Title: Dreams and Nightmares
Author: cjacsifan
Pairing: Catherine/Wendy
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: CSI is owned by CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer
Summary: Catherine wakes up from a dream only to be living a mother's worst nightmare.
Spoilers: None
A/N: This is the next story in my Catherine/Wendy line and is sequel to Breakfast With A Friend.

"Oh yes Wendy honey...Oh God don't stop that feels so good...oh yes mmm God you are so good with your tongue...BEEP BEEP BEEP"

Catherine wakes up with her covers around her feet and her hands near her core, "Jesus I've got it bad, only 5 hours after leaving her I'm having hot...no wait very hot sex dreams about her, but who the hell can blame me, I haven't been with anyone since Riley left and now that she's..." Catherine stops and blinks away some tears, "I will not cry over her...I will not cry," Catherine says to herself as she gets out of bed.

As she walks downstairs to start a pot of coffee she can't help but be surprised how well Lindsey took the news of Riley not returning; "Lindsey I need to talk to you for a moment."

"It's about Riley isn't it?"

"Yes baby it is...I'm sorry but..."

"She not coming back here is she?"

"No baby she's not..I got this at the lab last night," Catherine tells her daughter as she hands her the telegram.

"Try and remember all the good times we had with Riley while she was with us." Catherine tries to reassure her daughter.

"Don't worry mom we'll be okay, this is the first time this has happend..." Lindsey tells her mom trying to be strong, but a few moments later, "Why mom, Why did she tell us she loved us and was coming back only to lie to us?" Lindsey asks as tears stream down her face.

"I know it hurts baby, but in time the hurt will go away."

Catherine's thoughts are brought back to the present by the beeping of her coffee machine telling her the pot of coffee is done, she pours herself a cup and heads back upstairs to take a shower and start her day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fifteen minutes later, a freshly showered and dressed Catherine comes down the stairs as her phone rings; "Hello?"

"Hey Catherine, It's Wendy I was just wondering how did it go with Lindsey this morning you know telling her about Riley and all that?"

"Oh Hey Wendy, surprisingly well...of course she cried, but I tried to remind her of all the good times we had and I think that helped the situation."

"Well that's good, now the big question how are you doing?" Wendy asks with concern in her voice.

'I dare not tell her the dream I had just before I woke up', Catherine thinks to herself before speaking, "I'm doing okay, with friends like you around I know I will get through it...Thanks again..Beep...Wendy hold on a sec, someone wants me on call waiting."

"No sweat Catherine...I'll hold,"

"Hello?"

"Catherine turn on Channel 12 news right now."

"Well good morning to you too Nancy," Catherine tries to joke with her sister.

"DAMN IT CATHERINE TURN ON THE FUCKING NEWS NOW!!!"

Catherine has never heard her sister raise her voice to her once, so if she is yelling it must be important, "Okay sis," she says as she finds her TV remote and turns on the correct channel.

"This is Alicia Cruz KQLN Channel 12 news standing outside of Indian Hills High School where there has been a report of a shooting, at this time we do not know how many gunmen there were or if any students or teachers were shot...we will be here until this situation is over, Alicia Cruz KQLN Channel 12 news...back to you in the studio."

"OH MY GOD LINDSEY....MY BABY"

"Calm down sis, I'm sure they are doing everything they can out there...I'll get you go in case Lindsey is trying to call you on her cell....I'll be there as soon as I can.

"Okay bye sis," Catherine says trying to remain calm, "Damn Wendy's on the other line."

"Catherine is everything okay?"

Once Catherine heard Wendy asking if all was okay she broke down, "Lindsey...school...shooting," was all Catherine could get out before falling apart again.

"Catherine, what's wrong.... Was Lindsey involved with a shooting at her school...please honey tell me what happend."

"TV 12 News" was all Catherine could say.

Wendy then turned on her TV and saw a repeat of the same report Catherine had seen just a few moments earlier, "My God honey, is there anything I can do?"

"My sister is coming over, but I think I also need a friendly face...could you please come over."

"Of course honey, your address is 3414 Sun Valley Lane, right?" Wendy remembered it from last year's Christmas party.

"That's it, please hurry."

"I'll be over as soon as I can....And don't worry Catherine, Lindsey will be safe."

"Thanks Wendy..see you soon."

"See you Catherine," Wendy then hangs up the phone and makes her way to her car, "Please Lord keep Lindsey safe," she says as she starts her drive to Catherine's house.

The past half hour Catherine tried to keep her emotions reined in by
doing the usual mundane daily things she did once she got up; having
breakfast, doing the breakfast dishes, a bit of house cleaning, then a
shower...today however that wasn't working, she kept thinking about
Lindsey and what was happening to her only child.

Catherine heard her front door open and wiped the fresh set of tears
from her eyes as she sees her sister Nancy come in the door, she ran
into her sister's embrace, "God Nancy what will I do if something
happens to Lindsey?"

"Sis you have to think positive, you know Linds is a smart kid and that
she won't do anything to jeopardize her own safety and the safety of her
friends...you taught that much, now come on sit down and I'll get you
some tea," Nancy knew that one of the few things that Catherine used to
calm down during the most stressful times in her life was tea.

"Thanks sis, you know where things are in the kitchen."

"Of course I do now you go sit down and try to relax...i'll be back in a
few minutes with your tea," Nancy says as she ushered her sister back to
the couch and made her way into Catherine's kitchen.

As Nancy brings the tea to Catherine in the living room, she notices a
car pulling into the driveway, "Are you expecting visitors sis?"

"I asked someone from the lab to come by and keep me company?"

"Riley's back in town?"

Catherine shook her head angrily and pointed to the telegram she got at
the lab, Nancy picked it up and after reading it said, "I'm sorry sis if
I had known I wouldn't have said anything."

"It's not your fault Nance, with this situation going on at Lindsey's
school, I guess it was the last thing on my mind...That's Wendy, she one
of the techs from the lab...remember her from the Christmas party I had
last year?"

"The girl that the creepy guy Hodges was hitting on?"

Catherine couldn't help but laugh, "Yea that girl...thanks for making me
laugh sis."

"No problem, let me go open the door for her," Nancy get off the couch
and opens the door for Wendy.

"Hey Wendy how are you?" Nancy says opening the door for her sister's
colleague.

"Okay...Nancy right...so how's Catherine doing?" Wendy asks her voice
thick with concern, as she hands a box of cookies from the local bakery
to Nancy.

"As well as can be expected...we haven't heard anything from the police
so I guess that's a good thing...come on in, Catherine is in the living
room."

Wendy walks into the living room and sees Catherine looking like a lost
children unable to remember the way home, "Hi Catherine," Wendy begins
not knowing what else to say.

Catherine looks up and sees Wendy and automatically repeats her actions
of the previous night; running over and grabbing on Wendy and crying in
her arms, "Oh Wendy what'll I do if something has happend to my baby."

Wendy leads Catherine back onto the couch and tries to soothe her
fears, "Catherine you have to think positive."

"How can I when all I see and hear on the news about the sitaution is
either bad or unknown?"

"Has anyone from PD called you and told you anything..."

"Well no, I really haven't, it's just that the 'not knowing' seems
worse."

"Cath..." Wendy slips but then corrects herself, "Catherine you know
after seeing Lindsey's name on the student list and you being in law
enforcement, you would probably be one of the first people that notified
if something happend...right?"

"I guess you're right..." Catherine leans in an whispers in Wendy's ear,
"don't worry you can call me 'Cath' in front of my sister," she then
kisses Wendy on the cheek which causes the lab tech to blush
uncontrollably.

As Nancy enters the room carrying a tray of cookies and tea, Catherine
and Wendy act like a couple of teens that have been caught making out by
a parent; moving to the opposite ends of the couch away from each other,
"I just came in here to see how you two were doing, and from the looks
of it you were doing well...by the way Wendy I like that blush you're
using can you tell me where you bought it."

"You'll have to excuse my sister Wendy, sometimes she can be a real
smart ass...Nancy, you are lucky you were carrying that tray or this
pillow would have been aimed right that head of yours."

"Hey what can I say I'm your sibling and rule number one in the sibling
hand book is and I quote, "Embarrass your sibling and his or her friends
every chance you get," Nancy says laughing.

"Ah yes my dear sister but you forget that I am a CSI and I know there
are many ways to kill and leave no evidence behind."

"Cath, remind me never to get on your bad side," Wendy says with a
twinkle in her eye.

"Oh not to worry Wendy...you'll know, " Nancy says before her sister has
a chance to say anything.

"Now what the hell is that supposed to mean," Catherine says trying to
sound angry but failing miserably.

The jovial mood is suddenly halted by the ringing of Wendy's cell phone,
"Simms...okay...how many....okay....i'll be right there..."

"The lab calling you in?" Catherine asks.

"Yea...all I know is that there are two victims...so far, Brass is at
the scene and Ecklie is making this case top priority," Wendy says as
she gets up to leave.

Catherine walks her to the door, "Thanks for coming over, I appreciate
it...and please..."

"If there is any news on Lindsey...You are my first call," Wendy says as
she hugs Catherine and kisses her on the cheek.

"Brass will probably beat you to it."

"I'll still call you to see how you are holding up."

"I'd like that...thanks again for the cookies and just...being here for
me."

"Why wouldn't I be here for you...I care about you...talk to you later,"
Wendy says hugging Catherine once more and giving her another peck on
the cheek."

"Bye hun...talk to you later," Catherine says as she closes the door.

Catherine closes her front door and without turning around she says,
"Okay Nancy, what's on your mind?"

"Wait a minute...How did you know what I was thinking or that I was
thinking anything at all?"

"I'm your sister, and I know by the look that's on your face now that
you have something to say."Catherine says finally turning around to look
her sister in the eye.

"Well to be honest sis, I was a little surprised that you would have
someone over here especially after just finding out that Riley wasn't
coming back here."

"First of all, I've known the woman for four years and think of her not
only as a good lab tech but a friend; second of all she came and
comforted me in my office when I got the telegram from Riley...she was
there when I needed a friend, Okay..." realizing she is sounding a bit
harsh, Catherine lightens her tone, "I'm sorry sis, what happend is she
found the telegram by the front desk where I had dropped it after
reading it and came to my office to check on me and I cried in her arms
and as thanks I took her to breakfast and paid for it and we exchanged
home phone numbers... I don't see any crme in that do you?"

"I'm sorry too sis... for jumping to conclusions, It just seems that
when you become close with someone too quickly it usually ends badly."

"Jesus Nancy give me a little credit...I'm not going to take the woman
to breakfast and take her right to bed...though I did have an
interesting dream about her before I woke up..."

"Oh Boy, you're a real pistol sis...you know that don't you?" Nancy says
lightening the mood once more.

"That's why you love me...," The conversation between the sisters is
interrupted by Catherine's home phone, "Hello Willows residence."

"Hey Catherine it's Brass."

Catherine takes a deep breath to try and hold her emotions at bay, "What
can you tell me Jim."

"I knew immediately when we got the call that Lindsey was a student
here...so far I haven't been able to get any word on her...she's a
cheerleader if I'm not mistaken."

A lump that was Catherine's heart now rests in her throat, "That's right
Jim why do you ask?"

"Well it seems that the guy that fired the shots, went right for the
gymnasium where the school was having a mid-day pep rally for the big
game tonight and decided to take the football team, all the coaches and
cheerleaders hostage, at least he let the rest of the students and
teachers go."

Silent tears ran down Catherine's face as she listened to Jim, then
asked when he was done, "Do you know who was killed because Wendy Simms
was over here and was told to get back to the lab and process evidence
from two victims."

"I think they were the school security guard and the custodian, I'm not
really sure of their names...we think the perp is a father of one of the
boys on the team...why he did this is anyone's guess, but we have the
negotiator talking to him now...if I hear anything else you'll be the
first to know."

"Thanks Jim I appreciate that."

"Don't worry Catherine...Lindsey will be fine, I'm see to that
myself...talk to you when I have more."

"Thanks again Jim," Catherine then hangs up the kitchen phone.

"So what's going on Cath, what did Brass have to say," Nancy asks
anxiously.

"It seems some football obsessed father walked in on a pep rally and
took the team, coaches and cheerleaders hostage, I guess the bright side
is he did let the other students and teachers go free...Brass said the
two deaths were the security guard and custodian from all the witness
statements they tried to stop the guy from entering the school...Brass
told me he would keep an eye out for Linds...." Catherine then breaks
down again.

"He'll do just that, he thinks of her as a granddaughter...speaking of
which have you called and told mom."

"She's out of town with some of old friends from her showgirl
days...Thanks God...now all we get to do is wait."


"Las Vegas Crime Lab, Judy speaking how may I help you," The front desk
receptionist answers the main phone of the crime lab.

"Hey Judy, it's Wendy Simms I just got called in because of the shooting
and hostage dituation at Indian Hills High School, could you tell Ecklie
or whoever's in charge that i'll be there as soon as I can."

"Sure Wendy, no problem...I'll let Undersheriff Ecklie you're on your
way."

"Thanks Judy see you soon."

Fifteen minutes later, Wendy walks in to the lab and as she heads for
the locker room she hears the unmistakeable yell of Conrad Ecklie,
"Simms, why didn't you answer you're home phone whne I called you
there...you realize I had to get a hold of you on your cell phone."

"I know that sir, and I have a good reason for it..."

"Mind telling me what it is?"

"I was over at Catherine Willow's house trying to keep her calm because
of this case at Indian Hills High School."

"What does she have to do with this case?"

"Well if you so much as read your employees no ex-employees files once
in a while you'd have known that her daughter Lindsey is a student there
and may be one of the hostages there as well...so if you don't mind I'd
like to get to work on the evidence that was collected from this case so
far," with that Wendy walks into the DNA lab; while Ecklie just stands
there dumbfounded.

"You can't talk to me like that,"

"You're not my boss anymore."

"I can have your supervisor fire you."

"Catherine is my direct supervisor and you know she won't fire me..."
Wendy says, she then turns to Ecklie, "Listen I'm sorry I took that tone
with you but Lindsey is all Catherine has left if I recall, I remember
hearing about her husband'd death sometime ago...so let me get to work
and find out what's happening at that school so Catherine isn't
completely alone."

"Okay Simms, let me know when you get anything."

Wendy gets to work on the few pieces of evidence she has, a bullet
casing, a piece of skin, and the clothes of the two dead men. About
forty five minutes later Wendy calls Ecklie into the lab to show him her
findings.

"What do you have Wendy."

Well I checked the blood on the uniforms against the skin we have and
neither are a match, so I figure the skin belongs to our perp, next I
checked the skin against DNA from the bullet casing which I sent to
Mandy to check for prints, luckily our ammo was 9mm and had a descent
partial print on it..."

"So can you tell me any names Simms?" Ecklie asks somewhat angrily.

"The first blood sample belonged to the custodian; Walter Wickford aged
57, married with one son that is on the Reno PD, no record just a guy
doing his job the same that he had for the past 25 years...The second
was from Lucas Olson 30 yrs old, married no kids, tried to be a cop but
had medical condition that prevented that but doesn't say here, Doc
Robbins might help you on that...just hiredon as School security guard
the beginning of this school year, clean record nothing unusual aout him
either..."

"Except he won't be going home to his family either..."Ecklie says
finishing Wendy's thought,"Anything from the skin tag."

"Perp's name is Jack Davidson, his fingerprint was on the casing...he
was in the system because he coaches pee-wee football and anyone that
works with kids gets printed..."

Wendy stops to take a look at her screen before giving the rest of the
information to Ecklie. " from all indicatons he was Mr. Nevada football
back about 25 years ago...State all star from Indian Hills High, then a
great college career at UNLV was hoping to get drafted into the NFL but
had no takers, tried the CFL and again no one wanted him..ended up
playing a few years for a semi-pro team in Seattle, team from the now
defunct West Coast Football League, says here the team name was Seattle
Mountaineers...has a wife, Melinda and son, Jack Jr. who plays
quarterback at Indian Hills, says here he's on the Junior Varsity team."

"That's probably what set the father off...the father thinks just
because he was Mr. Everything Football, the son should be given the same
consideration...and goes after the team because of that, and from what
Brass just told me over the phone, Davidson just let students out as a
show of good faith...however he is keeping the team, coaches and
cheerleading squad still at gunpoint..." Ecklie then looks at this
rosters for the football team and cheerleading squad and his face goes
ashen.

"What's wrong Ecklie you don't look so good."

"Lindsey Willows is a member of the cheerleading squad Davidson is still
holding her hostage."

"Sure Jim, I'll get another team out there as soon as possible," Ecklie says as he enters the DNA lab.

"What's wrong...." Wendy asks her former supervisor but by the look on his face she can tell what his news will be, "Don't tell me more gunshots at the high school...any details?"

"The only thing Brass told me was that some of the coaches tried to rush Mr. Davidson and they were injured, how serious is not known but we need a couple of CSIs there to collect more evidence...I know Greg and Ray went the last time and they working on their evidence and  Catherine is out of the question as a CSI on this one...I know you aren't a CSI yet, but from what Catherine and her team have been telling me you seem to know what you are doing in the field so let me get Nick and the two of you can head to the school and just a reminder..."

"I know, Help the CSI when asked, other than that take witness statements and observe," Wendy says with guarded optimism at the chance of not only helping out in the field but being able to see if Lindsey is safe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Damn it Nancy, I wish to hell I knew what was going on at Lindsey's school," Catherine says in a voice tinged with anger.

"Sis, calm down you know Wendy told you she would get a hold of you if she could...with those the two people that are dead she's probably back at the lab working on the evidence from thosw victims...besides I'm sure we would have heard something by bow if something else were happening...try and relax." Nancy says trying to clam her sister down.

Just as the words leave Nancy's mouth, an announcement comes on over the unwatched television: "This is Alicia Cruz Channel 12 News live once again at Indian Hills High School...Apparently there has been more gunfire heard from inside the school building and again we know that there are hostages in the building, but we are unsure why these second round of shots we fired, we are however at this time able to tell you that the police have released the names of this morning's victims; This first is Walter Wickford aged 57, he was the school custodian for the last twenty five years...he leaves a wife and adult son, the second victim is 30 year old Lucas Olson who was just hired on this year as the school security guard...Channel 12 news will stay here with any late breaking details on this story...This is Alicia Cruz Channel 12 news, now back to your regular scheduled program."

"Cath, now we know that nothing has happend to Lindsey," Nancy says as she tries to stem the tide of her sister's tears.

"HOW THE HELL CAN YOU BE SO FUCKING SURE THAT MANIAC HASN'T DONE ANYTHING TO LINDSEY."  Catherine yells in frustration.

"Because both Jim AND Wendy promised you that you would be the first to know if anything has happend to her right?"

"Right."

"And we have yet to hear from either of them am I Right?"

"Yea you're right...I'm sorry Nance..it's just.." is all that Catherine can say before tears overcome her once again.

"I know...I know, come here..." Nancy holds Catherine tight until her older sister stops crying, "would you like to go to the school and see for yourself."

"Nancy even I know that they won't let parents in the school, and I can't go in as a CSI it would be conflict of interest."

"True but there will be other parents there; all of you can support each other...am I right?"

"I guess you are, let me wash up a bit then we can head to the high school."

After a few minutes the sisters are on their way, "Nancy..."

"Yea sis..."

"Thanks for being here..."

"That's what sisters are for Cath."

Wendy and Nick get to the hgh school and check with Jim about the newest victims, "Well it's seems two coaches were shot and wounded, their names are Glen Appleton; Principal Oakdale told me he was the offesive coordinator, the second coach injured was the quarterback coach, Steven McKay."

"Thanks Jim..." Nick says to Jim before turning to Wendy, "Wendy you know what to do just..."

"I know Nick; take statements, talk to any one that was in the gym before the perp attacked, check with the parents."

"Okay...keep your phone on in case I need you."

"Sure Nick," Wendy tells Nick, once Nick heads into the school she then turns to the Adminstrative staff of the school to get any information she can about the injured teachers and check to see if the perp has done something like this before.

Moments later Catherine and Nancy come walking towards the school because they had to park a few blocks away because of all the media and police vehicles that were parked on the streets directly adjacent to the school, unfortunately for Catherine, Conrad was the first person to see them.

"Catherine you shouldn't be here...it's a conflict of interest."

"I'm not a complete idiot Conrad, I am here as a parent and not as a member of the police...I am going to stand with the rest of the parents...I gather the whole team is here." Catherine said in an annoyed tone at her former supervisor.

"Okay Catherine...and yes they are, and because we are short handed because of Riley being gone...yes Catherine I know because I received a lette of resignation in this morning's mail before all of this happend...so I have Wendy Simms asking questions of the Principal and his staff and Nick told her if she was needed he would let her know."

Meanwhile, Wendy was asking Principal James Oakdale questions about the perp and anything else she found to be probative, "Well Miss Simms, I remember Jack  Davidson when he played football here back in the 80's...I was the head of the science department back then...Jack was a great student and a great player in college but maybe because UNLV isn't considered a quote, unquote big school he wasn't drafted...."

Wendy didn't want to be mean but this was things that she knew already, "I'm not trying to be mean Mr. Oakdale but I know these are things I know, can you tell me what he was like as a student and a parent to his son that goes here..I mean is there something that you saw in his demeanor that would have told you that he was planning on doing this?"

"From all indications, he seemed to have a good marriage, his job was going well I believe he worked in construction, and his son had tried out for the varsity team but  only made the junior varsity....that's all I can tell you young lady, if you need anymore please don't hesitate to ask me."

"Thank you Mr. Oakdale..." Wendy's phone began to ring, "Simms...okay Nick, I'll be there in a minute." turning back to the Principal, "Thanks again please accept my condelences for the two employees."

"Thank you young lady, I hope there is no more blood shed."

"So do I sir," Wendy says silently as she walks into the school.

Wendy finds Nick on the gym floor looking over some evidence, "Who...who the hell is she?"

"Mr Davidson, she is here to help me collect evidence," Nick says as confidently as possible.

"How long has Mr. Davidson been holding the gun on you?"

"Since I cam in here,get anything from the staff."

"Not much, The principal told me he was happy in his marriage and his job was going okay even though he was in construction...or was it?"

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm no shrink, but would you do this if the only thing that was bothering you is your son not making the Varsity football team?"

"No but if I was short on cash and my son wanted to go to college and the only way to pay for it was a college scholarship...that might set me off...Hold on a second..."Nick then dials his cell phone, "Hey Greg it's Nick, do me a favor and check if the Davidson's son was up for any type of scholarship for college; his name is Jack Davidson Jr, and also the finanacials on the family....call me back when you get the information."

Ten minutes later, "Stokes...okay Greg what do you have....okay thanks."

"So what did Greg have to say?" Wendy asks Nick.

"Seems the Davidson's were in debt up to their eyeballs; Overdue bills including electric and gas, car payment was late, and of course with this economy Mr. Davidson's construction jobs had dried up so they were hoping the money from the scholarship would be enough to send the son to college, however since he didn't make the varsity team...."

"Let me guess the offers for scholarships dried up too."

"Yup, damn poor guy feels he lost everything...and what's worse he heaped this on the shoulders of his son....wait Wendy what are you doing?"

"What should have been done before...at least to get some of these kids out of here safe," Wendy says as she eyes Lindsey Willows in the crowd of cheerleaders; Lindsey sees Wendy and immediately recognizes her from the visits to the lab.

Wendy goes over to where Mr. Davidson is standing, "Mr Davidson...my name is Wendy Simms and I work for the LVPD."

"Yeah so who the fuck cares,"

"You should because I can help you out of this mess you put yourself into; including all these innocent people that are your hostages, not to mention the two innocent men you killed earlier today."

"What can you do for me?" Jack Sr. says, not as confident as he was when Wenydy first approached him.

"As I said I'm from the police department, I work for th ecrime lab...I'm more valuable to you than anyof these kids; especially the cheerleaders...just imagine the lawsuits that will be filed against you for kidnapping all these kids...I know you let all the rest go, but you still have some and what would your wife and son do if you lost all your money in lawsuits and just because your son might not get a chance at a scholarship...you realiae if you go throught with your threat of harming everyone associated with the football team  after you're put in jail they will lose everything including the house so what do you say why not let the cheerleaders out and I'll stay in their place."

Wendy can see the wheels of Mr. Davidson's mind turning as she looks into his eyes, "Okay let me call the undersheriff first."

"Undersheriff Ecklie...yes sir I understand....you're keeping who as a hostage....Wendy Simms...okay Mr. Davidson, let the cheerleaders out by the front door."

Inside ,Mr. Davidson tells Wendy the news so she goes over to tell the cheerleaders to get ready to leave; she then hands Lindsey Willows a note, "make sure to give this to your mom," before leading them to the door and all at once the cheerleaders including Lindsey rush to their families.

"Oh Lindsey, how are you baby...did that man hurt you in any way?"

"I'm fine mom, he wasn't mean to us at all just scared us because he had a couple of guns, but he never harmed us...Oh and Wendy told me to give this to you."

Just as Lindsey is handing the note to her mother, Ecklie and Brass walk over to see Catherine, "Did you know about this Catherine...that Simms was exchanging herself  for the cheerleaders."

"No...I had no idea..."

"Come on Catherine, Simms even told me you two had breakfast at your house today...is there anything going on between you two."

"SLAP!!!, how dare you think about something that trivial when we have more important issues to think about like more hostages and a  very nervous gunman in there, now if you don't mind my daughter needs to answer some questions," As she walks away from Ecklie, Catherine pulls the note out of her pocket and reads it:

Catherine,

I still want to get to know you better, remember everything we talked about at breakfast...remember I care for you deeply.

Wendy

As she walks behind Lindsey and Brass, she puts the note back in her pocket and whispers, "I care deeply for you too Wendy...be safe hon."

"Okay Lindsey, now try and remember everything you can about what
happend to you and your classmates," Catherine tells her daughter
nervously.

"Mom, I'm going to be okay, remember I went through this same thing when
daddy died and don't forget I'm older so I will be able to remember more
than I did back then."

"I know honey, I just don't want you to be nervous," Catherine says not
seeing Jim come up from behind her.

"Here you go kiddo, I figured you could use this," Brass says handing
Lindsey a bottle of water.

"Thanks Unc...I mean Captain Brass," Lindsey says remember she is only
calls her mom friends from work 'Uncle' and 'Aunt' in private.

"So are you ready to answer some questions Linds?"

"I am but mom here is nervous for some unknown reason," Lindsey looks at
her mom, who is now trying to shy away from her daughter and Brass.

"Don't worry Catherine, I'll be the one asking the question...Lindsey is
a big girl she'll do just fine...come on kiddo," Jim says as he leads
Lindsey over to a police cruiser which has been deemed the best place
out of the public eye for questioning of witnesses by Brass and Ecklie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile inside the school gymnasium, "Well I'm all done here are you
sure you'll be okay Wendy?"

"I'm sure Nick, Mr. Davidson isn't going to hurt me..go on get your butt
outta here and get that stuff back to the lab."

Once Nick was gone, Wendy took the opportunity to talk to Mr. Davidson,
"So Mr. Davidson can you tell me why you did this?"

"That's none of your God Damn business lady..so just shut up and sit
down," Mr. Davidson says swinging his gun in Wendy's direction.

"Hey I know what it's like to go without; no money coming in, hardly any
food on the table, wearing hand-me-downs."

"Yeah sure, miss prissy police lab lady knows what it's like...how can
you?"

"My dad was an interstate trucker during the 80s when the economy for
the average joe was in the dumper...my sister's and I had to get clothes
from our older cousins....some days we ate nothing but oatmeal for
dinner, so you see I know what it's like to almost lose everything but
as you can see you can bounce back just like I did," Wendy explains to
the perp.

"How can I do that after all I've done today...I can't bring those two
men I killed back from the dead, I know I'll go to jail for that...and
what's going to happen to my family."

"I can't tell you that but if you let the rest of the hostages go it
will be a show of good faith and that might count for something...come
on put the gun down, do you really want your family to go on without
you."

Mr. Davidson gives it some thought and with tears in his eyes he drops
his gun to the floor, Wendy kicks it away from everyone and calls
Ecklie.

"Ecklie it's Wendy Simms....I know I shouldn't be in here but we can
talk about that later, Mr. Davidson is ready to give up...he will send
the football team out first then you can send Brass in."

She then turns back to Mr. Davidson, "You heard that right..." Mr.
Davidson nods, "Okay let them go out the front door like you did the
cheerleaders."

Moments later the football team emerges from the school while Brass and
a contingent of officers go in and head to the gym, "Okay Mr. Davidson
down on your knees and hands behind your back."

As Mr. Davidson is being lead out of the school Brass turns to Wendy,
"Do you realize you could have been killed young lady...I'm going to
recommend to Catherine that you stay in the lab and not be allowed
out..." he then hugs her and whispers "I'm glad you got out safe...and
I'm not the only one," Brass says as he sees Catherine's reaction as he
walks out with Wendy.

"What do you think she'll do to me?"

"I really don't know but I think you should go take your medicine like
an adult."

Wendy walks over towards where she sees Catherine standing with the other parents only to be stopped by Ecklie, "Simms I don't know what Catherine has in store for you after you pulled this stunt, but if I were still in charge of the lab you'd be looking for a new position in another city or even another state."

"What the hell was I supposed to do, can you tell me that...no one was lifting a finger to help the hostages and all the guy wanted was his son back on the varsity football team...Oh I know what he did was wrong but put yourself in his shoes; tell me Ecklie what the hell would you have done if a) you were out of work...b) you couldn't payyour monthly utility bills...and c) the only way to get money for your ONLY son's education was a scholarship and found out that was being taken away from him..."

"First of all I would not have shot someone or taken hostages like he did, why are you even asking me these questions you are supposed to be objective Simms that's part of the job...being empathetic in the lab is not an option."

"Okay maybe it's not but this time it helped the situation." Wendy says as she tries to walk away from Ecklie.

Ecklie not one to let go of an argument follows her, "You're right Simms it did work this time, but what about the next time someone maybe even yourself tries to be empathetic with a perp and it backfires...what about that?"

"There won't be a next time because you even said yourself that maybe I should start looking for another job and knowing what kind of a schmuck you are and you'll talk Catherine into firing me anyway."

"Did I just hear my name?" Catherine asks a shocked Wendy and Ecklie.

"Simms was just telling me what kind of a schmuck I am because I will probably try to have you fire her for the stunt she just pulled and if I were you I would, but she told me there was no need to because she was quitting."

"Is...is this true Wendy?" Catherine asks trying to keep a hold on her emotions.

"Well I figured this stunt would get me fired anyway so yes I guess it's true."

Barely holding on to her emotions, "Thank you Conrad i'll take it from here." basically dismissing him and he just turns and walks away.

Wendy looks at a retreating Ecklie and doesn't notice Catherine walking away from her just as quickly in the other direction, "Catherine wait up," Wendy then goes after her.

Wendy finally catches up to Catherine near her SUV, "Catherine please talk to me why did you run away like that?"

It's only when Catherine lifts her eyes to meet Wendy's that Wendy sees the streaks from tears on Catherine's cheeks and more tears ready to fall, "Catherine please talk to me what's wrong?"

"So the note means nothing?" Catherine says angrily as she pulls the note from her jacket pocket.

"No...I mean yes...I mean...I was telling the truth about wanting to get to know you better but with this stunt I pulled Ecklie said I was being apathetic towards the victim and he said with feelings like that I should leave the lab."

"Is that what you want to do leave the lab...you know I need you...I mean the lab needs you." Catherine says as she dries her eyes hoping Wendy missed her slip of the tongue.

"So it's just the lab that needs me or do you need me too?" Wendy asks as she slowly walks up to Catherine and puts her arms around the strawberry blonde's waist.

"Well okay I need you too..." Catherine says shyly as she puts her arms around the brunette's waist.

The two women untangle themselves as they hear Lindsey running towards them, "Mom are you okay...", the teen then notices the looks on the faces of her mother and Wendy, "Well that was a dumb question...you know you two look good together."

"We do don't we?" Wendy says looking in Catherine's eyes.

"This looks like we have the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"It does indeed Catherine...It does indeed."