TITLE – Rhythm and Soul

RATING – M or R depending ;)… mentions of stuff from the whole Sin City theme of strip clubs and all… and possibly some sexuality between the two main characters.

SUMMERY – Catherine is haunted by a past she hasn't regretted until now and a future she's afraid to face without him YoBling - Cath/Nick friendship

DISCLAIMER – This worded goodness below belongs to me… HOWEVER, Characters, personalities, and all mentions of the who and the what belong to CBS and all credited when you watch the eps on the tube

The rhythm of Las Vegas' premiere strip pounded through a small club. A pale red glow from tinted ceiling panels lit the bar area as a beautiful dancer began to climb a stepladder to the counter. Cheers and screams began to pour from the mouths of men and women who came for the entertainment more than the alcohol.

She moved gracefully around the drinks until everything she wore was scattered through the crowd. Totally bare, she made the people hoot and drool all the more.

Suddenly, the dancer looked up to see a tall man with dark skin, piercing blue-gray eyes and a worried look about him. She froze.

"Catherine? What are you doing?" His arms crossed over his chest and an anger she had never seen him hold filled those beautiful eyes.

Catherine sat up. Sweat was pouring down her neck and back and someone's hands were on her shoulders.

"Ssh, are you okay, Cath?"

She tried to process through what had just happened. She looked down at the counter and saw prints and DNA samples, each destroyed because she had fallen asleep on them. "Shit."

"Don't worry about it. We've got most of it the system." It was Warrick's voice. "You don't usually fall asleep, Catherine… what happened?"

"I don't know." She whispered hoarsely. "I was dreaming."

"You were crying." He knelt beside her stool, looking up at her, holding her hand.

She wiped at her eyes. "Shit." She cursed again.

"So… are you alright?" His eyes darted from her eyes to her hands and back.

She shrugged. "Can you drive me home?"

He nodded. "Does Lindsay need to be picked up?"

"No… she's at my mother's for the weekend."

"Okay, ditch the lab coat and I'll clear you to go with Gris." He got up and started out when her hand grasped his arm.

"Thank you, Warrick."

He nodded. "No problem, Cath." Smiling at her reassuringly, he pried her fingers loose and walked out.

She gathered her things and slipped out of the lab. Passing Nick Stokes in the hall she smiled wearily. "Hey, Nicky, could you do me a huge favor?"

"Anything, Cat, what's up?" He looked concerned, but smiled nonetheless.

"There's some pretty messed up samples where I was working," She indicated the lab behind her. "Would you mind skimming through them and seeing if you can't salvage maybe a print or two? If not, throw em out for me?"

He nodded. "Heading home than?"

"I'm so tired. And stressed with this case…" She waved nowhere as her words trailed off.

"Yeah, I hear ya!" He laughed loudly before pulling her into a tight hug. "Take it easy, Cat."

"Thanks, Nicky, I owe you." She continued down the hallway and stepped out into the cool midnight air. She checked her watch. 1:45am, not even halfway through her shift. She sighed, easing herself down on the cold stone steps leading from the back of the lab into the driveway. She saw headlights coming from the parking lot and saw Warrick's car come to a stop in front of her.

He leaned over and opened the door for her. "All you, m'lady." His signature smile melted her heart.

She slipped into the car and buckled up. "You have no idea what this means to me right now."

Warrick thought about simply saying anytime or no problem, but he thought he'd press for information. After all, the Detective Catherine Willows he knew would never have fallen asleep on someone's fingerprints. "What does it mean to you?"

The question threw her off and she found herself just watching him.

"Cath… did you know Tina left me?" He kept his eyes focused on the dark back roads he'd chose to take.

She shook her head. "When?"

"Back when I ruined that birthday surprise she had made for me. Guess what it was." He smiled mischievously.

"Cake…?" Catherine looked at him oddly.

"No… a lie. She wasn't planning a birthday surprise. She was indeed meeting with another guy, like I had so 'incorrectly assumed' and 'jumped to conclusions' about." He sighed. "It's okay though, we weren't really working well as a couple."

There was a silence between them as he pulled into her driveway.

Turning the engine off he leaned his elbow against her seat. "Besides, if I'm going to live for the moment, I suppose I should do it with someone I really love. Someone who's special to me and not just some three-month fling. Someone who's family oriented and understands what I sacrifice for my career and to put these guys behind bars."

She nodded, staring down at her hands. "Always thought that after Eddie. Especially that day he nearly hit me at the lab. When he pushed me against the window?" She looked up at him and his hurt smile revealed he remembered all too well.

"Gris said you were pretty shaken up."

"You have no clue."

He shrugged. "Can I come in?"

"Absolutely! I was hoping you'd ask!" She hugged him and before she knew it, he had pulled her into a passionate kiss.

Pushing him back, with a wide grin, she laughed. "What, Warrick, warranted me to get such a powerful gift?"

He looked just as surprised as her. "Thought it was you?"

"Must have been." She pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. "It was definitely both of us."

He giggled slightly. "Maybe I shouldn't come in."

She raised her eyebrow as she climbed out of the car. "Yes you should."