Thanksgiving

Many people get a day off for Thanksgiving to celebrate. But, it seems that murderers don't care about what day it is when they strike. They sure as hell don't care about making the CSI's work on Thanksgiving. Blood dripped off of the body of a teenager like gravy off of a turkey breast.

"This guy doesn't have much to be thankful for, does he?" Frank said when he saw the body. His lips puckered in distaste, Frank's dim mood was obvious. He clearly was fond of his Thanksgiving meal.

"He sure doesn't" Horatio replied. "But we have plenty."

A slight chuckle escaped from Eric's lips and then the rest of the team giggled also. Calleigh's eyes sparkled, Natalia was glowing, and Ryan was grinning ear to ear. Even in this morbid situation the magic and joy of Thanksgiving dominated the attitudes of the CSI's.

"We are all grateful for working on this Holiday and missing the parade aren't we?" Eric teased. Sure they would rather have the day off, but at least they were able to stay in good moods unlike the last holiday. The 4th was for parties, where as Thanksgiving was spent with family. The CSI's may not share DNA, but family isn't always bound by blood.

"Well, well, well… This bastard slipped up now didn't he?" Frank grumbled with vigor. He pointed onto the ground, and Eric came to investigate. With a glove on Eric picked up a driver's license. The picture did not match the victim, but blood spatter covered the front of the card.

"Tag, bag, and bring him in for an interrogation. Take Ms. Duquesne with you to bring him in." Horatio ordered.

"Yes sir," Eric answered and didn't even try to hide his pleasure. Sometimes he wondered how much Horatio knew about him and Calleigh. He couldn't know, could he? Sometimes it seemed like that man knew everything.

The address of the man on the ID was on the other side of the city. It was about a thirty-minute drive, but traffic was light so they might make it there in twenty if Eric drove quickly.

"Well tonight's dinner should be nice. Natalia, Yelina, and I are good cooks." Calleigh said

"Yah, she is. I just hope that us guys don't mess it up with the sides…"

"You won't. You're a pretty good cook. Ryan I'm not so sure about though…"

"Ryan likes take out. Maybe he'll get smart and by something…" Eric pointed out.

"True. Horatio is bringing wine right? He has a good taste in liquor so that should be ok."

"Yah, it should be ok!" Eric said. Nobody had family in town (Calleigh's dad would spend it in Louisiana) and so the team decided that this year the CSI's would dine together. It would be the first and hopefully not the last time.

After three knocks on the door a middle-aged woman finally opened it. Mouth-watering fumes seeped through the open door, and momentarily distracted the CSI's. "Mrs. Young I am Calleigh Duquesne and this is Eric Delko of Miami-Dade police department. Is your son, Michael Young here?"

"Why do you need him?" The woman asked. Her eyebrows came together and eyes narrowed.

"We believe that he is connected to a murder," Eric answered broadly. The mother opened her mouth in shock, and then quickly shut it.

"My son would never do that1"

"I'm not so sure, may we speak with him?" Eric asked, but the lady didn't really have a choice. They could get a warrant if they had to.

Silently, the woman opened the door for them to enter the house. Slowly, she led them to a room at the end of the hall. Softly, she opened the door. Somberly, she stared down upon her sleeping son. Even in his solace his wounds silently screamed and caught his attention. Bruises spotted and gashes striped his subdued face.

"He barely made it home last night. I did the best I could to take care of him. All Michael said was 'Glenn…' and then he lost consciousness…" Mrs. Young whispered, a tear escaped from the corner of her eye and she quickly wiped it away.

"This is Glenn, correct?" Calleigh asked. She held up a picture of their victim.

After a quick inhale the mother breathed "yes." She seemed to grasp how much danger her son had been in.

"Please let us know when he wakes up. We will be sure to update you on the case Mrs. Young," Eric said, and then they left the mother to her sorrow.

"Well that didn't go how I expected…" Calleigh said once they drove off in the Hummer.

"You can say that again." Eric said, and then he called Ryan to give him an update on the case.

"Hey Cal, they got a DNA match with some skin in the vic's teeth. We have a new address to go to," Eric said.

"Great! A whole day in the car! Or at least a whole half-of-a-day…" Calleigh joked. She got to spend it with Eric so it really wasn't bad. In fact, it was pretty enjoyable.

"Hope this works out. He was just a kid."

"Me too… and if we are lucky we will solve it before tonight's team dinner!"

"Definitely. So I've been thinking Calleigh… Do you think that we should go to dinner tonight together?"

"I don't know. Let's just see ok?" she replied.

"Sounds good. Now lets get this bastard," Eric said as they pulled to a stop outside an apartment complex. Eric got out of the car and walked over to Calleigh's side. He assisted her in getting out of the car (though it wasn't necessary), and then they walked to the door.

Knock, knock, knock. Calleigh's fists tapped the door. Silence was all they got in return

"MDPD!" Eric announced loud enough for anyone inside the house to hear. Once again there was no response.

"Not home?" Calleigh asked.

Eric was about to answer when a soft "click" broke the silence. Both CSI's automatically reached for their guns in their holsters. A man rushed out from the back of the house and began running down the street. Eric chased after him and Calleigh followed with her gun raised. Pounding ahead Eric gained on the suspect, and Calleigh stopped chasing him pretty quickly. Eric was gaining on the man, and her high-heels made it hard for her to run. She jogged back to the Hummer to cut off the fugitive if it became necessary, and called for some police to arrive at the scene.

Thumping on the ground my feet pushed me forward. The gap between him and me was shrinking. My senses went into overdrive. I could feel the asphalt against my feet, and the wind speeding past me. The fugitive's breaths were becoming shallower, and the rhythm of his strides was slowing. Mine, were increasing. With a final bust of adrenaline I leapt on top of the man—like a wolf would attack a rabbit. We both fell to the ground, and he cushioned my landing unintentionally. A car's engine roared closer and then it shut off while I held the struggling man.

"Don't move!" Calleigh screamed. Her gun was pointed at the man's head. He followed her orders and Eric hand cuffed him and then moved him against the Hummer to be patted down.

" You're name?" Calleigh asked.

"Lawrence Hanson," the fugitive grunted. This identified him as the suspect Ryan had told them to bring in for interviewing.

"Why did you run?"

"'Cause y'all are cops that's why!"

The police cars showed up and took Mr. Hanson to the lab. After telling Horatio what happened, they got permission to get off early to prepare for dinner later that night.

"Keep us updated," Calleigh said and then she hung up with Horatio. "Well we have an extra hour and a half to prep for dinner!" Calleigh exclaimed afterwards.

"Or we could just relax for that time…" Eric suggested. This made Calleigh laugh; it was typical Eric Delko for you. Once they got home Sam ran up to greet them at the door. He had grown some in the past few months. His paws were now un-proportionally large for his larger body, and his "puppy face" contradicted his "teenager" body. It was an adorable sight, even for tough men like Eric.

As soon as they got home Calleigh began to work on her part of the meal: pies. Turkey was Natalia's job, wine belonged to Horatio, Yelina would bring the dressing, Eric was in charged of mashed potatoes and green beans, and Ryan was left with cranberry gelatin and rolls.

Eric watched her work in the kitchen for about thirty minutes. It was more enjoyable than it sounded. The care she put into her baking was touching, and the fact that she gave him tastes was always great.

"Well get to work mister! You staring at me is stressful!" Calleigh teased.

"Yes ma'am!" Eric played back. But he actually did begin to work. He made his mashed potatoes the old-fashioned way like his mother used to, and even made a special seasoning for the green beans. Growing up with all sisters had taught him many useful house skills.

"Smells good!" Calleigh said after she places her apple pie and pumpkin pie in the oven to bake. Now it was Eric's turn to feel the pressure. She watched him finish his cooking, and even helped a bit were she could. Once Eric finished they placed his mashed potatoes and green beans in the unused bottom oven so that they could stay warm.

"So we have forty minutes until we have to leave for dinner at Natalia's place… What should we do in the mean time?" Eric asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"Relax," Calleigh answered. Eric stretched across the sofa and then Calleigh lay down next to him. The TV was on, but the volume was turned down. Neither of them was really watching it. Calleigh felt Eric's arms wrap against her stomach and pull her closer to him. Ever so gently he kissed her forehead.

"That chase was unexpected…" Calleigh began.

"Yah, it was. At least we got him, now H can take care of the rest."

"Mhm. You were really fast. I've never seen you run that fast before,"

"Growing up in Little Havana running was big thing," Eric said in response.

"Well I liked it. Well like I'd rather you didn't have to chase him, but you chasing him was impressive."

"Sexy?" he teased.

"Very," Calleigh played along. Twenty minutes later the timer beeped, the took the food out of the oven, and changed into their dinner clothes before leaving for the Thanksgiving Day feast.

"Here come Calleigh and Eric!" Natalia nearly squealed when she saw them get out of Calleigh's car… together?

"So that means we are just waiting on Horatio," Yelina said.

"Hey man!" Ryan greeted Eric when he opened the door for them.

"Thought I'd take Eric too since his place was on my way here, thought we'd save some gas." Calleigh explained to Natalia. The brunette's eyes fell with disappointment. Clearly she had wanted a more gossip-worthy explanation.

Minutes later Horatio showed up, with a wine bottle in each hand.

"Two-fisted drinker, eh?" Eric teased. He promptly realized that it might have upset Calleigh, but she just laughed with everyone else which was a relief for him.

"OK lets eat! I'm starved!" Ryan announced. Everyone migrated towards the table and sat down.

"Who want's to say the blessing?" Natalia asked.

"I will!" Calleigh said eagerly, then she paused for a moment before beginning. "I realize that this probably isn't everybody's first choice for a Thanksgiving dinner. I'm sure that most of you would rather be spending it with your family, or significant other, or probably anybody other than the people you spend almost 10 hours a day almost every day with. But, that's why this is so perfect. Families are together all the time, and can always count on eachother. It's because of this that I feel that I am eating Thanksgiving dinner with my family. I feel so blessed for this, our freedom, and the love that all of you have given me. We are all blessed in too many ways to count. I hope that we may all enjoy this meal and our many blessings that others have to live with out. Thank you, and now let us eat," Calleigh said. She squeezed Eric's hand and saw the love that swam for her in his eyes. That single look was enough to make her heart ring with many more prayers or thanks.

Her you go, I hope you enjoy. This is an American holiday and so it you live outside of the US I apologize. Thanksgiving is basically a holiday to "give thanks" (as the name implies) and eat a ton of great food. I hope you like the chapter! I will be extremely thankful for any reviews and suggestions you care to give me!

Luv ya!

~ Katherine ~