Hello again thanks to the 3 of you who reviewed. Mucho Gracias. More
reviews and feedback would be appreciated. Anyway enough from me I think
I'll let the story speak for itself. Here goes chapter 3 .
She stepped inside and started to remove Warrick's coat and then she winked at the younger man who was still politely stood outside the door.
"What?" He asked.
"Well, aren't you coming in.?"
"You serious?"
She nodded to show the affirmative.
"Then you know I'm coming in,"
Catherine once more turned her back on Warrick and wandered further into her well kept home. She put a finger to her lips and Warrick took the hint. He'd forgotten about little Lindsay in the next room.
"Coffee?"
"Nah, I'm a tea man,"
The strawberry blond raised an eyebrow, "Right I bet you are."
"And what's that meant to mean?"
"Nothing, you drink tea and wear fleeces, I can see what man I'm dealing with now," She blushed when she realised what she'd said and turned around to face the opposite direction, away from Warrick's stare.
He wasn't sure how to take the last comment. Was she coming onto him? She'd been flirting with him since they'd met in the alleyway. Maybe just maybe she liked him the way he liked her. Nah, he thought, she's too classy for me.
"So then why were you in the alleyway?"
"Excuse me?"
"You didn't answer my question earlier so I'm asking you again now. Why were you in the alleyway? I know you usually drive home."
"I needed some thinking space, clear my head."
"Is it anything to do with the Cleaver Case?"
"No,"
"And that's a blatant lie,"
She smiled. The coffee was made and she could no longer hide her face from her friend. She walked over to the sofa where Warrick had settled and placed herself down next to him.
"It's just a hard case, that's all."
"Uh-huh, yeah course it is."
"Come on what is this the third degree?" A slight tone of anger crept into her voice. "Look I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap. It's just we all have cases that get to us. I suppose this is mine."
"Yeah but similar cases haven't bothered you before. Why just this one?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we've had cases before when the mother's died and the father's beaten the kid up or the kid's runaway from home after the mother's death, you know what I mean, similar cases. Why is this one bothering you?"
"I don't know maybe its just rings close to home."
"Ok now it's my turn to play dumb, what do YOU mean?"
She sighed. Warrick knew her emotions. She could fool everyone else, even Grissom most of the time, but Warrick just knew. "It was a long time ago I just don't want to talk about it,"
"But if you can't deal with it Grissom's going to take you off the case, you know that don't you?"
"Yeah I know that Warrick, But that's the problem with the past isn't it? Always comes back to haunt you at one point or another."
"Well, do you want to talk about it because I'm here."
Catherine picked up her steaming mug from the mahogany coffee table. She felt the scolding warmth heat her cold hands and she slowly took a sip of the scolding liquid.
"It was a long time ago Warrick, You know about my stripper days don't you?"
"Well yeah briefly but why do I get the feeling that isn't the whole story?"
She gave out a small laugh. "You know me so well, when I was younger my mom and dad split up, say when I was about 7. My dad never really showed his face after that. I thought he was such an asshole every Christmas or birthday I never even got a card or a phone call. Anyway, My mom and me we got along fine until she met Jimmy. I must have been about 11 when he moved in. Things were ok, Jimmy and I didn't really get along but we stuck it for mom. I went through a rough time in high school. I got teased for being big,"
"But your not big," Warrick interrupted.
"Yeah now I'm not. At first I ignored it, I was always a tough little kid, I dealt with the bullies. That was until mom died. She died of breast cancer when I was 17."
"I'm sorry Catherine," Warrick looked over to his friend who was looking straight into her coffee cup.
"Yeah well, it's all in the past. Anyway, Jimmy didn't really want to stick around after that. One night he came home in a drunken stupor," Catherine spat the words out the obvious distaste for her stepfather showing in her voice. "He blamed me for my mom's death. Said it was all my fault. He never gave me a real reason but he just couldn't face the fact that mom died because, well she just died. It was no one's fault. Anyway, he just went after me. He hit me a few times but luckily I got out of the house before any real damage was done. I ran to my neighbour's house and called the cops. By the time they got there jimmy had vanished. I never saw him again after that."
"So that's what bothered you about the Cleaver case."
"Yeah it's just the way Grissom told everyone about it, with no emotion. I mean he wasn't to know but I just felt. I don't know I just didn't want to get straight home to Lindsay. I never wanted her to grow up like I did but look what Eddie did, great mother I am."
"You are a great mom Catherine. No one else I know could juggle the job we do and a kid as well. And Eddie didn't affect Lindsay; she's way to young to understand about that. So where does the stripper gig come into this?"
"How did I know you'd remember that?" She smirked. "Well, after Jimmy left I had to pay the bills somehow and a friend of mine who worked in the strip club offered me a job. But things had already started to spiral out of control,"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, the bullies in town. They knew about my mom and jimmy and you know bullies, always relentless. The fatty jokes kept coming and given that I wasn't over my mom I just needed to have an outlet for my pain."
"So you."
"Became anorexic. To be honest I don't really know where everything went so crazy, I could see what I was doing to myself, I just couldn't stop. On top of that I got involved with cocaine, if I took that I never felt hungry. The stripping gig was my life but when you become a skeleton men aren't exactly that forthcoming anymore with shoving money down your pants."
"So that explains why you're so small now,"
"Yeah, well I think that's all the crap in my life for you."
"I'm sorry about everything, I mean I'm sorry for prying and I'm sorry for,"
"Stop saying sorry," Catherine interrupted.
"Sorry,"
Catherine laughed at the younger man. "I give up with you,"
Warrick put on a mock face of sadness and Catherine's broad smile graced her pretty face.
"Don't give up on me you never know I might be the best you'll ever have." Warrick was slightly shocked at how easily that had come out. Generally he flirted with Catherine but he'd never come straight out and hinted that he liked her.
"Oh is that right now?"
"Yeah that's right."
The strawberry blond licked her lips slowly enticing Warrick to get excited. She'd known for quite some time that she'd liked him, that's the good thing about working together on cases, you kind of get to know who you're dealing with, and Catherine certainly wouldn't mind dealing more with Warrick.
"Prove it," She remarked cockily.
"You serious?"
"What do you think?"
Warrick needed no further invitation, He'd fantasised about this moment for weeks maybe even months on end. He moved in quickly covering the short distance between him and his co-worker. Her lips were soft and tasted sweetly of the coffee she'd just finished off. Her hands were reaching to his neck pulling him; she seemed eager and willing to kiss him back. The kiss was memorable, amazing and too damn good to cut short. Eventually though Catherine pulled away.
"What's wrong?"
"Trust me nothing was wrong with that," She reassured him. "It's just that Lindsay's right next door and she'll be getting up anytime soon."
"Oh right," Warrick's face fell. He understood precisely what she meant and although he knew she was right he still felt disappointed that it was over.
"Hey come on you didn't let me finish."
"Finish what?"
"You were right, I mean about being the best I've ever had thing."
Warrick smiled and blushed simultaneously.
"Don't be embarrassed that's a good thing. How do you fancy meeting up before work tonight? I need some sleep but I think I need some more of what you just gave me."
"Where and when? And what about Lindsay?"
"Lindsay's going to her Grandparents for the weekend. And that means I'm home alone. And as to when and where I'll give you a clue, before work and out of work."
"Well that narrows things down now doesn't it?"
"I know I'm good like that,"
"I better go, Lindsay hasn't seen you for a couple of hours and you look dog tired." Warrick rose to his feet and walked over to the coat stand near the door. He easily slid his leather jacket on over his fleece and turned around to face Catherine. He bent down to kiss her again and she replied to his forwardness with the reward of a kiss.
"And I promise I won't tell anyone about your mom and stuff."
"Thank you Warrick."
"I know I'm just the gentleman. Anyway I'm off, take care Catherine." Her name rolled off Warrick's tongue but he savoured each and every syllable.
"See you later,"
"Bye," He opened the door and walked quickly down the path. The street was now flooded with early morning light but the air was still crisp and frosty. He walked home quickly, himself in dire need of sleep, but he knew he was now probably on to much of a high to get it. For once in a long time he was actually looking forward to the night shift tonight. He smiled as the fresh memories replayed in his head keeping him in a state of daze for the walk home.
I know it's a long chapter and I know I haven't got to G/S yet but as you will see I'm double posting today and they're in the next chapter. So until next time ladies and gents =) XX
She stepped inside and started to remove Warrick's coat and then she winked at the younger man who was still politely stood outside the door.
"What?" He asked.
"Well, aren't you coming in.?"
"You serious?"
She nodded to show the affirmative.
"Then you know I'm coming in,"
Catherine once more turned her back on Warrick and wandered further into her well kept home. She put a finger to her lips and Warrick took the hint. He'd forgotten about little Lindsay in the next room.
"Coffee?"
"Nah, I'm a tea man,"
The strawberry blond raised an eyebrow, "Right I bet you are."
"And what's that meant to mean?"
"Nothing, you drink tea and wear fleeces, I can see what man I'm dealing with now," She blushed when she realised what she'd said and turned around to face the opposite direction, away from Warrick's stare.
He wasn't sure how to take the last comment. Was she coming onto him? She'd been flirting with him since they'd met in the alleyway. Maybe just maybe she liked him the way he liked her. Nah, he thought, she's too classy for me.
"So then why were you in the alleyway?"
"Excuse me?"
"You didn't answer my question earlier so I'm asking you again now. Why were you in the alleyway? I know you usually drive home."
"I needed some thinking space, clear my head."
"Is it anything to do with the Cleaver Case?"
"No,"
"And that's a blatant lie,"
She smiled. The coffee was made and she could no longer hide her face from her friend. She walked over to the sofa where Warrick had settled and placed herself down next to him.
"It's just a hard case, that's all."
"Uh-huh, yeah course it is."
"Come on what is this the third degree?" A slight tone of anger crept into her voice. "Look I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap. It's just we all have cases that get to us. I suppose this is mine."
"Yeah but similar cases haven't bothered you before. Why just this one?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we've had cases before when the mother's died and the father's beaten the kid up or the kid's runaway from home after the mother's death, you know what I mean, similar cases. Why is this one bothering you?"
"I don't know maybe its just rings close to home."
"Ok now it's my turn to play dumb, what do YOU mean?"
She sighed. Warrick knew her emotions. She could fool everyone else, even Grissom most of the time, but Warrick just knew. "It was a long time ago I just don't want to talk about it,"
"But if you can't deal with it Grissom's going to take you off the case, you know that don't you?"
"Yeah I know that Warrick, But that's the problem with the past isn't it? Always comes back to haunt you at one point or another."
"Well, do you want to talk about it because I'm here."
Catherine picked up her steaming mug from the mahogany coffee table. She felt the scolding warmth heat her cold hands and she slowly took a sip of the scolding liquid.
"It was a long time ago Warrick, You know about my stripper days don't you?"
"Well yeah briefly but why do I get the feeling that isn't the whole story?"
She gave out a small laugh. "You know me so well, when I was younger my mom and dad split up, say when I was about 7. My dad never really showed his face after that. I thought he was such an asshole every Christmas or birthday I never even got a card or a phone call. Anyway, My mom and me we got along fine until she met Jimmy. I must have been about 11 when he moved in. Things were ok, Jimmy and I didn't really get along but we stuck it for mom. I went through a rough time in high school. I got teased for being big,"
"But your not big," Warrick interrupted.
"Yeah now I'm not. At first I ignored it, I was always a tough little kid, I dealt with the bullies. That was until mom died. She died of breast cancer when I was 17."
"I'm sorry Catherine," Warrick looked over to his friend who was looking straight into her coffee cup.
"Yeah well, it's all in the past. Anyway, Jimmy didn't really want to stick around after that. One night he came home in a drunken stupor," Catherine spat the words out the obvious distaste for her stepfather showing in her voice. "He blamed me for my mom's death. Said it was all my fault. He never gave me a real reason but he just couldn't face the fact that mom died because, well she just died. It was no one's fault. Anyway, he just went after me. He hit me a few times but luckily I got out of the house before any real damage was done. I ran to my neighbour's house and called the cops. By the time they got there jimmy had vanished. I never saw him again after that."
"So that's what bothered you about the Cleaver case."
"Yeah it's just the way Grissom told everyone about it, with no emotion. I mean he wasn't to know but I just felt. I don't know I just didn't want to get straight home to Lindsay. I never wanted her to grow up like I did but look what Eddie did, great mother I am."
"You are a great mom Catherine. No one else I know could juggle the job we do and a kid as well. And Eddie didn't affect Lindsay; she's way to young to understand about that. So where does the stripper gig come into this?"
"How did I know you'd remember that?" She smirked. "Well, after Jimmy left I had to pay the bills somehow and a friend of mine who worked in the strip club offered me a job. But things had already started to spiral out of control,"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, the bullies in town. They knew about my mom and jimmy and you know bullies, always relentless. The fatty jokes kept coming and given that I wasn't over my mom I just needed to have an outlet for my pain."
"So you."
"Became anorexic. To be honest I don't really know where everything went so crazy, I could see what I was doing to myself, I just couldn't stop. On top of that I got involved with cocaine, if I took that I never felt hungry. The stripping gig was my life but when you become a skeleton men aren't exactly that forthcoming anymore with shoving money down your pants."
"So that explains why you're so small now,"
"Yeah, well I think that's all the crap in my life for you."
"I'm sorry about everything, I mean I'm sorry for prying and I'm sorry for,"
"Stop saying sorry," Catherine interrupted.
"Sorry,"
Catherine laughed at the younger man. "I give up with you,"
Warrick put on a mock face of sadness and Catherine's broad smile graced her pretty face.
"Don't give up on me you never know I might be the best you'll ever have." Warrick was slightly shocked at how easily that had come out. Generally he flirted with Catherine but he'd never come straight out and hinted that he liked her.
"Oh is that right now?"
"Yeah that's right."
The strawberry blond licked her lips slowly enticing Warrick to get excited. She'd known for quite some time that she'd liked him, that's the good thing about working together on cases, you kind of get to know who you're dealing with, and Catherine certainly wouldn't mind dealing more with Warrick.
"Prove it," She remarked cockily.
"You serious?"
"What do you think?"
Warrick needed no further invitation, He'd fantasised about this moment for weeks maybe even months on end. He moved in quickly covering the short distance between him and his co-worker. Her lips were soft and tasted sweetly of the coffee she'd just finished off. Her hands were reaching to his neck pulling him; she seemed eager and willing to kiss him back. The kiss was memorable, amazing and too damn good to cut short. Eventually though Catherine pulled away.
"What's wrong?"
"Trust me nothing was wrong with that," She reassured him. "It's just that Lindsay's right next door and she'll be getting up anytime soon."
"Oh right," Warrick's face fell. He understood precisely what she meant and although he knew she was right he still felt disappointed that it was over.
"Hey come on you didn't let me finish."
"Finish what?"
"You were right, I mean about being the best I've ever had thing."
Warrick smiled and blushed simultaneously.
"Don't be embarrassed that's a good thing. How do you fancy meeting up before work tonight? I need some sleep but I think I need some more of what you just gave me."
"Where and when? And what about Lindsay?"
"Lindsay's going to her Grandparents for the weekend. And that means I'm home alone. And as to when and where I'll give you a clue, before work and out of work."
"Well that narrows things down now doesn't it?"
"I know I'm good like that,"
"I better go, Lindsay hasn't seen you for a couple of hours and you look dog tired." Warrick rose to his feet and walked over to the coat stand near the door. He easily slid his leather jacket on over his fleece and turned around to face Catherine. He bent down to kiss her again and she replied to his forwardness with the reward of a kiss.
"And I promise I won't tell anyone about your mom and stuff."
"Thank you Warrick."
"I know I'm just the gentleman. Anyway I'm off, take care Catherine." Her name rolled off Warrick's tongue but he savoured each and every syllable.
"See you later,"
"Bye," He opened the door and walked quickly down the path. The street was now flooded with early morning light but the air was still crisp and frosty. He walked home quickly, himself in dire need of sleep, but he knew he was now probably on to much of a high to get it. For once in a long time he was actually looking forward to the night shift tonight. He smiled as the fresh memories replayed in his head keeping him in a state of daze for the walk home.
I know it's a long chapter and I know I haven't got to G/S yet but as you will see I'm double posting today and they're in the next chapter. So until next time ladies and gents =) XX