Again sorry it took me so long to update. I'd like to thank CSIfan4life for giving me a good fic to read, Bconknee for being you and CSIfreak89 for editing for me (and my dyslexia- lol) As always, I don't own anyone (except Shienne and Vicky) or the song, which I have in here twice, and which you'll probably recognize as Fast Cars and Freedom by Rascal Flatts. Anyways, on with the piece of crap…I mean story.
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"Warrick!" exclaimed Lindsey, running over to the table at which Warrick sat with a woman, and a girl about Lindsey's age.
"Hey Girl!" Warrick said, grinning at her.
"Linds, we're going to be late for the movie." Catherine came over, taking her daughter's hand. "I'll see you around Ed, I mean Warrick," she added flatly, turning to go, as Lindsey complained.
"Cath!" Warrick called out, his voice pleading. Her step never faltered as she walked away. "Damn it!" Warrick muttered, knowing full well that that wasn't a slip-up. He sighed, dropping his head in his hands and wanting to cry.
"Hey 'rick? You okay?"
"Yeah Vicky, I'm good. It'll take me a while to fix this one."
"Ya wanna go explain?"
Thanks, but she needs to cool down a bit first, or else she'll just blow up at me. Besides, I think I know someone who wanted to go to the zoo," he said giving the little girl a forced smile.
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Warrick walked into the break room, bags under his eyes, coffee in hand.
"Hey man, you need to start getting some sleep."
"Shut up Nick. I couldn't. I tried."
"Girl troubles?" Nick asked, giving him a sympathetic smirk.
"You could say that."
"Ah man, that's the worst."
No, what's the worst is that she's both scarred and stubborn. Not a great combination in my situation. As if sensing she was being talked about, Catherine walked into the break room, saw Warrick, and turned around and left.
"What was that all about?" Warrick didn't answer him. Nick, being the investigator he was, put two and two together and got four, his eyes, widening.
"How long?" he asked.
"Three months this Friday, should it make it to this Friday."
"Tom Haviland?" Warrick nodded. "You got your work cut out for you man. That girl can hold a grudge. Just ask Greggo."
"Shut up Nick."
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Sara Sidle walked into the locker room to find her sole female co-worker slowly banging her head against her locker.
"They say damaging brain cells helps," she teased good-naturedly.
"Shut up Sara."
"Hey! Do I look like the person you're mad at?" Catherine sighed.
"No, but I don't have a mirror." Sara snickered.
"Come on Cat. Even I don't think you're that bad. Wanna talk?" Sara offered, slightly uncharacteristically sympathetic.
"Nope, but thanks."
An hour later, the two found themselves sitting in evening traffic on their way to a crime scene. Sara, trying to break the silence, turned the radio on.
I see a dust trail followin' an old red Nova,
baby blue eyes…Before Sara could recognize the song Catherine had turned it off.
"Okay then," she muttered.
"It's one of those song I can't listen to, okay?" Sara nodded.
"Anything to do with earlier?" Sara pried.
"A little, can we drop it?"
"Sure."
Catherine's cell rang. She checked the caller ID, and promptly put the phone back in her purse, ignoring it. Sara frowned.
"Leave it Sara."
"I wasn't gonna say anything."
A moment later Sara's phone rang. She answered.
"Oh hey Warrick…Sure, she's here, but why'd ya have to run up my minutes?" she teased before adding, to Catherine, "It's for you."
Catherine had no choice but to take it or face Sara, so she prayed he didn't want what she knew full well he wanted, put on her best poker face (this being Vegas after all), and said, "Hey 'rick."
"Catherine. I can explain if you'll just hear me out…"
"Thanks 'rick, bye," she said a catch in her voice. She hung up.
Back at the lab, Warrick looked around the workroom, picked up a pen, and threw it across the room, concluding, "That was so less than satisfactory." Nick, walking in, ducked, the pen barely missing him.
"I take it she's screening her calls." Warrick balled his fists, angrily wiping away tears with the heel of his palm.
"I don't know what to do man. I tried her phone, she didn't answer. Did I mention I hate caller ID? I called Sara's phone she hung up on me." Nick took out his phone, hitting speed dial. He made sure it was ringing, then handed Warrick the phone. He nodded, following Nick's reasoning. She would answer if she saw it was only Nick.
"Hey Nicky."
"Damn it Catherine, please, just listen…" She hung up, leaving Warrick pissed, and out of ideas. He slammed his fist on the metal frame of the light table, relishing, if for a moment, the pain.
"Hey men, that thing costs money."
"Damn it Nicky I can't lose her."
"Hey I did tell you she can hold a grudge." Warrick just glared at him through teary eyes.
"I don't know. I think I lost her."
"You start thinking like that you'll never get any wok done tonight. Come on. Let's go see if our John Doe's still a John Doe."
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Somehow, Warrick made it through shift. He was beginning to think it was a hopeless cause, but that didn't stop him. Calling the woman he'd been with yesterday, he decided he was damned if he was going down with out a fight.
A half an hour later, he met Vicky on Catherine's doorstep. Gathering his courage he knocked.
"What do you want?" the door demanded.
"I want you to listen to me."
"You have nothing I haven't heard a million times before, though I never figured you'd be the one saying them."
"Damn it Cat…"
"Don't call me that."
"…don't do this to Linds. She just lost her father Catherine. You really want her to go through this?" he said, hoping that she'd listen if he put it that way.
"Nice to know you finally stopped to think about her!" she shouted. Apparently not. Warrick threw himself at the door in frustration, startling both Catherine and Vicky. He sighed.
Staring at you taking off your makeup
Wondering why you even put it on
I know you think you do, but baby, you don't need it
Wish that you could see what I see when it's gone
I see a dust trail following an old red Nova
Baby blue eyes and your head on my shoulder
Wait, baby don't move, right there it is
A T-shirt hanging off a dogwood branch
That river was cold but we gave love a chance
Yeah To me
You don't look a day over fast cars and freedom
That sunset, riverbank, first time feeling
Yeah smile and shake your head as if you don't believe me
I'll just sit right here and let you take me back
Got Cougar up on ten, Little Diddy 'Bout Jack and Diane
You're laughing, singing with your feet up on the dash
Remember that
I see a dust trail following an old red Nova
Baby blue eyes and your head on my shoulder
Wait, baby don't move, right there it is
A T-shirt hanging off a dogwood branch
That river was cold but we gave love a chance
Yeah To me
You don't look a day over fast cars and freedom
That sunset, riverbank, first time feeling
"Don't make me sing the other thirteen Catherine, you know I will. All I want is for you to hear me out. After that, it's up to you." The door opened slowly, a teary-eyed Catherine sticking her head out.
"Let's try this again, Catherine, met my sister Vicky. Vicky, Catherine," he introduced them, emphasizing the "sister", his tone gently mocking.
"Hi, nice to met you," Catherine said sheepishly.
"Well, you certainly make an interesting first impression," Vicky teased.
"Not a word of this to Griss, 'rick. He'd fire me on the spot… I'm sorry I reacted like... It just hurt so much." She fell into his outstretched arms.
"Catherine I'd never… you know I'd never, right?" She nodded
"Of course." He breathed a sigh of relief he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Though I must say; if Vicky wasn't my sister…" Catherine smiled, reaching up to kiss him, before pulling away, though she stayed in his right arm.
"So Vicky, you really must tell me all about Warrick's childhood." Catherine winked at the younger woman, gesturing for both of them to come in.
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Poor Warrick was still moaning when he and Catherine walked into the break room eight hours later.
"Oh, come on Warrick, everyone has a crush on their teacher at some point. Though I must say, most kids don't…"
"Shut up Cat, not another word. I am going to kill Vicky."
"Just make sure you frame someone else real well," Nick said from where he sat across the room.
"You stay out of this, Crimestopper." Nick's smile disappeared.
"I can not believe you are still bringing that up, man. That's low."
"Hey I forgot something in my locker, I'll be back." Catherine said before turning to Nick and adding, "Can you keep a secret?"
"Huh?" She looked around, making sure no one else was looking, then reached up and kissed Warrick, who smiled.
"You didn't see that Nick," Warrick clarified.
"See what?" Nick smiled.
Once Catherine was out of earshot Nick turned to Warrick.
"Okay, you are definitely teaching me how to do that. That could come in handy."
"What?"
"Oh come on, one minute she's pissed at you, the next she can't keep away from you. How'd you do it?"
Warrick smiled.
"Let's just say it's a method I'd have to kill you if you ever used."
"Too much info."
"Hey you asked."
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