Sara, Nick and Warrick watched Lindsey fall asleep. It was peaceful sight. Her pillow was across Warrick's lap and her body was curled in a ball. Warrick adjusted the blanket over her just as Lily spoke up.
"Didn't you get married Warrick? Is all of this going to be ok with your wife?"
An annoyed look was apparent on all the CSI faces.
"Actually, it didn't work out Lily so you can put that all out of your mind," he answered simply.
"Well that didn't take long. Fell victim to the Vegas marriage trap huh? Just as well, with your jobs –there isn't much room for a personal life. Look at what it's done to my poor Catherine."
Sara shook her head and looked as if she were ready to say something when Nick put a hand over her mouth.
"Let's let Lindsey sleep," he said to her softly.
Sara nodded. Nick grabbed two pillows and they nestled themselves. Warrick closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall the behind his seating. Sleep was the furthest thing from his mind: He was trying to get his words right in his head before seeing Cath.
Grissom and Sam walked in. Warrick immediately looked toward the sound of the men entering the room. Sam headed straight for the elevator, looking like a broken man as Grissom walked toward Lily.
"I'm gonna take you home Lily," he whispered upon seeing the sleeping faces.
"Alright, these chairs are too uncomfortable. Well what about Lindsey? I didn't hear from Catherine what she wanted," Lily interjected, not paying any attention to Sam Braun.
"She's staying with Warrick. You get the day off Lily. Now let's go," Grissom prompted as he held his hand out to assist her up.
Lily took his hand as Sam took leave, never saying a word. Warrick had always thought of Sam Braun as a heartless and shrewd business man: watching Sam gave him a new perspective. He may be shrewd but Sam Braun had a heart. And it was on his sleeve when it came to Catherine.
"Oh very well," Lily grumbled as she made it to her feet.
After helping her up, Grissom walked over and nudged Sara.
"You two go ahead. Use the hospital cab service if you need to, but get home in one piece," he commanded in a whisper.
"K," Sara responded as she gently shook Nick.
"Huh? Wha–" Nick grumbled before Sara covered his mouth to muffle the noise.
Grissom looked over at Warrick as Nick and Sara rose from their seats.
"According to her nurse, they're about to transfer Catherine to a private room where there should be a small loveseat and recliner," said before he was interrupted by a sudden noise.
Lily had made her way to the elevator and mashed the call button loudly. The elder woman didn't fare well with stress and lack of sleep. Sara and Nick were headed toward the surgical wing as Lily acted out. They rolled their eyes and pursed their lips in dismay but kept moving.
"I need to get home and let her real family know what's happening," she barked.
Warrick raised an eyebrow slightly but quickly dismissed Lily's behavior. –Gram's had taught him to respect his elders. He looked back at Grissom and sighed.
"Lily, as soon as we step out of the hospital, you can use my cell phone to your hearts content," Grissom called over his shoulder at her.
He continued to speak low to Warrick.
"I already asked the nurse to place extra linen in the room; she agreed and volunteered to make Lindsey a bed on the loveseat. So the recliner by the bed is yours."
Warrick nodded appreciatively.
"Call if you need anything or if anything changes with Catherine. I'll be by some time tomorrow to visit her again," Grissom concluded.
"Thanks Griss," Warrick responded.
The elevator doors opened with Archie and Greg inside. Greg looked as worn as the rest of the team. Lily walked into the elevator then rolled her eyes and walked back out as Greg started to speak.
"Sofia and I got everything tied up. Ecklie's giving us all the day off tomorrow and said he'd come by to see Catherine then. I'm exhausted but I was hoping to see her before crashing. Archie was nice enough to drive me," said a ragged Greg.
Grissom hurried and put a foot out to stop the closing elevator doors. He pulled out his cell phone, turned it on and handed it to Lily.
"I'll be down in a minute," he told her as he spread out an arm behind her and gently guided her by the small of her back, back into the elevator.
Her scowl appeared fixed to her face. The guys watched her leave in silence. Archie shrugged as he began speaking.
"Everybody at the lab's been really worried. We didn't get word on anything until Greg and Sophia finally got back to the lab. Brass got back some time after and was good enough to let us in on Catherine's condition. Guess he was able to get info from the surgical admin' cuz he mentioned not being able to reach you guys on the phone. Sofia took him home. Oh and she's gonna come by tomorrow too," Archie said emphatically.
"Yeah, I think everyone's planning a visit or sending flowers tomorrow. We woulda brought something but I'm just so beat and anything you can find at this time is way beneath Cath. We'll bring something nice tomorrow. Or actually later. After sleep," Greg ended in a murmur as he peered at Lindsey.
"I doubt Catherine's up from the anesthesia so you're fine. Nick and Sara are with her now, you guys can go next. Warrick's staying with Lindsey," Grissom informed them.
Archie and Greg smiled at Lindsey simultaneously.
"It's great how everything turned out, all things considering. That's one tough little girl," Archie said tenderly he looked at her.
"This could've been so much worse. I don't even want to think about it," Greg said somberly.
"Don't. It serves no purpose. I need to take Catherine's mother home now but I'll see you all tomorrow," Grissom said as the elevator he had called after Lily left opened and he stepped in.
"Later Grissom," Greg called.
Archie and Warrick threw up a hand and waved. Greg and Archie turned toward Warrick and seated themselves across from him.
"You get drafted or volunteer?" Greg inquired as he motioned toward Lindsey with a nod.
"A bit of both," Warrick responded softly with a smirk.
He looked down at Lindsey for a second and smoothed down the top of her hair gently.
"But I would've volunteered regardless," he concluded as he looked back up at the guys.
"I always thought Catherine was remarkable but Lindsey just emphasizes it," Archie stated.
"No kidding," Greg responded as he thought over the evening's events.
"Yeah," Warrick responded distantly as he looked at the doors to the surgical wing.
Polite conversation was becoming difficult. Warrick's thoughts were on Catherine. He found himself getting frustrated with how long it was taking to see her. He then began a case of self loathing for having the selfish thought; everyone had endured this night as much as he had –they had a right to peace of mind as well. Warrick sighed and resigned himself to the fact that he'd see Catherine shortly.
"Brass also gave you credit for saving Catherine. The surgical staff told him that if it wasn't for the tourniquet you applied, she would've been a lot worse off," Archie said upbeat.
Warrick looked back at him with a pained expression.
"Hey, you know if Cath's just gonna be out of it –we should just see her tomorrow," Greg spoke up.
Archie and Warrick looked at him. Greg looked Warrick intently, as if he read his mind.
"Yeah, you're right," Archie replied.
Greg and Archie stood up.
"Let her know we came by when she's awake," Greg requested as he put a fist out toward Warrick.
"Most definitely, man," Warrick answered him, gently bumping Greg's fist with his own.
"Take care of yourself. And that little one," Archie said motioning at Lindsey with a nod.
"No doubt. Make sure Sanders makes it home in one piece," Warrick responded.
Greg and Archie headed off to the elevator as Nick and Sara stepped out of the surgical wing. They all quietly dispensed greetings. Nick looked back over at Warrick. Upon seeing Nick and Sara exit the wing, he had slipped the pillow out from under Lindsey and removed the blanket.
"Cath's waking up. They're waiting for you and Linds. They're about to move Cath to a private room. You want any help with Lindsey?" he asked Warrick in a caring manner.
"Nah, I'm good. Remember what Griss said –get home in one piece," Warrick replied as he started to scoop Lindsey up.
The elevator doors opened and the four members of the Las Vegas Crime Lab entered. Sara smiled meekly at Warrick, the strain of the nights events were evident on her face. Greg and Nick both held tired countenances, yet carried a more pulled together appearance than Sara. Archie was obviously the least strained of all but still held genuine concern in his eyes.
Everyone had some sort of smile as they watched Warrick and Lindsey. She was too big to be carried but he did nonetheless. The growing girl settled into his hold effortlessly. Warrick gave the group a small smile as he made his way to the surgical wing. The elevator doors closed and he quickened his step.
Lindsey grumbled sleepily as Warrick adjusted her in his arms. The staff motioned the direction for him to go. His heart felt as if it had traveled up into his throat. As he arrived in the doorway of the room he was directed to, Lindsey came completely out of sleep.
"You can put me down Warrick. I'm too big to be carried and you woke me up anyway," she protested.
Warrick's eyes were locked on Catherine's. Her mouth formed a feeble smile but her eyes made up for it. To Warrick, they smiled a way her lips couldn't.
"Young lady, you could be more cordial. It's not everyday a gentleman carries you," she playfully scolded her daughter.
"Mommy!" Lindsey squealed, jumped out of Warrick's arms and climbed onto Catherine's uninjured side.
Warrick never had released her. He wasn't even really aware of what had been said, he just gazed at Catherine. His heart was no longer anxious but even so, it ached. His mind tried to reason the tumultuous events of the day. His heart and mind were at war; he longed to tell her how he felt but he didn't want to make another 'carpe diem' mistake.
His gaze was interrupted by Lindsey. But he had no objections; watching them together made his heart ache less for some reason. Warrick then reached an epiphany: telling Catherine couldn't be a mistake, she had told him first via Lindsey. He relaxed his stance a little and leaned against the doorway as mom and daughter held each other.
"Aren't you going to greet your wife?" a nurse asked Warrick.
"They're not married," Lindsey giggled.
Catherine smiled at her daughter and the nurse before looking up at Warrick.
"No, some lucky girl beat me to him," she teased him tenderly.
"You can have him now, she's gone," Lindsey blurted out causing Warrick to chuckle.
Catherine snapped her head back in shock and looked at her daughter questioningly. She looked back in Warrick's direction, down at his left hand which he raised up slightly and wiggled his now bare ring finger. Cath furrowed her brow, giving him a slight apologetic and confused expression.
"Yeah, it's a good thing too. –It's what led me to your house. If it didn't happen, I might've not been around tonight and I would've never forgiven myself," he said simply as he lowered his hand back down.
"What hap– Guess we'll talk about that later."
It occurred to Catherine that the discussion may not be best in front of Lindsey. Warrick nodded in agreement. As far as she could read, he wasn't broke up about it and it eased her worry.
Lindsey rolled her eyes in protest of her mother's correction but didn't bother uttering a word. She chose to be mindful of her mother instead, especially since she didn't care why Warrick's marriage failed –she was content just knowing it was over.
A smile broached Catherine's face again.
"Well aren't you going to greet your friend?" she teased him.
Warrick shot up off the door way, realizing his absentmindedness, and walked toward Catherine's side opposite of Lindsey. Lindsey hopped off the hospital bed and asked the nurse where the closest bathroom was, then head toward it.
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I was letting you have your mom and daughter time," he said as he walked up, watching Lindsey fly out of the room through the corner of his eye.
He gently slipped his hand under Catherine's, with great care since it was on her injured side, and squeezed affectionately. He lowered his head and kissed her cheek, but he didn't come up right away. Instead, he pressed his head softly against hers for a second longer.
"I'm so glad you're alright. I don't know… I don't know what I would've done if you weren't," he whispered in a pained voice into her ear.
Cath brought her free hand up to the back of his neck and pressed him tightly to her. Her mind ran through the chaotic evening; and in nearly every frame stood Warrick.
"I don't know if I would've made this night without you," her voice broke when she whispered to him and she nuzzled her head against his.
He raised his head and looked lovingly in her eyes. Warrick wasn't sure what her read in them… Was it love, in the sense of caring immensely for someone, like he cared for Lindsey –that Catherine felt for him? Was it love, like the kind that promised to be by his side for all his life –that she meant?
Warrick searched and thought he found the answer when his peripheral vision caught sight of Catherine's mouth opening ever so slightly. As he slowly descended to meet her lips with his, a voice jarred him from behind.
"We're ready for Ms. Willows now," Tina called into the room sternly.