Steady As She Goes
Chapter 2: More Than Meets The Eye

Thanks for all the reviews last chapter, I really appreciate it! I've changed the title, I prefer it now I think. Anyway there will be more soon and please keep reviewing! Luv, Vikki xx

Catherine Willows slowly pushed open the door to the break room and stepped inside. Lindsey, who had been laughing with Greg as he showed her what things were used for what in his forensics kit and making jokes, became serious again when she saw her mother enter the room. Her smile turned to a pout in record time. As Greg saw Catherine step further into the room he took this as his cue to leave.

"See ya Lindsey." He said, before making his way towards the door and giving Catherine a supportive smile.

"Bye Greg." She replied, a smile washing over her features before she turned to glare at her mother. Catherine knew she had a lot of ground to cover and she just hoped that Lindsey would hear her out.

"Honey," Catherine began, taking a seat opposite her daughter at the table. "I'm sorry about what happened back there, it was the only way I could think of to show you how much I love you and worry about you."

Lindsey didn't say anything for a while. She was still reeling from what had happened in the morgue. If her mother had wanted to shock her she had certainly succeeded. Lindsey just wished that there could have been some other way for Catherine to explain herself.

"Me too." Lindsey finally said. "But I'm 13 Mom, I just wanna have fun while I can."

"I know sweetie, I just want you to be safe." Catherine replied, was she finally getting through to Lindsey?

"You can't protect me forever Mom."

"I know." Catherine said sadly, that was one of the things that scared her the most.

Nick Stokes found Warrick in the locker room later that shift and he quickly checked that they were alone.

"What was that back there with Catherine?" He asked, taking a seat beside Warrick on the low wooden bench.

Warrick gave a low sigh as he prepared his response.

"I think it's a mixture of the case she's working on and Lindsey." He replied, not wanting to give too much away. He and Catherine had a close friendship that was built on trust and he wasn't about to break that trust at the time she needed him the most.

Nick nodded. "You looked pretty cosy back there."

Warrick threw a shoe at him but Nick ducked and it bounced off a locker.

"You know we're just friends and I wouldn't take advantage of her at a time like this when her daughter needs her."

"I know man, I'm just messing with you." Nick said, going to retrieve the show, but deep down he knew there was more to this than met the eye.

"Hey Greg." Sara called out in the corridor, he waited for her to catch up with her.

"Hi Sara." He smiled as they walked together towards the labs.

"I hear you've got a secret admirer...well not very secret." She joked.

Greg looked confused and for a moment he had no idea what Sara was on about and then it hit him.

"Oh, you mean Lindsey Willows." He asked.

Sara nodded. "Catherine said you were really good with her when you were looking after her."

"Is that so surprising?" Greg teased. "That I'm good with kids."

Sara hit him lightly in the arm. "Of course not but I think you really made an impression on her." It was Sara's turn to do the teasing.

Greg was slowly turning pink. "What case are we working on?" He asked, desperatley trying to change the subject.

"The string of abductions of teenage girls." Sara told him. Warrick and Catherine were already waiting for them, they both looked tired, especially Catherine. The case and her anxiety about her daughter were taking their toll on her.

"You sure you're okay about this?" Warrick asked her quietly so that Sara and Greg wouldn't hear. "You don't have to be in on this case if you don't want to, no one will think any less of you."

"No, I'm okay. Honestly it'll be fine 'Rick, you worry about me too much!" Catherine tried to laugh off his concern but it was hard.

Sara and Greg were already pouring over the evidence and Catherine and Warrick joined them around the table just when Sara's pager went off.

"Guys, we've got another body, Kelly Maxwell has been found dead." She told the other three CSIs, her expression grave. Kelly was one of the missing teenage girls and now she was dead. Catherine felt another knot of anxiety in her stomach but thanked God it wasn't her daughter. Warrick put his hand on her arm.

"C'mon you can ride with me Cath." He said and she looked at him gratefully. What would she do without him?"