Author: Joyce
Title: The truth behind the music
Couple: W/S
Spoilers: 3.9 Bloodlust.
Note. I love the scene in Bloodlust were Warrick is dragged over the floor in the name of science. That scene is so funny. This takes place immediately after Warrick walks out of the break room.
Also, a big thank you to the people who reviewed my first CSI fic. I know that W/S is not the most popular pairing so the kind words you guys wrote really meant a lot to me. Thanks!
The truth behind the musicWarrick didn't know how fast he could get out of the break room, still rubbing his sore shoulder. He stopped when he heard her say his name.
"Warrick."
Turning around he sighed.
"What do you guys want me to do now? Lay on the floor while a mob beats me to see how long it takes for a person to get seriously injured? Cause I could that, really, no problem."
Sara grinned, shaking her head.
"Nah, I just want to know if you're ok."
Still rubbing his shoulder he replied.
"Well, it kinda hurts. Did you have to drag that hard?"
He was amused to see that she had an guilty expression on her face.
"I'm sorry, but you're kinda heavy. I had to use a lot of strength."
He raised his eyebrows.
"Are you calling me fat?"
"No, no, I'm not calling you fat. There's just a lot of you. But no fat, muscles really. Just a lot of muscles."
He grinned.
"Just a lot of muscles, huh?"
She actually blushed a little.
"Get over yourself, Warrick."
He looked over her shoulder, seeing Grissom there.
"I think Griss needs you. Get back to your case, I'm fine.
She nodded, turning around. He called after her.
"Oh, and Sara? Try not to think about my perfect body or you'll never get any work done."
She rolled her eyes and he laughed, turning to go and find Greg to see what was taking so long with his DNA results. A couple of hours later his shift was finally over, it had been a long and boring shift. The case he was working on not really interesting. Walking into the locker room he took of his shirt, wincing a little. His shoulder was really hurting now. It was probably really dislocated. He looked up when he saw Sara enter the room. Looking tired and disturbed.
"Anything wrong, Sara?"
Not looking at him she opened her locker.
"The taxi driver died and the little boy killed his mother's boyfriend. So no, nothing's wrong. Just another shift."
Slamming the door shut she turned to look at him.
"And how was your shift?"
He took a clean shirt out of his locker. Again wincing when he put it on.
"Boring, but the pain in my shoulder was fun."
That got a grin out of her and he had to ask.
"Are you laughing because I'm in pain?"
She smiled even wider.
"You know I wouldn't dream of doing that."
He just glared at her, which made her laugh harder.
"Oh c'mon you big baby, I'll buy you breakfast. To make it up to you."
He waggled his eyebrows.
"You think we can invite Judy? She hurt me even more, you never know what she might do to make it up to me."
She shook her head but the smile was still present on her face.
"You're such a creep sometimes."
Leaning against his locker he winked at her.
"With a perfect body though."
Again she rolled her eyes.
" I never said that, you did. Now, could you just march that perfect body out of here? I'm starving."
Together they made their way out of the building, his shoulder still hurting. But that was ok he figured. At least it got her to smile today, actually forgetting about her rough shift. Her voice made him turn his attention to her.
"So, where do you wanna have breakfast?"
"I have an idea," he said. Leading her to his car. She stopped.
"I'm not getting in the car with you."
He winked again, something he was getting quite used to today. He loved teasing her.
"Couldn't handle the close proximity, huh?"
She just turned around.
"No, I have my own car parked here. I'll just follow you to the diner, ok?"
"Fine by me," he said. He got in his car, smiling when he saw her gesturing impatiently. She really hated waiting, even if it was just a couple of seconds. And right now she wanted him to drive so she could get something to eat. That woman was a lot to handle, a real challenge. Never one to back away from a challenge he wondered what it would be like to really get to know her. Shaking himself out of his thoughts he started the car. Grinning when he saw the look of relief on her face once his car started moving. Ten minutes later they were at their destination. He jumped out of the car. Walking over to where she had parked her car. He found her frowning.
"This is your place."
He nodded.
"Yes, it is. The perfect place to have breakfast. C'mon."
She narrowed her eyes, something she did when she was thinking way too much.
"Are you planning something?"
He nodded, his face unreadable.
"You caught me, I am planning something."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Warrick Brown, I'm not sleeping with you!"
Leaning against her car, he was clearly amused.
"Picture that," he just said before he walked into his home. Not bothering to see if she was following.
And in that instant, watching the amused twinkle in his eyes, she actually did picture sleeping with him. Blushing yet again she reluctantly followed him into his house. Taking in her surroundings. She had been here before, sometimes she and Nicky would come here after a shift and they would have a drink together. She remembered the first time she had been here. She had speculated to Nicky what Warrick's place would be like, thinking that she was headed to the ultimate bachelor pad. The look on her face when she entered his house had been priceless. This was no bachelor pad. It looked...well nothing like Warrick really. There was a piano in the corner of the living room, there were flowers on the kitchen table, there were pictures of him and his grandmother hanging on the wall and to top it all off they were greeted by a cat. Who was obviously happy to see that Warrick was home, rubbing himself against his leg and purring contently when Warrick leaned down to pet it. She was shaken out her thoughts by the same cat now begging for her attention. She bend down to pet him, greeting him.
"Hey Rocky, how are you today?"
Warrick turned around to see that she had followed him inside and was now sitting on the floor talking to Rocky. He never considered himself a cat person but Rocky was different. This cat was something else, a loner really. And the first time he had seen him sitting in the window of a pet store he had recognized something in him. He was a loner too after all. He had bought him on an impulse but never regretted his choice. Especially not now, seeing Sara smile at the way Rocky was trying to play with her hair. Yes, the cat was independent and strong but he had been all over Sara the minute she had first walked into his home. He never cared much for visitors but he adored Sara. Boss and pet were more alike then he was willing to admit.
"Do you want some coffee?"
She nodded.
"Yeah, coffee is fine."
He disappeared into the kitchen while she stayed behind to play with Rocky. She was drawing patterns on the floor with her fingers and the cat was fascinated by that. Preparing to jump on her hand. Laughing she stood up.
"You're not jumping on my hand again, mister."
Rocky looked up at her with an adorable expression and she wondered whether he learned that from his boss. Warrick had a habit of getting away with anything because when he looked at you...The subject of her thoughts chose that moment to walk into the living room, carrying two mugs of coffee. He handed her one and she mumbled her thanks, sitting down on the couch. Him beside her.
"Warrick, why did you bring me here?"
He had an embarrassed expression on his face and she wondered what was going on with him.
"I'll tell you later, I promise. After breakfast, ok?"
She already smelled something coming from the kitchen.
"Is that what I think it is?"
He smiled, quite proudly.
"Grams leaves me something every now and then. All I have to do is warm it up."
She was bouncing up and down from excitement.
"I love your grams homemade bread! I swear, that bread doesn't need any topping. Tell your grams that I love her!"
He loved seeing her like this, it made him happy. He got up quickly, running from the same feelings he had been running from for quite some time now.
"Let's eat. I'm starving."
The next half hour was spend eating and talking about the shift they had just ended. Warrick told her about his case and the fact that Greg never did anything to speed up the DNA analysis he wanted. She laughed at that, telling him that she never had any trouble with Greg. He just rolled his eyes, mumbling that the boy would eat his lab coat if she asked him to. She didn't deny that but just smiled. Enjoying the food and the pleasant atmosphere between her and Warrick. After breakfast he cleared the table while she played with Rocky again. The cat had been complaining loudly about the lack of attention he was getting. When he got back she was looking at him expectantly, waiting for her answer.
"I brought you here because I need your opinion."
"My opinion? About what?"
He didn't answer but looked away. Almost shy. Something which was very odd considering the fact that this was Warrick.
"You can tell me, Warrick."
He sighed, preparing himself to tell her.
"Ok. Every now and then I play in this little club. Just me and a piano, nothing big. It helps for the stress, you know. Last week some guy approached me. He wants me to record a song that I've written."
She interrupted.
"Warrick, that's great!"
He continued.
"I don't know. I mean...I usually play for like twenty people. I never even played for you guys. I'm not comfortable sharing this side of me with anyone. And this song, it's personal. I don't know if I want the world to hear it. I'm a scientist not a musician."
She had to ask the question, hoping that he would deny it.
"If you decide to do it, does that mean that you have to give up your job?"
He saw the fear in her eyes and quickly reassured her.
"No, this guy wants to use this piece in a movie. It's just a piece I play on the piano, there's no singing or anything involved. It would mean that I have to record it in a studio, which can be done in one day."
She was relieved, more then she cared to admit.
"Good, cause I think Grissom would go crazy if his favorite CSI resigned to become a rock star."
He pictured the situation she just described and started laughing.
"I don't know. When you're a rock star girls drag you to their beds instead of around on the floor. It does have it advantages."
"I don't think you'll ever have any problems in that area," she said, also laughing. "Girls will drag you to their beds whether you're a rock star or a scientist."
He was suddenly very close, leaning into her.
"Is that so?"
She couldn't stop the blush on her face. Trying to look away she realized she couldn't do that either. Relaxing somewhat she allowed herself to get lost in his eyes. Warrick was the first one to pull away, reminding himself that this was not why he brought her here. No matter how much he wished that it was. She wasn't ready, not yet. Gil Grissom needed to be removed from her system completely before he made his move. He couldn't handle being second, not with her. Not when she would always be number one. He took a deep breath, finally telling her why he brought her here.
"I want to play my song for you."
Sara blinked.
"What? Why?"
"Because I value your opinion," he said not looking at her. The next bit was spoken so softly that she barely heard him. "Because I trust you, I believe you will tell me the truth. No matter what."
She was touched by his belief in her and realized that she felt the same way. He was not the one she needed, that was Grissom. He wasn't even the one she teased, that was Nicky. He was the one she trusted, she just knew that he would always tell her the truth. Even if the truth was ugly and not what she wanted to hear. Right now he needed her to do the same for him.
"Why do you have so little confidence in your ability to write music?"
He sighed, running his hand through his hear.
"This was the first song I've ever written. And that guy..who knows if he knows anything. I need to know if I'm not making a fool of myself when I do this. And you...well, if it sucks you'll tell me."
"Warrick, I don't know much about music. How the hell am I supposed the know if your song is good?"
He was already walking to the piano, sitting down. Letting his fingers get used to the keys. He finally looked at her.
"I don't need you to know anything about music. I need you tell me whether you think it's any good. Just listen to it and tell me how it made you feel. Please."
She couldn't remember him ever being this nervous, this humble. She made her choice.
"Play," she said.
Hearing her say that took away his tension. Suddenly there was nothing there except her. He knew he couldn't tell her how he felt about her. She wasn't ready for that, maybe she was never going to be ready for that. But he could make her hear it in this song, even if she didn't understood what he was trying to tell her. Most nights he would play to make him forget about his problems. That night he played for her. Pouring everything he had into the song. When he was finished he saw tears in her eyes.
Sara watched him as he began to play and was immediately swept up by the music he was playing. She couldn't quite understand the intensity of the feelings he was creating in her. This song was important to him, he was trying to tell her something but she couldn't figure out what. All she knew was that watching and hearing him play made her feel warm inside and more loved then she had felt in years. She wanted him to play forever. When he stopped he looked at her and his question surprised her.
"Sara, you're crying. Are you ok?"
She was crying? She didn't even realize that. She nodded.
"I'm fine. God Warrick, that was beautiful."
He laughed and she saw the relief her words caused him.
"Thank you," he simply said.
She wiped the tears from her eyes, noticing the time. She had to get home, catch up on some sleep before her next shift started.
"So, are you gonna record it now?"
He shrugged.
"Maybe," he said. "I don't know yet. I'm kinda tempted to keep this song between us."
She smiled.
"I would like that. It would feel like you wrote it just for me."
He didn't answer her, afraid that he wouldn't be able to deny that it was her song. She just didn't know it yet. Avoiding her eyes he changed the subject.
"I don't mean to be rude but I'm kinda beat."
She understood immediately.
"You're not rude, I was gonna go anyway. Need to catch up on some sleep."
He nodded and watched her grab her jacket. When she reached his door he saw her hesitating and before he knew it she came back and was hugging him.
"What did I do to deserve this?" he asked.
She released him.
"You made breakfast, made me forget about work, played a beautiful song for me. Thank you. You have become quite the friend, Warrick Brown."
And then she was gone, leaving him alone in his house. Still hearing her last words. "You have become quite the friend, Warrick Brown..."
Somehow that would never be enough.
Tbc...