2
Gil woke up a few hours later, feeling refreshed. He’d managed to get Catherine to lie down in her bedroom, and he’d sat with her until she’d fallen asleep. Now, as he got up, he decided the first thing to do was go check on her.
He paused, deciding he better put some pants on first.
When he was dressed, he walked along to Catherine’s bedroom door and frowned when he saw it was open.
“Cath?” There was no answer and a small stab of panic lit in his gut. “Catherine?” He started making his way methodically through the house, even stopping to check the bathrooms. “Catherine, come on! Where are you?”
Still no answer.
He opened his cell phone and called Catherine’s cell. When he got the reply that the phone was off or out of reach, the panic started to spread to the rest of him.
Gil’s head turned as he saw the front door open. Suddenly feeling naked without his gun, he hid behind the hallway door. His eyes almost popped out of his head as he watched Catherine walk in with the paper.
He strode over, ignoring the smile and “morning” that she gave him. Pinning her against the wall, he glared down at her. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Catherine blinked, having been taken by surprise by Gil’s aggressive actions. “Gil…what are you doing?”
“For god’s sakes, Catherine, do you think this is a game we’re playing? I’m not here on holiday! I’m here because someone is trying to kill you!”
Eyes blazing, she struggled in his arms. “All I did was get the paper!”
“I don’t care if there is someone dying on the road! You DO NOT leave my sight, understand!”
“Let go of me, Gil!”
“No, I won’t. I’m not letting go of you until you understand how serious this is! I’m not getting to let something happen to you!”
Her chest was heaving with anger as she found herself pinned helplessly to the wall. She stopped struggling against him, knowing that she had no hope against his strength. “Gil…please…just let go of me.”
“I can’t let anything happen to you.”
Catherine froze and stared up at him. “Excuse me?”
“You’re not indestructible, Catherine. I know that somewhere in that stubborn, pig-headed brain of yours you have to know that.”
“Who are you calling stubborn and pig-headed, you ass? Now let me down!”
“No! And stop acting like a child!”
“I’m sorry, I’M the one acting like a child? You’ve got me pinned against the front door just because I went out to grab the paper!”
“You could have been killed!” He shook her hard, trying to make her understand the severity of the situation.
“Gil Grissom, if you do not put me down right now, I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” he asked.
Catherine let out a frustrated groan. “GIL! Just put me…”
Gil pressed his lips to hers in a deep, hot kiss, effectively cutting off her demand. After getting over the shock of him kissing her, Catherine put all the passion she felt for this infuriating man into the embrace. She felt the pleasure spread throughout her body and she instinctively pushed herself closer.
The kiss continued as Gil let his hand run up the front of her shirt. Catherine had never seen him carried away by emotion before, and she found it fascinating as well as incredibly arousing.
“Touch me,” she whispered against his lips. “Touch me now.”
The only reply from Gil was another deep kiss to her lips. His fingers traveled up her stomach, caressing the soft skin before he cupped her right breast in his hand. Catherine moaned into the kiss as his thumb roughly rubbed her nipple through the lacy bra she was wearing.
“Hold on, Cath,” he growled, his fingers rapidly attacking the buttons of her shirt.
She gripped tightly to his body, her legs tightening around his waist as her heated gaze watched him undo her shirt. When he’d finished undoing the buttons, his arms held onto her body.
“Take it off,” he ordered her, his lips grazing her neck.
Catherine whimpered in pleasure as she shrugged her shirt off. She pressed herself against him once more, kissing him deeply as she ran her fingers up the front of his shirt.
“Your turn.”
Gil shuddered at the soft feel of her hands against his warm skin. His fingers made quick work of his own buttons and he held onto her body as she pushed the material away.
“Better,” Catherine decided, her hands caressing his chest.
Her bra was the next thing to go and she almost self-combusted as his hands cupped them. “Gil…”
“So soft,” he whispered, kissing her neck. “So mine,” he finally said, kissing the top of her breast.
Catherine rubbed herself against his erection that was throbbing against her thigh. “I want you,” she murmured against his lips. “Please…”
“Not yet,” he told her, squeezing her breasts gently. “I want to touch you.”
She shivered at the visual image his words produced and was about to reply when his lips fastened over her left nipple. Catherine cried out in pleasure as he alternately sucked and nipped at the taut bud, his other hand manipulating her right breast.
“Gil…god…”
He was more than happy with the association as his left hand dipped inside her panties, finding her hot and wet for him. Catherine almost came apart in his arms as his thumb brushed across her clit.
“Gil…please…no more…just…”
“Just what, Catherine?” he asked, his lips moving to her other breast.
She found that she was losing her inability to think as his thumb rubbed in slow circular motions around her clit. “Oh god…”
Gil decided that if this was going to be his one time to pleasure Catherine, he wanted it to be something she’d never forget. “Just what, Catherine?” he asked, slowly lowering her body to stand in front of him. With a wicked grin he quickly undid her pants and pulled them and her panties down to rest around her ankles.
“Just…oh….”
Her thoughts wouldn’t cooperate as Gil fastened his mouth to her center, licking and sucking at the tender flesh. He told her to open her eyes and she looked down at him, thighs trembling as he continued to pleasure her.
Catherine threw back her head and cried out his name as he gently nibbled at her clit. Her orgasm hit her hard, and Gil held tightly to her as she shook around him.
Before she had time to recover, Gil was standing up, and she watched through desire-laden eyes as he removed his pants and boxers. Catherine bit her lip as she watched him reveal himself and her eyes trailed over his body. When her eyes zeroed in on his erection she couldn’t help but shiver. He was long and thick, and very hard. Her arms reached for him, wanting him closer.
Gil lifted her body up against the wall again and she wrapped her legs tight around his waist. They kissed slowly and their hands caressed heated skin. An intense look passed between them as Gil positioned himself at her entrance.
“Now, Gil,” Catherine whispered, her eyes locking onto his.
With one thrust he was deep inside her and Catherine felt intense pleasure at him completing her. Her eyes closed as he pushed further, and when he was buried inside her she opened her eyes again, looking at him. They shared a soft smile, and then a long kiss as they conveyed to each other feelings that had been hidden for many years.
She wrapped her arms around his body and nudged him with her hips. He grinned at her and slowly began to pump in and out of her body. His lips moved to her cheek, kissing her gently there before whispering in her ear.
“You know I love you?”
Catherine smiled softly, kissing his lips. “I know,” she replied. “I love you too.”
When she rested her head on his shoulder, he began thrusting in earnest, holding her tightly to his body. Catherine’s fingers gripped his back, her eyes squeezed shut as hot sensation swept throughout her system.
One of Gil’s hands moved to her head, gently caressing her strawberry-blonde locks with his fingers. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, nuzzling her cheek.
She kissed his shoulder, her body moving against his as he thrust into her. Release lingered just out of her reach, the pleasure he was bringing her almost blinding in intensity.
Her fingers caressed his back as he pumped inside her; over and over creating an unbelievable friction that increased her pleasure. She tightened her inner muscles around him, smiling wickedly as he let out a moan.
“Cath, I…”
“Let go,” she urged, kissing him deeply. “I’m right behind you.”
As he surrendered to his pleasure, Catherine couldn’t decide which was better – the sensation of his warmth inside her or the way he cried her name as he exploded in ecstasy. Her body shuddered as her orgasm overpowered her, the sensations rippling throughout her system as she came hard in his arms.
Gil gently lowered them to the floor, finding his legs were unable to hold them upright anymore. Catherine breathed deeply in his embrace, as she continued to tremble.
“I didn’t mean for our first time to be against a wall after we’d had a fight,” Gil whispered, brushing some hair from her face.
She smiled broadly at him. “You’ve thought about our first time?”
He grinned back at her. “For a long time.”
Catherine cuddled closer. “Me too.”
“Cath?” Gil murmured, caressing her back.
“Mhm?”
“This isn’t going to be our only time, is it?” He kissed the top of her head. “I meant what I said when I told you that I loved you.”
She looked up at him and kissed him softly. “I know you did. And I love you too.” Catherine kissed him once more. “And I certainly hope this isn’t our only time.”
–
Outside, the man watched. He had witnessed Grissom touching and tasting his conquest, and then having the nerve to tell her that she was his.
He had watched as Catherine had achieved orgasm for the first time, and then he’d seen the couple joining.
Finally he had watched Grissom spill his seed into what did not belong to him, causing Catherine to orgasm again.
The man grinned evilly. Catherine may have enjoyed herself with this man, but that WOULD be her only time of mating with him. Next time, he would be inside her, and HE would be the last.
–
Catherine lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her body still thrummed with intense pleasure after she and Gil had made love. Again.
She felt safe with him – safer than she’d ever felt with another man. When he had told her that he couldn’t and wouldn’t let anything happen to her, she had believed him.
Always would.
Catherine felt Gil’s warm body curl up behind her. She smiled as he put his arm around her waist, tugging her body so that she lay flush against him.
“Cath? You okay?”
“Mhm,” she murmured, a smile on her face.
He kissed her shoulder. “I thought you would have been sound asleep by now.”
She chuckled and turned around in his arms to face him. “Think you wore me out, huh, Dr. Grissom?”
He simply lifted an eyebrow and she chuckled, kissing his lips gently.
“You wore me out plenty.”
Gil caressed her cheek. “You worrying about something?”
Catherine took a deep breath. “He wants me dead, doesn’t he?”
Gil said nothing for a moment, but just held her to him. “I won’t lie to you, Catherine. You know that. And yes, he does want you dead.” His eyes locked onto hers. ‘But he can’t have you, sweetheart. I won’t let him.”
Catherine clutched tight to his hand. “You better not. Otherwise I’m coming back to haunt you.”
–
The next shift at the lab found Nick Stokes in the audiovisual lab with Archie looking at the photo that had been used to threaten Catherine.
“So – this was Catherine when she was dancing,” Archie said, looking at the picture.
Nick nodded. “Yeah.”
“Did you ever see her dance?”
Nick shook his head. “The only one that ever saw her dance was Grissom. And he’s always been pretty tight-lipped on the subject.”
“I bet she was just…”
“Just what, Archie?” came Gil’s quiet voice behind them.
Archie’s eyes almost popped out of his head and Nick almost fell off his chair. The two turned around to Gil, looking guilty. Gil just stood there, staring expectantly back at them.
“Well, Griss,” Nick began, “you can’t blame us for wondering. I mean, she’s…”
“A very good CSI,” Gil said firmly. “What have you found on the photo?”
“Greg didn’t find any foreign substance on the photo itself apart from the rose. So Archie and I are just blowing it up to see if we can get a look at who was in the club the night this was taken.”
Gil nodded. “Alright. Keep on it.”
“Hey, Griss?” Nick asked. “What is this all about anyway? Why is this guy after Catherine?”
Gil sighed. “Because I don’t think Stephanie was meant to die that night. I think Catherine was meant to.”
–
Gil went along to the DNA lab next, finding that Greg had the rose. He saw the young man rub the thorn with a swab and he lifted an eyebrow.
“Greg?”
He looked up. “Hi, Griss. I just thought I’d swab the thorn for DNA. I figured when the guy stabbed it through the photo, he might have caught himself on it.”
“We can certainly hope,” Gil replied.
Greg saw the look in the older man’s eyes and he nodded. “Yeah, I think it’s a long shot too. But I want to get this guy before he gets anywhere closer to Catherine.”
“He won’t be anywhere near Catherine,” Gil assured him. “I won’t let him.”
Greg smiled slightly. “Yeah. I know.”
–
As Gil walked back to his office, he found himself waylaid by the fingerprints tech, Jacqui Franco.
“Grissom.”
The woman didn’t need to say anything else. Jacqui had been a friend of Catherine’s since they had both started, and she knew the details of Stephanie’s case.
“She’s in my office,” Gil finally said.
“How is she?”
“Tired. Scared.” Gil made a face. “Stubborn.”
Jacqui chuckled. “Sounds like Cath. What can I do to help?”
“I’m sure Catherine would love to see you,” Gil said. “Forensically, I’d like you to take a look at all the prints from the original crime scene. See if any stand out.”
Jacqui nodded. “I’ll go and see Catherine and then get right on it.”
–
Sara and Warrick were going over the original Watson crime scene, hoping to find some erroneous evidence that could point to someone else at the scene. They also had the list of names from Ted of the people he knew that were at the club that night.
Sara put the phone down, looking a little put out.
“Let me guess,” Warrick said, looking up from the original crime scene photos, “another person who doesn’t want their past brought up and then their wife, listening in on the other end, thought you were one of the people that worked at the French Palace.”
His colleague glared at him. “Yes.”
Warrick tried not to chuckle as Sara continued to glare at him. “Oh come on, Sara, look on the bright side.”
“Which is?”
“The more of these people we ring, the closer we are to finding Stephanie Watson’s killer, and the less likely Catherine is to wind up hurt.”
“That’s true,” Sara conceded.
Gil popped his head around the door. “Anything?”
Warrick shook his head. “Not yet.”
“I’ve got Jacqui taking a look at any fingerprints from the original scene. I’ll have her confer with you.”
“No problem,” Warrick said.
“How’s Catherine?” Sara asked.
“She’s going to be fine,” Gil replied. “As long as I can keep her out of harm’s way, she’ll be fine.”
–
The man watched through his long-range camera lens. No one had drawn the curtains in Dr Grissom’s office, and he was able to see clearly the object of his desire.
She was lying on the couch in the room and her body was long and limber, just as he remembered it. He had hoped she would be wearing a skirt, but today was not to be his lucky day.
–
Catherine felt a prickling on the back of her neck as though someone was watching her. She sat up slightly from where she had been lying and looked around, but was alone, as she was sure she had been.
She lay back down, resting a hand over her eyes. Catherine still felt a lot of guilt over Stephanie’s murder, and the realization that death had been meant for her and not for her best friend made her feel even worse.
And her relationship with Gil had deepened after the previous night, yet part of her wondered where the relationship was going. She knew that she wanted a serious relationship with him, but she did want to know where they stood now.
And where they would stand as the investigation continued.
“Cath?”
She looked up and smiled as Gil appeared in the doorway. “Hey.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah. Just a little tired.” She sat up and looked at him. “I saw Jacqui.”
“She was worried about you.” Gil came and sat down by her. “Everyone’s on deck with this case, Catherine.”
“I know he wants me dead.” She took a deep breath. “What I don’t understand is why.”
“When we find him, you can ask him.” Gil’s eyes darkened. “If I haven’t killed him first.”
Catherine put her hand on his arm. “Don’t you dare. It’s going to be hard having a relationship with someone who’s in jail.”
“I’m a CSI, I know how to hide a body.” At the look Catherine gave him, Gil relented. “It’s alright, Catherine. Nothing’s going to take me away from you.”
Catherine nodded resolutely and then folded her arms. “What do we know so far about the man that wants me dead?”
“Not much,” Gil admitted. “Greg is DNA testing the rose thorn. Archie and Nick have the photo and Warrick and Sara are going over the old case. Jacqui’s seeing what she can do about old prints and any new ones we get.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t really think he left prints or DNA, do you?”
He sighed. “No, but it’s worth double-checking. Every contact leaves a trace, Catherine.”
“True. But he made a mistake when he killed Stephanie by not getting me. Plus he left that unknown blood sample. It’s been a long time and I’m sure he’s learnt since then.”
“He’s not infallible.”
Catherine stuck her hands in her pockets. “What if we used me as bait?”
Gil’s eyes almost bugged out of his head. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“The answer’s no.”
Fire flashed in Catherine’s eyes. “You can’t order me around, Gil Grissom.”
“I’m not ordering you. I just think you’re being ridiculous.”
“Did you just call me ridiculous?”
“Don’t twist my words around, Catherine. You’re an intelligent woman and you know it would be a bad move to play bait to this guy.”
“I’m not going to live the rest of my life waiting for this guy to come and get me.”
“He won’t get anywhere near you,” Gil replied. “And it won’t take the rest of your life to find him.”
“We’re still looking for him after he killed Stephanie what…twenty years ago?”
“Forensics has moved forward a long way since then.”
“If the only way to flush him out is to be the bait, then I’m prepared to do it.”
“God! Catherine, how many times do I have to tell you no!”
“I don’t have to have your permission.”
“Actually you do. I’m your boss, remember?”
Catherine’s eyes darkened. “You want to play that game? Fine. I’ll go to Ecklie.”
She started to stride towards the door, but Gil got there before her. He reached over her head to shut and lock it. She whirled around, prepared to launch into a full diatribe at him, but as soon as she opened her mouth it was captured by Gil’s and she felt her back hit the door, her feet leaving the ground as Gil picked her up.
Catherine sank into the kiss, her legs wrapping tight around his waist, whimpering as the bruising kiss grew deeper. When she finally looked at him, her eyes wide, Gil’s eyes were boring into her.
“Ecklie,” he began, his chest heaving for air, “doesn’t feel for you what I do. Ecklie doesn’t know what it would be like to lose you. He doesn’t know what it feels like to have your warm body snuggled up to him at night. He doesn’t know what it feels like to be part of you, mind, body and soul. He doesn’t know what it’s like to be buried inside you, to have you seeping into his pores, to have you driving you out of your mind, challenging your thoughts on everything until you can’t think anymore and you’re addicted to the sight, smell, taste and voice that is Catherine Willows.” He looked at her. “Do you understand that? Do you, Cath?”
She nodded, her mouth opening and shutting again in awe. “I understand, Gil, because it’s the way I feel about you.”
“Promise me you won’t use yourself as bait.”
“I promise,” she replied. Her hands ran over his arms. “Take me, Gil. Take me now.”
His left hand ran down the side of her body. “Here? Are you sure?”
Catherine rubbed her body against his. “Don’t I seem sure?”
Gil smirked. “That is true. What was I thinking?”
“I’m hoping you were thinking of how you’re going to take me.” She lifted an eyebrow. “Up to the job?”
Gil rolled his eyes. “Very funny.”
Catherine giggled and then slapped a hand over her mouth. “I didn’t think about that, but now that you mention it…”
His warm breath tickled her ear as he whispered, “I can assure you, Catherine, I’m more than up for it.”
She shivered and looked at him with desire-laden eyes. ‘Then let’s get to it.”
Gil nodded and watched with avid attention as she unbuttoned her blouse and unsnapped the front clasp of her bra. He grinned as she revealed herself to him.
“I like it when you leave the clothes on,” he whispered. “Makes me feel like you can’t wait to be with me.”
Her lips lifted to caress his in a light kiss. “I can’t.” Her fingers then attacked the buttons of his shirt, finally opening it and kissing his chest.
In record time, their pants were shed and their hips pushed primally against each other. Catherine moaned as Gil’s fingers found her heat, slowly rubbing back and forth over her clit.
“Oh…Gil…”
“Shh,” he whispered roughly, licking her earlobe. “You don’t really want the rest of the lab to hear us in here, do you?”
She shook her head slowly and kissed him once more. He smiled and kissed her back deeply. “Good girl.”
“Stop teasing,” she told him. “I need you. Now.”
Gil’s fingers trailed over her skin, kneading her breasts and going further down. “I want you to feel good.”
“Hey,” she whispered softly, caressing his cheek. “I always feel good with you. And I always feel best when you’re a part of me.”
“Well then,” he murmured, kissing her lips softly. “Shall we?”
Catherine lifted her hips slightly, eager for him to be inside her. “We shall.”
With one fluid thrust, Gil was buried inside her and Catherine bit her lip hard so she wouldn’t cry out in pleasure. She placed her head on his shoulder as he started to pump inside her.
Each time he moved, he created friction against her clit, causing her to grip tightly against his skin. He kissed her shoulder, alternating his thrusts until she was writhing against him and whimpering on his shoulder.
“I love you,” Gil whispered to her as he moved in and out of her. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. Ever.”
Catherine raised her head and looked at him, her eyes awash with love. “I know, Gil. I know.” Her fingers moved to the nape of his neck, urging his lips to hers.
They kissed softly, their bodies moving fast and furious but their minds moving to a slow understanding of the other. As she neared the edge, Catherine deepened the kiss, hoping desperately not to alert anyone to their passionate activity.
Gil held tightly onto her as her orgasm crashed into her, her body shuddering violently in his arms. He soothed her with another kiss, continuing to thrust into her as he felt his own release approach.
“I’m with you, Gil,” she whispered, looking him in the eyes. “Always.”
One more thrust and he was fully sheathed inside her. He buried his head on her shoulder as his orgasm overpowered him. They slid to the floor together, trembling and staying close to each other.
“I won’t lose you, Cath, I won’t,” Gil whispered, running his fingers through her hair.
She smiled softly, nuzzling against him. “I love you, Gil.”
–
The man watched with disgust as Catherine copulated with the man again. He watched her orgasm in his arms and then watched as that man ejaculated into her.
He placed his camera beside him and stared as they slowly sank to the floor out of his sight. He could imagine them uncoupling and then dressing again as if nothing had happened.
The man wondered how many other people Catherine had done that with when she was dancing – and she had ignored him. He’d known back then that she had been a slut. Her promiscuous behavior disgusted him, and he decided he’d have to punish her. And then he’d kill her.
–