Author's Note

Thanks all again for the incredible feedback. Just a heads up there is references to " Weeping Willows " in this chapter. If you don't want to be spoiled then don't read. Consider yourself warned. Enjoy reading. As always PLEASE READ AND REVIEW. I love feedback.

Chapter 6

Over the next couple of weeks pieces started to fall into place with the case. They were close and closer to the puppet master. Warrick tried to talk to Catherine but there was no use. He had been walking by Grissom's office one day when he saw Grissom with his arms around her. He only heard part of their conversation.

" I'm here for you Cathy…"

" Don't call me that Gil. " Catherine had weakly smiled.

" Whatever you want to do. I'm here as a friend. "

" Thanks. "

Warrick had left the room wondering what they were talking about. Thinking back on it. He realizes that Catherine must have found out that she was pregnant and had turned to Gil for advice. What would she have done ? Would she have gotten rid of the baby ? Obviously not but if that night was a mistake. Warrick questions.

Warrick looks around the condo and slowly heads up the stairs trying not to make a sound. He opens a bedroom door and sees Catherine there sleeping. Catherine's hand was nestled close around their baby. Warrick flashes back to that fateful day.

It had taken a couple of weeks but they had found Gordon's accomplice. It was someone who was well known to the CSI crew. Adam Novak. Adam Novak had met Catherine at a bar after work. Warrick and Nick had decided not to go with her. Novak had gotten a little too friendly with her and Catherine had brushed him off. If Warrick could have gotten his hands around him. Then two women had been murdered at the club. They had fingered Novak as the killer. Catherine was certain of it. She had told Warrick as much.

" I know he did this. "

" Well if he did we will find the evidence. Hey… how did you get that bruise on your cheek ? " He had touched her face.

Catherine self consciously touched his hand. " It's nothing. "

" Hey this is me you're talking to. " He rubbed the bruise then pulled away his hand.

" I met Novak at this club and….well lets just say we didn't see eye to eye. "

" Son of a bitch. I'll kill that guy. "

" Don't lets just nail him on this murder o.k. ? "

" Fine. "

Warrick had shown this temper another time when Catherine had come over to his place with bruises on her face. Eddie had been smacking her around again. She had finally left him. Warrick wanted to kill him but Catherine told him not to. She had finally called the police. Warrick was relieved. Even back then he had been protective of Catherine and Lindsay.

It turned out that Novak hadn't killed the girls but had been framed by an over jealous boyfriend. He had seen his girlfriend with Novak and had become jealous. He had killed her in a fit of rage. He had killed the second girl to frame Novak. Novak had gotten away but had felt like he had been heavily persecuted by CSI.

Grissom was in the interrogation room with him and Brass. They were grilling him. Novak was spouting off.

" I am going to sue this whole department for defamation of character and harassment. You couldn't get me on those other girls murder so you ? Or is this about that redhead. " Novak spits. " I mean take a look at her she was asking for it. "

Warrick had seen red when he had heard that about Catherine. He had been standing outside the interrogation room with Catherine. He had rushed in and pulled Novak into a choke hold. Grissom and Catherine had had to pull him back. Grissom told him to leave. Catherine had been furious with him.

" What the hell was that ? "

" Did you hear what that guy said about you ? "

" Warrick do you want to go and screw up this case for Nick. We need to be above reproach so it isn't tossed out on a technicality."

" But… "

" Just go home and blow off that steam. "

Warrick had been pissed with her and had left.

It had turned out that Novak was the lawyer on Kelly Gordon's defense case. Walter Gordon had approached Novak again after hearing about his run in with the CSI and had suggested the plan. Novak had brushed this off calling it a witch hunt. Grissom then pulled out phone records showing cell phone calls the day that Gordon had been paid the ransom by Catherine. Novak had said that she had owed him for all the grief that she had caused him. He wanted her to feel what it was like losing something precious. He had been watching her for a couple of weeks. With all the bad publicity with the case he had been fired from his job. Nicky hadn't exactly been the target but he would do. There had also been evidence showing that Novak had technical knowledge and therefore would know how to make the remote receiver that had been placed in the box. All if it was circumstantial evidence. Grissom had agreed but they found a pair of gloves that had dust from making the box and forensic dust on them on the tips in minute amounts. Not something big but Nick used a neon pink forensic powder that was very distinctive. Gil had created the mixture himself. It was very distinctive. The gloves also had traces of chloroform on them. The gloves were found in a safe deposit box by Greg. The box was traced back to Novak. This was irrefutable evidence.

Novak had been arraigned a couple of days later on first degree murder charges. The kidnapping made it a capital crime. He had been remanded to the state penitentiary until trial. Warrick was relieved when he had heard that.

They couldn't keep what was happening from Nick. He would be the main witness for the prosecution. The nightmares from that night had been too much for him. He had decided to return home to Houston to stay with his parents to recuperate just for a bit. He needed to think. Grissom understood and told him his job would be waiting for him when he came back. He wouldn't have to worry about losing it.