Whoo! I love you all! Thanks everyone for reviews or putting this story on your alerts! Next chapter for you to enjoy! -Note-I am making up the Mala Noche bombs, so don't expect them to be scientifically explained or accurate.
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI: Miami, unfortunately.
Melissa arose early the next morning, and took her time preparing for work. She stared at herself in the mirror, unconsciously brushing her pants legs. She was still pondering whether she wanted to go to work today or not. Her lip was fine, the swelling had gone down and there was only a small cut.
She clenched and unclenched her fists, and then suddenly decided that she wouldn't hide her whole life; she was going to work and facing whatever it threw at her.
She gathered up her purse, slung it over her shoulder, took a hold of Bear's leash, and stepped out of the house, arriving at Miami Dade Police Department fifteen minutes later.
After signing in at the desk, she began to make her way towards her lab, when she felt Bear's nudge against her leg. She turned around to see Eric striding towards her, a strained look on his face.
"Hey, Eric," she greeted him as cheerfully as she could, seeing as how he looked like he was going to be the bearer of bad news.
"Hey, Melissa. Glad I caught you," Eric said, running a hand through his hair. "Listen, Rick Stetler's on the loose here, looking for you."
Melissa groaned. Why? "He knows already?" she asked, feeling a sense of dread creep into her stomach.
Eric nodded. "Yeah." His expression became quite serious. "You know what this could do to you, right?"
She gave a tight smile. "I know. It won't look good, will it?" But Eric was given no chance to answer, for at that moment, Stetler appeared around the corner. Eric gave her a meaningful look that expressed his deepest sympathies, and stood beside her to give her a moral boost.
"Miss Hawkins," Stetler pronounced, striding up to her. He offered his hand, and however much she wanted to shy away from it, Melissa accepted it, her eyes never leaving his face.
"Mr. Stetler."
"It's a pleasure to meet Horatio's new recruit," he said, "especially under these circumstances. It is unusual, and unheard of, until now, that a person, with your disabilities – "
Melissa cringed inside. The way he was saying it, looked like he was insulting her, but putting a sugary coating on top of it. She felt Eric tense up beside her. He heard it too.
"- could do the work that of a forensic scientist." He looked at her. "What was your field?"
"Explosives," she told him.
"Ahh," he nodded. "Interesting choice, wouldn't you say?"
Melissa had to bite back the retort that was on her lips, but instead replied coolly, "No, I don't think so."
Stetler frowned. "Yes, well, I have one more concern." He narrowed his eyes. "We have received word of an incident involving you and Mr. Wolfe." He seemed to be waiting for a reply.
Melissa never dropped her façade. "I don't believe I know what you're talking about," she replied smoothly.
"I have heard of an altercation between you and Mr. Wolfe, from my sources," Stetler repeated, a little too slowly to be pleasant.
Melissa's gaze hardened. "Perhaps your sources are misinformed."
"Perhaps…" he nodded towards her lip. "And how, may I ask, did you get that?"
"A friend of mine has an unfriendly cat," lied Melissa. Stetler pursed his lips, unconvinced.
"Uh huh. And I suppose Mr. Wolfe has an unfriendly cat, too?"
"I wouldn't know what Mr. Wolfe does or doesn't have, Mr. Stetler," Melissa said icily.
They stared at each other for a few more seconds, then Stetler decided to give up. "I see. Nice meeting you, Miss Hawkins." And he walked off. Melissa did not share the pleasantry.
She let out an audible breath once he was out of sight, and turned to see Eric grinning at her. "That was cl – what?"
He chuckled. "You were good, really good." She laughed with him. They stood talking for a few more minutes, before both left to do their jobs.
Melissa worked in her lab most of the day with Freddy and her bombs, leaving only a few times for washroom breaks, lunch, or errands. However, on a few occasions in the halls she passed Ryan, but both always quickly averted their eyes and deftly ignored the other.
It was like that for the rest of the week. The scenes had to be split just so, so that the two didn't have to work one together, as everyone feared of another fight. Melissa didn't mind it much, it meant she could spare herself the pain of seeing him, and that stupid jolt of the heart she always experienced.
But, one very busy, very murderous day in Miami, the dispatch had gotten a little mixed up, and seeing as everyone else was on a scene, sent both Ryan and Melissa to the same scene. Neither knew until they both pulled up to the scene at the same time.
"What?" Melissa murmered as she stepped out of her Hummer, carrying her kit. Ryan emerged with an equally baffled look. They didn't speak to one another as they approached the scene. Ryan stepped under the tape first, while Melissa commanded Bear to sit outside the tape, and then she herself ducked under.
Ryan was already talking to a tall, sturdy built man, and they cast her glances as she approached, but the position they were in prevented her from reading what they were saying. When she was close enough, the unfamiliar man stepped towards her, grinning, and they shook hands.
"Detective Frank Tripp, MDPD. Melissa Hawkins, right? The one who gave Wolfe this pretty eye?" Melissa couldn't help but smile widely at the Detective's playful banter, and at Ryan scowling at Frank's back. "Anyone who can do that earns a place in my good books."
"What do we have, Frank?" Ryan asked quickly, the dark expression still lingering on his face.
Frank looked surprised for a second, then seemed to remember his surroundings. "Oh, yeah, well a gangbanger here got shot in the forehead, execution style, I expect," he gestured at the body laying off about fifteen feet from where they stood. In front of them, was a small, but run-down warehouse, that looked like it had been abandoned for years. "My men haven't been inside yet."
"I'll check it out," Melissa and Ryan exlaimed at the same moment. Ryan cast her a suspicious glance, but Melissa happened to miss what he had said. "I'll take a look at the body," he muttered instead, and set off towards it. Melissa walked off towards the warehouse, kit in tow.
Frank watched them go in seperate directions, an amused expression on his face. He'd heard about their disagreement, and had been informed, by Horatio, to keep an eye on them and prevent them from being in eachother's presence too often.
Melissa stepped into the dark warehouse, and immediately turned on her small flashlight. Though it was bright daylight outside, the house's windows were so covered in grime and dirt that no light was coming in. She carefully began examining the inside of the warehouse, but was finding nothing in particular that may help the case.
It was thirty minutes later when she saw it. Her beam of light swept across a section of wires, and she could tell that those were new; they were not covered in a layer of dust like everything else. And even on the floor, fresh footprints that were not her own...
Her breath hitched in her throat as she slowly swivelled her beam across the wires and towards the source. She was very careful, she didn't aim it directly at the center object. Slowly, she lowered herself so that she was kneeling before the wires, and waited as her eyes adjusted to the darkness so that she could see what she was looking at.
"FRANK!" she yelled loudly, for good measure, not quite sure how loud her voice would be. But she had evidentely yelled loud enough; soon she could feel vibrations underneath her feet and turned to see Frank sprint into the warehouse, accompanied by a few patrolmen. All looked slightly alarmed.
"You called?" panted Frank, striding towards her. Melissa held out her hand.
"Slowly," she said more softly. "Careful." Frank approached her side.
"What is it?" There was just enough light so that Melissa could still see Frank's face clearly.
"This," she pointed at the mass of wires with her finger, "is a bomb, planted by the Mala Noche. You're right, Frank, this was a battle of gangs. But this is more serious. I've studied the Noche's bombs for most of my life, and know one when I see one."
Frank swore. "Oh, man."
Melissa nodded gravely. "There are three types of Mala Noche bombs that I know of." She raised a finger. "One, remote controlled. I doubt this one is, or we'd already be blown to smithereens." She raised another finger. "Two, controlled by sound, or heavy vibrations. Again, doubtful, because we have been making noise and moving around." She raised a third finger. "Finally, light sensored. I think that's what this one is: It's perfect for this dark warehouse, and that's why we need to be careful and not cast any light on it."
A patrolman behind Frank asked, "So, what d'we do?"
"Call the bomb squad, and Horatio," Melissa told them. She continued to study the array of wires.
Frank touched her arm to get back her attention. When he had it, he asked, "What are you going to to?"
She looked up at him. "They're going to need an expert." Was all she said.
Yayy! I'm so excited to write and post the next chapter!!!
Oh, and question for all: Is there a special name for the pairing of Horatio and Natalia?
:D :D :D
