'Hey guys! :D Rachel here. I know i shouldn't be starting another story but this idea just came to mind and i can't get rid of it so...i'm sure you all understand right? Anyway this is just something i'm trying out so please just give it a go? I assure that all you Catherine/Warrick fans will enjoy :D

Thing you need to know: For the purpose of this storyline we did not see Warrick's actual body once in 'For Warrick' okay? All we saw was a blood covered Grissom and the bloody sheet covering the body. So that scene where Catherine walks up to see his body being covered didn't happen that way. She walked up to see the body already covered. Got it? good.

Disclaimer: Now, i'm only saying this once...I do not own CSI! If i did Warrick Brown would NOT be dead! : *sob*


Willows Residence

Catherine Willows groaned into her pillow as her alarm clock blared loudly from her bedside table, rudely tearing her from a bittersweet dream.

As one hand blindly searched for the offending object, Catherine attempted to bury her head further into her pillow, hiding from the world and the things missing from it.

"AH!" Catherine yelped as her hand made contact with the corner of the table instead, "Damn it." She cursed under her breath pushing herself up into the sitting position.

She sighed heavily and glared at her alarm clock fiercely before throwing back the comforter and stalking towards her en-suite bathroom pulling off her clothes as she went.

Catherine turned on the faucet and stepped under the steaming spray, a contented sigh escaping her lips. She dipped her head under the flow of water, squeezing her eyes closed against the myriad of emotions swimming through her from the images assaulting her mind: memories of a better time.

Catherine squeezed her eyes tighter at the sting of salty tears, turning off the faucet and stepping back out blinking rapidly and shaking her head to rid her mind of the unwanted pictures.

"Good evening Catherine." Lily Flynn greeted her daughter from her place at the stove.

Catherine looked up at the sound of her name, "Oh, evening Mother." She replied distractedly.

Lily narrowed her eyes observing her daughter intently, "Bad sleep?"

Catherine shrugged, "Restless." She replied falling onto a stool at the counter. Lily handed her daughter a large cup of coffee which Catherine eagerly accepted taking a long sip.

"What?" Catherine snapped catching her mother staring.

Lily shrugged and Catherine scoffed.

"Oh please Mother. I know you've got something to say so..." she gestured with her hands for Lily to continue.

"I'm worried about you Catherine." Lily voiced coming around the counter to sit next to her daughter.

Catherine shook her head, "Mom-"

"No!" Lily silenced her sharply, "At first I thought it was natural but now..." she trailed off attempting to catch her daughter's eye, "It's been months Kit-Kat...maybe it's time to let him go." She whispered sadly.

Catherine laughed bitterly, "What? You mean the way you've let Sam go?" she shot back snarkily and Lily retracted her hands.

Catherine closed her eyes and sighed, "I'm sorry." She whispered sincerely.

Lily nodded once placing her hand back onto Catherine's arm, "Maybe you should talk to someone." She suggested cautiously.

Catherine's eyebrows hit her hairline, "Like a shrink?" she questioned incredulously and Lily nodded. "No. No way Mom, no! Besides the department made us all speak with someone after...it happened." She explained quietly.

Lily reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her daughter's ear, "You can't even say his name." She whispered voice laced with concern.

Catherine smirked slowly, "Warrick Brown." She announced pointedly ignoring the twang of pain in her chest as she did and hoping that her mother missed the involuntary flinch.

"Oh Catherine." Lily said sadly pulling her daughter closer.

'Guess not then.' Catherine thought bitterly, "I'm okay, Mom." She assured half-heartedly.

"Talk to someone, please?" Lily begged.

Catherine looked at her, "Like who?"

Lily bit her lip in thought, "Um...Gil?" she offered with a smile, "Talk to Gil."

Catherine's features darkened and her face fell further at that name, "Gil left, Mom." She reminded her dejectedly.

"Oh, right." Lily winced, "How about that handsome Texan fellow?" she tried with a smirk.

Catherine chuckled, "Nick." She supplied his name and Lily shrugged. "No." Catherine brushed it off, "Warrick was his best friend."

"Exactly!" Lily exclaimed nudging her arm but Catherine remained firm on the subject. "That lovely boy Greg," she tried one last time, "I know he's a good listener." She assured referring to the time she helped him with his book.

Catherine smiled at her mother's persistence, "I'm fine, Mom. I promise." She kissed her cheek, "I've gotta go." She informed glancing at the clock.

"But you haven't eaten yet." Lily pointed out with a disapproving frown.

"I've still got time. I'll grab something on the way in." Catherine promised.

"We need milk." Lindsey announced as she descended the stairs.

Catherine turned to her and smiled instantly, "Hey baby," she greeted pulling her daughter into a hug, one which the fifteen year-old returned just as eager. "I'll pick some up and bring it back before I head in. Anything else?"

Lindsey nodded, "Fresh juice and cookies."

Catherine and Lily chuckled, "You and your cookies." Catherine muttered as she planted a kiss to her daughter's head while Lindsey grinned, "Okay, I'm on it." She headed for the door, snatching up her keys as she went, "Se ya in a few!" She called over her shoulder.

"Bye!" Lily and Lindsey chorused as she disappeared out the door.

~CSI~

Catherine Willows weaved her way down the aisle, avoiding as many people as possible as she went: milk and juice already in her arms. She turned the corner in search of her daughter's beloved cookies only to go crashing into someone in her haste.

"Damn it." Catherine cursed as she bent down to help the woman collect her belongings thankful she hadn't dropped her own, "I'm so sorry I, I wasn't looking." She apologized quickly.

"It's alright." The woman assured her as they both stood to the feet, "Catherine?" the woman questioned unsure and Catherine's head shot up, "Catherine Willows?"

Catherine focused on the woman before her and her eyes widened in surprise, "Oh!" she cried startled, "Tina."

Tina Garrett, formally Brown, smiled at the slightly older woman nervously, "Hi, Catherine."

Catherine merely stared at her, a tight smile on her lips.

The silence between the women continued to grow and with it the tension until it became too much.

"How are you?" Tina spoke quickly, desperate for something to relieve the tension surrounding them.

Catherine looked at her questioningly.

"Since Warrick." She elaborated gently, "I know you two were close." She chuckled, "We actually used to fight about that to be honest."

Catherine smiled awkwardly, "Yeah I uh...I kinda got the feeling you didn't like my being in his life." She agreed blatantly.

Tina nodded too, "Yeah well, I made him choose." She revealed, "And we both know how that ended."

Catherine eyes bulged at that revelation, "I...I, I thought you divorced because you cheated."

Tina winced, "Um...yeah, that was one reason." She dismissed quickly moving on, "You didn't answer my question." She pointed out.

Catherine remained silent reeling from the discovery that Warrick had chosen her over his wife. "Uh..." she chuckled looking to the floor then back up at Tina, "I'm um..." she hesitated, wondering how much to tell the woman who had betrayed her friend so deeply but the look she saw in Tina's eyes convinced her that the woman's concern was genuine.

Catherine sighed, "Not so good." She ground out tersely.

Tina's face seemed to fall at the statement, "I'm so sorry." She whispered unconsciously placing her hand on Catherine's arm in an act of comfort.

Catherine gave her a genuine smile then cleared her throat, "How are you?" she asked returning the inquiry.

Tina shrugged, "I'm doin' okay, I guess." She replied in a very unconvincing way.

Catherine raised an eloquent eyebrow to show her disbelief, "Really?"

Tina chuckled, "It's been hard." She admitted, "My boyfriend bailed as soon as we discovered that Eli wasn't his." She explained gesturing to the cart behind her, "And now with Warrick gone..." she shrugged again.

Catherine's eyes followed the gestured location until they fell upon the beautiful sleeping baby in the cart.

Catherine audibly gasped at the sight causing Tina to refocus her attention. "I didn't even notice."

"I know. He's so quiet when he sleeps." Tina replied just as the baby in question began to stir, "Hey babe." Tina cooed as the boy blinked up at her before turning curious eye onto the woman next to her.

Catherine's hand flew to her mouth and a pained whimper passed her lips as her eyes met his, "Oh my god."

Tina frowned in concern, "Catherine?" she called placing her hand on the other woman's shoulder.

Catherine shook her head unable to tear her eyes away, "His, his eyes." She whispered hoarsely her hand falling to her stomach, "Their Warrick's eyes. I, I never expected..."

Tina's eyes slipped closed briefly, "I'm sorry. I should have warned you."

Catherine shook her head again as she finally tore her eyes away from Warrick's son, "No it's, it's okay." She assured, forcing a smile onto her lips, "He's beautiful." She complimented and Tina nodded with a smile.

"Yeah but he's all Warrick." She said almost bitterly, "But he was beautiful too so..."

Catherine bit her lip and looked down, "Yes he was." She agreed so quietly she assumed Tina had not heard.

Tina observed the woman before her and could see that Warrick's death had taken a noticeable toll on Catherine, the bags concealed by make-up hard to miss by someone who was looking.

"It's hard..." Catherine spoke up suddenly her eyes on the child, "...raising a child on your own."

Tina nodded, "Damn straight." She muttered.

"You're alone?" Catherine questioned sounding surprised, "What about your parents?"

"Estranged and I'm an only child." Tina explained.

Catherine nodded thoughtfully as she looked between mother and son, "Well..." she started digging through her purse searching for her mini pad and pen, "...if you ever need any help or anything..." she scribbled furiously on the pad, tore off the paper then handed it to Tina, "...please give me a call."

Tina took the paper slowly, "You'd do that? For me?" she asked in disbelief.

Catherine nodded, "For Warrick and for Eli too." She smiled warmly at the child, "That's my home, cell and work numbers." She informed her, "If there's an emergency." She insisted and Tina smiled.

"Thank you, Catherine." She said sincerely.

"Take care." Catherine replied, squeezing Tina's hand then turning to the boy, "Bye, Eli." She said softly rubbing a finger over the baby's chubby hand.

Eli giggled and gripped her finger tightly.

"He likes you." Tina said seriously, "And he doesn't take well to strangers."

Catherine smiled at the child, "Your daddy loved you so much." She whispered tears brimming in her eyes as that all too familiar ache returned.

Tina reached out to her again pulling Catherine from her thoughts.

Catherine cleared her throat, slipping her finger from the child's grasp, the boy frowning slightly at the loss of contact.

"I really need to go." Catherine mused aloud grabbing Lindsey's cookies from the shelf. "It was nice seeing you." She directed at Tina, took one last look at Eli before rushing to the check out to pay.

Tina watched her go, "You too, Catherine." She returned gazing after the woman with a sad smile.

~CSI~

Willows Residence

"OH! Cookies!" Lindsey cried happily jumping over the couch and rushing towards her mother as she entered the house.

Catherine handed Lindsey the grocery back and the teen obediently took it into the kitchen.

Lily approached her daughter noticing the far-away look in her eyes, "Catherine? What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Catherine whispered, her voice hoarse and eyes red from crying, "I just..." she trailed off shaking her head, "I need to redo my make-up." She announced heading for the stairs, Lily behind her.

Lindsey watched her mother and grandmother leave sighing sadly. She placed the milk and orange juice in the fridge fingering the delicate chain around her neck as she opened the Willows was not stupid and she was not a little kid anymore. She knew her mom missed Warrick, she missed him too they were happier when he was around and now...now everything was just hard.

"Catherine." Lily said firmly watching her daughter re-apply make-up as fast as possible, "What happened?"

Catherine sighed and met her mother's piercing eyes in the mirror, "I ran into Tina Garrett at the store." She relented. "Warrick's ex-wife." She elaborated seeing her mother's confused expression.

"Oh." Lily nodded knowingly walking further into the room.

"It wasn't her it was...it was Eli." Catherine whispered, "I hadn't seen him since the funeral and he had slept the entire time so I'd never seen his eyes."

"Warrick's eyes." Lily assumed and Catherine closed her eyes in response.

"She's doing it on her own." Catherine spoke up again after several minutes had passed in silence, "No family, so I gave her my numbers." She informed her mother quietly.

Lily stood and walked to Catherine's vanity, placing her hands on her daughter's shoulders, "That was very considerate of you. She'll need the help and..." she paused glancing at her daughter's face, "...Warrick would want you in his son's life." She assured Catherine, who looked up at her with a watery smile.

Lily smiled back and gave Catherine's shoulders a squeeze, planting a kiss to her head.

~CSI~

Las Vegas Crime Lab

"Evening Catherine." Judy the receptionist greeted her with a cheerful smile as she walked through the doors.

Catherine smiled at her taking the pink slips from her hands, "Evening Judy." She greeted back heading in the direction of her office.

Catherine pushed open the door, flicked on the lights and opened the blinds, something she did inform others that she was approachable.

Catherine dumped her purse in the bottom drawer of her desk with her gun and placed her cell phone in its usual spot on top of her desk. She had barely sat down before her team came tumbling through her door.

"Evening Catherine." Ray Langston greeted with a smile, taking a seat in the first chair in front of her desk.

"Lady Boss." Greg grinned cheekily as he plopped down on the sofa behind the chairs.

"Catherine." Sara smiled warmly at her, sitting herself down on the chair situated at the other end of Catherine's desk.

Nick entered last smiling at her and taking a seat next to Greg.

Catherine smiled widely at her friends, "I just love how you all come to me." She smirked looking from face to face.

The other four laughed. "Well..." Greg spoke up leaning forwards, "...we all know that Catherine Willows comes to no-one." He joked, winking at her coyly.

Catherine nodded laughing at his actions, "Alright charmer." She teased handing him the first pink slip, "You and Ray got yourselves a lovely little B&E in Henderson." She smiled.

Greg groaned, "Aw man!" he sighed snatching her from her.

Catherine raised an eyebrow at him fiercely and he instantly straightened up.

"I mean: thanks Lady Boss." He amended himself and Catherine nodded throwing in a coy wink at the end.

"You two..." she directed her attention to Nick and Sara, "...have a murder at the Bellagio." She informed them as Sara took the slip from her, "Apparently, the suspect never fled the scene. Makes your job easier and makes him an idiot without a brain."

The four laughed, said their goodbyes and headed for the door, "Hey!" Catherine called suddenly and they turned back to her, "Any of you um...talked to Tina since the funeral?" she asked causally.

Nick, Sara and Greg frowned, "No." They replied together.

"Why?" Nick inquired moving instinctively closer to her.

Catherine shrugged, "No reason." She smiled weakly.

Nick nodded, "I miss him too Cath." He told her gently, Greg nodding his agreement while Sara looked to the floor.

Catherine nodded slowly, feeling the beginning of tears prickling her eyes, "Yeah." She whispered as they slowly dispersed.

Once they were gone and her door clicked shut Catherine sighed heavily, throwing her head back and blinking rapidly at the ceiling. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, willing that horrible ache away.

The loud chirping of her cell phone violently tore her from her thoughts.

Catherine jumped, composed herself then reached for her phone. "Catherine Willows." She automatically greeted eyes closed tightly, not bothering to check the caller ID. "Yes." She replied not fully paying attention to the voice on the other line. "Wait, what?" she cried eyes snapping open. "I'll-yes I'll be right-I'm on my way." She stumbled over her words hanging up sharply, yanking open her drawer and grabbing her purse.

Catherine shot out her seat and raced out of her office, down the long corridor and out into the parking lot. As she reached her car the growing panic that was causing her chest to tighten around her thumping heart was suffocating.

She brought the car to life, backed out of her pace and tore out the parking lot, tires screeching loudly in the silent night.


'Well? I know it's a little slow right now but bear with me people! lol Drop me a line and lemme know what you all thought kay? :D Oh! And if you have any questions feel free to PM me or...you know, you can
always just ask in your review that you are going to leave right? : lol Kidding...kinda ;)

Rachel xo