Catherine Willows walked down the hall on her way to the break room. She desperately needed some nourishment to get her through the rest of this day. Again they were working a double shift en she felt exhausted. She was concentrating on the results Greg gave her on a DNA test. Perhaps she was concentrating too hard, because she never saw that door coming which was fiercely pushed open just in front of her. Before she even realised what happened, she already lay flat on her back. The door won on points and third level-CSI-Catherine Willows was knocked out.

Later in the Hospital

Nick was waiting in the hospital. He had come along with the ambulance and waited for news about Catherine's situation. He already contacted Grissom and it didn't take long before he arrived as well.

"What happened to her, Nick?" Gil asked him, with a worried expression on his face. "She was attacked again?"

"Yeah, by a big steel laboratory door," Nick replied and a faint smile escaped him.

"Ouch!"

''You can say that again. Lets hope she didn't feel too much pain. According to Jeff, she was knocked unconscious immediately."

"Jeff?"

"Yeah, Jeff is the Lab Tech who slammed the door in her face." Nick replied.

"How is she? Have you spoken to her .... or to a doctor?" Grissom continued.

"Only to a doctor, but she couldn't say much. They are running some tests now. Catherine is still unconscious, but the doctor wasn't too concerned. Probably a concussion."

"Well, let's hope that's all it is. Look, maybe you should go back and help Sara out on the case we worked on. Ask Warrick to pick Lindsey up from school. Maybe he can bring her to Catherine's sister. I'll stay at the hospital and wait for some news. You can reach me on my cell phone if you need me."

"Yeah, sure and Grissom ...don't worry about her too much. I'm sure she's gonna be okay, she's one tough cookie."

"I know Nick. I just want to be here for her....... for a change." Gil replied. The last few words were spoken under his breath and couldn't be heard by Nick.

After fifty minutes of waiting, Grissom started to worry. He didn't understand why it took so long before a doctor could tell him something about Catherine's situation. He just wanted to look for Catherine's doctor, when he heard a woman's voice asking around if there were people waiting for Ms. Willows.

"Yes." Gil exclaimed and walked towards her. "Are you her doctor?" Gil asked her.

"Yes I'm Dr. Grant, and you are...........?"

"Gil Grissom."

"What's your relationship with Ms. Willows?" The doctor wanted to make sure that she wouldn't give the information away to someone who wasn't closely related to Catherine.

"Uhm....we are..uh..partners," Gil said and tried to keep it as vague as possible.

"Partners? In the sense of husband and wife or ....," Dr. Grant asked further.

"Well, we are not married, but we are having a relationship," Gil tried to convince Dr. Grant. He didn't lie when he gave that answer. He did have a relationship with Catherine. Maybe, not the kind Dr. Grant implied, but he knew she would tell him zilch if she found out he was just her supervisor. So, he let Dr. Grant think whatever she wanted to think............

"Okay, Mr. Grissom.....Ms. Willows took a severe blow on her head. Her right eye is swollen, but the orbit isn't broken. There are bruises on the right side of her face, but I'm not too concerned about that. The only problem at the moment is, that she has a selective form of amnesia." Dr. Grant surely didn't waste much time in telling how Catherine status was.

"What memories is she regressing?" Gil asked her.

"She remembers for example who she, where she's born, where she lives and she remembers her daughter. But when I asked about her friends, family or job... she has difficulties in bringing back those memories. For instance, she didn't mention you when I asked her about a husband or boyfriend."

Gil felt a bit uncomfortable about his early proclamation that he and Catherine were having a relationship. He started to flush around his cheeks , but he came up with a brilliant answer.

"Well, we just started dating. Maybe that's why she doesn't remember me." Gil replied, thinking back at that evening just a few weeks ago when he had dinner with Catherine.

Dr. Grant laughed. "I don't think that has got much to do with it. But don't worry, give her a few days...she'll be fine."

Dr. Grant had her doubts whether this man was telling her the truth. But she could see the honest concern for this woman written all over his face, so she decided to let the issue rest.

"Will she be okay, Doctor Grant?" was all Gil wanted to know right now.

"It will take some time, but she will fully recover. We'll keep Ms. Willows here for the night, but she probably can go home tomorrow."

Gil sighed in relief. "Can I see her?"

"Yes you can, but she's probably sleeping. Oh......just one thing Mr. Grissom. Don't be frightened by the sight of her face. It's very swollen and bruised, but that's just the outside. There is no permanent damage done. You keep that in mind."

Doctor Grant showed Gil to Catherine's room and although she had warned him a few seconds ago, he was startled by her sight. She looked very pale and her right eye was badly swollen. He could see that the right sight of her face was bruised. It all looked very painful. She was still asleep and Gil sat beside her bed. He had to suppress the urge to stroke her face, but he was afraid it would hurt too much. So, he just took hold of her hand and kissed the back of it. He held her hand close to his face.

Dr. Grant entered the room after an hour for a last check up on Catherine. When she saw Grissom holding Catherine's hand, she forgot about her early doubts about this man. It was obvious that he cared very deeply for this woman.

"Mr. Grissom?"

"Yes."

"I'll think it's better if you go home now. She'll probably sleep through the night. There is not much you can do right now. If you come back tomorrow we can make arrangements for you to take her home."

"With me?"

"Yes. She can go home, but only if somebody watches her, especially during the nights. You have to wake her up a couple times just to make sure that she doesn't loose consciousness again. Okay?"

"I see...well..yes...okay," Gil replied not too convincing. One way or another, somebody had to watch Catherine so it might as well be him. The only problem was that he was the supervisor of the night shift. How could he keep an eye on Catherine at the same time?

Later that evening (Crime Lab)

Gil returned to the Crime Lab and talked to his co-workers about Catherine's situation. They were all relieved to hear she was doing okay and she probably could go home tomorrow.

"And who's going to watch over her?" Sara wanted to know.

"Well, I told her doctor that I would, but I think I reacted a bit too enthusiastic." Gil said and left his co-workers behind.

"I wonder why?" Nick said to Sara.

Sara gave Nick an understanding smile.

"Maybe we can help him out Nick. He's way behind with his paperwork. He can do that kind of stuff over at Catherine's house. We can reach him over there if necessary. It's probably just for a few days." Sara proposed.

"It's fine by me," Nick said. "How about you, Warrick?"

"No problem here." Warrick answered.

"Okay, that's settled then. I'm going to talk to Grissom and push the right buttons. He'll agree to this." Sara said and she was already on her way.

Sara was right. He objected in the beginning, but Sara convinced him in no time that this was the best solution, especially for Catherine. He was the best man for the job and they could handle things over here. He was only a phone call away. So Grissom agreed. He would spend the next few days with Catherine. There was only one thing. Would Catherine allow him to? She doesn't even remember who he is........

The next day (the hospital)

"Ms. Willows, are you ready to go home?" Dr. Grant asked Catherine.

"Yes, I guess so. Feels strange though, not being able to remember everything."

"Don't worry about that too much. I know it must feel strange, but you remembered this morning more things then yesterday. That's a very good sign. I expect your memory will be completely function again very soon. We just have to wait for your man to arrive and he can take you home. He will be here in a minute." Dr. Grant said.

"My man? Do I have a man?" Catherine was surprised because she really couldn't remember having one. It scared her to death that she had to go home with a complete stranger.

"Yes, you do. He's a very nice guy. His name is Gil Grissom. Does that ring any bells?" Dr. Grant asked.

"Grissom? Yeah, the name sounds familiar. And he is living with me?"

"Yes, that's what he told me. Speaking of the devil....." Dr. Grant said when Gil opened the door and entered the room.

Catherine looked at the man who just came in and she couldn't help but smile at him when they looked at each other. "So, this is my boyfriend," she thought to herself.

"Hello, Mr. Grissom." Dr. Grant greeted Grissom.

"Good morning Doctor." Gil replied.

"Ready to take her home, Mr. Grissom?"

"Yeah, well......I hope Catherine is ready," Gil looked at Catherine with a hesitating look.

"Oh, I'm ready," Catherine said very enthusiastically and jumped of her bed. A little too enthusiastic because she immediately felt light-headed and she took a slight step backwards and leaned against her bed for a few seconds.

"Jesus Cath, take it easy." Grissom rushed over and offered her some help. "I'll get you a wheelchair to bring you to my car." Grissom said to Catherine.

Catherine looked at Grissom like he came from Mars. "A wheelchair? Are you crazy, I'm not going in a wheelchair, I'm not an invalid!"

"No, just stubborn." Gil replied.

"Is that so? Well, you can take me home, but if you're going to put me in a wheelchair I'd rather take the bus. By myself!"

Gil raised his eyebrows and prayed for some help from above but he knew he wouldn't get it. She might have taken a severe blow on the head, but it certainly didn't have any negative side effects on her character.

Dr. Grant watched the couple quarrel. "And they just recently started dating? They look like they have been married for ages." She thought to herself, shook her head and a quick smile escaped her.

"I've got to go people, I have other patients waiting. Ms. Willows, I will see you back here in four days." Dr. Grant shook Catherine's hand and said goodbye to Gil and Catherine.

Gil stood in front of Catherine and stared at her face. She was looking slightly better, but the right side of her face had every colour of the rainbow.

"How are you feeling Catherine?" Gil asked her.

"Shaky. The headache is killing me..... I really want to go home."

"Then let's get out of here." Gil said.

During their trip back home they only spoke a few words. It always had been like that between the two of them. He knew this woman in the passenger seat like nobody else. Besides the wonderful smile she gave him this morning, Catherine showed no sign of recognition and still they felt at ease with each other. She didn't seem to have any objections about taking her home.

"Dr. Grant told me you are my boyfriend?' Catherine suddenly blurted out.

"Sh she. said that?" Gil stuttered and tried to look as innocent as he could.

"Well, are you?" Catherine asked when she heard the hesitation in Grissom's answer.

They looked at each other at the same time and their eyes were locked. Blue versus blue and both pair started to shine more brightly when they took in the sight of each other. Even when her face was bruised and swollen she was the most beautiful and precious creature to Grissom. Gil melted inside and he knew he was lost.......

"Yes." Gil said and quickly focused on the road again. He couldn't believe he just said that, but he couldn't resist his desire of really being her boyfriend. Even if it was for just a couple of days, maybe hours.

"Good." was Catherine's only response.