DISCALIMER: I don't own CSI : Crime Scene Investigation, CSI Miami or CSI: NY and i don't make any money from it
Chapter 8.
It was a month later that Calleigh had asked for a meeting with Horatio early morning. She didn't really feel up for it as she had spent her time puking her guts out before this.
She sighed heavily before she knocked on his door and entered. He gestured that she should sit down in the chair opposite him, before he asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Not too good to be honest, but I hope it will pass soon," the blonde said with a tired smile.
"Hmmm, let's hope so," he agreed.
"How is Catherine feeling?" Calleigh asked knowing she was a month further than herself and soon would be done with her first trimester.
"She have been feeling better lately than she was at first, thank you for asking," he said and smiled at her.
"Well I come to my decision," said Calleigh looking right into his blue eyes.
"Which is," he said and looked at her with curious eyes.
"I want to do it. I mean I always wanted to run this lab, but I haven't felt ready before now," she said.
"I think you are ready for it as well or I wouldn't have asked, we will make the transision by the end of the month and the paperwork before that," said Horatio.
"So you are really leaving?" she asked, she was still having a hard time picturing the lab without him.
"I am yes, it just feel right," he said with a sigh.
"And Kyle?" she asked.
"I will come to visit here and he can visit us, in the meantime I trust that you and Julia will keep an eye on him," said Horatio in a serious tone.
"Believe me we will," said Calleigh as she was starting to get along better with Kyle now.
"Good, any thought as to a second command?" he asked.
"Not yet, I was first thinking Eric, but do to our history I'm not sure. Besides I don't think he would be right man for the job either. I would have asked Natalia, but since she's working in NY I don't see that is an option. Ryan I think would be too young, so I really don't know, I guess I have to figure that one out," she said thoughtfully.
"I can understand it would be a difficult choice, but if there is someone from outside you rather want I am sure I can pull some strings," he said.
"I appreciate that and I will get back to you on that one if you don't mind," she said.
"Of course," he said with a dignified nod. She nodded leaving his office to think and because she felt she needed to throw up again.
A moment later Calleigh slowly dialled Natalia's number saying, "I know it's early, but do you have a moment?"
"Of course I do, I was just about to get dressed for work either way, but please go on," she answered her friend, sensing something was wrong.
"Firstly I'm sorry I haven't called you as much as I should lately, but I had a lot on my mind. About a month ago or a bit before Horatio asked me to become head of the lab as he is moving to Las Vegas to settle down with Catherine. I thanked yes as I know I can do it, but the trouble is that I have no second in command and I dunno who could fill that position," said Calleigh.
"Wow, you're actually gonna run the crime lab?" Natalia asked as Calleigh heard Mac in the background tiredly ask, "Who is?" Natalia answered, "Calleigh." And heard him say, "Well she's the right person for it."
She giggled and said, "Didn't know this was a three person conversation. And I am yes, what you don't think I can do it?"
"Sorry about that, but we are still in bed and of course I do, I just picture you would be older when you did it," said Natalia, but she couldn't help but smile by this news.
"What do you mean older I am forty and I'm having my promotion coming up in not too long," Calleigh pointed out.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way and take it congratulations is in order," said Natalia.
"Thanks, but back to my second in command, who do you picture?" Calleigh asked.
"My first thought would be Eric if I can be honest," said Natalia.
"I know, I thought about that, but I think it would be awkward with our history and to be honest I think he's a bit too young and inexperienced for the task even if he has worked there for almost as long as I have," she said.
"I can get what you mean, that of course means that Ryan wouldn't be any good for the task either," said Natalia.
"I think it would be more than Eric for some reason, but no," said Calleigh with a heavy sigh.
"What about Valera then, she's doing field work as well now," said Natalia as she was.
"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know," said Calleigh frustrated.
Natalia thought for a second before asking, "Do it has to be someone from the inside or can he or she come from outside?"
"If I felt better with someone from outside Horatio said he could pull some strings," Calleigh answered.
"What about Jake, if you guys still are in touch?" Natalia suggested.
"We are from time to time even if it is dangerous on his part. We did break all conncection at first, but then slowly started it up again as friends only though," said Calleigh.
"I know he can be on the edge, but still I think he would fit," said Natalia.
"I don't know Natalia, I mean he never could manage to get out of the undercover thing and settle down in one place too long," said Calleigh honestly.
"I bet he would if you asked him nicely, but then you have to do it now, so it has time to sink in," said Natalia.
"I will, but wouldn't that be as weird as asking Eric?" Calleigh asked.
"No, not if you don't have feelings for him, I mean you two make a hell of a team," said Natalia.
"I don't anymore now, Julia is the only one for me, we are after all having a baby," said Calleigh.
"You are, that's wonderful, tell her congratulations from me," said Natalia.
"I will, I'm sure she says thanks, I guess I will call Jake, but if that doesn't work out, what then?" she asked.
"Eric, trust me," said Natalia.
"OK and thanks," said Calleigh before hanging up.
As she looked at pictures going over her computer screen with her and Julia she slowly dialled Jake's number.
He quickly answered and said, "Hey babe."
"You seriously gotto stop calling me that Jake, I am in a relationship with someone else you know," she said, yet she couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah that Eric dude, what do you see in him?" Jake asked.
"No, we broke up, I'm with Julia now," Calleigh answered.
"Jesus Cal, I go away for a little while and he turns you gay," said Jake shocked.
"He didn't exactly do that, it just happened, either way we are happy, we're even having a baby," she said, with a tiny smile.
"A baby, you are having a baby, has the world gone insane now," he said, letting out a chuckle.
"Not more than usual, either way there is a reason as to why I'm calling you," she said.
"You mean other than you missed me," he said.
"Jake," she said in a serious tone.
"OK, OK, I'll be nice, so why did you call?" he asked.
"Well Horatio is moving to Vegas to his girlfriend and I'm taking over as head of the lab and I need a second in command, so I was wondering are you interested?" she asked.
"Wow, that's… that's great Calleigh, and it's not that I wouldn't love to, it's just too much responsibility and…" he stopped.
Jake frowned, she would expected him to jump on the chance, this just add up, so she asked, "And what, Jake are you OK?"
"I'm fine Calleigh, don't worry about me, it's just I meet someone here and well I gotto check with her before I move anywhere. I love to work by your side, but I rather be an officer than second in command if you don't mind," he said honestly.
"You, Jake Berkly meet someone and you are serious?" she asked, now it was her time to be shocked.
"We are yes, I even asked her to marry me, her name is Amber by the way," he said.
"That's wonderful new Jake, congratulations, and I love to have you working with me, whenever you are ready to join us, let me know and I will make sure there is a room for you," she said happily.
"Thank you and I appreciate that, as I said I'll talk to her and then get back to you," he said before hanging up.
"Jake.?" She heard Julia's voice from behind, she did not sound too happy. Calleigh turned to look at her, her arms crossed over her chest, tapping her feet as she glared at her.
"Sweetheart, you got nothing to worry about, we are only friends, I love you and he has found a new girl Amber whom he wants to marry," said Calleigh calmly.
"Yet you called him, why?" Julia demanded to know.
"Because as you know I am taking over this lab very soon and I need a second in command and Natalia seemed to think that he was the right choice and I agree. However he declined and said he rather want to work here as a cop, which I am fine with as we can need an extra pair of hands with Natalia and Horatio gone," said Calleigh with a sigh.
"You wanted Jake as a second in command, I'm not sure that I like that," said Julia with a sigh.
"Well then you are probably not gonna like the fact that I have to pick Eric either," said the younger blonder.
"You cannot be serious," said Julia shocked.
"I am, but sweetheart you have nothing to worry about, I just want you," said Calleigh in a reassuring tone, putting her hands on Julia's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, it's just I can't stand the thought of you suddenly leaving me for one of them if old feelings should rise to the surface," said Julia honest.
"You shouldn't worry about that ever as as I said before, I only want you, it's you I love and want to spend the rest of my life with," she said and meant every word.
Julia could see in her emerald eyes that it was true and said, "I'm sorry too, I know you are speaking the truth, it's just when I love you as much as I do, I can be jealous at times," said Julia and looked down.
Calleigh let a hand go to her chin and raise it saying, "I know and I sometimes do as well and another thing, you are really cute when you are jealous, it shows how much you really do love me."
Julia blushed shyly before she let her lips very slowly find Calleigh's. Calleigh quickly returned the kiss and deepened it as she wanted more of her, she simply couldn't get enough of her Julia.
At the same time Horatio was about to call his Catherine when Kyle came into his office saying, "Dad, you got a moment."
"Yes son, what is it?" Horatio asked, putting his phone aside.
"So thing is I meet this girl and we are getting along really well and I decided to meet her even if she's living in another state," said Kyle excitedly.
"And where did you meet her?" Horatio questioned, raising a brow at his son.
"Online," said Kyle.
"And where does she live?" asked Horatio.
"Vegas, so I was thinking that I could come with the next time you are going over to see Catherine," he said.
"And what about work then?" said Horatio.
"I'm sure Calleigh could manage without me for a day or two," said Kyle.
"If your mother and Calleigh agrees I suppose it's OK," said Horatio as Kyle was after all twenty-three so it wasn't really anything he could say.
"Cool, thanks dad," he said before going out of the office to find them.
Horatio picked up his phone and dialled his girlfriend's number and said, "Hey firefly."
"Hey handsome, what's wrong?" he said sensing it was something.
"It's Kyle, he meet a girl online, she lives in Vegas, so he asked if he could come along next time I went to see you," he said with a sigh.
"Really, did he say anything about her?" Catherine asked curiously.
"Only that they are getting along well and he wants to meet her," said Horatio.
"He must really like her then if he wants to come all this way, how do you feel about it?" she asked.
"I honestly don't know, I mean for all he know she can be lying or not show up at all or it can work online, but not in real life, I just don't want him to get hurt. How would you have reacted if it was Linds?" he said.
"I would told her it was out of the question to see him and forget about it, speaking of when are you coming to see us next time?" she asked.
"In not too long I hope, I was thinking in a couple of weeks, a month at the most. So how are you feeling today?" he asked.
"I'm fine, not sick anymore so getting some of my energy back, just wish I could feel her, only it's too soon yet," said Catherine honestly.
"I know, I wanna feel her too, even if you get to before me," he said, wondering what made her so sure it was a girl as she always spoke of their baby as she or her.
"I know you do handsome, but I have to go as I need sleep," she said with a yawn.
"I'm sorry for keeping you and I love you so much, well both of you," he said.
"We love you too," she answered before hanging up wishing he was with her.
Kyle almost burst in on his mother and Calleigh doing it. Lucky for him they were doing it with their clothes on so far, rubbing against each other as they were kissing deeply.
"Will you two please control yourself enough to do that at home," said Kyle, wrinkling his nose.
"My lab, do what I want in here and how may we help you?" Calleigh asked as she slowly broke free from her Julia.
"Well the thing is I meet someone and I really like her," he said.
"You did great, for how long have you been seeing each other?" Calleigh asked with a smile as she was really happy for her.
"Well the thing is we haven't actually meet yet, just online for a couple of months, she wants me to come and see her as she lives in Vegas, so I thought I go with dad next time he leaves if you don't mind I do and you don't mind I take some time off?" he asked with hopeful eyes.
"Where did you say you made her acquaintance again?" his mother wanted to know.
"Online, she's in college studying drama and dance, but she is thinking of switching as she rather would become an entomologist," he said.
"And how old is she?" Julia asked.
"Twenty-three, like me, born later in the year though," he said.
"And where does she live?" she asked.
"In an apartment right by the school when she is there and with her mother when she's home," said Kyle.
"And her father?" Julia questioned with a frown.
"Deceased years ago," he answered with a heavy sigh.
"I see, so I take it her mother must work a lot then after that," said Julia.
"Did before as well to support her family, not a happy story, but would you mind really badly if I went to see her?" he said to change the subject.
"Just one more question, where did you two plan to meet?" Julia asked.
"Pends on where she is at the time, her apartment if she's there or her mother's or a hotel if she's not," said Kyle honestly.
Julia nodded saying, "Well there isn't anything I can really do to stop you, however I have one condition and that is that if you go with your father you make sure to get back with him as well, after all you have responsibilities at work."
Kyle nodded and looked at Calleigh that said, "I can excuse you for three days at the max, but that is about it."
"Thank you so much," he said and gave both a big hug before leaving the lab, most likely to tell his girl he was coming.
It was a couple of hours later and in Vegas Lindsey had just gotten offline with her Grasshopper that had just told her he was coming over. The young girl was so happy that she could jump around in pure joy.
As she turned off her laptop for the time being and walked into the kitchen her mother came down the stair and joined her after just waking up.
She looked as her happy daughter and said, "You sure look more cheerful than usual today, any reason for that?
"Yeah you know that guy I've been chattering with lately," she said as she opened the fridge to find an apple.
"Vividly, but yes," said Catherine.
"Well he's finally flying over so I can meet him, isn't that great?" she asked excitedly.
"Wonderful," said Catherine less enthusiastically than her daughter as she opened the fridge to find some breakfast.
"Is it really that hard for you to be happy for me, I mean he's really great and he seems to care a great deal about me and he calls me the sweetest things," she said, trying to get her mother to understand just how great he was.
"Like?" he mother wanted to know.
"Dragonfly, sweetheart and babe," she answered.
"Dragonfly?" her mother questioned, frowning.
"One of my favourite bugs," she answered.
"I see and just how old is he?" Catherine wanted to know.
"Same as me, but born later in the year," she answered.
Catherine nodded saying, "I just hope you know what you are doing as I don't want you to get hurt."
"I do and I know, love you too mom," she said and gave her a gentle peck on the cheek before leaving the room. Catherine just smiled and shook her head wishing her man could get there sooner as well.
In the New York Crime lab Natalia was looking over at little Lucy that was resting in the couch next to her in the break room. She was at the moment sleeping as she was home from day-care as she was ill.
Natalia reached out and gently felt her forehead. Her fever was still running high. Natalia sighed hoping it would go down soon as she didn't like when she was ill and neither did her parents.
"Sweetheart, have you…" she heard Mac start, but signed for him that Lucy was there so he had to come closer and lower his voice to not wake her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see, I thought Danny or Lindsey was watching her," he said.
"They had to go out in the field, but since I got paperwork I said I take her," she said, smiling at him.
"You really like her don't you," he said and smiled back.
"She's adorable," said Natalia with a sigh, looking at the young girl.
"Bet ours will be as well," he said, bending forward to nuzzle the top of her head.
"I hope so, but honestly Mac I am not ready yet," she said with a heavy sigh.
"Neither am I, I'm just talking here," he said in a reassuring way.
She nodded and whispered, "Someday soon we'll have a princess or a prince as well."
Mac just smiled as he looked at his girlfriend with very loving eyes.
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