A/N: I do not own CSI Miami or any of it's characters, affiliates...etc. This is just my imagination running with it! I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 1

It was just dinner

Slamming the man's head down on the table in the interrogation room, she got right in his face, almost laying her cheek on the cold unyielding surface. "You better tell me what I want to know."

Grunting, the man blew out. "I don't have to tell you anything! And you can't make me."

Putting her hand on the side of his head and face, she put her body weight on him. "Tell me!" she screamed.

An arm was around her chest pulling her away. "Charli! That's enough!"

Wrestling away from the man she walked around the idiot in the chair. "The hell it is!" then she reached down and picked the man up by the collar of his shirt, and lifted him. Damn where had this burst of strength come from? Oh well. Didn't matter. She was going to find out what she wanted. Pushing him against the wall, she looked over at the form trying to intercede. "Stay out of this Walter!" then she got one more jab. Splaying him against the glass wall, she got in his face. "Tell me...what I want to know!" she said in a low growl.

"Charli."

"Dammit that is my family laying in that hospital bed! And you're going to pay for it!"

One Day Earlier

"Charli?"

Turning, she glanced at the red head approaching. "I wondered if I'd see you."

He half smiled. "Like I'd miss an investigation." and he took in her small frame. At least she'd put back her weight after months, from losing it after a case. It took forever for the kid to gain ten pounds, but mere days to lose it. Her light brown hair was rounded at her shoulders and on the days that she actually left it down, it curled under just slightly. But her amber eyes were clear, and finally bright with excitement again.

"You had court yesterday." she chided back.

Nodding, it was impossible to argue that. "Yes. But I don't today."

"Fair enough." she spouted, knowing that was one of his favorite phrases.

Unable to stop himself from smiling, he stepped closer. "So what have we got?"

"Looks like a suicide, but if you look closer, you'll see that it's indicative of a murder. Too much here to suggest suicide."

Nodding, he took in her gaze. She didn't miss anything when it came to investigations. Squatting next to her, she proceeded to explain to him why she thought it was murder, and damn if she hadn't been spot on. It had been a long road with her, finding her when she was just a kid, and watching as she became the person that she was. He smiled briefly then nodded as she continued.

They worked the scene for another solid hour before either of them stopped for a few minutes. Taking the opportunity, he stepped up behind her. "Good job kid."

She turned and smiled. "Thanks. How was your vacation last week? I never did ask."

"It was good. Natalia tells me you had a date while I was gone."

"Ah, it was just dinner."

"And?" he asked, hoping she would make a connection. She'd been so alone for so long, and she still didn't really have any friends. Her team was her family, and she would occasionally go out to dinner with one of them, or all of them on the rare occasions that they were all free, but she still was such a loner. And he'd known what it was to be alone. It was something he hoped she would finally break free from. Always so closed off to anyone that would be able to keep her company, or even just be in her life.

She shrugged. "I don't know. We're going to dinner tonight."

The smile on his face broadened. "Good! Where's he taking you?"

"I don't know. He said it's a surprise. I think I'm a little nervous."

"You, nervous?" he picked.

Laughing out, she nudged him. "Shut up! I am!" and she leaned in when she felt his arm go around her shoulder.

Squeezing gently, he chuckled. "Do you have your weapon?"

"I never leave home without it. Dad." she spouted that last part sarcastically.

He smiled and laid his cheek on her head as he'd done so many times before, and squeezed once more before giving her some space. She was never one for affection, so when she took it, he never pushed it.

"I've got my GPS on my phone and Natalia has the code I can text her 911 if I get in trouble. You want it too?"

Smiling he shook his head. "Hey, you can't blame me for being protective."

Grinning herself, she glanced up at him. "No. You're right. I can't. And I'm damn lucky for it."

"Nah. It is what it is kid."

Heading for her department issued Hummer, she hopped up into the truck and headed back to the lab to clock out. She caught Natalia in the hallway. "I've got a bone to pick with you."

The brown headed woman turned around, eyes showing amusement. "What's up?"

"Don't what's up me!" she picked. "You ratted me out!"

Unable to stop the laughter from escaping, she closed her eyes and shook her head before glancing up at the girls face, turning red as she tried to stop herself from laughing as well. "I sure did."

Rolling her eyes, she shook her head and walked to the desk.

"So, where are you going tonight?"

"Jeez all Petes! I know if I'm ever going to keep a secret I need to keep it from you and Horatio both!"

H popped up behind them as he usually did. "You know, it's impossible to keep something from me anyway."

She turned, surprisingly not startled that he was there, and shook her head. "I'm going home! I've got a date to get ready for!" and she smiled and headed for the elevator. Hitting the button, she turned around. "Don't worry. I'll text you both when I get home." and the doors closed.


It was eleven thirty when his phone rang. "Horatio?"

"Natalia?" he asked, even more concerned.

"Have you heard from her?"

Not having to ask who she was referring to, he stood up off his couch, and grabbed his jacket and keys. "No. I'm on my way to your place. Find out where she's at."

"I'm on it." and she hung up.

It took him about five minutes to get to her place and when he walked in, she had her computer up, with a bright red dot.

"This doesn't make sense Horatio. This says she's in some warehouse on the East side."

"Get the address. Lets go."

They drove for almost twenty minutes, both hoping like hell to get a text, but neither one receiving one at all. He pulled up to the warehouse and they spotted a brand new Mustang, with drive out tags still on it. He got a sinking feeling in his stomach. They walked in silently, both with their weapons drawn. They could hear the conversation going on inside the expanse.

"I'm going to get you Charli!" the voice taunted.

"Go to hell!" she screamed out.

"That's right. Keep yelling. I took your gun when you were unconscious."

"You think I don't know how to fight?"

The smile was so present, they could hear it in his voice. "You managed to get into the rafters? Cleaver girl! I'm still going to get you though. And when I do..." and he stopped, hearing something to his right.

Dammit it was pitch dark in here.

"Who else is in here?"

"I told you he would come for me."

There was a flash of a muzzle load and then another, and then another. Two bodies fell to the ground and she heard Natalia scream for Horatio. Climbing down as quickly as she could, she dropped when a flash light beam appeared. Her heart and breath stopped when she got to the side of the fallen man.

A silent tear dripped down her cheek as she reached out and put pressure on the bullet wound. She heard Natalia on the phone. "There's an ambulance on the way."

She sniffled and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Oh God. This is all my fault."

"No it wasn't." came the weak voice.

"Don't try to talk. God I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Horatio. Hang on okay? Help is coming."

He reached up and grabbed her hand. "Don't. Don't blame yourself."

Looking up, tears now streaming down her face, she glanced into the brown eyes locked with her own. "How long?"

"I don't know. A couple of minutes."

"They need to be here now, dammit!" and she looked back down at the wound and the blood pooling around her hand.

"Charli."

Looking down, he reached up and traced a tear down her face.

"I'm going to be fine."

"You're damn right you are!" and she caught a faint sound of a siren. "That's the ambulance. They're almost here. Okay?"


A/N: Please review and tell me what you think! I love hearing your reactions to my work. Going to try and do this a little different and work on the story in the website, instead of doing it all offline and finishing the story all at once. Let me know what you guys think! :)