Author's Note

Thanks so much for the feedback everyone. Sorry for the delay in posting the last chapters. We had power go out in our area just as I was about to upload. It was also crazy busy around my house.A huge secret is finallyrevealed in this chapter. I hope it makes sense.

Just a heads up SPOILER ALERTfor " Lady Heather's Box " and " Weeping Willows "are in this. I also borrowed some of the script from" Grave Danger. " I hope no one minds. As always Jerry Bruckheimer and Anthony E. Zuiker own the characters and scripts. I'm just having some fun with them. As always PLEASE READ AND REVIEW. Enjoy reading :)

Chapter 14

Catherine and Warrick walked into the building after showing their passes. Grissom was standing outside his office watching them.

" Catherine can I talk to you for a moment ? "

Warrick looks at Cath.

" I'll see you in the breakroom. We are not done our conversation yet o.k. ? "

" Sure. "

Warrick touches her hand and walks towards the breakroom. Catherine walks up to Grissom.

"So what is it Gil ? "

" I need to talk to you."

" Sure. "

Gil leads her into his office and closes the door. He sits down in his chair facing her. Catherine looks at him. He looked tired and drained much like Warrick had.

" So what is it Gil ? "

" I wanted to see how you are doing dealing with all this knowledge about Novak ?"

" O.k. I've been better. I still can't believe that I lead Nicky into this. "

" It's not your fault. I wanted to warn you first before it happened. We have Novak in interrogation. We found the evidence that we needed. Greg followed a paper trail to a safety deposit box in Novak's name. Greg showed a picture to the security guard and he identified Novak. This is where it gets creepy. The box wasn't in the Novak's name though it was under Holly Pearson. The cell phone that he found tracked back to an account under Alice Granger's name. "

" The girls from the Highball that we thought that Novak had killed. " Catherine was starting to get a creepy feeling going up and down her arms.

" He wanted to say something make it personal. What was in the box ? "

" We found a pair of gloves. Novak's fingerprints were on the inside of the leather. The leather had molecules of ether on the outside and flecks of neon pink forensic powder. "

" Neon pink ? Wait your own personal blend ? We used to razz Nick about it. We got him. "

" Yeah I was about to confront him with this evidence. Brass is grilling him right now in interrogation. The weird thing is we also found this in the box. " Grissom pulled up a St. George medallion. " This was in the box there was nothing random about what he put in the box so why is this in there ? This has to mean something as well. Do you have any idea ? "

Catherine flashes back to that scene in Gil's office. Everything went in slow motion. He passed her the medallion. She pulls it out of her pocket and looks at it. It was soon after Eddie had been killed. Lindsey had been having nightmares.

" But I'm scared of the nightmares mommy. I still see the water. "

" I know baby girl but they are just dreams. Remember they aren't real. You're safe. I pulled you out of the car. "

Catherine hadn't been sure how to calm down her young daughter. Nearly drowning in the car that killed Eddie had given both of them horrendous nightmares. Warrick had come by a couple times to make sure that they were o.k. He was always there for them even back then. Catherine and Warrick had been talking in the living room when Lindsey had rushed out in her pjs. Catherine remembers Warrick carrying her daughter back to her bedroom. They tried to calm her down. She had almost lost her daughter. Warrick had sang to her then handed her the medallion that he wore around his neck.

" Hey I might have what you need. My grandmother gave this to me. I had nightmares as well after my mom died. She died when I was a little boy. She told me to take this. St. George. The slayer of dragons. He would protect me so I could go to sleep. Why don't you take it ? "

" Don't you need it ? "

" Nah I'm fine now. You can have it. " Warrick unlocks the chain around his neck and gives it to Lindsey he attaches it around her neck. Lindsey hugs him.

Catherine shudders realizing what the medallion meant. She had almost lost Lindsey that night that Eddie was murdered. She had almost lost Warrick the night Nick was almost killed.

Gil had looked at her wondering why she had a reaction like that.

" Do you know what it means ? "

" No. I want to be a part of Novak's interrogation. "

" No you can't be there. Look Cath we have all the evidence that we need to charge Novak. You don't need to deal with him in your condition. The stress isn't good for you. "

Catherine had gone down to the interrogation room to see Novak. Warrick had been standing outside looking in at Novak. She needed to understand what Novak meant by the medallion. She needed to understand why he had gone after Nicky.

" Cath look you don't need to be here. "

" I know. "

" Cath is there something else ? "

" No. I just need to understand why. " Catherine fingered the medallion in her pocket.

She had arrived outside the interrogation room. Brass and Grissom were going at him with the new evidence that was unrefutable. 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. She's just a bitch and a tease. I mean she acts all like she wants to give it up then slaps you in the face. " 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. Catherine had tried to pull him back. He had rushed in and pulled Novak into a choke hold. Grissom and Catherine had pulled 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… "

" I get it thank you but you could have just ruined Nicky's case. "

" I would never do that. You know that. You know me better than that. "

Warrick had been pissed with her and had left. Catherine had gone and tried to talk to him but he brushed her off.

Catherine knew that she had been harsh with Warrick but she didn't want the case thrown out. Brass continued to talk to Novak.

" So why did you do it ? I mean was there a specific reason that you went after Nicky ? You mind as well tell us because you are going away for a long time. I mean you set up the cell phone account in Alice Granger's name. The safety box was set up in Holly Granger's name. "

" I figured you would catch those hints. But what about the medallion ? "

" Yes could you please tell us what that meant ? " Grissom looked perplexed as if trying to figure out the last piece of the puzzle. He hated when a piece didn't fit. It didn't feel complete.

" I'll tell you all of it but I want to talk to Ms. Willows first without anyone else in the room. I presume she is standing outside the door listening to this conversation.That is my condition. "

" No way." Grissom refused.

Catherine went over to the door and opened it. She looked Novak right in the eyes and tried not to shiver. " I'll talk to him. "

" Cath you don't have to. We have all the evidence that we need. "

" I'll be fine. I need to understand why he did this. "

" Fine but I'll be outside the door. "

Grissom and Brass left the room. Novak looked at her with those dark eyes. She felt shivers go up her body by covered it. She felt like he was undressing her with his eyes.

" Ms. Willows nice to see you again. Why don't you sit down ? "

" Fine. Lets dispense with the formalities o.k. So tell me why ? "

" Lets turn off the sound shall we then I will tell you all. Or do you want me to sue your office for physical harassment ? " Novak touches the mark around his neck.

Cath walked over and turned off the sound. Grissom looked at her as to say No. Cath looked at him and went back to the table.

" Your collegues are sure protective especially Mr. Brown. I'd say that there is a little more then collegue interest there. "

" So tell me. " Catherine stood there looking at him with her hands on her hips.

" You should really sit down in your condition. Does he have any clue about the baby ? I mean I presume that he is the father. "

Catherine gasped. She sat down in a chair facing him.

" How ?"

" After the little incident here at your lab I was fired from my job at the law office. It's kind of hard to perform my job as an attorney if the client doesn't trust me. No matter that I was innocent the whole time. I was a black eye for the office so they put me on administrative leave then fired me out right. Something about a morals clause in my contract. I've had time on my hand. I see now why you pushed me away at the Highball. You were getting it at work."

Cath went to slap him but Novak grabbed her hand.

"None of that if you want to hear the rest of the story. Believe me you are going to love the punch line. Isn't it complicated sleeping with some one from work ? I mean all the office politics. It makes it a rather sticky situation. I mean really did you think it was going to last ? I mean I've seen the competition. You really don't have a chance. I mean she's stunning really a beautiful young woman. She's also a doctor. Does he have a clue that he's going to be a father ? "

Catherine said nothing.

" Oh so he doesn't have a clue. It's probably better that way. I mean it would complicate your life so much I mean you rarely spend time with Lindsey as it is. Mrs. Trimble seems like such a nice lady. She makes wonderful gingerbread cookies. You should tell her thank you for me."

" But how ? "

" You really should make sure that Dr. Miller keeps an eye on her patients records. They are so easy to get. Oh by the way Mrs. Martin really likes having Lindsey in her class this year at Butterfield Academy. Awfully pricey place on your salary or did you use the money that you got from your father Sam Braun ?"

Catherine was agahst about how much Novak knew about her life. He had been stalking her for what seems like months. She felt a shiver go down her spine.

" and the medallion ? That wasn't by chance was it. Nicky's kidnapping wasn't a fluke or random like everyone thinks was it. Was It ? "

" No it wasn't you made my life a living hell. I don't have a job. People that I have worked with for years consider me a pariah. I can't go to the restaurants that I used to love because of people whispering. You wouldn't let me get into your pants so you made my life a living hell by following the evidence that could have been explained away. "

" Like the evidence to Kelly Gordon's murder case ? "

" Yes. A styrofoam cup with her DNA on it. That could be explained so many other ways but no the judge throws out my motion bringing it into question. You cost me everything now..."

" What you want me to feel the same thing ?"

" Yes. Nick or Nicky as you call him. Cute name by the way. He was never my target but Walter was so eager to get the job done and over with. He felt so helpless after his daughter's case. He wanted someone to pay. "

" So did you ? "

" YES ! You cost me my life. "

" Now what ? "

" I am going to take everything precious from you. Did you find the medallion ? "

" Yes. But why ? " Then it dawns on Catherine. The horror is evident on her face. The nightmare that had haunted her since Nicky's kidnapping. The image of Warrick in the box fighting for every breath. The image of him with that gun. She flashes back to them being outside the warehouse after it had been blown up. The team was looking for any evidence that would lead them to Nicky. Warrick had been pissed and had kicked a container of water at Greg and had stormed outside. Catherine had followed him.

Hey, Warrick, hey. Hey, how you holding up?

I'm not.

I know.

I just can't help thinking that could have been me in that box, you know? We flipped a coin for that trash run.

Hey, Nick is not inside a box because of the flip of a coin.

But that wasn't true. Warrick had been the target. He was supposed to be in that box. He was supposed to be in that box because of her. Catherine puts her hand to her mouth.

If that was me, I would have ...

Warrick had puthis fingers up to the side of his head like a gun and pulled the trigger. Catherine gasps flashing back on the image. She had tried to convince him that wasn't true. She didn't want to believe that he could do that yet...

Hey, you know what? I know you. I don't believe that. Okay?

No. You're wrong. I wouldn't have lasted this far. Catherine, if something happens to Nick, if we don't bring him back in one piece ...

Catherine had tried to comfort him. Catherine gasps she can't breath. She gets up and brushes a hand through her hair. It was supposed to be Warrick. What if they hadn't found Warrick ? What if she had lost him ? She feels green to the gills. She looks at Novak. He starts laughing. Catherine rushes out of the room gasping for air. Gil tries to stop her.

" Cath what is it ? What did he say to you. "

" I..can't...breath." Catherine rushes out of the lab and heads to her car.She turns and pukes on the ground. She brushes a hand over her mouth.She opens up the door and thinks about Warrick. The tears just start to fall down her face.