Disclaimer: Don't Own. Don't Sue. Do Review.
A/N: Hello there. I've recently and proudly become a member of the Graveyard Shift: so if anyone from there is reading this, a special 'Hi' to you :o)! Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter: Charming-Storm (x2), cRaZyPiXiE, ArodLoverus2001, MissyJane, Elle, pdhtgal, The Madhatter and SisterBear. You guys are da bomb!!! Please keep them coming and I'll keep writing. Oh and all you Warrick lovers will like this chapter for there is a lot of that man in it. Sadly still no Nick, but he'll be reappearing soon. Well R&R and ENJOY!!! - Bex
Warrick watched Jenny as she wiped Melissa's face clean after they had finished eating. The waitress brought their coffees over and placed them down with a formal smile. "Can I get you anything else?"
Warrick shook his head. "No thanks. Just the bill please."
"Sure," She replied with another professional smile and left. Warrick watched Jenny attend to her child. He took the opportunity to consider what he was going to do. A smile played upon his lips as observing her with Melissa confirmed his instincts when she became pregnant: she made a perfect mother. She had been so worried that she'd be hopeless parent; but there was never a doubt in his mind at all.
It took him a couple of minutes to realise that she'd been speaking to him. Instead of admitting he hadn't been paying attention; he gave her a vague nod and murmured and interested 'huh' into his coffee.
But he didn't manage to fool her for a second: "You haven't been listening have you?"
"Sure I have," He lied. She gave him an unconvinced look and he decided to come clean, "Ok, I haven't. Sorry."
"It's ok. I was just rambling mindlessly as usual."
"I like your mindless rambles," he replied with such seriousness that Jenny started to laugh. "No honestly, what were you saying?"
"I got an e-mail from Estella."
"How is she?" Warrick asked, remembering how she'd moved away after Jenny gave birth. Along with Jenny's ex-professor.
"She's good. Still loves teaching at that school for the deaf. Always thought that she'd make a great teacher. Anyway, she thinks she might be pregnant and Prof- Edmund has asked her to marry him. They've already sent out the invites."
"Really?"
Jenny gave him a small nod and took a sip of her mocha. "Do you know how things are between him and Gris?" She inquired.
"Better. Why do you ask?"
"Just wondering if Gris and Cath have been invited. Estella wants me to be maid of honour and I was just hoping that there would be someone else there I know. I mean, Estella said I could bring a guest..."
"I'll go with you if you want," He offered quickly.
Her expression brightened. "Really? Are you sure..um.. Taylor wouldn't mind?"
Warrick's face fell and he dropped his gaze. He'd only dated a few people after Jenny had entered his life; Taylor had been the most recent addition to the list of failures. "We broke up 'bout 4 weeks ago," He muttered.
"Oh?" Jenny looked a bit surprised. "What happened?"
'She accused me of being in love with someone else,' He thought to himself. 'She accused me of being in love with you. And she was right.' But he merely answered, "We had our differences."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
There was an awkward pause. "So how's your love life?" Warrick asked without thinking. He immediately regretted those words when he saw the sorrow they caused on Jenny's face. "Sorry," He apologised gently.
She looked down at her wedding ring in self-torment as she fiddled with it. "It was our anniversary last month. Would have been 5 years. I remember last year that he'd already paid for some roses before he died. That they were delivered on the day." Warrick recalled the incident all too well. How hysterical she'd become, and as he held her he couldn't help but wonder if the tears would ever stop. Tears like the ones swelling up in her eyes now. "I went to see him a couple of days ago..." Her voice trailed off.
Warrick got up and sat down next to her. He hugged her. "I miss him," Jenny whispered so softly that he could barely hear her.
"I know." He pulled back, wiped her cheeks and gently pushed a renegade strand of hair behind her ear. The moment was back again.
"What an adorable baby!" In union, their heads snapped round. An old lady stood there admiring Melissa and smiled warmly at the pair. "She'd such a perfect child. You must be very proud parents."
Warrick was about to correct her, but Jenny got there first: "Thank you." She glanced sideways at Warrick and gave him an apologetic smile; though he didn't mind in the slightest.
"You're a very lucky man to have such a beautiful wife and daughter," She beamed at Warrick and walked off.
'If only that were true,' He thought longingly as he watched her disappear.
~*~*~*~*~
Catherine was so engrossed in the case file; that the first time she was aware of someone else being in the room, was when a take-away coffee was placed on the desk in front of her. Her eyes travelled up to greeted by Warrick's smiling face. "Hey. They had such good coffee that I decided to bring you one. Also a sandwich, 'cause I'm guessing you haven't eaten," He told her placing the sandwich down and sliding them closer.
Cath smiled in return and picked up the coffee. "Thanks." She sipped it and murmured in agreement. "Oh, Cesar salad. Classy! So how was lunch?"
"It was good," He replied, adding quickly, "Jenny's coming over for breakfast tomorrow." Before swiftly changing the subject: "So do we have name for our handless John Doe?"
"He's called Rick Tarantino," Cath said as she handed him a sheet and then set about opening her sandwich.
"It's good to see what he looked like," Warrick commented as he scanned the profile. "Hang on. So our guy has prior convictions?"
She nodded. "Attempted rape - which was dropped, and he just finished doing sometime for theft."
"What a boy scout. I wonder what he did to get an ending like that?"
"Have no idea. He was recently fired from his job at a grocery store. Apparently Mr Tarantino was sexually harassing the owner's daughter, but that's hardly a motive for murder."
He sat down and stared at the profile, before sliding it back to Cath. "What else do we have?"
"Other then the lack of evidence we found at the crime scene? Nothing?" Cath sighed. "No one has even reported this guy missing yet. I don't think anyone cares. And his killer has covered his track as well as-" She stopped abruptly and looked down.
"Cath, you alright? Are you sure you should be here?" Warrick questioned gently.
"I'll be fine. If I can't bring justice for Portia, then I might as well bring it for someone else. No matter what a scumbag he was." She ran a hand though her hair and took a thoughtful bite of her sandwich. "Maybe we should find out what this guy was like in prison?"
"Sure," Warrick agreed. "And lets see what his last employer has to say." He stood up and smiled at her. "I'll get right on it.
~*~*~*~*~
"I'm surprise you haven't passed out yet." Sara turned round: glaring at Warrick over the top of her coffee, as she failed to hide another yawn. "You should get some sleep you know," He pointed out.
She only glared at him again in response. Confused, Warrick sat down next to her. "Sar what's wrong?"
"Did you know about Michelle?" She demanded.
"Er..."
"Did you War?"
"Yes," He confessed, then added quickly before she could snap at him, "I told Nick to tell you, but..."
"But?"
"He didn't want to upset you. He was being a man and stupid. Nothing more. Just give him a chance to explain Sara."
She smiled bitterly. "You've just said exactly the same thing as Jen."
He shrugged. "Great minds think alike. So are you going to talk to him?"
She gave him a tiny nod in response. "I'll go after I've finished here."
"How is the case going?"
"Nowhere," She sighed heavily. "We don't even know if he's got a new victim yet. I've just spent the past two hours ringing strip clubs, but none of them have noticed anyone missing. And if she's a prostitute-"
"It's not like the pimp's going to become a saint and report it," He finished grimly for her. She nodded in agreement and sipped her coffee. "Do you want to help me and Cath for a bit?"
It only took her a sort pause to decide: "Sure."
A/N: What do you think? I writing this for you to read, so feedback is very welcome. That button's waiting to be hit; so go on and put it out of its misery! :o)
A/N: Hello there. I've recently and proudly become a member of the Graveyard Shift: so if anyone from there is reading this, a special 'Hi' to you :o)! Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter: Charming-Storm (x2), cRaZyPiXiE, ArodLoverus2001, MissyJane, Elle, pdhtgal, The Madhatter and SisterBear. You guys are da bomb!!! Please keep them coming and I'll keep writing. Oh and all you Warrick lovers will like this chapter for there is a lot of that man in it. Sadly still no Nick, but he'll be reappearing soon. Well R&R and ENJOY!!! - Bex
Warrick watched Jenny as she wiped Melissa's face clean after they had finished eating. The waitress brought their coffees over and placed them down with a formal smile. "Can I get you anything else?"
Warrick shook his head. "No thanks. Just the bill please."
"Sure," She replied with another professional smile and left. Warrick watched Jenny attend to her child. He took the opportunity to consider what he was going to do. A smile played upon his lips as observing her with Melissa confirmed his instincts when she became pregnant: she made a perfect mother. She had been so worried that she'd be hopeless parent; but there was never a doubt in his mind at all.
It took him a couple of minutes to realise that she'd been speaking to him. Instead of admitting he hadn't been paying attention; he gave her a vague nod and murmured and interested 'huh' into his coffee.
But he didn't manage to fool her for a second: "You haven't been listening have you?"
"Sure I have," He lied. She gave him an unconvinced look and he decided to come clean, "Ok, I haven't. Sorry."
"It's ok. I was just rambling mindlessly as usual."
"I like your mindless rambles," he replied with such seriousness that Jenny started to laugh. "No honestly, what were you saying?"
"I got an e-mail from Estella."
"How is she?" Warrick asked, remembering how she'd moved away after Jenny gave birth. Along with Jenny's ex-professor.
"She's good. Still loves teaching at that school for the deaf. Always thought that she'd make a great teacher. Anyway, she thinks she might be pregnant and Prof- Edmund has asked her to marry him. They've already sent out the invites."
"Really?"
Jenny gave him a small nod and took a sip of her mocha. "Do you know how things are between him and Gris?" She inquired.
"Better. Why do you ask?"
"Just wondering if Gris and Cath have been invited. Estella wants me to be maid of honour and I was just hoping that there would be someone else there I know. I mean, Estella said I could bring a guest..."
"I'll go with you if you want," He offered quickly.
Her expression brightened. "Really? Are you sure..um.. Taylor wouldn't mind?"
Warrick's face fell and he dropped his gaze. He'd only dated a few people after Jenny had entered his life; Taylor had been the most recent addition to the list of failures. "We broke up 'bout 4 weeks ago," He muttered.
"Oh?" Jenny looked a bit surprised. "What happened?"
'She accused me of being in love with someone else,' He thought to himself. 'She accused me of being in love with you. And she was right.' But he merely answered, "We had our differences."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
There was an awkward pause. "So how's your love life?" Warrick asked without thinking. He immediately regretted those words when he saw the sorrow they caused on Jenny's face. "Sorry," He apologised gently.
She looked down at her wedding ring in self-torment as she fiddled with it. "It was our anniversary last month. Would have been 5 years. I remember last year that he'd already paid for some roses before he died. That they were delivered on the day." Warrick recalled the incident all too well. How hysterical she'd become, and as he held her he couldn't help but wonder if the tears would ever stop. Tears like the ones swelling up in her eyes now. "I went to see him a couple of days ago..." Her voice trailed off.
Warrick got up and sat down next to her. He hugged her. "I miss him," Jenny whispered so softly that he could barely hear her.
"I know." He pulled back, wiped her cheeks and gently pushed a renegade strand of hair behind her ear. The moment was back again.
"What an adorable baby!" In union, their heads snapped round. An old lady stood there admiring Melissa and smiled warmly at the pair. "She'd such a perfect child. You must be very proud parents."
Warrick was about to correct her, but Jenny got there first: "Thank you." She glanced sideways at Warrick and gave him an apologetic smile; though he didn't mind in the slightest.
"You're a very lucky man to have such a beautiful wife and daughter," She beamed at Warrick and walked off.
'If only that were true,' He thought longingly as he watched her disappear.
~*~*~*~*~
Catherine was so engrossed in the case file; that the first time she was aware of someone else being in the room, was when a take-away coffee was placed on the desk in front of her. Her eyes travelled up to greeted by Warrick's smiling face. "Hey. They had such good coffee that I decided to bring you one. Also a sandwich, 'cause I'm guessing you haven't eaten," He told her placing the sandwich down and sliding them closer.
Cath smiled in return and picked up the coffee. "Thanks." She sipped it and murmured in agreement. "Oh, Cesar salad. Classy! So how was lunch?"
"It was good," He replied, adding quickly, "Jenny's coming over for breakfast tomorrow." Before swiftly changing the subject: "So do we have name for our handless John Doe?"
"He's called Rick Tarantino," Cath said as she handed him a sheet and then set about opening her sandwich.
"It's good to see what he looked like," Warrick commented as he scanned the profile. "Hang on. So our guy has prior convictions?"
She nodded. "Attempted rape - which was dropped, and he just finished doing sometime for theft."
"What a boy scout. I wonder what he did to get an ending like that?"
"Have no idea. He was recently fired from his job at a grocery store. Apparently Mr Tarantino was sexually harassing the owner's daughter, but that's hardly a motive for murder."
He sat down and stared at the profile, before sliding it back to Cath. "What else do we have?"
"Other then the lack of evidence we found at the crime scene? Nothing?" Cath sighed. "No one has even reported this guy missing yet. I don't think anyone cares. And his killer has covered his track as well as-" She stopped abruptly and looked down.
"Cath, you alright? Are you sure you should be here?" Warrick questioned gently.
"I'll be fine. If I can't bring justice for Portia, then I might as well bring it for someone else. No matter what a scumbag he was." She ran a hand though her hair and took a thoughtful bite of her sandwich. "Maybe we should find out what this guy was like in prison?"
"Sure," Warrick agreed. "And lets see what his last employer has to say." He stood up and smiled at her. "I'll get right on it.
~*~*~*~*~
"I'm surprise you haven't passed out yet." Sara turned round: glaring at Warrick over the top of her coffee, as she failed to hide another yawn. "You should get some sleep you know," He pointed out.
She only glared at him again in response. Confused, Warrick sat down next to her. "Sar what's wrong?"
"Did you know about Michelle?" She demanded.
"Er..."
"Did you War?"
"Yes," He confessed, then added quickly before she could snap at him, "I told Nick to tell you, but..."
"But?"
"He didn't want to upset you. He was being a man and stupid. Nothing more. Just give him a chance to explain Sara."
She smiled bitterly. "You've just said exactly the same thing as Jen."
He shrugged. "Great minds think alike. So are you going to talk to him?"
She gave him a tiny nod in response. "I'll go after I've finished here."
"How is the case going?"
"Nowhere," She sighed heavily. "We don't even know if he's got a new victim yet. I've just spent the past two hours ringing strip clubs, but none of them have noticed anyone missing. And if she's a prostitute-"
"It's not like the pimp's going to become a saint and report it," He finished grimly for her. She nodded in agreement and sipped her coffee. "Do you want to help me and Cath for a bit?"
It only took her a sort pause to decide: "Sure."
A/N: What do you think? I writing this for you to read, so feedback is very welcome. That button's waiting to be hit; so go on and put it out of its misery! :o)