Gil got in his car after a long shift and after he had said good night to his team. They had all worked later into the day but everyone was eager to get back to the things they still had to do that day. Gil was on his way home when he decided he wanted to stop and get some lunch. He stopped at a restaurant that was a little out of his way but it was one he had not been to before. He parked on the side of the building and went in. After he had ordered his lunch and the waitress had left he started to look around and take in the environment. The restaurant was nice, the menu was good and the overall noise was not overwhelming or aggravating. As his food arrived and he started eating he thought to himself that this was a restaurant worth coming back to. As he looked around the room again at the people eating and the couples talking, a person familiar to him came into view. At first he thought it couldn't be him and then the man's head turned enough for Gil to be positive that it was Eddie Willows and that the woman he was with was not Catherine. He knew that she had hurried home to prepare some things for Lindsay's return from school and hadn't expected Eddie to be at home. As Gil was quietly fuming he could see how the two people acted around each other and that they did not have a plutonic relationship. Gil finished his meal as quickly as possible, paid his bill and left the restaurant. He did not want to be noticed by the couple and thought he succeeded.

If asked he could not have told you what made him wait in the parking lot to see them leave the building. It could have been disbelief, or it could have been him wanting to make sure that he had not misunderstood the situation. As they exited however there was no doubt in his mind that Eddie was cheating on Catherine. Gil grew furious as he sat quietly by watching Eddie come out of the restaurant groping the woman that accompanied him. He pushed her up against the building where few could see them, but Gil could see them quite well and had his hands all over and inside her. Gil could barely contain his rage as he saw the couple leave the lot all he could think of was "What the hell was he going to tell Catherine?" **

He was fortunate that he didn't get into a car accident on his way home, as his mind was definitely not on his driving. He arrived in his driveway safely and got out of his car and entered his house he was still so mad that he slammed the front door so hard the neighbors could have heard it. He fixed himself a stiff scotch and sat down on his couch. He had to figure out what to do with the information he possessed. He couldn't figure out a way to tell her. He knew it would break her heart, not to mention Lindsey's.

He sat there for hours going through possible scenarios of telling her and none seemed to be possible. At one point he looked up and he was sitting in the dark. The sun had gone down and he had taken no notice. As he continued to sit in the dark contemplating the situation he was in he finally came to a decision. He couldn't tell her, he couldn't be the one to break that bad news. He loved her and he couldn't bring her that kind of pain.

He went to work that night and it was so hard to sit by and not let on what he knew. He sincerely wished he had not seen the couple. He kept his secret though and as a result a distance had grown between them. He didn't want it to happen but over the next six months the distance would grow to a nearly impossible size. **

xxxxx

Catherine came into Gil's office and she looked like she was going to explode. I've had enough, she thought, I have to talk to someone else about this and I guess Gil is it. Since they had grown apart she had not shared a lot of her troubles with Eddie. But this was just too much and she needed to hear what a scumbag he was from someone else other than herself. **

She entered slamming the door shut behind her. She pulled out the chair forcefully and then decided she was too unnerved to sit so she started to pace. Mount Catherine did explode and the fire was evident in her eyes. Gil immediately noticed the state Catherine was in but wasn't expecting what he heard a few seconds later. "I caught Eddie cheating on me." Catherine said as she continued to pace. "I made him move out." The absolute shock on Gil's face captured her attention. She noticed his eyes dart to his hands and did not return. The haze of her anger at Eddie was temporarily pushed aside as she took in Gil's behavior. There is no reason for him to be dodging my gaze…she thought, unless… And suddenly the fire was back and worse than ever. She thought nothing could be worse than a cheating husband, but if her suspicions were true, there was one thing worse, a friend that knew and never told her. Her pacing had stopped and deposited her right in front of Gil's chair.

"Gil? Do you know something?" she asked with a look of "you had better fess up or be turned to ash where you sit." **

He could not imagine the right thing to say. He wanted to comfort her but had the common sense to realize he wasn't going to be able to do that any time soon. Still looking at his hands or past them, he said nothing.

"I asked you a question Gil. You knew about this, didn't you?" She waited, but again was met with only silence.

"I saw them at a restaurant." He blurted out. His shame was so that he still couldn't look her in the eyes.

Her eyes narrowed feeling that his declaration might not be the last of the bad news. "How long ago was this?" She knew him and could read him so well. Damn that ability. Seconds turned into a minute and finally he lifted his head. "It was about six months ago." He admitted. "But I couldn't tell you. I knew how upset you would be."

"Well thanks to you I had to find out on my own."* *"You should have told me Gil! I can't believe you knew for so long and didn't tell me." And she collapsed in tears.

He didn't know what to do, he wanted to comfort her but he wasn't sure how she would react to the gesture. And before he had enough time to think about it she got up and ran out of his office. **

She thought she could at least talk to him about it but after she found out he already knew about Eddie that was the last straw and she broke down. She went home because she had nowhere else to go and no one to turn to. It was the loneliest she had felt in years. She entered the dormant house Lindsey was already at school. She wasn't old enough to really understand why her daddy wasn't at home anymore and Cath didn't have the words to explain it to her. Cath found the Vodka and orange juice and fixed herself a stiff screwdriver.

She couldn't believe Gil would do that to her. He knew about her lying cheating husband and kept quiet for six whole months. She wasn't quite sure how anything would be the same between them again. She realized that their friendship had deteriorated in the time that he knew about Eddie. No doubt he had the same trouble trying to figure out what to do. That didn't excuse what he did though, he should have told her*.* Meanwhile he knew that he had made a big mistake, now she was mad at him because he knew and didn't tell her. He knew even more that she was seriously pissed and she needed enough time to herself so she would have to make the next move. Anything he did would be counter productive and cause her more pain. **

xxxxx

* *Two months later they were both rocked out of their comfort zone when one of their team was killed on duty. They both felt that they had played a part in Holly's unfortunate death and they both took the events hard, but when the time came for her to go to the morgue and get the evidence to put the guy away for good, he was there for her. He knew how hard she had taken it and as much as their chasm had grown he had hated every minute of it. He swore to himself that this tragedy would bring them closer together. **

Everything around them changed after that. He was promoted to supervisor temporarily because of the incident but he didn't want to be, he just did what had to be done. Things were very different for a while until everyone got used to him being in charge.* *

He thought he had done the right thing not firing Warrick because everyone makes mistakes right. But his mistake was unforgivable he knew that and although they hadn't spoken much it was clear how she felt about him and what he kept from her.

One day though Gil and Catherine came upon a case with a cheating spouse and the situation meant the anger was blazing inside her once again. She wanted to tell the spouse that his wife was cheating on him and they went head to head again on the subject. He always tried to stay objective and not let the investigator affect how the case continued but this one was different and he feared how he and Cath working this case would impact it. She still had so much pent up aggression at how he hadn't told her what he knew. Because she was blinded by her situation she told the husband about his wife, against Gil's wishes, and it had disastrous consequences. By the end of the case and several strained shifts later they agreed to a truce. Gil had to try for it and she had accepted so it was time for the conversation.

After their shift ended and all the work was completed on their case Gil invited Cath over to his house for breakfast, although he doubted either of them would have an appetite.

As they drove separately to his house Gil tried to think of what he could do to make the situation right. He was glad they were going to discuss it and hoped the conversation would put their relationship back on the right track.

Catherine was also thinking about what she wanted to say when she got to Gil's house. She had agreed to the truce he had suggested because she was tired of the distance that had come between them. She wasn't sure what would happen but she hoped that some sort of resolution could be made.

She rang the bell when she got to his front door. She knew he had not been home long and was expecting her. He opened the door almost immediately and invited her in. He had already put the coffee on and handed her a cup as she sat down on the couch.

He couldn't wait any longer and blurted out, " I'm sorry for not telling you immediately what I had seen. I knew you would be devastated and I didn't want to bring you that pain." Even though she tried to control her temper it was to no avail. She said, "I just couldn't believe you kept it from me for so long. Do you want to know how I first suspected he was cheating on me?" She continued as she paced the room. "I overheard him talking to her on the phone, can you believe his nerve?"

This news turned his stomach; he couldn't believe how Eddie could mistreat her.

"After that" she said, " I had to find out what he was up to for sure." I told him I had some shopping to do and that I would be gone until later that day. He sent Lindsey to her friend's house as soon as he was sure I was gone. Then he left and I followed." She continued," You know this job is good for something; he didn't even know I was following him. He drove to her place and came up to her door. He must have called her and told her he was coming because she opened the door immediately, and ……kissed him. But it was not just a kiss, she was all over him and he soaked it up. I don't even want to get into it…Hell, you already know. She was up and pacing again.

He listened to her and couldn't take it in. He was a part of this horrific act against her and all he wanted to do was protect her from it. She was hurting he could see that. She hadn't thought that Eddie would stoop that low. Gil had always been there for her but he was not on her side now, and he hated himself for that. He couldn't think of what to say or do to make things right.

After she had taken a few breaths she said, "Do you know what happened when I confronted him with what I had seen? He laughed. Sure he was shocked for a second but that didn't last long. He laughed at me then said, what did you expect me to do Cath? You're married to your work. When you started working all the time your mind was there and more important things went downhill fast. You were just good for nothing then. Your work life took all the good sex from you, did you expect me to go without. Well I wont do it. You made your choice and so did I." Now she sat with a sigh. "I knew things were bad between us but I never thought he would cheat on me." **

Gil was just sitting on the couch and couldn't believe what Eddie had said; he didn't even deserve to be in her life not to mention making love to her. Gil knew he wasn't the best man out there, but he would do his best to always make her happy and never treat her as Eddie did. As she broke down in front of him he dared to move closer to her on the couch. She looked up at him and since her look didn't say, "you're a dead man"* *he moved closer and put his arm gently around her at which point she broke down into sobs entirely.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier Catherine." He said as he stroked her back. "I really didn't want you to find out that way but it hurt me so much to think of what you would go through because of my words."

"I knew Eddie was cheating on you when I saw him with that girl and I immediately started to contemplate how I was going to tell you. I sat at home all day but I couldn't figure out the words to let you know what he was doing. Catherine it's just…… its that I…." The hesitation in his words made her look up at him with a question in her eyes. "What is it Gil?" He dropped his head though and could no longer meet her gaze. He wasn't sure that he could tell her how he felt. He knew her relationship with Eddie was over, but it was so fresh and he wasn't sure if she would just hate him more for saying it.

Her hand went to his chin lifting it so that his eyes met hers. "I know that you didn't cause Eddie to cheat on me. I know that I shouldn't be mad at you for his actions. But I also have a feeling that I need to hear the rest of your sentence." He still wasn't sure but because he had been carrying this big burden he wanted to alleviate them all.

"I couldn't feel what I felt for you, you were married. I know it might be too soon but I do love you Catherine. That was why I couldn't tell you. I wasn't sure you would want to hear it from me, kind of like I was telling you for selfish reasons. I know that I should have told you from the start. I'm sorry….." After a breath he continued, "Eddie was crazy to throw away what he had, a wonderful wife and amazing daughter like Linds and he didn't care what he would give up by cheating on you. Some guys just don't see and appreciate what they have and I'll never understand that. Never!"

She smiled and let out a chuckle. Gil looked up at her and now there was a question and hurt in his eyes. Did she think he was a joke, just trying to make her feel better? She saw the hurt and changed tact. "I always knew Eddie wasn't as good to me as you would be." She waited for the comment to sink in. And his demeanor changed suddenly instead of being kind of hunched over with his head down, he sat straight up and looked her in the eyes, hope filling them. She smiled and said, "Yes, I thought about how it would be to be in a relationship with you. I thought about it more than I should have I suppose." A large smile came across his face as the truth of her words sank in. She had thought of him, he wasn't alone in that.

Now that the ice had been broken on the subject he wasn't as afraid to voice his thoughts. "I really have thought about you, me and Lindsey being a family… that is if she'd accept me as a part of her life. I know I couldn't ever take the place of her father…. But I do love her so much." Catherine saw the truth in his words and said, "She loves you too, you know that…. And her mother loves you more than anyone could love another." He couldn't believe his ears and after the shock wore off he leaned in and kissed her. Catherine welcomed the kiss it felt warm, soft and inviting and she moaned softly. He pulled back and looked at her in the eyes. Everything was moving so quickly and he didn't want her to have any doubts. He had waited years and was prepared to wait more if it was necessary for her to be ready, but when he looked at her he gasped at the desire for him that he saw there. There was no more doubt in his mind that she wanted this with him and didn't want to wait a minute longer.

Without another word he pulled her into his lap and kissed her again with all the built up passion he had been desperately trying to hide. She touched her tongue to his lips and he opened immediately. It was amazing to taste each other; they had waited over a decade for it. His hands stroked up her back and when they got to her hair, they were enveloped in it. When they had to part for air he reached around and pulled her hair back so he could see her face. "Your so beautiful." She grinned broadly and leaned in again kissing him and wrapping her arms around his neck playing with his hair. She said, "I have waited so long for you to hold me like this." And she ground her hips into his making him groan from the base of his throat, his eyes slipping shut. She looked at him with a wicked glint in her eyes. She knew she had his full attention; the pressure of his arousal against her had not been missed. She pulled his black polo over his head and he unbuttoned her purple blouse, pulling it off her shoulders at the first opportunity. As his hands began to roam over her she couldn't help but close her eyes. His hands on her felt so good, she felt as if she would explode on the spot. Things were getting too intense for a living room. She stopped him for a second and said, "I want you to make love to me, on your bed." All he could do was broaden his smile and lift her off his lap as they headed for his bedroom.

When they got there she unbuckled his belt and dropped his pants to the floor and he removed her pants and panties and then she climbed onto the bed. The last item to come off was his boxers and then he joined her. They were hungry for each other. They felt that they needed each other to breathe instead of air. Her hands roamed over his body feeling how good he felt to be naked against her. He spread kisses along her neck and all she could do is moan her encouragement. He reached down to feel how ready she was for him and knowing she didn't want to wait any longer entered her. As he moved inside her all he could think of is how amazing she was and how extraordinary it was to be the one who could make love to her. As she came close, and her breathing quickened she looked at the man above her and said, "I love you Gil." She shook in his arms and she went over the edge and he was close behind calling her name. After he stilled inside her he moved to beside her on the bed. "Of all the times I imagined this it never even came close to how breathtaking you are and how I am the luckiest man to be with you." As she lay in his arms enjoying the feel of him next to her she said, "Well then we both are very fortunate to have each other."

~finis