Nancy and Catherine sit on the back patio and drink coffee discussing the events of the night.

Nancy says, "I can't believe Warrick started a fight with Mark because he thought he was cheating on you. Cath what does it feel like to have grown men fighting over you?"

Catherine rolls her eyes and responds, "Nancy it's not like that with Warrick. I'm sure any of the other guys on the team would have done that if they thought it was going on. When you're as close as I am to them you get over-protective at times."

Nancy asks, "Is that how Mark feels about it? I imagine he's pretty pissed at Warrick. Having your boyfriend and your best friend in a tiff is not going to be easy on your relationship."

Catherine shakes her head and says, "Nancy Mark forgave him in the interrogation room, I told you that."

Nancy asks, "What do you think about Sara coming out?"

Catherine shrugs and replies, "It makes sense now that I think about it."

About that time Mark comes out and says, "Good morning Nancy." He takes a sit next to Catherine.

Catherine looks up and asks, "What happened to the beard?"

Mark rubs his now smooth chin and replies, "Well since I have this nice cut on my cheek I figured it would be easier to clean it with my scruff gone. What do you think?"

Catherine caresses Mark's cheek and responds, "I like it, but I also like your beard."

Nancy says to Mark, "I heard you had quite an interesting night."

Mark smiles and says, "Teach you to go to bed early!"

Catherine's phone goes off and its Grissom she answers it, "Hello Gris."

Grissom says, "Hey I didn't wake you did I?"

Catherine says, "No I'm sitting on the patio talking with Nancy and Mark. What's up?"

Grissom says, "Well I've put Warrick on lab duty for a week as part of his disciplinary action, but I need you to come in tonight and not be on call since Warrick will be unable to work in the field. Do you think Mark is ready to come back?"

Catherine says, "Yeah he's been getting antsy. I'll have him come in with me tonight. See you then."

Nancy says, "Well if you two have to work tonight I will leave and let you all get some rest since I know you didn't get any last night." Nancy goes into the house to collect her things and leaves.

Catherine says, "I told Gris you could work, I hope that's ok."

Mark nods and says, "Yeah I'm not good at this sitting around the house. I take it this has something to with Warrick's disciplinary action?"

Catherine nods and responds, "Yes Warrick is working in the lab for a week, no field work."

Mark stands up and takes Catherine's hand and says, "Well we should go get some rest while we can."

Several hours later …

Catherine is putting her makeup on in the bathroom.

Mark walks in and sits on the side of the tub and asks, "Can I talk to you about something?"

Catherine looking at his reflection in the mirror says, "Of course."

Mark exhales and says, "I really think you need to talk to Warrick about what happened."

Catherine gives him a questioning look and asks, "Why's that? I thought you two were good?"

Mark replies, "Yeah we are but, I think I know why he did it."

Catherine chuckles and says, "Yeah he said he thought you and Sara were having an affair behind my back. Do you have a head injury they need to check out?"

Mark says, "Haha. No. It's just I picked up on some hints of what he said to me in the holding cell and the look he gave you in the interrogation room when he said he is over-protective of certain people. I think Warrick is in love with you."

Catherine says, "What?! No I mean there has been some harmless flirting over the years just like with all of the team, but nothing more than that."

Mark bobs his head from side to side and says, "Yeah but I know what it's like to love someone and not tell them about it and go on like everything is normal. You try to keep everything you are feeling pushed way down inside. Eventually whether you want it to or not it rears its ugly head. I know that in my situations if the other person had found out how I felt and whether they returned the feelings or not had just talked to me about it I probably would have felt better."

Catherine turns around and leans down to be eye level with Mark and says, "I'm in love you, I'm not in love with Warrick and I never have been." Catherine kisses Mark.

Once they separate Mark puts his forehead on Catherine's and says, "I love you too."

Catherine gets up kisses Mark on the forehead and turns around to continue putting on her makeup.

Mark stands up and says, "I'm serious though, you should talk to him. As someone that's been on the other side of it, I may have been saved a lot of misery and heartache if they had been able to say something when I couldn't. He's your Kerri; he needs to know that just because you two aren't going to be together that you are still there for him. Trust me."

Catherine is left in the bathroom to collect her thoughts and finish putting on her makeup. She is thinking how lucky she is, if something like this had happened with Eddie there would have been a giant fight, not talking for probably a week, and then some make-up sex. This however was different. She was in probably the only mature relationship she has ever had in her 40 years and she was going to do everything in her power to hold onto it.

Later at the lab …

At work Catherine couldn't help but think about the conversation Mark had with her before they left for work. She walked into the lab where Warrick was hoping to find two things her results and him.

Warrick is prepping several DNA swabs for analysis. He sees Catherine come in and he says, "Hey your results should be up anytime now."

Catherine says, "Thanks. How are you enjoying your new assignment?"

Warrick sighs and responds, "It could be worse. I guess I'm just grateful I wasn't suspended without pay."

Catherine looks at Warrick and asks, "Do you think we could talk in my office in a few?"

Warrick looks at his current samples and says, "Yeah give me about 10 minutes to get these running."

Warrick comes in and sees Catherine typing something on her laptop, more than likely a report. Warrick says, "You wanted to talk Cath?"

Catherine responds, "Yeah would you mind closing the door?"

Warrick nods his head and has a seat on the couch in her office.

Catherine gets up from her chair, walks around to the front of the desk and leans against it. She says, "Warrick, I have to ask you a question. I apologize in advance if it makes you uncomfortable, but are you in love with me?"

Warrick thinks oh damn maybe I can still cover this up. He laughs nervously and says, "Look if this is about last night, Mark and I are good."

Catherine sighs and says, "I know things are good between you and Mark. This is about you and me. I didn't believe it myself at first but after Mark talked to me it makes sense. If you do love me it's ok. I realize that we will never be together, but you need to know nothing between us has to change. I know that it will take some time for you to adjust to Mark and I being in a serious relationship. I just wanted to let you know that I know and that I still want to be your friend if that's ok with you."

Warrick clears his throat finding it very dry and asks, "Mark's gonna kick my ass this time isn't he?"

Catherine shakes her head and replies, "I don't think you need to worry about him. He came to me with this and told me to talk to you about it. I don't know all of his stories yet but I do know he didn't have the best luck in relationships and until me he had shut down and anytime he felt something for someone; he swallowed his feelings and never expressed them. He said that he wished that someone had talked to him about it when he couldn't if they found out about it. He thought it might have saved him some of the misery and heartache over the years if someone had. He said that because you are to me what Kerri is to him that I needed to reassure you that I will always be here for you no matter what."

Warrick taking this all in says, "Wow. I think you found a really good guy, much better than I ever would have been for you, and I have potentially found a really good friend in him."

Catherine smiles and asks, "Are we going to be ok?"

Warrick gets up to leave and says, "Cath I have loved you for quite some time. It's gonna take me a while to get over you, but I think given sometime we'll be just fine." Warrick smiles at her as he walks out of the door.

Mark is walking down the hall toward Catherine's office and runs into Warrick.

Warrick stops him and says, "I want to thank you."

Mark looking confused says, "Thank me for what Warrick?"

Warrick responds, "One for having Cath talk to me and two for understanding what it is like and not kicking my ass."

Mark not really knowing what else to do offers his hand to Warrick who takes it, Mark says, "Don't worry about it, I've been there for more than once. Let me know if you ever want to talk or just grab a beer."

Warrick smiles and says, "Will do."

Warrick starts to walk away but turns around and says, "Take care of her Mark, she's really great."

Mark says, "If I don't I give you permission to kick my ass next time."

Warrick smiles and continues down the hall.

Mark walks into Catherine's office and sees her hard at work behind her laptop. He asks, "You know what's really amazing?"

Catherine looks up smiling and replies, "What's that?"

Mark leaning against the doorjamb says, "How is it that you sitting behind a laptop is breathtaking?"

Catherine smiles and says, "You know you're getting lucky later right?"

Mark says, "I just ran into Warrick. Are you ok?"

Catherine nods and responds, "I think so. I don't know if things will be the same between us right away, but I have the feeling eventually they will be."

Mark smiles and says, "Well I better get back to it, but I look forward to seeing you after shift."

Catherine smiles and gets back to her work.