Chapter 19

"Hello?" Gemma sat up groggily, as she grunted into the phone. Warrick had been called in, and seemed to be pulling yet another triple. The night shift had pulled a case of a murdered judge. There was lots of pressure for them to get the case solved so they were hustling to solve it. Despite that Warrick was supposed to have had the last couple of days off, she hadn't seen her husband in two days.

"Gemma, It's Lucy." Lucy's voice wasn't groggy at all.

"Luce? It's three-thirty in the morning! What's the deal? Kelly is fine; they went to sleep a little before n-"

Gemma felt her pulse race as she swung her feet over the side of the bed.

"Warrick is on his way home, Gem….It's been a hard night for them. The case is solved, but it turned out worse then they had expected. He's going to need you. Be ready for him." Lucy warned, causing a chill run up Gemma's back.

"And you know this…….how?" She asked, even though she knew the answer. Sometimes it was nerve wrecking to have a friend with connections to the other side.

"The same way I know everything else. " Lucy admitted calmly. "They all need a little TLC today."

"How soon?" Gemma was suddenly wide-awake.

"I'm not exactly sure. The dead don't wear watches Gemma." Lucy let out a nervous laugh. "Just….. Take care of him. He needs it."

Warrick let himself in quietly, reset the alarm and leaned against the door heavily. Today had been one of the worst days he could remember. Rubbing his hands over his face, he fought the intense desire to sob like a baby. In previous years, he would have joined the others at a bar, trying to drown the memories in alcohol. Today, his only objective was to get home to his wife.

"Warrick?" Gemma's voice drifted through the fog of misery that surrounded him. Opening his eyes, he saw the vague image of his wife through the gaps between his fingers.

"Gem?" Hands falling to his sides, he looked at his wife. Gemma stood before him, clad only in his old terrycloth bathrobe. Her pale, bare feet peeked out from under the long ratty robe. For no real reason, seeing her toes sticking out caused Warrick's mood to lighten a fraction.

Raising his gaze to meet hers, he saw the concern and understanding there. It was as if she understood. "Gem-ma."

"Ssh! Don't say anything." Gemma shushed him as a movement at her waist drew his attention. His eyes made it to her waist in time to see the robe part. He sucked in a deep breath as the robe pooled at her feet, revealing that his wife wore nothing underneath.

Warrick shuddered uncontrollably as she stepped forward. "Shh, just come here." She whispered, wrapping her arms around him.

Warrick pulled her tightly against him, taking pleasure in her feel and scent. Turning, he pinned her between himself and the door. Gemma wrapped her legs around his waist as he lifted her. "Gemma?"

"Yes Warrick. Do it."

"Oh God. I love you, baby." Warrick gasped, doing exactly that.

Lucy was sitting on the porch, waiting for Nick when he got home. He stopped in his tracks as he spotted her sitting on the steps in an oversized t-shirt. It was so amazing that she knew where and when he needed her. His beautiful wife was amazing. "You know?"

"Yes, I know." Lucy stood up, holding out her hand to him. Her shirt rode up her thigh, causing Nick to swallow roughly. He loved it when she wore a simple nightgown or shirt. She preferred to wear shortie pajamas, but he knew she was wearing the shirt for him. "Come on, I'll make you feel better."

"I don't know if I can feel better." Nick whispered hoarsely as he gave Lucy his hand. He allowed Lucy to lead him into the house. Uncontrollably, his eyes were draw to her partially covered buttocks as he followed her inside.

"Then I'll make you forget about it for a while." Lucy promised, dragging him straight into the bedroom. Bringing her mouth to his ear, she whispered seductively, "I got some new strawberry flavored oil and we haven't tried out the furry handcuffs."

"I think I might like that." Nick croaked as he allowed her to push him down onto the bed. He reached for her, only to have his hands smacked away. With a smile, he relaxed against the bed, perfectly happy about letting her be in control. When she stripped off the oversized shirt over her head, there were no more words needed to be said.

A second later, when she slid onto the bed beside him, no thoughts but that of her, entered his head.

True to her word, Lucy made him forget about anything but her. Nick was too busy feeling other sensations to realize she'd made him feel better.

Catherine stood staring at the door. She'd thought of coming here from the moment she'd left the lab. It was unthinkable of her to be here, but she couldn't stop herself. After a night like tonight, she needed someone.

Warrick had gone home to the comfort of his wife's arms. Nick had gone home to Lucy. Who the hell did Catherine have to go home to? She didn't want to go drinking herself silly by herself. She needed someone and she'd thought of him. She needed him, that was all there was to it. She didn't care what this meant; she only knew that she needed someone. That someone was him.

Telling herself that she was not a nervous woman, she raised her arm, but let it drop back down. Anxiety was not normal for her, and she fought back down the panic that was suddenly threatening her. With a deep breath that went all the way down to her soul, she cleaned away all the doubts she was harboring. Filled with determination, she lifted her arm and knocked.

She heard quiet movements inside. After a moment, he opened the door clad only in a t-shirt and underpants. He was too groggy for modesty. It was obvious that he'd been sleeping. Not surprising that he was, since it was just after four in the morning. "Catherine?" He questioned hazily.

"I had a bad night and was wondering if I could come in?" She questioned nervously. She could feel her palms sweating. It amazed her, approaching a man had never made her nervous before. There was something about the man that made her act strangely.

Without hesitation, he stepped back to let her in. He seemed to lose all lethargy instantly. "Of course! Come in Catherine."

"It's okay? I mean….you're alone?" Catherine craned her neck to look at the room behind him. The last thing she needed tonight was to barge in on him and someone else.

"Yes, all alone." He nodded, glancing behind him at the empty room behind him. "Come in Catherine."

"Before I do…I want to make it clear, why I'm here."
Catherine hesitated.

"I think I understand why, but…go on?" He looked her in the eye.

"I need to forget everything I've just seen." Catherine felt the desire to explain. He knew exactly why she was here; Catherine could see it in him, simmering just below the surface. "I need to be with someone. I need to be held. I need to be fu-"

"Cherished." He cut in, obviously not liking the word she had been about to use. "You need to be cherished tonight. I can do that. I'm good at holding and cherishing." Reaching out for her hand, he pulled her inside with him. The door clicked shut behind her quietly.

Tbc….