Title: Alive Again
Summary: Sara and Warrick become closer after he saves her life.
A/N: I know I said a few chapters ago that I would be ending this soon, but I am really trying not to rush it. I would find it completely unbelievable for Sara to have a miraculous recovery, or for Warrick to get past his involvement in the death of Thomas Mortesen very quickly. You all have been very patient with me and very very supportive (despite my love of cliffhangers lol). I am trying to update this as often as possible I made Chaswick and Levins up. Felix exists and is sitting next to me right now. Please R/R! Thanks folks I'll update again soon.
Spoilers: Possibly anything all the way up to Early Rollout.
Rating: PG13 for language and some adult situations.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of it. If I did I wouldn't be living in this shoddy little apartment dreaming about winning the lottery. :)
Chapter Fifteen:
Warrick walked into Grissom's office exhibiting more confidence than he actually felt. He had been prepared for some kind of inquiry to happen so he hadn't been overly surprised by Grissom's phone call earlier that evening.
"Hey Griss," he said nodding to his boss even as he notice two of Ecklie's daytime CSIs standing in the corner. Apparently they had been waiting for him. Grissom gave Warrick a piercing stare before indicating that he should sit down. One of the daytime CSIs got up and shut the door to allow them all privacy.
"Warrick do you know CSIs Mark Chaswick and Jack Levins? They both work on Ecklie's shift," he added as an explanation.
Warrick nodded to each man. "Yeah you guys do good work. You can't help who you work for."
Both CSIs attempted to hide any humor they may have found at Warrick's remark but each still cracked a small smile.
Warrick sat back in his chair casually. At least he hoped he looked casual. "Grissom whats up? I hear that Thomas Mortesen is dead and someone is trying to say that I had something to do with it?"
Grissom took a sip of the coffee sitting on his desk. "First off this is an informal inquiry. Warrick, no one has made any formal accusations yet so I don't want you to worry. We hope to nip this in the bud very quickly."
Mark Chaswick stepped forward. "CSI Brown, we have been asked to investigate your possible involvement in this murder."
"My involvement? He died in prison right? Or am I missing something?"
"CSI Brown, did you or did you not visit Cory Parks at the correctional facility two weeks ago?" Chaswick inquired.
"Yeah I did."
"Doesn't that seem a bit suspicious to you?"
"Does it seem suspicious to you?"
"Yes it does. I'd, I mean we would like to know what you were doing there on that date," Chaswick said politely.
"Cory Parks was a friend of mine in high school. We grew up together. He earned four back to back lifetime sentences after killing four people in a drive by shooting. He asked a single favor of me when he went in the pen. He want to make sure his brother didn't follow the same path. I helped his brother get into college."
"That seems like a convenient story CSI Brown," CSI Levins replied sarcastically.
"Well if you want to check the prison records you will see that I have visited Cory every three or four months since he went in. I keep him updated on his brother."
"Why can't his brother keep Mr. Parks updated on his own progress?"
"Cory and his brother aren't on speaking terms. His brother is in medical school back east and hasn't forgiven Cory for the crimes he committed. He sends me letters from time to time and I relate their contents to Cory."
"I assume you received one of these letters recently and will be able to present it to us?" Chaswick asked.
"Sure if thats needed."
"This sounds like a pretty amazing thing you have done for Mr. Parks. CSI Brown, I am thinking that Cory Parks probably owes you a pretty big favor. I mean you kept his brother off the streets right?" Levins demanded.
"Whatever man. I was trying to help out a friend, its not about debts."
"So maybe he was trying to help you out by killing Thomas Mortesen."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You do have a relationship with CSI Sidle do you not? And she is staying at your home now correct?" Levins remarked snidely.
"My relationship with CSI Sidle has nothing to do with Thomas Mortesen being murdered."
Levins grinned menacingly. "Yeah well it does seem a little convenient doesn't it? A good friend of yours happens to kill the man who beat and raped your girlfriend."
"Enough," Grissom barked. "I think you've asked enough questions. Its time you go gather something besides circumstantial evidence."
Both CSIs left Grissom's office after nodding politely to each man. He tried to force himself to calm down by taking deep breaths. Levins had done his best to try and make Warrick lose control and he had been close. Grissom stared at Warrick for several minutes without speaking. He felt a hundred times more uncomfortable under Grissom's scrutinizing gaze than he had under the combined pressure of both Chaswick and Levins.
Warrick had expected Grissom to question him about any involvement he had in Thomas Mortesen's death. He didn't expect Grissom to ignore the topic altogether.
"How is Sara doing?"
Warrick frowned. "Um she is ok. She is still a bit jumpy," he paused, "she is happy to be out of that hospital room."
Grissom smiled. "I imagine so. I haven't had much time to visit her lately. I bought a few Entomology books I thought she might be interested in and was wondering if you would give them to her."
"No way. You give them to her. Your her friend Griss, and I think she misses that. Why don't you come over my place after work and give them to her yourself. She would be happy to see you."
"And that wouldn't bother you?" Grissom asked curiously.
"Naw. I don't want any awkwardness to arise between the three of us. If it did I would start to feel like I am on some night time television drama on CBS."
Grissom chuckled. "Ok point taken. We can be friends."
"We always were Griss," Warrick replied seriously. "Which brings me to ask, why aren't you asking me questions about this?"
Grissom rested his chin on his knuckles. "The investigator in me likes to solve every little crime that is presented to me. Yet a part of me doesn't want to solve this crime."
"You think I am guilty," Warrick said matter-of-factly.
Grissom stared at the younger man for several moments before standing up to leave the office. "Come on its time to hand out assignments."
It wasn't lost on Warrick that Grissom hadn't answered him.
*****
Warrick called Sara at the end of shift. She answered on the second ring.
"Hey girl. Grissom has a present for you. Would you mind if he brought it over?"
She laughed on the other end of the line. "No tell him to come on. Your coming home right?"
"Yeah I have a few errands to run but won't be long. Maybe an hour or so."
"Ok see you then."
Warrick hung up the phone and smiled at Grissom. "Go see her. She could use your support. I'll probably be about an hour."
"Thanks Warrick," Grissom replied sheepishly.
Warrick chuckled. "Not a problem. I am off to pick up a present for Sara too."
Warrick left the building and drove to the local Humane Society. Catherine had mentioned once before that she thought Sara would like a cat. He wasn't opposed to pets so decided to see if he could find one that Sara might like.
The volunteer he met was very polite and led him through the holding pens. She advised that he get a more mature cat as their tempers were easier to judge. He walked around the pens until his eyes came to rest on a black and white male cat. The nose on the cat was half pink and half white. Warrick thought the animal looked ridiculous and walked up to his cage.
The name on the cage said 'Felix'. His description said that he was a year old.
Warrick smiled and said, "Heya Felix," to the cat as if he expected an answer.
Felix sat up and reached his paw through he cage and tapped Warrick's nose.
Warrick looked to the volunteer who laughed.
"Yo Felix you looking for a home?"
Felix responded by reaching his paw through the cage and tapping Warrick's nose again.
Twenty minutes later Warrick left the Humane Society carrying a complacent Felix who sat in a cage without a worry. He had forgotten to tell Grissom not to mention Thomas Mortesen to Sara, and worried about it the whole way back to his apartment. Felix seemed to mirror his worry as the cat began meowing constantly.
Luckily he had bought the things the cat would need several days ago and hid them in his closet. When he reached the front door he pulled Felix out of his cage. The cat proceeded to lick Warrick's face. Warrick quietly opened the door and set Felix down to let the cat begin exploring.
Warrick didn't see Sara or Grissom in the living room even though the entomology books were on his coffee table.
"Sara?"
"I'm in the bedroom," she called out.
He removed his shoes before moving into that room. Tears stained her cheeks and he knew immediately that something was wrong. She stared at him with those dark brown eyes and he felt himself getting lost within her.
"Sara honey whats wrong? I see that Grissom was here."
She shook her head as more tears fell. "I...nothing. I'm fine."
Warrick snorted. "Fine people don't cry Sara. Tell me what is wrong. Did he say something to upset you?"
"Mor..Mortesen is dead. Grissom told me."
Warrick tensed. "Did he tell you anything else?"
She looked at him with confusion and shook her head. "Is there something else I should know?"
He knelt down in front of her and took her hands in his. She didn't try to pull away. "No. He died in prison. Thats all. There is nothing else to know." The lie tasted like acid in his mouth. He wanted to protect her from further pain. A small part of him realized that by lying to her he would eventually make things worse, but in the short term he wanted to simply ease her pain.
Sara narrowed her eyes and looked as if she wanted to ask him something else when they were interrupted.
"Meow."
Sara jumped when she heard the cat's voice. "Warrick?"
"I brought you a present," he said smiling.
Felix pranced into the room and sniffed Warrick once before jumping on the bed next to Sara. The two stared at each other for a minute before the cat reached up and tapped her nose. Sara gasped. Warrick began coughing as he tried to cover up his laughter. Felix meowed again.
When she began petting him, Felix purred and settled himself on her lap. Instant friendship. Warrick was pleased knowing he had done something good for her. When he stood to leave she laid her hand on his arm.
"Stay with me."
He regarded her with questioning eyes.
"Just hold me while we sleep Warrick. I need...I need to not be alone anymore."
He reached out to touch her shoulder. She tensed but didn't pull away. Biting her lower lip she nodded to him and he embraced her warmly.
Later, Warrick held Sara close while she slept. She had cried for more than an hour before she had been able to doze off. He lay awake much longer. He knew Sara would eventually find out that he was under investigation for any possible involvement in Thomas Mortesen's death. He wasn't worry about being accused officially however. Cory was a true friend and would never give him up. Warrick knew that to be true. Chaswick and Levins wouldn't find any evidence that could be used against him because there wasn't any.
His only worry was Sara and how she would react. Soon enough she would find out that he was being investigated for possible involvement in Mortesen's murder. She would rage against him for lying to her when she asked if there was anything else she should know about the man's death. Then she would look into his eyes and search for the truth.
And once she found her answers, how would she react? Would she hate him? Forgive him?
Warrick lay awake for a long time before sleep found him.
To be continued...
