Chapter 13

Catherine watches Warrick sleeping in the glider. She walks out quietly and closes the door. She walks down the hallway and down the stairs. She sits down on the couch remembering back.

The next couple of days happened in a flurry. Catherine felt really lightheaded and nauseous after finding out about Novak. She decided to contact her doctor. Dr. Miller wasn't impressed with her blood pressure level. It was skyrocketing. She warned Catherine to take it easy. She needed to rest. There was still a chance of miscarriage at this early stage if she didn't get her stress level under control. Catherine was aghast. She had just found out about the baby and already she cared about it so much. It was such a precious part of her...and Warrick. The doctor told her to relax and calm down. Catherine agreed and stayed home resting. The restlessness was driving her up the wall. She needed to be doing something to help Nicky's case but she also needed to relax. Catherine called Gil and told him that she wouldnt' be in for a couple of days. Gil told her that it was fine. The team could run down the leads. It was looking more and more like Adam Novak was the puppet master. They just needed to find concrete evidence. It was better if she stayed home. He would come by later if she wanted. Catherine told him not to worry she was going to relax. Lindsey approached her a couple of days later.

" Mom...can we talk ? "

" Sure baby what is it ? "

Catherine sits down on the couch and looks at her young daughter with pale blonde hair and blue eyes. She had been furious with Eddie but he did give her Lindsey. She would be forever grateful for that. She smoothes the long blonde hair. She looks at her daughter.

" Things have been weird around here the last couple of days. Then there was a message on the answering machine from a Dr. Miller. Something about your ultrasound being moved up. "

Catherine gasped. She knew that this talk was coming she just didn't expect Lindsey to find out this way.

" Are you pregnant mom ? "

Catherine touched her daughter's pale blonde hair.

" I didn't want you to find out this way but...I am pregnant. You are going to have a new little brother or sister after Christmas. "

" Wow. Cool. " Lindsey hugged her mother. " But...who's the dad ? I mean I haven't really seen you with anyone serious. Is it serious ? Do you love him ? "

Oh boy this was going to get complicated. Catherine looked at her daughter. " It just happened. We didn't really plan on it. We were both in a vulnerable spot. I do care for him very deeply but it's complicated. Lindsey I need to keep this to yourself right now. The team doesn't know yet other than Uncle Gil. "

" He isn't the dad is he ?"

" No, " Catherine looks at her daughter with a shocked look. She laughs. " Why would you say that ? Uncle Gil and I are just really good friends. I care for him but not that way. " There may have been one point but nothing ever happened. Gil was always so closed off. He had been burned pretty bad in the past by his ex-wife. She hoped he was happy with Sara. He seemed to light up when she came in the room. "We have been since before you were born besides I think he's very happy with Sara. "

" You mean that brunette ? "

" Yes. "

"Oh cool. So is everything o.k. ? I mean you've been really sick and haven't been going into work. The baby's o.k. right ? "

" It'll be fine. The doctor just wants me to relax for a bit. That's all. So when does Dr. Miller want me to come in for the ultrasound ? "

" Next week. She has an opening in her schedule. "

" O.k. Do you want to come ? "

" Sure. What happens ? " Lindsey sat down beside her mother curious.

" Well I have to lay down on a table. The doctor puts this really cold gel on my stomach. It helps her see the baby better. Then she puts a doppler which uses sound waves to see the picture of the baby. It's like a fancy wand. The picture shows up on the computer. She can print pictures or even make a video. "

" Does it hurt ? " there was concern in those pale blue eyes much like her own.

" No it's fine. So do you like the idea of having a baby brother or sister ? "

" Yeah. I hope it's a little girl. Can we get the pictures ? I want to help with the nursery. I've got so many ideas. Are we going to get a bigger place ?"

" One thing at a time. " Catherine giggled hearing the happiness in her daughter's voice. She touched the pale blonde hair. " Well we'll know in a bit. Yes we can get some pictures. I want to put a book together for the baby. So are you ready to go over to Mrs. Trimble's after school today ? "

" Yeah she wants me to help her make cookies for her family's reunion. Can I tell her ? "

" No I want to keep this a secret for now. Is that o.k. ? "

" O.k. but it's going to be really hard. Soon it will be obvious to everyone right ? I love you mom. "

" I love you too..." Catherine hugs her daughter. It would be obvious. How would she tell Warrick ?

Just then the door bell rang. Catherine opened the door and there stood Warrick carrying a brown paper bag. They looked at each other. Lindsey saw the look between them and realized the implications. Lindsey couldn't help but smile.

" Hey Warrick. " Lindsey gave Warrick a hug surpising the big man.

" Hey squirt. So how's life ? " Warrick brushed a hand over her pale blonde hair.

" Really good. Actually even better now. " Lindsey looked at her mother, " Gotta go. "

" What was that about ? " Warrick looked at Catherine with a quizzical look.

" Nothing. So why are you here ? " Catherine looked at Warrick feeling the butterflies well up in her stomach or was that morning sickness again.

" I've been worried about you. Can I come in ? "

Catherine realized that she had left Warrick standing outside.

" Sure...So how is the case going ? "

Warrick came in the door and looked at Catherine. He went to touch her face with his hand but pulled back.

" We're getting closer and closer. Novak and Gordon knew each other in college. They were room mates for a couple of semesters at BYU. "

" Really ? " Catherine was stunned. She went to go sit down on the couch. Warrick grabbed her back.

" Cath...are you o.k. ? Look Novak will never get an inch near you. Not as long as I'm here. " Warrick said with fierce protectiveness in his voice.

" I know. I'm just still shocked. I'm fine really. You look tired ?" She touched his face. He held her hand there. She rubbed a thumb along his strong jawline. He had circles under his eyes and looked wiped out.

" It's been a long week. We've been pulling double shifts at the lab hoping on finding anything any little clue. We were able to get a search warrant for Reynold's stuff and found a paper trail leading back to Novak. Greg found the log dump from Gordon's cell phone and found numerous calls to one particular phone number leading up to Nicky's kidnapping. W e were able to get a search warrant and found that it was a global cell phone. You know one of those cheap pay as you go phones that anyone can get. So a dead end right ? No Greg was like a dog with a bone. He went over the phone log and narrowed down the phone companies that can work in Las Vegas. Anyway he went into the office and showed a photo of Novak and the guy rememebered him buying the phone. Sofia went over Kelly Gordon's case again and found out that the attorney that had Kelly Gordon's case before the appeal was Novak. It was under a different name. It's looking more and more like he did it. "

Catherine gasps. She gets up and walks over to the window and looks out. She puts a hand up to her mouth. She couldn't believe that she put Nicky in this type of danger. Warrick walks over and puts a hand on her shoulder.

" Hey it's not your fault. "

" If I hadn't been so stupid and led Novak on that night. I've been playing that night over and over in my head. I was so sure that he had killed those girls. I let my personal experience with him cloud the case."

Warrick turns Cath to face him. He touches her face.

" It's not your fault that Novak is an animal. You never led him on. Don't blame yourself. All of us believed that the evidence showed that Novak was the killer. We had no clue that he had been framed. We went where the evidence leads us. You can't blame yourself for what happened to Nick. I did the same thing after about the coin toss but what is the point ? It just drives you mad. "

Warrick pulls Cath into his arms and holds her close. He rocks her in his arms. He pulls back and looks at her. She looks tired and run down.

" So how's the cold ? "

Did he know ? Did he suspect ? Catherine takes a deep breath in and pulls back and looks at him. She touches his face. " Look Warrick... It's more than a cold."

" Cath you are starting to worry me. I don't know what I would do if I lost you. You are so precious to me. If there is something wrong you can tell me you know that right ? We will figure it out together. "

" Warrick...I'm fine. It's " She turns her back to him and looks away. Should she tell him ? But what about Tina. She didn't want him to come to her out of obligation. She looks over and sees the brown bag that he brought over. " What's in the bag ? "

" Althea sent you some of her special ginger chicken noodle soup. I meantioned to her that you had a cold when I went to see her this weekend. A sure fire way to cure a cold. It always worked when I was a kid. "

Althea Brown had raised Warrick since his mother Ava died of cancer when he was 7 years old. She was a wise older woman who had raised 5 children. Catherine had met her one time and had found her to have a soothing effect whenever she was in the room.

" Tell her thank you for me. Warrick... So how is she doing ?"

" Cath what is it ? " Warrick touches her face and caresses a thumb along her chin and across her lips. He kisses her lightly on the lips. She let his lips linger for a moment there revelling in the feel. She remembered that night. The feel of his arms across her body how he knew exactly the right spot. She was intoxicated by his touch. She looks into his beautiful green eyes. She smiles and touches her stomach.

" Warrick. "

" Look if you've been avoiding me because of Tina. Don't we, " Just then Warrick's beeper went off. " Damn I need to take this it's the lab."

Warrick pulled out his cell phone and called the lab. He had an animated conversation with Grissom. What did he want to tell her about Tina ? He was needed back at the office ASAP. Catherine looked at him . She was going to go in with him. They looked at each other.

" Cath... "

" I'm fine. "

" This conversation isn't over by a long shot. We are going to finish it."

Catherine grabbed her coat. Warrick put his hand behind her back and lead her out the door. They got into his Denali and headed to the crime lab.