A/N - I don't own the characters if I did Tina would never have been on the show in the first place. Jerry Bruckheimer, Anthony E. Zuiker and CBS do. I got the inspiration from this story listening to " If you see him, If you see her " by Brooks N Dunn and Reba McEntire. Suffice to say I don't own this song either. I'm just borrowing both for a bit. Spoilers to Grave Danger. Post Bodies in Motion. Snickers / CW pairings.

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Chapter 1 - If you see him

People chatted around the lounge waiting for flights to come in or flights to go out. They talked about work, the latest sports scores and how life was. Old friends saw each other. They hugged and laughed. Voices came over the speaker telling people of flights that were leaving. Planes hummed out on the tarmac. The rain was still pouring down outside. The wind had finally died down. Las Vegas was getting a good soaking. Catherine looked at the rain and smiled. It seemed to fit her mood. Lily Willows was watching Lindsey while Catherine went out to LA to take a look at the job. It was for the best. She took another sip of the vodka in front of her. Catherine looked at a couple cuddling in the corner. It was hard looking at them. The touches, the laughs, the whispers - all things she had wished they could have done together. She turned back and drank her vodka. She looks down at her boarding pass. Catherine's flight left in an hour. She still cared for Warrick but it didn't matter anymore. He was married. She had made a fool of herself in front of him. She thought that he might have said something but he didn't. He just looked at her. The glint of his wedding ring mocking her. She had lost him without even having him. Why had it taken her almost 5 years to finally tell him how much she loved him ? Why had she been such a chicken ? Catherine slammed her hand down. He had married another woman. It was too hard for her coming into work and hearing the team talk about their lives knowing that Warrick was with Tina. He should be with her but she had taken too long. It had been complicated at work the weeks following her confession. It was better that she just left. A waitress walks up and puts down another glass of vodka.

" I didn't order this. "

" It's from that woman over there. "

Catherine looks over and sees Sara looking at her. Catherine picks up the glass and waves her over. Sara looks at Cath.

" Hey. "

" Hi. What are you doing here ? " Catherine looks and sees Sara carrying a boarding pass as well.

" I just heading to a conference in Washington on the latest techniques in fingerprint analysis. Grissom asked me to go for him. He has a lecture at UNLV on how to document the life cycle of the blowfly to prepare for the entomology course. What are you doing here ? " She looks down and sees the boarding pass.

" I'm moving to L.A."

" I had no clue."

" None of the crew does. I accepted a job as day supervisor for the LAPD Crime Lab. It's for the best."

" Really ? I didn't even know that you were looking. "

Sara looks at Catherine's tired eyes. She looked exhausted. She didn't have the same sparkle in her eyes.

" I really wasn't. It kind of feel in my lap. It's for the best. I'm going out to check it out. My mother is watching Lindsey for me. Look only Grissom and Nick know about this. I wasn't sure how to tell
everyone. "

" Nick knows ? "

" He found out by accident. He heard me on the phone. Don't be mad at him. I swore him to secrecy. "

" Oh, so you're just leaving without telling anyone ? Is this because of Warrick ?"

Catherine is suprised and looks at the younger woman.

" Don't be. We were all taken aback when we found out that he married Tina. Look I didn't even know that they were serious. Its obvious how awkward it has been between you two since. I always thought that eventually you two would get together that's why I backed off. "

" Really ?"

" Yeah it's always been an unspoken rule that there was something happening between you and Warrick. I mean you both are the same type of people. You've pulled yourselves out of a dark place and made a new life for each other. Don't get me wrong. I'm not judging your life but you two get each other. It doesn't really have to be said. You each seemed to know what the other was thinking. It was kind of uncanny at times. It's just there. "

" Yeah. I thought that we knew each other. I guess that I was wrong. I still can't believe that he got married. I mean I understand that he was scared after what happened to Nick but we all were. I guess he has a right to I mean I never said anything. I just never realized it was serious. How's Nick doing ? "

" Better. He has some good days and bad. He finally got released. "

" That's good. So is he staying...? "

" Yeah he's staying with me until he gets better. I want to keep an eye on him. I just have to go to Washington for the weekend. The thought that I nearly lost him without..." Sara turns away.

Catherine understood it was hard for Sara to describe her emotions. She was all numbers and figures. Stuff that was concrete and tangible. Love wasn't tangible. It could be complicated. Catherine still remembers walking in on Sara and Nick kissing in the hospital room. They had both been so embarassed. The kidnapping had been a wake up call for them. It had been for all of them.

Catherine had realized that she nearly lost Warrick. That's when she decided she was going to tell him. She had it planned right after work. She would invite him out to drinks and then tell him. That all changed when they were called out on that 419. A suburban housemom who wanted to play hooker for the night. They were going over evidence at the scene when she saw the ring. She was shocked. Catherine's mouth went dry. She felt nauseous. She didn't know what to say. Finally she questioned what it was. Warrick sheepishly explained that he had gotten married the night before at the Circus-Circus Drive Thru. Only in Vegas would they have take-out weddings. " Yes I'll have two burgers, fries and a marriage license. " Catherine sarcastically thought . Catherine laughed through her tears. She remembers it felt like being slammed in the gut. She couldn't believe it. They had headed back to the lab together. She felt numb looking over at him and seeing that ring. It was mocking her. " You lost him. You had your chance before and you blew it." Catherine wasn't sure how to feel so she put up a wall like she always did. There was no point telling him now how she felt. She was cool, calm and collected but dying on the inside when she saw him. Warrick had confronted her. She had tried to push him away and focus on the case but no use. He kept on pushing her like her opinion really mattered. If it had been he should have asked her before he got married. She finally admitted that she had fantasized about him. Warrick was stunned and speechless. She expected him to say something but instead he just froze. Well there she went and said it. She realized she had said to much.

The next couple of weeks were awkward to say the least. It was uncomfortable whenever they were in the same room. That's why when the notice came in about the LAPD looking for a day supervisor she applied for it. Grissom had called her into his office and questioned her. She explained to him that it was the right move. It was time for her to move on. He went to say more but stopped. Catherine left the room and ran into Warrick. Warrick looked at her unsure what to say. She stopped and looked at him. Warrick couldn't say anything. She just walked past him and into the locker room. She had sat down on the bench and felt lost. Nick had seen her and questioned. He had heard her talking with Grissom. He didn't mean to eavesdrop but he wondered what was up. She told him she was leaving. He questioned about Warrick. Catherine told him there was no point. He had moved on with his life. Now it was time for her to do the same thing.

" You seem happy with Nick. "

" I am. I think. It's all just so new. I mean Nick and I've been friends for so long but when I thought that I had lost him. It hit me. I realized how much I cared for him. "

After they had pulled Nick out of that box and taken him to Desert Palm Sara refused to leave. She stayed around the hospital waiting for word on him. Grissom tried to get her to leave but she refused. The doctor came out and said that Nick would be fine. Sara could go in and see him if she wanted. Sara went in and saw the tubes attached to him. The machines hissing and beeping. He looked too peaceful sleeping. Then he started rustling in bed fighting a nightmare. He was moaning and crying. It was all too much for her. She walked over and sat beside Nick. She brushed his hair away from his face and touched his cheek trying to calm him. She went to brush away tears from her face but she felt Nick's hand touch her face. She looked in his eyes and held his hand close to her face. Nothing needed to be said that night. She just sat beside him. She finally fell asleep in the chair. The next couple of days she would come by and see how he was. Finally Nick questioned her. Sara brushed it off scared to say anything. Nick pushed her and finally Sara broke down and admitted that she cared for him more than a friend. The thought of losing him it had hit her harder than she could admit. Nick then pulled Sara into his arms. He held her close and kissed her forehead then her lips slowly. He told her that the only thing that kept him sane in that box was thinking of her. He cared about her but didn't want to lose her. Sara then kissed him tentatively. That is when Catherine had walked in.

" I know. I hope you are happy. Don't take him for granted. It's obvious how much Nick loves you. So umm leather or lace ? " Catherine said with a smirk.

" Lace. " Sara blushed. " No leather. Actually a bit of both. "

Catherine and Sarah laughed.

" Be happy. I should get going. If you see Rick tell him I wish him well. I only ever wanted him to be happy. "

" Cath you should really give Warrick another chance. "

" What's the point Sara ? I would be the other woman. I won't let that happen. I love him but it doesn't matter. Look I got the same speech from Nick in the locker room. There's no point. Warrick moved on with his life. He doesn't feel the same way I do about him. "

" I don't know. " Sara looks behind Catherine at the door. Catherine turns around and sees Warrick standing there looking at her. He had a relieved look on his face.