Terror Twins, Inc.

3

An hour later found the entire CSI team assembled in one of the meeting rooms. Half-empty Chinese takeout boxes were littered across the table, and intermittently, the team members would take something new to eat.

As usual, Gil sat at the head of the table, Catherine sitting on his right hand side. Gil browsed through the case notes that he had taken so far. “Okay, Greg? What did you find out?”

“Unfortunately there was nothing on the rose thorn.” He dug into his chicken and almonds. “I checked twice but nothing. I ran the unknown male blood from the Stephanie Watson case through the system – no match.”

“Which means that our guy has never left his DNA behind at any other crime scene,” Sara concluded.

“Was there any other DNA at the Watson scene?” Gil asked Greg.

The young lab tech shook his head. “Any other DNA at the scene was accounted for and isn’t a match to the blood on the knife.”

Gil turned to Nick. “Alright, Nick. What did you and Archie find about the photo?”

“Not a lot. It was just a standard photo, taken from a distance. It looks like Cath was walking into work but we can’t find any distinguishing marks of where it might have been taken. Archie’s still enhancing though, so we’ll see what we can find.”

Catherine grew quieter and quieter as the hopelessness of the case started to sink in for her. Underneath the table, Gil’s hand sought hers and he squeezed it hard, trying to bring her comfort.

“Warrick? Sara?”

Warrick glanced at Catherine and then sighed. “There’s not a lot more to do with the evidence that hasn’t already been looked at. If this guy did kill Stephanie, he did a damn good job of making sure he wasn’t caught.”

Gil looked around at the group. “You cannot possibly tell me that we have nothing. Every contact leaves a trace. It’s the basic element of forensic science.”

“We’ve looked at everything, Grissom,” Sara told him. “This guy’s smart. He…”

“Go back and look again,” Gil ordered. “Check over everything…”

“Gil,” Catherine said softly.

He paused and looked at her. “Yes?”

Catherine turned to the rest of the team. “Guys, take a break.”

Gil watched the team file out of the room and he turned to Catherine. “What is it? Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I just think we all need to take a step back for a moment. Just breathe and relax.”

“I am relaxed.”

“Gil, if the evidence was there, our team would have found it by now. We have good CSIs.”

“I know that,” Gil replied. “It’s just frustrating.”

She put a hand on his arm. “Remember Syd Goggle?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “How could I ever forget?”

“We had a hard time finding evidence with Syd Goggle too.”

“Syd Goggle wasn’t trying to kill you.”

“That’s not the point,” Catherine replied. “We need to remember that just because the bastard is smart, it doesn’t mean we won’t catch him.”

“I’d just like to catch him before he gets his hands on you.”

Catherine smirked. “If I know you as well as I do, this guy won’t ever get close to me”

Gil grinned back at her. “That’s very true.”

“So just relax and…” Catherine paused and looked up as Judy came into the room. “Hi, Judy.”

The petite woman came in. “I know that we’re looking out for anything suspicious, and this package was delivered by a young boy a few minutes ago. I put on some gloves before I picked it up and I thought you and Dr. Grissom might like to take a look at it.”

The two CSIs thanked the receptionist and Catherine stared at the slim yellow package.

“Well, at least they’re not trying to blow me up,” she joked half-heartedly.

“Stay here,” Gil told her. “I’ll get some gloves.”

When he returned, Nick, Sara, Warrick and Greg followed him, all eager to find some answer to the case.

“Where’s the kid who delivered it?” Warrick asked.

“Captain Brass is talking to him,” Judy replied, lingering at the door.

“Thank you, Judy,” Gil said pointedly.

The receptionist nodded and left. Gil turned to Catherine.

“It’s your parcel. You get to open it.”

She sent him a withering look and, using the letter opener she gave him, undid the top of the parcel. Upending it, a group of pictures fell out. Catherine glanced at one of them and her eyes widened.

“Gil…clear the room.”

Greg looked confused. “I thought we were all working this case!”

“Gil…please.”

Warrick had seen the first picture and he frowned. “Guys, let’s give Grissom and Catherine a moment, okay?”

Reluctantly the other CSIs allowed Warrick to urge them out of the room. When they had gone, Catherine used the tip of her finger to separate the photos. The more she saw, the more shocked she became. Her hand went to her mouth and she looked up at her lover.

“He was watching us. While we were in your office. He watched us make love and he took pictures of it…”

Gil’s jaw was clenched and his eyes dark with fury. Privately deciding that he was going to kill this guy, he turned to Catherine. “He’s made his first mistake.”

Still in shock, she looked at him. “Huh?”

“We have the technology to enhance this, Catherine. We can find out where the photo was taken from and it may lead us to him.”

Her eyes widened. “You want to give this to the people in the lab, the photos of us making love in your office, so they can blow them up and look at them in more detail?”

“It may be the only way we can catch this guy!”

“Gil…you can’t possibly want the whole lab to see this? Look at these photos!” She gave them to him, one by one. “This one, you’ve just thrust inside me. This one you’re bringing me to orgasm. This one you’ve just come inside me. You can’t seriously want the team to see these!”

“I would rather have people I trust look at them instead of having to work your crime scene, Catherine!”

There was silence as the couple pondered the reality of his words. With a watery smile, Catherine finally handed over the pictures.

Gil bent down, whispering in her ear. “These pictures don’t diminish or degrade anything we have done or will do. Every time we make love together is very special, and I don’t care that he took these because he can’t ruin what we have together. I love you, Catherine, and we’re going to get through this.”

Her smile widened and she nodded. Gil caressed her cheek and pressed a long, promising kiss to her lips.

“How about you go and ring up Lindsey? See how she’s doing and what she’s up to?”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?”

He grinned and kissed her once more. “You’re too smart for me.”

Catherine stood up, squeezing his hand. “Thank you.” She kissed his cheek. “Love you.”

Gil watched her go and sighed. Then he went to the door and found the rest of the team lingering down the hallway. “You better come in here.”

–

Nick walked past the breakroom and lifted an eyebrow as he saw Sara dump teaspoon after teaspoon of sugar into her coffee. He walked into the room and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Sar? You really like that much coffee in your sugar?”

The female CSI looked at him blankly then at her coffee. She wrinkled her nose and swore. “Damn.”

“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that maybe you were a little irked by those photos?” Nick asked, taking her coffee and pouring it down the drain.

“They had sex in his office! Don’t they realize how unprofessional that is?”

“Sure they do,” Nick replied, starting the machine again. “But I’m gonna guess that after what they’ve both been through, they probably just needed to be close to each other. Understand?”

“Not really.”

Nick watched her for a minute. “Put aside your feelings for Griss for a minute. Can’t you imagine being so in love with someone and then find out someone’s going to kill them? And you feel so helpless that all you want to do is be close to them?”

She gave him a meaningful look. “Yes, I can.”

Her response, alluding to his recent brush with death surprised him, but also filled him with a little hope. “Yeah. Well. That’s what was behind what Grissom and Catherine did.”

Sara poured her coffee and put one sugar in it. She made her way towards the door and then stopped, turning around. “Oh, and Nick?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not in love with Grissom.” Giving him a small smile, she tasted her coffee and left the room.

–

Archie looked at the photos on the screen and then back at Warrick. “Wow.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s uh…”

“Yeah.”

“In uh…”

“Yeah.”

“Wow.”

Warrick looked at the audiovisual tech with an amused look on his face. “You want to start work now, Arch?”

Archie blinked and tore his eyes away from the screen. “Huh? Oh, right. What is it we’re doing again?”

“You know, if Grissom comes in here and catches you ogling Catherine like that, he’s gonna kill you.”

Archie blinked and turned back to the screen. “Right. Looking for where this could have been shot from.”

Warrick rolled his eyes and focused on the screen.

–

Gil walked into Catherine’s office. All the blinds had been shut, including the one on the door. She was sitting on the floor behind the desk.

“Cath?”

“I figured he won’t be able to see me here.”

Ignoring the protest from his knees, Gil sat down beside her. “We’ll get him, Catherine.”

“It’s not only that,” she replied. “He meant to kill me, Gil. And Stephanie’s dead because she left at the time I normally did. She shouldn’t be dead.”

“I can’t change that she died, Cath, but I promise that this guy will pay for it.”

She curled up close to him, resting her head on his shoulder and trying to relax. She knew that he’d keep his promise.

–

Half an hour later, Nick rounded the door and cocked his head to the side as he saw two bodies underneath Catherine’s desk.

“Uh, Griss? Catherine?”

Gil’s head popped up from beneath the desk. “Hi, Nick.”

Nick decided it was safer not to ask the reason why his supervisors were huddled together under a desk, and he had more important things to talk about anyway. “Jim and Sofia are getting us a warrant to go into an apartment across the street. Archie’s determined it to be the place where the photos were taken.”

Gil’s head moved upwards so fast that it hit the top of the desk. He swore, and Catherine kissed his head, rubbing her hand across the top of it.

“Gil?”

“I’m fine, sweetheart.”

The room was silent as the implications of what he said reverberated around the room. Nick shifted uncomfortably and finally Catherine stuck her head up.

“Thanks for telling us, Nick. We’ll be right there.”

Nick nodded and left the room.

Catherine turned to Gil, her fingers running through his hair. “You sure you’re alright?”

He smiled and nodded, kissing her softly. “Come on, let’s get the bad guy.”

–

Jim and Sofia were the first through the door of apartment 103, and soon their calls of “Clear!” meant that the CSIs could come in.

Sofia looked up as the group came in. “Something tells me that he either didn’t live here, or he had a really bad decorator.”

The team could see what she meant. The room held nothing except a table and a chair. Gil started to give out orders.

“Nick, Sara, take the bedroom. Warrick, Greg, you take the bathroom and the kitchen. I’ll take this room.”

Catherine lifted an eyebrow and cleared her throat. “Haven’t you forgotten someone?”

Gil turned to her. “You can’t work this case, Cath. When we go to court, the defense would shoot down any evidence that you had collected. But I knew you’d want to be here.”

She finally nodded her assent. “Okay.”

Catherine stood back with Jim and Sofia as the team began to work the scene. Gil concentrated near the window area, and when Warrick and Greg had finished their scenes, they came to help him.

Gil’s eyes lit up. “Hand me a bindle. Now.”

Greg quickly handed him one. Catherine looked over curiously.

“What is it, Gil?”

“Semen,” Warrick said for the older man. “The guy jacked off in here.”

Catherine felt bile rise in her throat. “I’ll…uh…be right back.”

Gil looked concerned, but realized he couldn’t leave the scene. He looked up to Sofia, who smiled softly and nodded, discreetly following Catherine out of the room.

–

Sofia found Catherine sitting on the fence outside the apartment block. “Catherine?”

The redhead turned around and smiled. “Hey, Sofia. I just needed some air.”

Sofia sat down beside her. “I can understand that.”

Catherine drew her knees up to her chin. “It was bad enough that he took pictures but…”

“This just makes it a whole lot worse,” the blonde finished for her.

Catherine sighed. “I’ve never done something like that before. At work…God…” She rubbed her hands over her face.

“I can understand that too,” Sofia assured her. “Sometimes you need to be with someone so badly - when their life has been threatened, or when something terrible has happened.”

Catherine sent the detective a sideways glance. “You sound like you speak from experience.”

Sofia smiled slightly. “Let’s just say that someone I love was hurt very badly and I needed very much to be close to him.”

Having a fair idea who it was, Catherine decided not to pry any further. “I appreciate the chat.”

“Anytime,” Sofia assured her. “I mean that.”

At that moment, Gil exited the building and his eyes zeroed in on Catherine. Sofia excused herself to go back into the apartment and Gil took her place on the fence.

His hand reached out and gently touched her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, turning to him. “I’m fine now. It’s just…it was bad enough that he took photos. But the fact that he…”

Gil squeezed her shoulder. “I know. But we’re not going to let it bother us, Cath. What we have together is much more important.”

Catherine kissed him softly. “Ready to go back to the lab?”

Gil nodded. “Let’s go.”

–

Catherine lay curled up against Gil’s body in her office. The blinds were still closed and the door was shut. Her fingers were clenched in the fabric of his shirt, and she kissed his chest.

“Everything’s going to be fine,” Gil murmured, stroking her back. “Just fine.”

“Can we stay here like this?” Catherine asked. “You’re comfortable to lie on.”

He chuckled. “I’d love to stay here with you, but don’t you think our bed would be more comfortable?”

“That’s definitely true.”

There was a knock at the door and Gil reluctantly moved away from Catherine to get it. A depressed looking Greg was on the other side.

“What’s the matter, Greg?”

The young man sighed. “I checked it three times. The DNA from the sperm is not on file.”

Gil took a deep breath. “But the blood on the knife?”

Greg nodded. “That one it matches. The man who left the sperm in the apartment definitely left his blood on the knife at the Watson crime scene.”

“Okay. Thank you, Greg.” Gil came back into the room and resumed his place by Catherine’s side.

She snuggled back against his body. “I heard.”

“At least we know that he’s the man that killed Stephanie,” Gil conceded. “Unfortunately it brings us no closer to finding him.”

“Let the team work the rest of the evidence,” Catherine replied. “You never know what they could turn up.”

Gil sighed. “You’re right. I just…I want to get this guy. I want you to be safe.”

She kissed him softly. “I know, Gil. And I will be. But for now, how about we go home and take a break?”

His face lit up. “What kind of break?”

Catherine burst out laughing. “Gil, you’re a nymphomaniac!”

His fingers trailed down her bare arms. “Only with you it seems. I’ve never been so in love with someone before.”

Her eyes softened and she kissed him again, a little longer and deeper than earlier. “I love you too, Gil.”

He kissed her fingers. “Come on. Let’s go home for a while.”

–

The man watched as Catherine and her friend returned home. She was looking a little worse for wear, which he was pleased to see. Ever since he had first seen Catherine, he knew she would be a feisty one. He knew with his temper that if she put up a fight, he would be more tempted to kill her straight away. And with all the plans he had prepared for her – that would just not do.

–

Gil locked the door behind them and walked through the house, checking that everything was secure.

“Put the blinds down too,” Catherine murmured. “I don’t want him to be able to see in.”

“Okay.” Gil put all the blinds down, turning on lights so they could see. “Better?”

Catherine nodded. “Much.”

Gil studied her for a moment, noticing that she was a bit fidgety. “Why don’t you go have a nice hot bath? I’ll make you something delicious to eat.”

She moved closer to him, her hands running up his chest. “I’ve got a better idea. How about we share the tub?” She kissed his cheek. “I just want to cuddle with you for awhile.”

Gil put his arms around her waist, indulging in a leisurely kiss with her. “I’m sure I could be persuaded.”

They went upstairs and Gil started the tub running as they undressed. As the tub filled, they gently touched and teased each other, before Gil pulled her into his arms for a long hug.

When the tub was full, Gil got in first, sighing at the warm water and spreading his legs so there would be room for Catherine. He held his hand out to her, helping her in. She sat with her back to his chest, sinking into his embrace and moaning with contentment as he put his arms around her waist.

“How’s that?” he whispered in her ear.

“Perfect,” Catherine replied, closing her eyes. “Just perfect.”

Gil smiled. He liked the feeling of her warm body pressed up against his, and the heat of the bath. When he felt Catherine’s muscles start to relax, he realized just how important this time out was for the both of them. His fingers gently caressed her stomach, grinning as she purred with pleasure.

“I’m glad you’re starting to relax,” he murmured. “You needed it, sweetheart.”

“I just needed some time out with you,” she replied. “Not having to worry about anything for at least five minutes.”

“I’m certainly hoping we’ll be in here longer than five minutes,” Gil told her. “I like the feel of you pressing up against me and the heat of this bath.”

“You keep talking like that and we could have a situation with Grissom Jr.”

“Would that be such a bad thing?”

Catherine was quite for a moment and she ran her hand along his arm, rubbing it affectionately. “You know I love you, right?”

“Of course I do.” Gil was starting to get a little concerned as to what was going on in her mind. “I love you too.”

“And you know that I love making love with you, right?”

“I know that, Catherine. I love making love with you too.”

She sighed and rested against his chest. “He watched us, Gil. He watched us and took pictures of us. And he…god, I can’t even say it.”

“Catherine, I told you that it…”

“Doesn’t diminish what we did, I know. But it’s my face that’s visible in those photos. My body reacting to yours. I just…”

“Need some time?”

“Yeah.” She craned her head around to look at him, biting her lip. “Do you hate me?”

Gil looked surprised. “Hate you? Catherine, how could I hate you?”

“Eddie…” She turned around, resting her back against his chest once more. “Never mind.”

Gil’s hand took hers. “Catherine, listen to me. I’m not Eddie. He was stupid to do that to you. Terrible.” He kissed her hand. “I love you. I’d never force you or hate you.” He cuddled her close to him. “Let’s just relax here, in the bath, just the two of us. And then you can tell me how much you want to see Dr House and Dr Cuddy, and I quote, ‘bump and grind.’”

Catherine burst into giggles. “I love you, Gil.”

He grinned, kissing the top of her head. “I love you too, Catherine.”

–

When it was time to go to work again, Catherine came up behind Gil and put her arms around his waist. He grinned and turned around, returning the embrace. “Hi, beautiful.”

“You know, we could forget work and just stay here together.”

Gil lifted an eyebrow. “That’s not like you.”

“Do you ever get a feeling of dread? Like something bad’s going to happen?”

Gil nodded. “Sure. Is that what you feel now?”

She shrugged. “I just think it’s better we stay here tonight.”

“Nothing’s going to happen to you, Catherine. You have so many people around you who love you.” He cupped her face with his hands. “Okay?”

Catherine smiled. “Okay.” She stood on tiptoe, pressing her lips against his firmly. “Let’s go.”

–

Gil began to pull into his usual parking spot when his phone rang. He picked it up, frowning. “One minute, sweetheart.”

Catherine leant her head back on the headrest, closing her eyes for a moment.

Gil opened his phone. “Grissom.”

“Grissom, it’s Brass. I’m on my way to the airport. There’s been a call about a problem with Lindsey. For god’s sakes, don’t tell Catherine until we know what’s going on.”

“I’m on my way,” Gil replied. He snapped the phone shut and turned to Catherine. “Cath, I have to go meet Brass. It’s an emergency. Are you okay here?”

“Of course. Everyone’s inside.” She narrowed her eyes. “Is this something I need to know about?”

“Another case,” Gil assured her. “You sure you’ll be alright?”

Catherine kissed him softly. “It’s just from here to the door. Nothing will happen.”

–

The man watched as Catherine got out of the car. He smiled. Everything was ready. In just a few short moments, Catherine would be his – and then she would be dead.

–