Authors Note: This is the next part to my story, it was meant to be a part of chapter 4 but I decided it flowed better as a seperate chapter. I won't be able to update for a while as I have my exams coming up but I'll do what I can. Thanks for reading and enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Blah Blah Blah.

All of a sudden Catherine snapped out of the self-inflicted trance she had rapidly become ensnared in. The huge stack of paper on her desk had now dissipated and her senses were gradually beginning to return, a fact that she was alerted to by the dull throbbing of her cheek and the painful ache in both of her wrists. She automatically glanced at her watch, but instantly she remembered that she had taken it off as her wrists were swelling and it was cutting of her circulation. She scanned the desk in front of her until she spotted it hidden behind her handbag; she picked it up and checked the time, she was shocked to find that four hours had passed. The time was quickly confirmed by a loud grumble from her stomach. She came to the realisation that with all the commotion she had completely forgotten about eating and hadn't had anything to eat all day and it was almost 6pm, her shift would be starting in a couple of hours.

After tidying up her surroundings as quickly and efficiently as possible Catherine decided she should get some sustenance before she collapsed. So she gathered up the rest of her stuff and the now completed paperwork before heading towards the break room. She made a quick detour via Grissoms' office to drop off the stack of paperwork before continuing to the break room.

Just as she rounded the corner onto the corridor, she froze. To her horror there in front of her was Eddie. This particular horror she was experiencing was a combination of fear and anger, anger being the dominant emotion. Did he seriously think it was okay to turn up at her work.

After glancing around the lab to see if anyone was about Catherine briskly headed in Eddies direction, checking each room and corridor as she passed them. She knew him being here was definitely not a good thing, as she was fairly certain he wasn't here to apologise. Regardless she knew she had to deal with it herself, the last thing she wanted was for anyone else to be involved.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" She hissed as soon as she was within his earshot.

"I came to ask you what the hell you thought you were doing, pointing a gun at me, I could have you arrested." she could still smell the alcohol on his breath, even though it was not as potent as before. The fact that he was slurring his words confirmed her suspicions that he was still blazing drunk. Her heart was struck with pangs of fear but they were quickly overridden by her desire to get him out of her lab and out of her life. Any doubts she had and the little shame she felt about her situation, disappeared. She felt empowered.

"WHAT! I was defending myself, I am sick of just taking your abuse, I've had enough, you don't own me!" Catherine realised her voice had gotten a great deal louder and that half the lab could probably hear what she was saying, but in truth she didn't care, she felt stronger and prouder now, then ever before, She was doing what she should have done a long time ago, standing up for herself.

"That's where you're wrong. You'll take it as long as I say so because you can't stop me, besides you don't deserve any better. You're no different to when I met you, taking your clothes in a strip club. You always have been and always will be a WHORE!"

That one word was all it took to push her over the edge; she snapped and took a quick step forward, clenching her fist. Her swift swing was roughly blocked, and before she knew it Eddie had grabbed both of her wrists and he had her pinned against the glass wall of one of the labs.

"Get the hell off me!" Her already bruised wrists were beginning to really hurt as her they were held tightly in awkward positions either side of her head.

"I'll do what I like."

"I mean it Eddie, let go NOW!"

"Or What..." Eddie goaded her, seeing she was clearly helpless in this situation.

The raised voices and increasingly violent scene had attracted the attention of virtually everyone in the lab, their natural curiosity caused them stop their work regardless of what they were doing and everyone observed what was going on through various doorways and window. Sara and Nick noticed the commotion as they returned from their crime scene and were watching the scene unfold from the end of the corridor. They were both was itching to intervene on Catherine's behalf as was everyone, Catherine was well liked and respected by all the lab techs and none of them liked seeing her in this situation. However they were all beaten to it as Grissom came storming down the corridor, rushing past Sara, Nick and Greg, who had joined them from his lab.

"Let go of her, Ed!"

"I'll let go when I'm damn good and ready"

"No, you'll let go of her now!" Grissom's voice boomed and was forceful as he grabbed one of Eddie's wrists. After glancing around him to see he was clearly outnumbered by the angry looking spectators that surrounding him Eddie leaned in close to Catherine and whispered into her ear.

"Don't forget, you can't stop me."

Grissom saw the flash of fear in Catherine's eyes and acted appropriately by yanking Eddie away, freeing Catherine. She began to nurse her now even sore wrists, while Grissom looked at her in search of what she wanted him to do next.

"Just get him out of here."

"You heard her Ed, you're not welcome here, so GET OUT! I don't want to ever see you in this building again. This is our place of business. You understand that?"

"Fine I'll go. You know, I always knew you two had a thing."

"Go home Eddie."

His glance passed between Catherine and Grissom. "See you soon babe." With that he blew a kiss in Catherine's direction before turning and walking away.

Grissom never took his eyes off Eddie until he was certain he was out of the lab. He then turned round to see that Catherine had vanished. He looked around but there was no sign and everyone else was just getting back to their work. After coming to the conclusion that he shouldn't leave her on her own right now, he set off to look for her. He searched all the logical places he could think of; the locker room, the break room, various labs and evidence rooms, even the morgue and the ladies bathroom, all to no avail.

Eventually he decided to stop his fruitless search and headed to his office with the intention of ringing her mobile. As he stepped in and flicked on the lights he was shocked to see Catherine sat behind his desk. Her expression confused him, it seemed so void of emotion.

After a few seconds of silence Grissom found his voice

"I've looked for you everywhere."

"Well you found me." Her voice was so quiet he could barely hear what she was saying.

"Are you okay?"

Catherine coughed gently, clearing her throat. Her voice became more certified

"I'll live"

"What was that all about? Why did he come here?"

"I pissed him off"

"How, I mean what could you do that was so bad."

"I fought back."

"Fought back? You mean he attacked you." Grissom took a step forward and noticed the bruises on Catherine face for the first time. "Did he do that?"

"Yeah, but it doesn't matter. It'll heal."

"Of course it matters, he hurt you. He had no right, God I should have hit him when I had the chance."

"How exactly would that of helped the situation? Huh?" Catherine looked up for the first time to meet Gil gaze. The eye contact and question caused him to look at the ground before responding.

"Well I suppose it wouldn't, but it'd make me feel better." Grissom looked back up at Catherine and noticed her face once again had that emotionless expression, but this time it was different, her eyes told him she was somewhere else; deep in thought.

"Maybe that's why I put up with it for so long, because I knew at the bottom of my heart that he was right, I may not have deserved the beatings but maybe he was right."

"Right about what Catherine, why did he hurt you?" He was taken aback by the revelation that Eddie had abused her, he had always suspected it but it was a shock to have it confirmed.

"You don't get it do you? You just sit in your office all day, surrounded by your bugs and pickled animal" Catherine stood up and supported herself with one hand leaning on the desk while she used the other to gesture at the rows of shelves filled with jars that surrounded him.

"I though you like my office." Gil interrupted

"That's not the point." The tone of her voice changed it; she sounded tired and defeated. "You're so absorbed in your own little world that you're oblivious to the real world around you"

"What are you talking about Cath?"

"Me, Grissom"

"Are you saying that I don't notice you?"

"No Grissom. You're my best friend and you know me better than anyone and yet you still haven't noticed. Twenty years and it still hasn't clicked."

Gil hesitated for just a second before realising what she meant, but that was all it took. Before he had a chance to respond Catherine was gone and halfway down the corridor.

"Cath wait!" he yelled after her.

She quickly spun round and stated calmly.

"No Gil, I'm done waiting.

The fight scene was inspired by the scene in Season 1: Episode 17 (Too Tough To Die) but I changed a few parts to make it fit better I hope you enjoyed it. Please review.