Title: Dear Catherine
Author: cjacsifan
Pairing: Riley/Catherine & Catherine/Wendy
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: CSI is owned by CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer
Summary: A telegram brings two people together.
Spoilers: None

A/N: Takes place 6 months after the end of  'Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever' consider it a sequel.

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Catherine has been wondering how Riley has been doing because it's been six months since she left and she hasn't sent any word about herself or how her father is doing; Catherine tries to keep busy with her work, but once she gets home Catherine feels the loneliness surround her.

"Catherine are you there...you seemed somewhere else," Nick says in a concerned tone as he drives the two of them back from a scene

"I'm sorry Nick, it's just that I haven't heard..." Catherine starts only to be interrupted by Nick.

"I'm sure Riley is fine," Nick says as he flashes his boss and friend a reassuring smile as he pulls into his spot in the lab underground parking lot.

"I sure hope so Nick, because contrary to popular belief; no new is not good news, it's frustrating."

Nick nods, "Well at least we got this case to keep us busy for this shift and shifts for the rest of this week..." Nick comments as he and Catherine look at the amount of evidence they have from their home invasion case.

"Thanks Nicky," Catherine says as she squeezes Nick's arm before helping him take the bags out of his SUV and begins to take them in and to all the proper labs.

As Catherine leads into the DNA lab she notices Wendy staring at her, 'Damn she looks hot in those jeans...Damn it Simms stop thinking like that she's in love with Riley..', "WENDY!" Catherine yells trying to get the lab techs attention.

"Sorry Cath, what can I do for you?"

"I need this stuff checked," Catherine says as she handed Wendy nearly a dozen bags of evidence. 

Wendy goes wide eyed looking at the bags of evidence, "I'll do the best I can."

"I know you will," Catherine says before winking at the lab tech and heading towards the breakroom to fill her coffee mug and heading to the layout room to meet Nick and help him go over the clothes hidden just behind the crime scene.

'Did she just wink at me...I think so...I doubt it why would she do that...', "Damn it Simms get your head back in the game," The DNA tech chastises herself and gets to work.

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An hour later a gentleman comes to the front desk, "May I help you?" Judy asks

"I have telegram for Catherine Willows."

"I can give it to her."

"Sure just sign here."

Judy signs for it and then goes looking for Catherine,and finds her in the break room, "Catherine this came for you."

"Thanks Judy, I'll take it with me and read it on the way to my office," she takes it from Judy and opens it and is delighted to see it's from Riley; but the delight turns to anguish as she begins to read the telegram

DEAR CATHERINE

I KNOW THIS ISN'T WHAT WE PLANNED ON WHILE I WAS IN VEGAS AND I KNOW  THAT YOU FOUND MY JACKET AND FIGURED I WOULD BE COMING BACK, AND AS I WRITE THIS I CAN'T HELP BUT CRY BECAUSE IT HURTS TO SAY WHAT I HAVE TO SO I'LL JUST DO IT...I WON'T BE COMING BACK, MY FATHER'S DYING WISH WAS THAT MY MOTHER AND I FINISH WHAT HE STARTED HERE IN THE JUNGLE...AND I AM HONORING THAT WISH.

YOU MUST REALIZE HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU BUT FAMILY WILL ALWAYS COME FIRST WITH ME EVEN IF THEY TREATED ME BADLY WHEN THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT MY SEXUALITY.

PLEASE KNOW THAT HAVING YOU AND LINDSEY IN MY LIFE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST TIMES IN MY LIFE...I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH THE TIME WE SPENT TOGETHER

RILEY

Catherine can't believe her eyes as she reads the telegram and she begins to cry; not wanting to make a scene in the lab she run into her office closes the door and pulls the shade; what Catherine didn't notice is that she dropped the telegram.

Seeing Catherine run by her in tears Wendy goes to see what happend, and she notices the telegram, she then picks it up and reads it.

Wendy hesitantly goes to Catherine's office and sees the shades drawn which usually means 'KEEP OUT', but Wendy ignores that and knocks, "Catherine it's me Wendy...I have the telegram would you like to talk about it."

"Come in," Catherine in a weak voice says as she tries to compose herself.

Wendy immediately goes over and hugs Catherine, who just break down once more, "I'm so sorry Catherine I know how much you two loved each other."

"That's the story of my whole damn life; I find someone to love and then they up and leave...Eddie, Chris, and now Riley," Catherine says bitterly, then starts crying again.

Wendy kneels in front of Catherine and pulls her into a hug, "It's not you Catherine all of those others are idiots, I didn't know Eddie or Chris but Riley just didn't seem right for you."

"Miss Simms are you flirting with me?"

Wendy was at a loss for words, "Well...Cath..It...I..." she stammers.

"I think it's cute...thanks for helping me feel better."

'Cute she said my flirting was cute', Wendy thinks as she tries to get her thoghts together, "No problem Cath, how about breakfast after shift, just the two of us...my treat."

"I think I'd like that...and we can discuss all those times I caught you staring at me when you thought I wasn't looking."

Catherine chuckles as she sees  Wendy's wide eyed reaction, "Su..Sure Catherine I'll meet you here after shift."

"Sounds like a plan...Thanks again Wendy," Catherine says as she hugs Wendy tight; she then surprises Wendy with a peck on the cheek.

Wendy leaves Catherine's office with a smile on her face and butterflies in her stomach, Wendy thinks to herself, 'I can't believe I have a breakfast date with Catherine...I guess some dreams just might come true.'