhaps not, but I could listen." He said gently, putting a hand on her arm and looking at her with concern in his eyes.

She broke down. Warrick knew her better than almost anyone, except Grissom, and she couldn't hold her feelings in anymore.

"Eddie and I started out good. In fact, we started out great. It was wonderful, going home to him. I studied during the day and then danced at night to pay the bills. He was an up and coming music producer and I was in love. I quit medical school for his career and after a while, we brought Lindsay into the world. I thought I was in heaven." She said softly, relating the story that she had shared with no one except Grissom until that day.

Warrick knew what was going to happen. "You saw the drugs didn't you?" he asked.

She glanced up. "You knew?" she asked a little surprised.

"I had an idea. I grew up around that stuff. It's hard not to notice, but I figured you would know about it if that did happen." He said a little sheepishly.

"I didn't, until one night I came home to see my one year old daughter playing with the stuff. I remember him going crazy when I said I was leaving. He crammed this pill down my throat and before I knew it. I was addicted to coke. I couldn't leave him after that. He was my only supply." She said, tears filling up her eyes.

Warrick rubbed her back. "But you did though. You got your life together Cath."

"For Lindsay." She paused. "If it wasn't for her, I would still be in that hell hole."

Warrick tiled her chin until he could look into her eyes. "Catherine you're like a sister to me and I know you don't like it when people pry, but I know Eddie's not the one that's nagging at you this time. You're not afraid of him, but there's someone else that you are. Isn't there?"

She knew he was right. "Yeah. There is someone that I have feelings for but I'm so afraid, Warrick. What if he turns out to be just like Eddie? I know he never would be, but what if things end badly?" she asked, half talking to herself, half talking to Warrick.

Warrick now knew what was on her mind. She was scared. She could handle murderers, rapists, and kidnappers, but she couldn't handle things when it came to herself. She had put herself out there only to be hurt badly. She wanted desperately to try again, but she was scared of the risk.

"Life must be understood backward, but if you want to live it. You have to more forward. To fear love is to fear life…those who do are already three parts dead." He said quietly before standing up and heading out the door to speak to Brass.

Catherine stared at him. She was pondering his words, but she was also wondering if Warrick Brown had taken a philosophy class.

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How did you guys like that? More on the way. Slow to update, but I will try and keep my updates as good as I can.