Disclaimer: I don't own CSI, Full House, or the cell-phone my driver's ed teacher likes to make demonstrations with. I do, however, own Lexi and just about anything Lindsey says.
Author's note: Thanks so much for all of your reviews. Extra kudos to die-hard Warrick/Catherine fans and anyone who thinks adding Tina to the show was a terrible thing to put Warrick through. :)
The Antics of Lindsey Willows
Chapter 11
As it turned out, Lindsey did indeed want something. As soon as her mother was out of the house she had cleaned it from top to bottom. It was a lot of hard work and her muscles ached, but she hoped everything would turn out good. She needed this new approach to getting her mother with Warrick, an approach that wouldn't cause her to slam her hand in any more doors.
Her recent enlightenment from Lexi had given the wheels in her mind enough grease to start turning again. While she was honestly sad that Warrick had to go through something as difficult as divorce, she was glad he was finally available for her mother to pursue.
Lindsey heard the key in the lock and tried her best to ignore the dull fatigue that was nagging at her as she sat nonchalantly in the overstuffed arm chair in the living room. Catherine walked in and nearly fainted at the neatness of the house. It smelled of cleaners, and shone like light bouncing off a bald head.
She set her purse down on the table next to the coat rack stepped forward. Her heels clacked on the hardwood floors that lined the entry. She didn't say a word to her daughter, but walked around the entire house inspecting it. The largest surprise came from Lindsey's room. The girl had cleaned her room from top to bottom. Catherine was shocked to actually see the whole carpet. There were three bags shoved up against her twin bed labeled 'give away.'
She turned around and made her way back to the living room. Lindsey was still in the chair, grinning.
"Okay, Lindsey," Catherine said, "what do you want?"
Lindsey threw her hands in the air and put her face into a mock frown. "I can't believe you, Mother. I spend all day cleaning your house and I don't even get a thanks. You're not very appreciative, you know that? And to automatically think I want something. What kind of kid cleans only so they can get something?"
Catherine arched her brows and smiled slightly. "My kid."
Lindsey giggled. "Okay, you're right, but that's beside the point."
Catherine sat in the couch and kicked her feet up on the coffee table. "Thank you for cleaning, Linds. Now tell me what you want."
"I want to have a party."
"A party? You want me to let you have a party here?"
"Yep."
"I don't think so," said Catherine.
"Why not?" her daughter questioned.
"Because I can hardly handle you, let alone more teenagers. It would be suicide and I'm perfectly happy still living."
"Then you're in luck, because I've got just the solution."
Catherine smirked. "Oh yeah, and what would that be?"
Lindsey leaned in close to her mother, her eyes twinkling. "Have someone else come over and help you watch us. But it's not like we're going to burn the house down or anything. It's just a party."
"Says the girl whose last party got us kicked out of the restaurant."
"I had absolutely no part in that."
"No? Who was the one that threw the mashed potatoes at me?"
"Oh yeah, that was me, wasn't it?"
The older woman nodded.
"Well, that was awhile ago. I promise that we'll behave. You let me do this and I'll never ask for anything ever again." Lindsey sat on her knees, begging.
"I highly doubt that."
"I know, but it's the thought that counts, right?" Lindsey made her best pouty face and stared at her mother.
Catherine heaved a large sigh. "Alright, you can have your party, but I get to pick the other chaperone."
"You got it!" Lindsey jumped up. "I've got to make a few calls, but you can ask someone as soon as I'm done."
"Oh I can? Thanks so much for your permission."
"You're welcome." The girl grabbed the phone from its holder in the kitchen and raced to her bedroom. She quickly dialed the number for the Sidle-Stokes home.
"Hello?" Nick asked.
"Hi. Can I speak to Lexi, please?"
"Sure. Hold on a sec."
"This is Lexi."
"Hi, Lex; it's Lindsey. I need to ask you a major favor."
"Shoot," the brunette responded.
"Okay, I got my mom to agree to let me have a party. She's going to invite someone else to be the chaperone. You're welcome to come and everything, but here's what I need you to do. My mom might call your parents for help. Tell them they can't. I know that they have a pretty good idea what I'm up to, but just make sure they don't say yes to her."
"You got it. This should be interesting. Hey, maybe you should just call Warrick and ask him yourself."
Lindsey squinted her eyes and pictured her party. "I'll put the notion in his head, but Mom said she gets to pick. Thanks, Lexi."
"No problem."
The girls hung up and Lindsey began to flip through her kitty-patterned address book. She tapped her finger on Warrick's number and pressed the seven digits.
"Hello?" mumbled a voice.
"Did I wake you up, Warrick? I'm so sorry."
Warrick rubbed a hand against his face. "Lindsey, is that you?"
"The one and only." She grinned.
"What can I do for you?"
"It seems kind of silly that I'm calling, especially since you were asleep, but I just noticed that you haven't come over and hung out in like two weeks."
"I," he paused. He doubted Catherine had told Lindsey about the tension at work. "I've been busy."
"The life of a CSI. I completely understand. Come see me sometime soon, though, okay?"
He pulled his tired face into a smile. He'd never be able to explain the effect this little blonde person had on him. "You got it, kiddo."
Lindsey told Warrick to sleep well and then pushed the off button. She strolled back to the living room and found her mother snoring slightly on the couch. She shook Catherine's shoulders and the woman snapped awake.
Lindsey handed her the phone. "Here. I believe you had a call to make."
Catherine yawned. "Linds, I'll do it in the morning. Better yet, I'll just ask him at work tomorrow."
"Him?" Lindsey raised her right brow.
"Or her," said Catherine. She patted her daughter on the top of the head and went to her bedroom.
Warrick thought the locker room was empty when he entered it the next night but he heard a groan coming from the back area. He placed his hand on his gun holster and took slow, quiet steps. He rushed forward when he saw that it was Catherine. She was struggling under the weight of a cardboard box. He grabbed it from her and she shook her arms.
"What do you have in here?" he asked. His muscles flexed from the strain.
"Old books. Grissom wanted them for an experiment.
"And he couldn't pick them up himself?"
"Apparently not."
He walked over and set the box on a bench. She thanked him and they began to get ready for work. Shift wasn't set to start for another half hour and they would be lucky to have five more minutes before someone else arrived. Warrick knew this was his chance to talk to her.
"Hey, Cath, are we cool?"
"Yeah. Of course." She smiled that Catherine smile that really let him know she was still hiding something.
"It feels like you've been avoiding me. To be honest, it feels like it did after I got married."
She turned away, another signature of hers. "I have been avoiding you." He was surprised by her sudden honesty. "I was embarrassed by what I said that day after you left my house. It was childish and unprofessional." She paused and he waited for her to continue. He knew there was more. "Do you remember what I said the day you told me you were married?"
"Yeah," he said. How could I forget?
"Well, the other week, that's what it all came from, you know.
"Hmm. I guess I can understand that. You have no reason to be embarrassed. If I was you I probably would have said the same thing."
She breathed out, relieved. Then she held up a finger. "Hey, are you busy next Saturday?"
"Not that I know of; why?"
"Lindsey wants to have a party and I said she could if she let me pick another chaperone. I figure you're the best choice. She'll be least embarrassed if you're there."
"I'm there for you, babe," he said echoing an old Full House episode he'd seen the night before.
A/N2: I fixed a few "your"/"you're" mistakes, but it's late, so if there are any more, please forgive me. I'm beta-less. Thanks much, and as always, let me know what you thought.