The Long Road

Chapter 9

Catherine closed her phone slowly and flopped back against the pillow. Feeling Warrick's gaze, she turned her head to look at him.

"I have to go."

"So I heard," he said quietly before moving in to place a kiss on the corner of her mouth. "What did she say?"

"Aside from letting me know I was busted? She told me to ask you to have dinner with us." Catherine paused for a moment before adding, "Do you want to? Have dinner? With us?"

Chuckling at her apparent nerves, he said, "Well, if you can't stay here then I'll have to go with you."

"Good. That's good." Sitting up, she swung her legs off the side of the bed, wincing at the tenderness between her thighs.

"You okay?" His voice was filled with concern.

Throwing a grin over her shoulder, she said, "I've never been better. Trust me." She stood and padded around to gather up her clothes before heading into the bathroom. When she emerged a few minutes later she was dressed.

Warrick had pulled on his pants and was sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for her. "What time should I pick you guys up?"

"You don't have to go to any trouble. We can just meet you somewhere."

"Cath, if we're going to do this we're going to do it right. What time should I pick you up?" His eyes were steady on hers as he tried to catalogue the emotions flickering across her face.

With a shrug, she capitulated. "How about six-thirty? Then you can get a nap in before work."

"That'll be good. I don't seem to have gotten much sleep today." When she blushed and averted her eyes, he held out a hand and said, "Come here."

She went reluctantly. "You know Lindsay's waiting. And I need a shower and you have to get dress…"

He placed his finger over her lips, silencing her protests. "Shush. It's just one little kiss." And then he kissed her; a slow, languid dance of lips and tongues. He released her and watched as her eyes fluttered open. "Now that wasn't so bad was it?" he teased.

Licking her lips, tasting him all over again, she shook her head. "Walk me out?"

"Sure." Standing, he pulled her up to stand beside him. "Don't forget your purse."

Seeing that he had gathered up all her things and put them inside, she said, "Thanks. You didn't have to do that."

"Actually, I was looking for another condom." He teased, smiling as her eyes widened in shock. "I'm kidding. Let's go before I have to fight you off," he teased, laughing when she shoved his shoulder in mock outrage.

Catherine drove home vacillating between nervousness and elation. If she hadn't been in trouble before she definitely was now. Admitting that he had hurt her, that he had the power to do that, was one of the hardest things she'd ever done. Eddie had made sure that the walls around her heart were ten feet tall and bullet proof. How had this man managed to get through? And then there was the sex. First times, by definition, were awkward and not always satisfying. But this had been off the charts good.

Lindsay met her at the door with a grin. "Where's Warrick?"

"Hi mom. How's it going?" Catherine deadpanned.

"Okay. Hi mom. How's it going?" Lindsay parroted. "Where's Warrick?"

Laughing at her daughter, Catherine said, "He's picking us up at six-thirty."

"Yesss," Lindsay cheered. "So, is everything good with you two?"

"We're taking it one step at a time, Linds. That's all I can do." When Lindsay looked disappointed she added, "Don't worry. It's all good."

With a nod, Lindsay said, "Cool. Now, for the important question."

"What's that?"

"What are you going to wear?"

"Oh God, I haven't even thought about it." Catherine's eyes showed a hint of panic. "Why don't you pick something out while I get a shower?"

"Not a problem. Just leave everything to me," Lindsay said, hurrying down the hall toward her mother's room.

With a smile and a roll of her eyes, Catherine followed.

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They decided on Jesse's Pizza since it was close to Catherine's house and the food and service were good. They spent the entire meal joking and laughing, with Lindsay and Warrick once again doing most of the talking. Lindsay had inherited her mother's sharp wit and she honed it on Warrick. At some point Catherine realized that she was relaxed. As she watched the interaction she felt a little lighter, better than she had in years. When Warrick caught her eye and raised an eyebrow in a silent question she shook her head and gave him a reassuring smile.

They were seated in a high backed booth that afforded them a modicum of privacy. That is why Warrick had no qualms about stealing a kiss from Catherine when Lindsay excused herself to go to the restroom. What was intended to be a chaste meeting of lips morphed into a blistering exchange. The two were unaware of their surroundings until a throat being cleared caught their attention.

"Okay," Lindsay stated, rolling her eyes for effect, "we have to have some rules."

Catherine, who had buried her face in Warrick's shoulder, looked up and asked, "We need rules? What kind of rules?"

Sliding into the other side of the booth, the teen replied, "I'm no idiot. I know that you guys are gonna…well, you know...but no PDA's. At least not like that. What if my friends saw you?"

"Sorry," Catherine said, doing her best to look chastised. "Won't happen again."

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," came a voice that dripped with disdain and had all three spinning to look for the source.

"Tina," Warrick said, "what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing but that answer is obvious," she gritted out while shooting daggers at Catherine with her eyes.

"Well, don't let us upset your evening. We were just leaving." Warrick slid out of the booth forcing Tina to back up a few steps. He held out a hand and helped Catherine to stand up, pulling her close to his side. "Excuse us and we'll get out of your way."

Catherine motioned Lindsay to precede them and the trio started for the door.

"I hope you're happy, bitch," Tina muttered as they turned away.

"Lindsay, go wait by the door, please." When Lindsay opened her mouth to argue, Catherine said, "Not now. We'll be right out." When the three adults were standing alone, she turned to Tina and said, "I have to assume you were talking to me."

Warrick grabbed Catherine's arm and said, "Let's go. Don't let her get to you."

Catherine shook off his hand, saying, "I'm fine. I just want to know why she thinks I'm a bitch." Calmly she turned to Tina and said, in a voice that was like ice, "Now please explain yourself."

"You managed to ruin my marriage. I could never compete with the wonderful Catherine Willows. I just hope you're happy." Tina's eyes blazed and her voice shook, even though she spoke in a whisper.

"Tina, you know that's not true," Warrick said, running his hand over his mouth in frustration.

"And you," she whirled on him, "you never loved me. It was always about her. Well, you know what? She can have you because you were never good enough for me anyway." With that, she turned on her heel and left them standing in the middle of the restaurant while people at nearby tables stared.

With a weary sigh, Warrick said, "Come on. Let's get out of here."

Wordlessly, they made their way to the door where Lindsay was waiting. As soon as they were in the car Lindsay began asking questions but, when no answers were forthcoming, she soon quieted down. The rest of the short drive was spent in silence.

Pulling the car into the driveway, Warrick put it in park and said, "I'm really sorry about that. I hate that she messed up our night."

"Lindsay, go on in the house. I'll be right in," Catherine said.

"But mom…" The look that Catherine shot over her shoulder seemed to freeze the words in her daughter's throat. "Um…thanks Warrick. I had fun." She climbed out of the car and hurried into the house.

"Is it true?" Catherine asked. Warrick turned to look at her, his eyebrows drawn together in a silent question. "Did I ruin your marriage?"

Leaning his head back against the seat, eyes closed and hands gripping the steering so hard that his knuckles turned white, Warrick blew out a hard sigh of frustration. "Cath, I don't know."

"How can you not know? Either you divorced because of me or you didn't." Catherine stated. "Tell me the truth. That's all I want."

"You want the truth? Okay. Here goes." Warrick turned to face her, his eyes seeming to glow in the dim light in the car. "I love you. I have loved you for a very long time. Before Tina, during Tina, after Tina. Did I try as hard as I could have? I don't know. But I know that I would rather be right here than anywhere else on this planet. I would rather fight with you than laugh with her. It's always been that way and I guess it always will."

For a long moment Catherine studied his face. Finally she reached over and opened her door, climbing out of the car. Warrick's chin dropped to his chest, his eyes closed in defeat only to spring open when she said, "Are you coming in or are you gonna sit out here all night?"