Chapter 2

Warrick Brown entered her office, not quite sure what he'd say. Not matter how many times you rehearsed and practiced what to say, you were never ready for something like this. He was relieved to find her still asleep with her head on her desk. She looked so peaceful, lying there with papers scattered around her, her glasses in her hand. Warrick debated just leaving and letting her sleep but he'd dragged this out long enough. He walked over to her desk and put his hand on her shoulder, nudging her gently. He watched her stir as her eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Catherine, honey, wake up," he hated this, hated that he had to be the one to tell her. She didn't deserve this. Catherine opened her eyes and slowly began to sit up, smiling as she saw Warrick standing in front of her.

"I didn't really fall asleep did I?" her voice was still heavy with sleep and Warrick could feel a knot already forming in his throat. She stretched and looked at her watch, furrowing her brow as she saw the time. "One o' clock? Why didn't anybody wake me? Shift's been over for hours. Wait, why are you still here?" Warrick opened his mouth to speak but she seemed to realize something and began talking again. "Oh shoot," she said, standing up and putting on her coat. "Gil was supposed to be back by the time shift ended. He hasn't called has he?" She began gathering her papers and Warrick tried to think of how he was going to tell her.

"No, but Catherine…" he tried to interrupt her but nothing seemed to be working.

"Oh, you know what? He's probably already at home. I bet he just wanted to get some rest before I got done here," she grabbed her purse and was almost ready to walk out of her office when Warrick's, suddenly very serious, voice stopped her.

"Catherine, I think you should sit down," this was getting more difficult by the second but he couldn't drag it out any longer than he already had. He was going to tell this woman something that would shatter her perfect world and it wasn't fait to drag it out.

"Warrick, what's wrong?" his tone scared her; something was wrong, really wrong. She didn't sit down but instead stood in front of him, waiting for him to continue. "War?"

"Catherine…I'm so sorry," he couldn't find the words to tell her.

"Why? What's wrong Warrick?" she was scared now. She'd never seen him like this before. She didn't understand what he would have such a hard time telling her.

"Cath, it's Gil…" he said behind clenched teeth. He knew how much this was going to hurt her.

"What about him?" she felt her mouth go dry and her heart rate increase. She walked backwards until she could brace herself on the front of her desk.

"There was a drunk driver. Grissom didn't see him coming. The driver was killed instantly and…" Warrick's voice trailed off and Catherine's voice came out in a barely audible whisper.

"Warrick," she warned and he reluctantly decided to just tell her, bracing himself for her reaction.

"Catherine…Grissom's dead."