At midnight that night, Catherine returned home, physically and mentally exhausted. It was all too much for her to take in. For three years she'd been lied to. The grief she'd felt was real--so real it had almost killed her--but the reason had been a lie. Five people she was so sure of, that she would have entrusted her life to, had let her heart bleed pain and sorrow. Despite everything they had gone through, she would've hoped that Warrick could have trusted her with this.
The chirp of her cell phone wrested her from her thoughts, and she decided it wasn't worth wallowing in her self pity. She should be happy Warrick was still alive. In a way, she was. But she couldn't help the feeling of betrayal that was threatening to overwhelm her.
She checked the caller ID. Lindsey. She smiled to herself as she plopped into a chair and answered the call.
"Hey, baby. What are you doing up so late?"
"Couldn't sleep, so I decided to call my insomniac mother on her night off because I can always depend on her for a good chat. What's up?"
Catherine hesitated. "Nothing really. Work. How's Cambridge?"
"You're not telling me something. I can tell. You're talking in clips."
"It's nothing. I can handle it." When Lindsey didn't respond, she added, "Really. I'll be fine, sweetie."
After a moment, she heard Lindsey sigh. "Fine. Mass is wonderful. Snowy and cold and everything Vegas isn't. I love it. I just wish I'd been able to come home for the holidays."
"You couldn't help it, Linds. The flights kept getting canceled." Sookie poked her head around the corner, giving a squawk before she trotted over and hopped into Catherine's lap.
"Stupid snow," Lindsey huffed. "How's Sookie?"
"She's annoying. But she grew on me. Like you knew she would, you little sneak."
"I resent that. I am not little." Catherine heard a faint knock, then, "There's someone at the door. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
"Alright. I love you, Lindsey."
"Love you, too."
Catherine hit the disconnect, smiling to herself as she stood and walked to her bedroom, led more than followed by Sookie. She was ecstatic her relationship with Lindsey was mending so well, and with that in mind, nothing else mattered but getting some much needed rest.
Tap.
Tap.
"Mm? Sookie?" Catherine mumbled, the heavy fog of sleep lifting slowly. "What're you getting into now?"
Tap.
With a heavy yawn, she sat up and switched on the lamp, looking around for her kitten getting into mischief, only to find Sookie curled up in a ball beside her.
Tap.
"What the hell?" she muttered, realizing the sound was coming from her window. There were no trees with branches long enough to reach her window, and she couldn't think of anything else that could cause the noise.
Tap.
And yet there it was.
Getting out of bed, she moved over to the window. She opened the window and leaned outside--she had never felt the need for screens, since she normally just had the airconditioner running--looking around carefully for anything that could have caused the tapping noise.
Suddenly, a strong hand covered her mouth, and though it was muffled, it didn't prevent her surprised scream. She twisted, trying to break free, as an arm wrapped around her, holding her still. "Shh, it's okay, Catherine. Calm down. I'm not gonna hurt you."
The voice was familiar, and she went still as she recognized it. The man released her, and she turned to look at him. The glow of the lamp light lit his dark face, and his green eyes glistened.
"Oh my God," she breathed. "Warrick."