"Matters of the Heart"

Warrick, Grams, Cath, and Lindsey

Chapter 1

Warrick and Catherine are processing a crime scene in a parking lot outside a casino. Warrick's phone rings.

Warrick answers phone: Brown

Caller: Mr. Brown, this is Mountainview Hospital Emergency Room. I believe we have your grandmother here as a patient. Is Adnia Rice your grandmother?

(Stunned silence) Mr. Brown?

Warrick: Yes, she is my grandmother. Is she Ok, what happened? (Looks frantically over to Cath who waves him to go…)

Caller: Sir, all I can really tell you over the phone is that the paramedics brought her to us with complaints of chest pain. It would be easier if you could come to the hospital.

Warrick: Is she Ok? I'm on my way there now as we speak. Please just tell me if she is OK.

Caller: She is stable sir, we will discuss her condition more as soon as you arrive. There's not a lot more I can tell you on the phone.

Catherine watches Warrick run off to leave. The look of concern on her face speaks volumes. She wants to drop everything and go with him, but knows that she can't leave the case and really doesn't even know if he'd want her barging in anyway.

Cath: Warrick wait!

(Warrick stops and turns around.)

Cath: Be careful driving. I know she's all you've got. You're all she's got too and you will do her no good if you have a wreck on your way there. Call me if there is anything I can do.

Warrick (voice cracking): I will Cath. I'll let you know. She's going to be fine. I know she is. No other answer will work for me.

Warrick drives off with a tear trickling down his cheek. He notices his hands are shaking on the wheel. He wonders why that nurse wouldn't tell him anything? That means it has to be bad, right? Maybe not, it's a legality thing. Surely that's it. Grams has to be fine. Can't handle anything happening to her. He wonders if he is talking to himself or to God. He focuses on relaxing and not panicking as he pulls into the hospital.

Warrick rushes into the ER and gives the nurse at the front desk the information. She takes Warrick back to a consultation room and the doctor walks in. He shakes Warrick's hand and asks him to have a seat. Warrick is thinking at this moment that his lungs may completely collapse. This seems to be moving in slow motion. The only person in this world who has been there and not gone away is Grams. How bad is this? Why do they call this "The Family Room"? Isn't that where they bring people when they die? Breathe…….just breathe………..

Dr. Anderson: Mr. Brown, your grandmother was brought in by the paramedics complaining of chest pain. When they brought her in, she was alert, oriented and talking to us. The EKG showed us that she was having a heart attack. We also did some blood work to test her Cardiac enzymes. I've started her on medications and we are waiting at this moment to go upstairs to the Cath Lab. A cardiologist needs to check for blockages in her arteries and put stents in if necessary.

Warrick looks as if he's been hit by a truck. He has so many questions and doesn't even know where to begin. He fights the bile that is rising in his throat. This cannot be happening. He barely hears the doctor as he continues to speak….

Dr. Anderson: Mr. Brown there is more. Right after your grandmother got here, her heart went into a funny rhythm and she coded. We had to shock her twice to get her heart back in rhythm. That woman is a fighter and she knew that it was not her moment to go. We have her heavily sedated and just need to have you sign some permits in order to get her upstairs.

Warrick agrees to sign whatever he needs to and asks the Dr. if he can see her. The doctor tells him they don't have much time, but he'll see what he can do.

Warrick: Dr. is my grandmother going to die?

Dr. Anderson: Not if I can help it, Mr. Brown. We are doing everything we can.

Warrick steps outside to get some fresh air while waiting to sign the papers. He usually gets angry and deals with things that way. This time he can't even do that. He slides down the wall and buries his face in his hands. "God Almighty please don't let her die," he pleads, "I love her more than anybody in this world and she is all I have. Please don't take her. Not yet. I need her." Tears fall silently down his cheeks and down onto the sidewalk.

Warrick hears a small voice say his name and looks up. Lindsey Willows, such the younger version of Catherine, stands above him in his squatted stance.

Warrick: Lindsey, what are you doing here?

Lindsey: My class is on a field trip. We were touring the pediatric part of the hospital and visiting with some kids who could have visitors. Are you crying?

Warrick: Uh no……I'm OK. (Stands up)

Lindsey: Well then why are you here and why do you look so sad?

Warrick: My grandmother was brought in a while ago with a heart attack. It just scared me a little and I'm worried about her, but I'm OK and she will be too.

Lindsey: I'm sorry. Is your Mom here with you?

Warrick: No sweetie, my Mom died when I was 7. I lived with my grandmother after that. (Warrick notices Lindsey looks like she might cry and he squats back down to her eye level. He opens his mouth to say something and hears her teacher who'd been patiently waiting tell her it was time to go. Before he could even think clearly, Lindsey's arms wrap around his neck in a fierce hug.)

Lindsey: I've gotta go Warrick. I hope your Grandma is OK.

Warrick (choked up with emotion): Thank you sweetie. Go hug your Mom extra tight tonight.

Warrick sees the doctor come out as Lindsey walks off. He meets him and signs the forms for the procedure. The doctor tells him that they really need to get her upstairs and she is still sedated. As they roll by the nurse's station, Warrick reaches out and grabs his grandmother's hand. "Hold on Grams. I'm right here and I won't leave you. Nobody leaves here. You got that? I need you to hang on and fight. Nobody leaves.I love you." Before he knows it, they've rolled her away. He wills himself to just breathe as they tell him where to go and wait for results.

Warrick sits down in the waiting room, glad that it late and not crowded. He wonders why he always ends up alone and feels a hand on his shoulder. He looks up and sees Catherine smiling down at him. She sits down next to him and just looks at him.

Cath: How you holding up?

Warrick: I'm OK. Better now that you're here. How did you know where to find me?

Cath: My daughter updated me. (She grins)

Warrick: You have an amazing daughter. Cath, it's late and

you need to be with Lindsey.

Cath: And YOU don't need to be doing this alone. My daughter is the one who suggested I come.

Warrick: What!

Cath: She told me that your Mom died and she was willing to share her Mom so you wouldn't be alone.

Warrick (in a thick voice): Like I said, you have an amazing daughter.

Cath: So now what do we do?

Warrick: We wait.

Catherine sits back and crosses her legs. Warrick is amazed that she's come. He wonders if it is possible that she cares about him as much as he cares about her. Knowing this is neither the time nor the place to dwell on it, he just lifts a silent prayer of thanks that she is there and together they quietly wait for news about his Grams.