Warning Signs Chapter 3, a csi fanfic

A/N: While the team are working on a double homicide, Nick's girlfriend makes an appearance and an incident takes place. Kinda casefic.

Story Notes: Set around Season 9.

- CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION -

Catherine arrived at the hospital as she'd gotten the message. Something wasn't right and she had to know what it was. As she was led to her CSI's room, she saw Riley laying there with a bandage around her head. "How bad is it?" "Second degree burns to the back and the arms, head trauma.. she might have trouble remembering certain things for a while until they come back to her. She's regained consciousness." The supervisor out her hands to her hips and sighed. That wasn't good. She needed her CSI. Riley was a valid part of the team, and even though they'd had their differences, she still respected her team member and colleague.

"Can I speak to her?"

"Sure. She can't speak yet, but there's a notepad on the side."

The older woman nodded to the doctor, before she slowly pushed the door open and entered the room. Riley saw her supervisor enter and merely waved to CSI Willows. Catherine smiled to her CSI and stood beside her hospital bed. "Hey Riley. You feeling any better?" The blonde reached for the notepad and pen, then began writing. She turned around the pad and it read 'Yeah but my head still hurts pretty badly' in block writing.

"Do you remember seeing anything on the bomb when you opened the truck?"

The firearms expert began writing again. On the page was a much long explanation that took her five minutes to write out:

'When I opened the trunk, I saw the bomb. There was a watch attached to it, set to four o'clock. The timer was counting down from 30 seconds. I saw an empty paintbucket but didn't have time to look inside it. From how it sounded, it sounded like there was a gun inside.. maybe a revolver?'

Adams handed her the piece of paper she wrote on, exhaling softly. She hoped Greg wasn't too hurt, she'd tried to expose herself to most of the damage in hope of sparing him from anything too harmful. "Thank you Riley. I'm going to go see Greg now.. but Nick will stop by later."

'Will you tell me if he's okay?'

Catherine watched as she wrote and smiled. "He's got a concussion and a few cuts.. but he's good."

'I tried to make sure I took most of the damage. The evidence should be in two labelled boxes.'

"We got it. I'll come by later and update you on the case."

'Thank you.'

The supervisor nodded to her firearms expert. Riley had finally accepted the change in supervisor. She'd realised how much Catherine cared about her team and how good of a leader she was. Adams hadn't doubted it, she just had never been too prone to change. But when she heard all the voices around her, she knew that they cared. Even if she was the newbie. And honestly.. she didn't mind Catherine at all. It was awfully kind of her to come and see her when she could be leading the case, and the investigation into the explosion too.

"You rest now, Adams."

"Will do." She croaked, a small smile coming to her face.

Back at the lab, Greg was sat on the couch with a glass of water and fresh bandaging over the cuts and slight burns watching the news on TV about a trial for a killer the team had put away a few weeks ago. He didn't know how Riley was doing and the guilt of allowing her to take so much damage was getting to him. But she would be okay. He knew she was strong, and kept him strong when he didn't know how to be. That's how they'd gotten to be such close friends already. They understood one another in a way that neither could've really imagined.

"Hey Greggo, how are ya holdin' up?" Nick asked as he entered the break room.

Greg gave a forced laugh. "Bored."

The Texan chuckled, pouring himself his second cup of coffee. "Riley gave us a lead." The DNA expert sat up as soon as he heard the mention of Riley. "How's she holding up?" His concern seemed to be rising the longer he'd not seen her. At the hospital, he'd gotten treated and was sent home. Home, as in, back to work. He figured that he might as well help out in the case best he could.

"She's shaken up, but she's alive. Wrote you a note that she handed to Catherine." The older CSI walked over to the couch and plopped himself beside the younger man, handing him the folded piece of paper. Greg merely smiled, taking the paper from Stokes and reading it himself. Hearing from her was something to calm his nerves. As he was her partner, he partially felt responsible. He was supposed to be looking out for his new teammate, not the other way around.

It read: 'Hey hairpuller! Cat told me you'd been a little antsy and I wanted to let you know that the surgery went well and they stopped the bleeding. Recovery isn't going to be hard, even with these slight burns. I tried to make sure that I protected you (and the evidence) at all costs. Not your fault :) - Charlie'

Adams never usually signed off using her full name. Not unless it was for work purposes or something serious. Even the little smiley face she'd drawn brightened up his mood. They still needed to find out who rigged that explosive, but with Riley's pictures and her statement, it could bring them even closer in their investigation.

"Nick! I've reconstructed the bomb." Ray said as he popped his head in briefly.

"Ok, I'll be right there. Sit tight Greggo and I'll get you the file afterwards."

Nick finished off his coffee and chucked the cup into the bin, making his way out with Langston to the lab he'd been working in. If they could get anything off of the reconstruction, it would be a big help and could get them closer to finding the culprit, as well as possibly the murderer.