Falling Apart

By Clara

Disclaimer: They’re not mine. Please note the song in this part was written by me, so I’d prefer if I didn’t see it else where!!.. not that anyone would use it.. but you know what I mean!

Info: 8th part of 20.

Year: 1999

Archive: My site, Working Love, ShipperWorld, Catherine Willows, Graveshift

Rating: PG

Category: CGR

Author’s notes: This started as answer to a challenge over at ‘Working Love’ and some how it turned into this! Thanks to Jo for the beta! None of the fics in this series will have a summary on them. I don’t want to give it away!!!

Dedication: To the wonderful Jo R. What would I do without ya? ;)

 ****

Gil was slightly taken aback when a harassed looking Catherine opened the door and stared at him. “Uhh... Hey?”

He’d agreed to come over early to help her get ready for Lindsey’s fourth birthday, but from the sounds coming from inside the house the party had started early.

Snapping out of it, she offered him a half smile before ushering him into the house.

“Uncle Grissom!!!!” He was nearly knocked off his feet when a little cannon ball threw herself into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Hey kiddo, happy birthday!” Slowly he let her slip to the floor before handing her a brightly wrapped present. He grinned as she ripped off the paper to reveal a chocolate coloured teddy bear which she quickly hugged to her chest before running off to show her friends, shouting thank you over her shoulder.

After she’d left his line of vision, Gil turned around the face Catherine, whom he noticed for the first time didn’t seem very happy.

“Cath what’s wrong?”

She sighed and crossed her arms, looking down at her feet. “Eddie’s not here.”

“What?”

She shrugged before continuing. “He didn’t come home last night and he hasn’t shown up for his daughter’s birthday party.”

Gil could feel his anger towards Eddie rising. This was getting ridiculous, it seemed like he hadn’t seen Catherine smile properly in weeks and he knew her husband was the cause, he just didn’t know how to bring it up or how he could help.

Sighing Catherine walked past him and ran her fingers through her hair before walking into the back garden and waving at Lindsey as she played with her friends.

“I don’t know what to do Gil. I know something is wrong, I just can’t seem to fix it.” She glanced at him over her shoulder, darkness clouding her features. “I don’t know how to make it better.”

Before she could cry, he pulled her into the kitchen where they could have some privacy and put his arm around her waist. “You know I can’t give you advice Cath, I’m not good with relationships…but you’re not happy.”

She nodded and turned her head into his chest letting the tears fall. They stood like that for awhile before they heard a sound at the door and looked up to see Eddie Willows, who Gil was almost certain, was drunk.

“Well, what’s going on in here?”

“Nothing Eddie. Where have you been!? It’s Lindsey’s’ birthday!”

Eddie’s lip curled into a sneer as he glared at his wife. “What do you care? You’ve got your boyfriend here…” his words were slurred and Catherine shrank back at his accusation even knowing it wasn’t true.

Gil for his part didn’t back away and just stared back at Eddie, “Nothing has ever happened between us. You should know that.”

The heat of Eddie’s glare intensified before he turned it back to Catherine “Well, she is a whore, who knows how many people she’s sleeping with?”

Eddie didn’t know what hit him then when Gil lunged forward and punched him, sending him sprawling across the floor.

“Gil!” Catherine jumped forward and laid a hand on his arm. “It’s ok… you should probably go.”

Still angry, Gil glanced at Catherine before nodding and walking towards the door, stepping over Eddie as he went. “I’ll call you later.”

As he left the house Gil couldn’t help but be angry with himself, knowing that he’d just made things a hell of a lot worse.

~I’ve held it all inside, for so long. I feel like I’m falling apart~

Falling apart- Clare McIntosh (aka Clara)