Chapter 2

With my newly refilled gas tank I drove to my new place of employment, The Miami Dade Crime Lab. I still didn't understand why I would be transferred to a crime lab, I mean, they did scientific stuff. I hated science it's sooo boring. Now studying the constitution and different laws, that is exciting. I shook away the unimportant thoughts and let my mind wander as I passed the beautiful Miami scenery. As my mind drifted, only one picture came into my head, the stunning man I had met today.

Ryan Wolfe. God even his name is beautiful.

I wondered about my perpetual savior, but I really only wanted to know one thing, would I ever see him again.

"Nope," I said aloud always the pessimist.

You shouldn't think that way, maybe you will...

My self conscience answered back, and I thought maybe I was being stubborn. Then I realized I was hearing voices in my head.

"I am going crazy," I said to myself.

I pulled into the parking lot of the crime lab and tried to shut up the bickering voices in my head. I didn't want to look like a crazy person on my first day. I took a few deep breaths and stepped out of my little neon. I smoothed out my black ruffled shirt and ran my fingers through my long chocolate brown hair.

You can do this.

I walked up the steps and began to feel nervous butterfly's in my stomach.

Ok, deep breaths, you can do this, breath in, breath out...

I walked through the double doors and waited for the bleached blonde receptionist to respond to my presence. I must have stood there waiting for at least five minutes while she blabbered away on the phone.

"Umm, excuse me," I said in the most polite tone I could muster, I was getting annoyed by this women's rudeness.

"Just a sec," She said to the person she was talking to. "What do you need?"

Her incredibly rude tone made me want to slap her, but I restrained myself.

"I'm looking for the lab of." I looked down at the piece of paper that had a name scrawled on it. "Of Horatio Cane."

She was on the phone again and instead of speaking, she pointed at the elevators and mouthed "6th floor." I got into the elevator and pressed the button of the floor I was looking for and sighed.

I hope not everyone who works here is that rude, what did I get myself into.

The sound of the elevator doors opening disturbed my thoughts, and I walked forward into a bright and airy room. Of which I could only assume was the heart of the Miami Dade Crime Lab.

The first thing that I noticed was how busy everything seemed. It was like a bee hive of activity, people rushing and moving everywhere, and the noise. A hum was all around and I could barely make out what anyone was saying because everyone was talking.

I walked up the main desk to a women in uniform, and hoped that this women was nicer than then one who greeted me downstairs.

"Hello," She greeted with a big smile. "What can I help you with?"

I was relieved that she welcomed me with a friendly demeanor and let out the breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Yes, I'm looking for Horatio Cane." I said, and before she could answer a man with a deep voice answered.

"What can I do for you Ma'am," He questioned.

I turned around to see a man with flaming red hair, whose head was turned slightly sideways looking at me with a smile on his face.

"Yes," I said in a firm voice trying to match his formal tone. "I'm Lauren Southwood, I'm a lawyer and I was told I would be representing your cases."

"Oh, yes of course," He replied. "I'm Horatio Cane, why don't we talk in my office." He looked at me with a friendly smile and led me to his office.

After my meeting with Horatio I felt a million times better that I had before. He explained to me what my job was and how I would fit in with the rest of his team.

Wow, I'd be part of a team

I still couldn't get over it. I would be right in the action, I would know each case inside out. I would win for sure. He explained how I would be the "go to girl" if they needed a warrant, I would talk to the judge and represent them. And the best part was, I did have to do scientific stuff! I could stick to what I was good at, no, great at. This could turn out to be the best job ever. For once, I was Excited.

Horatio and I walked in silence down a long hallway and suddenly he spoke.

"How would you like to meet the team?" He asked. "I'm sure their very curious about you." He looked at me with a reassuring smile. So I nodded and said sure.

All of the excitement and happiness I was feeling completely vanished at the thought of having to talk and introduce myself to people.

Now I was scared.

I was horrible at first impressions when I was just being well, me. I stumbled over my words like a bumbling fool and I always found myself completely and totally embarrassed when it was all said and done with.

It's not that I'm bad with people, it's just that I was a shy person, and even now at 25, I still couldn't over come that gawky teenage within me. This was my theory as to why I gravitated towards a law career, I didn't have to have people like me. All I had to do was make them like the victim, and think of me as the person trying to help them. There were no bad first impressions in court, you just present your case, and that's it.

As we walked on to my impending doom, I tried to plan out exactly what I would say.

Hi nice to meet you. I'm Lauren so look forwar-- No that's lame. Maybe I should go with.. Hey, I'm Lauren lets get these bad guys-- No, that would defiantly be stupid.

I didn't have any time to put my thoughts together because before I knew it we were standing in a room with 3 other people looking at me with curious expressions.

Oh shit

"Calleigh, Eric, Miss Boa Vista," Horatio said looking at each of them. "I would like you to meet out Lawyer." He pointed at me and I took this a cue that I should introduce myself.

I looked at the beautiful blonde women who's name I thought he said was Calleigh and began.

"Hi," I said my face flushing with embarrassment as I stuck out my hand to shake hers. "I'm Lauren Southwood it's nice to meet you."

I followed in suit with the good looking Cuban man, Eric, and the pretty Brunette who said her name was Natalia. They all seemed incredibly nice and that calmed my nerves considerably. I was glad all that was over. I finally made a good first impression. We were all talking about how my job came about, and they were asking how I like Miami.

"Besides the extreme heat," I said. "It's beautiful."

We all laughed and joked some more when Natalia spoke up.

"I guess the girls outnumber the guys now." She said with a smile on her face.

Confused I asked, "But isn't it just you 3 on the team or does Horatio count?"

They all looked up at me and laughed, and I felt as though I was missing out on some inside joke.

"No, you have yet to meet another member of our team," Eric said still smiling. "He's out at a scene and should be back soon."

"Oh," I replied regretting that I asked the question. "I see."

"You'll meet him soon enough, but not too soon," Eric laughed again.

"Are you guys talking about me again?" A voice said from behind me, a voice that I recognized but couldn't place.

"Oh always Ryan," Calleigh replied in the same sarcastic tone.

Ryan

And then it hit me, my savior from this morning, it couldn't be. I must be mistaken.

"Ryan, this is the lawyer Horatio has been telling us about," Calleigh told him.

She gave me a look that I assumed meant for me to turn around and introduce myself, so I turned around to meet his face.

When I looked up I was shocked to meet the same beautiful hazel eyes that bore into mine from this morning. I watched as the recognition washed over his perfect features the same way I'm sure it was on mine. And then he spoke in his stunning voice again.

"Hi," He said with the same smile he'd given me this morning, but also with a knowing look. "Nice to meet you."

I stuck out my hand to meet his for the second time today and muttered, "Lauren Southwood."

With my palm resting in his I felt the same electricity that I'd felt before, but this time our eyes met and I knew he felt it too. He smiled as our hands dropped to our sides. I looked up to meet his eyes again.

Nice to meet you too. Again.

And that's when everything went black...