A/N: Writing this was a serious motivator for me getting my history homework done. Sorry it took so long; I've been distracted. I'm very glad the new season is on now...the only disappointment so far is that they changed Lindsey. Well, enjoy.

The Antics of Lindsey Willows

Chapter 15

"You want to do what?" Lexi asked her mother the next morning. Sara had come home unusually energized with a wild idea. To be frank, Lexi was a bit scared by it.

"You heard me," she said.

"Yeah, but I'm just surprised that you would think that way. It sounds so much like, well, me," Lexi stated.

"And you are a product of me. It makes sense that we would think alike." Sara placed her left hand on her hip and stared into her daughter's eyes.

Lexi hopped up onto the counter and stared back. On a normal day she would chalk up her mother's craziness to be the result of a mild hangover, but as she really wanted to help Catherine, Lexi was all for it. "Okay," she said plucking a grape from a ceramic bowl, "what's your plan?"

Sara opened her mouth to reply, but Nick walked in the door and rolled his eyes.

"Alexis, don't listen to your mother. She's crazy and wants to meddle in the lives of her co-workers. That's dangerous territory," he said.

Lexi jumped off the counter and hugged her mom. "Aww, Dad, I don't call it 'meddling;' I call it 'helping.'"

Nick shook his head and walked to the bedroom mumbling something that sounded very much like "Women."

Catherine entered her home only to find her daughter yammering away on the kitchen telephone. Not wanting to interrupt, the woman changed into more comfortable clothes before venturing to start a meal. Lindsey's back was turned and the girl seemed unaware of her mother's presence. Catherine cleared her throat to announce herself and Lindsey hushed at once. The teen turned around slowly and had the unmistakable impression of guilt on her face. She whispered a hurried goodbye, dropped the phone into its charger, and dashed to her room.

The CSI looked at the empty barstool for a moment. She crossed the tile floor and retrieved the phone. Pressing a few buttons, she identified the conversation as being with someone in the Sidle-Stokes household. She dialed the number and sat while the rings began. It didn't take long for someone to answer.

"Lindsey! My mom just told me more of the plan, so you have to come to my house tomorrow, okay?"

"Plan for what?" Catherine asked. She heard a slight gasp come across the line.

"Oh, hi, Catherine. Did you want to talk to my mom?" Lexi asked sheepishly.

"Do you want to tell me what this plan is you're talking about?"

"Not really."

"Then yes, I would love to talk to Sara."

"Hey, Cath, what can I do for you?" Sara asked.

"Our children are planning something," she said.

"When are they not?" the brunette chuckled.

"That's true, but this time they're involving you."

"Me?" At her house, Sara bit her lip as Lexi watched on, waiting for her to get them out of this mess.

"Yes, but that information was given up involuntarily."

"Well, Catherine, I don't know what to tell you. I have no idea what this plan is, but when I do, I'll let you know." She hung up without saying goodbye.

Catherine replaced the phone and began to cook scrambled eggs and bacon. Her only worry was that whatever this plan was, it was going to get Lindsey in trouble, trouble the teenager could not afford.

"Phew, that was close," Sara said and mocked wiping sweat from her brow. "Let's keep all the plotting done in person from now on, okay?"

"Deal," Lexi said shaking her hand.

Sara folded her arms across her chest. "Now I've just got to convince your father to help."

Lexi scoffed. "Good luck with that. If you need me, I'll be on the phone with Luke."

Sara pushed the door to the bedroom open and found Nick lounging on the bed watching an old baseball game. "I'll never understand the intrigue of watching a game that's already happened."

He sat up. "And I'll never understand the need for girls to take two hours to get ready for a date, so we're even." He grinned. "You need something?"

She plopped down at the foot of the bed. "Yeah, I actually wanted to ask you a favor."

Nick saw the glint in her eye and held up his hands. "Before you say anything, I want you to know that if I agree to this, you owe me big time."

"What if I just want you to run to the store? What's so huge about asking you to do that?"

He half-smiled. "Sara, I've known you for a long time. This has got nothing to do with groceries. You want me to do something about Catherine and Warrick."

"Look at it this way: It's not just me; Lexi and Lindsey want it too. And I'm sure Catherine and Warrick will appreciate it in the end."

"I'll take your word for it," he said, "but if they end up hating us, I'm blaming it on you."

"Okay," she agreed.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked.

"Here's our plan…"

The next morning, six people met at a café for breakfast. The night before, Nick had called Warrick and told him the whole gang, plus the kids, were meeting for a little post-work meal. Warrick immediately noticed the absence of Greg and Grissom.

He pointed to the table which was surrounded by six chairs. "What are we going to do when the others get here?"

Nick looked to Sara who stared at her napkin as she spoke. "Oh, they're not coming."

Catherine unfolded her utensils. "They're not?"

"Nope. Greg had a date and Grissom had some bug thing. I tried not to press on it."

A waitress delivered menus and conversation dulled out. Four people made eye contact continually, but the other two seemed oblivious. Lexi looked up and noticed the waitress was walking their way to take orders. She fake-coughed, catching Sara off guard. The brunette glanced at her watch and stood up. Soon the only people left sitting were Catherine and Warrick.

"Wow," said Sara, "would you look at the time? Girls, you have that play thing in like fifteen minutes, right? Nick, you drive."

Catherine gaped at the scene of the teenagers racing out of the building before they could be questioned. She reached out and grabbed the sleeve of Sara's jacket. "What play thing?"

"Oh, Lexi is rehearsing for The Crucible and Lindsey is a prop girl. It's new," she replied before dashing off at Nick's heels.

The waitress took a few steps back, figuring that the couple left would need some time to recuperate from the earlier scene.

Warrick took a sip of his water and pointed towards the door. "You know, I bet they planned that."

Catherine nodded and then clapped her hands to her mouth. "The plan! Last night Lindsey was plotting something with Alexis and Sara. None of them would tell me what it was, but I just assumed it was skipping school or something. I can't believe Sara is involved."

Warrick smiled and began to chew on an ice cube. "Ah, well," he said picking up the menu again, "we might as well make the best of it."

A/N2: I have no idea when the next one will be done, but I hope it's before a month. It will cover Warrick and Catherine's breakfast together. Let me know what you thought. Thanks.