One Week Later

"Are you ready to go," asked Sammie as he and Mallory stood in front of Roxanne. "Yeah, I guess I'm ready. I'm still nervous though," said Roxanne as she tried not to cry. "It's okay to be nervous. You haven't seen Horatio or the others in a while. I'm sure they will welcome you back with open arms," said Mallory. "I know they will. I'm just nervous about seeing Horatio at the banquet. It's going to be interesting," said Roxanne.

"It's okay to be nervous. You'll do just fine. I know you will. Keep in touch," said Mallory. "I will keep in touch. You don't have to worry about that. Try to keep Sammie here out of trouble," said Roxanne with a laugh. "I try, but it's a hard job," said Mallory. "Funny. You two are just so funny. I'm not that bad," said Sammie trying to defend himself.

"Well, I'll talk to you when I land in Miami," said Roxanne as she grabbed her bags. "Yes. Be sure to call us when you land so we'll know you've gotten there safely," said Sammie. "I will. Don't worry. I'll be safe. Take care you two," said Roxanne as she hugged Mallory and Sammie one last time before heading for the gate.

A few hours later Roxanne's plane landed. "Yes. I'm finally home," said Roxanne to herself as she got of the plane. "I can't wait to see Horatio's face when he sees me at the banquet," thought Roxanne to herself as she got her luggage and called for a cab to come pick her up.

Thirty minutes later she was at her place. "It's so good to be home! I can't believe I'm finally home. Now, all I have to do is decide on what I want to wear to the banquet. It's going to be so much fun to see the looks on Horatio and everyone else's faces when they see me. I'll have to make sure and have my camera with me so I can get a picture and send it to Sammie, Mallory, and Speed for them to see it," thought Roxanne as she started to unpack her luggage.

Meanwhile Horatio and the others had just wrapped up another case. "Have you talked to Roxanne lately? She should be back by now shouldn't she," asked Eric. "No, I haven't talked to Roxanne lately. Yes, she should be back by now," said Horatio. "You're not worried about her," asked Eric. "I am worried about her. I'll call her just as soon as I finish this report," said Horatio as he put his signature at the bottom of the page.

Roxanne was almost done unpacking when her phone rang. "Roxanne," answered Roxanne as she finished unpacking. "Hey. I was just calling to see how you were doing," said Horatio. "Hey yourself. I'm good. I'm back in Miami," said Roxanne with a smile on her face.

"That's good. Do I still have to wait until the banquet to see you," asked Horatio. "Yes. You still have to wait until the banquet to see me. Two more weeks won't hurt you," said Roxanne teasingly. "I hope whatever you have planned is good. I'm dying to see you," said Horatio. "What I have planned is very good. Don't worry. You'll see me soon enough. It's killing me not to see you too. I hope you have behaved while I have been away," said Roxanne with a chuckle.

"Of course I have behaved while you were gone," said Horatio with a chuckle. "I bet you have. Anyway, I have to let you go. I still have things I need to do around the house. I'll talk to you later. Love you," said Roxanne. "Okay. Love you too," said Horatio as he hung up the phone.

"So, did you talk to her yet," asked Eric as he walked into Horatio's office. "Yes. I talked to her just a few minutes ago. She's back in Miami and still on insisting that I and everyone else will have to wait until the banquet to see her. She's driving me insane making me wait," said Horatio.

"That's Roxanne for you. Always up to something. I'm sure whatever she has planned it's going to be great," said Eric. "Yeah, I know. I just really want to see her. I haven't seen her in such a long time, it's killing me it feels like," said Horatio with a sigh.

"That's what love does to you," said Eric. "And you know this how," asked Horatio knowingly. He knew Eric and Calleigh had feelings for each other. He was waiting to see who would say it first. "What makes you think I know," asked Eric. He didn't know if he should tell Horatio he had feelings for Calleigh or not. He didn't know how he would react. "You have that look like you're in love," said Horatio with a grin.

"I might be in love with someone," said Eric. "Someone we may know," asked Horatio. "Possibly," said Eric. Now he was wondering if Horatio knew who he was in love with. "Are you going to tell me or do you want me to guess," asked Horatio. "I'll let you guess," said Eric. "Okay. You're in love with Calleigh," said Horatio. "How did you know that," asked Eric shocked.

"I know these things. I know everything that goes on in this lab. I'm not blind either. I see how you two look at each other from time-to-time. I think it's nice," said Horatio. "You're not mad," asked Eric. "No. I'm not mad. I'm surprised neither one of you have told each other yet. You should tell her. You need to tell her," said Horatio. "I don't know how to tell her," said Eric.

"Tell who, what," asked Calleigh as she walked into Horatio's office. Horatio gave Eric a look for him to say something. "I—I have something I need to tell you," said Eric. "Okay. What is it you want to tell me," asked Calleigh curious. "It's nothing. It can wait," said Eric nervously. "Are you sure," asked Calleigh. "Yeah, I'm sure. It can wait until later," said Eric as he made his way of out Horatio's office.

"Was it just me, or was Eric acting strangely," asked Calleigh. "Yeah, he has been acting different lately," said Horatio. "Do you know why he's been acting strange? Every time he talks to me he acts like he wants to say something to me, but he never does. I hope whatever he has to say to me he says it soon. The banquet is coming up soon," said Calleigh. "I'm sure whatever he does have to say to you he will do it soon. I'm sure of it. You just have to be patient," said Horatio. "I know. I am being patient with him. I—I love him. Wow. I can't believe I just told you that," said Calleigh embarrassed. "I'm sure he loves you too," said Horatio. "I hope so. Well, I have some more bullets to run. I'll talk to you later," said Calleigh as she left Horatio's office.

Over at Roxanne's house, she was making sure she had everything ready for the banquet in two weeks. She had called a friend after she had gotten off the phone with Horatio. Her friend owed her a favor, so she decided to ask. "Thank you so much for helping me choose the perfect dress for the banquet Melinda," said Roxanne.

"It's no problem. It was my pleasure helping you. You'll knock him off his feet for sure in that dress," said Melinda. "I hope so. And you will be here to do my hair right," asked Roxanne. "Yes. I will be here. Stop worrying so much. You'll look gorgeous," said Melinda. "Thanks again. I'll see you in two weeks," said Roxanne as Melinda left.

Over the next couple of days Roxanne busied herself with different things. She still had some things to do before the banquet. Each day that passed the more excited she got. She couldn't wait to surprise Horatio and the others. She was still a little nervous about how they would react, but she was hoping they would react positively.