Chapter 4
The CSI crew is out again today and they are all a little surprised that even though Ecklie has not actually "combined" the teams back yet, they keep getting assigned the cases together and the "others" get switched to the swing shift so that Catherine and her team can work with Grissom and his team. Today has been hot and muggy and they've collected evidence that will keep the lab busy for the next 3 shifts! Warrick notices that he has not been able to really get anywhere near Catherine all day. His evidence trail seems to be going opposite hers. He's fought every urge to call her over the past couple of weeks. He cannot get everything his Grams said out of his mind and he knows that his feelings for Catherine have deepened. He just can't wrap his mind around how this could possibly work as a relationship with them working together and her as his supervisor. Catherine hasn't mentioned it either so he thinks maybe it will just blow over. Or will it? He dreams about her, thinks about her non stop, misses her, misses Lindsey, and just cannot imagine what he'd do if she went out on a date with someone else right now. He knows he has no reason to think that way. He also made it a point to not call Grams today! When he called her yesterday, She'd ridden him so hard about Catherine and his need to COMMUNICATE with her that Warrick thought he was going to just jump off the cliff! He laughs to himself as he remembers Grams and her pushy way of matchmaking. He understands completely why she is so crazy about Catherine. "Grams, you just don't understand how complicated this is!" he mutters to himself as he watches Catherine walk toward him.
Catherine smiles as she gets closer and he doesn't remove his stare.
Catherine: What ARE you looking at Warrick?
Warrick: Just admiring the view, boss. ( they share a smile.)
Catherine: How's Adnia?
Warrick: Feisty as ever. She's going to be the death of me, trying to run my life.
Catherine: SO, you have it all figured out on your own huh?
Warrick: (throwing down his glove) No, Cath, I don't have ANYTHING figured out.
(Greg walks up.) Great timing as always.
Greg: Hey Cath! Can I leave early? Grissom had to run back to the lab and I have a big date tonight. I need to go home and fix my hair.
Warrick: (mutters) you need to do something with that hair allright….
Greg: (pretending to look offended) Come on Casanova, everyone can't have hair like yours! Right Cath?
Catherine: (throws up hands) Oh no boys! I'm not getting in this pissing contest! Go ahead and leave when you finish up Greg and tell Sara and Nick to do the same. I have to get out of here myself. Lindsey has a dance recital tonight.
Greg: Most excellent! Thank you Madame Substitute Boss………enjoy the recital, hope she breaks a leg…………well, not really………you know what I mean ……
Warrick: (nudging Greg) I thought you had to go fix your hair…….
(Greg walks off grinning…………..)
Warrick: So, is Lindsey excited?
Catherine: Ecstatic! They did these special invitations and there are assigned seats and you have to show your invitation to get in and they are doing this Red Carpet walk and she is just beside herself.
Warrick: (smiling) I can just see her………
Catherine: ( wanting to smack herself) I'm sorry Rick. I should have asked you to come.
Warrick: That's Ok. You can remember next time. (winks at her.)
Catherine: Well, I'm going to get out of here. Tell Adnia I asked about her.
Warrick: (nudging Cath) Her phone isn't broken. Call her and tell her yourself. She'd love to hear from you.
Catherine: (nudging back) Know what big guy? My phone isn't broken either. I'd like to hear from YOU sometime.
Warrick: (looks down and bites lip) I'm sorry Cath. I just wasn't sure what to say.
Catherine: (sad smile) See you tomorrow, Rick.
Catherine walks off and wonders why she pushed him. She's been telling herself ever since they left his grandmother's 2 weeks ago that this cannot work. She knew that his Grams had said something to him about her and Lindsey before they left that day and when Warrick looked in her eyes she'd seen all the way to his heart. Then he hasn't called or said anything. She's wondered if she imagined the whole thing. He's certainly been the subject of a lot of her dreams lately. She is his boss for crying out loud. She knows she can't do this and could NEVER explain it to Grissom, but how do you walk away to what matters in your heart? Shaking it off, she goes and gets ready for the recital.
Catherine gets to the school and is amused by the red carpet and walking down it to go inside. She watches Lindsey's face light up as they walked the carpet up to the school. She hugs and kisses Lindsey, wishes her luck and goes to find her seat. She sits down and wonders why there are 2 seats next to her with Lindsey's name on them. What in the world?
She looks up to see Warrick sliding in next to her grinning like the cat who's eaten the canary.
Warrick: Hi Cath. Did you enjoy the red carpet?
Cath: (jaw dropped) How did you know to be here? Or why are you? Or ………sorry it's not coming out right.
Warrick: (holding up his invitation) Your daughter mailed me an invitation.
Cath: (looking shocked and surprisingly pleased) Oh she did, did she?
Warrick: Yeah. (speaks softly) Is that Ok with you?
Cath: (choking back tears at the softness in his voice) Yeah. That's Ok with me. She's so used to it being no one but me and Mom. Mom's not feeling well tonight, but they must not have given her seat away even though I called.
Warrick: (slides arm around Catherine's chair) Oh well……..more room to spread out.
(Catherine raises eyebrows and grins)
Catherine's jaw drops again as she sees Adnia coming in the door. Warrick sees the expression and turns around and his jaw drops as well.
Warrick: (whispers) Guess Lindsey invited Grams too.
Catherine: (laughing and shaking her head.) Do you think the two of them have been conspiring together?
Warrick: You don't think…………?
Catherine: Warrick, my daughter invited both of you and I had NO idea. As a matter of fact, you didn't mention it today and we talked about it?
Warrick: (grinning) I figured out really quick that Lindsey hadn't told you she invited me. I didn't want to spoil the surprise…..
Grams: Hello lovebirds………..
(Warrick and Cath both cough and sputter)
Warrick: Grams……….hello.
(Grams hugs both of them and sits down.)
Grams: Wasn't the red carpet fun? I cannot imagine how exciting that was for the girls in their costumes.
Warrick: So you've talked to Lindsey?
Grams: No. Actually I got an invitation in the mail with a precious little note saying, "Grams, please come." A hundred soldiers couldn't have kept me away.
(Warrick and Catherine were both touched, shocked, and speechless.)
The three watched the recital and enjoyed it thoroughly. Catherine was pleased that about halfway through the recital, Warrick slid his arm back behind her chair and didn't even realize he'd draped it over her shoulder moments after that. At the end of the recital, Warrick slid out quick and said he needed to go the restroom. Catherine and Grams met Lindsey in the foyer. Grams praised Lindsey like she had just won an Oscar. Catherine was touched beyond words. The lump in her throat got even bigger when she saw Warrick walk back up with a dozen roses and kneel down in front of Lindsey.
Warrick: Miss Willows, you were amazing! May I have your autograph? (hands her the roses)
(Lindsey took them in awe and abruptly turned around and handed them to Catherine.)
Lindsey: Mama hold these.
(Lindsey stepped up before Warrick could raise up and hugged him so hard he almost fell backwards.)
Lindsey ( in almost a whisper) Thank you so much Warrick.
She kept hugging and didn't let go. Grams was actively wiping tears, Catherine had given up and started crying and Warrick thought in about 2 more seconds he just might lose it himself. His heart caught in his throat when he felt wetness on his shoulder and realized Lindsey was crying. He pulled her back slowly, looked at her and wiped her tears.
Warrick: What's wrong baby?
Lindsey; (sniffling) Nothing. It's just that my Dad never showed up for my recitals. This is the first time anyone has…um………that……..well…you …….and you brought me roses and everything. Thank you Warrick.
Warrick: (struggling to speak) You are very welcome Lindsey. And I will be here anytime you want me to be here or need me to be here.
(Lindsey just nodded her head, Warrick wiped her last little tear and Lindsey turned around and took her flowers back from Catherine.)
Catherine thinks she might just drop to her knees and hug Warrick herself. The feelings she has right now surpass anything she thought possible. She thinks she might just die. She is afraid to even turn and look at Grams b/c she knows that the raw emotion and love would be all over her face. Warrick is still knelt down and almost in a daze. Catherine is deeply moved at how emotional Warrick is over her daughter who had just compared him to her father.
Grams clears her throat.
Grams: Catherine, may I take Lindsey by and get her an ice cream cone and drop her off at home?
Catherine: Ummm, sure. That would be fine. I have to run by the office though so I will call my Mom to be sure she's still up when you drop her off. I was just going to take Lindsey with me to the office, but I'm sure she would rather go with you.
Grams: That will be fine dear. YOU….(looks pointedly at Cath and then turns to Warrick to finish the sentence.) TAKE YOUR TIME.
Warrick stands up and looks at Catherine.
Warrick: I don't know what to say. Lindsey…….
(Catherine reaches up and lightly puts a finger on his lips.)
Catherine: You don't have to say anything. That was a moment that spoke for itself.
Warrick: (nods) I …….ummmmm…..you know that I DJ sometimes over at Humphrey's. I promised a buddy of mine that I'd come by for about an hour tonight and check out his new equipment. Why don't you come over there?
Cath: (catches breath) I don't know Warrick. You'll be busy and I'll be in the way. I'm not sure it's a good idea. I mean, I want to , but……..
Warrick: I want you to come. That's a side of me you've never even seen.
Cath: I know……..I want to………
(Warrick this time puts a finger lightly on Catherine's lips and almost caresses them as he removes his finger)
Warrick: I don't need an answer. You can think about it. You know where Humphrey's is. Come on over if you want to. I'd love to see you there. It's up to you.
(Warrick quickly walks away praying she will come.) Catherine is still reminding herself to breathe. Did he just ask her out?
Stay tuned for CH. 5
