"Grissom," Gil answers picking up his phone," Gil it's Jim I've got a case for you"

"My shift ends in 4 hours and Cath and I have plans with the kids"

"Not now you don't she won't talk to anyone and we need her statement"

"Jim what are you talking about?"

"Stephanie Watson's dead, Catherine's injured and she's the only one who saw anything"

"I'll be there in 20 minutes"

"Do you even know where we are?"

"The French Palace," he hangs up the phone shrugging his jacket on and grabbing his kit. Just as he walks out of his office he sees one of his coworkers, Haley Pennington," Haley I need you on a case with me"

"Why?"

"Murder at the French Palace I'm probably going to need a woman"

"Okay gimme a sec to grab my stuff we takin' yours?"

"Yeah"

"I'll meet you out there"

**********************************************************

Gil runs over to the medics where a EMT is stitching Catherine up," What happened," she looks up at him with tears in her eyes and blood on her body," Are you almost done?"

"Just a couple more stitches sir and she's all yours," the EMT finishes up the stitches and covers them with a gauze pad," You'll need to see your GP in 3 days and you'll have these removed okay," she nods and swallows hard. Gil helps her down and the EMT hands her a sling," I advise that you use it after the meds wear off you're gonna want it. Asprin should work for dulling the pain feel free to take a shower and wash off the blood," another nod from Catherine. She sits on one of the parking stones and secures the sling setting her arm in it. Gil sits down next to her," You wanna tell me what happened?," she shakes her head and leans into him. Wondering weather or not he can put his arm around her he looks up at Brass as he holds up a bag that contained Catherines old clothes. He pulls her onto his lap as she cries. He strokes her back as she empties all of her tears. He looks up at Brass," I want you to call Mike and Beth and have them help Haley on this. I'm gonna take Cath back to the lab okay?"

"Yeah," he looks down at Catherine and kisses her forehead," Come on lets go," she nods and walks with him to the car. He helps her in and then gets in himself. They drive to the lab and he takes her in a back door into the locker room," Why don't you clean up okay?"

"Gil don't leave," she whispers weakly," What happened?"

"Hon," he kneels in front of her," Somebody attacked you and Steph out in the back of the Palace. She died"

"I thought it was a dream"

"I wish it was baby. I wish it was"

"Have they figured out what happened?"

"No Doc hasn't got her yet. She suffered a load of stab wounds he got you too. There was no way to save her once they found you guys"

"Everyone wants to save the princess who cares about the pesants"

"It seems that way doesn't it?"

"Yeah"

"Clean up there's some clothes in my locker. I'm gonna go talk to Doc real quick okay?"

"Gil don't go. I really don't wanna be alone right now. Besides I'm gonna need some help getting my clothes off," he starts one of the showers and closes the curtian. She takes off the sling and he starts unbuttoning her shirt," Tell me if your arm starts hurting"

"Okay," he pulls the buttondown off and she lifts her arms so he can pull her tank off. After he pulls it off he notices she isn't wearing a bra," The blood soaked through they took it"

"I think you can take it from here," she looks up into his eyes and he runs a hand through her hair," It's going to be okay"

"I'm not so sure anymore," he wraps his arms around her as she starts sobbing into his shoulder again," I'm so sorry baby"

"She was the only thing I had"

"I know baby," rubbing circles on the small of her back they slide down to the floor against his locker.

**********************************************************

"You ready," Catherine raises her head off of Gils shoulder and looks out of the limos window," I guess," he gets out of the limo and helps Mia and the twins out as Catherine slides out of the limo. Her chauffer hands her a black umbrella," Thanks Ben"

"Come on babe," Gil slides an arm around her waist holding a black umbrella also. They walk over to the group of people gathered around the grave. Mia jumps into her grandfathers arms and holds on for life as Tony and Walt pick up the twins. Catherine walks over to a woman in about her 40's and a man about 10 years older," Mr. and Mrs. Watson how are you holding up today?"

"Better you?"

"Bit worse than I've been doing"

"The kids"

"Okay for the most part. Mia she only understands that Steph isn't coming back," she wipes the tears out of her eyes," Thank you for paying...for everything"

"Steph was the only one I had....she's still the only one I have"

"It seems so wierd. I just talked to her about a week or so ago and she was fine"

"I guess when you start going downhill you really go fast," she looks down at the ground," I'm just glad people are here"

"We are too," a tear slips out of both eyes and she runs back to the limo and slides down the side her head in her hands crying. Gil comes over and kneels next to her," I can't do it. I can't watch her be put in the ground," he pulls her into his arms and she cries into his chest," It's okay baby," he kisses her forehead. Tears were spiling down his face also. Since he and Catherine had gotten married and he met Stephanie they were good friends.....hell they were as good of friends as her and Cath were. He holds her close and she wraps her arms around him," I can't do it I just can't"

"Nobodys going to think any different if you don't hon. I'm not"

"Hold me," they change their position so she's sitting on his lap and he's holding her," We're gonna get past this Cat. I promise," he kisses her forehead and she smiles a little," I know"

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FINISHED