Into The Lion's Den Chapter 1: Beginnings, a csi: miami fanfic

I'm trying my hand at a CSI story. The facts may be a little off, been a while since I've seen a show. The chapters will follow episodes almost to a tee but there will be some twists so try to stay on top of things. These will be long chapters so prepare yourselves. I own nothing but my OC and my idea. Enjoy!

Into The Lion's Den

Moving back home is bound to bring up memories. For me, they aren't the greatest of memories. Six years ago, my brother was killed in a fatal hit & run and they never found the killer. It was part of the reason that I went into the Criminal Justice field. I wanted to make sure that no one had to go through what my family & I went through. My parents didn't take the news as well as I did and they moved to Europe. Well, it was part of the reason they moved to Europe. The other part was that my mother's fashion line was selling more in Europe than in the states. Since they left New York, I had no reason to stay so I'm packing up and moving back to Miami. Lucky for me, Miami has a Crime Lab I can transfer to.

Beginnings

"Hi, I'm looking for a Horatio Caine."

"He's right behind you, ma'am."

"Thank you." I turned around and sure enough, there was Lt. Horatio Caine walking towards me. "Lt. Caine! Could I have a word, please?"

"Certainly. Who exactly are you?"

"Forgive me. My name is Emma Landiase but Landi is what works for most people. I believe you knew my father." I extended my hand and Horatio shook it gladly.

"I did, Emma. How is he doing in Europe?"

"Better than he was here. It seems Europe takes better care of doctors than the states do. Did you receive my message?"

"I did. Are you ready to start today?" I nodded, practically chomping at the bit to get some work done in my hometown. "Excellent. You were a CSI, correct? No specific field?"

"In a matter of speaking. In New York, everything is usually lumped together and the work is done by either one CSI or a tech that specialized in that particular field. I usually like to do all the work on whatever I find but if I have to, I hand it off to a tech. If that's a problem here, I can try to restrain myself from doing all the work." I smiled, silently hoping that I could work the evidence as much as I used to.

"I'm sure it won't be a problem, Ms. Landi. I will say, if there is a tech for it, let them run it."

"Certainly. Am I working a case right away or waiting a few days?"

"You know how it is in Miami. It's best not to wait." I nodded and followed Horatio to his car. I hopped in, strapped myself in and prepared myself for whatever crime scene I was about to approach. When Horatio arrived at the scene, I practically fell out of the seat as I opened the door. "Are you alright, Ms. Landi?"

"I'm fine, Horatio. Not used to your driving is all. Well, not used to driving period. You know how New York is infamous for its traffic." I picked up my kit and followed Horatio to the scene.

"Ms. Landi, get down please." I watched as Horatio drew his weapon so I ducked behind the car door. I heard gun fire, instinctively going for the weapon on my hip but there wouldn't be one there for at least a few days. I saw Horatio shooting at a hearse that was speeding away. When the hearse was out of view, I grabbed my kit and made my way to the crime scene. Horatio was standing over an officer who was shot as he called for backup. "I hope you're ready Ms. Landi, because you are now dealing with the most dangerous crime organization in the United States: the-"

"Malle Noche. I've heard stories. I'll get right to work." I put my gloves on and grabbed my camera.

"Ms. Landi. Perhaps we should give you a firearm right away." I smiled to myself as I took photos of the crime scene.

"Perhaps we should, Horatio."

"Ms. Landi, are you prepared to meet the rest of the team?"

"Ready as I ever will be, H." I continued to photograph the scene, placing markers wherever there was evidence. I heard Horatio talking so I looked over my shoulder to see the rest of the team standing there. From what I could see, the man on the far left was Cuban or some other Hispanic race. The woman on the end looked as if she had a peachy keen accent to go with the rest of her. The only person I couldn't get a read off of was the man in the middle. Judging by the way he was standing, he had probably heard all the information being relayed by Horatio and he wasn't phased at all when he was told that the Malle Noche had killed six police officers. I did admit to myself that he was one of the most attractive guys I have seen in a while and since I lived in New York for six years, that was saying a lot. I chuckled at my own admission, earning the looks of all four team members.

"Hey! This is a crime scene! How did you get in here?" Before I could turn around, I was face down on the grass with a very heavy body on top of me.

"Mr. Wolfe, relax."

"H, she's in our crime scene taking pictures. How could you let someone with the media in here?" I tried to explain who I was but it was all muffled from the grass. "Shut up!"

"Mr. Wolfe, please get off her." I waited patiently for the weight to be lifted off me and it was. Horatio offered his hand and I gladly took it, brushing the grass off my shirt to the best of my abilities. "Everyone, meet your newest team member Emma Landi. Emma, this is Eric Delko, Calleigh Dusquene and the man who toppled you is Ryan Wolfe." I smiled and waved, trying to read the faces of my new colleagues. What I read from Eric and Calleigh was a friendly vibe but with Ryan it was apologetic from the start.

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I had no idea." I held my hand up, stopping his apology.

"It's alright. Pleasure meeting you all." Especially you, Ryan. I picked up my camera, breathing a sigh of relief when there was no damage to it. Horatio walked away, with Calleigh and Eric following him. "I guess I'll be working with you, Ryan." I smiled politely, hoping to get on his good side after what happened. Not like he has a bad side from what I can see. I smiled at my own thought and continued to take pictures.

"So, what brings you to Miami and more specifically, the crime lab?"

"Parents moved to Europe so I figured I'd come back home since there was no reason for me to stay where I was."

"Which was where?" I looked up to see questioning, yet playful green eyes staring at me. I laughed, snapping a shot of the casket before answering Ryan.

"New York." I walked to the other side of the casket, snapping another shot before putting my camera down.

"Wow. So you grew up in Miami?"

"Yup." I watched Ryan start to cut the fabric from the inside of the casket. "Looking for DNA?" He nodded. "The witnesses said he was wearing a bandana."

"If he was sitting in this casket waiting, there was no way he was wearing a bandana." I handed Ryan an evidence envelope, winking at the look on Ryan's face. "Thanks." I watched the smile fade off Ryan's face so I turned around. I watched with confused eyes as Ryan handed me the evidence envelope and practically marched over to the reporter walking into the crime scene.

"Hey! Hey you, back behind the tape please." Something about the tone in that reporter's voice was rubbing me the wrong way. I put the envelope in my kit and watched the scene unfold in front of me.

"Rookie cop already confirmed it was the Noches."

"This is a crime scene. Do you want to get arrested?" Someone has a temper. I better remember that. I felt nosy so I decided to try and dust the casket for prints. I figured it would be a lost cause but I had to look like I was doing my job. I watched the reporter tell her crew to pack it up and a small smile crept across my face.

"You have a new colleague, Ryan?" Ryan looked back at me so I continued to dust for prints, feeling my cheeks get hot under Ryan's gaze. "Does this mean we're not having dinner again?" Well hell, there go my chances at Ryan. Why is it always someone from the media? Damn it.

"Erica, you made me look like a slimebag in front of my colleagues last month. You can forget dinner and you can forget anything. Now go." I couldn't help but see the hurt behind Ryan's eyes as the reporter walked away. I put the tapes I lifted from the casket in my kit and walked up behind Ryan.

"You should watch out for reporters. They'll turn anything you say into their new story." I backed up, anticipating Ryan's temper but what I got I wasn't prepared for. The hug Ryan gave me almost knocked me over so I planted my sneakers into the grass. "You okay, Ryan?" I wrapped my arms around Ryan the best I could and started to rub his back. "Ryan?" He pulled away and I watched a tear run down his face. I took off my glove and wiped it away, savoring the feeling of Ryan's skin under my hand and committing it to memory.

"Uh...we should finish up here." I nodded and followed Ryan around the crime scene, logging evidence and taking more pictures. Ryan hopped in his Hummer and started it up, waiting for something. "Emma, aren't you going to go back to the lab?"

"If I drove here. I caught a ride with Horatio." Ryan's smile caught me off guard. "What?"

"Hop in, I'll give you a ride." I shrugged, grabbed my kit and hopped in the Hummer. "Are you sure you're okay Ryan? You seemed pretty hurt back there."

"It was nothing, Emma."

"I may not know you all that well, but I know that look and I know tears. You don't have to talk to me about it. I'm just telling you that I am here if you need to."

"I appreciate it, Emma." I smiled to myself as Ryan drove back to the lab. Thank goodness Ryan doesn't drive like Horatio.

-FIN-

That's it for this part of the first chapter. The next part will be out soon.