Catherine turned on her side and watched out of her window. She remembered the night she had left Las Vegas to get the help she needed too regain control of her life for her sake and for her daughter.

The conversation that she had had with Gil in the hospital before she left played out in her mind every night for the past eleven months.

She had remembered the tears that fell between them and she remembered how sincere he had been when he had told her he loved her and that he we was willing to take care of her. She remembered how horrible it felt to watch him walk out of the room and out of her life after everything they had been through. She also remembered asking him to wait for her. And he had agreed.

And now after all this time she was finally going home, home to Lindsey and her mother, Sam and her job as an investigator, to her friends, and…to Gil.

She was both excited and nervous to get back to him. Truth be told she had avoided him the whole time she was away. Not by freewill of course but because she was so afraid and confused about what had happened to the both of them that she couldn't face him with out figuring everything out. She had seen the others. She had seen Lindsey every week since but she hadn't seen Gil and she was certain that he didn't know anyone but Lindsey had seen her.

Catherine sighed as she watched the moon from her window "It's going to be so different." She whispered to herself as his arm snaked around her "I don't know what I am going to say to everyone."

"They will just be happy that you're back." The man whispered "They will be happy to have you back in their lives. I know that I'm happy to have you in mine." He kissed her cheek. "Hey." He gently brought her to her back. "The worst is over."

"I know." She smiled "Patrick?" she whispered "Thank you for helping me through everything. When I left Vegas I was determined to do it all on my own but now I know that everyone needs somebody."

"You're right." Patrick smiled "Just like I needed you."

Catherine nodded and closed her eyes letting sleep take over her.

"Catherine?" Patrick whispered "I love you."

Catherine's eyes opened but she didn't reply. She couldn't reply, not because she was ignoring him but after meeting Patrick and being with him throughout her stay, he had grown on her and she cared about him. But she didn't love him. Until tonight she didn't think the relationship was going to continue but Patrick told her he wanted to move to Las Vegas, to keep her in his life. Now he had told her he loved her, and Catherine knew what she had to do. But could she do it?

**

"Uncle Gil?" Lindsey jumped up on the couch with him. "I miss my mom so much." She smiled "Has she told you when she's coming home?"

Gil shook his head. Catherine had spoken to him since she left, and he hadn't made any effort because he promised he wouldn't try to see her. "No Linds, sorry." He smiled "But I bet I miss her as much as you do."

"Gil, Sweetheart?" a women's voice came from the kitchen. "Can I see you in the kitchen?"

"Lindsey?" Gil looked down at her "Give me a minute?"

Lindsey nodded and turned her attention back to the cartoons on the television screen.

"What's the matter Brooke?"

"I thought we talked about these little visits."

Gil looked out at Lindsey who was still watching the TV. "I love that little girl Brooke. I told you this when we started seeing each other. And I told you about her mother and I told you why I take the weekends off the have her here."

"I know you told me this Gil. But I love you and you know that. I just want some time for us on the weekends. I don't want to take care of some other women's kid."

"That other women your talking about is my best friend." He defended Catherine.

"Yes. I know that, but where is she Gil, when is the last time you talked to her. Saw her?"

Gil didn't reply

"Exactly." Brooke replied

"It doesn't matter Brooke. I was there when Lindsey was born, I am an active part of her life and I always will be. Right now I have to take her back to her grandmothers. But I'll take you out when I get back." He smiled kissing her cheek.

"Hey Linds?" Gil called as he headed back to the living room.

**

Catherine reached for her wallet to pay the cab driver when Patrick stopped her "Let me." He smiled handing the cab driver forty dollars. "I was my idea to take the cab anyway."

"Well thank you." She paused as they climbed out of the cab "You know Patrick you didn't have to come with me. I know you want to get settled in your apartment."

Patrick shook his head "I love being with you Catherine. It's not a problem. I have my whole life to get my apartment in order. Vegas is my home now." He smiled lifting her bags from the trunk and following her up the driveway. "Besides, we'll get you settled and then head to my place. And then get your daughter."

Catherine unlocked her front door and stood in the doorway. The last time she was home a man had been shot and killed by her father right in front of her.

"Are you okay?" Patrick whispered

Catherine snapped out of her trance. "Yes." She cleared her throat and stepped inside. "I'm fine."

"So this is your home." Patrick commented as her set her bags in the hallway.

"Yep. This is my home." She smiled sitting down on her couch "It feels so good to be here."

**

"I'll see you next weekend okay?" Gil smiled hugging Lindsey

"Next weekend" Lindsey replied "And don't worry." She paused whispering in his ear. "I'll tell my mom that you miss her."

Gil smiled and kissed her cheek "Thank you."

"No problem." She giggled running into the house.

Gil pulled out of the driveway as Lindsey slammed the front door.

"Grandma?"

"I'm in the kitchen Lindsey!" Came her Grandmother's voice

Lindsey kicked off her shoes and ran to the kitchen.

"Mom?" Lindsey closed her eyes and opened them again "Mom?" she ran to her mother who had stood up from the kitchen chair. "Your back?"

Catherine took her daughter in her arms. "I'm back sweetheart."

"So I can come home?"

"Yes. We can go home tonight."

"Good." She smiled hugging her Mom once more "I missed you so much and you know what?"

"What." Catherine asked excited "Everyone missed you."

"Well I missed you more." She smiled "and I missed everyone else so much too."

Lindsey pulled from her Catherine's grasp "Uncle Gil just brought me home, why didn't you come out and see him?"

"I wanted to surprise him like I surprised you." Catherine lied. Actually she was more nervous then ever and she didn't know how to face him.

"Well I think we should see him now Mom he really missed you. He saw me every weekend even after he got a girlfriend." Lindsey paused taking a small breath "Her name is Brooke and she has a lot of make- up and she is really nice."

"Uncle Gil has a girlfriend?" Catherine asked hoping jealousy didn't seem to obvious.

"Yes Mom. Brooke." Lindsey repeated a little annoyed that her mother wasn't listening

"Well isn't that nice." She smiled a fake smile of happiness for Gil at her mother "Uncle Gil has a girlfriend."

Not even aware of the affect that the news had on her mother, Lindsey decided it was time to leave. "I'm gonna go pack my clothes Mom."

Before her mother could answer Lindsey headed toward the stairs.

"Well. Hang on Linds." Lindsey stopped

"I want you to meet someone."

Patrick stepped into the kitchen "Hi Lindsey."

Lindsey didn't reply

"Lindsey." Catherine began instantly regretting her actions

"Hi" Lindsey whispered clearly she was not thrilled

"I'm Patrick."

The young girl nodded "I'm Lindsey." She shook his hand. "Are you my Mom's boyfriend?"

"Lindsey." Catherine began not wanting him to answer that question with a yes.

"I met Patrick while I was away getting better. He's a very good friend of mine."

"He's not your best friend, because Uncle Gil is your best friend." Lindsey snapped

"Okay." Lily, Catherine's mother stepped in "Lindsey I think you should go get ready and your mom will be up to help you in a minute."

Lindsey nodded and glared at Patrick and then ran up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door.

"Patrick." Catherine sighed "I'm sorry, maybe you should go." She paused and stood from her chair. "I'll call you later."

Patrick nodded and headed for the front door "Of course." He smiled kissing her cheek "I'll talk to you later."

"So." Her mother began as they watched Patrick leave the driveway. "Is he you're boyfriend?"

"Not really." Catherine sighed and headed back to the kitchen.

"Well. Your daughter doesn't like him."

"I noticed." Catherine replied

"So." Her mother changed the subject "When are you going to tell Gil your back?"

"Soon enough, but I want to get settled in first."

"He missed you." Her mother added "A lot."

"I missed him to. But I think it might be to late."

"Well you never know until you try. You love him, he said he would wait for you and he loves you too. He said so himself."

"That was eleven months ago mom. He moved on with Brooke remember and I moved on" she paused "With Patrick."

"And men aside." She began "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay." Catherine exhaled "I still have the odd nightmare but other then that I'm really doing okay."

"You've been through a lot." Her mother took her hand "You and Gil and nothing will ever change that. You both need each other, even if you're both just friends."

Catherine nodded "I don't think I can face him. After everything that's happened. After everything he went through for me. When we were being held captive." She shuddered at the thought of her attacker "The things he did the things he tried to make Gil do. They were." She paused as a tear fell. "I can't mom. Not yet."

"You can't be afraid anymore. Gil would never hurt you. Not in anyway. If you want to deal with what happened between you and him you have to talk to him. Otherwise you'll always have a void."

Catherine nodded "I know." She began

"Mom!" Lindsey called cutting her off

"I'm coming hun." She wiped her tears. "Thank you." She smiled hugging her mother.

TBC