Catherine's POV:

"You've got to be kidding me. You can't tell me that Sara said this guy was looking for me," I said to Gil. Gil's downcast gaze told me that he wasn't lying. I had initially hoped this was some kind of joke or some kind of revenge on the part of the night shift.

"Catherine, Brass is trying to arrange some kind of police protection for you," Gil replied. I walked the crime scene with Grissom again. Fifteen minutes ago, Warrick and I drove into a parking lot full of squad cars. Sophia and Grissom were busy taking pictures and such. A few assorted members of the dayshift were fingerprinting Sara's SUV. I knew it must have been bad, but I hadn't expected it to be this bad.

"Nick just called to tell me what happened to Sara. She was attacked by someone that claims you put him in jail for ten years for a crime he didn't commit. Catherine, you need to listen to me," Gil said visibly worried despite his dark sunglasses.

"That's crazy. Sara and I look nothing alike," I retorted suddenly becoming angry at Gil.

"This guy is dangerous; he's willing to assault Sara in the middle of the parking lot at ten in the morning. Catherine, you need police protection until we have a suspect in custody," Gil replied more firmly this time.

"I have smudges and a partial. I'm going to go run my partial in AFIS," Sophia said as she brushed up against Gil. I wanted to yell at her to butt the hell out of this conversation. She replaced me. Sophia was the one that Gil had dinner with. Sophia was the one that was privy to those deep conversations with Gil. I missed those conversations; I missed the subtle security of the relationship that I once had with him. If I couldn't have it, Sophia sure as hell shouldn't have it.

"Good. I'll be in there soon. We have enough cooks in the kitchen," Gil commented.

"So what now . . . what about Lindsey?" I asked irritated as Sophia walked away.

"Go inside and try to calm down before your ride gets here," Gil replied visibly frustrated with my raised voice and all too apparent disdain for the entire situation. I still wasn't convinced that this all was real.

I reluctantly went into the crime lab where Warrick was camped out in the break room. He swirled the coffee in his coffee cup. He stared blankly into the black liquid.

"It's bad, Catherine. Nick said that Sara isn't doing too well. Brass said that she's lucky to be alive," Warrick said in a shockingly calm voice. It was calmer than his normal tone. It scared me. I had to look away from him.

"I should start looking through my old cases and parolees," I said with a slight waver to my voice.

"Cath, you should listen to Grissom. We don't know who this guy is yet. What if he's waiting for you at home?" Warrick asked, "What if he realizes that he got the wrong person? This is already all over the news."

"This is insane. This is absolutely insane. I'm not the judge and jury for these people . . . that's the job of their peers. That's all public information. This madman could go after anyone," I said as I slouched into a chair.

"Brass said that he's working on making sure everyone involved with the trial is safe. I know what you are thinking," Warrick said gently.

"I'm glad one of us knows what I'm thinking," I replied with a frustrated huff.

"Cath, it's not your fault. You're right that we aren't the ones that convict people. We just tell the story that the evidence holds," Warrick replied.

"Very Grissom of you, Rick," I said.

"Well, he's right, isn't he?"

"Don't make me say it," I challenged Warrick with a smile. I look up into his hazel eyes. I loved his eyes. They were so easy to get lost in; they were so easy to take comfort in.

"Hey," Nick said as he collapsed into a chair next to Warrick. The little wrinkles around his eyes were exaggerated, as were the dark circles under his eyes.

"How's she doing?" Warrick asked even though he got off the phone with Nick only minutes ago. I still had a hard time believing that I was the original target.

"She's pissed. She wants to know why and who," Nick replied as he rested his head in his hands. It was clear that Sara wanted to know why I wasn't the one in the hospital bed. I, too, began to wonder why.

"She's not there alone is she?" Warrick asked.

"Greg's with her. He brought her a stuff animal to keep her company. Ecklie is taking a second statement and doing some counseling," Nick replied his words dripping with jealousy and hurt.

"They've gotten really chummy lately," I accidentally said a little too harshly. Nick looked at me wondering exactly who I was talking about. Sara and Greg had become good friends, but they always had gotten along well. Ecklie had all but followed Sara around since she got back from her suspension. His behavior was weird, but Ecklie had always been a little weird.

"I hope you are talking about Greg. I don't think anyone looks to be 'chummy' with Ecklie," Warrick replied as he gently squeezed my thigh. I could feel myself blush. I'm sure that Nick didn't notice Warrick's calming gesture. In that moment of silence, everything seemed real.

I was afraid . . . I suddenly became very afraid.