Forever in Love - by Toria

Officer Macnaroy was the first on the scene. He called in the homicide detectives. Jim Brass responded to the call. Brass was greeted by Sr. Laura who filled him in on who Maggie was. She also told him about Spike. Spike was the only name she knew. It was enough for Lt. Brass, the LV police were familiar with Spike. Lt. Brass ordered an APB on him. Spike was known to have long black hair, they could see the strands in Maggie's hand, that would be enough to at least bring him in for questioning.

Lt. Brass wanted to know who found the body. Gillian was in the dormitory telling the other girls what happened. She will join them in just a minute. By this time the CSI team had arrived. They were entering from the main entrance. Catherine and Nick walked down the hall first. They were anxious to get to the crime scene. Gil was busy looking at the artwork hanging on the walls of the hallway. Meanwhile Gillian had finished talking to the girls and was walking down the hallway towards the crowd that was building in front of the Gather Room entrance.

Someone in the back of the crowd caught her eye, just as he turned to approach the crowd. Gillian stopped cold in her tracks. The color drained from Gil's face. Upon seeing Gillian, Sr. Laura called her over and started to introduce her to Lt. Brass. Gillian was still frozen in her tracks. She only responded when Sr. Laura touched her arm. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, yes, I am sorry, it's just that I wasn't expecting to see so many people." Gillian replied.

Sr. Laura turned to Lt. Brass. "Gillian Taubman this is Lt. Brass. I explained to him that you were the one who found Maggie."

"Yes, I did."

"Can we go somewhere to talk?   I need to get your statement." Brass informed her.

"I'll go with you." Catherine offered.

She turned to look at Gil to be sure he didn't object. "Go ahead," was all he said.

"Where will you be?" she asked.

At first he didn't answer. "Gil?"

"Um…. Where was she found."

"In here," Brass informed him, pointing to the Gather Room. He then gestured for Gillian to follow him to another room where he could get her statement.

"I'll check out the room. Nick you look outside where he entered." Gil instructed.

"Okay," Nick replied with concern. "Are you okay?"

Gil realized he had to pull himself together before everyone knew more than he wanted them to know. "Yes, I'm fine. You check for footprints and fingerprints on the outside."

Sr. Laura started to enter the Gather Room when Gil stopped her. He apologized for his abruptness and explained that too many people had already entered the room since the crime and that no one else would
be allowed inside until he gave the clearance. He didn't want anymore of the evidence tainted. Sr. Laura said she understood and that she would be with Gillian and Lt. Brass.

"Who?" he asked, with a bit of surprise in his voice.

"Gillian Taubman. She was the one who found the bod… She was
the one who found Maggie." Sr. Laura explained.

"Gillian?"

"Yes, is there something wrong? Do you know her?," Sr. Laura asked, with some curiosity in her voice.

"No, no, it's…it's just a nice name." Was all he could think to say.

Sr. Laura just gave a slight nod and walked away.

Gil then started to get to work. The first thing he did was to take pictures of the body and remove some of the hair strands so that the body could be removed from the scene. Once the body was gone, he did
very little work. His mind was racing. He couldn't concentrate. He can't get `Gillian' out of his thoughts, no matter how hard he tries.

Then the door opens and someone walks in closing the door quietly. He doesn't turn around because he knows who's there.

"Hello Gil."

He stands up slowly.

"It's good to see you again. Your looking awfully good…..for a man of your age." She added the last comment to try and lighten things up.

Although he hadn't said a word, by the time she was out of small talk, he was standing inches away from her. At this point she found that she had backed herself into a wall and couldn't step back
any further, even though he continued to move toward, her until they were toe to toe.

He just stared at her, trying to figure out if this was a dream or if she was real. He's afraid that if he reaches out to touch her, she'll disappear.

"I know your there, somewhere," she said as she started to lose her breath, "I can feel your breath on my face." She looked into his eyes. "Say something, please."

That's when he kissed her. He kissed her with passion that had been inside him for all the years since he last held her.

The kiss lasted for what Cat & Nick thought was forever. They didn't mean to act like peeping toms but they were working outside at the Gather Room window. The window was open. They were mesmerized by what they were seeing and hearing, not only was he kissing her but, he had worked his hands under her top and he was running his hands up and down her back. Then they noticed that she had done the same thing. She had pulled out his shirttail and had her hands over his back. It was as though they had to feel as much skin as they could to believe they were both real and together.

When he stopped kissing her he rested his forehead against hers.

"We have to talk. When can you get away," she wanted to know.

"Now," he said and started to pull her away.

She looked around. "Are you done here?"

That's when he realized he had hardly done anything. "We'll be done here in about an hour. Meet me at my car. We'll go to my place."

"No Gil, it has to be somewhere public."

"Why?" As fast as he asked the question, he knew the answer. "Never mind. How about the Denny's on Saga Blvd?"

"That'll be fine."

"I always knew I'd find you again." Gil told her with a smile that brightened his eyes.

"I love you Gil, I've loved you forever."

"I loved you forever." He said as he bent down to gently kiss her again.

They pulled away abruptly when they heard footsteps and voices in the hallway. It was Brass and Sr. Laura. Brass opened the door and was surprised to see Gillian in the room with Gil. As Gil had said no
one would be allowed in until he was done, Brass assumed he was. Gil informed him that he wasn't and gave no explanation on why Gillian was allowed in the room.

At this point Cat and Nick raced in. They said they were done with the outside. Gil said he needed help in the room and he asked everyone to leave again. Sr. Laura and Gillian left. Brass stayed. Cat and Nick could see that their boss had done very little, but they didn't say anything. They just started to process the room. After five minutes Gil announced that he wasn't feeling well and was going home sick. This was a pretty open and shut case. They should be able to process things without him.

"Wait a minute," Brass exclaimed. "The commissioner asked for you personally!"

"We've got everything under control," Cat said, knowing that Gil was not going to be of any use to them and he apparently had a very important appointment that he had to keep. Cat and Nick knew things were serious because Gil didn't even inquire how they were going to get back to town, considering they drove out to The Shelter together.

Without Brass noticing, Nick peered out the window and saw Gillian and Gil drive away together. Under his breath he smiled and said, "have a nice night boss."

The next day, Gil called in sick for the first time in his career.