*****Look at you baby
The picture of a broken man*****

Grissom was expressionless as he unlocked the door to his townhouse, but as soon as the door closed he allowed his face to cloud over with sadness and despair. He knew he was lucky to still have a job, but that didn't make it any easier to accept the fact that the team he had carefully cultivated was now broken.

"Damn Ecklie!" he thought, but he was unable to bring forth the energy that would express the anger he felt. He felt empty, lost, hopeless.

He was happy for Catherine, of course, knowing she had wanted a supervisory position, but she hadn't wanted swing ­ the hours were worse for her than graveyard ­ and he secretly had not wanted her to leave at all. What would he do without her? Sofia was an excellent CSI, sure, but he did not have the easy rapport with her that he had shared with Catherine. Having known her for almost twenty years, he often knew what she was thinking and vice versa. Would he ever be able to build that kind of relationship with Sofia?

He wasn't sure he even wanted to.

*****Your confidence is shaken
The world caved in on you again*****

He made his way to the kitchen where he poured two fingers of scotch in a glass and downed it in one gulp. Another drink followed, then another and another.

At that point he stopped himself and made a quick breakfast. He knew that too much alcohol on an empty stomach would give him a migraine, which was just what he didn't need right now. But it was too late. He could feel it coming on at an amazingly quick pace, and as soon as he finished eating he downed his medication with another drink of scotch.

He quickly undressed, throwing his clothes on the couch carelessly, and headed for the bedroom to lie as still as possible in the darkness. The alcohol and the pills conspired to bring him to dreamland, and he slept fitfully.

*****But I know what to do to ease the pain
And bring you back to life again, , ,*****

He awoke to a feeling of warmth and wondered if he had accidentally turned up the heat. Then he realized the sensation was coming from one side of him, and he stretched out his hand in exploration.

His hand met soft, warm flesh and he jumped, suddenly fearful. "What -- ?"

A moist finger landed on his lips. "Shhh," she whispered. "It's okay. Just lie back and relax."

He recognized the voice immediately, but did as she commanded. "What are you doing here?" he wondered softly.

"Making you feel better," she purred, her fingers making small circles on his chest. She moved closer to him and he could feel her firm, naked breasts pressed against him. He shivered at the sensation. This had never happened before ­ at least, not outside of his dreams.

"Are you cold? Here, let me warm you up." Then she was on top of him, and he realized it wasn't just her breasts that were exposed. He felt his body respond, and he knew that she could feel it too. For so long he had tried to hide his attraction, directing his attention towards anyone but her. It had become a habit during her Eddie years, when he knew he could not trespass on their marriage vows. By the time Eddie was no longer an issue anymore, repression had become entrenched and he knew he could not tell her how he really felt.

She moved slowly against him and he let out a small moan. In the dimness he could see her smile, fully aware of how she was affecting him. She brushed his chest with her breasts, then leaned over to kiss him gently.

"Mmmmm." He wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her in closer, deepening the kiss, his tongue probing and tasting the sweetness of her mouth. She responded in kind, pressing her tongue against his in a little dance reminiscent of her time at the French Palace.

*****A little bit of love
Can go a long way sometimes
A little bit of love
Is really all you need
When life gets tough you need
A little bit of love sometimes*****

With a low growl he rolled her over on her back and voraciously attacked her breasts with his mouth, feeling his hardness pressed against her thigh. She moaned as he kissed his way around the firm globes, then sucked on one puckered nipple. "Gil," she murmured, her hips bucking against him.

Suddenly he stopped and lay back down on the bed.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Catherine, I don't do mercy fucks," he replied quietly, although the ache in his groin told him that might not be the best policy.

She laughed, a musical sound that caused his heart to skip a beat. "This is not a mercy fuck, Gil," she assured him. "This is an `I've-wanted-to-do-this-forever fuck', okay? Now shut up and kiss me."

He grinned, his confidence restored, and climbed back on top of her after stopping to remove his boxers.

*****Oh baby hold me
Let all that anger disappear
A little smile is showing
Something's catching fire here*****

She sang softly as he embraced her once again and lowered his mouth to her neck, kissing and sucking the delicate flesh he found there. His need for her was growing stronger as he slid one hand across the flatness of her stomach, slowly moving towards her center. She groaned her pleasure as he lightly caressed the silky hair, his hand teasing her by touching her everywhere except where she really wanted him to.

"Gil," she warned breathlessly.

"Patience, sweetheart."

"I'll give you patience," she muttered, her hand snaking down to grasp his erection.

He almost yelped in surprise. "Catherine…"

She chuckled as she began to stroke him gently. "Yes, Gil?" she asked sweetly.

In response, he dipped one finger down to her core, reveling in the hot wetness he found there. "You're amazing," he murmured, sliding his fingers around her small bundle of nerves. She moaned, louder this time, pushing against his hand.

"So are you," she replied, rubbing the palm of her hand over his slippery tip. He groaned in response. "Take me, Gil," she whispered, opening her legs invitingly.

He didn't need further encouragement.

*****And when the morning comes you'll be good as new
You'll take this night that we've shared with you, , ,*****

She gasped as he entered her, the sensation almost overpowering in its intensity. "Don't stop!" she whispered when he paused, concerned that he had hurt her. "Don't stop, Gil, it feels so good…"

He leaned over to claim her lips as he found his rhythm. The kiss was almost brutally passionate, their need for each other rapidly increasing as the pace quickened. She moved her hips to meet his thrusts, while her hands on his ass tried to pull him completely into her body. She spread her legs wider to allow him greater access, and he pushed as deeply as he could, both of them moaning loudly.

`This is not going to take long,' he thought mournfully, hoping she would have time to find her release before he did. The thought was interrupted as she gasped loudly and cried out, her body shaking and muscles tightening around him. "Oh, God, Gil…."

His arousal instantly swelled and exploded into her, waves of pleasure washing over his body as he pulled her close and kissed her hungrily. Then he collapsed against her chest, their breathing gradually slowing as they came down from their high.

*****A little bit of love
Can go a long way sometimes
A little bit of love
Is really all you need
When life gets tough you need
A little bit of love sometimes
A little bit of love
Can go a long way sometimes
A little bit of love
Is stronger than anything
Words ain't enough, , , you need, , ,
A little bit of love sometimes*****

"Gil?" she murmured, once they had recovered their voices.

"Yes, my dear?"

She smiled, brushing a stray hair from her face. "It's gonna be okay, you know."

*****you've done it before, you'll do it again
Get up off the floor, and jump right back in
Baby, I still believe in you
And we'll see this through
'cause true love is on our side*****

"I know," he replied softly. "But only if you come back and do this again."

"Yeah," she agreed. "I think I can do that. In fact," she added, her fingers on his back causing him to shiver once more, "I think I could do it again right now."

*****A little bit of love
Can go a long way sometimes
A little bit of love
Is really all you need
When life gets tough you need
A little bit of love sometimes*****

That evening, Catherine was sitting at her desk humming when someone knocked on the doorframe. She glanced up to see Warrick standing there with a broad smile on his face.

"Yes?" she asked, confused by his smile.

He stepped inside and closed the door. "Did you do it?" he asked eagerly.

"Do what?"

"Don't try to fool me, Cath," he grinned. "I know you too well. Did you cheer him up?"

She started to deny everything, then changed her mind and said, "I don't kiss and tell, Warrick."

"So you did?"

Smiling secretively, she turned back to her paperwork. "Why don't you ask *him*?" Then she gestured him to leave, and he chuckled.

"I think you just answered me," he said as he turned to open the door. He paused, then added, "Grissom's a lucky man." With that, he was gone.

Finis