DISCLAIMER:Don't own it... No money made... Just for fun and enjoyment.
SUMMARY: Sequel to Displacement. The CSI team and their recently hired coroner Stephanie are back to work solving cases, sharing companionship and generally making their way through the dire world of criminal investigation with humor and friendship... This one will show the development of the relationship between Grissom and Sara and there should be some other surprises down the road as well. Romance/Drama/Angst/Mature Situations
RATING: M for Mature - I'm starting this one out at "M", since we won't be waiting quite so long for the smut this time out ;) Also, there is a sprinkling of language throughout the story.
A/N: I'm curious, does it still count for the ratings if the swearing is done with your hands? ;) Show of hands... Who was ready to string me up before that last chapter :D
REVIEWS: I am always looking for ways to improve my writing, and your reviews let me know if I am hitting my mark. Thank you in advance for the time you take to read & review this story.
Chapter 46
The noise was beginning to get under her skin. It sounded like death and disease, and with every ragged and strained breath Catherine felt more and more like she was going to lose it. She smiled timidly over at the bed and the people surrounding it. Stephanie's mother nodded and showed the woman that she understood her need to leave.
As she walked down the corridor, she could still hear the violent, sputtering and choking coughs coming from the room. Catherine knew the coughing was necessary, but she could not shake the feelings of dread that filled her with each strangled breath.
As she rounded the corner in the hallway, she was grateful for the loud voices drowning out the coughing from the other side. As she got closer to the source of the voices, there was something familiar about one of them. When she finally reached the two people arguing with one another, she realized why.
There in the center of the corridor were Warrick and a woman she could only assume was Tina, and they were generating a great deal of attention with their voices. Two security guards walked up to them just as Catherine caught sight of the scene. She did not want Warrick to get into trouble, so she stepped up into the fray, in order to drag him away, before the guards tossed him from the place. However, she was not prepared for the result of that simple act.
Catherine caught the back of his elbow in her grasp and swung around to face him in an attempt to get the man's attention. "Warrick, come on." Warrick's face was filled with fury and frustration, but seeing Catherine did seem to diffuse his anger.
The next words she heard were pure venom, "That's right! Get outta here with that skank hoe!"
"Don't even go there, you lying bitch!" Warrick's anger returned with twice the rage, and Catherine was startled to see him in such a state. She kept her grip tight on his arm, but she was not able to budge him from his stance.
"Puh-lease! You got some nerve bein' here with that trash." The woman continued to spit her poison at the two, as the guards worked to restrain her.
"Warrick!" Catherine used every ounce of influence she might have had to get Warrick to back down, and walk away from the altercation. "Let's go, now!" He looked down into her eyes, and she knew her words had made an impact when he closed his eyes to show his shame. He nodded and she pushed him back away from the woman who was still being held at the arms by the security guards.
They walked through the corridor in silence until they reached the elevators. Catherine was the first to speak, "Where to?"
Warrick sighed, rubbed his hand over his forehead and threw his head back with his frustration, "Home… Wherever that is." He ran his hand down the side of his face and blew out a breath before continuing, "I gotta help cover the lab tonight, so Sara can stay with Griss, and if I don't get some sleep and take a shower, there's no way I'm gonna pull it off."
Catherine pushed the down button to call the elevator and kept her gaze from him, because she could tell he was still embarrassed by the scene she had witnessed. "Well, how are you getting there? 'Cause you're in no shape to drive."
He blew out another deep breath and shook his head, "I'll get a cab or somethin'."
The elevator doors opened and the two stepped in, both turning to lean against the back wall of the elevator. Catherine shook her head and said, "Don't be silly… I'll drop you off."
Warrick's face took on the look of a question mark and he asked, "And how're you gonna do that, with your car still at the lab?"
She shrugged as the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened for them to step off. "My sister and her husband brought it over last night, just in case. They had to get something out of it for Lindsey for school anyway."
Warrick stepped out of the elevator as he shook his head and almost chuckled, "I keep forgettin' just how good you are."
Catherine scrunched up her face and asked, "Wha'dya mean by that?"
"Nothin'… You just always seem to come out on top… Must be another one of them cat things."
She smiled at his remark and they walked out into the daylight. "Whatever… Let's get you home and then you can call me tonight to remind me to pick you up on my way to work… I'm covering for Grissom."
