You Were Meant For Me

Chapter 8

The next day brought with it uncertainty and hope. Catherine was still unsure whether meeting Warrick was even a good idea. She had spent most of her morning changing her outfit over and over while trying to calm her nerves. "It's going to be fine, it's going to be fine," she whispered to herself. She continued to scrutinize her outfit and was about to change again when the doorbell suddenly rang. "He's here." And just like that her heart began pounding loudly in her chest as her apprehension only increased in intensity.

She made her way out the bedroom and down the stairs. When she reached the door she hesitated for a moment before finally unlocking and opening it. The face that greeted her on the other side instantly pushed away the doubts she had been feeling moments earlier.

"Hey," Warrick whispered, as a smiled played across his lips.

"…Hey," Catherine replied, and couldn't stop herself from just staring at him.

Warrick stepped in the doorway and pulled her into his arms. Catherine's eyes closed as she wrapped her arms around him and held him close. She had forgotten just how much she missed him. They stood like that for several moments before she slightly pulled away and drew him further into the house before closing the door.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see your face." His hand lightly touched her cheek.

"I think I do." She said before leaning towards him to kiss his lips. She felt his fingers pass through her hair as he deepened the kiss. The only thing she could think of at that moment was how she never wanted to let him go. She almost sighed against his lips when the kiss was finally broken.

"I'm really glad I called." She looked into his eyes.

"Me too,"

She led him to the living room and they both sat down. "So…." She started and Warrick could already feel the shift in the mood. "How's …" She couldn't believe she was even asking about Tina when she should have been trying to avoid the subject at all cost. But there was a nagging question in her mind that would not let her be until she finally got it answered.

"She's fine." He knew what she was about to say, and wanted to save her from having to say the other woman's name.

She nodded. "Are you living with her?" She didn't look up at him as the words left her lips. It was a silly question, or at least she hoped it was.

"No, no I'm not." He grabbed hold of her hand in other to get her to look at him. "Tina and I are finished and there is nothing left between us. I'm just there for the baby. I see her only when I need to and only if it has something to do with the baby. I don't love her, I'm not sure if I ever did."

Catherine was speechless and could do nothing but nod to show that she understood. Maybe this really could work, she thought, and allowed herself to believe it.

Warrick left late that night after having diner with Catherine and Lindsey. He kissed Catherine goodnight and promised that he would see her again in a couple of days. True to his word, 2 days later he showed up at her doorstep with chocolate and flowers and a dinner reservation. For several weeks it continued on like this. They would see each other a couple times each week and speak to each other at least once a day. Things were actually working and for a while only happiness surrounded them. A midnight call would later change everything.

Catherine was at the lab when she answered Warrick's call. "Hey honey I'm working right now, I'll have to call you back later." She said quickly, her hand already posed to hang up the phone. A muffled sound greeted her and caused her to stop what she was doing. "Hello? Warrick? Are you there?" She waited but heard nothing but heavy breathing. "Warrick, is something wrong?" Fear and panic quickly began to consume her as thoughts of dread filled her mind. "Warrick!"

"… Th-there … there was an accident. The baby … it's … it's…" A sob could be heard on the other side.

"Warrick, what happened?" She could hear the pain in his voice and it was killing her that there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"It's gone Cath … the baby's gone!" He yelled as more sobs over took his body.

Later on Catherine would not be able to recollect what happened after that call. All she would remember was running to the locker room, grabbing her things and running to Grissom's office before making a mad dash out the building and into her car. The long drive to the hospital in California went by in a blur. All she could think about, all she could hear was Warrick's muffled cries of anguish on the other end of the phone.

When she finally got to the hospital she found Warrick on the floor in the hallway beside Tina's room. He was sitting with his arms on his bended legs and his head buried in his hands. She softly called out his name as she slowly approached him. He gave no response as she kneeled down beside him. "Warrick," She tried again and this time gently pulled at his wrists.

He allowed her to move his hands away and slowly looked up at her. His eyes were slightly red and there were tears still running down his face. "Cath?" He whispered her name as if he had just realized she was there.

"Yeah, it's me. I'm here." She softly touched his cheek.

"She… she won't even let me come in the room," he murmured.

"Is she okay?" Catherine continued when she saw him nod. "When did this happen?"

"…Late this morning, but I didn't freaking find out until a few hours ago." A touch of anger could be heard in his words as he momentarily clenched his hands.

Catherine stayed quiet. Unsure what to say she instead chose to wrapped her arms around him. Warrick held onto her tightly as he once again stopped trying to hold back the pain.

After a short silence he mumbled against her shoulder, "how could losing someone, who was never really here, hurt this much?"

"I don't know," she whispered, "I don't know."

As they held onto each other in the hallway, Tina lied inside the room imprisoned within her own sorrow. She had not wanted to see Warrick because she didn't think she could bare the added pain of watching him suffer with the lost of their child. The pain she felt was indescribable and she wanted nothing other than to be left alone. This pain was hers and she refused to share it with anyone, even him.

Catherine pulled slightly away from Warrick and softly kissed his cheek. "I think we should get you home." She whispered.

He only nodded in response. Slowly they both stood up. Warrick took a step towards Tina's door and held the doorknob for a moment before letting it go. If all she wanted from him was to be left alone then he would give her at least that. He took a deep breath then turned to Catherine and took a hold of her hand. Together they headed back to his apartment.

TBC

Review and let me know what you thought of it.

:)