When you see someone day in and day out you stop paying that much attention. Without being directly pointed to them, small changes can occur everyday without being noticed. This is how it came to be that Catherine Willows, temporary head of one of the best CSI labs in the country, wore a simple gold band on her finger for 2 months before anyone really saw it.
To give them credit everyone had been stressed those two months. Grissom was still recovering from his surgery and wouldn't be back for a few more days, of course missing Grissom was like missing more than just on man. Catherine had taken on his responsibilities and they all knew she'd taken on the role of nursemaid to Grissom too, they could all imagine what kind of patient he would be. So the group was harried, focusing on cases and evidence and rarely looking at each other.
It had been a hectic night on the strip the team had been stretched to the breaking point with 4 dead bodies. They didn't leave the lab until well after sunrise, the four of them walking out to their Tahoes and leaving eager for sleep. Catherine pulled away first, waving to him as she passed, that's when he saw it.
Her delicate hand moved ever so lightly in the wave, but as she did the sun hit the band on her finger, blinding him briefly before she was gone, leaving Warrick extremely confused.
The next night he was anxiously waiting for her. She was too wrapped up in the piles of files in her arms to notice Warrick's eyes go straight to her finger, where the wedding ring still remained.
Catherine noticed him outside her office door when she finally looked up. "Hey Warrick, I hope it's a slow night, I have a ton of paperwork to get done before Gil gets back tomorrow. I'm going to let you guys handle it, unless you absolutely need me. Warrick nodded but didn't say anything and headed to the lab to wait for assignments.
Catherine entered not long after him with files in her hand. "You guys are rid of me for the night..paperwork...here you go. Call me if you need me." With that she handed files to them and sent them on their way. Warrick stayed behind as Catherine poured herself a cup of coffee. He stood behind her, willing her to turn around and tell him her secret. She didn't. All he saw was a red rash under her chin and traveling down her neck. He sighed as she took he coffee and left. What else was she not telling them?
Hours later the three of them had wrapped up their cases and were turning their paperwork over to Catherine, all of them seemed relieved to know that Grissom would be back tomorrow. After Nick and Sara left Warrick hung back and waited on Catherine and they walked out to their cars together.
Catherine scratched awkwardly at her neck. "You know Cath, you should do to a doctor about that rash, you could be allergic to something." She laughed as she dug her keys out, "Nah, I know what it's from, nothing to be worried about." They stopped at her Tahoe. "How long Cath?"
He could see her smirk as she turned to look at him, "How long what?" She looked at him over her shoulder as she climbed into her SUV. Warrick looked at her pointedly, "How long have you been married? And to who?" She glanced down at her ring subconsciously. "I wondered when someone would notice. Almost three months." Her smile broadened, Warrick mirrored the smile, "You could have told us." She shook her head, "Nah, it's more fun this way."
She pulled the door shut as Warrick shook his head. "Well you can at least tell me what caused your rash. He was met with a trademark Catherine Willows smirk as she rolled her window down, "beard burn." She waved again and pulled away leaving Warrick standing with a bewildered look.
The next night Warrick was anxiously waiting for Catherine to come in so he can continue his questioning. He got up and headed towards her office when he saw Grissom further up the hallway heading to his office.
"Hey Gris!" He sped up to catch his boss; if anyone would know the truth behind Catherine's marriage it would be Grissom. He stopped short when Grissom turned around. Files in one hand and the other one in his jacket pocket he smiled at Warrick with a full beard on his face. "Yeah Warrick?" Warrick smiled and offered him a small wave, "Welcome back."
Grissom turned back and returned the small wave taking his hand out of his pocket to do so. Warrick shook his head as Grissom walked on, the artificial light catching the small gold band on his finger.
Warrick headed back to the break room to wait for the shift to start. He passed Catherine on his way and she caught his eye. Her neck covered by a turtleneck, she smiled mysteriously and gave him a wave over her shoulder as she walked on towards her office, leaving Warrick chuckling to himself in the hallway.