Chapter 5

By the time Gil had gotten Warrick to the hospital, the initial shock had worn off. Warrick was frantic. He ran through the hospital, barely avoiding running people over. Getting to the O.B. Ward, he was by Gemma's doctor.

"Warrick Brown, You've made it just in time!" With a nod from the doctor to a nearby nurse, Warrick was whisked off to be cleaned up. A few minutes later, he was allowed to be with his wife.

Warrrick flew to her side, apologizing profusely. "Oh God, Baby, I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you!"

"Warrick." Gemma clasped his hand, smiling through her tears. "You're late."

"Yeah, well, you know how I like to make an entrance." Warrick chuckled, kissing his wife. Gemma let out a strained laugh, causing him to apologize again.

"You're here now, that's all that matters." Warrick kissed her again, still murmuring apologies.

"Well, Gemma." The doctor called out as he entered the room. "You've successfully held out until your no-good husband showed up. Are you ready to finish this now, Gemma?"

Gripping Warrick's hand harshly, Gemma panted. "Yes please!"

Warrick entered the waiting room quietly, looking around the room. His 'family' was all there waiting for him. Gil, Grams, Catherine and Doc Robbins were huddled together in the center of the room, the doc giving a detailed description of something. Sara and Greg were having a heated discussion as they both gulped down paper cups of coffee. Warrick took a moment to think that Greg was trying to mimic Sara's ability to survive on nothing but coffee.

Jim Brass sat in a chair reading a Highlights magazine to Jessica as she lay with her head on his chest, fingering the badge he wore on his shirt-pocket. Super Dave, Hodges, Archie and Judy were playing on Hodges travel sized board game. Warrick looked around, only Lucy and the girls were missing. He cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention to him.

The room grew silent as all else was forgotten as they noticed his arrival. Warrick stood there, grinning like a lunatic at the group. "Well!" Catherine called out, loud enough to give away her eagerness. "Tell us already!"

"It's a girl! A beautiful, healthy baby girl!" He announced proudly. "Her name is Susan Melinda Brown. We're going to call her Suzie."

"Oh Warrick! We're so happy for you!" Catherine was sobbing by the time she hugged him. Everyone took a turn coming up to congratulate him. They all asked questions and wanted details. It took quite a long time to make it through his family.

Warrick turned from hugging Judy and noticed the quiet man standing by the windows with Nick. Warrick lost his elation and grew angry. "What is he doing here?" He growled.

"Now, Warrick" Nick came over to his friend, putting a hand on his shoulder. "He helped Gemma. He's here to see you. He wants to get to know you."

"Why? He's been coming to my house for days. How do I know he's not planning something? I want him out of here!" Warrick snarled.

"Rick." Jim snapped, warning him. Warrick was far too emotional to comprehend the word of warning.

"Don't be an asshole." Nick hissed so quietly only Warrick could hear him.

"I want him gone!" Warrick repeated angrily.

"I'll go." The Englishman agreed quietly. Two pair of green eyes met across the way. One set angry, the other searching. When the searching pair found only anger, they turned away sadly.

"I would like to give you my congratulations." Sean offered the younger man his hand. The hand remained stretched out for a moment, ignored. With a little nod, Sean turned and walked out of the room.

Angry and confused, Warrick turned to see everyone solemnly watching him. Nick was looking at him with disgust. "That was wrong Warrick." Nick shook his head. "Very wrong, Bro."

"Where's Mr. Arthur?" Gemma questioned after the last of the CSI's made their way out. "I'd like to thank him for all he did."

"He's not here." Warrick whispered, placing his infant daughter into her basinet. His older daughter was asleep on the foot of Gemma's bed. The other CSI's were heading back to work, still working on their unsolvable case. Naturally, Gil had given Warrick the next couple of days off to be with his wife.

It just went to show how much his life had changed. Before Gemma, he would never willingly leave a case while the others were still struggling on it. Now, his job was no longer the most important thing in his life. These three females in this room were more important than anything that he could ever imagine. More important than he'd ever imagined. Sometimes that frightened him.

"Oh." Gemma sounded disappointed. "Did you get a chance to talk with him? He's so eager to talk with you. He came all the way from England to find you. I'm very curious to know why. Aren't you?" Gemma chatted on; unaware of the affect her words were having on her husband.

Glancing up at her husband, she read the guilt in his expression. "Oh, Warrick, what did you do?"

"I told him to get lost." Warrick admitted.

"Oh…., Warrick….., that poor nice man." Gemma sighed.

"How do you know he is nice?" Warrick wanted to know, trying to keep his voice down, he moved to the side of the bed.

"He drove me to the hospital. He took the time to buckle Jessica into the car. He could have dumped Jess off at the nurses' station, but he went in search of you instead. He's a nice man."

"Or a man that wants something. He gives me a bad vibe, Gemma." Warrick countered. "None of that proves that he's a nice man. We know nothing about him."

"His eyes tell me that he is. He wears his feelings in his eyes, just like you. In fact, his eyes remind me of your eyes." Gemma used her mothering voice that she used when Jessica had done something wrong. Warrick frowned, not liking being on the disapproving end of her opinion.

Warrick sat sulking beside her bed until the nurses sent Warrick and Jessica away for the night. Carrying the sleeping little girl in his arms, he was surprised to find Nick and Hodges in the hall waiting for him. "What's going on?" He questioned them suspiciously, as Hodges took Jessica out of his arms.

"David is taking Jessica home so you don't have to worry about her tonight." Nick explained as Hodges walked away with the sleeping child.

"I can't stay with Gemma, they kicked me out." Warrick told him sadly.

"You're going to the Desert Pine, room 502." Nick informed him.

"A case?" Warrick frowned. "Gil said I could have tonight off."

"No case. That's where Sean Arthur is staying. He has a flight at nine in the morning. You have to speak to him tonight, Bro." Nick grabbed Warrick roughly by the arm, propelling him down the hall. "Whatever you've got against the guy is wrong. Go talk to the man. For his sake and for your own."

"Nick, you're pushing it." Warrick warned with a hiss.

"I don't care right now. You're not frightening me. If you want to beat the shit out of me, go ahead. I'll still tell you that you need to go talk to him. That man flew all this way to talk with you and you're going to give him a few moments to do just that."

Warrick glared at his friend. He had no real desire to fight with Nick and he figured that Nick knew that. He was known for having a poker face, but Nick had called his bluff. "Okay." He agreed in a tone that unmistakably lacked enthusiasm.