Without A Sound
Without A Sound
Disclaimer:I do not own CSI, but I would love to
Chapter One
It was only eight o'clock in the morning, but the temperature had reached it's devastating high already, and anyone who was smart enough stayed inside an air-conditioned building.
A young woman of 25 stopped at the base of the stairs to the entrance of the Miami Dade Crime Lab, sighed heavily, and continued her walk up, a large black Labrador walking briskly beside her. Her nerves were eating her insides, but she forced them down. She couldn't be frazzled for today. No way.
She entered the lobby of the building, thankful for the cool air it provided. Although she had dressed for the day in a tasteful skirt and blouse, the heat still got to her, making her perspire a bit. She walked towards the receptionist, smoothing back her long raven black hair that she had so neatly pulled into a French braid that ended halfway down her back. Her wide gray eyes took in the scene around her, missing nothing and documenting everything, including the few cobwebs she noticed occupying a top corner of a wall.
Smiling brightly as she reached the receptionist, she said, "Hi, I'm here for my meeting with Lt. Caine?" She had a slight lisp that came through in her speech.
The lady smiled back. "Melissa Hawkins?"
"Yes."
"Alright, the Lt is expecting you. Here is you're visitor's pass," she said, handing Melissa a tag to clip to her clothing. As she did so, she noticed the dog sitting patiently at Melissa's feet. "Oh, I suspect you need one for your dog too," she replied with a smile. Melissa nodded and soon the tag was attached to the dog's collar. "Now I'll page the Lt that you're here. You can have a seat over there," the receptionist pointed to a small waiting area.
Melissa arrived over at the chairs and sat down, her dog laying at her feet. She smiled and stroked his head, whispering, "Good boy, Bear."
It had only been a few minutes before Lt. Horatio Caine arrived in the lobby, seeking out his possible new recruit. He spotted her immediately, and walked over to her.
Melissa spotted him immediately. He hadn't changed much from the last time she had seen him, although that had been almost 15 years ago. She stood up and smiled, extending her hand as he reached her. "Lieutenant Caine, nice to see you again," she said as they shook, smiling.
Horatio responded, cocking his head but still talking to her face-to-face, "Melissa, great to see you're still in good health." He could only picture the sick, injured girl he had seen 15 years ago.
She grinned mischievously. "Well, I can take care of myself, contrary to what everyone else says."
He laughed. From what he heard and what he had seen, she was absolutely right. "Now, if you'll come with me, we'll go up to my office and discuss a few things." He leaned over for a second to pat Bear on the head, then led the way up to his office. Melissa received a few curious glances by some lab technicians and other personnel concerning the dog plodding beside her, but she was used to it. And little did they know, the talking they were doing in the other rooms, where they considered their gossip 'safe', was being read right off their lips by Melissa. She sighed and just watched straight ahead as they arrived at Horatio's office. She decided not to let any of the things they just said get to her.
Sitting in a comfortable chair across from his desk, Melissa watched as Horatio pulled a file from his desk and opened it. He began to get down to business. As was procedure, he read directly from the report. "Melissa Hawkins, 25, graduated from Miami U last year with honors, 5th in her class, a Bachelor's in chemistry and biology, with a specialty on explosives. Also trained in the use of a gun." He smiled over at her. "And, quite the praise from you professor, Jeff Field." He had called up Field himself for the resume, and received a shower of praise for Melissa.
"So," he began, setting the folder down and beginning the formal interview. "Why did you decide on a career as a CSI?"
Melissa's eyes had never left his face the whole time, concentrating on his lips, reading his every single word. She smiled slightly when she heard of her old professor, but dove straight into the interview. "Part of my decision was because of you, Lt Caine," she told him, receiving raised eyebrows in return. "Yes, after you saved me from that explosion, I developed a deep interest in bombs and explosions, and decided with my love of science, that I could turn things into an opportunity to help people."
Horatio nodded slowly, eyeing the young woman in front of him. "Ahhh, yes. Now how long have you been trained to use a gun?" He knew this information already but asked anyways.
"4 years, and I have a license to own a gun too," she answered him.
"Now," he said, shuffling some papers and finding the right ones, "I'm curious as to know why you attended the University you did." He looked right at her.
Melissa gave a slight smile. "You mean not a University for the deaf? You're not the first person to ask." She sighed. "I mean, it was all nice going to a special high school for the deaf, but I wanted to get out and prove to everyone that I was as normal as everyone else. It was also the only place that provided the right education. No one else agreed with me, but, hey, it got me to where I am now, didn't it?"
"It certainly did," Horatio answered, understanding fully what she was going through, trying hard to be like everyone else, to prove her worth and gain acceptance. It must have been very hard for her throughout university, he thought.
Horatio conducted the interview for a few more minutes, and his respect only grew for the young woman. Not only was she on top of things, very intelligent and calm, but she also housed and edge to her tone and body language that said very clearly to him, 'I won't put up with any crap you dish out to me.' He knew this was a sign of a good, strong, woman.
When the interview was over, he had made his decision. "Well, Miss Hawkins," he told her as he stood up, and she did too, eagerly awaiting his verdict with apprehension. "I believe I have found myself a new CSI. Congratulations, and welcome to the team." He reached to give her hand a shake. The decision had been a hard one. He knew she was qualified and ready for the job, but he wondered how everyone else would find her, if they believed she was as good as he thought she was. He knew this wasn't going to be an easy journey for her. The world was very biased.
She gave him a megawatt smile. "Thank you some much, Lt Caine. I really appreciate this opportunity. I won't let you down."
Amused, he looked at her. "I'm sure you won't. And since you are now my CSI, you can call me Horatio."
Melissa grinned jubilantly back. "And I liked it better when you called me Melissa, Horatio."
He nodded. "Alright, Melissa. Shall I give you a tour of the labs?"
She nodded eagerly, and the ecstatic smile she gave him reached her luminescent gray eyes, lighting up her brilliant features. Although she had matured into a beautiful young woman, that smile she gave him now was the same one she had given him 15 years ago…
A/N: Hope you liked that first chapter...reviews are much appreciated! I'll put up the next chapter a little later