Three weeks have passed. Grams is healing quite nicely, trying to get out and exercise some, eating healthier and being watched like a hawk by her overprotective grandson. She's threatened on more than one occasion to string "the boy" up by his shoelaces if he doesn't quit hovering.
The CSI team has been busy beyond words. There was a teenage shooting at the mall, the two homeless women found dead under the bridge, and now both shifts have come together on a school bus wreck where the driver was found dead. All of the children on the bus were unharmed, but the whole team is plagued with the "what ifs" that could have happened with that many children on the bus and a mountain of evidence to decide what caused the wreck and the death in the first place. The scene begins with the whole team scouring the area looking for evidence.
Nick: (snapping photos): Hey Rick, how's your grandmother doing?
Warrick: She's good, man. She's eating better because I am buying most of her groceries, she has started walking and exercising. It makes me really glad we found her that house in a good neighborhood. She can actually get out and walk and I don't have to worry about her.
Nick: (laughing) You're not a little over the top are you? You are buying her groceries?
Warrick: Hey! That woman fries everything! She'd go right back to her old lifestyle without some direction! Every time I'd go eat with her, I'd have to spend an extra hour in the gym! She spent her life raising me well, now I am just "giving back" a little teaching. That's all.
Nick: (still laughing) All I can say is I'm glad I'm not your grandmother!
(Catherine walks up overhearing the conversation and punches Warrick on the arm.)
Cath: Hey Slavedriver, can you help me over here for a second?
(Nick laughs and Warrick follows Catherine with a smirk on his face.)
Cath: Is she really doing OK?
Warrick: Yeah, she's amazing the doctors. She's trying hard to do the right thing. She's taught me to do the right thing all my life so I don't know why I'm so amazed by that. When I did something wrong, like all the time I spent as a runner; I made damn sure Grams didn't know about it. She'd have beaten me half to death!
Cath: Well, we've all made our bad choices Warrick. We learn from them.
Warrick: Grams has asked me every time she talks to me when I am bringing you and Lindsey over.
Cath: (raises eyebrows) Yeah? Well, when are you?
Warrick: (laughs) When are you free?
Cath: (looks at watch) About 5:00. I'd say you will be done here about the same time.
Warrick: (laughs harder) Ok. I'll call Grams and tell her we are coming tonight. Want me to swing by and pick you and Lindsey up?
Cath: (winks) Sure, I thought you'd never ask.
Warrick watches her walk off and wonders out of all the women he's asked out, why in the world he feels so awkward around Catherine and just hasn't followed through to invite her over to his Grams. Maybe because he's never brought any of the women around his Grams. That's too close and too sacred. Yet he so desperately wanted Cath to meet his Grams when she was at the hospital. That came about so naturally. Even now, when he thinks about taking her and Lindsey "home to Grams" his heart is beating at an overkill and there is the oddest feeling in his stomach. Warrick looks up at the sun and adjusts his sunglasses. "It's got to be the heat, " he mutters to himself.
Later that evening………
Warrick goes by and picks up Catherine and Lindsey. He laughs when Lindsey hops animatedly up into the back seat and tells him what a "cool ride" he has. Warrick tells her that all the ladies love it which grants him an eyeroll from Cath. He tries to decide whether or not to tell Catherine how nice she looks in front of Lindsey. Catherine is wondering why she bothered to re-do her hair when Warrick doesn't even notice. She can't figure out why she feels like she is on a first date with a man she has known and worked along side for quite a few years and her daughter watching in the back seat. Jeez, if those butterflies would just go away…………Grams is waiting at the door when the crew pulls up.
Grams: There's my favorite grandson! And Catherine it is so nice to see you again dear! And you, young lady must be Lindsey.
Lindsey: Yes Ma'am. Thank you for inviting us to your house.
Catherine breathes a silent thank you because Lindsey is remembering her manners. Warrick kisses his Grams on the cheek and tells her he's ordered pizza and salad to be delivered shortly. She opens her mouth to argue and he squeezes her tighter and tells her just to enjoy blowing her healthy eating without having to clean up! As they walk inside, he leans over to Catherine and whispers, "You look really nice." And walks on through before she could get her chin up off the floor and respond. He smiles as he realizes that Lindsey and Grams are off in their own conversation talking about Lindsey's tour of the pediatric wing of the hospital. They all chat comfortably until the pizza arrives. While they eat their pizza, Lindsey is talking all about school and the goings on. Grams asks questions and Warrick and Cath throw in comments. The conversation and laughter seem to fill the room.
Grams is wondering why in the world her grandson hasn't snatched up this woman and her beautiful daughter. She watches Warrick watch Cath and knows that he feels something for her. She sees the same thing in Catherine's eyes. She tries to remind herself that it isn't her job to play God and try to take charge of her grandson's life.
Catherine is dealing with a gambit of mixed emotions because she feels so natural in this place and knows how easily she and Lindsey both could get attached to this woman. She still struggles with the things she feels for Warrick and has no idea what he's thinking. She knows it wouldn't be wise to get involved with him, but she can't get past how good it feels to be sitting here and feeling like family. She thinks about the way her heart flip flops when she watches Warrick with Lindsey. God, he's so good with her.
Warrick is feeling much the same. He'd love to just get Cath off to the side and spend some alone time with her. He knows that would be rude and surely doesn't want to upset Lindsey. He has no idea if Catherine is bored or if she is really as comfortable as she looks. About that time. She looks over and catches him staring at her. She takes in her breath.
Grams: Miss Lindsey, what do you say you and I clean up these boxes and bake a batch of brownies? I have a mix in the cabinet. I've got some flowers outside that need to be watered and Warrick and your mother have offered to water them for me.
Warrick: (looks surprised) We have?
Lindsey: YAY! I love Brownies! Can I lick the bowl?
Grams: Well of course you can darlin'! If I tried to after having the heart attack, Warrick would lecture me for a month! One of us might as well enjoy the batter!
(Lindsey follows Grams into the kitchen with one of the pizza boxes, leaving Cath and Warrick sitting alone in the living room.)
Cath: Soooo, how many flowers do we have to water?
(They both get up to walk outside.)
Warrick: Grams only has ONE flowerbed. It will take all of 2 minutes. She knew exactly what she was doing!
(Catherine laughs out.) She's not very subtle.
(Warrick hooks up the water hose and proceeds to water the flowerbed.)
Warrick: Are you having an OK time Cath? I mean, are you bored?
Cath: (quietly) I'm having such an OK time that it scares me.
Warrick: Why?
Cath: Truth?
Warrick: Please.
Cath: It feels like family. Like we are a part of it. Totally natural.
Your grandmother is amazing. My daughter acts like she has known her forever. The whole thing …….(throws her hands up in the air) it just seems so normal and wonderful that it scares the hell out of me. (regains composure) And to top it all off, I have no idea what you are thinking.
Warrick (looks directly into Cath's eyes) I'm thinking the exact same thing you are. And it scares the hell out of me too.
Cath: I have so many feelings spinning in my head and my heart right now that I can't even think.
Warrick (with a little laugh) You too, huh?
Cath: So now what? Where do we go from here? We can't……..I don't think…
(He takes a step toward Catherine……….)
Lindsey: (coming out the front door) Hey! The brownies are in the oven!
Grams: Warrick! Are you trying to drown the pansies! They don't need a puddle son!
(Warrick looks down and sees the water still running in the same spot he'd been holding the water hose the whole time. Catherine steps over quickly and turns the water off.)
Warrick (blushing): Sorry Grams.
Lindsey (giggling): Warrick I don't think flowers can swim.
Warrick: (scruffs Lindsey's hair) Ok, kiddo, next time you get to water the flowers!
(Warrick looks over at Cath in apology. He really feels they needed more time and wanted to tell Grams that for all her matchmaking, her timing sure had been off the mark! Cath just smiles at him and looks away.)
Cath: Linds, we need to get you home so you can finish your homework.
Lindsey: Mo-om! I want to stay here! Can't we stay just a little longer!
Grams: Lindsey, honey, come on inside and let's send some brownies home with you. We'll have to do this again sometime and the next time we'll get Warrick to play the piano for us.
Warrick: Uh, Grams……..
Lindsey (whirls around and looks at Warrick): You play the piano? That is wayyyyy cool! Can you play Chopsticks?
(Everyone stifles laughter.)
Warrick: I think maybe I can hit the notes for that one.
Cath: I'd like to hear more of your music….
Grams: (putting an arm around Catherine) Catherine let me tell you how talented this boy is..he can do all sorts of things!
Cath (stealing a tongue in cheek grin sideways at Warrick): I'll bet
Warrick (shifting his feet) : Grams please……….
Lindsey: Warrick will you play the piano!
Cath: Lindsey, honey we have got to go.
Grams: Well then, it is settled. You all will have to come back again!
Cath: Adnia, we'd love to. I've had a wonderful time and so has Lindsey.
Lindsey: Yeah! It's been fun! I loved baking the brownies! Mom she let me do the beaters!
Grams (wistfully): Ah little one………I need your energy around this place. It's been a long time since Warrick was your size.
(Lindsey frumples her brow incredulously and looks at Warrick)
Lindsey: Grams, I don't think Warrick has EVER been my size.
Warrick and Cath (at the same time): Grams?
Lindsey: She told me to call her Grams!
Warrick (smirking at Grams, mutters): I'm sure she did…..
Cath (choking): Well that was nice of her.
(Grams smiles like the cat that has eaten the canary. Reaches down and hugs Lindsey and then hugs Catherine.)
Grams: I was serious about you all coming back again.
Cath: We'd like that.
(They all head out the door. Warrick reaches down to hug and kiss Grams.)
Grams (whispers): Bring them back Warrick…….SOON.
Warrick: Yes ma-am. I will. (Looks at Grams and sighs) You are impossible you know that?
Grams: I've always been there to push you out of the nest when you were afraid to fly.
Warrick (frowns): You think I'm afraid? Of what?
Grams: No love, I KNOW you are afraid and you know EXACTLY of what.
Warrick: Grams……..I'm not…..Cath and I……..it's complicated.
Grams (speaks firmly) :Aw Posh………Life is complicated son………..Matters of the heart involve great risk. If you risk nothing, you have nothing worth having to lose. If you risk everything, you have everything to gain. You go get in that big truck looking car of yours and you think about that woman and that little girl and you decide about the risk. You are the only one who can take it. Are they worth the risk? Only you can decide that.
Warrick stands there, speechless. This woman who has raised him can see into his very soul. He thinks about how close he came to losing her just weeks before. He is so overwhelmed with emotion that his fists are clenched. She's given him a lifetime of things to think about and he still can't figure out how she can see so deeply in his heart.
Grams: Go on son. They're waiting for you.
Warrick (choking back tears): I love you Grams.
Grams: I love you too, Warrick, more than the air. (she blows him a kiss like she did when he was little)
Warrick walks to the car almost trembling with emotion. He wonders what is happening to him. He knows he's always been so tough and together and he sure isn't feeling that way right now. He slides in the car and turns the ignition. Catherine is watching him intently. Lindsey raises across the back seat and wraps her arms around his neck.
Lindsey: That was FUN, Warrick! Grams is totally cool! Can we come again?
Warrick: Sure sweetie. I'll bring you and your Mom back.
Lindsey: You promise?
Warrick (looking Lindsey in the eye through the rearview mirror): I promise.
Lindsey: Cool!
As Lindsey plops back and buckles her seatbelt, Warrick looks over at Catherine. They share a long, warm smile. He drives the girls home quietly, knowing that he has a lot to think about.
