Chapter 7

The team has processed and bagged everything they can at the scene. They're wrapping up and getting ready to call it a night as Catherine's phone rings. She talks quietly and hangs up quickly. Warrick asks her if everything is OK. She looks a little uncomfortable and nods. "This made the news and since Lindsey had come in late she was still up and heard it. She was calling to be sure everyone was OK." Greg grinned, "Everyone?" Cath looks to Warrick and says, "Yeah." Warrick sighs and asks Catherine if Lindsey sounded OK. Catherine runs her hands through her strawberry blonde hair. "She's fine I think, but she's called Adnia and she is on her way to my house to sit with Mom and Lindsey."

Warrick: Oh………

Grissom: Who's Adnia?

Warrick: My grandmother.

Nick hides a smile and looks down. Greg is tapping his chin with his finger trying really hard to keep his mouth shut. Grissom and Sara look confused. Catherine and Warrick look at each other and try to figure out where to go and what to say about all of this. The frustration level is overwhelming. They both know that they really wanted to talk to each other about this before everyone else got involved.

Catherine: Guys, I really need to get home and check on my daughter.

Grissom: Go ahead Catherine. (Looks at Warrick.) Sounds like you need to go to, Rick.

Warrick: Thanks Gris. I really do have some things I need to take care of.

Grissom: (looking directly at Warrick) Obviously…………just be sure you take care of them.

Warrick: I will.

Catherine and Warrick start out the door. Nick follows Warrick and stops him. Warrick tells Catherine he will meet her at her Mom's.

Nick: Look man. I don't know what's going on with you and Catherine…………

Warrick: (interrupting) Nick, I, myself don't even know what's going on with me and Catherine. I can't give you or anyone else any explanation until I can figure it out and talk to Cath about it. Every time we get to a point of talking about it something happens. The very last thing either of us wanted was for you guys to know until we knew ourselves. There's a lot at stake here.

Nick: Look, Warrick. I know you are frustrated. The timing sucks. I'll give you that. You and Catherine have been running from this………this whatever it is………for a long time. I told her the same thing while we were processing. The thing you both seem to be ignoring is that you care about each other. Are you in love with her?

Warrick: (shaking his head in frustration.) Nicky……..I……….hell I don't know………..

Nick: (steps closer to Warrick, right in his face) Don't lie to me and quit lying to yourself. Are you in love with Catherine?

Warrick: Yes………..YES………..damn it Nick. Is that what you want me to say? I love her. But there's more to it than that. (Warrick starts pacing)

Nick: Like what? Lindsey? Lindsey adores you. You being in her life would do nothing but make it better. Your job? Yeah, that's sticky. It's sticky for the whole team. I'm not gonna lie to you. It could be a problem. You may have to deal with that. But if you walk away from what you feel and force Catherine to do the same thing, you are both miserable and will end up tearing yourselves apart and that will affect Lindsey and your job much more. Be man enough to step up to the plate. Tell her you love her. Make a decision about CSI and deal with whatever comes.

Warrick: You make it sound so easy.

Nick: It's not easy. It will be a whole new level. It's going to be a lot of hard work. One of you may have to transfer………we work in a big place, there is plenty to do. They probably won't let you work together, but neither of you will be forced to leave CSI. You have no idea what Grissom or Ecklie either one is going to say. It's going to require a lot of decisions. I just think that you and Cath are at a point that you can't turn back. You've got act on this and move forward. You can't run away from the "what ifs" for the rest of your lives. That's not fair to any of you. And especially not to Lindsey."

Warrick: (looks up at the night sky and squints): How do I even know Cath feels the same way?

Nick: She does Warrick…………

Warrick: How can you know that?

Nick: I just know………..and so do you…………

Warrick: I don't know Nicky…….. I don't want to hurt her.

Nick: Then don't! Love her and give her the freedom to love you. Don't walk away without knowing you have given it everything you've got.

Warrick: (sighs, still looking upward.) Would you really be OK with it if Cath and I were together?

Nick: Honestly man, I don't know. It's weird. It's going to change everything and it will even make my working relationship with you and Catherine different. I'm not crazy about that. It's not going to change how deep our friendship is and I'll get through whatever the changes are just like everyone else will. What you have got to realize Warrick, is that this isn't about me……….it's about you …….and Catherine………and Lindsey………and even your grandmother. Are you willing to deprive your grandmother from the relationship she could have with Lindsey? And even Catherine? I know your career is important to you. Your career won't even be over………..it just may change somewhat. So quit worrying about what everyone thinks and just follow what your heart is telling you. (laughs) and man………….this conversation is over because I'm beginning to sound like Oprah or Dr. Phil or somebody.

(They both laugh.)

Nick: You know what you need to do, Warrick, just do it. Go home and check on your girls.

Warrick: Ok………..thanks Nick.

Warrick walks in the door at Catherine's and all 3 of "his girls" are sitting in the living room. Lindsey runs to him and practically jumps in his arms.

Lindsey: Warrick are you OK?

Warrick: I'm all right, baby. Everything's going to be fine. (Hugs her really tight.)

Lindsey: (whispers) I was so scared.

Warrick: I know baby. It's over. Why don't your Mom and I take you upstairs and get you settled so you can get some sleep. We can talk more tomorrow.

Lindsey (pulling back from the hug to look at Warrick): Are you going to be here tomorrow? (Catherine crosses her arms and looks to the floor.)

Warrick: (Looks at Cath first and then at Lindsey) Yeah. Tomorrow we are all going to sit down and talk about some things. Tonight you need some rest. It's late.

Lindsey: Will you and Mom sit with me until I go to sleep?

Warrick: Sure, if that's OK with your Mom.

Cath: (fighting tears) Sure it's OK. (Walks over and takes Lindsey's hand and reaches out to squeeze Warrick's hand with her other one.)

Warrick(looking back to Grams and Catherine's Mom trying to smile and wink): If you ladies want to make some coffee, we'll be back down in a while and can answer to you two.

Grams: You'll answer to us alright, but take care of that little girl right now. We'll make coffee.

Warrick and Catherine walked Lindsey upstairs and tucked her in. Warrick rubbed her back and Catherine stroked her hair. Lindsey went to sleep almost immediately. Catherine let the silent tears drip onto the sheets. Catherine whispers almost in a hush, "I love her so much, Warrick." Warrick reaches across and takes Catherine's hand. "I know you do. And you are a good Mom." Warrick sits quietly for a few seconds and continues, "I love her too, Cath." Catherine puts her free hand over her mouth to keep from waking Lindsey with a sob. She squeezes Warrick's hand and looks at him. "I know you do." Warrick motions to the door and Catherine nods and they both quietly get up and walk down the stairs.

It's quiet and the lights are out except for one lamp in the living room and a light in the kitchen. Warrick raises his eyebrows at Catherine wondering where her Mom and Grams are and she shrugs that she hasn't a clue. They step into the kitchen and neither woman is there. There's a note on the counter. Catherine and Warrick frown at each other and step closer. "This is Gram's handwriting." Warrick mutters. The note reads:

We know you two have a lot to talk about and we have decided we can tell you how glad we are that you weren't hurt tomorrow. Lily is going up to bed and I am going home. The coffee is made. Let tonight be a reminder that you are not promised tomorrow. As a mother and grandmother who love you both, we are giving you space. Sit down and talk and lay everything on the table. Quit running from reality and don't let the door close behind you without knowing what matters most. We love you both.

"Grams" and "Mom"

Catherine smiled and went to pour coffee.

Catherine: Well, they aren't subtle are they?

Warrick: No, but they're right. We need to talk.

Catherine: I know………(hands him his coffee) Let's go sit down in the living room.

(They walk to the living room and both sit on the sofa.)

Warrick: You know…….there was a minute tonight after that explosion when I forgot I was a CSI. When I threw you down and the moments after……….I was so afraid for you.

Catherine: Me too. I was afraid you'd been hit.

Warrick: I don't know what I'd do without you, Cath.

Catherine: I know……….me too…….. Warrick, when did this get so out of hand? Now everyone knows we were together.

Warrick: (taking a deep breath). I think this got out of hand when I fell in love with you.

Catherine: (closes her eyes and smiles) I don't know. Maybe it was when I fell in love with you. (Opens her eyes and looks at him.)

(Warrick smiles, kind of laughs, and looks down, and then back up at Catherine.)

Warrick: Now that we've gotten that out of the way………….

Catherine: What are we going to do?

Warrick: (takes another breath and blows it out loudly) Well. I think we need to sit down and talk to Lindsey. We need to tell her how we feel and that we will be spending time together both alone and the 3 of us. Then we go in and talk to Grissom. Let him tell us how to proceed from there. I know Ecklie's top dog, but I respect Gris more and value his advice. (Catherine nods) I think we should go to him first. I don't think we have to worry about Grams and your Mom. Nick already knows. He figured it out on is own.

Catherine: Sounds like you have it all figured out. When did you come up with this whole plan?

Warrick: (laughing) Somewhere between the time Nick jacked me up at the crime scene and when I pulled in your driveway.

Catherine: I don't know what to say.

Warrick: Say you'll give it a shot. That you'll give us a chance to see where this goes. It's going to get even more complicated, Cath, but I can't walk away from this without knowing where we can go.

Catherine: (reaches up and takes Warrick's face and pulls him toward her, stopping within inches of her face.) I'll give us a shot. I have no desire to walk away either. I'm scared to go forward, but I'm terrified of walking away.

Warrick reaches up and takes her chin, closes the distance and kisses her on the forehead, moves down and kisses the tip of her nose, then settles in to kiss her lips lightly. He backs off, looks at her, and kisses her again fully, deeply, and slowly.

Warrick: Do you know how long I've wanted to do that?

Catherine: I'd guess about as long as I've wanted you to.

Warrick: I love you.

Catherine: I love you, Warrick.

(He kisses her again.)

Warrick: We'll talk to Lindsey tomorrow. How about if I pick you guys up around 10:00 and we'll go to the lake and have a picnic and talk. There's a putt-putt course close by and we'll take her there afterwards.

Catherine: You don't think I'm going to ask you to stay?

Warrick: Probably not. You know that isn't good for Lindsey and I have no intention of staying even if you asked for exactly that same reason. It would help just to know you'd want me to stay.

Catherine: (tracing his bottom lip with her finger). I want you to stay so much that I can hardly breathe.

Warrick: (kissing her hand and putting it back in her lap.) I feel the same way. (smiling) And that's my queue to get up and go home. For now………

Catherine: (walking him to the door) Giving me something to look forward too?

Warrick: Not half as much as something I'M giving ME something to look forward too! Everything's going to be OK Cath. I'll take care of everything. Including you and Lindsey.

Catherine: Your Grams raised a good man. One that has taken the key to my heart.

Warrick: I'll be sure to tell her you approve of her work. She won't quit meddling you know………….

Catherine: I know……….I have rather enjoyed her meddling and prodding. We might have walked away without her intrusion.

Warrick: You're right……..I'll see you in the morning. (He leans in for one more deep kiss.)

Warrick: 'nite boss.

Catherine: (leans in the doorway and grins.) 'nite detective……….see you in the morning.

Warrick: (walking to his car, turns back) Yes. You will.

I'm really sad to see this story end. It has been so easy to write because it's my own story for these characters just as I've envisioned it. CBS and CSI own all of these characters, with the exception of the "Grams" nickname which just seemed to fit. This is just my own fantasy of where I'd like to see Warrick and Catherine go. Thank you all for reading and enjoying this story. Please pass it on to others.

Susan