A/N : I don't own the show. If I did Tina would never be a part of the cast. Jerry Bruckheimer, Anthony E. Zuiker and CBS do. I got the inspiration for this from " If you see him, If you see her. " by Brooks and Dunn and Reba McEntire. Suffice to say I don't own the song either.
Spoilers : Grave Danger, Bodies in Motion.
Pairings : Snickers / CW

Home

Chapter 3 : Finally Home

Warrick had gotten into his Denali and driven like a madman. Catherine was leaving. He wasn't going to let that happen. The windshield wipers fought to push the water away. He had to stop her. He finally arrived at airport parking. He rushed down the hallways towards the lounge. He pushed people out of the way with their suitcases. He would call out a sorry. The people would look at him like he was a nutcase. He got to the lounge door and looked at it. Would she still be there ? Had he lost her ? He felt a ache deep in the pit of his stomach. He opened the door and looked around at the people chatting then heard her voice. He looked over and saw the beautiful strawberry blonde hair. He had dreamt of running his hands through that hair. She had been chatting with Sara. Sara had made her laugh. Sara then looked up and saw him. At that moment time stood still. There wasn't the other people in the lounge. There wasn't the rain pelting the windows and tarmac outside. It was just the two of them. Green eyes met blue. He felt relief. He could see a look of shock on her face. She hadn't expected to see him again.

Catherine grabbed her carry-on bag and boarding pass and headed towards the door. Warrick looked at her. She walked past him. Warrick touched her shoulder.

" Cath..."

" Rick...why are you here ? "

" Don't go Cath. I can't lose you. "

" Rick don't do this. It's hard enough to leave Las Vegas already. Just go home to your wife. I hope you are happy. "

Catherine touches his hand and begins to leave.

" I'm not married. "

Catherine stunned by his confession turns around and looks at him. He wasn't married ?

" I divorced Tina a couple of days ago. "

" Why ? "

" She's not the woman that I love. She never was. Cath I'm sorry. Sorry for being a fool and letting you go. Sorry for breaking your heart. Sorry for never telling you how much I love you. I should have a long time ago. "

Catherine was stunned unsure if it was a dream or not. Warrick came over and touched her face. People were watching them intently.

" Cath...I've always loved you. I was just too chicken shit to say it. I thought that I would never have a chance with you. "

" With me ? "

" Yeah. I couldn't get the words out when you came into a room. I would try to say something and it would come out all wrong. Cath when you told me that you loved me you bowled me over. I wasn't sure what to say. I was stunned. I had just gotten married to Tina because I thought I would never have a chance with you then you tell me that."

Catherine feels tears fall down her face. Warrick brushes them away with his thumb. He caresses her cheek with his thumb. He smiles at her. He pulls back but she grabs his hand.

" If I've lost my chance tell me now before I make more of a fool of myself. "

" No. I just never thought. I thought that I had lost you. It was too hard being in the same room with you. Feeling what I felt for you. It killed me knowing that you got married. I wanted you to be happy but I wanted it with me. That night that Nick was almost killed...when I realized afterwards that it could have been you. That I had almost lost you. It killed me inside. It made me sick. I realized then what I had been denying to myself for so long. How much I loved you. I've alway loved you Rick but from afar. I didn't want to lose our friendship. You are so precious to me and my daughter. I see with you and Lindsey and my heart melts. I haven't seen her trust a man like that in a very long time. You are the missing piece that I've always been looking for. You complete me . You understand me like no man ever has. You calm me when I am scared. You love me for who I am. If you want me I'm yours. "

Catherine looked at Warrick wondering if she had said too much. All Warrick did was pull her into his arms and hold her close. He looked at her beautiful blue eyes and moved his hands through her strawberry blonde hair like he had dreamed so many times. He had her and he was never ever going to let her go again. He had risked it all and had gotten so much more back. He kisses her lips slowly gently then more passionately. Cath and Warrick then heard the cheer of the crowd around them. The pulled back and laughed through their tears. Cath looked at Warrick and smiled.

" I guess I'll have to talk to Grissom and get my job back at the office. "

" You're not going ? Look Cath I don't want to stop you from a great job. We can work it out."

" No my place is here. My home is in Las Vegas with you. This is where I belong. "

Then a voice in the crowd.

" Hey look the rain finally stopped outside. "

Catherine laughed. It had stopped. She looked at Warrick. He hadn't let her go.

" Let's go home...Lindsey is over at my mother's. "

Warrick looked at her.

" Are you sure ? " he whispered.

" Yeah. I've waited 5 years for this. I'm not waiting any longer." Cath whispered back.

Warrick smirked and kissed her cheek. Sara looked at them and smiled. She couldn't help but smile through her tears. She looked over to the side and saw Nick looking at her. He walked over to her.

" Hey what are you doing here ? " Sara said.

" I figured you could use some company. I still have a couple of days off before I need to head back to work. Why don't we do the town right ? I can't imagine a day without you. "

Sara smiled. Nick pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Catherine and Warrick saw them. They walked over to them. Warrick had his hand around Cath's waist. He kissed her cheek. Cath smiled.

" Thanks."

" For what ? "

" Giving us the swift kick in the pants that we needed. "

" We just helped a little is all."

" So what are you doing here ? "

" I'm heading to Washington with Sara. "

" Oh."

Catherine smiled at Sara.

Just then a voice came over the PA system.

" American Airlines flight 1720 from Las Vegas to Washington DC is now boarding at Gate 25. All passengers with boarding passes please report. "

Sara looks down at her boarding pass, " Well that's us. We've got to get going. So we'll see you at the office Catherine ?"

" I'm not going anywhere.I'm right where I want to be. I'm home."

Sara and Nick leave hand in hand. Nick looks back at Cath and Warrick and smiles.

Warrick pulls Cath close to him. He kisses her cheek. Cath smiles and lays her head on his shoulder.

" Lets go home. " he whispers to her.

" O.k. "

FIN