Disclaimer: All rights reserved for CBS
A/n: Okay, so this chapter is a bit longer, but you'll see why. I know it's a bit weird, but it just doesn't seem right not to include Warrick, so I did. :D:D Enjoy and Happy Holidays
Warrick
Warrick Brown had been brought up to believe in the hereafter; His grandmother had made sure of it. As he'd lain, dying in Grissom's arms, he'd known that there was more out there, but the look in Grissom's eyes had stayed with him as his soul left his body, and instead of heading toward the light beckoning him home, he instead turned to look down on the scene below him.
He'd watched as McKean lied to Grissom abut what had happened, and laughed to himself that the man could possibly think he'd get away with it, with the best CSIs on the case. He'd watched as each member of his team arrived and reacted in their own way. Even Ecklie had been affected.
He rode along with his body and Grissom to the lab, but decided not to attend his own autopsy. He'd waited in Grissom's office, and when Sara arrived, he'd smiled. He'd missed her more than he'd realized.
When the whole team had arrived and the hugging began, it was the first time he had felt a stirring of remorse. Until then, he'd been numb. But, seeing the team together again, all together, mourning his loss, he'd felt the slightest regret.
He'd followed Sara and Greg to his apartment and saw for the first time, really saw how he'd been living. When Greg found the petition for custody of his son, he'd realized how petty it all was. How stupid he had been. There had been ways to work things out with Tina. He'd let his hurt and anger color his perception.
He hadn't been sure he if he could communicate with the living, but he'd gotten the opportunity to try when Nick was standing over McKean with his service weapon, finger on the trigger, and ready to fire. He couldn't let his friend ruin his life over that scum. He'd shouted and waved his arms, and he'd never be sure if he had gotten through, or if Nick's better sense had prevailed, but Nick had discharged the gun into the ground, and not the under sheriff. Brass had looked as relieved as Warrick, when he'd rushed up to the scene and saw the situation.
Then there was the funeral. Warrick had stood at the front of the church, watching as his friends, his family, the people he'd worked with everyday, mourned his loss. He'd listened to Grissom, the person whom he'd respected above all else, break down on the pulpit. Warrick had wished so much that he could talk to him one more time. To tell Grissom exactly what he'd meant to him.
In the next few days, Warrick had drifted around the lab, sticking mainly to wherever Grissom was, and he began to sense that something was terribly wrong.
Grissom was forgetting things, zoning out, and not sleeping. Sara had left, and from where he stood, Warrick could see why. He could see so many things he hadn't before. He guessed when you had no life of your own to worry about; you were free to notice those of other's.
He was very worried about Grissom. He was in a steep decline. Others were dealing better, even Catherine. He could tell she had taken his death hard, and it was one of the few regrets that he had, that he'd never gotten to know her on a more personal level. Still, it was best not to dwell on that. Grissom, however, now he needed some help.
Then one day, it happened. Sara sent him that video. Warrick had been to visit her, and he knew that, though she was happy being away from Las Vegas, she was far from happy about her separation from Grissom. Warrick understood better than ever what she'd been through. Knew of her childhood, though he didn't know how, knew that she had a self-preserving nature. She loved Grissom, had done maybe since she'd first clapped eyes on him, but she was never quite sure how he felt. Over the years she'd let him off the hook so many times, kept herself distant, pretended he couldn't hurt her if she didn't let him. They had had a couple of good years, but even those had been filled with uncertainty. Grissom kept everything bottled up. Warrick could see that Sara was unsure of Grissom's real feelings for her, and that made her even more unsure of the security of their relationship. Had he ever said the words? I love you was such a simple phrase, but though Grissom had intimated as such, had he ever spoken those three words?
Warrick could see all this weighing on Grissom. He could see the conflict between personal happiness, and his duty to his team. For so long, work, the team, had been the only thing in Grissom's life. What if he gave his whole heart to Sara, and she found someone new?
Warrick tried repeatedly to get Grissom's attention. He was desperate to get through to him. He had to convince him that life was short, and that love was all that mattered, something he didn't want Grissom to learn after he was dead. Grissom wasn't listening, though. Warrick only had once chance. There was only one person he may be able to get through to… 'Nick, buddy, don't fail me now.'
TBC