Fear Itself
Chapter Nine
Catherine sat bolt upright in her bed and gasped. Her heart was thumping about as fast as a rabbit's, and she was in a cold sweat. Instinctually, she put a hand to her belly as she panted her fears away. She glanced over at the clock: the hour was early because she saw the velvet blue haze and mauve of morning outside her window. She lowered herself back into her pillows and rested her racing mind.
The nightmare she had was so vivid and so seemingly real. Now that she was awake, she, for some reason, had confidence that her daughter was safe and sound in her bedroom sleeping without even having to get up and take a peek.
As reality settled in, Catherine remembered that just the day before she had been told that she was pregnant. While it was good news, it was shocking. She knew that she only had herself to blame for the sudden development. Her emotions had been so heightened that she didn't even think about protection for her sake. But then again, it was Warrick. It seemed almost degrading using that kind of logic because what they had was special.
Now, there was a baby growing inside of her, a product of possible love, fear, and insecurity. Warrick was still unaware of the baby. In her dream, she was about to tell him and she remembered feeling so nervous and gutless for beating around the bush about it.
Catherine sighed and rubbed her flat tummy.
Why did she have to be pregnant during this time? During a period in which people were willing to kill anyone for a cause that wasn't even other's causes? It was terribly unfair to the child, she acknowledged.
What are we going to do? She thought to herself. First, I have to tell him, then the rest of the team. After that, I'm really not sure. I'm not fully prepared to handle a baby right now! But then again, I do have a knack for bad timing. No matter what though, this baby is a blessing and I'm thankful. But man, what are we going to do?
Catherine shook her head and closed her eyes. She felt tears falling down her cheeks and she sniffled. She giggled heartily at her weepiness. She had not felt so hormonally charged in a long time. Memories of her being pregnant with Lindsay flooded her mind and she smiled.
Her stomach lurched with a light wave of nausea, making her put off breakfast. Morning sickness had come. She felt the color drain from her face and she closed her eyes to the spinning room. When the episode stopped, she sighed and then got up out of bed. She wondered if Lindsay would be happy to be a big sister.
She walked into Lindsay's room and watched her sleep. She smiled at her ten year old. They had been through so much together and Lindsay was still strong as ever.
Now feeling hungry, Catherine headed to the kitchen to make some breakfast. She put her hand on her tummy again and she felt a sense of completion wash over her.
She was jolted out of her dreamy state by the shrill ringing of the phone.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Catherine," Grissom started. "I need you to come in, Sara's been abducted."