I'm so sorry I haven't updated this in months! Life's been busy and I have to stop writing other stories without finishing the ones I already post. I have ten unfinsihed stories. Wow.
Enjoy this one!

Beta: The always wonderful, Lostladyknight.

Superhero Challenge

Discovering the Unknown

Chapter 4

"You trusted Hodges?" Warrick asked. Grissom nodded once while still looking ahead.

"I'm surprised he kept his mouth closed. He could barely control himself," Catherine laughed. Her movement, plus the pothole Grissom had just driven over, caused her and the rest of the group to jostle in their seats. Greg's head smacked into the ceiling and Catherine bounced to the left, closer to Warrick.

Warrick tensed up at the contact, looking down at her. Catherine met his gaze, her smile quickly faded before she shifted back into her seat.

"What's with you?" Greg asked Warrick as he carefully moved his eyes to the back of the man's head.

"Nothin'." The younger man grimaced at the hostility directed towards him.

"Look, I realize we're all a little uptight right now, but don't take it out on us," Nick warned, his voice strong, yet he kept his gaze pointed out the window. Catherine placed her hand gently on Warrick's knee and looked back up at him again.

"Speaking of taking it out on the wrong things, why did you pull that cabinet door off when I asked for your help?" Grissom asked with curiosity.

"I almost killed my girlfriend. If I wanted to take it out on something, I would have. The cabinet was an accident. I can't exactly control myself right now," Warrick responded, extracting a small gasp from the woman next to him.

"You almost killed someone!"

"Who's your girlfriend?" Both Sara and Greg yelled at once.

"Jeez, guys! We're all right here!" Nick reminded them of just how close they were to each other.

Catherine ignored the thoughts of the people around her—as best she could—and focused on Warrick's mind, despite his negative thoughts. She deliberately shifted so she was lying against his side and placed her head on his shoulder.

…

"And you are sure about this?" Warrick questioned the woman on the other end of his phone call.

"Of course I'm sure. Don't be so nervous, it's just a date, we've done it before," she answered.

"You're right. I'll see you tomorrow." With that the two said their 'good byes' and hung up.

As the day's first light shone through the windows, Warrick stirred in his bed, waking himself up. He sat up and blinked against the brightness, his consciousness finally catching up with his mind. A smile spread across his face when he realized the previous night's call. He had finally done it. He had finally put all haste aside and asked out the woman who frequently occupied his dreams. The only thing was he had done that before too. The two had been out together a few times before, but it was never anything overly serious, no matter how bad he wanted the relationship to progress.

Warrick lifted himself out of bed and towards his closet. He had woken up early, his excitement had bubbled over until his body could no longer be at rest. He searched through the many shirts that hung on hangers until he found one acceptable for both his date and his shift at the lab later that night. After putting on his black button up and pulling on his favorite pair of jeans, Warrick walked into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.

He wasn't quite sure how he was going to start the conversations, let alone get her to agree to a second date. Warrick poured the black liquid into a mug and decided to focus on other things. Like getting ready for the day that lie ahead of him.

After showering and finishing off the rest of his coffee, Warrick grabbed his keys and headed off to his date's house. He pulled into the driveway and made it all the way to the door before his nerves caught up with him.

Catherine seemed to sense his presence from behind the door, because within seconds of Warrick raising his fists to knock she had opened it.

"Hey," Warrick said as he took in her appearance. Even in her regular work attire she was stunning. Catherine's strawberry blonde curls fell in spirals to her shoulders and her bangs framed her flawless features.

"Hey. Let's go, I'm starving," Catherine said as she grabbed her purse from a table just inside the door. Warrick laughed slightly before the two walked to his car.

"I'm so glad we decided to do this," Catherine said as they drove closer to their destination.

"I am too. To tell you the truth, I didn't think you would want to."

Warrick turned away from the road and watched as Catherine looked at him with an unbelieving look on her face.

"And why wouldn't I?" she asked as they pulled into the parking lot of the team's favorite diner. Warrick smirked at her.

"Because you don't 'fish from the company pond'. Now stay right there," he answered before jumping out and hurrying to Catherine's door.

He gripped the handle and pulled, but the door didn't just open, it came completely off the hinges.

"Umm," Warrick said as he help up the door with his hand still gripping the handle. Catherine's mouth hung wide open in utter shock at the sight.

Warrick set the door against the side of the car before returning to Catherine's door. He offered his hand to help her out. She placed her hand in his and he tried to gently help her down. Instead he ended up pulling her right on top of him. The shock knocked them both to the ground.

Catherine rolled onto her back as she gripped her arm, "What the hell, Rick?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean too," Warrick apologized before standing up. He offered his hand again, but Catherine shook her head.

"Maybe I should get up by myself," she said before unsteadily placing her legs beneath her and standing.

"Cath, you're shoulder," Warrick said looking at her injured limb. Catherine continued to hold on to her arm, trying not to move it.

"Yeah, I know. It's out of the joint. Call a cab and take me to the emergency room. There's no way we are taking that," She said pointing to the door-less car.

Warrick could hear the anger and annoyance in her voice and quickly pulled his cell phone out to dial the number for the local cab service.