Grissom was driving home from a rather long shift at the lab...or more accurately, another fight with Catherine. She was dating another guy. A guy whom Brass was convinced was part of a racketeering ring. He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Lately, he had been feeling something he had never felt before. It was a subtle aching; almost a longing. He was still seeing the look of deep hurt in Catherine's blue eyes as she left his office, making an excuse about having to pick up Lindsey.

What's happening to me?

He was at a stop light when his phone rang. At first, all he heard was sobs.

"Hello?"

"Grissom?" Grissom almost didn't recognize Catherine's voice.

"Catherine, what's wrong?"

No answer.

"Catherine!!" Grissom yelled in panic when he heard the crash and then Catherine cry out in pain. The phone went dead in his hands.

There was only thought on Grissom's mind as he began running red lights: Must get to Catherine

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Grissom didn't realize it at the time, but Catherine was in a fight for her life. Rhett yanked her up by the hair again

He brought the knife he had been wielding mere inches from her chest. His eyes went cold as he told her," Nobody leaves me."

An inhuman sounding growl was the only warning Rhett got before Grissom body-slammed him against the living room floor. The switchblade was knocked out of Rhett's hand. Rhett tried to take a swing at Grissom. He caught him on the lip. Grissom rendered him unconscious with one punch. Grissom's breathing came in shaky gasps as he turned his attention to Catherine. He crawled over to her, taking her in his arms. Catherine struggled a bit at first, needing to see where Rhett was. Her heart was still pounding like a scared rabbit's.

"Ssh.Catherine, he's down" Grissom whispered, trying to still her without aggravating her injuries. "It's over."

Catherine's hands probed Grissom's body, checking for injuries. He put a gentle hand over hers. "I'm fine."

"But your lip.."

"Is nothing to worry about," Grissom said gently. "Right now I need to get you to a hospital."

Outside Catherine's open front door, a siren wailed. Two police cars pulled up behind Grissom's Tahoe. Brass and a chubby-faced officer joined the couple. The officer went to take Rhett into custody. Brass knelt down beside Catherine. A deep frown creased his forehead as he took in her black eye and ripped blouse.

"Damn," the veteran detective muttered under his breath. Grissom looked up, not missing the fact what Brass was thinking of : Eddie.

"It looks worse than it feels," Catherine tried to tell him even as she grimaced at a pain in her shoulder.

"You're going with her to the hospital?" Brass turned to Grissom. It sounded more like a statement then a question. Grissom nodded. "Good." Between the two of them, Brass and Grissom were able to get Catherine up and on her feet. Grissom put his arms around her waist to steady her.

"I"ll meet you down there," Brass told them.

:"Sure," Catherine said with a half-smile. She held Grissom's arm as they made slow, steady progress toward the Tahoe. Rhett, who was fully conscious at this point, was handcuffed and escorted to a squad car. Brass looked around one final time, shaking his head.

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Grissom watched silently as Catherine first was examined and then gave her statement to Brass. He felt his pulse, noting that it was well above seventy. He tried to take deep breaths, telling himself now wasn't the time to be emotional.

Brass's voice brought Grissom out of his reverie. "Thanks, Catherine."

Grissom took her arm again.

"Are you upset with me?"

"No, Cath," Grissom said softly. "I'm not." Catherine made him look at her. She searched his face. "I'm not mad," he repeated again.

"You were right."

The weary, defeated tone in Catherine's voice caught Grissom's attention almost immediately. He gently tilted her chin up so that her eyes were looking into his. When he spoke, it was soft and deliberate.

"None of this is your fault." One finger gently caressed her face. Catherine shivered involuntarily. A light bulb went on inside Grissom's head. He closed his eyes as he wordlessly held Catherine against him for a moment. They both were oblivious to everyone else around them.

Grissom sighed after a moment, coming back to reality. He hated to let Catherine go, but he knew that she needed rest. Catherine looked up at him, confused and a little hurt.

"You didn't do anything wrong," Grissom whispered against her hair. His eyes were still closed. "All I want is to take you home." Catherine arched an eyebrow at him. He blushed a little. "I mean, so you can get some rest," he added, stammering.

"Relax, Gil."

Grissom took in some deliberate deep breaths. He was tingling from his head all the way down to his toes from being so close to Catherine. After a moment, he was able to give her a smile as he wrapped an arm around her waist to support her. Holding the other close, the couple left the hospital.