Natural Progressions

Disclaimer: I don't own Grissom, worse luck, Catherine or any of the gang. I just play in their sandbox. The song "Forget Me" belongs to Shania Twain.
Dedications: Thanks to AbyKitten for being patient and betaing and vividlyblue1 for being willing to read all my stuff even the crappy ones!
Author's Note: This would have to take place somewhere early in Season 1


Chapter 2: Forget Me

"What the Fuck is this?" he screamed at her. He didn't pause in his step as he stalked down the corridor toward her.

"I know you can read, Eddie, so what's the problem?" Catherine Willows answered, she'd known the confrontation would happen as soon as she'd set things in motion, but did he have to do it at her place of employment?

"You think you can get rid of me this easy?" her husband demanded anger evident in his every movement.

Catherine sighed. Why did he have to make everything such a drama? She hadn't seen him in weeks. He didn't even bother to come home anymore so why the performance?

Forget me
Like you forgot to come home at night
Forget me
Like you forgot to hold me tight
Now you're sorry, now you cry
But don't you wipe those tears
Till you memories run dry
Please forget me.

"I've got the proof now, Eddie. My lawyer has served you with the papers. We're now officially and legally separated so just go." She turned her back on him. She wanted this over before the rest of the Graveshift came on duty.

"You've got proof?" Eddie snarled. "You've got no proof, honey, you ain't even been around!"

Catherine smiled tightly shaking her head. She hadn't wanted to reveal anything but he was asking for it. "I hired a detective, I've got all the documents and pictures I need." She said walking back down the corridor toward him. They were perilously close to Grissom's office but as the door was closed and the lights were off she had no way of knowing if her friend and supervisor was there yet or not. She hoped he wasn't.

Gil Grissom couldn't stand Eddie Willows. He'd never understood what Catherine had seen in the man but had stood by her through thick and thin like the great friend he was. Never judging just supporting. He was like a father to her daughter Lindsey and spent more time with the girl than her real father ever did. That was something else that annoyed Eddie but he only had himself to blame.

"You hired a private dick?" Eddie roared. People were starting to crane their necks out of offices to see what the commotion was. "You couldn't even afford one, Catherine so don't pull that shit with me," he sneered.

Taking a deep breath in an attempt not to lose her own temper Catherine replied honestly, "How else do you think I managed to get the papers filed, Eddie?"

"Grissom loaned you the money didn't he?" Eddie accused. "He just couldn't wait to get me out so he could move in, could he?" It was the same old argument and it was getting very tired. "Not that either of you waited anyway, you and your boyfriend have been screwing around for years."

She threw her arms up in the air in disgust but refused to be baited by him. "No Gil didn't loan me the money," she told him, which in essence was true. Grissom hadn't loaned it to her, he'd given her it free and clear and refused to let her pay it back even though she'd insisted she would.

"I'll do everything I can to help you and Lindsey make a fresh start, Cath, you know I will." He had promised her six weeks ago when she had told him of her intentions of getting Eddie kicked out of the house and making the separation official.

"I'll settle this with you tonight," Eddie replied grinding his teeth and turned to walk away.

Don't let the lonely days remind you of anything
Oh baby try to erase the fact we had everything
No you can't come back this time
So let me slip right out of your mind

"No, Eddie, we won't," Catherine said stopping him in his tracks, "I've changed the locks. You can't get in when you want to anymore. It's over."

Screaming at the top of his voice Eddie Willows came charging down the corridor launching himself at her, fists raised to strike her. Before he managed to make any contact he was wrestled to the floor.

Expecting to find Grissom there, Willows turned to sneer at the man. But it wasn't Grissom; he was standing beside Cath ready to protect her in case Eddie got too close. It was Warrick Brown who had tackled the man and Nick Stokes was right there willing to lend a hand.

"Get him out of here, now!" Grissom ordered, furious over the scene Eddie had caused yet again. He turned his back on the man ushering Catherine to his office.

'Cause I forgot to forgive and forget
So just pretend that we never met.

"I'll get you for this, Grissom," Eddie screamed as Warrick and Nick dragged him down the corridor. "You and that bitch haven't heard the last of this."

Grissom turned to face the man, "Come near this building again Eddie and I'll have you arrested," he told him in a calm, quiet but firm voice. He left no one with any doubt that he meant it.

Walking into the office Grissom ushered Catherine onto the couch, sticking his head around the door he shouted to Sara Sidle who had watch the confrontation with some considerable agitation, but neither of the boys would let her near Catherine's husband.

"Sara, bring two coffees in here will you?"

"Sure Griss, no problem." And she went to do just that.

They both waited until Sara had been and gone before either of them said anything. "Well, I suppose that could have gone better," Catherine muttered trying to sound humorous.

"Not where Eddie is concerned I don't think," Grissom replied a wry smile on his face. "Will you and Lindsey be safe enough?"

Catherine really appreciated the man's concern. She had often wondered why on earth she had ever decided to take up with a man like Eddie Willows when she had someone like Gil Grissom in her life. But that was part of the problem, she mused, she always went for the bad boys, but no more.

"Eddie won't do anything to harm Lindsey," Catherine tried to assure him. She was certain but she knew Grissom didn't put anything beyond a character like her husband.

"Well as long as you're sure," he answered doubtfully, "but you know if there is any trouble you're both welcome at my place till this all cools down."

Grissom had been in love with Catherine virtually since the first day he'd met her. It wasn't something he'd ever mentioned or even dared act upon, but it was true. He never thought for a minute that she could be attracted to someone like him. His own image of himself was that of a science nerd, a bookworm with no life outside of his work.

What he didn't realise was that Catherine was beginning to realise just what a catch he would make. The problem was that she was still legally married to the jerk they had just thrown out the door.

"Come on," she said finishing her coffee, "time to give out the assignments." There was no use holding up the rest of the shift. She could consider her own options and how they applied to a certain Gil Grissom during the quieter moments that sometimes appeared in the night. Catherine was certain of one thing though, this time she was going after the right guy and there was no way he was getting away.

Grissom saw the determined smile that appeared on his friend's face and struggled to suppress a shiver. When Catherine got a look like that on her face the person she was thinking about was in for trouble. It was just as well he didn't realise that person was him!