Author: ANNE (the insane one)

Rating: Trainee

Summary: Catherine and Lindsey join Gil and his beetle for breakfast. Post-Ep Scuba Doobie Doo

Spoilers: Scuba Doobie Doo

Disclaimer: Characters et al belong to the people that make CSI.

“Hi, Uncle Gil!”

Gil Grissom looked up and smiled as he saw Catherine Willows bringing her seven-year-old daughter, Lindsey, into the room.

“Hi, Lindsey. Hey, Cath.”

“Who’s that?” Lindsey asked, looking at the beetle.

“This is Reginald.”

Catherine arched an eyebrow. “You named him?”

“He helped me solve the case. I thought the least I could do was enjoy a meal with him. And I’ve never shared breakfast with someone whose name I didn’t know.”

Catherine chuckled and sat down, taking out the breakfast she had packed for herself, and the food she had packed for Lindsey.

“Thanks for inviting us for breakfast, Uncle Gil,” Lindsey said.

“There’s nothing better than having breakfast with my two favorite girls,” Gil informed her.

“And Reginald,” Catherine remarked dryly.

“Yes, and Reginald,” Gil replied. “He solved my case. It would be rude for me not to eat with him.”

Lindsey giggled. “You’re so silly, Uncle Gil.”

“Thank you, Lindsey,” he smiled. He turned to Catherine. “How did the scuba diver up a tree go?”

Catherine rolled her eyes. “Nicky thought the diver had been fished out of Lake Mead.”

Gil frowned. “That’s an urban legend, Cath.”

“I know that,” Catherine replied. “Was kinda funny watching Nicky insist that was what happened though.”

Gil chuckled. “That’s mean, Cath.”

“But you’re laughing, Uncle Gil,” Lindsey reminded him.

Catherine smirked, sending Gil a look.

“You’re right, Lindsey,” Gil nodded. He turned to Reginald. “Enjoying breakfast?”

Lindsey giggled again, taking another bite. “I don’t think he’s going to answer, Uncle Gil.” When she had finished, she turned to her mother. “Mom, can I go see Greg?”

“Okay. But if he’s busy, you come right back here, alright?”

Lindsey nodded. “See you soon, Uncle Gil!”

Gil waved as he watched her race down towards the DNA lab. His attention turned back to Catherine, when she placed her hand in his.

He raised it to his lips and gently kissed it. “Missed you tonight.”

“Missed you too,” she whispered, squeezing his hand.

“I did however, see you in that white shirt.” He grinned broadly at her.

Catherine chuckled. “You like that, huh?”

“Very sexy,” he whispered.

“I’ll remember that,” Catherine assured him.

“The lab’s almost empty.”

Catherine smiled. “It is.”

“So if I was to kiss you right now…we wouldn’t really have an audience, would we?”

“No, we wouldn’t.”

They both leaned over the table simultaneously, Gil pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

“I think my day just got a whole lot brighter,” Catherine smiled.

Gil nodded. “I think mine did too.

FINIS

Author: ANNE (the insane one)

Rating: CSI-2

Summary: See title. A challenge from Caroline.

Disclaimer: Characters et al belong to the people that make CSI.

1.

“I just realised you and I have a very healthy relationship.” Catherine brought up the subject, as she and Gil wandered down the corridor.

“We do?” He looked baffled. He often looked baffled. Then again, he often felt baffled. Particularly when it came to Catherine.

“Well, when we have a problem, I don’t paint Greg Sanders in latex and stick straws up his nose.”

Gil mulled over that idea for a moment. “Good. He’d probably like it.”

Catherine put her hand on his shoulder and he stopped walking, turning to look at her quizzically.

“Gil. You’re supposed to say something revealing back to me.”

He looked at her, wondering what, if anything, he could say to her. Well. Now was as good a time as any. “I’ve never told anybody this Catherine. I love…” Gil paused, looking at the sense of intrigue on her face. Could he tell her this? Could he risk everything? “I love…chocolate.”

Catherine said nothing for a moment, and was instead very quiet as she stared at him. When she finally spoke, it was softly and slowly. “You love chocolate?”

He was now babbling “Yes. I love it. It’s creamy, it’s beautiful. I love how smooth it is and how good it smells.” This was working. Kind of like a metaphor. “I can always smell when chocolate is almost in the room. Just the wonderful scent. And I could sit with it all day.”

Catherine took a deep breath. “Ookay. I think you need a drink. And I think I may need two.” She patted his shoulder. “Let’s go chocolate man.”

–

2.

Catherine walked up to Gil as he fussed with his bow tie. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going insane. I don’t understand this diagram!” He frowned at the offending piece of paper.

Catherine smiled and shook her head at him. “You don’t need a diagram. You need a woman.”

Gil felt her soft fingers caressing his chin as she brushed up to him, starting to tie his bow tie. Why did he need a woman? He had her.

He wanted to tell her. He really, really wanted to tell her. And she looked so pretty and smelt so good that he was intoxicated by Catherine Willows. She was so close to him, tying his bow tie and her body brushing up against his and…

“I’m looking forward to your speech.”

Gil blinked, broken out of his reverie. He sighed. She was talking and he had lost his nerve.

Again.

–

3.

Catherine walked back and forth in the hospital waiting room. She knew that Nick was going to be alright – the doctor had already been to tell her. She knew that Nick’s parents were in with him and that Warrick was there too.

But she felt she had to do something. She wasn’t sure what but she felt very…

“Catherine!”

She turned around, watching Gil move towards her. “Hi, Gil.”

“How’s Nick?”

“He’s going to be fine. His parents and Warrick are in with him now.”

“And you’re okay?”

Catherine narrowed her eyes. “Of course. I’m fine.”

Gil sighed. “It’s just, when I got the call from Ecklie telling me that someone from swing shift had been kidnapped I was worried. I thought that…anyway, I couldn’t live with…and I feel that…”

Catherine looked at him oddly. “You’re rambling and it’s been a long day. Do you want to go get a drink?”

Gil adjusted his glasses, realising that after he’d just effectively told Ecklie to take Catherine off swing shift, now probably wasn’t a good time to tell her that he loved her.

“Yes, Catherine. A drink would be great.”

–

4.

“It’s a big desert.” Catherine looked around at the vastness of it.

“About 25,000 square miles.”

“And the nearest own is Pahrump. That’s about 30 miles from here.”

“But I got water. We can share.” Gil started to wander off.

“Who are you today, Moses?” Catherine sighed and started to follow him.

They wandered along in companionable silence for a while. Gil found himself thinking about his life, and how he’d like to spend the rest of it. He often found himself thinking like that when he was working on cases. He’d see a body and investigate the case – and then he’d think about what a CSI who investigated his case would find.

“You ever seen the pyramids?”

Catherine smiled. “Does the Luxor count? What do you think? I haven’t even been to New York.”

“I’d like to see the pyramids one day.”

“Keep walking, we might come upon them today.”

Gil smiled at her. As they walked, a thought came upon him. “Would you like to see the pyramids?”

Catherine thought about it for a minute. “Yeah, I would.”

“You could come with me, maybe. If you wanted to.”

Her eyes scrutinised him for a moment. “I’d like that.”

He decided to move one step further. “Catherine, I wanted to tell you something…” Gil looked over the horizon. “Smoke?”

She looked back at him. “What?”

“Smoke.”

–

5.

The camera man watched as Gil and Catherine got onto the elevator. “You ever seen the show? It’s got a lot of forensics.”

Gil moved protectively towards Catherine. He wasn’t about to let this guy get any angles or close-ups on something that Gil considered his. “There are too many forensics shows on TV.”

Catherine turned to him as the elevator door shut. “Too many forensics shows on TV?”

“Well, there are.” Gil put his kit down and folded his arms. “I don’t like being filmed.”

She patted his arm. “I understand. But don’t get too grumpy. You’ll want to let the cameras get a shot of your smile. Let all the girls out there know how great your smile is.”

He looked at her for a moment, his mind churning over various thoughts. She liked his smile. She was telling him to smile because it was great. She liked…him maybe?

“Catherine…”

With a ping, the door opened. Brass stood before them, trying to ignore the cameras behind him.

“Ready?” he asked the duo. “Good. Let’s go.”

FINIS

Authors Note: This fic has an assumed G/C relationship

Gil turned around and did a double-take as he saw Catherine leaning against the wall.

“What are you doing here?”

She smiled. “I’m here because you’re here.”

When he continued looking at her, she sighed. “I heard you had a bad day at work. I tried all your usual haunts: the museum, the rollercoaster.” Her fingers skimmed along the bench. “It must have been a really bad day. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you down here.”

Gil sighed and turned back to the firing range. “I falsely accused a man of murder. His reputation is forever tarnished because of me.”

“Did the evidence point to him?”

“Yes.”

“Did you accuse him in good faith, or because you didn’t like him?”

“The evidence pointed to him, Catherine.”

She walked over to him, her hand on his shoulder. “Then stop beating yourself up over it. You can’t control where the evidence goes. We just interpret it.”

Gil turned to her. “I told you that once, a long time ago.”

Catherine shrugged. “Not that long ago.”

Gil nodded. “It seems like yesterday you were a rookie. Couldn’t wait to do your first solo case.”

Catherine grinned. “I didn’t do a bad job of it when I finally did though, did I?”

“You were wonderful.”

“I had a good teacher.”

“You were a good student.”

Catherine decided a change of subject was needed. It was no prettier, but certainly needed discussing. “Sara’s cranky you took her off the serial case.”

Gil groaned. “Well, she can kiss my ass.”

Catherine smirked. “I’m sure she’d love to, but it’s my ass first.”

Gil rolled his eyes at her. “I didn’t realize my ass was such a sought after item.”

She walked over, her hand resting on his butt. “It’s not bad.”

Gil took her hand and turned her to face him. “Thankyou.”

She cocked her head to one side. “What for?”

“For being here. For coming here.”

Catherine smiled softly at him, squeezing his hand. “I’m always here, Gil. You just have to let me in.” She took his free hand and squeezed it. “I love you, Gil.”

He put his gun away before turning back to her. “I love you, Catherine.”

“Ready to go home?”

Gil bent down and pressed a deep kiss to her lips. He pulled her tight against him, smiling into the kiss when he heard her moan.

When they pulled apart, Catherine glanced up at him, slightly dazed. “Wow.”

“Now I’m ready to go home,” Gil replied, taking his gun case in one hand and his other going to rest around her waist.
“Whose turn is it to make dinner?”

*

FINIS

Author: ANNE (the insane one)

Rating: PG

Summary: Sequel to Secrets Revealed. This is set ten years after the previous story. Lindsey is now 23 and in college. Matthew is fifteen. Elizabeth is twelve, James is ten and the surprise arrival, Max, is nine.

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belong to the people that make CSI. Matthew, Elizabeth, James and Max belong to me

Nine-year-old Max Grissom raced down the hallway at warp speed, skidded on the polished floor in his socks and fell, sliding along the floor until he ended at the door to the kitchen.

“Are you okay?” Catherine asked, rushing over to him.

Max stood up and grinned. “Yeah.”

“Why were you in such a hurry?”

“I’m hungry and I gotta watch TV and…”

Catherine put her hand up and handed her son an apple. She had never met anyone quite as accident-prone as Max. Ever since he had been born he was banging his head, running into things, falling over. It was lucky the Grissom’s were so well known at the emergency room, because otherwise people would think Max was abused.

Twelve-year-old Elizabeth Grissom skipped into the room, her long blonde hair tied in a plait. “I heard a crash. What did Max do now?”

Max stuck his tongue out at his older sister and disappeared out of the room before Catherine could call him on it.

“He just fell on his way into the kitchen. Where’s Jamie?”

“In his room tinkering on something.” Lizzy shrugged. “It’ll probably explode in a minute.”

–

Fifteen-year-old Matthew Grissom opened the letterbox and pulled out the mail. He quickly flipped through it and, when he saw a letter bearing his name, stuffed into his back pocket.

“I’m home!” he called, wandering through the door.

“How was school?”

“Fine.”

“What did you do today?”

“Nothing.”

Catherine rolled her eyes. She opened the fridge door and nearly had a heart attack. “JAMES GRISSOM!!”

Ten-year old Jamie ran down the stairs and noticed his mother standing in front of the fridge.

“You found my science project!” he cried gleefully.

“Jamie, there is a dissected mouse in my fridge,” Catherine said sternly.

Jamie grinned. “Yeah, did you see how I set out the organs and named them?”

“We so better have takeaway tonight,” Lizzie said, running out of the room.

“Can you, uh, take it out, please?” Catherine asked her son.

“Where am I gonna put it?”

“Down in the basement with your dad’s bugs.” Catherine smiled to herself. Gil would have a little surprise later.

–

An hour later, Cath was preparing dinner and she jumped as a pair of hands wound themselves around her waist, and a pair of lips kissed her neck.

“I’m hoping that’s my husband,” she murmured, leaning her head back slightly.

“It’s me,” he whispered into her ear. Turning her around, he kissed her deeply. “Hi.”

“Hi,” she smiled, leaning into his embrace. “Good to have you home.”

“Where are the kids?”

“Matt is in his room. Lizzy is on the phone. Jamie was down in the bug museum. And Max…” Catherine frowned. “Last time I saw Max he was playing with Barker. And that’s weird, because Barker usually barks when someone closes the front door.”

“Which can only mean one thing. He’s done something he shouldn’t have,” Grissom groaned.

“Max!” Catherine called.

–

Matthew stuffed the letter in his desk drawer with a sigh. He didn’t need to read the return address. He knew it came from Sara Sidle.

His parents had never lied to him about his mother, and he could remember most of it. How she had left him. How she didn’t explain why. His parents had always told him that she just wasn’t able to take care of him. But he knew the truth. She just didn’t care.

“CATHERINE!!!”

Matt grinned. His father had just discovered the dissected mouse.

–

“May I help you?”

“Is this still the Grissom home?”

“Yep. I’m Max.”

“Hi. Is, is Matthew here?”

Max nodded. “I’ll get him.” He hesitated for a moment. “We’re not allowed to let in people we don’t know.” Slamming the door in the woman’s face, he ran back inside. “MATT! Someone’s at the door for you!!!”

Matt appeared at the loungeroom door. “Is it a girl?”

Max wrinkled his nose. “Not the kind you’d wanna be dating if you ask my ‘pinion.”

Matthew went to the front door and narrowed his eyes. “Max, where is she?”

“Out there! I’m not supposed to let in people I don’t know!”

“So you slammed the door in her face.”

“Yeah. Of course.”

Matthew shook his head and opened the door. He didn’t say anything for a moment, just stared at the woman outside the door. “Hi,” he finally mumbled.

“Hi,” Sara Sidle smiled.

“Uh, sorry about my brother. He’s only nine.” He glanced into the house for a second. “Uh, do you want to come in?”

Sara nodded and Matthew led her into the living room.

“I’ll be right back,” Matthew said, going in search of Max.

–

“Where’s mom and dad?” Matt asked his younger brother.

“Dad is in the bug museum with Jamie and Mom is upstairs with Lizzy.” Max narrowed his eyes. “Why? Isn’t that lady supposed to be here?” He gasped. “Did you hire a hooker! Like in that movie? You’re so busted!” He scratched his head. “I would have thought she would be prettier though.”

Matt looked confused. “No I didn’t hire a hooker! Look, just make sure mom and dad stay occupied until I can get rid of her.”

“Is she a teacher? Did you get expelled?”

“No! Can you do that for me?”

Max folded his arms. “How much?”

Matt groaned and dug in the back of his shorts. He finally handed over a five dollar note. “Just make sure they’re occupied.”

Max folded the note and stuck it in his pocket. “Nice doing business with you.”

–

Sara looked around the living room while she waited for her son to come back. Pictures littered the wall and the mantelpiece, chronicling the lives of Grissom’s family. She noted some photos of Warrick, Nick and Greg, with members of what she assumed where their family. Walking over to the mantelpiece, she focused on one photo, that must have been taken recently. It was a casual shot, with Grissom and Catherine snuggled up together. Matthew sat beside them, with the little boy she had seen at the door in his lap. Lindsey, who had grown into a beautiful young woman, was holding a blonde girl, who she assumed was Elizabeth, in her arms. Another boy, who she hadn’t met, sat at Grissom’s feet.

The photo beside it made her heart ache. It was a picture solely of Catherine and Grissom laughing and horsing around together. She was about to continue her exploration, when Matthew arrived back.

“Sorry, I just had to check on Max.”

Sara nodded. “Lindsey in college?”

Matt smiled. “Yeah. She wants to be a doctor. Mom and Dad are really proud.”

Sara froze. She never realised that Matt would be calling Catherine mom.

There was a bang and Sara jumped.

“What the hell was that?”

“Nothing. Probably Jamie and Dad in the bug museum. Jamie keeps some of his experiments down there.”

Sara paled slightly, wondering what the kid was experimenting with.

“No offence or anything, but can I ask what you’re doing here?” Matt asked, sitting down.

“You’re my son.”

“I’ve been your son for fifteen years.”

Before Sara could reply, the livid form of Catherine Grissom stood in the doorway.

“What’s going on?” She glared at Sara. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Matt stood up. “Max!” he hissed, seeing his younger brother hiding behind their mother.

“I couldn’t help it! She said she’d cut off soccer practice AND TV if I didn’t tell her what was going on!”

“We’ll discuss bribing your brother later,” Catherine told Matthew. She turned to Max. “Go get your dad, okay?”

“Catherine,” Sara said, standing up, as Max raced out of the room. “I just came to see Matthew.”

“After no contact for ten years?” Catherine asked. “Dumping him?”

“Is that what you told him?” Sara cried.

“No!” Matt said, interrupting. “Mom and Dad have been nothing but…”

“I’m your mother!” Sara told him.

“Matt, take Max and go play or something, okay?” Grissom said, appearing behind his wife.

“But…”

“Now, Matthew.”

With a sigh, Matt took his younger brother by the hand and left the room.

“As I was trying to tell Catherine, before she jumped down my throat, I was just here to see Matthew,” Sara explained.

“Sara, I want you to leave. We can talk about you visiting Matt another time. Perhaps if you had let us know earlier that you were coming, we could have discussed this rationally. But for now, I’d like you to leave,” Grissom said, his outward calm exterior hiding his anger.

Sara looked confused. “But I did let you know. Well, I let Matthew know, anyway.”

Catherine froze. “What?”

“I wrote to him. I’ve been writing to him for awhile.”

Grissom sought Catherine’s hand, and squeezed it. “We’ll discuss it later, Sara. Right now, please leave.”

Sara grabbed her purse. “Tell Matthew I said goodbye. I’m staying in town. He’ll know where I am.”

As Grissom walked Sara to the door, Catherine slumped in one of the chairs. He came back in and looked at her.

“I think we need to talk to Matt,” he said.

–

Matt looked up as his parents entered his room. Seeing the looks on their faces, he sighed.

“Max, can you go and make sure that Jamie isn’t about to blow anything up again?” Gil asked him.

Max frowned. “Why am I always being shuffled place to place? Why don’t I get to hear people getting in trouble!?”

“Because you’re special,” Catherine answered, kissing him on the head. “Now scoot.”

With a grumble, Max left the room, shutting the door behind him.

“I didn’t know she was coming, I swear!” Matt said, after his brother had left. “I would have told you if I did.”

“Sara told us she’s been writing to you,” Gil prodded.

Matt dug around in his drawer and handed over some letters, all unopened. “I never opened them. I didn’t want to read them.”

Catherine sighed. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

Matt shrugged. “I don’t know. I just didn’t want to believe it. She’s not my mother. You are. You’re my family.”

Catherine hugged him close. “I know we are. But I don’t want you to hide things from us. We have to talk about this stuff.”

“Why? She’s not important.”

“She wants to talk to you,” Gil said, sitting down next to Catherine.

“Why?”

“I don’t know,” Gil admitted.

“Well I don’t want to talk to her. Or read her stupid letters!”

–

“Everyone’s swearing today,” Max commented, swinging his legs under the table.

“Like who?” Lizzy asked.

“Mom and Dad both said hell.”

Catherine rolled her eyes. “Max…”

“Does that mean we can say it?”

“No,” Gil said firmly.

“But…”

“Max…” Gil warned.

Max grumbled and stabbed his peas with his fork.

“What about hells bells?” Jamie asked. “I’ve heard people say that before.”

“No, not that either,” Catherine replied.

“Who was that lady?” Max finally asked.

Catherine and Grissom shared glances. Matthew was silent. Lizzie knew who Sara was, but Jamie and Max only knew that Catherine wasn’t Matt’s real mommy.

“She was someone we used to work with a long time ago,” Gil finally said.

“Did you like her?” Jamie inquired.

“She was a very good CSI,” Gil replied.

“That’s the grown-up way of saying they didn’t like her,” Max grinned.

“Max,” Gil said. “Behave yourself.”

“It’s true! I heard it from Bobby Livingstone!”

Jamie rolled his eyes. “Bobby Livingstone was the one that told you that our mom was hot, right?”

Max wrinkled his nose. “Yeah. Ew.”

“Thanks a lot,” Catherine grinned.

“I think you’re hot,” Gil told her, leaning across and kissing her gently.

“EWWW!!” Max cried.

–

Catherine took deep shuddering breaths as she snuggled into her husband’s arms. “It’s nice to know you still think I’m hot.”

Gil kissed her damp forehead. “I will always think you’re hot. Even when we’re old and creaky.”

Catherine giggled and playfully punched his shoulder. “Speak for yourself old man!”

“Old?” Gil rolled over and hovered above her, bending down and kissing her gently. “I’ll show you old!”

Her arms snaked around his neck, pulling him into a deeper kiss. “Let’s see if you can handle another round.”

–

Sara opened the door to her hotel room and raised an eyebrow. “Hi, Matthew.”

Matthew sighed. “Hi. I can’t stay too long. Mom and Dad don’t know I’m here.”

Sara opened the door a little wider, letting him come in. Matthew surveyed the room.

“This is where you left me.”

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“Think of how it was for me. I was five years old and you promised me you’d be right back. I was there for two days, and even after asking mom to come and get me, I still believed you’d come back for me.”

“I’m your mother.”

Matt sat down on the couch. “Stop saying that. You haven’t been my mother for ten years. I don’t even know if you were my mother when I was little.”

Sara closed her eyes. “That hurt.”

“Yeah, well so does you being here.” He looked up at her. “What do you want? Why are you back here? To ruin my parent’s marriage?” He folded his arms. “I know that you wanted him back. Well you can’t have him! He loves my mom and he always has! Even when he was with you!”

“Who told you that?” Sara asked bitterly. “Catherine? What would she know?”

“A whole lot more than you!” Matt said, getting up. “And no, she didn’t tell me! But I’m not stupid! I’ve read stuff about them and I know how much he has always loved her! And I’m her son! I’m hers!”

Sara gripped his arm. “No you’re not! You’re mine! I carried you for nine months and I raised you! You’re mine!”

Matt wriggled in her grasp, hot tears springing at his eyes. “No I’m not! Let me go!”

“You think Catherine really thinks of you as her own? Don’t you think it has to kill her everyday that I am your mother? Don’t you realize that her other kids are much more important, because they’re hers and Grissom’s?”

“It’s not true!”

“Yes it is, Matthew! That’s why I’m back here. Because I want you to get equal treatment. Because I want you back!”

“I don’t want you! I want my mom!”

“I’m your mom!”

“Let me go!” Matthew cried, finally escaping her grasp and racing out the door.

–

Catherine snuggled closer, her head lying in Gil’s lap, as they watched Harry Potter for the millionth time with Max, Jamie and Lizzie.

They heard the door slam, and Catherine jerked up.

“Matt? Is that you? Where have you been?”

“Nowhere!” came the angry reply, and they heard his door slam.

“Maybe he got expelled,” Jamie mused, munching on his popcorn.

“Or maybe he used magic when he wasn’t ’sposed to!” Max suggested, his eyes glued to the screen.

“You’re both so immature,” Lizzie said, rolling her eyes.

“Am not! You’re only watching this cause you like to drool over Oliver Wood!” Jamie told her.

Max giggled. “Yeah, I can see some drool now!”

“Behave yourselves,” Catherine warned. She turned to Grissom. “Should I go talk to him?”

Gil shook his head. “I will. Maybe it’s a man thing.”

Catherine grinned and pinched his butt as he stood up. “My studly man.”

Gil rolled his eyes and kissed her. “Save me a seat.”

“Always,” Catherine replied.

–

Gil knocked on his son’s door. “Matt?”

“Go away.”

Gil opened the door. “I can’t do that, Matt.”

“What do you want?”

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.”

“You’ve been out for a while.”

“Am I being grounded?”

“No, your mother and I just wondered if you were okay.”

“Does she care?”

Gil frowned. “Be very careful, Matt.”

“Why? I understand if she doesn’t care. I mean, I’m not her real kid or anything. Why shouldn’t she hate me? I’m Sara’s kid.”

“You’re treading on very thin ice, young man.”

“Everyone is so full of shit! I mean god! You knocked Sara up with me when you were in love with my mom! And then she dumps me here because she can’t handle me! What did you bribe Catherine with to keep me here? Huh?”

Gil’s face was thunderous. “I think you better stay up here until you can apologise. And don’t you dare say anything like this to your mother.” He stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

–

“What’s going on?” Catherine asked, walking onto the back porch, where Gil was taking deep breaths of the evening air.

He kissed her gently. “Nothing.”

She narrowed her eyes and took his face in her hands. “Don’t lie to me, Gil. We’ve been together too long for that.”

“I think Matthew has started his rebellious teenage years.”

Catherine raised an eyebrow. “What makes you think that?”

Grissom shrugged. “Call it father’s intuition.”

–

“Morning, Matt,” Catherine smiled, as her son came into the kitchen for breakfast.

Max and Lizzie were already there. Max dipped his cereal bowl and started slurping the milk.

“Max Grissom you stop that this instant!”

Max grinned sheepishly. “Yes mom.”

“Did you sleep well last night?” Catherine asked Matt, thinking perhaps he hadn’t heard her.

There was silence.

She frowned slightly, watching him sit down.

“Morning Max, Lizzie,” Matt said sullenly and poured himself a glass of milk.

Catherine was in shock. This was certainly a change from her fun loving fifteen year old that had lived in her house the day before. “Jamie!” she called her other son, trying to ignore the hurt inside her.

“I’m here! I’m here!” Jamie said, sliding into a seat.

“I’m here too,” Gil murmured softly, his arms snaking around Catherine’s waist.

“So I can tell,” Catherine whispered back. “And just where have you been?”

“All by my lonesome in the shower,” he whispered in her ear.

Catherine smirked. “Perhaps we can remedy that later.”

“Perhaps,” Gil winked, sitting at the table.

“Hey Dad, can I have $29.99?” Max asked.

Gil narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“I wanna buy a rocket launcher.”

Catherine looked at Gil. Gil looked at Catherine.

“Max, I think rocket launchers cost more than $29.99,” Jamie commented.

“Nuh-uh. There’s some selling on ebay.”

Catherine raised an eyebrow. “Since when have you been surfing ebay?”

Max shrugged. “Everyone does it.”

“I’m finished,” Matt said, pushing his plate away. “Gotta go get ready for school.”

Catherine and Gil shared a worried look as Matt disappeared upstairs.

“Who’d want to get ready for school?” Max muttered.

“I think you would,” Catherine said, reminding him.

Max smiled at her sheepishly. “Absolutely. Cause I love school. Best place in the world. Gonna go get ready for it now…” He slid off his chair and raced upstairs.

When the two other kids had disappeared, Catherine sat down beside her husband. “Is this more of Matt’s teenage rebellion years?”

Gil sighed. “I don’t know. When he came home yesterday, he was in a very bad mood, saying all kinds of things he shouldn’t have.”

“Such as?”

“Nothing important.”

Catherine narrowed her eyes. “I know when you’re keeping something from me, Gil. This would be one of those times.”

Gil groaned. “You know me too well. It’s annoying.”

Catherine leaned over and kissed him, her lips lingering on his. “Really?”

“You’re trouble, you know that?”

“Mhm.” Catherine sipped her coffee. “So tell me everything. And I mean everything.”

“He got some ridiculous idea from somewhere that you hate him and I bribed you to keep him and that you love him less than the other kids.”

Catherine hmphed. “Well that’s just ridiculous.”

“That’s what I told him. He wasn’t really listening though.”

“Well where did he get that idea from?”

“He wouldn’t tell me.”

With another of her hmphs, Catherine stood up. “We’ll see about that.”

–

“It’s open,” came Matthew’s grumble.

Catherine walked in. “Who gave you this ridiculous idea that I hate you, that Gil bribed me to keep you and that I love you less than the other kids? Because I’m going to kill them.”

“Isn’t it true?”

“I can’t believe you just asked me that.”

Matthew sat on his bed. “It’s a simple question.”

“It’s a stupid question.”

“So now I’m stupid?”

Catherine frowned at him. “You know I meant nothing of the sort. Who told you all this nonsense?”

“Sara,” Matthew finally mumbled.

Catherine’s eyes widened and then her face turned into one of fury, one that Matthew knew to be afraid of…very afraid of.

“I’ll kill her.”

She stalked downstairs muttering things to herself, and grabbed her coat off the hook. Before she could leave the house, Gil put his hand on her shoulder.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to murder Sara Sidle.”

“Huh?”

Catherine turned to her husband. To his surprise, tears were streaming down her face. “She was the one that told Matthew I hated him! She told him that I loved him less than the other kids and that you had to bribe me to keep him! I love that child more than anything! She has no right in saying any of that, particularly after what she did to that kid!”

“Mom?” came Max’s little voice.

“Go upstairs, Max,” Gil ordered him.

*************************

Max stomped into Matthew’s room and pushed him off the bed.

“HEY!” Matt cried. “What was that for?”

“Because you’re a jerk!” Max yelled back.

“What did I do to you?”

“Mom’s crying downstairs! You made her cry!”

“So you came up here and pushed me off my bed?”

“You deserve it! I hate you! You’re a rotten brother!”

–

Lizzie clattered downstairs. “Mom! Dad!”

“Not now, Elizabeth,” Gil said sternly, looking up from where and Cath were sitting on the couch.

“Max and Matthew are fighting!”

The two were upstairs in an instant, Gil grabbing hold of Matthew while Catherine got Max.

“What the hell is going on in here?” Gil growled.

“He started it,” Matt said, pointing at Max.

“You’re a jerk and a rotten brother!” Max yelled.

“Okay, how about you come with me?” Catherine said to Max.

–

Matthew shrugged his shoulders out of Gil’s grip. “He just went psycho on me!”

“That’s no excuse to fight with him. He’s smaller and younger than you. And you both know better than to fight,” Gil reprimanded.

“He started it!”

–

“What’s gotten into you?” Catherine asked her son. “You know you’re not allowed to fight with anyone, let alone your own brother!”

“He’s a rotten brother and a jerk!”

“Why on earth would you say that?”

“Because he made you cry!”

Catherine sighed and sat on the bed, pulling Max into his arms. “Max, you can’t just beat up your brother because he made me cry. I cry at a lot of things. I cry at movies sometimes. Are you going to beat up the makers of the movie?”

“Can I?”

“No, you can not.” She stroked his hair. “Max, honey, you can’t beat up your brother. Not even if he makes me cry. Understand?”

Max shrugged. “I guess so.”

“Good. Now you and I are going into Matt’s room, and the two of you are going to shake hands and make up.” Catherine stared her son down. “No arguments.”

–<%2

“Yes.”

“How could you possibly think I love you any less than your brothers and sisters?”

“Because they AREN’T my brothers and sisters,” Matt said. “That’s the whole point.”

“Your father and I have always treated you all like equals, and they have been brought up as your brothers and sisters! I don’t understand how you could listen to this idiotic drivel that tells you otherwise! Besides, if you remember, Lindsey isn’t Gil’s real daughter, but he certainly thinks of her that way. Just how I think of you as my son.”

Matt looked thoroughly subdued. “So, you don’t love them more than me?”

“Trust me, I have plenty of love to go around,” Catherine assured him. “So no more of this ridiculous stuff, okay?”

Matt nodded. “Okay.”

Catherine smiled at him. “So, how about giving your mom a hug? I mean, since no one is around to see?”

Matt grinned and hugged her. “Sorry, Mom.”

“Nothing to be sorry about. Just come to me first next time, okay?”

Matt nodded. “Sure.”

–

Catherine and Grissom were snuggled up together on the couch, watching a movie when a smiling Max appeared in front of their TV screen.

“Max…” Gil growled, pausing the DVD. “Do we pop up in front of the movie screen when you’re watching a movie.”

Max nodded. “Yeah, and then you tell me to clean my room or do my homework.”

“But we always say ‘Excuse me,’” Catherine pointed out.

“Can I ask a question?”

“No, we will not tie you to the car and drag you and your bike down the I-95,” Gil replied.

“No, wasn’t that one,” Max said. “Although that offer is still open.”

“And no, you can’t dive from the roof into the pool,” Catherine told him.

“Nope, wasn’t that either, but I’m still open to debate.”

“Max…” Catherine warned.

“Okay, okay. I want you guys to come to school and talk about your job and then take the entire class to the CSI headquarters!”

Catherine and Gil glanced at each other, then back at their son.

“You want us to what?”

“Jenny’s mom is an actress and she’s taking the whole class to a film set! And then we’re going to a zoo and a fire station! But I reckon my parent’s jobs are the coolest!”

“Cool,” Gil smiled.

Catherine rolled her eyes. “And your teacher is really okay with this?”

Max grinned even wider. “She’s ecstatic!”

Catherine and Gil exchanged glances.

“I’ll ring her tomorrow,” Gil said.

–

Matt walked out of the school with his friends and frowned when he saw Sara standing to one side. He said goodbye to his friends and jogged over to her.

“Are you stalking me now?”

Sara sighed. “I just wanted to talk to you without getting you in trouble.”

Matt switched his backpack to the other shoulder. “I wasn’t in trouble. And you were out of line. You shouldn’t have said those things about mom. It wasn’t fair.”

“I want to see you more, Matthew. I want to get to know you.”

“Why? And don’t say because I’m your son.”

“Because I just do.”

Matt rolled his eyes. “Great excuse.”

Sara gripped his arm hard. “Hey. No matter what you may think of me, I’m still your mother and you’ve got no right to talk to me like that.”

“Let me go,” Matt said, jerking his arm around.

Sara released her grip. “Don’t make me go to the authorities.”

Matt raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

–

Max skipped around the room. “Mom and Dad are taking my class to the morgue!” he cried.

“We are NOT going to the morgue,” Catherine said firmly. “We’re going to CSI headquarters.”

“We’re going to the morgue,” Max whispered into Jamie’s ears.

Jamie rolled his eyes.

–

“First you have to come to class and talk about your jobs,” Max explained. “Then we all get to go to CSI.” He wrinkled his nose. “And you’re not allowed to say anything embarrassing, like you did when you went to Lizzy’s class.”

“That’s not fair,” Grissom grumbled. “How was I supposed to know she had a crush on that kid? Besides, he was a horrible snotty little boy.”

“Gil,” Catherine chastised.

“He was a hunk,” Lizzy growled. “And you totally ruined any chance I had with him.”

“You can’t have a boyfriend. Wait till you’re forty and then we’ll review,” Gil replied.

Lizzy let out an exasperated noise and rolling her eyes, headed upstairs.

“Anyway, you understand?” Max asked.

“Sure, we understand,” Catherine smiled.

“Great! This is gonna be so much fun!” Max cried, racing upstairs.

Jamie looked at his parents. “Do you have any idea what you guys are getting yourselves into?”

“Huh?”

“Those kids in his class. They’re monsters. Insane. Think Max and then think of thirty Max’s.”

Catherine and Grissom exchanged glances.

–

“You’ve got a good case, Ms Sidle,” the lawyer murmured. “As the biological mother and being in a financially stable position. How many children did you say Dr and Mrs. Grissom have?”

“Five, including Matt. But one isn’t living at home.”

“Good. Very good.”

–

“I gotta introduce you. So you guys just sit up the back until the teacher calls, okay?” Max asked.

Catherine and Gil nodded solemnly.

They went up the back and Catherine giggled as she watched Gil trying to sit down on a fourth-grader’s chair. He glared at her for a moment then contented himself with leaning against the wall beside her.

“Alright everyone, today Max has brought his mom and dad along to talk to us,” Mrs. Grendell explained. “Max?”

Max walked proudly up to the front of the class. “My dad’s name is Dr. Gilbert Grissom and my mom is Mrs. Catherine Grissom.” He pointed out his parents. “They work as criminal investigators. My dad works in eto…entom…he works with bugs and sometimes he uses them to tell how long a person has been dead.”

There were the usual sounds of disgust from the girls, and the ‘cool’! from the boys.

“My mom looks at blood and she can tell you what happened from the way it spatters all over the room!” Max grinned, really getting into the “grossness” of his parent’s jobs.

Once again, a disgusted noise from the girls and a “cool!” from the boys.

“Mom and Dad brought their kits with them today to show us all the cool stuff in them and how they use the stuff,” Max said, beckoning his parents up.

Gil felt slightly uncomfortable as he stood in front of the thirty nine-year-olds, and when a kid stuck his hand up, Gil glanced at Catherine for help.

“Yes?” Catherine asked, totally calm.

“Do you get to look at dead people?”

“Yes,” Catherine answered.

Another hand shot up. Catherine encouraged Gil to answer.

“Yes,” Gil said, terrified.

“Did you bring a dead body with you?”

“No,” Gil replied firmly.

Up went another hand.

“Yes?” Catherine said.

“Did you bring parts of a dead body with you? Like a head or a foot?”

“No,” Catherine told him.

–

“I thought one Max was tiring,” Catherine said, leaning against her husband as they walked through the door. “Turns out they’re all like Max!”

“I can’t believe that snotty little kid got his hand stuck in the fingerprint powder jar,” Gil grumbled.

Catherine giggled. “And now his hand is bright green.”

Gil grinned. “That was pretty funny, wasn’t it?”

Catherine narrowed her eyes. “So much so, I’d almost think you did it on purpose.”

Gil feigned shock. “Catherine Grissom! I can’t believe you’d think such a terrible thing about your husband!”

“Sure, Gil. I believe you.” Catherine leant up and kissed his cheek. “You’re just a bundle of trouble at heart.”

“How on earth could you think that?” Gil asked, surprised.

“Because I’m married to you,” she replied. “I know all your tricks, Mister.”

“All of them?” Gil asked, raising an eyebrow.

Catherine smiled. “What…you think you have some tricks you haven’t shown me yet?”

Catherine squealed with delight and surprise as Gil picked her up in his arms. He put her over his shoulder.

“Gil Grissom! You’re going to hurt your back!” she protested. Her hands swatted at his butt. “Put me down this instant!”

“No,” Gil replied stubbornly, taking her upstairs. He tossed her on the bed with an “oof” from Catherine.

She scrambled up the bed and glared at him. “What on earth was that about?”

He grinned at her and crawled up the bed. “You said to show you I had some tricks you hadn’t seen yet.” Gil bent down and kissed her gently.

“Kids,” Catherine moaned, as the kisses deepened.

“Locked door,” Gil replied. “And it’s not as if they don’t know where they came from.”

Catherine giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

–

Lizzie raised an eyebrow as Jamie and Max sneaked past her.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Max said, giving her a big smile.

“When you smile at me for any reason, something’s wrong,” Lizzie told him.

“Not true! I smiled at you on your birthday!” Max grinned.

“Yeah, right after you gave me a frog.”

“Well, I thought you’d want a prince,” he reasoned.

“What are you up to?” Lizzie asked, ignoring Max and looking at Jamie.

“Nothing,” Jamie answered.

“If you blow up Mom’s CSI kit again, she’s gonna kill you,” Lizzie reminded him. “Those things aren’t cheap.”

Jamie groaned. “For the last time, it was an accident!”

“You used her kit as a base for a piñata that exploded with a time device. What did you THINK was gonna happen?” She frowned. “What are you guys doing now?

“Nothing!” Max cried. “Why does someone always think we’re up to something?”

“Because you always are,” Lizzie said dryly.

“That’s stereotyping,” Jamie said.

“Yeah! What he said!” Max echoed.

Lizzie frowned. “I’m watching you.”

–

Catherine stepped out of bathroom, calling to her husband that she was out. She hummed to herself as she wandered downstairs, absently stepping over various items.

“Max, pick up your soccer gear and throw the dirty laundry down the chute,” she murmured, passing his room. “Jamie, do not leave experiments lying around my house, particularly ones that include dead bugs.” Catherine glanced into Lizzie’s room, where the girl was reading a magazine and listening to her discman. “Lizzie?”

When no answer came, Catherine rolled her eyes and walked in, lifting up one of the earphones. “Lizzie?”

Lizzie almost fell off the bed in surprise. “Gee, Mom! You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that!”

Catherine rolled her eyes. “Clothes don’t belong in hallways, Lizzie. Either put them away or throw them down the chute. Capise?”

“Yes, mom,” Lizzie grumbled.

Catherine smiled to herself and headed down the hall to Matthew’s room. She looked in, seeing him lying on the bed, reading a book., headphones on.

“Hey.”

Matt looked up and grinned. “Hey mom. What did I leave in the hallway?”

“Shoes, clothes,” Catherine listed off. She smiled. “Let me guess, Metallica?”

Matt grinned. “They’re cool.”

Catherine grinned back. “Sure, sure.” She was just about to leave when she noticed a bruise forming on Matt’s arm. She frowned. “Matt? What’s that?”

Matt glanced at where she was looking and flushed. “Nothing.”

“Do not lie to me,” Catherine growled. “Where did it come from? Max? A fight at school?”

Matt glanced at his mother, and realised she was furious. “Sara,” he mumbled.

It may have been quiet, but Catherine’s sharp ears still heard it. “What?” she cried.

“She met me after school and got all mad.” Matt sat up on the bed. “I’m sorry mom, I just didn’t want to upset you.”

Catherine walked over and hugged him to her. “I’m not mad at you, I’m not. I am however, going to kill Sara Sidle.”

Before she could leave the room the doorbell rang and Catherine let out a frustrated growl, stalking her way downstairs.

Matt, knowing that serious damage was about to be done, went in search of his father.

–

Grissom raced downstairs looking for Catherine. He finally found her, sitting silently in the lounge room, a piece of paper in her hands. She was staring blankly into space and didn’t answer him when he called her name.

He sat beside her and placed a hand on her arm. “Cath?”

Catherine jerked, as if she had just noticed he was there. “Huh? What?”

“Cath, what’s the matter? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

She silently handed over the piece of paper and Gil ran his eyes over it.

“Sara subpoenaed us?”

“She wants Matt,” Catherine stated simply. “She dumped him, bruised him, and now she thinks she’s entitled to our son.” She turned to her husband, tears in her eyes. “She can’t have him, Gil!”

“Shhh,” Gil said, soothing her as he took her in his arms and rocked her. “Shh, baby. Everything’s going to be okay.” His eyes took one more worried glance at the subpoena, then concentrated on comforting his wife.

–

AN: Yes, Lindsey Dole is back ;) I stole her again :D

“You have a good chance of winning this.”

Catherine arched an eyebrow. “I don’t want a good chance. I want to know we’re going to win this. I will not lose Matthew to her!”

“Catherine…” Lindsey Dole, their attorney tried to soothe her. “You have a good chance. It would be unethical of me to say anything different. Sometimes things happen…”

“Things can’t happen.”

Lindsey looked at Grissom for help.

“Cath,” Gil said, putting his hand on her arm. “We have to be realistic. We don’t know what Sara is up to.”

“Of course we know what she is up to!” Catherine cried. “She’s trying to take Matthew away from us! From his family!”

“We need to be as prepared as possible,” Lindsey said, trying to move on. “This is going to go to court.”

Gil widened his eyes. “Court? Why can’t we just settle it outside court?”

“Because Sara’s a bitch,” Catherine growled.

–

Gil glanced at Catherine, who was still pacing the room. “Cath…”

“They’re due home from school any minute, Lindsey’s not here and I still don’t know what to say.”

“Fifteen minutes to be precise, our beautiful daughter will be home from college any minute, and I don’t think there’s a prescribed way to do this.”

Catherine stared out the window. “I’m not going to cry.”

Gil stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. “I know.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “But nobody would think any less of you if you did.”

Catherine turned around in his arms. “He’s my son, Gil. I know I didn’t carry him inside me for nine months, but he’s still my son.”

“I know. And we’ll fight for him, Cath.” Gil kissed her gently. “We will.”

Catherine turned in his arms again so she looked out the window. “It’s going to be hard to tell Jamie and Max. Especially Max.”

“We’ll help them deal with it.” He held her tight. “It’s all going to be okay, Cath. I promise.”

“I love you,” she murmured, leaning back against him.

He smiled and kissed her cheek. “I love you too, Cath. Very, very much.”

“Here’s the hurricane,” Catherine said, pointing out that Max was racing up the drive.

“I’m HOME!!!” came Max’s cry, as he barreled into the house. He let his bag fall on the floor where he stood and toed off his school shoes as he raced into the kitchen in his socks. “I’m STARVING!”

Gil grinned at Catherine. “He’s so precious.”

Catherine rolled her eyes. “Max! Bag, shoes!”

“But mom! I’m starving!” Max pretended to stagger into the room. “I’m gonna die of starvation!”

“Max,” Gil warned.

Max rolled his eyes. “Fine, fine.”

“I’ll get you something to eat while you put them away, alright?” Catherine said, her hand on his shoulder.

“Okay!” Max said. He was about to go get his things when Catherine swept him into an embrace. “Mom! Need to breathe.”

“I love you,” Catherine said, holding him tight. “Don’t ever forget that.”

“Sheesh, mom, I know that,” Max replied. “Can I have food now?”

Catherine kissed him on the cheek. “Go put your stuff away and I’ll get it.” When the little boy had gone upstairs, she saw Gil’s amused grin. “What?”

“Nothing. Are you going to do that for all our children as they come home?”

Catherine bit her lip and went into the kitchen. “Please don’t tease me,” she said, opening the fridge.

“Cath,” Gil said, walking behind her and running his hands up her arms. He berated himself for not realizing how upset she was. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease you.”

“It’s okay,” Catherine replied, pulling out some things and setting them on the kitchen island. “I’m a little weird at the moment.”

“You’re not weird,” Gil said, taking her arm and bringing her to him. “You’re emotional, which is perfectly understandable.”

“I hate being like this,” Catherine growled. “And I hate Sara for doing this to us.”

“Cath…” Gil said, cupping her face, “we’ve gotten through Sara before. And we’ll do it again.”

“Love you, bugman,” Catherine smiled.

“Love you back,” Gil replied, pressing his lips against hers.

Catherine moaned slightly, deepening the kiss and pulling him to her.

“EWWW! Guys! Not around food!” was Max’s disgusted cry, as he returned to the kitchen.

Catherine and Gil pulled apart, but Gil kept Catherine’s hand in his.

“How was school?” Catherine asked, keeping her hand in Gil’s.

“It was okay. Lunch was great! These kids got into a big fight!”

“It wasn’t you was it?”

Max rolled his eyes. “No, mom.”

“Don’t roll your eyes at your mother,” Gil replied, sitting down on a stool. He took Catherine in his arms. “Did you see your brothers or sister on the way home?”

Max shook his head. “Nope.”

“Home!” came Jamie’s voice. “Just gotta go down to the museum.”

“Halt!” Catherine said, walking into the hallway. “Why?”

“No reason,” Jamie replied, holding his backpack behind his back.

“James…”

Jamie let out a groan. “There’s a frog in there, okay?”

Catherine arched an eyebrow. “Where did you get this frog?”

“I found it.”

“Found it where?”

“A place.”

“A place where?”

“An educational place?”

“James…”

“It got let out after school so I went to get it.”

Catherine sighed. “Gil…”

“I heard. Come on Jamie, let’s go talk about this frog.”

Catherine shuddered, watching the two boys go down to the bug museum.

“Hey, mom,” Lindsey said, walking in.

Catherine smiled and hugged her daughter tight. “Lindsey. It’s so good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too.” Lindsey Willows hugged her mother tightly. “Are you okay?”

Catherine cupped her daughter’s cheek. “You’ve got a built in empathy tracker now you’re a med student, huh?”

“Mother,” Lindsey groaned.

Catherine chuckled. “Same old Lindsey.”

“I’m not that far away you know.”

“I know. But you’ll always be my little girl.”

Lindsey rolled her eyes.

“LINDSEY!” Lizzie cried, racing in and throwing her arms around the girl. “Another woman!”

Catherine arched an eyebrow. “I’m a woman.”

“Yeah, but you’re my mom,” Lizzie replied, as if that were obvious.

“Of course,” Catherine replied, shrugging her shoulders.

“Sorry I’m late,” Matt said, walking into the house. He grinned and hugged Lindsey. “Hey.”

“Hey there, little guy.”

“Who are you calling little!” Matt protested.

Catherine looked at Matt for a minute. “Any problems?”

Matt shook his head.

Lizzie looked confused. “What kind of problems?”

“LINDSEY!” Max cried, racing downstairs. He missed a step and was about to fall when Matt caught him.

“Are you alright?” Catherine asked, her eyes wide as she lifted Max into her arms.

“I’m fine, mom,” Max said, squirming.

“You gotta be more careful,” Matt smiled, ruffling his younger brother’s hair.

“We’re back,” Gil said, coming upstairs with Jamie. He smiled when he saw Lindsey and hugged her. “Welcome home.”

Lindsey hugged him back. “Dad, I’m just at college. It’s not like I’ve been gone for years.”

“It feels like it sometimes,” Gil told her.

“So, what caused the red alert?” Lindsey asked.

Catherine looked alarmed. “What red alert? What do you mean?”

“Mom, it’s the middle of a school week. You’ve never called me in the middle of a school week to come straight home…except when Max had his appendix out.”

Catherine smiled slightly and stroked her daughter’s hair. “You know me too well.”

Gil took Catherine’s hand and led her into the living room. When she went to sit on another chair, he tugged her firmly into his lap.

“Do you remember the lady that came to the house a while ago?” Grissom asked. “The one with the brown hair that used to work with your mom and I?”

Max nodded. “Yeah. You didn’t like her.”

Gil sighed. “Max.”

“Well you didn’t!”

“You remember how I told you that I wasn’t Matt’s biological mom?” Catherine said, her heart aching as she said it.

“But he’s still our brother,” Jamie said firmly.

Gil nodded. “Yes he is. And Catherine is still his mother.”

Lindsey looked at her parents. “Sara’s back?”

Catherine looked down at her hands, ignoring the pain slicing through her.

“She wants Matt to go and live with her,” Gil finally said.

“He can’t,” Max said, confused. “Matt lives with us. He’s my brother!”

“Sometimes mommies and daddies fight over where their kids live,” Catherine tried to explain.

“You don’t,” Max answered matter-of-factly. “We all live here.”

Catherine reached out and touched his face. “It’s not that simple, Max.”

“Sara’s suing for custody?” Lindsey murmured.

“She’s taking us to court, yes,” Gil nodded.

“Well, I’m not going!” Matt said, standing up. “She can’t make me! And neither can some stupid judge who doesn’t know anything.”

“Matt,” Catherine said, standing up. “We’re going to fight for you. You’re our son and we’ll do everything we can.”

“This isn’t fair!” Max cried. “She can’t have him! He’s my brother!” Max disappeared from the room, running as far as his little legs could take him.

Jamie gave his parents a sad look, and followed Max out.

Matt just glared at them and went upstairs. They heard the door of his room slam a few minutes later.

Lizzie sat there for a moment, her eyes wide in shock. Eventually she stood up and went upstairs to her own room.

“I’ll go check on them,” Lindsey suggested. “You guys need some time alone.”

Gil nodded gratefully as she went out of the room. He turned to his wife, who stood in the middle of the floor. He’d never seen her looking so pale and small.

“Cath,” he murmured, going over to her.

“That went well, didn’t it?” she smiled grimly, turning away from him. “Our family is going to fall apart.”

“Everything’s going to be okay, Cath.”

“Don’t be so naïve. The cracks are starting now. She’s doing it all over again.”

“She didn’t win last time.”

“That just makes her more determined.”

Gil ran his hands up her arms and placed them on her shoulders. He kneaded the tense muscles for a few moments then turned her to face him. “She’s not going to win, Cath. I won’t let her.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Gil tilted her face so she looked him in the eye. “I haven’t yet.” He kissed her gently. “Trust me.”

Catherine smiled at him. “Always.”

—-

Thanks to everyone who voted for Back In Vegas in the C/G Little Moments Awards. I was honored to get a place :) I’m glad you’re enjoying the fic!

Catherine busied herself making dinner for her tribe. Gil had disappeared to check on the kids.

She was so lucky to have him in her life. She thanked her lucky stars every day for him.

After the children had gone upstairs, he had just held her in his arms. She had needed that. She had needed him.

Still did.

“Can I help? Gil asked, coming into the kitchen.

Catherine smiled at him. “Sure. I always love your help.”

Gil grinned and sidled up beside her, his lips pressing against hers. “Is that because I have my own special brand of help?”

Catherine looked thoughtful. “That might have something to do with it.”

Gil pushed her hair from her eyes. “You doing okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Earlier…you holding me…it helped.”

“I’m glad to help anytime,” Gil assured her. “We’ll get through this, Cath. I promise.”

“Geez, you guys still make out?” Lindsey said, walking in and wrinkling her nose.

“Your mother and I have a very active sex life,” Gil teased.

“EWWWW! Dad!” Lindsey groaned.

“Well where do you think your brothers and sister came from?” Catherine asked, enjoying the teasing.

“I prefer to think about the stork,” Lindsey replied.

“You’re a medical student,” Gil said, confused.

“Dad, trust me, no kid wants to think about their parents having sex.”

“EWWW!” Lizzie said, covering her ears. “I heard that.”

Gil and Catherine shared a look.

“See,” Lindsey replied.

“Where are the boys?” Catherine asked, changing the subject.

“Jamie’s in the bug museum. And Max and Matt are sulking in Matt’s room,” Lizzie answered.

“You take Jamie,” Catherine told her husband. “I’ll talk to the other two.”

Gil took her hand. “Cath…”

“I’m fine,” she assured him, kissing his hand. “I’m fine.”

–

Catherine stood at the door of Matthew’s room. She could hear Max and Matthew talking to each other inside.

She pushed open the door slightly, looking at her boys. “Matt? Max?”

The two boys looked up from where they were sprawled on the bed together.

“What?” Matt asked, anger still evident in his voice.

“I…I just wanted to see how you two were doing,” she murmured, leaning in the doorway. She wasn’t game to go into the room. Not yet.

“How can you let this happen?” Max asked. “It’s not fair!”

Catherine felt her heart shatter into little pieces. “I don’t want this to happen anymore than you do.”

“Then why is it?”

“I can’t stop everything. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

“They can’t make me go and live with her,” Matt growled. “I’ll run away if they do and no one will ever find me!”

“I’ll go with you!” Max piped up.

“That’s not the answer,” Catherine said. “I promise I’m going to do everything I can to keep you with us, Matt. You’re my son, and I won’t let you go without a fight.”

“Then why is this happening?”

Catherine sighed. “I don’t know, Matt. I wish I did. I wish there was something I could do to stop it. I wish there was something I could do to make it all go away. But I can’t. There’s nothing I can do. But I promise you, that I will fight. Because no one tries to tear up my family without me doing something about it.” She went over to her boys and sat on the bed, staring them in the eyes. “I promise.”

Max scrambled over the bed and into his mother’s arms, burying his head against her body. Catherine held him close, stroking his hair with her hand. She watched Matt for a moment, waiting for his reaction.

“I’ll fight too, mom,” Matt finally said. “She can’t take me without a fight.”

“We all will!” Max finally piped up. He formed fists with his hands. “No one messes with my brother!”
–

Gil stood in the doorway of the basement, watching his son. Jamie was sitting on a stool, his eyes staring into the little home that they had created for Kermit, his new frog.

“Jamie?”

The boy looked up and smiled slightly. “Hey, Dad. I was just checking on Kermit.”

“Do you think he likes living here?”

Jamie pretended to listen to the frog. “He says it’s not too bad.”

Gil grinned. “My son the frog-whisperer.” He walked across and sat on the stool next to his son. “Are you okay?”

“Matt is going away.”

“No, he’s not,” Gil said firmly. “Your mom and I are going to do everything we can to keep him here.”

“Okay, so he might be going away.”

“I hope not.”

“Mom isn’t Matt’s real mom.”

“She’s not his biological mom, no.”

“That lady, Sara, is?”

“That’s right.”

“And you’re Matt’s real dad?”

Gil nodded.

Jamie looked up at his father. “Were you and Sara married?”

Gil bit his lip. He hadn’t expected a question like this. “No.”

Jamie looked back at Kermit. “Max thought that Sara was a hooker like in that movie.”

Gil resisted the urge to ask which movie. “No, she’s not.”

“Do you love Sara?”

“No.”

“But you love mom, right?”

Gil nodded. “I love your mother more than anything in the world. She’s very, very special to me.” He smiled. “To prove it, we have you kids.”

Jamie looked perplexed. “But Dad, if that theory was true, then you did love Sara.”

Gil was torn. Sometimes he wished Jamie hadn’t been so smart. “Jamie…it’s very complicated. Sometimes things happen in life that we don’t expect. I wouldn’t regret having Matthew for anything in the world. But I don’t love Sara. I love your mom.”

Jamie finally nodded. “Okay.” He looked at his father. “I think I’m going to go upstairs and see Matt now.”

Gil nodded. “Okay. Anytime you need to talk, your mom and I are here for you.”

Jamie smiled. “Thanks, Dad.” He hugged Gil and went upstairs.

–

Gil walked upstairs from the bug museum. He checked in the kitchen, where he saw Lindsey and Lizzie working on dinner. He continued upstairs, finding the three boys in Matt’s room, playing video games. Finally, he entered his bedroom, where he found Catherine rooting through the wardrobe.

He walked up behind her and took her in his arms.

“Gil…wha…?”

Before she could say anything, Gil pressed her against the wall and kissed her deeply. Catherine moaned and moved against him, giving back as good as she got.

“I love you,” Gil said, when they finally broke apart. “I love you so much.”

Catherine’s eyes widened, then softened. “I love you too. Just as much.” She kissed him gently on the cheek. “Are you okay?”

“Jamie and I had a talk about love and you and Sara.”

Catherine looked concerned. “Tell me more.”

“Basically, our conclusion is that I love you, and as proof we have our beautiful children. And I don’t love Sara, and I don’t regret having Matt. Then I said it was complicated.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Catherine muttered.

Gil caressed her cheek. “How are the boys?”

Catherine nodded. “They’re going to be fine.”

“Lindsey and Lizzie are making dinner.”

“I should go help them,” Catherine said. When she tried to move from Gil’s arms, she found herself pinned there. “Honey, you have to actually let me go so I can go help them.”

“They can do it themselves. I just want to hold you for awhile.”

Catherine looked at him curiously. “Gil?”

“If nothing else, this is going to teach me how precious my family is.” He looked down at her. “How precious you are to me.”

Catherine smiled softly at him, her fingers toying with the curls at the back of his head. “I know that. You tell me everyday.”

“Just never forget it.”

She hugged him, content in his arms. “I won’t.”

“We’re going to get through this, Cath.”

Catherine nodded. “I know.” She kissed him softly. “I know.”

Gil bent down and kissed her again. “I love you Catherine Grissom.”

“I love you, Gil Grissom.” She leaned up. “Forever.”

–

“No,” Catherine said, folding her arms.

Lindsey Dole sighed. “Catherine…”

“I said no,” Catherine replied.

“Catherine, if we put your kids on the stand, we might have a better chance!”

“Sara’s side has already asked for Lindsey. Matt has to go there regardless. What is the point of dragging the other kids into this?”

“They’re already in this,” Lindsey reminded her.

“They don’t have to get on the stand,” Catherine said. “Nor do they have to be at the court at all!”

“We want the judge to understand how much a part of your family Matt is,” Lindsey reminded her. “The best way for me to do that is to give examples.”

“Can’t Gil and I do that?”

“Catherine…”

Catherine stood up and went to the window, looking outside. “I just want to protect them.”

Gil stood up and went behind his wife, his hands resting on her shoulders. “Cath, what’s best for them is our family. And our family includes Matt. Besides, can’t you just see Max begging to get to go to court?”

Catherine smiled, in spite of the seriousness of the situation. “That’s true.”

“So they can testify?” Lindsey asked.

Gil looked at Catherine, who sighed.

“They can testify.”

–

“I know EXACTLY what I’m gonna say!” Max cried, sticking his fork out and almost poking out Jamie’s eyeball.

“HEY! Watch it!” Jamie cried.

“Max, don’t point your fork at people,” Catherine chastised him.

“Sorry. But don’t you wanna hear what I’m gonna say?”

“No,” Lizzie said quite pointedly.

Max stuck his tongue out at her.

“MOM!” Lizzie cried.

“Max,” Catherine warned.

“Doesn’t ANYONE want to hear?” Max pleaded.

“Tell me, Max,” Gil finally said.

“That she’s an evil lady who I hate to bits and I hope she takes a long walk off a short pier,” Max said triumphantly. “That’s the censored version.”

Catherine’s eyes almost popped out of her head, as did Gil’s.

“You most definitely won’t be saying that in front of a judge,” Catherine told him.

“Not even the censored version?”

“Not even,” Gil told him.

Max went back to his dinner for a moment. Then he brightened up. “Hey! Wanna hear the UNCENSORED version?”

“No!” Cath and Gil cried together.

Max pouted. “You’ve got no sense of adventure!”

–

Catherine smoothed down her skirt. “This is too fast.”

Gil fought with his tie. “The quicker we get this trial over with, the quicker we’ll have Matt and everything will be back to normal.”

Catherine walked over and started fixing his tie. “Or the quicker we’ll lose him and everything will change.”

“You remember when you found out you were pregnant with Max?” Gil asked, his hands circling her waist.

Catherine nodded. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it, because we hadn’t discussed having more children.”

“Can you imagine not having Max?” Gil asked her. “Apart from the house being a lot quieter.”

Catherine hit his arm for the comment, before finally smiling softly. “No, I can’t imagine not having Max.”

“Things tend to turn out just right for us, don’t they?” Gil pressed.

Catherine looked up at him, finally comprehending his statement. “But what if we’ve had our run of good luck?”

Gil bent down and his lips brushed over hers in a soft kiss. “Could never happen.”

“Mom!” Jamie said, careering into the room. He stuck his hands over his eyes. “Not seeing, not seeing.”

“Not seeing what?” Max asked, following his brother in. “EWW!”

Gil and Catherine shared a small smile.

“What is it?” Catherine asked them.

“Do I gotta wear a tie like dad? Cause they look like they’re going to strangle you,” Jamie said, pointing to his father’s tie.

Gil readjusted his tie. “I wonder that myself sometimes.”

Catherine sent him a look. “No, you don’t have to. But you do have to let me comb your hair, Max.”

“Why?”

“Because it sticks up when you do it,” Jamie told his brother, before high-tailing it out of the room.

“Mom!” Max cried.

“Come on,” Catherine said, shepherding him out of the room.

–

“They’re going to try and finish all the kids today, but it depends on how many questions Sara’s lawyer asks them,” Lindsey Dole said. She glanced at the kids, who were being kept quiet by Lindsey Willows and Matt. “They seem to be on their best behaviour.”

“They know how important this is,” Gil murmured. He glanced at his wife who was watching the children. “We all do.”

“And…oh boy,” Lindsey Dole said.

“What?” Gil asked. He turned around and saw Sara walking down the hall with her lawyer. “Oh no.”

Catherine also turned and anger bubbled up inside her when she saw the woman coming towards the family. Before she could move, Gil gripped her wrists and pulled her back into him, his arms around her waist holding her tight.

“I’m fine,” she growled.

“No you’re not,” Gil replied. “Lindsey and Matt have the kids. Just stay here.”

Catherine cursed at him under her breath but stopped struggling.

Sara looked at the group of kids with her son and Lindsey Willows. They were all glaring at her. She glanced at Catherine, who was in Gil’s arms. She frowned, not liking that.

Max glanced at his parents, who were busy watching Sara. Then he glanced at Sara’s lawyer, who was heading for the door. He smirked to himself. Catching Sara’s eye, he poked his tongue out and sticking his hands up, mouthed “Na, na, na, na, na.”

Sara’s eyes widened and she went to get her lawyers attention.

“What?” Greg Andrews asked.

“That little demon is making a face at me!”

Greg turned around to look at Max, who was standing there with an innocent look on his face. He turned to his client. “Let’s just start the trial.”

–

Lindsey Willows stared stone-faced out into the room. Her arms folded, she sent a glance the way of Sara Sidle. It amazed her that the woman who had been so nice to her when her father died, could now have turned so vindictive and want to rip her family apart.

“Lindsey, how old are you?”

“Twenty-three.”

“And how old were you when Matthew Grissom came to live with you?”

“Objection!” Greg Andrews cried, jumping up. “You cannot give the child that name. He has never been formally adopted.”

“Only because your client was uncontactable,” Lindsey Dole shot back. “Your honor, Matthew has been part of the Grissom family for ten years. He was using that name on all forms Miss Sidle filled in regarding him when he was living with her.”

The judge sighed. “Mr Andrews, first of all, this is not a trial. This is a hearing. Second of all, the child’s surname, although Sidle on the birth certificate, has been Grissom all his life. Overruled.”

Lindsey Dole turned back to the girl in the witness stand. “Would you like me to repeat the question?”

Lindsey shook her head. “No. I was thirteen. He’s lived with us for ten years.”

“And in those ten years, your parents had other children?”

Lindsey nodded. “Lizzie was already born. But when Matt came to live with us, my mom was pregnant with Jamie.” She smiled. “Matt called an ambulance once when she was sick.”

Matt grinned back at his older sister and then turned to his mother, who squeezed his hand.

“Do you remember how Matt came to live with you?”

Lindsey nodded. “Sara had come back to Vegas. No one had seen her for five years. She brought Matt with her and said she was Dad’s son. There were lots of arguments about it…”

“Between your parents?”

Lindsey shook her head. “No, between Sara and Dad. Sometimes Sara and Mom. But one night Sara was just gone.”

“Tell me about that night.”

“I was bugging mom to go to a party, and she wouldn’t let me.” Lindsey allowed herself a small grin. “She was right. Lizzie had a cold and was really cranky. Mom was really tired and Dad was away at a conference. The phone rang and it was Matt. Mom told me to watch Lizzie. She came back with Matt and then Matt started living with us.”

“Did you and your mom talk about what happened when she went to get Matthew?”

Lindsey shook her head. “No. And I didn’t ask.”

“Why not?”

“They were both really upset.”

“Lindsey, do you live at home?”

“Not anymore. I live in the college dormroom.”

“Do you think Matt is any trouble to your parents?”

Lindsey smiled. “There’d be trouble if he wasn’t there, that’s for sure.”

–

Greg Andrews stood up, doing up a button on his shirt. “Lindsey, you’re not Gil Grissom’s daughter, are you?”

Lindsey glared at him. “Yes, I am.”

Greg smiled indulgently. “Let me rephrase that. Are you Gil Grissom’s biological daughter?”

Lindsey glanced over at Gil, who gave her a small smile. She sighed. “No.”

“In fact, your biological father was murdered, wasn’t he?”

Catherine bit her lip, knowing how much this was hurting her daughter.

Lindsey stared straight at Andrews. “I think so.”

“You think so?”

“The case was never closed. There wasn’t enough evidence.”

“Who was the CSI looking after the case?”

“Sara Sidle,” Lindsey said, without looking at the woman.

“You almost drowned that night, didn’t you?”

“My mom saved me.”

Gil’s hand gripped onto Catherine’s.

“Your father had drugs in his car, yes?”

Catherine froze. She had never told Lindsey that. Lindsey had never known.

Gil also knew that Catherine had never told Lindsey about all the circumstances of Eddie’s death. He gripped her hand tighter.

Lindsey looked confused, looking towards her mother and then back at Andrews. “I…I don’t know.”

“You didn’t know that your mother let you go in a car with your father, who had a history of drug and alcohol problems?”

Catherine was grateful that Max, Jamie and Lizzie weren’t in the room. “Gil,” she murmured.

“Objection!” Lindsey Dole said, not caring if she wasn’t supposed to. “Your honor, its obvious that Ms Willows doesn’t know what Mr Andrews is talking about. Clearly it is also upsetting her. Perhaps…”

“Your client put a minor in a car with a drug addicted alcoholic, who was also suspected of abusing his ex-wife…your client,” Greg Andrews threw back.

–

Catherine stood watching Lindsey, who was standing outside in the fresh air.

“Talk to her,” Gil said, coming up behind his wife.

Catherine turned around. “I thought you were with the kids?”

“They’re fine. Talk to your daughter.”

Catherine turned to face her daughter again. “She’s going to hate me.”

“No, she’s not,” Gil assured her. He kissed her cheek. “Go.”

With a sigh, Catherine headed over to her daughter. “Linds?”

Lindsey turned to look at her mother. “Hey.”

“I…”

“I’m not mad at you,” Lindsey cut her off. “I know why you didn’t tell me then.”

Catherine nodded. “You loved your father so much. I didn’t want you to stop loving him.”

“I didn’t help much in there, did I?”

Catherine hugged her. “Yes, you did. Just by getting up there, you helped.”

Lindsey sighed. “Will you tell me? Everything about that night? Everything about Dad? When this is over?”

Catherine took a deep breath. “Okay.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

–

Gil found his wife, sitting on a bench outside the courthouse. “Hi.”

She looked up and smiled at him. “Hi.”

“How did things go with Lindsey?”

“She’s not mad. She just…she wants to know now.”

“Are you okay with that?” he asked, sitting beside her.

Catherine nodded. “She deserves to know. She shouldn’t have to…but now that they brought it up, I can’t just close it down again. She’s older now. She won’t accept, “because Mommy says so”.”

Gil pulled her a little closer. “Lindsey Dole and Greg Andrews were in chambers. They needed some ground rules laid, apparently.”

“Good. I don’t want anymore nasty surprises like that.” She rested her head on his chest. “Although I have a sinking feeling that this case is going to be full of nasty surprises.”

“We’ll get through it,” Gil assured her. “Promise.” He kissed her forehead. “We have to go in, baby. Lizzie’s turn next.”

“And so the circus continues,” Catherine said, taking his hand and letting him lead her back into the courtroom.
–