A/N: I have some time this morning to write, so hopefully I'll finish this chapter and be able to post it… Thanks for all the reviews! They're all really encouraging. I'm glad that you like that Sara is a professor because I was kind of iffy giving her work that didn't involve the crime lab. So, remember to review again!
Disclaimer: If I owned CSI, I would be happy and would remind everyone every two seconds that I did.
Watching Chapter Two
The photographer watched the red head. He found out that her name was Hannah West. She was thirty-seven years old, divorced. She worked as a CEO of one of the companies in the office building he had seen her enter yesterday. He had followed her home to her large house on the outskirts of Las Vegas. He waited until she left before pulling in to her driveway.
He exited his car, acting like he was supposed to be there. Not that it mattered, really. It was seven am and all the neighbors were either asleep for another hour or at work. He pulled out his lock pick set—a gift from his father—and picked the lock on the door. The door swung open with ease and he took care of the security system easily.
He walked into her house, pulling on a pair of leather gloves so he wouldn't leave prints. His shoes were silent on the hard wood floor as he explored the house. It was difficult to imagine Hannah living here on her own. The house was spacious and almost empty feeling. The downstairs had a bathroom, large kitchen, dining room that looked like it was never used, a lounge, and a study. The upstairs was equally large with three bathrooms, one master bedroom, an office, an exercise room, and two spare bedrooms.
The only rooms that looked like anyone used them were the office, master bedroom, and a little girl's room. The kitchen was also used frequently. Looking in her fridge, he was surprised that most of the food was leftovers and not the kind from restaurants. No, these were homemade.
He photographed the fridge, smiling. He went and took pictures of the entire house, carefully documenting each and every trinket in her cold, empty house. When he got to her room, he gently pulled open each drawer in her beaureau, taking pictures of everything. He photographed all the pictures she had hanging on her wall. Some of the pictures were of her and a baby; others were pictures of that baby. The pictures got progressively more recent until he determined that the baby girl was now about five or six. Her hair, like her mother's, was red, but she had a dusting of freckles on her nose and cheeks.
He reached out and touched the picture of the little girl, amazed by how pretty she was. She would grow up to be just like her mother. He couldn't resist what he did next. He pulled a picture off the wall, gently, and removed the back of the frame. The picture was mother and daughter in a park. It was beautiful. He placed the empty frame on the wall and took the picture with him. He could already imagine what their life would be like.
Hannah came home, carrying her baby with her. She kissed him, and he would kiss her back. He would hold his new daughter and listen to all her stories about school even though she was difficult to understand at times. He would nod and agree with her at the right moments, and she would call him "Daddy". It would be perfect.
He took a spare key from the office and left, locking the door and setting the alarm again. This time, he would get it right.
CSICSICSICSICSICSI
Catherine just finished her case. It was a robbing of a convenience store. The kid had been only sixteen and stupid. He left prints all over the store, making it easy to nail him. Satisfied with a day's—well, technically a night's—good work, she went to get Warrick. After a month, he still lived with her and Lindsey. If possible, the two had gotten even closer as he recovered. They discussed him moving out, but they saw no reason for him to.
Two weeks ago, he moved into her room, with Lindsey's silent approval. The two of them hadn't told anyone, except for Sara and Grissom, about this. They knew that they would understand and keep it quiet. After all, if they could work together and not have problems, why should one of them have to change shift?
"Hey," Catherine said, leaning in the doorframe of the break room.
"Hey," Warrick replied, his face lighting up when he saw her. "Ready to go?" Catherine nodded. The two walked out of the lab, resisting the urge to hold hands. She climbed into the driver's side while Warrick rode in the passenger's side. They drove home in a comfortable silence. They got out of the car, enjoying the morning air. The couple just stood in the front yard, locked in a happy embrace, content to just stand there and enjoy the morning.
"Come on," Catherine said after a moment, "Lindsey has to be up soon." She walked inside while Warrick remained outside for a moment. He couldn't believe his luck. After being shot and nearly dying, he was finally with the woman he loved. And, he also got to take care of Lindsey, who he loved just as much as her mother. He almost wanted to thank the former undersheriff for shooting him since his life had improved dramatically after being in the hospital. He finally had a real family.
He entered the house just as Catherine woke up her teenager. He could hear Lindsey groan that she had to go to school. His grin spread as Catherine threatened to throw a bucket of ice water on her. Lindsey groaned again and he heard movement. Five minutes later, the shower was running and Catherine had returned to the kitchen.
Warrick cracked an egg into a frying pan, making the three of them scrambled eggs. The morning had become routine over the four weeks he had stayed with Catherine and Lindsey. Every morning, Lindsey would grumble about school and turn on the shower. Warrick would cook eggs while Catherine made toast and sometimes bacon or sausage. Today was a sausage day.
Lindsey had good timing down to an art. She would come down the stairs, fully dressed, just as breakfast was done cooking. She would then eat and either Catherine or Warrick would drive her to school. The remaining adult would clean up and change for bed. Then they would watch a movie or read together, just happy to be together. They would sleep while Lindsey was at school and one of them would go to pick her up at four.
It was a good life, and Warrick wouldn't trade it for anything.
CSICSICSI
Hannah West came home after work, bringing her daughter with her today. The weekend had been her ex's with Lily and she was happy to bring her little girl home. Lily was tired after a day at day camp and she slept in her mother's arms. Hannah was so proud of her little girl: Lily could already read and write at the age of six and would read her mother Dr. Seuss books.
The little girl clutched one of these books in her tiny hand as her mother carried her into the house.
Click.
Neither of them heard the soft shutter noise coming from the camera. Hannah woke Lily up, asking her what she wanted for dinner. As usual, the girl requested macaroni and cheese. Her mother laughed, telling her that she they would have macaroni for dinner. This health nut opened a box of kraft macaroni and cheese and made it for her and her daughter.
The photographer took countless pictures of this, knowing that he had finally found the right woman for him. The two girls talked about everything and he watched them, imagining himself sitting with them. They would love him; he was sure of that.
Click.
CSICSICSI
A/N: Look! I finished another chapter! Only two days after my other one. I'm very proud of myself. So, tell me what you think! Review!