Author's note

Thanks for the awesome feedback so far :) Wow I've never had feedback this fast. I'm glad that you guys like this story so far. Just a heads up there is some detailed references in here to " Grave Danger " andreferences tosuggestive situations. If you don't want to read consider yourself warned.

Chapter 3

Warrick and Catherine drove in silence back to her condo. What was he doing here ? Why had he come to Miami ? She looks over at him and sees him looking out the window at the bay. The moonlight danced on the water. She had thought of seeing him so many times. How could he question if she had slept with another man ? She would never do that to him. She was devastated when she found out about Tina. She felt like such a fool again. It was like walking in on Chris and that waitress all over again. She was not going to be the other woman. She had questioned about that night. It had changed their lives so much. She couldn't deny that night was everything that she had wanted. It had been wonderful in his arms. She touches the baby protectively. Warrick looks over at her. She could see the tiredness, hurt and confusion in his beautiful green eyes. It was all of him she could see. He blended so well into the night. Just like that night when they had been driving home from the hospital. The night the team had almost lost Nick. When she had almost lost Warrick. Catherine turns and looks out the window and brushes away a tear. That night had changed all of them for better or worse. Happiness and sadness, dark into light, friends into lovers.

Catherine flashes back to Nick being in that box. The look of sheer terror on his face. The kidnapper torturing them with that song and then the video. She had been so frustrated. Then when Warrick had lost it after the kidnapper had blown himself up and cursed about the coin toss. He told her about how Nick and him had tossed a coin to decide who would take the trash run. Catherine had gasped when hearing that but had covered. She could have told them who would have the case but then she would have lost Warrick. It had been that close that she could have lost him. It was horrendous guilt about nearly losing Nicky but the thought of losing Warrick that way. It ate at her soul. She realized what she had felt for so long. They had been dallying around it for 5 years. She loved him.

The team had found Nick in that small box being eaten by fire ants. He had been rushed to Desert Palm and taken into the intensive care ward. She had been horrified. They were all a little numb with everything that had happened that night. All they did was follow the evidence and where it lead Gil used to say. For good or bad. They didn't make a judgement about the case just the evidence. Yet sometimes people didn't get the results that they wanted. There was always a chance that someone would want revenge but to see it happen. She had lost it in the hospital. She had crumbled. Grissom and Warrick had rushed over to her but it was Warrick whose arms she allowed to comfort her. She had almost lost him.

Warrick had taken her home at Gil's insistence. There was nothing that they could do for Nick that night. They had arrived at Catherine's house. Warrick was worried about Lindsay seeing her mother like that. Catherine said that Lindsay had been over at her mother's place. She did that when she would be working the graveyard shift. Warrick had led her over to the couch. He was about to get up and grab a bottle of wine for both of them but she had grabbed his arm. She had started to cry. He held her close to his body. She sobbed and sobbed. She felt so safe in his arms. It had been so long that she could trust a man like this. After Eddie and Chris...she just wanted to feel safe. She felt that with Warrick. She had at that moment looked at him. She had almost lost him. She probably should have told him to leave because once they crossed that line they wouldn't be able to turn back. She had looked Warrick in the face and had touched his face. She had kissed him then. She did it tentatively as to say to him that he should leave. He didn't move instead he looked at her and passionately kissed her back. He had then taken her hand and led her to her bedroom. In the moonlight all pretense was gone. They weren't supervisor and employee. They weren't friends who had dallied around this for 5 years. They were just a man and a woman looking for comfort after a horrific night. They needed to know on the most basic level that everything would be fine. That there was still some good left in the world. That the other was fine. Clothes disappeared in a pile and slowly they began to make love. That night had been beautiful but then that phone call.

" Cath...we're here. "

Catherine looks at her two story condo that Horatio had helped her find. It was clean and comfortable. There was beautiful lighting in the living room in the morning when the sun was just rising. There were three bedrooms. One for her, Lindsey and the baby. Catherine touches her stomach. Silently she pulled the Hummer into her driveway and stopped the engine. They sat there in silence for a couple of moments. Catherine looked over at Warrick. He was looking at her hand on her stomach. He looks at her face. He went to touch her hand but stopped. Catherine undid her seatbelt and opened the door. Warrick got out of his side and walked over and opened up the door for her. He held out his arm. She was about to disagree with him but looked at him and said nothing. He led her inside her apartment and sat her down on the couch.

" I'll go make us some food. "

" I'm fine..."

" You need to eat. "

But before she could continue and ask why he was there he had disappeared into the kitchen. She heard pots and pans crashing and the fridge door opening. She heard the sizzle of bacon and eggs. She could finally tolerate the smell of eggs without rushing to the bathroom. She got up and walked over to the patio doors. She opened up the doors and walks out on the patio. There were steps that led down to the beach. She feels a cool breeze come in off the ocean. She puts her hands on the railing and looks out over the water. It was almost still. The only light was the moonlight reflecting off the water. She hears footsteps behind her then feels a blanket being placed around her shoulders. She feels his hands on her shoulders. He rubs his hands up and down her shoulders. The sound of his breathing right beside her ear. She leans back into his arms unsure at first but Warrick holds her close. They don't say anything just watch out over the water. He brings his hand around and places it on the baby and begins to caress it.

She turns and looks at him.

" I missed you. " It was the only thing that he said right at that moment but it meant so much to her. She feels a tear fall down her face.

" Hey... What's this ? "

" I'm fine. It's just been a long day is all. "

" Why don't you go sleep ? We'll talk about the baby in the morning. "

" Warrick...I want. I don't know. I'm glad you're here. "

She turns and heads up the stairs to her bedroom.