Catherine walked and rounded the hallways by memory, her attention focused on the report from Lindsey’s new school. The gist of it; her daughter was ‘adjusting well’.

‘Adjusting well.’

Those two words made Catherine hum happily, and loudly enough to send curious glances her way. She didn’t notice them. If she had, she wouldn’t have cared. She only lifted her eyes from the papers as she neared the locker room door, which opened at that exact moment as if just for her. Smiling widely, she thanked the person who was coming out. This was definitely going to be a good day.

Or not.

“Grissom slept with Sara.”

The last click of Catherine’s heel punctuated the younger woman’s name, leaving the phrase dangling in the air and Catherine frozen to her spot.

No one said anything for a few seconds.

“Hey, Cath,” Nick broke the tension, offering his good-natured smile.

Catherine recovered, offering a tight smile in return. “Hey, guys.” She managed to move her legs and walked to her locker, thankful her back was to them.

Greg and Nick looked at each other, neither sure what to do. Should they keep talking? They settled for an awkward, but safe, silence.

“So, Greg, you were saying?”

Greg almost jumped, more at the sound of Catherine’s voice than the tinny sound of her locker door closing shut. “Um, well…” He looked at Nick, who decided to continue not saying a word.

“Actually -- never mind. I need to get some things in order before shift starts. I’ll see you boys in a bit.” Catherine walked out, her steps becoming quicker once she was back in the hallway. She stopped only when she was just outside their office ­ her and Gil’s office. ‘Please don’t be in there, please don’t be in there,’ she silently repeated as her hand turned the knob and pushed the door open. It was empty. She went inside and shut the door behind her, leaning her back against the frame and letting out a long, deep breath.

“He’s a grown man,” she reasoned out loud. “He knows what he’s doing. Just because Sara--” she stopped as she realized she was gripping something in her hand.

Dammit.

She was still holding the papers from Lindsey’s school. “Folder. I need a folder.” She walked to the desk and sat down, methodically trying to smooth out the crumpled sheets. She opened one of the drawers she was sure had to have an empty folder in it. Her fingers moved through the dozens of files, trying to find one that looked unused. “Why can’t I find anything in this damn office? I’ve told-- there!” She pulled out a folder and opened it. “Fina… lly,” her voice trailed off as a single photograph appeared.

She held it carefully, instantly recognizing the night it was taken, almost a year ago. But she’d never seen this picture before. She and Gil weren’t the only ones in it; in fact, it was a candid, panoramic shot of many of the guests that evening. But she and Gil might as well have been the only ones there. They were angled towards each other. She was saying something; what it was, she couldn’t remember. But she remembered the feel of his fingers on her elbow. And she remembered his smile ­ a rare, true Gil Grissom smile that usually made her smile. Like she was now. She chuckled. She was probably the only one who…

Her smile faded as quickly as it had appeared, the photo sliding from her hand.

Shit.

She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. “No, no, no, no, no, no, no,” her breathing started to become erratic, her pulse going a bit faster with each ‘no’ that she uttered. There was a building pressure in her chest, making it hard to breathe. “Dammit!” She stood up suddenly, the chair rolling into the shelves behind with a loud, clattering thud. She started pacing the small room, trying to keep up with the millions of thoughts invading her mind. One in particular.

She barely heard the knock on the door. Warrick appeared, not bothering to wait for a response, and closed the door behind him. “Cath, everything all right?” He stayed a safe distance, not quite knowing how to interpret the scene before him.

It was some time before Catherine stopped and turned his way, looking a bit startled to see him, as if she had just realized someone was there. “Warrick.”

“Yeah…” Warrick said slowly, becoming concerned. “Are you okay?”

Her humorless laugh said it all. “Yeah, peachy.” She sighed, shaking her head. “No. I…”

“You…” Warrick prompted.

She looked at him and said it, the words tumbling out. “I’m in love with Gil.”

Warrick bit down, knowing this would not be the time to laugh, and subsequently die. He ventured forward a few steps, keeping his tone light. “I know.”

“You know?”

“Everybody knows.”

Catherine’s voice rose. “Everybody knows?”

Warrick nodded, “Yeah.”

Catherine’s shoulders sagged. “Then why the Hell didn’t anyone tell -me-?”

She wasn’t looking at him when she asked. It wasn’t really a question, but Warrick answered it anyway. “We thought you knew.”

Catherine shook her head. Her voice fell to a near whisper. “I didn’t.” Tears began to sting her eyes, blurring her vision. She couldn’t stop them. “It doesn’t even matter anymore.” She closed her eyes against that realization, tears staining her cheeks. She felt Warrick pull her into an embrace. She held onto him as her body became tired and heavy, shaking as she cried.

She wasn’t sure how much time passed, but her tears eventually stopped. She was breathing normally. She seemed calm. But her arms remained around Warrick. “I just need a few more minutes.”

“Hey, no rush.”

Catherine was almost ready to let go when a slight rapping noise alerted them to somebody’s presence. She lifted and turned her head towards the door and felt her heart constrict.

“Gil.”

TBC?