Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from CSI: Miami (dead or alive). I do however own Telia C. James, all characters connected to her life and the characters in the Chow Down Grill and Café. I also own miscellaneous characters throughout. This is my first entry. Reviews Welcome! 8)

Prologue

Jesse walked down the hall to the office of Horatio Caine. "Hey H, you got a minute?"

"Sure Jesse. Come on in." Jesse had him a request form. "What's this for?"

"I need a few bereavement days. I had a great-uncle to pass a few weeks ago but I couldn't attend the funeral because I was testifying in the Poston murder case. But they are reading the will this weekend and apparently he left something for me and Tracy in his will. He never changed it after she died."

"I'm sorry to hear about your great-uncle. I have no problem with the bereavement leave. So what did he leave to you?"

"I'm hearing it might be some property. I'll have to see when I get there." Horatio's phone rings. Jesse waits patiently as he answers. He needs his boss's advice on something else.

"Anything else I can do for you Jesse?" he asked, hanging up.

"Actually, there is." H motioned for him to have a seat. "I just had a few questions."

"Well, I hope I have answers for you."

"When Marisol died, how long was it before you felt like you could go out on a date again?" The red-haired man sighed and thought.

"It was close to a year. Even though we weren't married a long time, Marisol had a deep place in my heart. It doesn't matter how long a couple is together; it's the impact of the relationship. When it's deep, it takes a while. And even at the one year, I couldn't handle a full date."

"Did you or do you ever feel like you're cheating on her memory? Or like you needed her permission to move on?"

"No, not really. I just had to make sure I was ready. There is no set amount of time to mourn someone. Like I said, it's the impact of the relationship." Jesse nodded and thought for a second.

"How long after did you wear your wedding ring?"

H chuckled. "Oh, for a while. It reminded me of her. Like she was always with me. But I had to come to the realization that I didn't need the ring to remind me of that. She's always in my heart." He looked at Jesse's hand. "I've never seen you wear yours."

"No, not anymore." Jesse's thumb immediately touched his left ring finger where the ring would have been. "It's almost been three years. And I still miss her. Think about her."

"Oh I think of Marisol everyday. I wonder what she would be doing, what our child would be doing, what he or she would look like. That never goes away." A voice came over the speakerphone and said that H was needed in interrogation. As he stood to leave, he left Jesse with the following words. "The main thing to remember is the memories you shared. You are the legacy for those. You can move on and you will, when it's time. And only you can truly know that." Jesse stood and followed H out of his office.

"Ok. Gives me something to think about on the plane ride to L.A. Thanks, H".

"No problem. Have a safe trip and let me know what comes to mind when you come back."

"Will do H." And they parted ways.

All during his plane ride, Jesse asked himself if he thought he was holding on to the past. He knew life went on and he knew eventually he would have to find a new love. What was he so afraid of? Ruining his memory of Tracy, their memories together? "You are the legacy of those" H's voice echoed in his head. He's fairly handsome, or so he thought. He lived in a city of beautiful women and beautiful places to meet them. What was he waiting for? Permission? From a dead woman? He shook his head at the strange question. As the plane landed, he couldn't help but to think it was true.

As he appeared in the lobby of the airport, he saw his cousin Lilly waving at him. She was his great uncle's daughter.

"Hi Jesse."

"Hey Lilly" he replied hugging her. "How are you"?"

"Much better now that I've seen you. I'm sorry you couldn't make the funeral."
"Me too. I was the key CSI in a murder case and I had to testify. Four days of testimony. It was grueling."

"I bet. Have you got luggage in baggage claim?"

"Nope, just this carry on." She eyed her cousin.

"Have you been eating? You look a little slim." Jesse laughed.

"Yea, I eat everyday."

"I don't believe you." She said as they were headed out of LAX to her car.

The next day Jesse felt uncomfortable sitting in the lawyer's office. He wasn't sure why, just did. Maybe it was because what he had inherited was for he and Tracy, and she wasn't here to accept it with him. But Uncle Dan knew that; he was at the funeral. He wondered why he decided not to change his will. A question for the lawyer. The family was finally all there and seated. The lawyer began reading the will. There were tears flowing from some family members. Jesse wondered if he was because they didn't receive anything or were they really still mourning Uncle Dan. Then he got to him and Tracy.

"And lastly to my great-nephew Jesse and his wife Tracy I leave the property located at 9367 Picker, Los Angeles, CA. This includes the land, the house and everything in it. With the hopes you will move in and start a family." Wow, Jesse thought, a house.

"I live in Miami now. What am I gonna do with a house in L.A.?"

"We'll take you over to see it." Lilly said. "I'd forgotten about that property." They left the office and went straight to the house. Jesse was a bit overwhelmed. Tracy would have loved it.

"Uncle Dan was at her funeral. Why didn't he change the will?" The lawyer didn't have an answer for him.

"I guess he didn't think anything needed changing." The attorney replied. Jesse sighed.

"Well, what are my options? I just moved back to Miami and I don't know when I could get back here to even use the house. "

"Well, you could rent it out. I could have you establish some way for the tenants to pay the rent. Easier way would be to sell it. Let's take a look inside and see if there is anything you want to ship to Florida, but there is a lot of great furniture here." So they all went inside. Jesse was shocked. Some of the furniture looked antique, some brand-new. There were awesome artworks all over the house- paintings, sculptures, statues. Stainless steel kitchen, wooden floors through the whole house.

"Could I sell it in this economy? I mean we're talking at least $100,000. "

"More like $500,000."
This house is half a million?" he replied, shocked.

"With furniture, hot tub, pool, and the movie theatre. Yes."

"Wow there's no way I could sell all at once."

"And there is more furniture in the basement storage."

"You gotta be kidding me."

"Jesse, I have a friend who's a realtor." Lilly said. "I can see if he's available to come and take a look. He may have an interested buyer." She took out her cell phone and called her friend. "He's actually a few blocks over, just finished showing a house. He's on his way."

"Good. Let's check out this other furniture while we wait." He and the lawyer proceeded to the storage basement and to see what was there. "I like this stuff. How much to move this to Miami?"

"We can find out. You would hire some cross country movers."

"I'm not sure I want all the artwork. Is any of it worth selling?"

"Some yea. I can get an art appraiser out here, maybe today."

"Yea, let's do that. I only have a few days here in L.A. and I want to get as much done as I can." The lawyer stepped away to call the art appraiser. Meanwhile, Lilly's friend arrived. Jesse went upstairs to meet him.

"Mr. Cardoza, I'm Glenn Upshaw from Nelson Realtors." They shook hands.

"What can you tell me about selling this house? I live in Miami now and my wife died a few years ago so I don't really need the house."

"I know three couples right now that would get in a bidding war over this house." He was looking at his laptop. His office e-mailed some neighborhood specs. "Most houses on this street are selling for $700,000 and up. The one across the street $850,000."

"So if I listed with you what would you suggest for a selling price?"

"I wouldn't start below $650,000." Jesse thought, I have a lawyer here and a realtor…

"Well, I have a lawyer here and you. Let's get this ball rolling." They proceeded to the dining room to talk business. And while there, Jesse found a reputable moving company to move the basement furniture to Miami. After a few hours, Jesse had the house listed with a Glenn. He was showing the house to three couples the next afternoon. The movers and the art appraiser were both coming the next morning. The movers said it would be a four-day trip. Even with leaving the same day, they packed up everything. If the appraiser thought he could sell the art, he would take it with him so the potential buyers wouldn't see it and be disappointed that it would be in the house when they moved in. It had been a long day and tomorrow would be even longer. On the way back to Lilly's she told him how proud she was on him.

"Not many people could do what you did today, in one day."

"It's not like I don't appreciate was Uncle Dan left me, but I can't really use it as it. So why not let someone else? Hmm…" he thought.

"What?"

"Maybe that's why he didn't change the will. He knew I would do what I needed to do."

That night as his head hit the pillow, he was thankful for his uncle's life and what he left for him and Tracy. He was thankful that he could give someone else a chance to own a home.

The next morning after breakfast, he met the appraisers and movers. To his surprise, the art appraiser wanted all of the paintings, sculptures and statues. There was an auction coming up in a month and he felt confidant all the pieces would sell. So Jesse added Lilly to the contract with the appraiser and lawyer to make he check he received was for what the pieces sold for. As the art prices were moving out, the movers were moving in. It took them two hours to get all the basement furniture loaded and they were headed toward Miami.

"Well, we have sometime between the showings this afternoon. What do you want to do?" Lilly's husband asked.

"I need to visit Tracy." So off they were to the cemetery. Jesse hadn't been back in over two years. He remembered where her headstone was. He walked up, nervously. He wasn't sure why. He placed the flowers he bought, on front of the stone. The purple pansies, which were her favorite, brought back memories of their wedding day. She was so beautiful. The scent of purple pansies was everywhere that day as the sun enhanced the scent of the flowers. Jesse began to tear up as he knelt in front of her headstone.

"Hey Tracy. I know it's been a while since I've been here. Not because I don't want to see you. I've been busy. I'm in Miami now. But I guess you can see that from Heaven. I rejoined the CSI team there and things are good. There are a few new members, but we all get along well. I guess you know Uncle Dan died. He left us a house full of furniture. But since I don't get to west coast much, I'm going to sell. You would have loved it. It's a beautiful house. But I think someone else needs a chance to get a house. I'm selling the art pieces at an auction. I don't know what I'll do with all the money. I can send some to your favorite charity. Yeah, that'd be good. I've been trying to go to church more. I know you'd want that for me. Not sure I understand God any better, but I go. Maybe it'll kick in one day." He smiled. More memories of their wedding day. Them holding hands, saying their vows "…'til death do us part…" Her smile, their first kiss as husband and wife. He remembered how he felt to be her husband. "I've been wondering, if it's ok for me to start seeing someone else. I don't have anyone in mind. But I'm lonely. I miss you and I know you can't come back and I know no one can replace you. I guess I feel like I'm asking permission. I feel like I'm cheating on you, on us. Our memories. What do you think? If only you could give me, some sign that you're ok with it. I know I sound so silly. I can't even explain why I need to know it's ok with you. I just can't. I just need to know that it is. I love and I could never stop. But I feel like I need someone in my life or to be open to having someone there for me." There. He said it. It was out and up to God's ears. He was ready for someone to come into his life. Lilly came up to him.

"Jesse, I don't want to disturb you but Glenn has the offers ready for you to look at if you ready. He's going to meet us at Moreno's to eat and you can go over them." He looked at Tracy's grave once more.

"Ok. I said what I needed to say. I'm ready."

At dinner, he looked over the offers and chose the $715,000 one. One less thing tying him to L.A. The next day, they signed the papers and the keys were handed over. He went to the Art House to see how things were shaping up for the auction. The items were on pre-display, for website purposes. They found hangtag info quickly. So far, he was pleased. As they were leaving, an eclectic woman came up to him.

"Excuse me sir." Jesse turned around.

"Me?"

"Yes. I have a message for you. I'm a medium and when the spirits come through I have to speak to whoever it is right away." He looked at her suspiciously. "I just happened to be here volunteering. Don't listen to me, listen to the message. There's an older gentleman that says good job with the house. He knew you could do it. And there's a young lady showing me a golden ring, like a wedding band. She says thanks for the flowers and it's ok. You don't need her permission." Jesse looked shocked. How could she have known? He did ask Tracy for a sign. Maybe she really did hear him. He smiled.

"Thank you. I needed that." He felt relieved and revived.

"I'm glad I could pass it on." And she walked away.

"Lily thanks for helping me out these past few days."

"Oh it was nothing. I'm glad you got everything taken care of. And I'm actually looking forward to the art auction. Never been to one. Glenn said the check should be coming in a month and I'll send you the art check myself." They hugged and he went through security. Jesse go on the plane feeling as light as air, ready to face new challenges. God had answered a question for him. First time that happened. Or first time he realized it. He would be back that afternoon, his new furniture in two days, lots of money in about a month and a half. Life was going good. He was on his way back to Miami and on to his journey to love.