Chapter 10

The weeks passed and they got closer to the puppet master. Catherine walked around in a daze working the case. She felt tired, weak and sick. It was so hard seeing Warrick at the office and not being able to touch him or be close to him. Grissom had seen a tense moment between them.

" Cath look we need to talk about this. Look about Tina…. "

" Don't bother. "

Warrick had gone to touch her shoulder but she had brushed him away. He walked away frustrated. He stopped for a moment and looked back at her but kept on walking. Grissom had walked up to her and touched her shoulder surprising her. Catherine had looked at him. Grissom had lead her into his office and had closed the door.

" Catherine what's up between you and Warrick ? "

" Nothing. "

" Really ? Come on you two barely look at each other. Let alone speak to each other. What happened ? "

There was a pause for a moment. Catherine was unsure of what to say. She looked into Gil's blue eyes filled with concern for her.

" Look whatever you say doesn't go past this room. "

" Did you know about Tina ? "

" His girlfriend. Yeah I'd heard about it. What does that have to do with work ? "

" Look the night that Nicky waskidnapped…well we… "

" Oh so that's what happened… And now ?"

" It complicated. Look I thought Warrick was a different person. I didn't know about Tina and now…."

" You feel like after Eddie. "

" Yeah. I mean how I could have been such a fool. I mean I know that you shouldn't mix work and relationships but…"

" It was a horrible night. It makes you question your own mortality. I get that. That night got to all of us. "

Catherine looked at Gil. It was obvious that he was saying something more. She didn't push him on it. The thought of Warrick in that box fighting for each breath. That gun close to him. He wouldn't have...Catherine brings her hand to her mouth. She feels tears come to her eyes. She brushes one away. Gil hands her a handkerchief. Catherine dabs her eyes and looks at him.

" Warrick… He was almost the one in the box Gil. The gun...Gil what if he ? "

" He wouldn't have done that. You know that. "

" He could have died without..."

Gil had heard the tone in her voice and had looked at her. He had touched her face.

" Without you telling him that you love him right ? "

Catherine had looked at him. How did Grissom know that ?

" Look don't look so surprised. There has always been something between you and Warrick. It's been kind of unsaid between you two. A night like what happened to Nick brought it all to the surface. Why don't you tell him how you feel ? "

" It doesn't matter does it. Look he obviously doesn't want more. "

" Oh really after what I just saw in the hallway. He does want more. So why don't you ? "

" I don't want to lose our friendship. I don't want to…"

" You don't want to get hurt again."

" Yeah. I mean Tina… "

Just then Catherine felt green to the gills and puked on one of Gil's experiments. Gil had rushed over to her and held her head.

" Oh God sorry about that Gil…"

" It's fine I was done with that one. Cath you don't look that great ? " Gil passed her a wet cloth so she could wipe down her mouth.

" Thanks…I just haven't felt like myself for the last week. I've been so sick in the morning. I can't keep anything down. It's got to be this flu that has been going around. " Catherine puts her head on her hand and breathes deeply.

Gil had looked at her.

" Is that all it is, Cath ? Sick every morning. You couldn't be… "

" Pregnant ? At my age. " Catherine had looked at him with a shocked look on her face. She brought her hand to her mouth.

" You're not that old. Look at the evidence. You just puked on one of my experiments which could easily be morning sickness. You've been sick every morning like you said. The experiment is fine don't worry about it. I was finished with it. It's about 6 weeks later. You and Warrick…. You don't have a fever. " Gil had touched her forehead. " Is it possible ? Yeah I would say so. "

Catherine actually laughed a little. Gil could be so clinical sometimes. She thought back. She pulls out her daybook and looks at the dates. She had looked at Gil. Pregnant….at her age…with Warrick's baby. But ? She felt such joy come over her.

" It's possible right ? "

" Yeah. " Catherine felt green to the gills again. Gil grabbed a waste paper basket just in time for her.

" So how do you feel about it ? "

" I don't know but I guess I should find out for sure. "

" And Warrick ? "

" I'll deal with that when and if it comes to that. "

Gil pulled her into his arms and had caressed her back.

" 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. "