Grissom found his office door closed, what was a very strange thing. He never closed the door before, and now, with his hearing problem, he didn’t want to leave someone knocking on the door for nothing.

He opened the door carefully but although he could expect to find anything inside there, nothing nor nobody would ever prepare him for the vision he had when he entered there.

"What the hell, Catherine! What are you doin’?"

Catherine raised a guilty look and quickly cleaned her mouth with the back of her hand.

Grissom couldn’t avoid a smile as he observed his friend childish behavior.

"Cath, can you explain me why you’re eating these chocolates here, hidden in my office? Don’t you wanna share them with the rest of the team?"

Catherine was licking her fingers in delight. Grissom was amazed and mesmerized. He was so used to the strong-and-unbroken Catherine that sometimes he forgot that other side of her. He sat in front of her and crossed his arms in front of his chest, waiting patiently for an explanation.

After finishing with the chocolates on her fingers, she straightened herself as a cat and looked at him. This time, she seemed to have stars on her eyes.

"I just needed it."

"Are you depressed, Cath?"

"Don’t know. Maybe a bit."

"What else?"

"I guess I was feeling lonely and needing care and attention."

She lower her voice when she said that and he noticed it.

"Cath, I know I’ve not being present lately, but..."

"No, Gil. You don’t need to justify yourself. I know what you’ve been passing through. It’s tough. You’re worried about the surgery. And that mess with your friend just turned things worse. I’m still amazed that you didn’t break."

He smiled. It was a weak but sincere Grissom’s half smile. Catherine understood. She always does. That’s what makes her so special.

"But I left you alone, Cath. I left you all by yourself. And this is unforgivable."

Catherine rested her hand on his in a sign of understanding.

"You know what hurt me most? You took so long to tell me what was happening. I noticed long before, but I waited patiently for you to tell me. And despite all my attempts to make you speak up, you didn’t."

"I was an idiot. I had to almost lose you to see what kind of grave I was digging for me."

"Now I have to agree with you."

"You really thought of leaving, didn’t you?"

Catherine focused on an imaginary point on the wall, escaping from his gaze.

"Yeah. I thought that a fresh beginning would be good for Lindsay and me."

"Happily you’re smarter than me and gave me a last chance."

"I put you against the wall, Gil Grissom, that’s what I did."

Catherine looked to the corridor then asked.

"Where are the others?"

"They’re on the breaking room. Why?"

"I just have two more small chocolates. Do you want one?"

"Sure."

"Cath?"

"What?"

"You know, you usually look like a wild cat."

"Really?" Catherine pretended she was surprised.

"Yeah. But now you look more like a little pussy cat."

"Yeah. Sure."

~Fin~