A/N: I just want to warn you... this one is important. This chappie I mean.

Because we're working a double shift (for the now-serial case), I take a shower and changed into fresh clothes. Once again, for the second time today in fact, I hear Warrick arguing on his phone.

"Tina, what do you think is going through my mind?" he is seething so that I'm almost scared of him. "What's going through my mind is that you must be crazy to be apologizing to me when last night it was pretty clear you would rather leave me. So why are you sticking around? Aren't I just not good enough for you?"

I shut my locker quietly while it seems that Tina is talking. It snaps more loudly than I wish it would, and Warrick jumps at the noise.

"I have to go Tina," he says into the phone, looking bewildered at the sight of me. "Yeah... see ya at home. Bye." He shuts his cell and continues to look at me, but his eyes aren't hard and angry; they're as soft and gentle as they usually are.

"Sorry about that," I smile apologetically. I'm feeling really awkward, because it seems that every time Rick is having an argument, I show up. Or maybe it's just that I have bad luck when it comes to Rick. Well... Tina is definitely the root of my bad luck. She was the first part of it. He nods at my apology, sitting on the bench and resting his head in his hands.

He looks up agian, and frowns, "Why are we doing this Cath?" Shaking his head at himself, he stands and walks over to me.

I'm still a bit frightened and I look down. He lifts my chin with his hand, sending shivers up my spine. "I'm sorry Rick," I begin to cry silently.

"We're all a part of it," he answers back. "You, me, Tina, and her son-of-a-bitch ex-husband. I should have known from the start that this would happen."

"Rick, you trusted her," I respond. "She broke that trust, but it was her choice, not yours."

"No Cath! Don't you get it? I knew she still worked with him, I knew he still had feelings for her, I knew there was that possibility of an affair," he backs away, walks over to his open locker and slams it shut, angrily.

I calmly continue, "If you knew, why did you marry her? You love her. You're angry because your heart has been broken."

"Cath," he looks at me, with tears in his green eyes. "I don't think that's why I married her. I was lonely. But now I've realized that hasn't changed. I don't love Tina... she hasn't broken my heart." You have. I want him to speak those two little words. And maybe three other words...

"Rick, I'm afraid to help you." I sit beside him on the bench. Tearfully, I say, "I'm afraid to have my heart broken again. Please Rick." Now I'm begging. I just want the hurt to stop. I've carried it for so long. Lord, I plead, let me go. I don't want to feel this way anymore. It hurts too much.

"Cath," he whispers. I nod, and he says, "You don't deserve to have your heart broken. Cath... I don't want to hurt you. It hurts me to do this. I know how you feel... and I want so badly to tell you how I do... but I'm scared too." He looks at me, and I cringe, seeing that we've both hurt each other. I am not the only victim.

"If you can't say it," I whisper. "Then show me. No matter what, I won't hold it against you." He nods, and hesitates for a moment. But almost suddenly, his lips connect with mine. And in one split second, my emotions over the years catch up with me. I have wanted this for so long. Nothing I know has ever felt so right with a guy. Even when I loved Eddie, I didn't feel like this.

And after that moment, the kiss breaks off. Warrick and I both smile, despite the tears we have both shed. "Was that clear?" he asks. I laugh, and nod, exhausted from the crying and close-to-exploding emotions. I rest my head on his chest, and he wraps his arms around me.

We're still for a long while. All I want to do is remember this. I have learned to tell myself it won't happen. The self-lectures of the past are catching up to me, and I'm scared to see what will happen next.

Warrick seems to read my mind, as he says, "Now what?" He slowly breathes out into my hair. We're both, surprisingly, relaxed. "Cath... I don't know what we can do. I feel like a fucking coward because I've done this. But now, I'm telling you I'm scared, still. You have no idea how long I've wanted this. I've never wanted something so badly Cath... I love you." I answer him with a light kiss. I love you too.

"You know... no matter how many times I've been in a guy's arms, I've never felt safe. But every time you held me, and now, I feel protected." I smile, with tears in my eyes again. "I've wanted to be held all my life. Even since high school." I laugh a little and look into his eyes. "Seriously, I haven't felt like I've ever really been held."

"You've been the best fit in my arms. No woman has ever felt right. I thought Tina did... but I've been wrong about many things... women and criminals." He laughs this time.

I sit up, looking at eye-level with him, and say, "I know you're scared. I'm scared beyond belief."

"I know," he holds me again. "I know."

A/N: TBC in a sequel. I'll update when I pick the name and start it. Soon... I hope.