Author's Note : Sorry for the delay everyone. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews.
There are spoilers in here to The Finger, Down the Drain, Grave Danger and Bodies in Motion.
I'm not sure right now if there were be any other chapters to this. Tell me what you think? Please read and review as always.
As usual I don't own the characters or presume to own them. Alliance Atlantis, Jerry Bruckheimer, Anthony E. Zuiker, and CBS do. I'm just borrowing them and not making a profit on this.
Chapter 2 : Maybe a fantasy can come true
Catherine steps back stunned. She looks at Warrick. She didn't hear that right. She almost spills her glass of wine. Warrick catches the glass and places it on the piano top. Catherine feels his other hand behind her waist steading her weakened knees. He ended it tonight ? Did she hear that right ? She could feel his hand through her black pants as if imprinting a brand on her back. She feels a shot of electricity come between them. She looks into those green eyes. They were still one of his best features. She wasn't sure what to say. She licks her lips with her tongue. Catherine's mouth suddenly felt dry.
" Cath hey are you alright ? "
Catherine nods her head.
" Uh yeah. I'm fine. What did you say ? "
" Tina and I, we ended it tonight. "
" Oh...I'm sorry. "
Warrick questioned if that's really what Catherine felt or if she was just saying it. He knew that they were on shaky ground. They had been friends for so long and work but like Nick said it was worth fighting for if he loved her. He did. He just wanted to make sure that she felt the same way.
" Really..because it seemed. "
" Warrick look I explained that. I only want you to be happy. I'm sorry that I said anything."
" Are you really sorry ? "
Warrick pulled back from Catherine as she turned her back from him. She brings a hand up to her mouth. It didn't seem real. Should she take a chance and say how she really feels ? She had put it on the line and he had said nothing before. What if the same thing happened again? Could she deal with that rejection again. He just left his wife. Maybe it was because of another reason other than her. She could be reading the whole situation wrong. She needed to hold back her heart and wait.
She had been burned way too many times in the past. Catherine remembers back to finding Chris with the waitress in her office. It hurt so much. It was as if her heart had been torn out. It felt the same way when she found out that Warrick was married. She had to keep up the facade even though her heart was breaking on the inside.
They had been so close at the hospital when they had found Nick. She had needed a rock and he was there comforting her. She thought that they had made a connection again like that day before they were interrupted. She had planned on finally talking to him after the team found out that Nick was fine. She had come so close to losing Warrick. What if he had been in Nick's position? A stupid coin toss had saved Warrick. Catherine shuddered remembering when she heard Warrick talking about that. She had decided to finally tell him that she cared for him but she couldn't find him. Then she found out the next week that he had married his girlfriend. She didn't even know that Tina existed. It killed her inside when she saw that ring on his finger. She felt like such a fool. He was being kind to her like a friend nothing more.
Catherine swore she would never be hurt again. She tried to hide it and move on with the case. Warrick had sensed that something was bothering her. He pushed her about her reaction when they got back to the office. He had confronted her and she told him she was happy. He could tell that she wasn't. He was always able to do that. They were able to read each other so easily. It was as if nothing had to be said between them or at least that is what she thought until that night. He had pushed her and she admitted that she had dreamed about him as more than a friend. She finally told him her wish. Catherine realized right at that moment that everything had changed. He had said nothing to her. He looked surprised. She tried to cover what she had said but he understood. They finished that case and never talked about it again until tonight.
It was never the same again between them. She avoided him when he was at the office. They rarely talked unless it was about work. She rarely had dinner with the team anymore. She would always say that she had to go home and deal with Lindsey. It was true but it was also a way to leave the office. Catherine kept a wall between herself and Warrick. They were colleagues nothing more, nothing less. Now he wasn't married, did she dare hope again for a chance?
Now looking at him, she wondered if there was still a chance. Could she really have it all? No, those were just foolish dreams.
Warrick stood there wondering if he had made a fool of himself. Was he wrong did she actually feel something or not? He had to know one way or another. Warrick moved both of his hands up to her shoulders. Catherine could feel the warmth of his hands radiate through her body. He turned her around so she was facing him. She was too afraid to look up. Warrick put his finger under her chin and looked into her blue eyes as if trying to figure out if she was telling him the truth or lying. He could see her trying to process what he had just told her about Tina. He knew it was a shock. He took her hand and walked back over to the piano. They both sat down on the narrow piano bench so close yet so far away. There was an empty space between them. Catherine looks up and sees the glint of the gold ring sitting on the piano top. She still remembers seeing the ring on his finger and how hurt she felt. Now it was on the piano top and not on his hand. She looked between his hand and the piano top a couple of times. She looked at him.
" Warrick..."
" Cath..."
" I was just a little surprised I guess. I mean I remember seeing you the night before in the hospital sitting on the bench. Then the next week to hear that you had married...Tina. " Catherine had to force saying her name. She looked at the simple gold band on the top of the piano."So, what happened ?"
"I got scared after what happened to Nick. I mean life is too damn short you know. I just didn't want the rest of my life to be alone. I had been seeing Tina for a bit on and off. She had been questioning me if it was ever going to get serious. I always pushed it aside. I guess I was always waiting..." Warrick said looking at Catherine. He touched her hair lightly with his fingers. It felt like silk just as he imagined.
"What were you waiting for?" Catherine said quietly already knowing the answer.
"I was waiting for you, Cath. I just never knew how to say it. I always waited for the right moment. The moment never came. When Nicky was almost killed. When I was almost killed...I got scared. I made a huge mistake. I realized afterwards that I never really knew Tina at all. She said she could handle my work. I said I could handle her working with her ex husband. We were both wrong. The idea that everything was fine was o.k. when we weren't in the same room. But when we were it's like. Is this making any sense ? "
" Yeah. Eddie and I wanted the same thing for Lindsey. We wanted it to to work for her. We wanted her to have a stable home but in reality it was far from it. Eddie never really understood it either. He always grumbled that I never was home with Lindsey..."
Warrick touches Catherine's shoulder.
" Hey, you are a great mom. You do the best you can. "
" I like to think so. Sometimes I wonder if I'm missing Lindsey grow up. I guess that's why Eddie... "
" You're not defending him are you ? "
Warrick turned Catherine's face so he could look her in the eyes. Blue met green. Catherine looked at him. She could see the anger in his eyes when she mentioned Eddie. Warrick remembered after this one case it had turned out that Eddie had been stealing money from her. She was furious and confronted him and Eddie was scary to say the least. The way that he touched her. Warrick was furious. He had taken Lindsey away so she wouldn't see it happening but Warrick was able to see outside the window and see Eddie mauling Catherine. Grissom had come by and told Eddie to leave. Eddie eventually did but Warrick could see that Catherine was shaken.
" No. I just understand why I'm not saying that I agree with it but our marriage never really worked from the start. We had some great moments and thought that we could tough it out. We tried to make it work but we never really saw each other. If there had been something more there then maybe but in the end it was too hard. In the end we ended up hating each other which wasn't fair to Lindsey."
" Yeah,I didn't want that to happen. I mean,I could see Tina and I going down that path. I didn't want to head that way. We were constantly squabbling about my work, her work, her ex-husband...It got to the point that I didn't want to say anything. I knew what would happen. I thought well maybe if I take a bit longer and try to make it work but I realized that it wasn't real love. I cared about Tina but she wasn't the woman that I loved. So in the end when we broke up it really didn't hurt. It should have if there was something more there. It was more of a relief you know." Warrick said looking at Catherine. He could get lost in her eyes. He lightly touched his fingers through her hair. He hoped she understood what he was trying to say. He felt her stiff up then turn and look at him. She lightly touched his hand and smiled.
" Love is one of those iffy things you know. It's hard to describe when it happens or how you feel. Sometimes it can be beautiful and sometimes it'sjust not right." Catherine said sadly.
" Yeah, that's what I thought when I sawNick and Greg tonight at the hospital. The way they were around each other it was a wake up call you know. I couldn't think of any other word than love to describe it. They were so happy." Warrick said flashing back to seein Greg hugging Nick in the hospital room. There was such love and trust between them. He didn't have that with Tina. He always questioned when he saw her with Robert at work. He just couldn't trust her. He'd been burned in the past. Catherine had the same thing happen to her. Warrick realized that is why both of them never took a chance because it would be the biggest risk. Nick had been right at the hospital. If he took the risk, he would be happy. He just hoped that Catherine realized it as well.
" Nick and Greg seem to really care about each other. You don't seem surprised by them ? " Catherine said looking back at Warrick.
" I was don't get me wrong but it is what it is you know. Whatever makes you happy in this life. It's the first time in a long time that I've seen a calm over Nick like he doesn't have to hide his feelings. Hecan say what he feels. Even after everything. I think he's going to be o.k. after this. I really do." Warrick said with relief in his voice.
Catherine touched Warrick's face. She could see the guilt on his face flashing back to the coin toss. It had changed everything." It's not your fault about the coin toss. You do realize that. " She said with a stern voice. She turned his face so he was looking at her.
" Yeah but so easily that could have been me." Warrick said looking at her.
" I know. " Catherine said quietly.
Catherine turns away with tears in her eyes. Warrick touches her chin.
" Hey what is it ? Don't do that. Tell me what's wrong." Warrick said rubbing her cheek with his chin.
" It's when I realized that I nearly lost you...I realized like you are saying how short life is. I've been so chicken the last couple of months ever since that day unsure of how to tell you how I felt. I was planning on telling you that night at the hospital but I couldn't find you. " Catherine said with tears forming in her eyes. She looked at Warrick. She looked so vulnerable to him at that moment.
Warrick stroked her face with his hand. How their lives would have been different if she had found him. Instead Tina had found him standing outside of Nick's room that night.
" Yeah...I know. I wanted to tell you after that day in the drain pipe I kind of..." Warrick said smiling. He looked at Catherine. He remembered how it felt catching her after she fell into his arms. It felt so right and natural holding her there.
" You thought there was a moment there? That was the day that I realized..." Catherine said her voice barely a whisper. She smirked looking at him.
" Yeah, I kind of wondered what would have happened if we weren't interrupted? " Warrick said with an impish smile. Catherine couldn't help but smile and quietly laugh.
"I did as well." Catherine said looking at Warrick. She smiled looking at him.
" Well..." Warrick lightly touches Catherine's face. He moves a finger along her jawline. He looks at her face. Catherine looks into his deep green eyes. Warrick looks back into her blue eyes. Warrick lightly kisses Catherine's lips first nibbling at the bottom lip then licking it with his tongue. Warrick places a hand behind her head and deepens the kiss. A moan escapes Catherine. Warrick deepens the kiss. It felt natural having Catherine in his arms this way. It felt right. They kissed for a couple of moments not wanting to lose the moment.
When they stood up Catherine blushed. She lightly touched Warrick's face.
" So that's what I missed ? That guy had the worst timing." Catherine said smiling and laughing.
Warrick smiles and laughs.
" Cath, I've wanted to do that for so long. I've cared about you as more than a friend for a long time. I just never wanted to lose our friendship."
" I know. I..." Catherine opens her mouth about to say something when Warrick's cell phone rings. Warrick picks it up and looks at the call display. It was the lab.
" We can wait..What were you going to say ? "
" I know. I tried to tell you but..."
The phone rings again. Warrick groans and picks up his phone.
" Brown..Yeah o.k. I'll be there in a moment. Do I know where Catherine is ? "
Warrick looks at Catherine.
" I think she might be at home. I'll pick her up on the way there. See you in 10 minutes."
Catherine looks at Warrick.
" So what is it ? "
" Grissom wants us at the lab. He knows we both have the day off but he needs us in the lab. Something about the defense in the Jacobs case questioning some of our evidence. "
" O.k. so..."
Catherine gets up and looks at Warrick.
" Cath..."
" Yeah ? "
" We haven't finished our conversation by a long shot. It's just beginning. "
Warrick stands up and kisses Catherine againon the lips. Catherine smiles at him. Maybe a fantasy can come true. Catherine and Warrick walk out of the lounge hand in hand.
TBC?