He needed to burn his soul. The rolling gait of Gil Grissom sounded distinctively down the corridor. Images flashed through his mind like film on a projector. The crime scene, the bomb exploding, and the glimpse of a shadow running. He'd acted on pure instinct, adrenaline driven.

It was just pure luck Brass had been right next to him when Gil had raced to his Tahoe. Brass had seen the suspect, for himself; get into the car and barrel out, gravel flying. Brass had been right on his tail and Grissom on Brass'. It was a scene straight out of a movie. The suspect veered off onto another road. Aluminum gates chained had stopped him from fleeing straight. Brass followed the suspect. Grissom didn't. Gil knew he could get in front of the suspect if he went straight, through the gates.

Energy flowed hot and thick through his body. He wasn't even aware of the fact that he had accelerated just before the first gate. The Tahoe broke the chain without any problem. Ten feet away stood another gate. `SNAP' and the gate was wide open. A third and final gate didn't keep Grissom from his query. He was like a coyote after a rabbit. The hunt was on and all he knew was that he had to catch his prey.

The sound of light chain busting and the metal on metal still echoed in Grissom's mind as he walked through CSI. With each gate break, he felt the bands of his control break one by one. The darkness had been like a coffin, shielding Grissom from everything else in the world but the suspect in front of him. All Gil remembered now were those gates. They had been a barrier preventing him from catching the suspect and he wasn't going to let that happen.

Gil hadn't been in danger of doing anything wrong or dangerous. He had just done something out of character and rare. The scene had left a mark on his soul and he needed to get it off. He needed to allow himself to be free so he could get his control back. It was to the roller coaster for him.

In the Tahoe, Gil felt restless, uneasy. For some reason it felt like he was running. He was running from the scene, the echoes that plagued him, but he was heading into the direction that was going to bring him relief. So why didn't he feel good about this?

The roller coater began its journey. As it climbed, Grissom opened up his soul. He felt the buildup of the roller coaster in him, he felt his release build. At the top of the hill emotions flowed freely, washing away hurt, the wind blowing ash and filth away, and the freshness of the moment began to heal the soul. As Grissom was taken speeding down, his spirit rose and his heart filled with joy. The healing process had begun. His soul was burning and with the burning all the gunk and pain, memories were scorched away.

The roller coaster continued its glorious, pulsating ride. But it was alone it its exhilaration, as it screamed from one turn into another with the wind as its voice. The `coater's companion on the journey had fallen silent. He no longer participated with his soul.

A strange feeling had come over Grissom. Usually the roller coaster helped, but this time it felt wrong somehow. "When the rain is blowing in your face. And the whole world is on your case. I could offer you a warm embrace. To make you feel my love." Catherine had played that song for him and the message was loud and clear now. Grissom couldn't wait to get home.

Catherine was in the kitchen when the front door opened. In walked a determined Gil with every color of tulip available. He stepped to Catherine and handed her the flowers. She smiled brightly. Being a bit impatient, Gil took the tulips from Catherine and sat them on the table.

"Thank you for being my wife." Gil said with tears in his eyes.

Catherine's own eyes filled with tears as Grissom pulled her into a crushing embrace. She didn't know what had sparked this behavior from Gil. She slowly, soothingly ran her hands over his back.

Gil pulled back abruptly and stated, "Whenever I run, instead of running into the blue, I follow my heart and here in your arms is where I find the love I need. You're the one I run to."

Catherine put a hand on Gil's cheek. The warmth from her hand and her love flooded Gil's system and set his soul on fire as it had never been before.

The End.