Catherine stood staring into the mirror. She sighed and grabbed her bag. When she turned to leave the office, her eyes widened.

"Grissom!"

He was quiet, just standing there and staring at her.

It made her uncomfortable.

"What are you doing here?"

"You're here."

Catherine sighed. "What do you want?"

"I'm coming home with you."

She blinked. "You are?"

"Yes, I am." Grissom took her arm. "Let's go."

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

Lindsey had gone to school by the time that they got home. At least, Catherine hoped she had.

"So, what can I get you? Orange juice with vodka, or vodka with orange juice?" she asked.

"Tell me what you saw when you looked into that mirror."

Catherine's head jerked up to look at him. "Excuse me?"

"The way you looked into that mirror. The look in your eyes. I saw it once and I hoped never to see it again."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied, heading into the kitchen.

"Don't lie to me, Cath."

"What look, Grissom?"

"Pain. Sadness. Same thing that was in your eyes on that stage. When you came to me after one of Eddie's beatings."

"I'm not that person anymore."

"It's still part of you." Grissom walked closer to her. "I heard about what happened with your friend."

Her eyes locked onto his. "How?"

"I may seem antisocial and introverted at times, Catherine, but I do have some connections."

Catherine turned away from him. "So you know."

"Yes, I know." He took another step towards her. "Is that was this is about, Cath? You saw yourself with Eddie all over again?"

"Don't try to psychoanalyse me, Grissom. I'm not one of your experiments."

He took her arm. "Come with me."

Grissom had been in her bedroom before. When she'd needed someone to hold onto. They'd never made love, but he'd certainly slept in her bed before. Or rather, watched over her.

"What are we doing?"

He had never been more grateful for the full-length mirror she had in the corner of the room. "Undress."

Her eyes were as big as saucers. "Excuse me?"

"Want me to do it for you?"

Catherine's arms folded in a typical defensive manner that Grissom had seen before. "I don't know what you're up to, but."

He put a hand over her mouth, effectively stopping her speaking. "Do you trust me?"

Her body relaxed. "Yes."

"Then trust me now."

She said nothing, but her eyes just watched him, communicating that he was now in control.

His hands rested upon her head, slowly fingering the strawberry blonde locks. "I love the way your hair is always so soft. And it always smells like apples. Sometimes I can tell it's you just by the smell of your shampoo."

Her eyes widened slightly at this revelation, but she remained silent.

His fingers slid down, running across her forehead. "You get this determined look about you sometimes. And you get a little wrinkle, right here. Same thing happens when you concentrate."

Catherine closed her eyes when his finger slid down, circling her eyes.

"Open them, Cath."

Her eyes opened again and he smiled softly at her.

"Better. I like seeing your eyes. They're so blue and inviting. Somehow I always think I can see inside you when I look at you. And I love how you can reduce a man to a quivering mess when you look at him."

She opened her mouth to speak, but his finger brushed across her lips.

"Shh. Not yet."

The blue eyes that he'd commented on watched him carefully, nervous as to where he was going next. He smiled reassuringly, before kissing her on the nose.

"Have I told you before that you have the cutest nose? No? Well you do. I love how it wrinkles all up when you don't like something. Or when you've had more than two glasses of wine and it starts to go red."

A small blush began to creep up her neck.

"Don't be embarrassed about this, Catherine," he told her firmly. "This is about you. Let me show you." His fingers went to her lips, circling the fullness of them. "You have a beautiful mouth. It's so expressive and sensual." He bent down to whisper in her ear. "I've always wanted to taste it."

Catherine's eyes zeroed in on his lips, then trailed back up to his eyes, wondering where he was going next. She watched him make his descent and then her eyes closed as she felt his lips brush against hers.

When he pulled back he grinned, his finger brushing once again over her lips. "Just as sweet as I thought."

She gulped. "You thought about this?"

He nodded. "I also thought about this."

His lips were on hers again, tasting, his tongue stroking across the seam of her lips. Catherine moaned, the sheer electricity of the kiss sending shockwaves throughout her system. Her lips parted and Gil took advantage of the movement, sliding his tongue inside stroking against hers. His arms went around her waist as he explored her mouth, thoroughly tasting what was unique to her.

The kiss ended and he looked at her, watching her eyes slowly flutter open to focus on his. Her mouth parted slightly, whether it was from shock, the need to say something or the fact that her lips were now kiss-swollen, he wasn't sure.

But he was proud that he had made it that way.

"Not done yet," he whispered. "And I love how when you're concentrating on something, you stick your tongue out of your mouth, without even realizing it." He pressed small kisses to the sides of her mouth. "I love your laugh lines. And what I love even more is the knowledge that I put some of them there."

She smiled softly back at him, and he grinned at her, his fingers stroking her cheekbones.

"Do you know how wonderful I think it is that as you grow older, your cheekbones become more defined? You've got so much expression in you, Catherine. I love it."

Her body tensed and then relaxed as she felt his warm breath by her ear. Catherine's eyes closed, a small moan escaping her lips as he traced the outline of her ear with his tongue.

"I love your ears. I love how they're always listening and they always listen to me when I need you." He traveled to her other ear, giving it the same treatment. "And how when I needed someone to hear for me, you were there."

Gil placed a gentle kiss to her chin. "I love when you get all stubborn that you stick your chin out and glare at me. It's so cute and sexy."

"I didn't even realize."

"Shh," Gil silenced her. "We've got so much more to go through."

Her eyes widened. "We do?"

Gil nodded. His fingers slid down the column of her throat, stroking the soft skin and lingering on her pulse point. His lips then followed the path his fingers had made, kissing and sucking the soft skin.

He could feel her breathing grow shallow and he smiled, pausing to look up at her. "You have a very elegant neck, Catherine."

She was reduced to silence and nods now. The pure eroticism of what he was doing to her, for her, was overwhelming in its intensity.

"I love your freckles," Gil informed her, stroking and kissing each one he found on her collarbone. "You're sun-kissed."

His hands went to her shirt, and her eyes quickly darted up to his.

"Trust me," he assured her.

Catherine nodded back to him and her eyes locked onto his as her arms rose, allowing him to tug the shirt off and toss it over to a nearby chair.

For the first time, Gil Grissom stared at his best friend, the woman he loved more than anything in the world, wearing nothing but boots, dark grey pants and a lacy pink bra. Her chest heaved with anticipation, her body was flushed with both arousal and discomfort that he was staring at her.

"You're stunning," he whispered, not trusting his voice.

He moved back towards her, his hands resting on her shoulders. "You carry so much weight around on these beautiful shoulders." He pressed kisses along each of them. "Let me carry some of that weight for you, Catherine."

His hands traveled around her to her back, sliding down the ridges of her spine. He felt her shiver with his touch and he smiled. "You're so strong. No matter what you've been through, you've always stood tall. I admire that."

Cupping his hands, he ran them down her arms, savoring the silky smooth feeling of her skin. "So strong," he murmured again, kissing her arms. "I could feel it when you came to see me at the hospital. When you hugged me, I knew I could go through it. Just seeing you there." He kissed her wrists. "Thank you for that."

"You're welcome," she managed to murmur, her body lost in the sensation of his voice and of his lips.

Gil took each of her hands in one of his. He held the palms to his lips, first one, then the other, and pressed kisses in the center. Looking up at her, he grinned. "The look on your face when you realized I wanted you to use your hand to fingerprint Wendy Barger's hand." He chuckled. "Priceless." In the first moment of light-heartedness, Catherine stuck her tongue out at him.

He smirked. "I had a feeling you'd remember that."

Gil lifted her left hand up and sucked a finger into his mouth. Catherine let out a hiss, her eyes widening as he gave the same treatment to all her fingers. With a grin, he took the right hand, once again letting his mouth close over each one.

Catherine gulped as he moved closer to her again, his fingers hooking in the strap of her bra.

With a reverence she hadn't see in him for a long time, his fingers undid the clasp, gently sliding her bra off and throwing it aside.

Her eyes closed, not wanting to see his reaction, to see anything of what he thought.

"Open your eyes, Cath. Look at me."

Obediently her eyes opened, focusing on his.

Her knees almost buckled at the look in his eyes. Desire, awe and love radiated out towards her, his gaze intense in its emotions.

"Stunning," he breathed. Gil reached out and cupped a breast in each hand. His fingers brushed across her nipples and she gasped, her lips parting in a combination of desire and shock.

"So soft," he murmured. "So full and perfect." He massaged them, his fingers kneading and stroking their softness. His lips descended on her left breast, tasting her skin before his tongue sucked a nipple into his mouth.

Catherine's mouth dropped open, her jaw almost falling to the floor as the softness of his hands and the warmth of his mouth created a feeling inside that turned her entire body to liquid fire.

"Gil."

"I know," he whispered. He gently nipped at the tip and she groaned, her back arching to receive more of his touch.

Gil transferred his mouth to her right breast, lavishing the same attention and drawing the same reactions from Catherine.

Her breath coming in heaving pants, he pulled away, a small smile playing at his lips. He fell to his knees, his fingers trailing down her ribcage to her tummy. He blew warm breathes onto the skin, making her shiver beneath him.

"I loved watching you while you were pregnant," he murmured. "You were so sexy while you were pregnant. Seeing you carry the baby inside you," he pressed a hand to her belly, "It was stunning."

His lips kissed her bare stomach, his fingers brushing against the stimulated flesh. Gil grinned as he watched the muscles twitch beneath his touch.

Her hands rested on his head, tangling in the curls of his head.

"Sit, Cath."

She sat down on the edge of the bed, watching as he slipped the boots off her feet. After he took her stockings off too, he grinned when he saw the bright red toenails.

"I love these. Suits you perfectly."

With a shy smile, Catherine wiggled her toes for him. Gil looked up at her again and smiled. He leant up and pressed a small kiss to her lips, before kneeling again in front of her.

His hands went to the zip of her pants and he felt her breathe in sharply. Gil's eyes darted up to hers. "It's okay, Cath."

"I know."

The sound of her zip being pulled down echoed in the silent room. Their eyes were locked as Gil's hands went to the waistband of the pants pulled them all the way off.

Catherine bit her lip as she watched him look at her. For Gil's part, the sight of Catherine Willows sitting on the bed, completely naked save for a pair of pink lace panties that matched her bra, was the most arousing thing he had ever seen.

"Now," Gil murmured, finding it hard to speak, "stand up."

She stood up slowly, making sure that the back of her knees touched the bed. Catherine had a feeling the extra support was going to come in handy.

Her eyes shut as his hand slid down the outside of her right leg, his fingers caressing the smooth, silky skin.

Gil's eyes shot up to meet hers when he heard a small whimper. He smiled and brushed his fingers against her legs.

"You have the most beautiful legs, Catherine. So graceful and yet so strong at the same time. You walk so beautifully. So gracefully, and yet with so much purpose and determination." His hands slid up the back of her legs, making her take a step forward so that she no longer had the support of the bed.

Now however, she had his support.

His big, yet gentle hands roamed over the back of her legs, stroking and caressing her skin. He stopped at the back of her knees, almost making her crumple into his arms when he pressed small kisses there.

She moaned and Gil grinned, looking up at her again. "Open your eyes, Cath. This is all about you."

Her eyes opened again and focused on him. His eyes were watching her, his hands were touching her in every place he could.

Gil's eyes watched hers carefully as his hand trailed up her inner thighs, stroking and kissing. When his hand cupped her through her panties, a low moan escaped her throat.

"Gil."

His fingers hooked in the waistband of her panties and he pulled them down, steadying her as she stepped out of them.

He rocked back, his eyes roaming her body with amazement. "Catherine.you're beautiful. Gorgeous."

Her eyes widened. "I."

"Shh. Don't say anything. Just let me look."

She was silent for a moment, almost wanting to cover herself as he looked at her. But when his eyes locked back onto hers, and she saw the love and desire shining from them, that embarrassment went away.

"I want to touch you." Gil looked up at her. "Please let me touch you." Catherine felt like reminding him that he had been touching her, but instead she just nodded, wondering what he was going to do next.

It didn't take her long to find out, when his lips trailed a path up her thighs, kissing and sucking.

Catherine inhaled sharply as she felt his fingers brush across her centre. She looked down at him and found him watching her as he continued to brush his finger across.

He smiled at her before ducking down again and Catherine let out a moan as she felt his tongue dart out against her sensitive flesh.

Gil held on tightly to her, keeping her flush against him as he tasted and pleasured her. She clenched her fists, feeling the coil of pressure slowly building up inside her. Catherine bucked against him when he slid a finger inside her, curling and uncurling it as he sucked gently on her clit.

Gil watched her, smiling as her eyes fluttered closed and her mouth dropped open, small moans of contentment coming out.

"Let go for me, Cath," he whispered, sliding another finger inside her. "I want to watch you."

She bit her lip, the sensations of what he was doing to her now and what he had been doing to her all night becoming one big emotional charge.

Gil increased his efforts, sucking harder as his fingers stroked her intimately.

Her fingers gripped his shoulders, her back arching as the pleasure became almost unbearable. "Gil.I'm."

"Come for me, Catherine. I want to watch you let go."

He watched as she began to tremble, throwing her head back and crying out his name as she came, the only thing keeping her upright being his tight grip. Her orgasm raced through her, and she collapsed into his arms, her body shaking.

"I've got you," he murmured, holding her in his arms. "I've got you." She held tight onto him, her head resting on his shoulder. Gil rocked her in his arms, his hand stroking down her back.

"So beautiful, Catherine." He rested his head atop hers. "Your eyes.I could see what you felt."

Catherine moved slightly in his arms, feeling a little vulnerable. She looked into his eyes. "I want you naked, too."

Gil nodded and they stood up. He sat her on the bed, noting that her legs still shook slightly. Their eyes locked as he unbuttoned his shirt, sliding it off and adding it to the pile they had made of her clothes. He toed off his shoes and socks, kicking them away. Next he unzipped his pants, taking them off to reveal his ladybug boxers.

Catherine didn't dare look away from his eyes until he had removed the last article of clothing. Her eyes moved from his and trailed downwards, over his body, taking in every part. How warm he looked. How much she wanted to feel his skin against hers. With this thought in mind, she moved closer, reaching her hand out to touch.

Gil stood silently, watching her move her hand down, over his face, his neck, his chest. Her fingers toyed with his nipples before moving lower, a small smile playing on her lips when she made his stomach twitch.

Finally, her fingers stroked along his erection. She wasn't surprised he was aroused.god knew she was even after what he'd made her feel. Her fingers wrapped around it, relishing the heat, the hardness and the size.

"Beautiful," she murmured, her hands trailing back up and then back down.

When he felt her fingers on him for a second time, Gil grasped her hands in his. "Wait."

Catherine followed him willingly, wondering what was going on.

She stood naked, in front of the mirror. Gil stood behind her, equally nude, his hands gently encircling her waist. When she was flush against him, his fingers trailed across her skin.

"Open your eyes."

Her eyes opened, looking into the mirror. "Gil."

"Shh. Look. Look how beautiful you are. Every single part of you. All the memories are here, Cath." His fingers trailed over her face. "Your memories are in here." His fingers rested on her lips. "My kisses, here. What we say to each other, here." His hands went to her breasts, cupping them in his hands. "Lindsey, here. Now me, here." The hands slid lower, resting on her abdomen. "I watched Lindsey grow in here. I'll never forget that." His hand cupped her and he whispered in her ear. "Me, here, Catherine. Both of us. Together."

Her eyes closed again and his hands pulled away. Not happy with losing his touch, her eyes opened again.

"Gil."

"I want you to look, Catherine. Tell me what you see."

She bit her lip. "Gil."

"Want me to go first?"

Catherine nodded.

He grinned at her. "Promise you'll watch?"

She nodded again.

"Apart from the memories.I see a talented CSI. Someone who is fantastic at solving puzzles and restoring peace of mind. I see a wonderful mother, who has saved her daughter numerous times. I see a woman who bettered herself because she knew she deserved more. I see an independent woman, who's made her own path through life. I see a beautiful, sexy woman, who arouses me in so many ways." He murmured in her ear. "I see a desirable woman, a woman who moments ago let me see inside her heart, who let me give her pleasure." He hugged her tight to him. "Most of all, I see a woman who is loved by so many people around her. Particularly me." He nuzzled her neck, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Your turn."

Catherine breathed out slowly, looking at herself in the mirror. "I don't know if I can better that."

"Just tell me the truth. Tell me what you see."

She looked into the mirror, seeing Gil behind her, holding her and touching her. "I see a woman who is desired. A woman who has been given the most incredible gift. A woman who has been given incredible pleasure." She leant back in his arms. "A woman who is loved and who loves back."

Gil stroked her body with his hands. "I'm glad you see that."

"You helped."

"I can assure you, it was my pleasure."

Catherine turned in his arms, her eyes traveling up to his. "I want to make love with you."

Gil caressed her cheek. "I want to make love with you too." Taking her hand, he led her back over to the bed. "Lie down for me, Cath."

Catherine scooted back on the bed, lying down so her head touched the pillow. He crawled onto the bed after her, his warm body blanketing hers.

She expected him to go into the main event - all her other lovers had done so - but instead he seemed intent on exploring her all over again.

Her body arched up when his lips descended on her breasts, sucking and kissing and pleasuring, just as he had earlier. "Gil."

"Shh," Gil murmured, his hands caressing her body. He looked down at her, watching her look up at him. "God, you make me want you just by the way you look at me."

She leant up, kissing him deeply and winding her arms around his neck. "Please, Gil. I want you."

"Cath." He bent down to kiss her again, his body arching against hers. "Protection."

She shook her head. "I'm on the pill. I trust you." She wrapped her legs high around his waist. "And I want to feel you. Only you." Her eyes looked up at him, dark with desire. "All of you."

Gil groaned, aching to be inside her. "I want to feel all of you as well."

"Then stop stalling," she teased, brushing up against him.

He bent down to kiss her deeply, his tongue stroking against hers, exploring and tasting her mouth. "Are you sure?" he asked, when he pulled away.

Catherine nodded, looking down at where they were about to join.

"Look at me, Catherine," Gil murmured.

Her eyes locked onto his and she let out a low moan as he slid inch by inch inside her. Gil stilled when he was sheathed completely inside her, just wanting to relish the feeling of being surrounded by her and being as close to her as he possibly could.

Catherine's eyes closed, her body arching up against him. "God, Gil," she moaned.

"Look at me, Catherine," Gil urged, taking her hand into his. "I want you to see and feel how much I love you."

Catherine opened her eyes, widening them when he moved deeper inside her. "Gil."

He placed her hand over where his heart was. "Can you see it?" Can you feel how much I love you?"

She nodded, leaning up to press a kiss to his lips. Catherine took one of his hands and placed it on her chest, where her heart was. "I want you to see it too. See what I feel."

"I can," Gil told her. "It's in your eyes."

"More," she pleaded, pressing herself up against him. "Please.god."

Gil began to thrust inside of her, slow rhythmic movements that made her writhe beneath him and tested his restraint.

"You feel so incredibly good," Catherine murmured, pulling him down for a kiss.

Their tongues tangled for a moment, tasting and exploring as they moved together, their bodies coated in a light sheen of perspiration.

Catherine broke away with a groan, her body achingly close to release.

"You're gorgeous, Catherine," Gil managed to get out. "So hot, and wet, and tight." He bent down to kiss her again.

She whimpered as he moved faster, moving deeper until he was buried inside her.

"I want you to feel, Catherine. Feel me inside you, every inch." He bent down, pressing kisses to her neck. "I want you to feel beautiful, and loved."

"Yes." she groaned. "God, yes. Gil."

He lifted her hips slightly, changing the angle of his thrusts. "I love you, Catherine," he whispered, his eyes locked onto hers.

Catherine threw her head back and cried out his name as heat exploded in her centre, traveling down her legs and all throughout her body. She clung tightly to him as she came and he buried his head in her shoulder, groaning out her name as he spilled deep inside her.

Her hands ran down his back, stroking gently as she took deep breaths.

Gil lifted his head up and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "Hi."

Catherine's eyes gazed sleepily at him. "Hey."

"I love you."

"I love you."

Gil moved to the side, facing her. "Do you believe me now?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes."

He took her in his arms, smiling as she rested her head against him.

"You're beautiful, Cath. Inside and outside." He kissed her forehead. "I love you just the way you are."

"Thanks for showing me, Gil."

"You're welcome. Just never change a thing."

Catherine smiled as she snuggled closer. "I won't."

"Beautiful."

And for the first time in a long time, she believed it.

FINIS