The sleep, it turned out, did Catherine good. As she was eating her dinner, she thought of something that made her want to scream. Why hadn't she thought to try that before? She could kick herself. Getting up and walking over to the kitchen drawer she kept bills and important papers in, she opened it. Thumbing through it until she found what she was looking for, she pulled out her old address book. Flipping pages quickly she, again found what she was in search of. Dialing the number, Catherine prayed she would be home. Ringgg… Ringgg… Ringgg…

"Hello?"

"Jenna? This is Catherine."

"Cathie! What the heck have you been up to since you snapped out of it and divorced my dope of a brother? You were always too good for him."

"As would be anyone. Speaking of Eddie, have you heard from him lately?" Catherine asked, she was beginning to remember why she'd liked Eddie's much more logical sister.

"About a week ago, at my 'baby shower', it was more like a family reunion of sorts."

"Congratulations," Catherine said good-naturedly I love being right.

"Thanks, what's Eddie done now?"

"Decided I wasn't using Lindsey and he wanted her."

"You serious? Even Eddie can't be that stupid."

"Oh believe me, he can."

"My god, what an a he is. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. So, what's Eddie been up to?"

"I get it, you have no idea where Eddie ran off to when you kicked him out and you're hoping I do."

"Something like that," Catherine admitted.

"As a matter of fact I do, Dallas Texas, 45 Lake St. Bitch him out for me."

"Thanks Jenna, next time you're out in Vegas, stop by. After all, we're kind of sister's-in-law, even if it is the one of the only good things that came out of my stupidity." Besides Lindsey

"Will do, give Linds a hug for me. After you show Eddie what for."

"Bye"

"Bye"

Dallas, Texas. Catherine thought with a smile, dialing another number, this one on her cell's speed dial.

"Nick Stokes."

"Hey Nicky."

"Cath, What's up?"

"Nothing much. Just wondering, when's the last time you went home for a visit?"

"Umm... a year ago, maybe longer. Where's this going?"

"Don't you think it's about time you went to visit your family?" Catherine smiled, not answering Nick's question.

"Are you serious, you want me to go home in the middle of your daughter's missing…wait, I think I know where this is going. You think Griss will let you work the case if I'm gone."

"Don't insult me Nick. Even I'm not that stupid."

"Then where is this going?" Nick repeated, genuinely confused- understandably.

Catherine milked it a little longer, before she spilled.

"I just got off the phone with Eddie's sister. She happens to know where her 'dope-of-a-brother' went after I kicked him out. 45 Lake St., Dallas, Texas." Catherine could hear the smile in Nick's voice as he said,

"You know Catherine, I think you're right. I should go home for a visit- today."

CWCWCWCWCWCW

Catherine slammed her locker shut. How many times had she been in there and she'd forgotten the pictures were there. How did the saying go? You don't know what you've got 'til you lose it. She buried her face in her hands, hiding from the world. The arm around her shoulder startled her, but she knew who it was. He was always there for her.

"I want her home, 'rick. And Grissom won't even let me go with you guys," she stated, her eyes moist.

"We'll find her Cath. Me and Nicky'll bring her home." She nodded, smiling at Warrick.

"I know. Just try and do it quickly." She said ruefully.

"Will do" Warrick said, his face serious.

"I feel like such a idiot," Catherine said, rubbing her face before resting her chin in them. "A nine-year-old should not have this much control over someone."

"She's a special nine year old," He said only half- joking. "Look Catherine there's nothing wrong with worrying about your daughter. It doesn't make you weak. Understand?" he added, kneeling in front of her and forcing her to look him in the eye. She nodded. He hugged Catherine before standing up, closed his locker, gentler than Catherine had and turning to leave.

"Our flight is at 5am, thought you might want to know. I'll call you at least once a day." She nodded.

"Thanks. Hey, you guys need a ride? It's the least I can do."

"I'll ask Nick, I'd like that."

"Okay, I'll pick you up at three, and we'll get Nicky and go eat breakfast. My treat."

He nodded. " That'd rock."

CWCWCWCWCWCW

Nick Stokes sighed.

"What the hell are we going to do when we get there?" He asked. "We know absolutely nothing about this guy, other than he was married to Cath. Do we just go in and steal Lindsey back?" An angelic smile pulled the corners of Warrick's mouth.

"No we don't." Warrick allowed. If Nick hadn't known better, he would have sworn he was talking to Grissom.

"And do we know what we do?" Nick pried. Warrick's smile grew.

"Yes, we do."

"And what would that be?" Nick asked, exasperated. Warrick pulled a piece of paper out of his carry-on (his field kit).

"We get a sample of our suspect's hand writing." He said after handing the paper to Nick. His smile, if possible, grew. "And dust it for prints." Nick smiled; always give a suspect the option of cooperating. He had a hunch, however, this suspect would be a door number two type.

CWCWCWCWCWCW

"Nicky!" Nick's 17- year-old sister ran up to him. He'd called his parents, letting them know he'd be in town. They had, apparently, taken that to mean they were to pick him up at the airport. He gave the 5'3" hazel-eyed, brunette a hug. She was, after all, his little sis.

"Mom. Dad. You didn't have to pick us up." He said giving his parent's a hug each.

"Us?" His dad asked, confused.

"Warrick Brown, Mr. Stokes. I'm a colleague of Nick's. We're actually here on an unofficial business trip."

"I see. You'll have to explain over lunch, assuming you're like my son and always hungry."

"Oh, I don't think I'm that bad, Mr. Stokes, but right now happens to be one of those times when I am."

"Please, George." Nick's father said with a smile.

The purpose for their visit was indeed discussed over lunch at Chili's. Mrs. Stokes insisted on helping them in anyway possible, being a mother, after all. The rest of the day was spent relaxing and enjoying the hospitality of their hosts. Nick and Warrick, although guilty about relaxing when Catherine was most likely losing sleep (an accurate assumption as it turns out), reasoned that they couldn't really get much done anyway.

CWCWCWCWCWCW

Nick Stokes opened his eyes and smiled. God it was good to wake up to the smell of coffee. He got up, and threw on some jeans and a t-shirt. It was no later than 6 but Nick, used to Graveyard, was wide-awake. He walked downstairs, smiling when he saw who the other person up was.

"The two jet-lagged members of the household are the first two up. Could only be Graveyard workers." Warrick smiled.

"Help yourself to coffee and eggs. Still hot."

"God I wish I could stay for a while. I'm not anxious to go back to having to make my own breakfast."

"You need a girl," Warrick teased with a laugh.

"Who needs a girl?" asked Nick's mom, walking into the kitchen.

"Warrick, mom"

"Mrs. Stokes, your son forgets I have a girl." Warrick teased, unable to keep a straight face at the look of confusion on Nick's face. "And at the moment…" he checked his watch " … She's most likely driving Grissom up the wall." He cleared up for Nick. Though his words were teasing, his tone had a somber note to it. They were both aware that Catherine was counting on them and they'd have to skip the country if they couldn't bring Lindsey home. No pressure guys..

Nick, however, was not about to let that ruin his relaxing, albeit brief, visit with his family.

"Warrick forgets I have a girl." This caught Mrs. Stoke's attention. " And she is most likely the one whose hair Warrick's girl is in." Nick bragged, his posture clearly screaming "So there!"

Warrick raised his eyebrows.

"Does Sara know you talk about her like that?"

"Does Catherine?" Not much else was said as they finished their breakfast in peace. (Well, quiet anyway).

CWCWCWCWCWCW

Sara was indeed the one whose hair Catherine was in. The latter paced the locker room, having, with Sara's help, put a gang leader up for the homicide they had been working and having nothing left to do but wait. She opened her locker, pulled out her book, and sat down next to Sara, who was already reading. However, she couldn't sit still for long and with an exasperated sigh put the book back. "I'm going to take a walk" she said, giving Sara, who at this point was sick of dealing with Catherine, a mock glare when she muttered "Good". Leaving the locker room, Catherine ran a few options through her head, trying to decide what to do, where to go. She could go bug Grissom, but that probably wasn't the best idea in the world. After some time, she decided on bugging Greg who would, most likely, be too polite to say anything.

"Hey, Greg, got anything on the hair Lindsey pulled?"

"I've had something on that for 2 nights, where have you been?" He teased- not the best idea. Though, to give Greg credit, Catherine did smile.

"Ask Grissom, so?" She "hinted".

"Male"

"Which we got from the length." She sighed.

"Get me samples to compare it to and I'll do better." She nodded.

"Warrick and Nick are doing that now- they're in Dallas, Eddie's sister gave me an address for her 'dope-of-a-brother'" She added when Greg looked confused.

"I thought you weren't on this case." Greg teased again.

"Greg- you have got to know me better than that." She smiled.

"I do." He admitted, turning back to his work. Catherine, who, unlike some people she knew, could take a hint, turned to leave. But his voice stopped her. "Hey Cat?" She turned back.

"We'll find her." She decided to overlook the fact that he'd called her 'Cat'. "Thanks Greg."