Chapter 15

Catherine thinks back and tears fall down her face. She hears Novak laughing. She gets up and brushes her hands along her arms trying to calm herself. She gets up and walks over to the balcony door. She looks out over the water. The sun was just coming up over the horizon. She rubs a finger over the medallion and looks at it. She flashes back.

Catherine was shaking after what Novak told her. Warrick could have been in that box. He could have been killed because of her. She wasn't safe. Novak knew everything about her life. He knew about the baby. Catherine protectively touches her stomach. She had to stop him. She would deal with the consequences of Ecklie and Sheriff Atwater finding out about her and Warrick. She knew that Ecklie frowned on office romances. But what if they fired Warrick? Catherine wasn't sure what to do. She had to tell them. She had to keep Warrick safe. Just then there was a knock on her window. She looks up. There is a messenger standing there.

"Catherine Willows?"

"Yes. What are you doing here? "

"I have an envelope for you. Please sign here. "

"How did you find me?"

"I was told that you work here. I am supposed to give you this envelope now. "

"Who is it from?"

"I don't know lady. I just deliver them. Could you just sign it? I'm getting soaked out here. "

Catherine looks out. She hadn't even noticed that it had started to rain outside. The heavens were crying along with her. She hears rumbles of thunder. The forecasters had been right. Vegas would get a soaking tonight.

"Lady."

Catherine grabs the pen and signs the form. The delivery guy hands her the package and leaves. Catherine looks at the manila envelope. She opens it up. There is a letter inside.

"I assume now you understand the implications. Reveal to anyone what I said to you and I will finish the job. I know where Warrick and Lindsey both are. I have people watching you. This isn't over. I warned you not to mess with me. I will finish what I started. "

Catherine dropped the note shaking like a leaf. Lindsey where was she? Mrs. Trimble's place. She went there after school. She did make it over there right ? Catherine turns on her truck and drives to Mrs. Trimble's place. She stops the truck and gets out. She rushes up to the door and starts banging on it. Mrs. Trimble answers.

"Catherine dear what is the matter? You look dreadful. Come in you're getting soaked. "

"Where's Lindsey?" Catherine said.

"Why she's in the kitchen. She's fine. "

"I need her to come here right now."

"Catherine is something wrong?" Mrs. Trimble went to touch her shoulder.

"Where is my daughter? Lindsey..." Catherine calls out.

"Lindsey your mother is here."

" O.k. I just want to pull out the rest of the gingerbread cookies out of the oven for you. "

Catherine flashes back to Novak in the interrogation room. She trembles thinking about what he said.

" 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."

Catherine looks at the older woman.

" Did you let a man come over here when my daughter was here ? "

" Oh, yes. He was such a nice gentleman. He said that he worked with you at the lab. He was so charming. He really liked my gingerbread cookies. Lindsey enjoyed talking with him."

" You let him talk to my daughter ?"

" I really didn't see the harm in doing it Catherine. Look if I did something wrong I'm sorry. He doesn't work with you ? "

Lindsey comes out of the kitchen. Catherine pulls her into her arms and holds her close. She smoothes a hand over her pale blonde hair.

" Mom what is it ?"

" Nothing...we need to get going. "

Catherine and Lindsey head back to her apartment. They enter the door.

" Linds I need you to pack a bag. We're leaving on a trip. "

" What ! But why ? "

" Look we need to get packing. I got a job in Miami. I wasn't sure about taking it but now it I know it's the right decision. I've been planning it for a bit. "

" Without telling me ? "

" I'm sorry it's just been so chaotic. "

" But what about Uncle Warrick and the baby ?"

Catherine looked at her daughter. Warrick. " It's complicated honey. He's involved with someone else now. It was just a one time thing. "

" But if he knew about the baby ?"

Catherine touches her daughter's pale blonde hair. She looks at her," Hey we're just fine right ? We've been good just the two of us ? You can help me raise the baby right. It hasn't been so bad. "

" No but what about nana and grandpa. Uncle Gil said he was going to help me with my science project. "

" He can come down and visit in Miami. Look Lindsey we need to pack. Just do it. "

" O.k. "

Lindsey goes to leave the room but stops for a moment and looks at her mother. Catherine looked at her daughter. How could he explain this to her daughter? She pulls out her cell phone and tries to call Warrick. It rings. She gets his voice mail. She goes to speak

" Warrick...its Cath. Look we need to speak..." Catherine stops thinking about what Novak said. " Tell anyone...Warrick dies. " She holds the note in her hand. " Sorry don't worry about it. "

Catherine dials another number. An auburn haired man pulls the cell phone out of his pocket and looks at it.

"Horatio Caine. "

"Horatio this is Catherine Willows. We met during the Rittle murder investigation. "

"Yes. We worked well on that case together. So how is Las Vegas ? "

"Very wet right now. Sorry for calling you so late. Do you remember that job you offered me when I was down there ? "

"Yes. "

"Is it still open ? "

"Yes. Are you still interested? I assumed that you were happy in Las Vegas. "

". Work here has become complicated. I think new surroundings would be good for my daughter and I. So is the position still open ? "

"Of course it is. I still need a day supervisor. Will Ecklie and Sheriff Atwater let you go ? "

"Yeah there should be no problem. I mean we just finished a huge case. After everything that happened with Nick. "

"I read about that. They found the person right ?"

"Yeah they did. It's just taken a lot out of me. "

"I get that so when do you want to start ? "

"As soon as possible. "

"How about next week ? "

"Good. Thanks Horatio. "

Catherine closes her cell phone. She would talk to Gil in a bit. He would understand. She would make him understand. This is better for everyone. I need to keep Warrick safe. Just then Catherine's cell phone rings.

"Catherine Willows ? "

"Yes. And who is this ? "

"Mac Johnson. I'm the night manager at the Bellagio. You're a friend of Warrick Brown's right ? "

"Yes. " Oh God let nothing have happened to Warrick. " Did something happen to him ? "

"No...Nothing like that. I've just never seen him like this. I think he could really use a friend right now. "

" I'm leaving Las Vegas tonight. "

" Oh sorry. I just thought that you should know. "

" Where is he ? "

" He's in the lounge. He's been hitting the booze pretty hard. "

" I'll be right there. "

Catherine closes her cell phone. To think earlier in the day that she was going to tell him about the baby. Now she couldn't . She had to push him away. The only way he would be safe was away from her. She needed to be harsh for him. She needed to do it. She brushes a tear away.

" Mom ? " Lindsey comes out with a small suitcase." Are you o.k. ? "

" Yeah. I'm fine, " Catherine brushes a tear away. " Good you have your bag. Lets get going. "

"Mom is there something more ?"

"No. I need to make one stop before we leave. Do you want to say goodbye to grandpa before we go ? "

"O.k. "

Catherine walks over and hugs her daughter. She smoothes her daughter's blonde hair and kisses her on the head. She pulls back and looks at her.

" Hey this isn't' going to be so bad. We can get a big place by the water. You'll like Horatio. He's a really nice man. We can find you a really good school. We can even go to Disneyland. Uncle Gil and nana and grandpa can come to visit. "

" And Warrick ? "

Catherine could hear the sadness in her daughter's voice.

" You really like Warrick don't you ? "

" Yeah he's nice. He cares about you and makes you smile a lot more than daddy did. He's really nice to us and takes us out for ice cream and movies. He's cool to hang out with and he's hot mom. He's also the father of the baby right ? "

" Yeah he is. " Catherine smiled listening to her daughter talking about the man that she loved. Life would be so different. Lindsey loved Warrick. He had been the first man that she had trusted since Eddie had died. She could raise this baby with Warrick but she needed to keep him safe. Even if that meant pushing him away.

" How could it not be any better ? "

" It can't but it's not going to happen. I'm sorry. He's with someone else. It's for the best. We need to go. Get your bag. "

Catherine and Lindsey drove to the Bellagio. She went over in her head what she would say to Warrick but nothing sounded right. She needed to convince him that nothing was going to happen between them. It was better if he moved on with his life. The night between them was just a one time thing. Nothing more. Catherine flashes on that night. The touch of his hand along her body. The feeling when they connected on that most intimate level. She flashes on the kiss earlier. How it felt so right...she had to keep him safe. They arrived outside the glitz and glamour that was the Bellagio. It was built to resemble the classic glamorous buildings in Tuscany. All the glamour of Italy without going there. That was the line Sam had used when showing Catherine the building. Catherine and Lindsey got out of her truck. They rushed in so as not to get wet.

" You can go and talk to grandpa but don't tell him about the baby yet. I want it to be a suprise. Janis ? "

A tall skinny brunette with glasses wearing a burgundy suit came over. She had been standing behind the front desk filing paperwork.

" Yes, Ms. Willows. I didn't expect to see you here in this weather. Sam's not expecting you is he ?"

" No he isn't. Look I need to take care of something. Could you take Lindsey to see Sam? Tell him I'll be up in a couple of moments. "

" Sure. Come with me Lindsey. " Lindsey walked off hand in hand with Janis. Catherine watched them leave.

" Catherine Willows. " The voice was sultry and refined. Catherine turns around and sees a beautiful black woman with short hair wearing a tight green cocktail dress. Tina.

" Yes and I presume you must be Tina Andrews right. "

" Dr. Tina Andrews. "

" O.k. look I need to talk to Warrick. Where is he ? "

" He's in the lounge but he's occupied. "

" Well could you unoccupy him. "

" Look I know about that night that you spent together. I know you made a fool of yourself throwing yourself at my man. "

Catherine was ready to slap that smug smile of the little bitch's face. What did Warrick see in her ?

" Look I'm not interested in getting into a pissing match with you little girl. Where's Warrick ? I need to speak to him ? "

" Just leave him alone. He's fine. I'm taking care of him. "

Catherine pushes past Tina and walks into the lounge.

" He's not in here like I said. He's over booking the honeymoon suite for us. We're getting married tonight. He told me about today and decided enough was enough. He's moving on to much...better things. "

" Married ? Really ? " Catherine was taken aback. She could barely say the word. She fights back the tears.

" Yeah isn't it wonderful. "

He was getting a new job and getting married. That is what he wanted to tell her before Grissom called about Novak. He would be safe. He would be with Tina but he would be safe.

" Yeah look I know you had a thing for him. It's obvious you still do. But lets get real is it really going to work ? I mean you are his supervisor and he works for you. It was just one night. Warrick didn't want to leave you. He felt sorry for you. "

" Oh. "

" He's better off with me. I can make him happy."

Catherine fought back the tears. He was going to be safe. Catherine leaves. Mac comes over and sees the scene between them. He tries to call out to her but she doesn't hear him. Catherine walks over to the elevator and gets inside. She pushes the 16th floor button where Sam's office is. He liked having a full view of the strip that way he can see everything. Catherine watches the door close.

The tears start to fall down her face. She can't stop them now. Warrick was getting married. He was planning on getting married the whole time. Was that what he was trying to tell her ? Or did he want her to give him a reason to stay ? If she had told him about the baby. Catherine protectively touches her stomach. He would have come to her but would it be because of the baby or because he loved her. She would never know. She had to keep him safe. There was no other way. Catherine would have loved to have slapped her right across the face for the smugness in her voice but it was Catherine's fault. She hadn't told Warrick once in all the years that she had known him that she loved him. Why didn't she do that ? Why didn't she have the guts ? She didn't want to lose their friendship; but, she didn't want to just be friends anymore. She wanted more. Now she had lost her chance. Catherine brushes a tear away. The floor rings and the doors open. Catherine brushes away the tears. She gets to Sam's office. She looks in the mirror. She walks in Sam is showing Lindsey his empire.

" Mugs...hey how are you doing. " The polished man with the white hair and grey suit came over. He had eyes much like hers. She tried to smile.

" I'm doing o.k. Sam. Linds are you ready to go ? "

" Miami, Mugs ? Lindsey was just telling me. Isn't it all the sudden ?"

" Not really Sam. I've been planning it for a couple of weeks. It's with the Miami - Dade Crime Lab. I met Horatio Caine the last time I was in Miami working a case. He offered me the job. He called me a bit ago and asked if I still wanted it. It's a good move for all of us. "

Sam looks at his daughter. She hoped he would believe her bluff. Being in the casino business, surviving as long as Sam had, he could read people. He walks over and touches her shoulder.

" Is there something more ? " He whispers to her.

" No its for the best Sam. Look after what happened to Nick. I need to get out of here. I need a new life. It's a really good job. Look I'm not moving up with the LVPD. Ecklie will never let me have a full supervisor position. Horatio is offering this to me with the whole works. Look there is nothing wrong. I would tell you if there was. I love you Dad. "

" You promise ? " Sam seemed suprised when Catherine called him Dad.

" Yeah look you'd be able to see if I was bluffing you. It's a good job Sam. I need the change. "

Sam hugs his daughter and looks at her with a worried look on his face. Catherine looked at him about to tell him but decided not to. She left with Lindsey and headed downstairs. They rushed out in the rain and got in her truck. They headed over to the lab. Catherine looked at the time. Gil would still be working. Catherine walked in with Lindsey. Sara was working in Trace.

" Hey Cath. "

" Sara. Look could you look after Lindsey for a moment. I need to speak to Gil. Is he in his office? "

" Yeah. He's just finishing writing up the statements about Novak. Novak's been sent to county lockup. "

Catherine flashed back to her conversation with Novak earlier. She shivers thinking about it.

" Everything fine Catherine ?"

" Yeah. It's just been a long day. "

" Hey Linds I've got some new puzzle games in my locker. Do you want to see them ? "

Lindsey looked at her mother. " It's o.k. " Lindsey walked off with Sara.

Catherine walked down the hallway past the interrogation rooms. She flashes on Novak in there laughing at her. This was the best thing to do. She just needed to explain it to Gil. He would understand. She sees him standing by his desk.

" Catherine ? "

" Gil I need to talk to you for a moment. "

" Sure. What are you doing out in this weather ? "

" Finishing a couple of things. Look Gil. I got a job in Miami. I'm heading out tonight. "

" That's all the sudden. Does this have to do with what Novak said to you earlier ? Does it have to do with the medallion. " Grissom was still perplexed trying to figure out what the medallion meant. He didn't like when all the puzzle pieces didn't fit.

Catherine paused.

" No. I thought the medallion was familliar but it was a different one. Novak was just playing with our heads. You know what he is like. I just need a change after everything that happened with Nicky, Novak and Warrick. It got me thinking. Look the last time I was in Miami Horatio offered me a really good job. It's a good change for Lindsey and I. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I've been planning it for a bit. "

" Really ? And Warrick ? Are you going to tell him that he's going to be a father ?"

" No. "

" Cath he cares about you. He has a right to know. You could make a life together. Look I'll make sure that it flies with Ecklie and Atwater. He'll just put you on separate shifts and on probation but other than that it won't be a problem. Look if you love him as much as you say that you do. "

" I do but Gil he doesn't love me. "

" Why do you say that ? "

" He's marrying Tina. I just saw them at the Bellagio. He looks happy. I don't need to complicate his life. It would make it awkward for us around here. It's best this way. I've needed a change for a bit. "

" If you are sure. "

" It's for the best Gil. Look I promised Lindsey that you would come down to Miami and visit us. This baby needs to know its Uncle Gil. "

" Sure I'll push the paper work through with Ecklie and Atwater. Atwater owes me a favour. I'll make it work. I'm going to miss you Cath. "

He gets up and walks over. Catherine stands up. Gil hugs her.

" I'll miss you as well. Look this is for the best. Sara and you will just have to come down and visit that is all. "

" We will do it as soon as we can. "

Catherine leaves and gets Lindsey.

" Ready kiddo ? "

" Yeah. Bye Sara. "

" Bye. "

Sara walks over to Gil.

" She's leaving ? "

" Yeah. Moving on. But I can't help but feel like she isn't telling me something. "

Catherine watches Gil and Sara and places her hand on Lindsey's shoulder. She didn't want to leave but it was the only way to keep all of them safe.

Catherine brushes a tear aside. It was for the best. She looks out the balcony door. The sun was almost up completely over the horizon. She looks at her watch. Lindsey would be home from the Tobin's soon. She pulls out the medallion and brings it close to her mouth. She brushes the tears that are flowing down her face.

" Cath what is it ? "

Catherine turns around and sees Warrick standing on the stairs looking at her.