A few weeks later …

Mark is catching up with Kerri on the phone.

Kerri asks, "So how's your love life?"

Mark chuckles and replies, "Fantastic yours?"

Kerri sighs and says, "It's been crazy. I'm 6 months into the pregnancy. When I told you I was 3 months along. The doctor suggested not telling anyone until the first trimester was over in case something happened. With insemination the risk of something happening is always greater than with traditional pregnancy."

Mark says, "I just can't believe you are creating a human life inside of you that's crazy!"

Kerri laughs and states, "Well it's really more about what I do with said human life after it's here. Speaking of how's it going with Lindsey?"

Mark replies, "You know I think ok. I mean there's a lot I'm still unsure of but Catherine keeps assuring me I'm doing well with the serious stuff. I know we've bonded over fun things like video games and pool, but it's the serious stuff like advice and being there I'm just never sure I'm doing the right thing."

Kerri questions, "Have you talked to Catherine?"

Mark responds, "Specifically about it? Not really it's more her re-assuring me or telling me I'm good at it."

Kerri says, "Sweetie you should talk to her about it. The fact that she tells you, you are doing a good job says a lot. I guarantee most parents don't know everything to do … I think you just have to play it by ear and use what works and what doesn't."

Mark chuckles and said, "You may be reading one too many parenting books but I think you're right."

Catherine walks in the basement and asks, "Is that Kerri on the phone?"

Mark replies, "Yes."

Catherine puts out her hand and says, "Let me talk to her."

Mark says to Kerri, "Hey Cath wants to talk to you. Give Elizabeth my love. Bye."

Mark hands the phone to Catherine and says that he's going to go upstairs and start on dinner.

After dinner Mark is sitting on the back patio having a beer and Catherine walks out.

Catherine sits down beside him with a beer and says, "Kerri seems excited about the baby."

Mark puts the bottle to his lips and then responds, "She really is. She's wanted a baby for as long as I can remember. I know for a while Elizabeth was like me and didn't want children. I knew Kerri would eventually get her way. I know Elizabeth is really excited about it as well. It's amazing how your view on something that significant can change."

Catherine playfully nudges Mark and says, "You know for someone that didn't want kids you're doing a damn fine job helping raise mine."

Mark turns his head to look and her and asks, "You really think so?"

Catherine replies, "Of course I do, not to mention if I thought otherwise you wouldn't be anywhere near Lindsey."

Mark stares out in the distance for a few moments and says, "I struggle with it a lot. I worry that I'm not saying or doing the right thing."

Catherine puts her hand on Mark's thigh and responds, "Babe that's ok. Hell I don't know if I'm doing the right thing half the time. I'm just hoping that somehow I'm not doing anything that will irreversibly screw her up."

Mark looks at Catherine a little shocked and questions, "Really?"

Catherine replies, "Really. Kids don't come with an instruction manual. I've struggled since the second Linds was born. I'll tell you what though that fact that you care shows a lot."

The next day …

Mark is sitting at his desk looking at some files as Nick walks in.

Nick asks, "Hey Mark mind taking a case with me? Everyone is paired up and it will go faster with both of us there."

Mark nods and replies, "Sure just let me grab my stuff from the locker room. I'll meet you at your SUV."

Mark and Nick arrive at the crime scene. It's your typical suburban house in a quiet neighborhood.

Mark says, "A violent crime happened here. That seems off."

Nick responds, "Looks can be deceiving my friend."

As they walk in the house they are greeted by Brass, "Hey guys. So here's what we have Shanda Reeves, 34, was found at the bottom of the stairs a bloody mess. The fall doesn't appear to be the only damage. There is blood all over the walls in the stairway and through the hallway upstairs. You guys are going to be here a while, whoever did this had a lot of rage. We're trying to track down the husband, Terry."

Nick puts his gloves on and says, "Thanks Jim."

After Jim walks away Marks says, "I'll start photographing all of this."

David comes in to clear the body and before he can even start says, "Wow! I don't think I've ever seen a face this smashed in. This is clearly a lot of rage."

Nick comes down the stairs with his white booties to keep from making footprints and says, "Hey Super Dave. Mark I'll photograph upstairs because there's just as much blood if not more upstairs that will get us through a little quicker."

David interrupts and says, "Guys per liver temp I'd say she's been dead about 6 hours."

Mark asks, "Brass?"

Brass turns around from talking to one of the officers securing the scene and replies, "What's up?"

Mark continues, "Who reported this?"

Brass looks through his notes and replies, "Neighbor across the street name is … Linda Crawford. Came over because her and Shanda were supposed to go shopping today."

Mark thinking out loud says, "Nice neighborhood like this. Nobody saw anything. All this rage. Husband's missing. First instinct is telling me crime of passion."

Nick looks at Brass and asks, "Did Linda the neighbor say anything about where she thought Terry might be?"

Brass answers, "Apparently he travels a lot for work so his unknown whereabouts aren't that unusual."

Nick nods and looks at Mark and says, "Sounds like an awful convenient alibi to me."

Brass interrupts and says, "Aren't you guys doing that thing Grissom hates … getting ahead of the evidence?"

Mark chuckles and says, "Nope we're just theorizing like any good scientists. If we were ahead of the evidence, we would have left for cheeseburgers the moment you said the husband was missing."

Nick chimes in and says, "In-N-Out later?"

Mark responds with a fist bump.

After hours of collecting evidence Mark and Nick are eating burgers at In-N-Out.

Nick says, "That crime scene was grueling."

Mark nods and responds, "That is the truth."

Nick questions, "You ok man you seem a little off?"

Mark sighs and says, "Honestly I'm kind of hoping it isn't the husband. I just can't imagine two people in love can get to that point."

Nick dipping his fries in ketchup and taking a bite and says, "Humans can do despicable things but I know what you mean it's somehow harder to swallow when they are married or family."

Mark says, "Then what gets me is we have so many things covered in blood that could be the weapon. Or I guess I should say weapons, it is possible that the suspect or suspects used multiple objects."

Nick responds, "My guess we're not going to figure it out with as smashed as her face is. Unless there is hair or tissue on all of them. Obviously it's going to be her blood."

Just then Mark's cell rings and he answers, "Anderson."

Doc Robbins says, "Mark it's Doc. Just wanted to let you and Nick know it's going to be a little longer than usual on Mrs. Reeves, we're backed up."

Mark says, "Thanks for the heads up Doc.", then Mark ends the call.

Nick is looking at Mark expectantly.

Mark responds, "Doc says there's going to be a delay on the body they are backed up."

Nick nods and says, "Well let's get back and start looking over the rest of it then."

A few hours later …

Mark is walking through the halls; he can't take looking at that evidence any longer. He walks towards Catherine's office because he wants nothing more than to be with her. This case is really getting to him.

Mark pops his head in her office and finds Catherine on her cell phone pacing in her office. Catherine looks up and sees him and motions for him to come in that she should only be a minute.

Catherine ends the call and says, "Hey how are you?"

Mark immediately embraces Catherine.

Catherine responds, "Whoa you aren't ok are you?"

Mark still holding her in the embrace says, "Tough case. Wife brutally beaten and murdered. Husband is MIA."

Catherine pulls back from the embrace and says, "Don't worry I haven't been plotting your murder."

Mark smiles and responds, "Honestly wasn't thinking about that but now I am thanks."

Catherine says, "Anytime.", then she closes the gap between them with a kiss.

Mark says, "I can't wait until we get home, it's just been one of those days."

Catherine kisses Mark one last time and says, "Well you better get back to it before we get in trouble for making out in my office."

Marks laughs and says, "Thank God Gris took his fetal pig or I'm not sure I could kiss you in here."

Catherine pulls back from Mark and says, "Believe me I practically threw it at him and told him to get it out of MY office."

Mark says, "See ya later.", and walks out the door.

Mark gets a text from, Nick: Mark meet me in the layout room.

Mark walks into the layout room and sees Nick and Brass there.

Mark says, "Brass what's going on?"

Brass replies, "Well I just got done talking with Shanda's sister, Lacie. I found out that Shanda and Terry have been on the rocks. Apparently Shanda had been having an affair with an old boyfriend named, Bradley Gold. According to Lacie this had been going on for about 6 months. Shanda was sick of Terry being gone on business all the time. I guess they didn't even need the money Terry just liked his job. I'm guessing Terry found out and that's what happened to Shanda. We did call Terry's company and he wasn't scheduled to be out of town. This guy is more suspicious by the minute. I'll let you guys know if we fine anything else out."

Mark sighs and says, "I'm almost convinced on this husband thing. Where in the hell could he be? If you weren't out of town on business wouldn't you have been home at some point in a 6-hour time period to find your wife?"

Nick tosses some files on the layout table and says, "Yeah if he's not guilty he's at least scum."

Mark's cell rings and he answers, "Anderson."

Doc Robbins says, "Mark it's Doc are you with Nick?"

Mark replies, "Yeah he's right here."

Doc says, "Put me on speaker I have some prelim notes for you regarding Shanda Reeves."

Mark puts his cell on speaker and lays it on the table in the layout room.

Mark says, "Go ahead Doc."

Doc says, "Guys first off these are just prelim results nothing conclusive. Shanda had obvious major blunt force trauma to the face. Rough estimate she was beaten at least 50 times. I would ask if you had a weapon for comparison but with the way her face is beaten I don't think there is any chance of matching up any kind of markings. She did have traces of Rohypnol in her system so she was subdued at some point. There was semen in her vaginal canal, sent the sample to Wendy for analysis. Can't tell if the sexual contact is consensual at this point or not. I'll let you know when I have something else."

Mark ends the call.

Nick says, "Ok. We still have other results going. Brass should be tracking down the boyfriend as well. Let's go home for now but pick this up tomorrow."

At Mark and Catherine's …

Catherine walks up the stairs to find Mark standing in the door way of Lindsey's room watching her sleep.

She comes up behind him and kisses his back and asks, "What are you doing?"

Mark shuts Lindsey's door and says, "Just checking on our girl."

Catherine caresses Mark's face and says, "That case really got to you today didn't it?"

Mark nods.

Catherine takes his hand and says, "Come on let's get some rest."