The next day, Warrick entered the break-room to see Nicky pouring himself some coffee. He didn't know if he was happy or worried that he didn't see Catherine in the room, or in the lab for that matter. Where is she? He wondered.

'Hey man' Nicky greeted him, while heading straight for the fresh pot.

'Hey'

'What happened last night?' Nick asked taking a sip and sitting down

'What do you mean?' snapping his head up to look at his friend

'I mean, did you manage to get Catherine home in one piece? She was pretty drunk'

'Oh...erm...' he lowered his head back to his task at hand of creaming his coffee

Nicky eyed him suspiciously, did something happen? 'What?'

Warrick closed the glass door and sat next to his friend 'We ended up going to the G.A.C'

'Oh cool, what's it like in there? Always wanted to check it out...'

'Yeah it's really good.' He started. 'We kissed'

His eyes widened 'You and Catherine?!'

'Yeah... I don't know how it happened...'

'Is that all that happened?' Nick asked worried that the atmosphere in the office might have been altered for life

'Yeah! She crashed on my couch'

'Did you talk this morning?'

'No, she'd gone before I woke up' he answered, aimlessly stirring his drink

'Well...how'd you feel about it?'

'I-I don't know' he confessed

'Would you want it to happen again?'

A smile played across Warrick's lips, 'Yeah...yeah I think I would'

'Then you have to talk to her, man!' He was happy that Warrick finally had a woman in his life, one that he could truly care for. For as long as Nick could remember, he'd always sensed something extra in Warrick's relationship with Catherine and Lindsey.

'But-' Warrick was cut off by Grissom and Sara entering the room together.

'Hey guys' Sara said brightly, grabbing some coffee. Warrick didn't want the whole lab knowing about the kiss before he knew what to think himself. He played along with Nick's conversation as if no life-altering experience had happened the night before.

'Hey. So, er, what happened?' Nicky asked, smiling

'What do you mean?' Sara asked, puzzled by his question. He's got that look in his eye...does he know something?

'Oh c'mon, you left together, he drove you home...kiss on the doorstep?' He asked with a smirk

The smile was returned, 'You'll never know'. She said mixing sugar into her drink and walking back over to Grissom.

X

Grissom fanned out his sheets on the glass table. 'Okay, assignments: Warrick, Sara you're with me, we got a DB at a wedding reception. Nicky, Cath-'

'Sorry I'm late!' Catherine added turning the corner into the room 'Er...car wouldn't start'

'No problem, you're with Nicky at a smash and grab at a jewellery store up on Grange' Grissom finished

Catherine nodded, taking the flyer from Grissom while putting her bag on the chair 'Okay'

'Okay, lets go!' Grissom said, gesturing for Sara and Warrick as he left the room. Sara followed in step.

'Hey Cath' Warrick turned to her 'Can we er...talk...later?'

She nodded, looking into his eyes what's he thinking? She wondered. 'Sure'

'Kay, cool, I got to go.' He gestured to the distant image of Grissom and Sara down the hallway. 'See you Nick'

'Bye man'

X

Once Warrick left the room, Catherine braced herself on the table.

'You alright Cath?' he asked placing a steaming cup of coffee in front of her

'Hmm?' she said looking up Nicky 'Yeah, I'll be fine. Thanks' Taking a seat.

'Wanna talk?'

Catherine studied his face 'You know, don't you?'

He nodded

'What did he say?'

'That you went to G.A.C and started making out...' he said sitting across from her.

'Does any one else know?' I mean, does Greg know really...if he does, then everybody does

'No, just me. So...what you gonna do?' he didn't want to see either friend get hurt.

'That depends on him'

'Does it?'

'Well yeah...'

'And if he said he wanted to see you again?'

'Did he say that?' her heart jumped a little

'Hypothetically'

'If Warrick said he did...' she thought 'then, yeah. I think I would. But you cant tell him that, promise me'

'Promise'

XX

The night had passed and the morning light had just broke. Nicky and Catherine were walking through the corridors heading for the locker room when Warrick rounded the corner to join them.

'So how'd your case go?' Nick asked

'You know how the best man is supposed to hook up with a bridesmaid? Check with her husband first...'

Nick nodded, as if to say 'not to self'.

An uncertain atmosphere settled in the group. Perfect chance for them to talk Nicky realised and excused himself, not before gesturing with his eyes to Warrick, and nodding ever-so slightly.

He took a deep breath 'Cath, about last night'

'Yeah?' Here goes

'How do you feel about, maybe, going to dinner with me?' He waited for an answer with baited breath

'I'd like that' She tried to condense a large grin into a smile, unsuccessfully.

'Cool, pick you up around 7?'

'I'll be waiting'