Author Notes: I just want to thank everyone who read the first chapter and I hope you like the second. Please review, good bad or ugly I'll take it all.

Disclaimer: Alas, I don't own CSI.

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Two Weeks Later…

Catherine stood outside the door, today, for some reason it seemed so large and intimidating. She could feel a knot forming in her stomach. It was an hour before the Graveyard shift started but she knew Gil would be in his office, it was virtually his second home. So she prepared herself, took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in" came Gil's voice from inside his office

Her hand shaking ever so slightly she reached for the door handle and stepped into the office.

"Oh, hi Cath. You're in early, what can I do for you?"

"Erm…" she struggled to find the words, she knew Gil wouldn't react well but he had to be told. "I though I should come and see as soon as possible. There something I need to tell you"

"Sure, no problem, take a seat"

Catherine walked steadily over to the chair opposite Gils in front of his desk, sitting down slowly in an attempt to delay the impending conversation.

After finishing his signature on the form in front of him, Gil put down his pen and looked up.

"Okay then what is it you want to talk about"

She hesitated for a moment trying to think of the best way to explain. After a few seconds of comparing different scenarios she decided to just come straight out with it.

She cleared her throat and without hesitation the words tumbled out of her mouth at an alarmingly quick rate "Well, it's nothing really. It's just that well … I'm back with Eddie. It was more of a personal courtesy to let you know I …

Gil cut in "What! Cath you can't be serious, I mean look how he treated you before, what on earth brought this about"

"Look I know our history is a bit of a minefield…"

"More like a full blown war zone" he interrupted again, much to Catherine's annoyance.

"I know but he's finally clean and off the booze. I know I sound like such a cliché but he's changed. Trust me Gil." She successfully managed to control her voice so that it stayed strong and confident, but in reality she was feeling the complete opposite.

"It's not you I'm having a problem trusting"

The seriousness in his voice and raised eyebrows showed her that Gil's words were filled with genuine concern.

" And I'm glad you're looking out for me but I've got to follow my heart. He's Lindsey's Dad and he was my husband. There's got to be something there. I don't want things to change between us; you're still my best friend."

"Look at the end of the day it's your life and you can do what you want, but I don't want to see you get hurt, I just want the best for you and I don't think that that's Eddie. "

Gil looked straight at Cath and noticed that her deep ocean blue eyes were starting to drown in the tears she was struggling with all her might to fight back. He could tell that she was starting to get upset and that was the last thing that he wanted.

"I'm glad you came to talk to me and my guess is you knew how I'd react. So you should also know that no matter what I'm always here for you, anytime, anywhere."

The last remark took Catherine by surprise and caused a slight smile to capture the corners of her mouth. Despite the support Gil had given her she couldn't face making eye contact with him. Instead she glanced around the room at various inanimate objects taking note of the many creatures in jars around the room, the sharp and defined edges of the desk covered with backlogged files, Gil never was good at the paperwork side of being supervisor, she stared blankly at the immaculately polished floor, trying anything to avoid looking up.

She knew he would be disappointed with her. Even though she could feel his warm and loving stare upon her, no matter what, she could not face looking at him only to be greeted with that look of pity in his eyes that she knew beyond all doubt would be there; regardless of hard he tried to conceal it.

Gil noticed Catherine's desperate attempt to avoid eye contact and decided to give her a moment to gather her thoughts.

After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence Catherine was finding it increasingly difficult to just sit there so she took regained her composure and took action. "Right well that's all I came here for so I'm just going to go get ready for shift. I'll see you later for assignments"

With that she was up, out of her seat and heading for the door. She was gone before Gil had a chance to respond. Which he thought was probably for the best.