"Come on already, your gonna be late for school." Calleigh yelled at her 4 year old niece Brie, from downstairs.
The little girl came running from her room with her small backpack in hands. "Aren't you forgetting something?" Calleigh asked amused.
"No, let's go."
"What about your shoes?"
"I don't want to wear them today, and we got to go."
" That's too bad isn't it, come on put them on."
"Do I have to aunt Calleigh?" She asked not really wanting to.
"Yes now hurry up, your making us both late." The little girl reluctantly walked back in her room and put her shoes on, while Calleigh made sure she had everything she needed for work. They quickly climbed in the car with and went to Brie's school.
"Do you want me to take you inside?" Calleigh asked when she was parked in front of the elementary school
"Yes just like mommy always did." The little girl said. Calleigh helped her out of the car and walked with her to the door, holding her hand and her backpack the entire time.
"Ah Brie, I see you're finally back." A young woman Calleigh's age said, gretting both of them with a bright smile
"Hi miss Deb." Brie said in a small voice.
"You must be her aunt?" The young blond woman turned to Calleigh.
"Yes I am. I'm Calleigh, nice to meet you." The 2 women shook hands, right when Brie saw a friend and walked towards her.
"So how is she?" Deb asked genuinely concerned.
"She has good and bad days." Calleigh replied honestly.
"I can imagine things are hectic, I'll keep an eye out on her." The teacher genuinely said.
"Thanks."
"Ah excuse me?" They both turned to see a man with a young girl around Brie's age standing beside them.
"Can I help you?" Deb asked.
"Yes it's my daughters first day at school, maybe you can tell me where to go?" He asked.
Brie just came back and started to talk to the shy little girl, when she noticed her standing there. Calleigh was amazed how easy she always got somebody to talk, cause the girls were talking like they had been friends since they were born.
"Hey Sweetie I got to go, I'll be here when school is over ok?" Calleigh said crouching down and talking to her face to face.
"Promise you'll be here?" Brie asked with tears in her eyes.
"I promise." Brie put her short little arms around Calleigh's neck and now Calleigh was trying real hard to bite back her tears, this was so much harder then she ever thought it would be.
"Come Brie, we're gonna do so many cool things today, that the day will be over before you know it." Deb said, when she noticed how emotional both of them were getting.
Calleigh waited until the little girl was inside. "It is hard letting them go isn't it?" The man from earlier said. "Harder then you know." She said.
"I'm Eric, by the way." He said extending his hand for her to shake.
"Calleigh" She added, shaking his hand.
"I think we're neighbours." He said.
"That could very well be, I'm still new to the neighbourhood so."
"So am I." They walked towards the parking lot.
"I got to go to work, it was nice meeting you, and maybe we'll see you around." Calleigh said unlocking her door.
"We probably will." He said watching her get in and drive off.
Calleigh showed up at work and checked her messages, all the while hoping Brie was ok. Ever since her sister got killed in that terrible hit-and-run car accident, life as they knew it, drastically changed. There were no other family members to take care of Brie, her father was nowhere around anyway, and to be real honest she didn't want anybody else to take care of her niece. Since her sister knew of that she had it made out in her will that Calleigh was to take care of Brie, if anything were to happen to her.
"Hey Calleigh, did you hear the new big time CSI is coming in today?"
"Hey Nat, no, but now I do know." She said smiling.
"I wonder what he will be like."
"Who says it's a man, maybe it's a woman."
"I hope not."
"Let's just get to work shall we, we'll find out soon enough." Calleigh said smiling
"Ok, so how was Brie?" Nat asked.
"She didn't want me to go, and neither did I. She made me promise to come and pick her up."
"She'll be fine."
"I hope so." The women got to work and were so busy that they didn't notice the people coming in.
"Uhm ladies, are you coming to meet the new CSI?" Linda asked friendly.
"Sure." They followed her and Calleigh started to smile when she saw Eric. "What?" Natalia asked whispering.
"That's my neighbour." Calleigh replied.
"You're so lucky." Nat said.
"Ladies please." Linda warned.
He started to introduce himself to everybody personally. By the time he came near Calleigh he was smiling as well .
"We meet again." He said taking her hand.
"Yes we do." She replied smiling.
"Ah I see you met Calleigh, she hasn't been here long, but we can't work without her anymore." Linda said.
"And what exactly do you do?" He asked her.
"She's one of the best Ballistic expert in the country" Linda answered.
"What she says." Calleigh added smiling.
"And Natalia is our DNA analysist." Linda continued. After he got introduced to everybody, the girls went back to work.
"Calleigh, are you still looking for a puppy?"
"Yep, why know of somebody who has one?"
"Well actually we got them ourselves."
"What kind of dogs?"
"Cute ones." Her co-worker replied.
"I got pictures, I'll go get them."
"Are you sure you want a puppy?" Natalia asked.
"Yes, I think every kid should have a dog while growing up."
"I think your right." A voice behind them said. They turned to see Eric standing there.
"Here." Her co-worker said handing her the photo.
"Thanks, ah they are cute!" Calleigh said looking through them.
"Why don't you come by tonight, after dinner." Her co-worker offered.
"I don't know, it's a bit late for Brie, she does have school in the morning."
"Well you could always come by after school, my mom won't mind."
"Are you sure?"
"I'll call her to let her know your stopping by."
"Thanks."
"Your daughter will love them all." Eric said looking at the photo's himself.
"She's my niece, not my daughter." Calleigh said automatically.
"Oh sorry."
"Don't be, you didn't know." Calleigh said with a shy smile then added: "Maybe your daughter would like one as well."
"She probably would." He said smiling.
"My mom will be waiting." Calleigh co-worker replied after getting off the phone.
"Thanks Nora."
"Hey don't mention it, I'd do anything to make that little girl smile again." Nora replied while placing a hand on Calleigh's shoulder.
The comment and the behavior made Eric wonder what was the story behind this women's life, what had happened.
"So you don't work full-time then?" Eric asked.
"I do, but I work until school is out, and then work at home."
"Sounds hectic."
"I don't know yet, today is the first day she went back to school so."
"Mind if I ask what happened?"
"My sister got killed in a car accident about 5 months ago, and I have been taking care of my niece ever since."
"I'm sorry." He said.
"Thanks."
Thankfully the phone started to ring so Calleigh could get to work again. He left their lab and went to his own to work on some fingerprints. He knew what she was going through, he is at the exact same spot. His wife passed away only 8 months ago, and he had been trying to cope ever since, and it wasn't easy. Trying to explain to a 4 year old why her mom won't come back again, it isn't easy, especially with the nightmares. He took a deep breath and looked at the photo in his wallet of the 3 of them together. He wished she was still around, she always knew how to keep their daughter smiling.
"Uhm, Mr. Delko?" Natalia asked from the doorway.
"Yes, Natalia right?"
"Yes, we got some papers that need to be signed, so if you got some time?"
"Sure." He replied and Natalia quickly went back and grabbed the files.
"You coming?" Natalia asked Calleigh
"No you go ahead."
"Ok." Natalia left the office while Calleigh was trying to sort out the mess that was handed to her a few minutes earlier.
"Great." She said finding one more file for Natalia. She got up and walked over to Eric's lab, which was where Nat was.
"Excuse me, here you forgot this one." Calleigh said handing it to Nat before walking out. For something that only takes a few minutes Natalia stayed gone far too long and when she came back she entered the lab while smiling like a schoolgirl with a crush.
"What are you smiling about?" Calleigh asked
"He's so nice!"
"And married."
"No he's not, his wife passed away a few months ago."
"So?" Calleigh said looking up from one of her files
"Nothing I'm just saying he's nice." She said sitting down. They worked in silence until lunchtime. "Are you going outside again?" Nat asked.
"Yes, your more than welcome to join me."
"No thanks."
Calleigh quickly got a few sandwiches from the cafeteria before going outside. She loved eating outside, just being outside looking around and enjoying the fresh air.
"Mind if I join you?" She looked up to see Eric standing there.
"No please sit down." Calleigh replied while pointing to the spot next to her.
"Do you always sit by yourself?" Eric asked while taking a sit.
"Mostly, sometimes Nat comes along."
"I love sitting outside during lunch."
"So do I. So that girl this morning is your daughter?"
"Yep, my pride and joy." He said like a real dad grinning from ear to ear.
"How old is she?"
"She is almost 5."
"Then she is the same age as Brie."
"They seemed to get along this morning." Eric replied while taking a bite off his sandwhich.
"Yes they did, I think Brie has a gift to make people talk, even when she doesn't know them."
"Well I hope Sara likes her, maybe that will be her first friend." Eric replied smiling
"How long has it been since she lost her mom, if you don't mind me asking?" Calleigh asked looking at him.
He took a deep breath, he knew people would ask him, but he wasn't sure he was ready to talk about it yet. "8 months ago."
"I'm sorry, it's hard isn't it?"
"Harder than I thought. My wife was at home for her so she knew every little detail, I'm kinda new to all of it."
"I know what you mean, now all of a sudden you got to be both parents in one."
"Exactly, and sometimes it's so frustrating." Eric added
"But you got to keep your cool in front of her. Even when you feel like falling apart."Calleigh finished it off and he looked at her knowing exactly how she felt.
"So you're getting a dog today?" Eric asked, trying to change the subject.
" Yeah, I think it would be good for Brie, Maybe you should get a dog too, it will be a constant friend for your daughter." Calleigh sujested.
"I was thinking about it earlier, maybe it's a good idea."
"Well I can ask Nora for more info for you if you want." She offered.
"I'll talk to her myself, but thanks anyway."
"Well I'm gonna go back to work." She said getting up.
They walked back in both silent and went their separate ways. "Lunch date?" Nat asked amused.
"Not really." She went back to work but constantly looked at the clock. When it was time to leave she turned off her computer and grabbed the files she was gonna work on at home. "I'll call you later ok, to check on the dog?" Nat said.
"Sure, see you." She walked out and bumped in to Eric. "Sorry." They both said.
"You on your way out?" Eric asked.
"Yep, I got a girl and a dog to pick up, so I'll see you tomorrow."
"Ok bye." He watched her walk out, she looked glad to be leaving somehow.
She was right on time, there were other parents waiting but she stood aside, waiting. She hoped Brie would like the surprise. "We got to stop meeting like this." Eric said showing up beside her.
"I thought you had to work?" Calleigh asked surprised
"Nope, I got the same schedule as you, until I find a proper day-care." He explained.
"So have you talked to Nora?"
"Yep, maybe you can give me directions, cause I couldn't follow her." Eric said with a confused look.
Calleigh laughed. "That's Nora for you, but it's easy actually." She gave him the directions but he still seemed to be confused. "Maybe you should just follow me." She suggested.
"Maybe your right." He laughed as well.
The doors opened and kids started to run outside. They both scanned the crowd looking for their pick-ups. As soon as Calleigh saw Brie she started to walk towards her, the little girl was looking for Calleigh and when she saw her she started running. "You came!" She said throwing her arms around Calleigh's neck.
"Like I promised." Calleigh said giving her a tight hug.
"You're Sara's dad." Brie said looking up at Eric.
"Yes I am." Eric replied smiling.
"She says you're the strongest daddy on the planet."
"Does she now?" He asked smiling brighter and Calleigh was amazed by how gorgeous his smile was. " I don't know if I am, but I try." He said still looking for his daughter.
She came out one of the last kids to leave talking to their teacher.
"You 2 got the same teacher?" Calleigh asked brie.
"Yes and we sit next to each other, cool huh?"
"So you like her then?"
"Yes, she lost her mommy 2. Just like me." Brie said in a sad voice and this made Eric look at her for a brief moment.
"Daddy!" His daughter said running towards him, he picked her up and hugged her. "So how was your first day of school princess?"
"I made a friend, that's her." She said pointing at Brie.
"I heard."
Their teacher came their way. "Did everything go ok?" Calleigh asked.
"Fine, they really got along well and it seemed like they have been friends for ages, I don't think we'll have to worry much about them."
"Let's hope so."
"Will you 2 be here tomorrow?" Miss. Deb asked looking at the little girls
"Yes." They both said eager.
"Let's go, see you tomorrow morning." Eric said to Miss. Deb smiling.