Warrick slowly stood up, never losing eye contact with Catherine. He sucked in his lower lip for a second as he took in the situation… However long Cath would be in the hospital –Tina was going to be around.

He no longer held feelings for Tina… He was further frustrated when he recognized that he never really did have feelings for her. Regardless, the situation remained complicated. Complicated only because he didn't want to cause Catherine any more strife, and down deep, he also didn't want to further hurt Tina. Warrick was between a rock and a hard place.

Catherine gazed at him inquisitively. Her facial expression changed, signaling that she understood who was at the door. She raised an eyebrow as if to ask Warrick what he proposed to do.

"I'll find Lindsey," he told her before he turned around.

It wasn't clear if Tina's disapproving look was due to their failed marriage, or the sight she walked in on. Warrick looked at her fully composed. He slowly nodded to acknowledge her as he attempted to walk past her.

"You're not going to introduce me?" Tina asked frigidly causing him to halt.

"The chart's right here. You obviously know –oh," the surgical nurse started to reply then realized her error and stopped herself.

She checked Catherine's blood pressure to evade the tense scenario.

"Catherine Willows, Tina Brown… wait, do you want to be called that or are you going back to your maiden name?" Warrick questioned with a furrowed brow as he paused just in front of her.

Her eyes first widened in disbelief then turned to an expression of rage when she eyed his bare ring finger. Tina hadn't thought much of the sight she walked in on, she spoke up just upon seeing the back of Warrick, but she quickly added everything together. Her mouth opened as if she were about to speak when Lindsey walked up.

"I'm tired," Lindsey protested as she slipped in between Warrick and Tina into the room.

Tina's mouth stayed open as she watched Lindsey. A scowl stayed fixed on Tina's face which prompted Warrick to display an ominous countenance. He wasn't going to standby and allow Tina to berate Catherine or Lindsey. It suddenly struck him; though he wrongly married the woman, it was she who betrayed the commitment.

He stared furiously at Tina. Besides her infidelity, Warrick was losing patience with her persistent annoyance. He accepted responsibility for marrying someone he hardly knew, but he was through being cordial. From before they married, Tina had a manipulative manner and even though he said things were over –she was still pushing him. Warrick opened his mouth to set the record one last time but was also interrupted.

"Well honey, that nurse is going to bring you all down to your mom's recovery room where you all can get some rest," the surgical nurse responded as she maneuvered levers on the bed, prepping Catherine to be moved.

"Good... Let her by silly, so we can go," Lindsey replied contently as she grabbed Warrick's hand and pulled him away from Tina.

"Look I took a double hoping we could talk. But there's obviously nothing to talk about," Tina hissed at Warrick.

Tina's outburst surprised Lindsey. With curious yet protectively angry eyes, she studied Tina. Everything made sense when she read her name badge. Lindsey let go of Warrick and stepped to her mother's side. She knew better than to utter a word but continued give Tina an 'evil eye'.

Catherine and the surgical nurse were the only two in the room not scowling. The nurse watched awkwardly as she ran out of things to fidget with. Catherine looked back and forth at everyone, finally resting her gaze on Lindsey. She tugged at her daughter's arm and winked at her when Lindsey turned toward her. Catherine knew everything would be fine and wanted to assure her daughter.

Warrick hadn't budged; he paused to collect his thoughts. He didn't want to speak out in anger, especially with Lindsey in the room.

"I'm taking off Janet. Bring them down yourself or have Becky call for Amber," Tina said to the surgical nurse.

His silence confirmed her previous statement. Tina pulled off her ring, grabbed Warrick's hand and placed the ring in it.

"I'll live with my mistake, you live with yours –I'm through trying. I should be out of the apartment by next week and you'll be served with papers some time in between. Have a nice life," Tina said in a defeated voice.

Warrick grabbed her hand. He was angry with Tina but he didn't bear any malice toward her. Since it seemed to him that she finally accepted things for what they were, he felt compelled to give her some kind of answer.

"Keep it. Take something of value out of all this mess. I don't put all the blame on you Tina. I accept some responsibility. We both rushed into this without thinking it through. And like you said; I'll live with my mistake as you live with yours. I'm sorry, for what its worth. And I really do wish you well in life," he said earnestly as he placed the ring back in her hand and let go.

Tina looked at him completely dumbfounded at first, and then a solace seemed to come over her. She finally accepted the situation for what it was: over.

"I'll use it to pay for whatever this divorce is gonna cost. And if there's any extra, it may cover the cost of the moving boxes," she tried to jest but her voice cracked and tears still formed in her eyes.

She reached up and kissed him on the cheek before turning on her heels and walking off. Warrick exhaled deeply; he was relieved that he was finally done with the dilemma and pleased in the way things concluded.

He turned around, fully aware of all the eyes on him: Catherine held a sympathetic smile, the surgical nurse held an awkward smile, and Lindsey was beaming at him. Warrick switched from a slightly embarrassed disposition, to one of relief. Lindsey's smile even pushed him to chuckle.

"This night is definitely one for the record books," Warrick said feebly as he reached up and rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, in an exhausted manner, and rested the other on his hip.

"Well if it's alright with everyone, I'll just take you down. We really need to get out of this room. –My shift is about over and I'm sure you all would like some sleep," Janet jumped in as she began to push Catherine toward the door.

"I'm gonna sleep for two days straight," Lindsey chimed in as she walked alongside.

Cath spread her hand out for Warrick as she approached him. He held it and smiled at her tenderly. She returned a loving smile of her own.

They made it to Catherine's hospital room in no time. Just as Grissom said, there was a makeshift bed on the loveseat in the room and a recliner next to the hospital bed. Lindsey threw herself on the loveseat.

Warrick assisted Janet in moving Cath to the new bed, instead of a lengthy wait for assistance from the morning nursing staff. He cradled Catherine gently and placed her down with ease.

Janet explained what they could expect to happen in the following days and bid them farewell. Lindsey was out cold by the time she left. Warrick sat in the recliner but moved it closer to Cath. He leaned over, resting his elbows on her bed. She looked at him intently.

"You ok?" she asked with great concern.

"I should be asking you that," he answered her with a smile as he reached for her hand with both of his.

Her hand felt ice cold so he rubbed it affectionately within his.

"Well you heard Janet, I'm doing ok and I should be out of here in a few days as long as things stay the same. I've got Lindsey safe and sound. And from what I heard from Nick and Sara, that bastard's never gonna hurt another child," Catherine said as she closed her eyes for a moment, absorbing the events of the last 24hrs.

Warrick gently shook her hand. She looked at him with exhausted eyes.

"Yeah, thank God… Let's put all that stuff behind us," he coaxed tenderly and gave her a half hearted smile.

It was the most emotionally exhaustive series of events he had ever endured. Yet Catherine suffered worse. He was more than ready to forget the nightmare, but the reality was that neither would ever forget. Warrick held her hand snug as he tried to maintain control of his emotions while his mind flashed through the past 24 hours.

"Never look back… You know me," she said gently as she squeezed his hand.

Warrick had been staring at their hands, trying to avoid eye contact… Images of Catherine and Lindsey suffering had been causing tears to rise. –But at Catherine's response, the pain alleviated. He looked up at her and smiled meekly.

"Yeah, I'd like to think I do," Warrick said as he stood up and sat on the side of the bed, never releasing her hand

She interlaced her fingers in his matching hand. He sat close, reaching for her opposite hand and interlacing her fingers in that hand as well. Warrick caressed the top of her hands with his thumbs. He exhaled deeply. Catherine watched him curiously with an open heart.

"Ever since… Well when you were shot…. I mean… I'm so sorry Cath. I don't think I told you Lindsey had the gun…" he said in a frustrated tone.

"Hey, no looking back, remember? She's there sleeping soundly. I'm here feeling the wonderfulness of morphine or whatever they have me on. And you're with us. It doesn't get any better. Well it could, but it's pretty good right now," she said tenderly, affectionately teasing him at the end.

Warrick studied her eyes. He bit his lower lip as he gazed in her eyes. –On one hand, it was a subconscious response to not being able to read her. On another hand, it was his way of refraining from saying too much.

It was impossible to read her: There were no clear signs. His heart prompted him to continue regardless. He released his lip and a nervous chuckle, reminiscent of Catherine's right before she confessed her true feelings about his marriage. He lowered his eyes, glancing at their intertwined hands before finally looking back in her eyes.

"I, uh…"

Another chuckle and he bit his lower lip again. Catherine smiled tiredly at him. He looked up at the ceiling as if asking for God's help. Warrick licked his lips as he lowered his eyes back to Catherine.

"I guess if we're not lookin' back, then we're lookin' ahead. Right?" he asked softly.

"Or just living day by day," she answered him.

So many failed relationships: One-sided relationships. Catherine wouldn't dare make the same mistake again. She didn't want all or nothing: The stakes were too high. Warrick was a wonderful friend and she had resigned herself to having him as just a friend rather than not having him at all. So her answer actually proposed an offer… They could take things slow; it didn't have to be 'all or nothing'. Catherine found herself squeezing his hands and released the tension.

Warrick nodded slowly and returned a small squeeze to her hands before continuing.

"Well I have to look back for a second. I hope you can forgive me. But I have to, because there's no other way to explain things... Ok… I hope you know how much I value our friendship... I know I didn't respond when you told me how you felt about my marriage. I didn't know what to say... I was shocked. I never knew you saw me that way. I never considered the flirting between us as anything serious. I respected you too much to push the envelope and test the waters. In lots of ways Cath, I'm still that dork in high school and you're the pretty popular girl."

Her eyes argued the sentiment but her lips stayed silent. She lowered her eyes and glanced at how the distance between their torsos was shrinking. She looked back into his eyes. It made her heart soar that he didn't continue until they made eye contact again.

"If I knew I had a chance –in any way, shape or form –I would've taken it. But I guess I'm not that bright, Cath. I never saw having a chance. I met Tina and I got caught up after what happened to Nicky… I made a huge mistake. I knew it from the beginning but I guess it was the gambler in me acting on impulse… Anyway, I'm trying to correct my mistakes. That's why I ended things with Tina now. Earlier, it had been that I caught her kissing her ex, but now… Now I know that I never loved her."

He leaned in closer.

"And though I didn't say anything when I had the opportunity, I want to tell you now, even if it's too late. I think you're a phenomenal woman. You amaze me. Your intelligence, your courage, your heart, your beauty… I've been blessed to have you in my life. And I never really knew how blessed until I was faced with the possibility of losing you," he struggled at the end, closed his eyes, took a breath and regained his composure before he opened his eyes and continued.

"I didn't get it right the first time with what happened to Nick. –Life is short and tomorrow isn't promised but it's not about living for the moment, it's about making every moment count. Not taking loved ones for granted. There's nothing I regret more, than not realizing how much you and Lindsey mean to me. Can you forgive me for being so blind and so stupid?" he asked almost in a whisper.

"What are friends for?" she said softly with a meager smile.

Her voice trembled. Catherine lowered her eyes. She was looking for a clear declaration: She wanted no chance of misinterpreting his sentiments. Her body screamed at her to kiss him, but her heart refused. She was tired of chasing and having her heart broken.

"Catherine… I'll be your friend if that's all you'll let me be. But if you give me a chance, I'll love you and Lindsey the best I know how. I'm so in love with you… but… whatever you want to do's alright with me."

Her heart soared. As much as she wanted to try to hide her excitement, it was futile. Catherine looked up and beamed at him. Her smile was infectious. It caused Warrick to grin a rather wide grin.

Ok Al Green… I'm still in love with you," she teased him affectionately.

Warrick chuckled, slightly embarrassed at his song-like choice of words, but too ecstatic at Catherine's response to really care.

"Yeah?" Warrick asked for confirmation as he leaned in closer.

His grin toned down to anxious smirk as he awaited her response. Cath slipped her hands out of his. She wanted to wrap them around his neck but her wound wouldn't let her raise her arm so high. She settled for wrapping them around his waist.

"Yeah," she whispered as his forehead came to rest against hers.

Once more, she slightly parted her lips. This time they were finally met with his.

He didn't rush in; rather Warrick first enveloped her top lip, then her bottom lip within his. He brought his hands up and gently held her neck. Their mouths slowly opened wider and their tongues crept toward each other, savoring every move. They relished the moment… each stroke of their tongues was slow but concise. Cath clenched the sides of the hospital scrub he wore.

Warrick made a throaty moan as Catherine answered with a low growl. He released her face and rested his palms on the hospital bed behind her head as he kissed her more aggressively. Their mouths opened wider and their tongues dipped in deeper. Warrick's head weaved from one side to another as his mouth explored every inch of hers.

Catherine slid her hands up underneath his top and caressed his bare torso. The seemingly innocent affirmation of love was becoming rather intense. Warrick broke away from the make out session and caught his breath. Cath groaned in protest.