XXXI - SHIMMER
Nick heard his doorbell ringing and grinned. Someone was early - it was only 2:45. Rubbing a towel roughly over his still wet hair, he shrugged into a ratty t-shirt and hollered down the hallway "Bet that's Grissom!"
Greg stumbled out of his bedroom and groaned, "Shit. I slept in."
Nick just grinned as he headed towards his front door, "How long did Alli stick around for after Sara and I went to bed?"
Greg shrugged, "Not long - another half hour or so. She wanted to get back to Doc Robbins' and do some last minute packing. Shower free?"
"All yours," Nick responded, opening the door just as Grissom was getting ready to ring the doorbell again. "Hey Griss - sorry for the wait. Greg slept in, I was in the shower and I don't know where Sara is."
"Aren't we all meeting here at 3:00?" Grissom asked, looking at his watch, "or did I get the time wrong?"
"No, man. You're just super punctual and the rest of us are not. Come on in - I'm sure everyone will be here soon enough." Nick turned and motioned Grissom into his house, "Wanna beer?"
"Before work?"
"We don't have to be at work for another five hours. Besides which, it's an unspoken law that when you're moving someone into a new apartment, you need to drink beer. Pizza will follow at Greg's apartment. So - Corona or Coors?"
Grissom shrugged, "Corona."
Nick grinned and handed Grissom a bottle. "Sara sliced the limes earlier - want one?" He handed one to Grissom before he got an answer, and stuck his head back in the fridge, grabbing a Corona for himself as well. "Where's Cath?"
"She'll be here soon. You know her - always running late. Apparently Lyndsey is having a sleepover at her aunt's tonight, and has invited Nancy. Catherine promised to rent some movies."
Grissom slid into a chair at the kitchen table, watching as Nick grabbed some milk before heading to the pantry and grabbing a box of Fruit Loops. He had just poured himself a large bowl when Sara walked in, looking slightly disheveled and holding her kitten.
"Beer and Fruit Loops. That's healthy," she remarked dryly, rolling her eyes at Nick's unrepentant grin. "Hey Grissom."
"Sara. So - this is the kitten I've heard so much about," Grissom looked at the cat and half-smiled. "She's cute."
"Not so much when she bolts out the door and climbs the nearest tree," Sara muttered. "I'm surprised you didn't see me when you drove in."
"You were up a tree?" Greg asked as he wandered into the kitchen.
Sara grunted, "D-Na here made a break for it when I opened the front door to get the paper. Right up the old chestnut tree next door. Good thing I'm an expert tree climber, or she'd still be up there."
* * * * *
Alli had a variety of boxes sitting in the driveway when Greg and his friends arrived, 30 minutes later than they had planned. Greg grinned cheerily at her as he slid out of Nick's truck, "Sorry we're late."
"I'm just glad you're here. I put Goliath in his travel crate, and he's going crazy." The angry yowling emanating from the small cage behind her punctuated her last statement.
"We can put all this stuff in my truck," Nick interjected, looking around him as he walked over to Greg. Alli smiled when she saw that all of Greg's friends had come to help her move.
"I really appreciate everyone coming to help. I wasn't expecting this many people."
Catherine grinned at her, "Greg asked us to help." Her statement said it all, and everyone else merely nodded in agreement. "Lyndsey, stay in the front yard - no going into the back. This isn't going to take long."
Lyndsey nodded happily and ran to Warrick's car, pounding on the passenger window, "Nancy - come out and play tag with me!" The happy laughter of the two little girls filled the front yard as the rest of the CSI's quickly loaded Nick's truck, taking extra care with the canvases. Dr. Robbins had come outside, greeting them cheerily.
"Looks like you have no shortage of helpers," he commented. "Grissom - nice of you to help my favorite niece desert me after less than four days."
"Sorry, Al." Grissom's tone was dry.
"We're not here to help her desert, Doc Robbins," Greg added, "We're here to liberate the cat!"
* * * * *
With so many people involved, the move went quickly. Catherine had happily called her sister to say she was dropping off the girls a little earlier than anticipated; and she and Grissom were headed out for a nice dinner.
Katie had nervously allowed her little sister to head out on her first ever sleepover, after checking several times to make sure Nancy had Warrick's phone number in case she needed anything. Nancy had rolled her eyes at her sisters repeated instructions, and giggled when Warrick had winked at her. Hugging her sister goodbye she had promised to be good, before turning to Warrick and wrapping her tiny arms around his neck.
"Katie might get lonely without me," she told him seriously, "so please take care of her."
Warrick had solemnly promised to do so, hugging Nancy tightly as he bade her goodnight. He understood why Katie was so nervous about this - hell, he was nervous too, and Nancy had only been staying at his place for three days. He was still slightly amazed at the incredible bond he had to this small girl and her sister.
Waving goodbye to the girls as they left, Warrick wrapped a consoling arm around Katie's shoulders. She leaned her head against his shoulder gratefully, sighing almost to herself, "Nancy hasn't been away from me since our parents died."
"She'll be fine," he replied gently. "So - I wonder if they finally decided on what they wanted on the pizzas."
Sara was sitting in the large overstuffed armchair in Greg's living room, Nick sitting on the floor arms draped casually over her knees, but he smiled when Warrick led Katie back into the living room. "We're getting two extra-large pizzas with the works, and a small Veggie pizza for Sara."
"Should be here any minute," Greg added, grinning when the apartment buzzer sounded. "That's them now. Someone - start the movie."
"What are we watching?" Warrick grinned as he tucked his long frame onto the floor, patting beside him for Katie to sit.
Greg grinned as he buzzed the pizza guy up, "In deference to the fact we have girls here, we have opted to avoid the testosterone driven mayhem of 'Con Air', for the deep and gory-with-a-purpose violent rage of 'Reservoir Dogs.'"
* * * * *
No one wanted to go to work that evening. When the movie had finished, good natured groans had filled the air. Warrick and Katie had been the first to leave, Warrick smiling at the good natured ribbing he received from Nick and Greg about his day off. Katie, still a bit of an unknown quantity to the rest of the team, had stood to the side smiling wistfully at their friendly banter.
Sara walked over to her. "They're always like this," she offered, "always teasing each other. You'll get used to it."
"The way they tease each other - it really reminds me of my brother. We were like that - before - before our parents died, before Enoch. Before he died."
Sara's smile turned sympathetic. "Warrick told you we have Enoch, right? At least your brother will have justice. Are you and Nancy going to be staying with him?"
Katie sighed, "He's asked us too, and I don't really have any place else to go right now. He's such a wonderful man, and Nancy adores him. I just - I don't want to take advantage of him. I don't want him to think I'm using him for what he's offering."
Sara nodded, "I can see how you might worry. But Katie - Warrick is an intelligent guy. If he thought you were using him, he wouldn't ask you to stay with him. What else could you do? Do you even have your SIN number? A job lined up? Money for you to live on?"
When Katie shook her head miserably, Sara touched a gentle hand to her arm, "Then let Warrick help you. He's been really - oddly - content this last week, despite everything that's been going on. You and Nancy have managed to get more out of him in a few days than I have in two years. He's good to you, sure. But you're good for him, too."
"Are all his friends as accepting as you are?" Katie whispered, her smile tentative.
"I'm the least accepting," Sara snorted. "But Warrick is my friend, and I want him to be happy. None of us are going to judge you harshly if you stay; none of us will think less of you. You've been through a lot and friends are hard to come by. Warrick is your friend, and by extension so are we. So stay with him."
"He'd have to move. His apartment's too small. There's only one bedroom," Katie offered weakly.
"Right, so where would Nancy sleep?" Sara teased gently, winking as Katie blushed. "I've been telling Warrick he needs a bigger place for months, so moving wouldn't be a bad thing. As a matter of fact - I know the perfect place. Hey, Warrick!"
Warrick looked up from his conversation with Nick, "Yo. What's up?"
"You planning on moving into a bigger place soon?"
Warrick grinned, "That's the plan. Katie tell you she and Nancy are my new roommates?"
"She mentioned it," Sara responded, "And if you're looking for a bigger place, my apartment is still empty. I haven't managed to sublet it yet. It's pretty big."
"Yeah, man," Nick inserted. "Sara's apartment is great - nice size living room, a couple of good size bedrooms, a smaller office that could be a third bedroom -" his eyes clearly said *if you need it*, but he refrained from saying it out loud. "It's perfect."
Warrick looked at Katie, who had flushed a dull red, but was smiling at him anyway. "It is a nice apartment - there's a pool too, right Sara?"
Sara nodded, "Fully staffed, and heated."
"Maybe we should take a look at it. What do you say, Katie?"
"It's up to you, Warrick," Katie demurred, "It would be your apartment."
"No," Warrick retorted gently, "it would be our apartment."
* * * * *
Grissom and Catherine pulled into the parking lot around the same time Nick and Sara arrived. Hoping lightly out of the Tahoe, Catherine waved.
"So - you guys ready. Grissom's been chomping at the bit all day at the thought of nailing Enoch."
Nick grinned, "That's something I'm looking forward to myself. I can't wait to nail him."
"Where's Greg?" Grissom interrupted. "He's alright, right?"
"He's with Alli," Sara responded, rolling her eyes. "She said she needed to come by here anyway to talk to Doc Robbins, and Greg offered to drive in with her. Go figure."
Grissom smiled at that, "She's a nice girl."
"Greg seems to think so," Nick added. "And she seems to like him, so it's all good."
The squeal of tires turning into the parking lot announced Alli and Greg's arrival, and Sara started to laugh, "She even drives like him. So Griss, what's the plan?"
Grissom looked at his watch, "Break room - ten minutes. I'll go find Brass and get the DNA results on our body. Vincent assured me they would be on my desk when shift started."
* * * * *
"I can't get over how quite it is without Nancy here," Warrick offered into the thick silence of his apartment. He and Katie had returned several minutes ago, and had exchanged hardly half a dozen words. Katie seemed nervous and tentative, feelings that Warrick understood. He found himself feeling the same way.
"She does tend to talk your ear off when she's around," Katie agreed softly. She wandered over to his stereo system and looked at his CDs.
"I'd miss the noise if you guys left." Warrick walked over to Katie's side, and grabbed a CD, popping it into the stereo. "So - you wanna dance?"
He placed a hand on her arm gently, smiling at her when she started and shivered, before turning serious eyes to his. "I'd love to dance with you, Warrick."
~Sharing with us what he knows,
shining eyes are big and blue -
and all around him water flows
this world to him is new,
this world to him is new.
To touch a face
To kiss a smile
New eyes see no race
The essence of a child
the essence
He's born to shimmer, he's born to shine.
He's born to radiate -
He's born to live he's born to love
and we'll teach him not to hate.
True love it is a rock
Smoothed over by a stream.
And no ticking of a clock
Truly measures what that means
Truly measures what that means -
And this thing they call our time
I heard a brilliant woman say
She said you know it's crazy
how I want to capture mine -
I think I love this woman's way
I think I love this woman's
Way she shimmers, the way she shines
The way she radiates
The way she lives, the way she loves
The way she never hates.
Sometimes I think of all these things that can surround me,
I know it all as being mine -
But she kisses me and and she wraps herself around me,
She gives me love, she gives me time
Yeah.... and I feel fine.
But time I cannot change,
So here's to looking back.
You know I'd drink a whole bottle of my pride
And I'd toast to change
To keep these demons off my back
To keep these demons off my back
Because I want to shimmer, I want to shine -
I want to radiate.
I want to live, I want to love.
I want to try to learn not to hate -
try not to hate, yeah, yeah -
We're born to shimmer
We're born to shine
We're born to live, we're born to love
We're born to never hate ~
Warrick had started singing along softly, the words of the song rumbling through his chest and vibrating against Katie. She had buried her head under his neck as they danced, and Katie found herself relaxing for the first time since they had returned to Warrick's apartment.
The CD snicked over to another song, this one a bluesy tune Katie didn't recognize, but it didn't really matter. She wasn't really listening to the words anyway. The steady rhythm of Warrick's heart had taken over her senses, the gentle thud of it beneath her ear both soothing and exciting.
His hands had drifted up her back and to her shoulders, squeezing gently, fingers roaming through her hair. The effect was so drugging, Katie sighed. Warrick smiled at her, his gaze electric, as he leaned in and kissed her.
Jim Croce's husky voice filled the living room, and Katie leaned into the kiss eagerly.
~If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
Till Eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you ~
Warrick's lips were soft and gentle against her own, his mouth a wonder. Katie ran her hands up his back, marveling in the feel of the muscles bunching at his shoulders as he pulled her closer.
~ If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then,
Again, I would spend them with you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with. ~
Katie was so petite Warrick could have wrapped his arms around her twice. She reminded him of a fawn, all big eyes and nervous movement, gentle and timid. Warrick could feel her rapid pulse at the base of her neck as he trailed his mouth down her smooth throat to her collarbones. Katie's hands were at his shoulders, urging him on, pulling him closer. Very softly, almost so soft he couldn't hear her over the sound of the music they were still managing to dance to, she heard him whispering his name like a prayer. "Warrick."
~ If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with ~
Stumbling slightly, Warrick half pushed / half pulled Katie towards the stereo system, hitting replay on the disc. His eyes were blazing and heavy lidded as he looked at her, smiling slightly at the dazed expression on her face, his thumb running over her swollen lips.
"Katie," he whispered intently, "Katie, look at me. I don't want this to end."
"Neither do I." Her voice was breathless, her eyes bright with desire, "I don't want this to ever end."
"You know this isn't part of our agreement? I want you, but not if you think you have to do this to stay with me."
Katie smiled at him, her expression beatific, "I know that. You're not a man to place conditions. I want you, Warrick. Just you. Only you. Please don't stop."
Standing on her toes, she leaned into him, eyes intent.
Norah Jones was singing ~ Come away with me ~ in the night ~ Come away with me ~
Warrick closed his eyes against the passion engulfing him, before capturing her lips in another searing kiss and pulling her close. *So this is what love is*, he thought to himself. It was the last cohesive thought he had in a long, long time.
_____________________________
Author's Note:
I know I'm posting these chapters slower than normal, but I'm finding it hard to finish this story - mainly because I am enjoying the characters of Alli, Katie and Nancy so much I don't want it to end. However, end it must. Currently, I have no immediate plans to continue this particular series in the near future.
Next chapter: confronting Enoch. Greg and Alli. Sara and Nick. Cath and Grissom.
Songs in this chapter: Shawn Mullins - "Shimmer"; Jim Croce's - "Time in a Bottle"; Norah Jones - "Come Away with Me."
Nick heard his doorbell ringing and grinned. Someone was early - it was only 2:45. Rubbing a towel roughly over his still wet hair, he shrugged into a ratty t-shirt and hollered down the hallway "Bet that's Grissom!"
Greg stumbled out of his bedroom and groaned, "Shit. I slept in."
Nick just grinned as he headed towards his front door, "How long did Alli stick around for after Sara and I went to bed?"
Greg shrugged, "Not long - another half hour or so. She wanted to get back to Doc Robbins' and do some last minute packing. Shower free?"
"All yours," Nick responded, opening the door just as Grissom was getting ready to ring the doorbell again. "Hey Griss - sorry for the wait. Greg slept in, I was in the shower and I don't know where Sara is."
"Aren't we all meeting here at 3:00?" Grissom asked, looking at his watch, "or did I get the time wrong?"
"No, man. You're just super punctual and the rest of us are not. Come on in - I'm sure everyone will be here soon enough." Nick turned and motioned Grissom into his house, "Wanna beer?"
"Before work?"
"We don't have to be at work for another five hours. Besides which, it's an unspoken law that when you're moving someone into a new apartment, you need to drink beer. Pizza will follow at Greg's apartment. So - Corona or Coors?"
Grissom shrugged, "Corona."
Nick grinned and handed Grissom a bottle. "Sara sliced the limes earlier - want one?" He handed one to Grissom before he got an answer, and stuck his head back in the fridge, grabbing a Corona for himself as well. "Where's Cath?"
"She'll be here soon. You know her - always running late. Apparently Lyndsey is having a sleepover at her aunt's tonight, and has invited Nancy. Catherine promised to rent some movies."
Grissom slid into a chair at the kitchen table, watching as Nick grabbed some milk before heading to the pantry and grabbing a box of Fruit Loops. He had just poured himself a large bowl when Sara walked in, looking slightly disheveled and holding her kitten.
"Beer and Fruit Loops. That's healthy," she remarked dryly, rolling her eyes at Nick's unrepentant grin. "Hey Grissom."
"Sara. So - this is the kitten I've heard so much about," Grissom looked at the cat and half-smiled. "She's cute."
"Not so much when she bolts out the door and climbs the nearest tree," Sara muttered. "I'm surprised you didn't see me when you drove in."
"You were up a tree?" Greg asked as he wandered into the kitchen.
Sara grunted, "D-Na here made a break for it when I opened the front door to get the paper. Right up the old chestnut tree next door. Good thing I'm an expert tree climber, or she'd still be up there."
* * * * *
Alli had a variety of boxes sitting in the driveway when Greg and his friends arrived, 30 minutes later than they had planned. Greg grinned cheerily at her as he slid out of Nick's truck, "Sorry we're late."
"I'm just glad you're here. I put Goliath in his travel crate, and he's going crazy." The angry yowling emanating from the small cage behind her punctuated her last statement.
"We can put all this stuff in my truck," Nick interjected, looking around him as he walked over to Greg. Alli smiled when she saw that all of Greg's friends had come to help her move.
"I really appreciate everyone coming to help. I wasn't expecting this many people."
Catherine grinned at her, "Greg asked us to help." Her statement said it all, and everyone else merely nodded in agreement. "Lyndsey, stay in the front yard - no going into the back. This isn't going to take long."
Lyndsey nodded happily and ran to Warrick's car, pounding on the passenger window, "Nancy - come out and play tag with me!" The happy laughter of the two little girls filled the front yard as the rest of the CSI's quickly loaded Nick's truck, taking extra care with the canvases. Dr. Robbins had come outside, greeting them cheerily.
"Looks like you have no shortage of helpers," he commented. "Grissom - nice of you to help my favorite niece desert me after less than four days."
"Sorry, Al." Grissom's tone was dry.
"We're not here to help her desert, Doc Robbins," Greg added, "We're here to liberate the cat!"
* * * * *
With so many people involved, the move went quickly. Catherine had happily called her sister to say she was dropping off the girls a little earlier than anticipated; and she and Grissom were headed out for a nice dinner.
Katie had nervously allowed her little sister to head out on her first ever sleepover, after checking several times to make sure Nancy had Warrick's phone number in case she needed anything. Nancy had rolled her eyes at her sisters repeated instructions, and giggled when Warrick had winked at her. Hugging her sister goodbye she had promised to be good, before turning to Warrick and wrapping her tiny arms around his neck.
"Katie might get lonely without me," she told him seriously, "so please take care of her."
Warrick had solemnly promised to do so, hugging Nancy tightly as he bade her goodnight. He understood why Katie was so nervous about this - hell, he was nervous too, and Nancy had only been staying at his place for three days. He was still slightly amazed at the incredible bond he had to this small girl and her sister.
Waving goodbye to the girls as they left, Warrick wrapped a consoling arm around Katie's shoulders. She leaned her head against his shoulder gratefully, sighing almost to herself, "Nancy hasn't been away from me since our parents died."
"She'll be fine," he replied gently. "So - I wonder if they finally decided on what they wanted on the pizzas."
Sara was sitting in the large overstuffed armchair in Greg's living room, Nick sitting on the floor arms draped casually over her knees, but he smiled when Warrick led Katie back into the living room. "We're getting two extra-large pizzas with the works, and a small Veggie pizza for Sara."
"Should be here any minute," Greg added, grinning when the apartment buzzer sounded. "That's them now. Someone - start the movie."
"What are we watching?" Warrick grinned as he tucked his long frame onto the floor, patting beside him for Katie to sit.
Greg grinned as he buzzed the pizza guy up, "In deference to the fact we have girls here, we have opted to avoid the testosterone driven mayhem of 'Con Air', for the deep and gory-with-a-purpose violent rage of 'Reservoir Dogs.'"
* * * * *
No one wanted to go to work that evening. When the movie had finished, good natured groans had filled the air. Warrick and Katie had been the first to leave, Warrick smiling at the good natured ribbing he received from Nick and Greg about his day off. Katie, still a bit of an unknown quantity to the rest of the team, had stood to the side smiling wistfully at their friendly banter.
Sara walked over to her. "They're always like this," she offered, "always teasing each other. You'll get used to it."
"The way they tease each other - it really reminds me of my brother. We were like that - before - before our parents died, before Enoch. Before he died."
Sara's smile turned sympathetic. "Warrick told you we have Enoch, right? At least your brother will have justice. Are you and Nancy going to be staying with him?"
Katie sighed, "He's asked us too, and I don't really have any place else to go right now. He's such a wonderful man, and Nancy adores him. I just - I don't want to take advantage of him. I don't want him to think I'm using him for what he's offering."
Sara nodded, "I can see how you might worry. But Katie - Warrick is an intelligent guy. If he thought you were using him, he wouldn't ask you to stay with him. What else could you do? Do you even have your SIN number? A job lined up? Money for you to live on?"
When Katie shook her head miserably, Sara touched a gentle hand to her arm, "Then let Warrick help you. He's been really - oddly - content this last week, despite everything that's been going on. You and Nancy have managed to get more out of him in a few days than I have in two years. He's good to you, sure. But you're good for him, too."
"Are all his friends as accepting as you are?" Katie whispered, her smile tentative.
"I'm the least accepting," Sara snorted. "But Warrick is my friend, and I want him to be happy. None of us are going to judge you harshly if you stay; none of us will think less of you. You've been through a lot and friends are hard to come by. Warrick is your friend, and by extension so are we. So stay with him."
"He'd have to move. His apartment's too small. There's only one bedroom," Katie offered weakly.
"Right, so where would Nancy sleep?" Sara teased gently, winking as Katie blushed. "I've been telling Warrick he needs a bigger place for months, so moving wouldn't be a bad thing. As a matter of fact - I know the perfect place. Hey, Warrick!"
Warrick looked up from his conversation with Nick, "Yo. What's up?"
"You planning on moving into a bigger place soon?"
Warrick grinned, "That's the plan. Katie tell you she and Nancy are my new roommates?"
"She mentioned it," Sara responded, "And if you're looking for a bigger place, my apartment is still empty. I haven't managed to sublet it yet. It's pretty big."
"Yeah, man," Nick inserted. "Sara's apartment is great - nice size living room, a couple of good size bedrooms, a smaller office that could be a third bedroom -" his eyes clearly said *if you need it*, but he refrained from saying it out loud. "It's perfect."
Warrick looked at Katie, who had flushed a dull red, but was smiling at him anyway. "It is a nice apartment - there's a pool too, right Sara?"
Sara nodded, "Fully staffed, and heated."
"Maybe we should take a look at it. What do you say, Katie?"
"It's up to you, Warrick," Katie demurred, "It would be your apartment."
"No," Warrick retorted gently, "it would be our apartment."
* * * * *
Grissom and Catherine pulled into the parking lot around the same time Nick and Sara arrived. Hoping lightly out of the Tahoe, Catherine waved.
"So - you guys ready. Grissom's been chomping at the bit all day at the thought of nailing Enoch."
Nick grinned, "That's something I'm looking forward to myself. I can't wait to nail him."
"Where's Greg?" Grissom interrupted. "He's alright, right?"
"He's with Alli," Sara responded, rolling her eyes. "She said she needed to come by here anyway to talk to Doc Robbins, and Greg offered to drive in with her. Go figure."
Grissom smiled at that, "She's a nice girl."
"Greg seems to think so," Nick added. "And she seems to like him, so it's all good."
The squeal of tires turning into the parking lot announced Alli and Greg's arrival, and Sara started to laugh, "She even drives like him. So Griss, what's the plan?"
Grissom looked at his watch, "Break room - ten minutes. I'll go find Brass and get the DNA results on our body. Vincent assured me they would be on my desk when shift started."
* * * * *
"I can't get over how quite it is without Nancy here," Warrick offered into the thick silence of his apartment. He and Katie had returned several minutes ago, and had exchanged hardly half a dozen words. Katie seemed nervous and tentative, feelings that Warrick understood. He found himself feeling the same way.
"She does tend to talk your ear off when she's around," Katie agreed softly. She wandered over to his stereo system and looked at his CDs.
"I'd miss the noise if you guys left." Warrick walked over to Katie's side, and grabbed a CD, popping it into the stereo. "So - you wanna dance?"
He placed a hand on her arm gently, smiling at her when she started and shivered, before turning serious eyes to his. "I'd love to dance with you, Warrick."
~Sharing with us what he knows,
shining eyes are big and blue -
and all around him water flows
this world to him is new,
this world to him is new.
To touch a face
To kiss a smile
New eyes see no race
The essence of a child
the essence
He's born to shimmer, he's born to shine.
He's born to radiate -
He's born to live he's born to love
and we'll teach him not to hate.
True love it is a rock
Smoothed over by a stream.
And no ticking of a clock
Truly measures what that means
Truly measures what that means -
And this thing they call our time
I heard a brilliant woman say
She said you know it's crazy
how I want to capture mine -
I think I love this woman's way
I think I love this woman's
Way she shimmers, the way she shines
The way she radiates
The way she lives, the way she loves
The way she never hates.
Sometimes I think of all these things that can surround me,
I know it all as being mine -
But she kisses me and and she wraps herself around me,
She gives me love, she gives me time
Yeah.... and I feel fine.
But time I cannot change,
So here's to looking back.
You know I'd drink a whole bottle of my pride
And I'd toast to change
To keep these demons off my back
To keep these demons off my back
Because I want to shimmer, I want to shine -
I want to radiate.
I want to live, I want to love.
I want to try to learn not to hate -
try not to hate, yeah, yeah -
We're born to shimmer
We're born to shine
We're born to live, we're born to love
We're born to never hate ~
Warrick had started singing along softly, the words of the song rumbling through his chest and vibrating against Katie. She had buried her head under his neck as they danced, and Katie found herself relaxing for the first time since they had returned to Warrick's apartment.
The CD snicked over to another song, this one a bluesy tune Katie didn't recognize, but it didn't really matter. She wasn't really listening to the words anyway. The steady rhythm of Warrick's heart had taken over her senses, the gentle thud of it beneath her ear both soothing and exciting.
His hands had drifted up her back and to her shoulders, squeezing gently, fingers roaming through her hair. The effect was so drugging, Katie sighed. Warrick smiled at her, his gaze electric, as he leaned in and kissed her.
Jim Croce's husky voice filled the living room, and Katie leaned into the kiss eagerly.
~If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
Till Eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you ~
Warrick's lips were soft and gentle against her own, his mouth a wonder. Katie ran her hands up his back, marveling in the feel of the muscles bunching at his shoulders as he pulled her closer.
~ If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then,
Again, I would spend them with you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with. ~
Katie was so petite Warrick could have wrapped his arms around her twice. She reminded him of a fawn, all big eyes and nervous movement, gentle and timid. Warrick could feel her rapid pulse at the base of her neck as he trailed his mouth down her smooth throat to her collarbones. Katie's hands were at his shoulders, urging him on, pulling him closer. Very softly, almost so soft he couldn't hear her over the sound of the music they were still managing to dance to, she heard him whispering his name like a prayer. "Warrick."
~ If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with ~
Stumbling slightly, Warrick half pushed / half pulled Katie towards the stereo system, hitting replay on the disc. His eyes were blazing and heavy lidded as he looked at her, smiling slightly at the dazed expression on her face, his thumb running over her swollen lips.
"Katie," he whispered intently, "Katie, look at me. I don't want this to end."
"Neither do I." Her voice was breathless, her eyes bright with desire, "I don't want this to ever end."
"You know this isn't part of our agreement? I want you, but not if you think you have to do this to stay with me."
Katie smiled at him, her expression beatific, "I know that. You're not a man to place conditions. I want you, Warrick. Just you. Only you. Please don't stop."
Standing on her toes, she leaned into him, eyes intent.
Norah Jones was singing ~ Come away with me ~ in the night ~ Come away with me ~
Warrick closed his eyes against the passion engulfing him, before capturing her lips in another searing kiss and pulling her close. *So this is what love is*, he thought to himself. It was the last cohesive thought he had in a long, long time.
_____________________________
Author's Note:
I know I'm posting these chapters slower than normal, but I'm finding it hard to finish this story - mainly because I am enjoying the characters of Alli, Katie and Nancy so much I don't want it to end. However, end it must. Currently, I have no immediate plans to continue this particular series in the near future.
Next chapter: confronting Enoch. Greg and Alli. Sara and Nick. Cath and Grissom.
Songs in this chapter: Shawn Mullins - "Shimmer"; Jim Croce's - "Time in a Bottle"; Norah Jones - "Come Away with Me."