And once again, thanks for all the super sweet reviews! I love the fact that you guys love the story. I'll probably be able to get a couple more chapters up soon. :)
***
The week flew by for the CSIs at the Miami-Dade Crime Lab. They interviewed and inspected anyone and everyone Ellie could come up with that might have wanted to kill her parents. Most came up at dead ends, but many mentioned that Leona Thompson had always had something against Ruth.
"Calleigh, you got anything?" asked Natalia, walking into the Ballistics lab. Calleigh glanced up from her work.
"Almost. I'm just scanning for whose gun that bullet behind Thomas' eye came from." They both wearily eyed the screen. This case was one of the hardest they'd had recently. And Calleigh's mind was still on Ellie's father. She'd never imagined him as a father, until now.
"Well, will you look at that," said Natalia, "The gun's registered to Rick Selter."
"Wow. I was sure Leona had done it," Calleigh shook her head, "and Rick isn't even the father."
"Wait. Horatio found her father?" Natalia was puzzled.
"Umm... I was just thinking, I hope he isn't the father. Especially because we think he might have killed Ellie's parents."
"Yeah, good point. Listen, you want to go get a drink after work tonight? I'll invite Eric and Ryan, too."
"Oh, I don't know."
"C'mon Calleigh. It's Friday night. Have a little fun."
"Alright! I'll go talk to the guys." Natalia left, leaving Calleigh thanking herself for coming up with a good story fast.
***
Laughter exploded among the CSIs as Natalia and Calleigh attempted to play pool against Eric and Ryan later that day. The girls might not have been that great, but they were having a good time.
"Let's finish off this game," said Eric, shooting the 8-ball into a corner pocket, "and I think we crushed you." Calleigh smacked his wrist.
"We'll get you next time," said Natalia, taking a sip of her piná colada. They sat down at a bar table and caught up. They automatically turned to the case of Ellie's missing biological father.
"Yeah, Cal, what was that thing about in the break room the other day?" asked Ryan.
"Oh. It was nothing," said Calleigh, picking a thread off her shirt, "I thought I had something, but I didn't." If Horatio wasn't telling, then neither was Calleigh.
"Bummer." They discussed a few more cases and turned to politics. Around eleven o'clock, Calleigh stood up.
"I think I'll be going, guys," she said, grabbing her coat. She kicked Eric under the table. It was time to put their little "hook-up" plan into action.
"Yeah, me too," Eric said. He wasn't as sure as Calleigh was that their good friends liked each other, but you never could know.
"Really? So soon?" Natalia complained, "But we only got here..."
"... two hours ago," Calleigh finished, "And this week's been tough on us all."
"I guess you're right. See you guys tomorrow, okay?"
"Yeah. Bye." Calleigh and Eric left. Ryan and Natalia sat around a while longer, talking and playing another game of pool.
"How can you be beating me?" Ryan complained as Natalia sunk another ball into a pocket.
"I was just playing easy on you boys," she said with a smile, "and I didn't want to make Calleigh feel bad 'cause she was terrible at pool."
"Ha ha. You are one devil of a girl." Natalia laughed. Ryan had never noticed how funny and smart and cute Natalia was. He was taken aback by his own thoughts. Cute? He'd never thought of Natalia like that. Until now.
***
"Thanks for walking me up," said Natalia when they were outside her apartment door.
"No problem." The two of them stood there awkwardly for a moment. Neither of them knew what to say.
"Good night," Natalia finally said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah. Umm... good night." Natalia laughed, confusing Ryan.
"What's so funny?"
"I'm gonna kill Calleigh and Eric," she said, shaking her head.
"Why?"
"Because they totally set us up."
"You think so?" Ryan pondered Eric and Calleigh's actions all day. He started laughing too, "You're right."
"They were just trying to be good friends, I think."
"Yeah." Once again, Natalia's hallway was filled with silence.
"Soooo..." Ryan said, "How do you want to kill them?"
"Maybe we shouldn't. Horatio would have no team left once he solved their murder. He'd have to steal people from the night crew." Ryan chuckled.
"For Horatio's sake, I won't shoot them."
"Ryan, if I shot them, I'd miss." The two of them laughed. Before they knew what was happening, they kissed. Natalia was taken aback.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked, turning the key in her door.
"Yeah. See you tomorrow."
"Bye Ryan," said Natalia, stepping inside.
"Bye." Natalia closed the door. They didn't know it, but as they both walked in opposite directions, they were biting their lips to keep from smiling.