Chapter 9

Warrick was going to stop in and see Star, but Nick was already in the room. He decided he didn't want to interrupt. He knew, even though his marriage was over, he didn't have any right to Star's affection. He only hoped she and Nick were really happy.

He stared at the floor as he made his way out of the hospital, not watching where he was going. He bumped shoulders with someone on his way out. He looked up; it was Grissom.

"Sorry, Gris," Warrick apologized.

"It's ok," Grissom replied. "I have some interesting news for you."

"Star didn't do," Warrick guessed.

Grissom was a little taken aback by his correct answer. "How did you know?"

Warrick let out a sigh and subconsciously pointed back into the hospital. "Tina's awake."

Grissom knew something must be extremely wrong because even he could pick up on it. Then he noticed Warrick's wedding band was missing. "Where's your wedding ring?"

Warrick looked towards his hand, and then slowly brought it down to his side. He shook his head. "I…it's over." Warrick knew he could confide in Grissom. "She was cheating on me."

"Oh," Grissom responded, not knowing what else to say. Then, in a rare act of humanity he offered, "Do you need a place to stay? I've got an extra bedroom."

Warrick was a little stunned by Grissom's suggestion. "That…that would be great." Then, he quickly added, "But only until I find my own place."

"I'll give you a call when I get off shift," Grissom told him, patting him on the shoulder.

"Ok," Warrick replied. "I'm going to get some of my things together."

Grissom nodded and Warrick left. He felt so dejected. At least he now knew where he was going to stay. But that didn't stop the pain that was growing in his heart.

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Star was resting, when there was a knock on her door. It had been a little while since her brother left, and assumed it was him. "Come in," she called without opening her eyes.

"I heard you were awake," Nick stated, startling Star.

She quickly opened her eyes and gave an awkward smile. "Nick, hi."

"How're you feeling?" Nick questioned.

"I'm doing alright. My head is still a little fuzzy and I don't remember everything about that night," she responded. "But I hear I helped Warrick's wife.

Nick nodded and then gave her a sly smile. "What do you remember?"

She let out a little giggle. She knew to what he was referring. "Well, I remember the irony of your phone ringing 'Keep Your Hands To Yourself' before we actually…um, yeah." She timidly looked down.

Nick's smile turned apologetic. "I'm so sorry about that. I hope—"

Star's face turned somber and she held up her hand to stop him. "It shouldn't have even begun. I'm glad we didn't…finish."

Nick's smile down turned. He didn't know how to respond.

Star continued, "Nick, you're a really great guy, but I…I'm in love with someone else."

The information finally clicked in Nick's head. "Warrick," he replied without realizing it.

Star was a little stunned. She hadn't thought her feelings were that transparent. "Yeah," she confirmed. "I never intended for us to go even as far as we did. But the way you kissed me…" She shook her head. "I'm glad we didn't actually…go all the way." She put her head in her hands and muttered, "Gees, I feel like I'm a stupid teenager."

Nick was disappointed, but understood. He had already doubted her feelings for him. He had had misgivings about their romantic interlude, however he had given in to his own desires. "It's…it's all right," he finally replied. "I had my own misgivings."

She looked up at him with tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Nick couldn't hide his disappointment any longer, but was still trying to be the nice guy. "It's ok," he said in barely above a whisper. "I'll let you get back to resting." He turned and left.

Star could feel the tears running down her cheeks. She was disappointed in herself. She never meant to hurt Nick, but apparently she still had. She had to give him credit; he was a complete gentleman about it. She cursed her own heart for wanting what she couldn't have.

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A few months later, Star was walking out of the courtroom. She had testified about what she remembered from the night of the attack. She still couldn't remember everything, but most of it had come back to her. There were some things that Tina had testified to that she was glad she didn't remember.

Across the lobby she saw Warrick from behind. She hadn't talked to him or seen him since the night they kissed. And she was in the dark in regards to his situation with Tina, as Warrick had asked Joe not to tell Star, and Joe agreed. She pondered going up and saying hi. She had even started walking in his direction.

As she drew closer, she saw that he was talking to Tina. Tina saw her and gave Star a dirty look. Star caught the look and turned back around. Once, when she was coming out of the office of the Assistant District Attorney, she had run into Tina and Tina had quite a few choice words for Star. Tina's last words were to stay away from her husband. Star couldn't help but wonder what else Tina might have said if Star hadn't helped her out.

Star, however, was not the only one to notice Tina's look. Warrick had seen the quick change in Tina's demeanor and turned to see what had caused it. He spotted a familiar chestnut ponytail bobbing as it made its way out of the lobby.

"Just call my lawyer," Warrick told Tina, cutting her off. He hadn't been listening to her anyway. He hurried away, trying to catch up with Star.

As she walked across the lobby, Star kept turning Tina's words over in her mind. She hadn't done anything wrong and Warrick had been a good friend. She didn't understand why she was such a threat to Tina. She had almost made it to the door when she decided she was going to say hi to Warrick. She paused before turning back around and had second thoughts. She worried she'd been idealizing him too much over the last months.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and heard a familiar voice, "Star."

Star tried to keep her smile from getting too wide as she turned to face him. "Warrick, it's been a while."

"Yeah, it has. How're you?" he replied.

"I've been doing alright, just teaching and playing," she responded. "You?"

He looked over his shoulder towards where Tina had been standing and then back at her. "I've been…surviving. I've been working a lot."

"Doesn't leave much time for anyone else," she stated.

"There is no one else," Warrick told her.

She raised a questioning eyebrow. "What—what happened?"

"I'm getting divorced."

She frowned. "I'm sorry. I feel so guilty."

"It wasn't you," he assured her. "She was cheating on me before I even met you."

She put a hand on his arm. "Oh Warrick, that's awful." She hesitantly hugged him.

He welcomed the affection. He'd been on his own for a number of months now and hadn't been hugged for a while. "Thanks." He paused and pulled away a little. "I was wondering if maybe you wanted to write together again."

She smiled again. "I'd really like that. What're you doing right now?"

He once again returned her smile. "I believe I'm spending the rest of the day with you."

She slid her hand into his and they left to make some music together.