By Kay Shadow
Disclaimer: The characters belong to TPTB which in this case means CBS. I don't owe anything except the story idea. Non-profit hobby, no infringement intended etc etc�
Author's note: This is my first completed C.S.I. story though I've written several stories involving another series that I watch, Voyager. So, please be gentle and please send me feedback. A huge than you to PsiTwin for beta reading!
An episode addition to 'Too Tough to Die". Takes off right after Eddie was 'thrown out' by Grissom.
RATED G/PG
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Gil Grissom stared at the departing form of his friend and colleague, Cath Willows as he debated whether he should go after her or not. He'd just told her soon-to-be ex-husband to leave the building and never to show his face there again. Then again, if Grissom got what he wanted Cath would never have to see Eddie again. The man was a slime bag and had just proved it once again by physically attacking Catherine in front of all her co-workers.
Knowing the kind of a person Catherine was, Gris hesitated about going after her. Though he wanted to see if she was alright, he knew she valued her privacy almost as much as he did and she would need time alone to deal with what had just happened, time to go through the emotions and find at least a temporary resolution. But as Gris was turning around to leave he caught a glimpse of her leaning against the wall for support. He changed his mind.
Nearing Cath he glanced around to see if anyone was around but it seemed that even the people who had witnessed the incident had decided to give Willows a little breathing room.
"Hey, you okay?" Gil asked. He kept his voice soft as if not to alarm her.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she assured him, but Gil noticed her reluctance to meet his eyes. A sure sign she was not being entirely honest.
Grissom decided to push a little further. "Can I just take a look?" he requested, gesturing to her arm.
"Really, I'm fine! You wanna take a look," Cath said, her voice now frustrated. "There! See, I'm fine!" To demonstrate her point she started rolling up her sleeves of her shirt, only to be surprised by the multitude of angry red marks already covering her arms.
Staring at the marks Eddie had yet once more left on her, Cath was barely aware of what Grissom was saying.
"He shouldn't get away with hurting you like that," he swore. "I'm gonna kill him."
"Oh, please don't," she whispered, now able to meet his eyes again.
"And why the hell not," Gil demanded to know.
His livid behavior caused Catherine to smile a bit ruefully. "Because your team is too good at what they do. You'd have a pile of evidence against you in less than 24-hours."
Grissom appeared to be considering her words carefully before nodding in agreement. She did have a point there, he had to acknowledge her that. "I shouldn't have trained you guys so well."
Willows smiled at his words and they both fell silent. Suddenly the electricity between them changed and the silence that had just been comforting was now charged and uneasy. Both were at a loss for words, not sure what to say in the changed atmosphere, but still unable to look away either.
After a few moments Catherine cleared her throat and diverted her eyes from his, mumbling something about having to go to Lindsey to see how she was doing.
Remaining silent, Gil just nodded as Cath rambled on, "I just hate to go and burst her bubble. Once again it's a situation that she sees so that it's her daddy who wants to have fun with her mommy comes and ruins it all by being mean."
"Come on Cath, Eddie's doing it on purpose, he's just trying to piss you off," Gil said, all of a sudden not sure if he should have kept the words in his stomach or not.
"I know that. He's doing a pretty god damn good job about it, too. Just makes me wanna�" her voice trailed off, the words left unsaid but not unheard.
Looking slightly unsure Grissom seemed to weight on his next words. "How about you and I take Linds out to eat, huh? Some other great place. And we can make sure she won't stay up past her bedtime," he suggested and then added hastily, "I know it's not quite as spectacular as what Eddie promised her but it would be at least something."
Cath looked at Grissom, visibly touched by his gesture and nodded in silent agreement.
As they started making their way to Brown and Lindsey, Gil's arm resting on the small of Cath's back, Sidle and Stokes looked at each other meaningfully. They'd heard the whole conversation and now Stokes declared thoughtfully, "Eddie may be an S.O.B. but he sure is right about one thing."
At Sara's raised eyebrows he clarified, "Those two have something going on."
The End
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