Denial
Summary:
Warrick was shot in the Season finale. But, what happens if Warrick wasn't killed? This story starts right where the episode ends, with Warrick shot in the throat and shot again in an unspecified location. Please understand that this is AU.
Ships: Warrick/Catherine, Grissom/Sara, and friendship all around.
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI. Or CBS. I only wish I did.
A/N: I called this story "Denial" because I am proudly in denial. I refuse to believe that he is dead. So, this is my version of things. And, I apologize in advance for any inaccuracies in medical info. Honestly, I'm a high schooler and I am not in anatomy or anything. I wrote this also because it has been in my head since they rolled the credits on Thursday's episode. So, now I'll write it. Oh yeah, and I don't know the Undersherif's name, so I'm making one up.
Chapter OneWarrick was sitting in his car, the blood dripping down his neck and his right arm. It hurt… The pain was almost unbearable. The undersherif shot him. He could barely breath. His chest hurt from the bullet hole. He flicked on his headlights, desperate to alert someone of his presence.
Warrick's vision was fading and he was having trouble staying awake. The world was swimming as he thought about his life. His ex-wife. His one regret. Especially when Catherine found out. He had been stupid. He had thought he loved the woman, but he ended up breaking the heart of the woman he really loved. Catherine had looked so shocked and hurt when she found out. It broke his heart to see her like that.
He also remembered Holly. The girl who could've been great. She was killed on his watch, like the detective had said. But, was her death a blessing in disguise? Her death led to Sara's arrival. And Sara had taught Grissom the heartless how to love. He thought about Sara and Grissom and how they had dated even though it was completely against the rules. But, Warrick had never been brave enough. So, he was now dying, regretting never being something more to Catherine.
And it hurt more than the bullets to know that he would never hold Catherine again.
CSICSICSI
Nick looked at the waitress again. She was a pretty redhead. And, he liked her. He watched her pour coffee for the diners and considered asking her out. He checked his watch and wondered when she would get off work. He shook his head.
I'd better get home, he thought, knowing that he would be tired if he didn't head home soon. So, he stood and pushed the door open. He saw a car with its lights on in an alley. The car seemed to be unoccupied. Nick, being the good person that he is, walked over to the car. He saw someone slumped over on the steering wheel.
"Hey," he went to knock on the window and saw glass on the ground. "Hey!" he shouted, urgent. He recognized the person when he was closer. "Oh my god…" he whispered and grabbed his phone off his belt. He called 9-1-1. "Officer down on the corner of 67th and South Street!" he opened the door and Warrick slumped towards him. "Rick, hey, wake up!" Warrick groaned. Nick almost sobbed in relief.
He waited three grueling minutes to hear sirens. "Come on, buddy, just a little longer…" Nick had pulled Warrick out of the car and had him lying on his back. There was a hole through his neck and a hole in his chest. He pressed on the chest wound, praying that it had missed anything vital. Tears were in his eyes as he prayed that his friend wouldn't die. Thirty seconds after he heard the sirens, he saw the vehicles approach. Two EMT's hopped out of the Ambulance and ran over to the two CSIs.
They shoved Nick out of the way and placed him on a stretcher. The EMTs brought Warrick into the ambulance, working the entire time. Nick joined them and the ambulance drove off. The older of the EMTs bandaged Warrick's chest while the other dealt with his neck. The older man finished first and hooked him up to an IV and fed him blood. "Do you know his blood type?" he demanded of Nick.
Nick's eyes were wide with fear for his friend's life as he stared at the man. "Well?"
"A positive."
The man nodded and went back to Warrick. It seemed to take hours before they arrived at the hospital. Warrick was wheeled out of the ambulance and into the hospital. Nick ran beside Warrick for as long as he could. The doctors stopped him at the doors to a surgical room.
Nick walked back to the waiting room. He was terrified as he sat, waiting for word on Warrick Brown.
CSICSICSI
Grissom went home and grabbed his mail from the mailbox. He pulled on the handle of the door and was shocked to have the door open without unlocking it. He suspiciously walked into his home with his guard up. He heard soft breathing and walked into his living room. He couldn't help but smile.
Sara Sidle, the love of his life, was asleep on his couch. She had obviously been waiting for him to come home. Her appearance had made this day even better. First, his team had rescued Warrick from being tried for murder and now his love had returned.
She sat curled up next to the arm of the couch. His forensic magazine was open next to her. Grissom watched her for a second before approaching. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. She looked so peaceful. Her brown eyes opened slowly. She smiled at him.
"I love you," Grissom said.
"I love you, too," Sara replied. "I'm sorry—"
Grissom cut her off. "No need. As long as you're here now." And this is why Sara loved him. He loved her unconditionally. She touched his cheek gently.
"What's wrong?" she could sense that something was wrong.
"Well, Warrick was accused of murder."
"What?" she was shocked.
"Don't worry, we cleared him. But, Ecklie was trying to stonewall us."
Sara made a disgusted noise. "Ecklie. He's still playing politics?"
Grissom nodded. "So, we just had breakfast, but I think the Undersheriff is probably going to demote him."
"Why?"
"Because of Holly."
"Holly? But, that was almost eight years ago!" Sara was shocked.
Grissom's nod was grim. "But, it's better than going to jail." She agreed. He sat next to her and put his arm around her. "I missed you," he whispered.
"I missed you, too," she replied, her voice equally soft. She leaned into him, enjoying being in his arms again. The couple stayed like that, just breathing and smiling. Eventually, they fell asleep in each other's arms. Just like the way it should be.
CSICSICSICSI
Catherine arrived home about twenty minutes after leaving the restaurant. She threw her keys on the table and tossed her purse next to them. She ran a hand through her hair and checked her watch. It was 6:15 am. Lindsey had to be up at 7.
She walked over to her phone and checked her messages. None. She went over to the wall charger for her cell phone and plugged in the phone.
She finished some paper work and woke up Lindsey. The teenager, like all teenagers, did not want to go to school. Catherine waited for her daughter to turn on the shower before she went to bed herself.
CSICSICSI
She slept peacefully. But, her mother had to come and ruin everything. She hated school. Especially all the stupid people who bothered her all day long. She only went to school because her mom wouldn't let her dance if she didn't. So she got up and turned on the shower.
She showered quickly and got dressed. She went to the kitchen to eat breakfast, leaving her hair wet. Lindsey opened the fridge and considered her options just as her mother's phone began to ring. She knew she would never hear it, so she picked it up and answered for her.
"Willows," she said, mimicking her mother's greeting.
"Oh, God, Cath, it's Warrick," the man on the other end of the line seemed distressed. "He was shot, I-I found him…"
"Is he okay?" Lindsey listened for a reply, her exhaustion dissipating.
"I don't know. Oh, Cath, I don't know what to do… He's in surgery…"
"Mom!!" Lindsey headed to her mother's room. Catherine was sound asleep, but bolted upright at the sound of her daughter's distressed tone.
"What?" she asked blearily.
"Warrick's in the hospital! He was shot."
"What!" Catherine stood up and grabbed her cell phone. "What happened?"
"Cath, I am so sorry, I should've walked him to his car, I shouldn't have let this happen…"
"Nicky! What happened?" she demanded again.
"He was shot twice… Once in the chest and once in the neck…"
"What hospital?" Nick told her. "I'll be there as soon as I can, hang in there, Nicky." She hung up the phone.
"I'm coming with you," Lindsey informed her. Catherine nodded absently, grabbing a pair of pants and a shirt. She ran to the bathroom and changed quickly. Lindsey grabbed a glass of orange juice and drank it quickly while her mother changed. She grabbed her mother's purse and keys so they could leave faster.
Catherine came out of her room and the two of them left for the hospital. Halfway there, Catherine remembered something. "Lindsey, call Gil. He'll want to know."
CSICSICSICSI
A/N: So, I decided that this was enough for chapter one. And, I apologize for the annoyingly sweet Grissom/Sara scene, but I couldn't help myself… Please review. I'd like to know what you think.