A/N: Ok, I know I should be working on Thirteen Hundred Miles, but I've been totally beat lately with my new job, and I'm trying to put a lot of thought into that one. Then I had this little idea, and it just wouldn't leave me alone, so I had to get it out! I didn't have this betaed, so sorry for any errors. The whole story isn't Warrick's perspective by the way, each chapter will be someone different... I was pretty excited about this idea, and it's meant to be on the humorous side of things, so pretty please let me know what you think! And it's my birthday today, (!!!) so if for no other reason, review for me as a bday gift! :)
Sara and I had been going over our case notes for a while now. A simple B&E, though it needed to be solved none the less. I knew Sara was pissed when we got the assignment; of course she wanted the 419 off The Strip. That one went to Catherine though, being the senior CSI and all. Not to mention Grissom probably wasn't in the mood for Cath's inevitable bickering had it gone to someone else.
Sara had been a good sport about it, which was actually the strange part. Everyone, including Grissom, had braced themselves for the battle we were so sure would ensue between our two hard headed females, as Catherine shot a look in Sara's direction, ready to fight for her case. Sara had simply nodded and accepted our assignment, slipping quietly out of the room.
"That was odd," Nick whispered to me so Catherine wouldn't hear. "She in a mood today or somethin'?"
I gave him a look as I sighed. "God, I hope not," I replied, indicating the slip in my hand to say if she was, I was the one who got to deal with her all night. Nick patted my shoulder in a gesture of mock condolence as I too made my way out of the room.
I found Sara by her locker. "Hey, everything okay with you?" I asked as vaguely as I could. "You were pretty… quiet during assignments."
"By 'quiet' I assume you are referring to the fact that I didn't bite Catherine's head off?" she came back sarcastically. I tried to act like I didn't know what she was talking about, but of course she was dead on. "I'm not stupid, Warrick. Like I couldn't tell everyone in that room was holding their breath, waiting for all hell to break loose."
Why I thought she wouldn't see through my bluff I'm not quite sure, but I should have known better. "Alright," I conceded, "then that is what I meant."
"I thought so," she smirked a little at her victory. "I'm tired of fighting with Catherine. So, let's just work this case and… try to like it."
I eyed her suspiciously, years of experience as a CSI and a gut feeling telling me something was off. She certainly seemed sincere, so that wasn't it. I decided to let it go, giving a little nod towards the door before she followed me out.
Now we stood in the layout room, staring at the pictures of upturned furniture that were scattered across the table.
"I don't get it," I puffed after a long period of discussion that had bore little fruit. "The homeowners said nothing was missing. Why go through all the trouble of breaking in, and then not take anything?"
Sara was silent, and for a moment it didn't phase me, assuming she was taking a moment to think. The silence continued though, and when I looked up, Sara was staring over my head and out the window to the hallway. She hadn't heard a word I just said.
"Sara?" I tried to get her attention, but despite being physically present, she was no longer in the room with me. I turned my face away from her, looking out into the hallway as well to see Catherine and Grissom, each with a hand on their side of the file their noses were buried inside.
Not a moment later Grissom continued his descent down the hall, leaving Catherine alone. Confused, I turned back to Sara, thinking she'd gotten over Grissom a long time ago. The confusion only mounted as she continued to stare, even in Grissom's absence. Then an idea hit me, one I thought just couldn't be right, but there was that gut feeling again.
"Yo, Sara! You still with me?" I called loud enough to shake her out of her trace. Her eyes finally met mine, briefly embarrassed before she recovered.
"Yeah, sorry," she muttered. "Got distracted. What were you saying?"
"Distracted by what?" I asked, not letting her change the topic so easily.
She shook her head, pretending to be engrossed in the pictures. "Nothing," she replied coolly.
She'd just given me the perfect opportunity to test my newfound theory. "Now, I know you two haven't always gotten along, but I hardly think that's a reason to refer to Catherine as 'nothing,' do you?"
I don't think I've ever seen Sara's eyes as wide as they were when her head snapped to my direction. She stood there speechless, and I knew I'd busted her good. I couldn't contain myself anymore, and my laughter exploded at her expense.
"I… I wasn't… Catherine? No," she sputtered.
It took a moment for my laughter to subside enough for me to speak. "I'm not stupid, Sara," I mocked her earlier words in my best girl-voice. "Like I couldn't see you ogling her through the window."
"Stop it, Warrick!" She shoved me roughly. "First of all, I don't 'ogle.' Second of all, I'm not… I wasn't… Catherine's just…"
"Fine as hell?" I tried completing her thought.
"No!" She hit me again. "Dammit, Warrick! No. Knock it off," she grumbled the last bit through clenched teeth.
Judging by the pink of her cheeks, she had it bad. "Oh c'mon, Sara. Who could blame you?"
"I said drop it," she barked, staring at the table.
I shook my head. "Admit it."
"No."
"Sara…" I pushed.
"Not happening," she said dryly.
"You know I'm right."
"I don't know anything of the sort." I could tell she was near breaking point. I fixed a knowing look in her direction, certain if I stared long and hard enough, she would eventually crack.
"Fine!" she snapped. "Catherine is 'fine as hell.' Happy? But I was not ogling."
"You were a little," I said casually, my voice purposely smug. She only had time to glare before Catherine herself strode into the room.
"Hey, how's it going in here?" she asked, her smile in my current partner's direction causing Sara to once again become overly interested in the photos.
Sara didn't look up from the table. "I thought you had a dead body to deal with."
"I had to hand it off," Catherine sighed. "Possible ties to one of Sam's casinos. Mind if I join you guys till something comes in?"
Sara looked up at Catherine, then to me, and I couldn't quite tell whether she was more afraid I'd say yes, or worried I wouldn't. "Be my guest," I finally replied. "It would be our pleasure to have you. Wouldn't it, Sara?"
"Yeah, sounds great," she managed to force out. I almost felt bad for her, but then again, it was pretty hysterical, if only for the fact that it was completely unexpected. I really had to tell someone about this. Just then I saw Greg passing through the hall. He and Sara were close, so there was a good chance I wouldn't be spilling the beans anyway.
"Would you ladies excuse me a moment?" I asked. Both women nodded their consent while I hustled out of the room.
I waited a second until he'd passed the window and we were out of their sights; I was in no mood to face the wrath of Sara, as she would undoubtedly know exactly what we were talking about. I grabbed Greg by the arm, apparently a little more roughly than intended.
"Ow, man!" he whined. "What gives?"
"Sorry, Greggo. But listen up. You are not going to believe this…"