Budding
Chapter Fourteen
Telling Sara that he didn't love her felt like nails coming out of his mouth. It was a complete lie, and he felt horrible for telling her that lie. He loved Sara wholeheartedly, and he kicked himself for not saying it when he had the chance.
He wondered what Sara's fragile mind was thinking; he prayed that she wouldn't do anything drastic to herself. He thought that by telling her that he didn't love her that he was making her feel better. He felt that she deserved much better and that she was going to fall in love with someone just right for her. He had to make himself let her go, but he couldn't.
Now, the torment in his heart hurt even more, and he was more aware of it than ever before. This was love; the painful, shaking, strong emotion that drove people to do crazy things. His love was undeniable and unbearable at the same time.
***
Catherine was thoroughly disappointed that they couldn't move into their new house because they had to make one last trip to New Orleans.
The gossip got more and more out of hand, and Nick was pissed off because they still wouldn't reveal what was going on.
They decided together that after this final trip, they would tell about their relationship and keep the part about breaking the law and taking money out.
Catherine cried at the fact that Nick would be disappointed in them because of what they did. She also knew that Ecklie would be on their asses like a bloodhound and that made her bawl. What hurt her the most was seeing Nick upset at them for keeping the biggest secret known to the lab for nearly five months. It wasn't fair to any of their team mates, and Catherine and Warrick felt guilty beyond anything.
Warrick bought Catherine a pint of ice cream to calm her crying down, but she continued to cry hysterically between spoonfuls.
"I feel so bad," she cried as she spooned some more of the Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream. "And you know, we didn't even have a real wedding. I wanted to have a real wedding and invite all our friends and go on a honeymoon," she sniffled. "But I couldn't wait because I love you so much. I didn't want to wait another minute."
Warrick rubbed her back and listened to her patiently.
"Getting married," she started. "Well, eloping, was just about the only decision ever in my life that I don't regret. After I divorced Eddie, I thought that it was impossible to ever be happy, but you changed all that for me."
She wiped her tears and continued to eat her ice cream. She smiled at him.
"It's good," she said. "I didn't stop crying long enough to actually notice a flavor."
Warrick smiled and hugged her.
"It's okay," he said. "You have nothing to worry about."
***
After enduring another week of the cold shoulder from Nick, Sara's withdrawal from the planet, Grissom's moodiness, the gossip, and Catherine's crying spells, the newlywed Browns were finally on their way to New Orleans for the last time for a while.
The flight went smoothly, except for the times when Catherine got up and nearly pummeled the stewardesses down running to the restroom to throw up. One time, Warrick had his tray down trying to eat his lunch, and trying to get Catherine to drink warm clear soda and to eat some crackers, but it didn't do any good, and she became frantic trying to get out of their seat. They fumbled with the tray; he was trying to push it up, and she was pushing it down and trying to climb over him at the same time. It wasn't working, and they were disturbing the passengers in front of them and behind them.
"Catherine, hold on sweetie," he said. She pulled her hands away and as he pushed the tray up she climbed over him quickly and ran to the restroom.
Another time, she gagged and covered her mouth and she got up quickly, jabbing him in the stomach and she pushed a stewardess over into another person's lap, and tried to open the door to the restroom but it was occupied so she banged on the door until the person came out and she entered and locked it.
"Sir, here are some bags for your wife," a stewardess said.
"Thanks," he said.
Catherine came back looking pale and pasty.
She was fine for a couple of hours after the flight, but on the way to the hotel from dinner, which she barely ate, they had to make two pit stops.
Once again, it was raining, and he had forgotten an umbrella. So, he stood out there with her in the rain, rubbing her back as she coughed and gagged over the side of the bridge. She coughed hard enough to heave again once more. She stayed bent over the bridge for a minute before straightening up warily. Warrick supported her as he led her back to the cab.
She was shivering, and he wrapped his dry warm jacket around her as she rested her head on his shoulder, exhausted. He smoothed down her wet hair and kissed her forehead.
When they finally got to the hotel, the cab driver told them that the ride was free and he offered to take their bags up to their room.
Warrick carried a heavily sleeping Catherine up the stairs. She had a very light frame and it was easy to pick her up.
He laid her down on the bed and brought their bags in.
"Thanks," Warrick said gratefully to the cab driver. He gave the man fifty dollars and said goodnight.
"Thanks, I hope she gets better," the driver said before going down the hall.
Warrick moved quietly around the room so as not to disturb his violently ill wife.
He put their bags in the coat closet and then he called room service and ordered her some tea.
He heard her stir in bed and he came to her aid.
"Warrick…" she whimpered.
"I'm right here babe," he said. "Room service is going to bring some tea."
"I'm cold," she said.
"Relax," Warrick said softly. "I'll go get you some dry clothes."
Catherine rested back into the pillows again as Warrick got out a night gown for her.
"Here sweetie," he said.
She sat up slowly and took off all of her wet clothes and handed them to him. She put on the nightgown and then she laid down.
By then, the tea had come, and Warrick got that from room service.
Catherine sipped at the tea as Warrick got out of his wet clothes.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"A little better," she said. "You're next."
He chuckled. "I wouldn't want to catch it from anyone else."
When he turned around, Catherine was gone.
"Cath?"
He heard her retch and he went into the bathroom. She was on her knees, gripping the sides of the toilet as she emptied her stomach. She heaved one more time before flushing the toilet and wiping her mouth. She rubbed her nauseous belly as she stood up.
"Are you okay?" Warrick asked as he wiped her face, neck, and chest of sweat.
She nodded and went to the sink to wash her hands and splash water on her face. She accepted the towel that Warrick gave her and she dried her face.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
"Do you want to go see a doctor?" Warrick asked. "You might have gotten the flu or something."
"No, I'm fine," she insisted. "Like you said, it's probably the stomach flu. It's a twenty four hour virus. Watch, in the morning, I'll be good as new."
She brushed her teeth and drank some water before heading to bed.
***
The sun peeked through the drapes of the window and woke Warrick up first. He stirred and turned to Catherine, who was just waking up herself. She opened her eyes slowly and she grinned.
"How's your stomach?" He asked while rubbing it.
"It's fine," she said. "I told you I would be fine."
"You always have to be right," he teased.
"You always have to worry," she countered.
She smiled and pulled him on top of her and kissed him.
"I see you're feeling much better," he said between a kiss.
"Mmhm," she said.
They were in the middle of making love when all of a sudden, Catherine's stomach went sour and she quickly got off of Warrick and rushed to the bathroom.
"That's it, we're going to see a doctor," Warrick said.
Catherine emerged a few minutes later, looking almost green in the face.
"Okay, so it's a forty eight hour bug," she said as she climbed back into bed.
***
Nick found Sara in the locker room staring straight ahead at nothing.
"Hey Sara," he said.
She came out of her trance and faced him.
"Hey Nick," she said. "What's up?"
"You, for the last few weeks," Nick said, sitting next to her. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah," she lied, then gave up on lying. "No, no I'm not okay."
Nick just sat there and waited for her to continue.
"I'm thinking about transferring," Sara said. "I want to go back home."
"Why?" Nick asked.
"I'm not happy here," she admitted. "I never was happy here. The only reason I moved out here was because-"
She stopped and looked away.
"It's complicated Nick," Sara said. "I don't really want to talk about it."
"That's okay," he said. "Just think about where your heart is before you make any final decisions okay?"
Sara nodded. "Thanks Nicky."