The doctor entered the waiting room with a somber expression pulling at his features. Warrick's heart sank deep, and he waited for the worst.
"She's stable," the doctor began without preamble. "She lost a lot of blood, and we had to do a transfusion. The bullet just barely missed her spinal column. She's lucky to have the use of her legs."
"When will we be able to see her?" Lindsey asked, her voice shaky with relief.
"She's resting now. When she wakes up, she can have two visitors at a time. No more than that," the doctor-the name badge said Dr. Collins-said with a stern look.
"Thank you, Doctor." Warrick stood to shake the man's hand, with a bit more vigor than necessary.
When the doctor had exited the waiting room, a collective sigh of relief filled the room. Warrick watched as everyone shared their relief-Drake wrapped Lindsey up in his embrace as she cried happy tears. Grissom and Sara held hands, his tightening almost imperceptibly.
All the while, Warrick realized with a heavy heart that he was alone in his relief. The knowledge that he was alive hadn't fully sunken in, so it was almost ten minutes before anyone remembered he was there. Lindsey-always the perceptive, astute one-stood and moved to Warrick, wrapping her arms around him tightly. She repeated the process with Sara.
"You guys saved my mother's life," she said to both of them. "And you saved Warrick's," she said only to Sara. "I'll never be able to thank either of you enough."
"No need," Sara said, taken aback by the show of affection from Lindsey.
"I'm sorry she was even hurt," Warrick said regretfully.
"But she's alive." Lindsey's tone was forceful. "That's all that matters."
Warrick wrapped an arm around the young woman, still amazed at how much she had grown in three years. "You're absolutely right."
A slight shake woke Catherine from a restless sleep. She had already woken once, but had passed out again almost immediately after the nurse had left. When her eyes fluttered open this second time, blue met green, and she smiled. "Hi, Warrick."
"Hi, Cath," he said, relief thickening his voice. "How are you feeling?"
"I hurt like hell," she replied, the pain in her stomach dulled by morphine, but still prominent. "Is Gedda..."
"Yeah. Sara got there just in time."
"Good." Her words were muddy in her exhaustion. "I'm getting sick of the job."
"What do you mean?" Warrick asked.
"The suspects. The victims. The crimes. The means, motive and opportunity. I'm sick of it." She sighed, her resolve slowly creeping in. She was really going to do this. "There's an envelope on my nightstand. It's my letter of resignation, along with my recommendation for Nick to be the new supervisor. I want you to bring that to Ecklie. I'm done."
Warrick's eyes widened in shock. "Are you sure, Catherine? This isn't just the drugs talking?"
"I've been sure for two and a half years. I'm just finally finding the courage to leave and never look back." She smiled. "Where's Lindsey?"
"I'm right here, Mom," Lindsey's voice chirped from behind Warrick. "You're really doing this?"
"Yeah, baby. I really am."
After three days of hospitalization, and week after week of physical therapy sessions, Catherine was finally back to full health. Her daughter was back at school, earning As and pirouetting her way to the top of the dancing ladder.
The lab had taken her resignation in stride. No one was surprised. In fact, they'd expected it a hell of a lot sooner than it had happened. Ecklie had taken her recommendation seriously, and she wasn't surprised when Nick was promoted to supervisor of graves. Mandy was moved to swing shift, to accomodate their relationship, but other than that, everything had resumed a normal rhythm in record time.
The only thing that had Catherine anxious was Warrick. In a few days, he would have to leave again, and she had no idea for how long.
"It's not permanent, Cath," Warrick repeated for the umpteenth time, and she believed him now just as much as she had the first time: very little. "I told you nothing was keeping us apart again. I meant it."
"This is the FBI, though, hon. They're going to keep you as long as they have to, to keep you safe. The U.S. Marshalls were pretty pissed that you had ducked under their radar for me. Just because Gedda is dead and gone doesn't mean you're entirely safe."
"I know, I know." He sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "But Gedda was the only real threat that hadn't already been arrested and sent to prison for the rest of his life. This is only a formality."
Catherine shook her head. She just wasn't convinced. "I love you, but I can't wait around forever, Warrick. I may not be in Vegas when you come back."
"Then I'll find you. Wherever you are." His smiled was full of the promise his words held. "I love you, too, Catherine. I'll be seeing you again."
After a kiss that said goodbye, but held the promise of a future reunion, she said, "You're damn right."