Grissom found Catherine towards the end of shift. In the morgue, she was pestering Doc. Ribbons.

"Hey Cath, you may as well take tomorrow night off, get some sleep, do what ever you need to do around the house."

Looking at him as if she'd seen a ghost, she replied simply, "Yeah, okay, but just to let you know I plan on taking a few nights off when Lindsey gets home." He nodded, glad that she hadn't mentioned the argument they'd had when he'd refused to let her go to Dallas. If she's not gonna bring it up, I'm not he thought as he turned to go. She followed him.

"Gil?" he said nothing but turned to look at her, a signal to continue. "I'm sorry about yesterday. Like I said I'm on a short fuse." She said apologetically. He nodded.

"It's okay."

She nodded. They walked together in peace until Grissom turned into his office and Catherine continued towards the locker room to grab her things and head home.

CWCWCWCWCWCW

Back in Texas, Warrick and Nick had packed coffee and hopped into the car. They were now in search of 45 Lake St. Since they had a local who knew his way around, it didn't take long.

"This is it. Ready to go get Lindsey?" said local asked Warrick. He didn't say anything, but let his expression scream Try and Stop me. Getting out of the car they calmly walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. They got the shock of a lifetime when a familiar 4'3" blonde opened the door. She seemed scared but otherwise unharmed.

"Hello young lady, is your mommy or daddy home?" Warrick asked, kneeling down so she could see Nick behind him who had his finger to his lips in the universal language for 'Shhh…'.

She nodded meekly; she was defiantly scared, and opened the door wider.

"Who is it, Sweet…" asked a 6'2" dark- haired man, walking in to the room. He trailed off when he saw them, obviously confused (or at least playing confused).

"I don't know daddy." Lindsey muttered, having gotten Nick's message.

"I know, why don't you go play in your room?"

"But, I don't…"

"Go play in your room. Now." He said a little too firmly. She reluctantly obeyed.

"Sir I'm Timmy Loper, and this is Jerome Finney, we're crime scene investigators. Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?" Nick asked, extending his hand.

"Actually sir, I'd also like to ask your daughter a few questions." Warrick stated. Nick shot him a look that begged Are you crazy? Warrick simply smiled angelically and added, "It won't take long."

"You can ask me anything you like, but I'm going to have to ask you not to bother my daughter."

Warrick sighed but said, "Okay, just thought I'd try."

Sitting down, Eddie was the first to speak.

"You know something funny." He paused. "My Ex- wife's a CSI. In Vegas. Maybe you know her, Catherine Willows?" Nick shook his head, Warrick nodded.

"Met her at one of the conferences I went to. Seemed kind of nice." Warrick explained. Nick had to stop himself from rolling his eyes.

"A royal pain in the behind actually," Eddie muttered, and Warrick had to stop himself from cracking up.

"Sir, do you know a Herman Lester?" Nick asked, starting a pointless and completely fictional interrogation. After a few minutes Warrick interrupted.

"Sir do you mind if I use your bathroom quickly?" he asked, earning another glare from Nick. Eddie thought about a minute, and then nodded.

"Second door on the right." He said. Warrick started down the hall. Looking back in to the living room to make sure Eddie wasn't looking, He slipped in to the door across from the bathroom.

"Uncle Warrick! Daddy came and took me… and …and." Lindsey started.

"Shh…I know, look sweetie, Me and Uncle Nick can't take you home now, we have to get what's called an arrest warrant. Do you know what that is?" He asked, keeping his voice low. She nodded, her shoulders dropping.

"It's a piece of paper that you need before you can arrest somebody." following his lead and keeping her voice low. She's her mother's daughter alright, Warrick thought smiling. It was his turn to nod.

"Exactly. I have to get back, I told your father I was in the bathroom, I just wanted to tell you why we weren't taking you with us." He explained hugging the little girl tightly.

"Is Mommy here?"

"No, Gris doesn't want her to make a mistake in her rush to get you home. You want me to tell her something when I call her tonight?"

"Tell her I want to be home and to not feel bad. I only told Sam about Justin cause she told me about this boy on the bus who bugs her."

Warrick didn't know what that was about, but he nodded.

"I almost forgot. She says she loves you and is very proud of you for fighting your dad."

He went to the door listening to make sure that Nick and Eddie were talking. They were and he quietly opened the door and slipped out. Coming in to the living room, he saw that Nick was getting Eddie's writing sample, and already had in his hand the DNA swab and the fingerprints.

"We're almost ready to go" Nick stated.

"Any more?" Eddie asked.

"Just one: Laura." Eddie shot him a questioning look. "Laura was Herman's wife's name. She was kidnapped for ransom." They could tell Eddie was suspicious but he wrote it down anyway before handing the paper over to Nick.

"Thank you sir, this will clear up the confusion that has apparently occurred and you will be able to get on with your life."

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

Warrick and Nick exchanged glances that clearly said Is this guy really this dumb, but they sbit their tongues. As they climbed into the car, they couldn't take it any more. They both looked at each other and burst into laughter.

CWCWCWCWCWCW

As they were driving back to Nick's, Warrick thought of something and pulled out his cell phone hitting number two on speed dial, Grissom was number one.

"Catherine Willows" said a familiar, sleepy, voice.

"Hey Cath, What's up?"

"No, what's up there?" The voice was now wide-awake.

"Nothing much, but I can tell you what's going down, or rather who." Warrick teased. Nick just shook his head.

"Come on War." The voice said, exasperated. "I'm too tired for this. Give."

"Alright, alright. Gesh, can't a guy have any fun?" Warrick teased, in mock exasperation.

"Warrick!"

"Fine, We got Eddie's prints, DNA, and handwriting."

"You talked to Eddie? Did you see Linds? Is she okay? Do you have her?…" Catherine rattled, not once stopping for breath.

"One question at a time. Yes, we talked to Eddie. Yes, we saw your daughter. Yes she is fine, but no we do not have her. You know as well as I do that we need more to go on before we do that."

"I know. Thanks for keeping me in the loop." She said, ready to hang up.

"Wait, Cath. I need a favor. Have Gil call the Dallas Lab; tell them we need their laboratory. Have Greg fax the fingerprints and the DNA printout to them ASAP."

"Will do."

"Oh, and Lindsey says she only told Sam about Justin because Sam told her something about this kid on the bus who was bugging her, so don't feel bad. I don't know what that means, but that's what she said, besides she loves you too." Nick at this point had rewarded Warrick with another glare, who'd mouthed 'in a sec.'. There was an obvious catch in Catherine's voice when she said "Thanks War. That's something I needed to know… It's amazing how well she reads my moods." She added, more to herself then to Warrick.

"Bye Cath."

"Bye."

Warrick hung up. When he remained silent, Nick asked "Well?".

He replied simply, "You honestly believed I needed to use the bathroom?" Nick was silent. He hadn't.

CWCWCWCWCWCW

When they got to Nick's parent's house, they had a message wanting for them.

"The Dallas PD, Criminalistics Unit called. They're glad they can be of help to the number two Crime Lab in the country."

"Thanks Lauren. Tell Mom and Dad not to wait up for us." Nick said, giving his sister a kiss on the head as he did a u-turn and headed out the door trailing Warrick, who was already half way across the yard. When the arrived at the lab, they were immediately directed to the office of Dallas's version of Ecklie, only nicer. "You must be the guys from Vegas. Peter Aaron, dayshift supervisor here in Dallas. Now what specifically can I do for you two?"

"I'm Nick Stokes, this is Warrick Brown, We're sorry for any inconviences it may cause, but we'd like to use your DNA lab."

"Not a problem. Be good for my guys and girl to see some real CSIs at work." Warrick smiled.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Aaron. How quickly can we get to work?" He asked.

"You show me, and it's Peter." Warrick was starting to like this guy. He followed Nick out the door, field kit containing the letter to Catherine, and samples from Eddie, in hand. Quickly, they got to work.

CWCWCWCWCWCW

With in a half an hour, Dallas's Jaqui had matched the fingerprints Greg had faxed to Eddie's and the QD lab had matched the handwriting. Going in search of Peter, they found him in what looked like the break room.

"Can we find a judge who'll give us a search warrant?" Warrick asked once they'd told him what they'd found. He knew the answer though.

"No." He confirmed. "But Heidi Baker will give Becky here one. Becky, overtime?" He asked a red head who had walked in on their conversation

"The story of my life, why not. What gives?" She asked. Warrick was sure he'd like her too.

"This nice fellows have themselves a problem. They have enough evidence to get an arrest, but they're not in their jurisdiction."

"Rebecca Hathaway. You can call me Becky." She said extending her hand.

"Warrick Brown, That's Nick Stokes. We're from Vegas."

"So you're the ones that took our lab hostage. Stokes? Do I know your family?" She asked, more to herself.

"George and Patty. Lauren's 17." Nick offered.

"I do, Lauren watches my 5-year-old, Nicole."

"So you're a working mother. Then you may just help us." Warrick started, explaining more in depth their situation.

"That I will. Let's go get that warrant," Becky said with a certain determination in her voice that reminded Warrick of Catherine.

CWCWCWCWCWCW

An hour later, the three CSIs stood, once again, on the doorstep of 45 Lake St. This time Eddie answered.

"Oh, it's you again, I thought you got everything you wanted before."

"Actually we needed an arrest warrant. This is our colleague Rebecca Hathaway. May we come in?" Becky looked confused but want along with it. Eddie thought about it, came to the accurate conclusion that he had no choice, and opened the door wider, letting them in.

"I'll go get Lindsey, you two can fill him in," Warrick took over. The other two nodded their agreement. Warrick heard Eddie demand to know "What's going on?", as he headed towards the room Eddie'd set up as 'Lindsey's'

"Did you get the arrest warrant?" Lindsey asked quietly, not looking up from the dolls she was playing with. Warrick smiled.

"We sure did sweetie. Your mommy says she misses you lots." Lindsey turned toward him, and he could have sworn his heart broke.

"I miss her, too. And, Sammy, and… and…Auntie Laura…" Lindsey said tears coming to her eyes. Warrick pulled her to him, smoothing her hair as she cried.

"Shh…Baby, shh…" After surprisingly short time, she pulled away.

"My Daddy's a bad man. He hits me Uncle Warrick. See?" She said matter of factly, showing him a horrible bruise on her back.

"Honey, you're coming with us now. You're safe. We need to have you examined by a doctor, but there's no way you're not going home to your mom," he assured her, anger racing through his veins. Taking her into the living room Warrick told Eddie, "Mr. Willows, we're going to have to take your daughter in to be examined by a doctor to be sure, but I can promise you she won't be in your custody any longer if it's the last thing I do."

"WHAT!" He exclaimed. "I assure you, she's perfectly healthy."

"Except for the bruises she has on her back. Right Lindsey?"

Eddie must have missed the fact that Warrick knew her name, because he immediately knelt down in front of Lindsey, every inch the concerned father.

"Bruises? Honey, who did this to you?" Lindsey looked at Warrick. He reached down and picked up her hand, giving her the support she seeked.

"You" She said, a surprising amount of venom in her voice.

"Honey, don't lie. Who ever…"

"I'm not lying for you anymore. I don't have to. I'm going back home to Mommy," interrupted Lindsey. With Warrick holding her hand she could do anything.

"I said don't lie!" He said through clenched teeth. Raising his hand, he prepared to hit her.

"I would warn you not to do that." Becky said, grabbing his wrist, the venom in her voice rivaling Lindsey's own. Eddie relaxed, perhaps because he knew he was caught, perhaps because he could think of nothing better to do. Whatever the reason, Becky sensed it and let go. Quick as lighting he raised his hand again. However quick he was, he was not quick enough for Becky. In the blink of an eye, she had out smarted him and had him down on the floor. However, he was strong and she was not. "Take him." She told Nick, who had at this point come into the living room. Getting her gun out and handing it to Nick, she pulled out her cell. Warrick had, at this point gotten in between Eddie and Lindsey, who was obviously shaken. Within minutes, a uniformed cop had been let in by Becky and was handcuffing Eddie. Becky sighed and shook her head. "Lindsey, go get your things. We're getting you out of here." Lindsey smiled at her and obeyed, helped by Warrick.

CWCWCWCWCWCW

As they climbed in to the car, Warrick thought of something he needed to do and pulled out his cell phone.

"Willows"

"Hello, Cath. I have someone here who would like to talk to you." He said winking at Lindsey before handing her the phone. Before Catherine could work out what was going on, a fimiliar voice was on the phone. The pain in her daughter's voice was almost more than she could bear.

"Mommy! Daddy hit me… and… and he… killed Auntie Laura, mommy, he killed Auntie Laura…" She said in between sobs. However pained Catherine was, she was still the mother.

"Shh… Baby… I know. Shhh…You're safe now honey. You're safe with Uncle Warrick and Uncle Nicky…" she soothed her daughter.

"And Becky," Lindsey said, offering the CSI, who was holding her and soothing her hair, a weak smile.

"Who?"

"She's a SCI here, mommy."

"A Dallas CSI?" Catherine corrected.

Lindsey nodded, and then realizing her mother couldn't see her, said, "Yeah. She's nice, I like her." That earned her a smile from the woman, who now had her arms around Lindsey.

"Cool. Can I talk to Uncle Warrick again." Catherine was glad her daughter had a female watching out for her.

"Okay Mommy."

"Love you lots and lots Babe."

"Love you too mommy."

"…We lock him up, We lock him up good. We make sure he never gets out. No, You know what, we skip that and just knock his brains out…" Catherine was ranting when Warrick put the phone to his ear again. He laughed.

"No, we settle for locking him up Cath." Becky laughed.

"Okay, I guess that would be the best idea, wouldn't it?" Catherine said reluctantly.

"Yeah you think?"

"How'd you get Linds?"

"She told you herself. He was hitting her."

"I'll show him hitting," Catherine seethed.

"Be my guest. First we have to bring him to Vegas. Which, by the way, we should be able to do soon. Just waiting for the DNA match."

"Good, tell it to hurry up."

"You'll have your daughter back in at least a day or so. Likely two."

"Not soon enough." Becky and Catherine muttered at the same time.