Title: Remembering
Author: Lora
Pairing: Cath/Sara
Rating: G
Summary: "He can't hurt you anymore. Only you can do that." Catherine has a moment remembering the past.
Spoilers: None
Keywords: CGF
Word Cout: 334

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"Hey Catherine?"

She looked up and forced a smile as Grissom stepped in front of her.

"Mind if I join you there?"

She moved slightly to allow him to sit beside her.

"What's on your mind?"

She shook her head in an attempt to erase the images in her mind. "Just thinking about the past."

"Ed?"

She nodded and mentally rebuked herself for drifting back to days gone by.

"He's dead Cath."

"I know. I know that, but the memories don't die, right?"

He smiled sympathetically. "You've got to leave the past in the past. You've come along way since then."

She nodded. "It's hard. Sometimes I just see him in front of me, with his fist…" She trailed off to a whisper.

"He can't hurt you anymore. Only you can do that."

"You know, there was a time when I thought he would kill me. Every morning waking up beside him, I would pray to God to keep me alive, just until the end of the day…" she laughed bitterly. "Sure he didn't kill me, but he did take me life. Yeah, he sure as hell took my life."

Grissom placed a comforting hand on hers. She looked down at it and smiled as a lone tear dripped onto her trousers.

"He might have taken it then, but the Catherine I know now made a new, better life. The Catherine I know now is strong, smart, caring… and she doesn't take crap from anyone."

She sighed deeply and then rested her free hand on top of his. "Thanks Gil."

He smiled and looked down at his hand, sandwiched between her delicate palms. After a moments silence she let go of his hand and stood, straightening her jacket and smoothing her hair.

"Catherine Willows," she declared softly "lives to fight another day."

Grissom smiled sadly as he watched his best friend walk away.

END

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