A chapter I changed way too many times while writing it, thank god for Sean McConnell, his music got me through this one.

Chapter 3:

The bright orange Nevada sun was sinking on the desert horizon as Grissom sat in Desert Palms Hospital contemplating the previous weeks, Sara, her fling with Hank, the explosion, Sara’s dinner invitation, Cath’s strange relationship with casino boss Sam Braun, secretly Grissom had always been fascinated with Catherine’s past a fact he had of course not disclosed to the woman herself. Most of all though the impending operation consumed his mind.

“Hey.” Catherine was shocked by both the vulnerability and raw sexiness of her boss as she walked into the room. Sara did really have the right idea in that department anyway.

“What are you doing here?”  Gil she only cares, God you need someone to care at the moment.

Slightly unnerved Catherine continued. “I just wanted to see you, and I didn’t want you to go in without wishing you luck.”

“Thank You……for being here.” It struck Grissom that it was he who infact should have been there for Cath following Eddie’s death, a fact he silently cursed himself for, he had again been too absorbed in his growing deafness to take time to ask if she was ok. Not the only one I have ignored.

But as they hugged, Catherine’s warmth offered sweet reprieve from his mind’s torments. Pulling away and spotting the nurse with a wheelchair he immediately became defiant.

“I don’t need that.”

A small grin appeared on Cath’s face as she watched her boss defiant in only a hospital gown walking down the corridor. She knew what she had to do. She had seen that look pass across Grissom’s eyes as he turned to face her. The look Catherine recognised, she had seen it in another’s eyes before but it was the same.

Punching in the number on her phone as she strolled out of Desert Palms, she waited for it to connect.

“Sidle”

“It’s Cath, I presume you’re at home?”

“Eh….Yeah….Cath what’s wrong?”

“I’m coming over. See you in twenty.”

Hanging up, Catherine drove out of Desert Palms with the same determination that had got her to where she was today.

As Catherine pulled into the car park of Sara’s apartment complex, Sara was waiting for her. Opening the car door, noticing the look of sheer fear on Sara’s face Catherine realised perhaps she had been a bit too hasty on the phone.

“Has something happened to one of the guys? Nick? Warrick? GREG?”

“Not exactly one of the guys, I don’t think he was ever one of the guys.”

“Grissom?” Sara’s heart skipped a beat.

“Let’s go inside, it…”

“NO Catherine tell me now, he’s not de…”

“Of course not Sara, now lets go inside before you wake the whole complex.” This is like coaxing Lindsey to do her Maths.

Inside the apartment Catherine sat Sara on the coach, took Sara’s hand in hers( any attempt to calm her nerves) and explained exactly where Grissom was. Sara didn’t even  attempt to shield the worry on her face from Catherine. Grissom under anaesthetic as they spoke, why had he not told her? Why confide in Cath and not her? But she knew the answer for the same reason she herself had confided in Cath. Catherine finished explaining not letting Sara’s hand go until she was sure the younger woman had relaxed a little.

“Cath, I have to go to Desert Palms, I have to be with him. Will you drive? I don’t think my nerves would manage it after the shock you just gave me.” A small grin spread across both their otherwise serious faces.

“Sorry about that I was perhaps a little to determined”

Grabbing her coat Sara followed Catherine out to the car. When they reached Desert Palms Sara turned to Catherine.

“Thank You”

“For what?” Catherine laughed, “I’ve always been a hapless romantic.”

They hugged, a gesture to which Sara did not usual concede but one the two women had shared several times in the last few weeks, and Sara left the car.