I was inspired to write a W/S story after reading some great ones recently. Please read and let me know what you think. Thanks!
Note: I changed my title because I discovered Sweet Jorja already had a story by this name. My apologies.
Through My Eyes
Warrick walked into the locker room and found Sara sitting on the bench starring at some unseen object on her locker door. Shift had ended and she had left him in the lab processing some hair fibers from their case. He knew she was taking this case hard based on her reaction at the crime scene earlier, so he decided to track her down before she left to see if she wanted to talk. As he stood in the doorway watching her, his suspicions where confirmed when he saw her shoulders begin to shake and he heard the unmistakable sound of a sharp intake of breath. Sara had finally reached her breaking point.
Warrick and Sara had been assigned an awful rape case in which a young college girl had been viciously attacked and murdered in her dorm room. During the interviews, Sara had become extremely angered by the other students' lack of empathy. No one had willingly come forward with any information. Both he and Sara knew the victim had put up one hell of a struggle; her room had been in shambles.
Warrick heard a small sob escape her lips and he felt his heart break just a little. He could picture Sara clearly as she stood in the student lounge completely enraged as she yelled at the students who lived in the nearby rooms, "You mean to tell me in all honesty that none of you heard that girl fighting for her life. None of you heard her screams as her attacker stabbed her over and over again. No one heard her sobbing for help as she gasped her last breath." Sara had looked at all the students in disgust before she stormed away leaving Warrick there to finish the interviews.
Warrick didn't blame her for leaving. By the time he finished talking to them he had gathered little information and left feeling as offended as Sara. He found her sitting in the Denali. She didn't say a word the whole ride back to the lab. He knew better then to ask. She would talk when she was ready. Having worked with her for 4 years he had become very familiar with Sara's moods.
But Warrick was very surprised and a little worried to find her in the locker room crying. This was a side of Sara he rarely saw. He made his way toward her and quietly said, "Hey girl you okay?" He watched as she wiped at her eyes before slowly turning to look at him. "Hey," she said trying to force a smile.
Warrick studied her sadden face for a moment before he sat down next to her on the bench and looked her directly in the eyes. "Sara?" he asked again. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "I've been better." He could see her soft brown eyes beginning to fill with tears again. "Rough case," he said. "Yeah. I'm sorry I just left you like that. I was just so frustrated and angry." she said, her mouth set in a hard line. "It's okay, I understand. I felt like shaking each and every one of them. They all acted like we were inconveniencing them."
Sara looked into his beautiful green blue eyes and knew he did understand. Warrick's deep concern for others was one the things she most admired about him. He was never quick to judge. She wiped at her eyes again not wanting to cry in front of him.
He reached over and placed one of his hands on top of hers. She stared down at it, noticing for the first time how large his hand was compared to hers. It almost completely engulfed hers. She could feel the strength and power in it as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"You want to grab some breakfast," Warrick asked suddenly. "I don't think I'd be very good company." she said quietly looking down at their joined hands. "Hey," he said taking his finger and placing it under her chin to lift her face up, "I know just the thing to put a smile back on that beautiful face." He watched her blink in surprise as her cheeks began to turn a shade of pink.
He wasn't sure what compelled him to ask her to breakfast but he knew Sara hadn't been herself for a long while. He missed her triumphant smiles when they solved a case together. He missed her constant prodding to get things done as quickly as possible. She had been unsmiling and unenthusiastic for far too long now.
They had gotten off to a rocky start but he felt they had established a mutual respect for one another. They had slowly built a great friendship through the years. He had thought she needed her space to work through her Grissom issues but now he wasn't sure if he had given her too much. He hated seeing her so unhappy and he knew it was time to do something about it.
She looked at him surprised by his words. He had never called her beautiful before. She felt herself begin to blush. He was just being nice she chided. "What did you have in mind," she asked hesitantly. "Do you trust me?" he asked with a mysterious twinkle in his eye. "Yes of course," she answered with certainty. "Good let's go," he said standing up and taking her hand.
"Warrick," she started. "Sara, you said you trusted me. I promise you'll have a great time." He looked down at her, his gorgeous eyes shining and a small smile danced across his lips. "Fine," she grumbled letting him pull her up. She turned and grabbed her bag and shut her locker. She headed to the door where he stood waiting with a mischievous smile on his handsome face. "Why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret my decision?" Sara said with a smirk. "Hey I'm offended. You should know I always show a lady a good time."
"Ah and just exactly how are you going to show this lady a good time?" she said with a smile of her own. Warrick chuckled and said, "We'll see how my surprise goes and then I'll let you decide how much of a good time you want." She stopped and looked up at him with wide eyes, his handsome face gave nothing away. "Were you just hitting on me, Mr. Brown?" she asked not quite sure.
"Maybe," Warrick replied enjoying how her cheeks flamed pink at his answer. He turned and held the door open for her. "After you Sara," he said with a grin. She stared at him for a moment, finally deciding he was just teasing her. She inwardly sighed in relief. She wasn't sure if she could handle it if he had been serious. She had always had a secret crush on him, ever since she realized what a wonderful and caring man he was. Plus he was absolutely gorgeous and those eyes of his drove her crazy. Never in a million did she ever think that he would be interested in someone like her. She knew that he could have anyone he wanted and what girl would not jump at a chance to have him smile at her. Because she had harbored feelings for Grissom for so long, it was easy for her to just focus on him. Through the years she and Warrick had formed a wonderful friendship and a great partnership at work. Sara treasured her relationship with him. She couldn't risk ruining what they had so tempestuously built so she kept her lustful thoughts to herself.
Warrick watched her mind race at his words and saw her eyes fill with relief when she decided he had been teasing her. Part of him had been teasing her. He enjoyed making her blush when he could. He had always been envious of her and Nick's easy flirting. He was not as laid back as Nick and found it difficult to openly flirt with a woman. But sometimes when the opportunity presented itself and he couldn't resist. He loved making Sara's cheeks flush with color. He found it very endearing and even charming. Most women he encountered were very forward and he found that unappealing.
Sara carried herself in an almost innocent way, like she had no idea how attractive she was. And if he were honest with himself he'd have to admit this was the side of her that he was drawn too. He would never let himself analyze these feelings; instead he would push them away. But over the years these feeling had begun to grow and a part of him found Sara very attractive and desirable.
He had to laugh to himself because when he had first met her he found her anything but. After working with her he began to admire her skill as a CSI and through the years he found himself really looking at the woman. Once they had let their guards down and mended their wounded pride they had become a great team and fast friends. He accepted that friendship was all they could have between them. He knew of her one sided devotion to Grissom. He couldn't help but think that Grissom was a fool not to notice what an amazing woman Sara truly was. So Warrick settled for being her friend and locked his other emotions away.
Warrick followed her down the hallway and out into the coming dawn. The sky glimmered in shades of gold, rust and lavender as the sun made its dazzling upward journey from the horizon. She stopped by his car and looked up at him expectantly. He smiled at her, noticing the flash of anticipation in her eyes. "I just have to make a quick phone call." He said pulling out his cell. He dialed a number all the way still smiling at her.
"Hey man, it's Rick. Are we still on?... Great!... Is it all right if I bring a friend?...Yeah she's fine." Warrick couldn't help but grin more when Sara's cheeks turned pink at his words. "Okay sounds cool. We'll be there in about 30 minutes. I just have to stop and get a couple of things. See you man." He flipped his phone shut and looked at Sara. "Are you going to tell me where we're going or are you going to keep me in suspense?" she asked. But she knew immediately he was not going to tell her.
He opened the door for her and helped her in. Before he could shut the door she leaned over inches from his face and quietly said, "I hope you're planning on showing me an extra fine time because I hate surprises." Warrick couldn't help but laugh at her serious expression. "Sara I'm going to have you smiling in no time at all." he said as he shut the door. She watched him walk around the front of the SUV with a huge grin on his face. She felt a sinking sensation in her stomach. She was in trouble, serious trouble if he kept smiling at her like that for the rest of the morning. God that man was handsome.
TBC
