AN: I could not respond to all emails privately received through PM function, so am taking opportunity to do so here. I received multiple PM's in response to my earlier summary which referred to my preference of G/C over G/S. I did not mean my summary to sound like bashing, I do believe to each their own in shipping. I'm just honestly speaking that I never saw the allure of that particular pairing, but just my opinion. Also trying to make it clear this was written well before that even happened. Have modified summary somewhat and apologize to anyone who was offended by my comment of "the good old days" before Sara walked out of Grissom's bathroom. And now on to the deep dark angst of Lindsey's death… oh and if any GSR fans do want to read, there is no Sara bashing in the story.

Even though he had tried to prepare himself, Grissom had still been taken by surprise at the amount of pain he had felt as the sheet had been pulled away. Even as he held Catherine he felt like sinking to the floor himself as he continued to gaze at Lindsey; he wanted to turn his head, and yet he couldn't. It wasn't until Doctor Robbins came and discreetly pulled the sheet back that Grissom could look away, turning his attention back to the sobbing woman in his arms.

It took great effort to find the strength to move as he slowly pulled her back up, trying to lead her to the door, his eyes meeting the sympathetic blue ones of the doctor as he did so. It could have been his imagination but he thought he saw some moisture in the older mans eyes. Catherine didn't protest as he guided her towards the door, so absorbed in her grief she did nothing more than keep her face buried in his shoulder as he prepared to take her back home.

"Wait just a minute," Dr. Robbins said as he was rummaging through his desk, pulling out a prescription pad and hurriedly scribbling something on it before tearing off the sheet. "She might need this." He said gruffly as he pressed the valium prescription into his hand. Gil nodded his thanks as he clutched the piece of paper before turning back towards the door. He barely registered the couple approaching the morgue with dread written on their faces as they passed in the hallway.

The lab watched silently as they emerged from the morgue corridor and started making their way to the exit, both oblivious to the sympathetic stares of the people who watched them walking by, Catherine with her head still buried in Gil's shirt as he kept a protective arm around her, neither realizing at all how much they looked like a pair of grieving parents.

Conrad Ecklie was not known as being the most compassionate person in the building, but contrary to popular belief his heart was not made of stone as he stopped the couple before they could leave. "Catherine, I'm so sorry," he said haltingly, thinking of his own children as he swallowed the lump in his throat. "Take all the time you need." He finally said, awkwardly patting her shoulder. She looked at him for a moment with red-rimmed eyes before silently burrowing her head back in Gil's shoulder. "You can take some time also," He said quietly to Grissom, "just give me an idea of how long."

"I'll call later." Grissom agreed, before returning to his task, knowing that the ordeal had just begun as he helped Catherine back to the car.

They rode in silence back towards her home with Grissom making only one brief stop to fill the prescription as he watched Catherine try almost desperately to compose herself during their ride, something she had been failing miserably at ever since they had left the morgue.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Lily asked when she saw her obviously distraught daughter being escorted into the house.

At the sight of her mother a fresh wave of tears overtook Catherine as she tried to find the words to break the news for the first time. "Lindsey was in a… a… wreck," she stuttered through her sobs. Lily began shaking her head no and backing away even as she realized what Catherine was trying to tell her.

"No, no," she began repeating, still backing away in shock and horror as she tried to avoid what she already knew was coming next.

Lily Flynn wanted nothing more at that moment then to flee the house and pretend that nothing had happened, but seeing the agony on her own daughters face she knew what she had to do as she stopped backing away and instead held out her arms almost tentatively as she moved towards her daughter. Catherine needed no further encouragement as she moved into her mothers embrace. Grissom backed away, watching the two as they clung to each other and swayed together in their private grief. Marveling for a moment at how the enormity of their loss had apparently wiped away the usual controversy between Catherine and her mother.

Grissom began to feel out of place the longer he stood there, he didn't want to go as he felt she might still need him, but knew that he was not a substitute for her mother. Surmising that family was what she really needed right now he laid the drugstore bag down and began to move towards the door, intent on a quiet exit instead of interrupting the moment.

Sensing his movement Catherine pulled away from her mother to look at him. "You're leaving?" She said, the question hanging in the air as the look in her eyes told him she didn't want him to go.

"No, I don't have to," he said slowly, "if you want me to stay that is?"

"If you could stay, maybe help with the phone." Catherine said almost hopefully, she was unable to even think about facing anyone else yet, and it would only be a matter of time before concerned friends and family started to call or visit.

"Sure," he said quietly, ready to help his friend any way he could. He watched as the mother and daughter slowly moved to her room to continue their grieving as he sat on the couch, suddenly feeling more helpless then ever before.