A gentle knock woke Catherine from her sleep. She opened her eyes to see it was still dark out… Had she only been asleep an hour or so? She climbed out of bed and located her robe. Wrapping it around herself and tying it off at the end, she slipped into the hall and, grabbing her gun, opened the door. Lindsay was standing there, tears in her eyes, bags in her hands.

Each dropped gun and bags respectively as Lindsay threw herself into her mother's arms.

Catherine held her for a long time before pulling her all the way inside and shutting the door. "What happened baby?"

"Someone showed up at Grandma's place and I didn't want to be there. They were fighting… screaming and yelling and I thought he was going to hit her." Lindsay wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. "They were fighting about you, Mom."

Catherine picked the phone up and dialed her mother's as she eased herself and Lindsay down onto the couch. "Hey… Mother… mom is everything okay?… what's… who's there?… no Lindsay came home… Mom… I can't hear you… Is Sam there?…"

Warrick peeked around the corner to see Lindsay and Cath sitting on the couch. They both looked upset, something Warrick was beginning to hate seeing on their faces. He knelt behind the couch and put his arms around Lindsay.

Lindsay jumped, but calmed down when she saw the dark arms that held her. "When did you get here, Warrick?" She asked turning to look at him.

"I drove your mother home from the lab. She couldn't stay awake."

Lindsay looked at his shirt that was crookedly buttoned and than at her mother in the bathrobe. "Are you sure that's why you're here?"

Warrick laughed quietly. "I didn't say that's why I'm here. I said that's when I got here."

She smiled. "You're seeing my mom aren't you?"

"Uh, sorta… actually your mother and I were talking about that and thinking maybe I should stay and take care of you two."

A hint of a smile spread on Catherine's face through her tears and he knew he had caused that. Releasing Lindsay he ever-so-gently eased his strong arms over Catherine's shoulders and clasped them tightly against her chest. He pressed his lips against her temple and held her like that as she listened intently to her mother.

"It wasn't… if it wasn't Sam, who was it?… No, Lindsay doesn't know who he is… Mom… Mother, listen to me… If he comes back call the cops…. I'm not kidding… please…. Fine." Catherine slammed the phone down and half turned to wrap one arm around Warrick's neck.

Lindsay stared at her mother before sliding between Warrick and Catherine.

Warrick climbed over the back of the couch and pulled both girls into his arms, holding them close.

Sighing, Catherine looked at her daughter. "What would you think of that? Of Warrick staying with us and being part of our family."

Lindsay looked at Warrick as if to study him before nodding. "About time you trust someone you already know instead of strangers in bars." She hugged her mother tight before nestling back into both their arms. "I like the idea, personally."

"So do I." Warrick whispered.