CHAPTER 10: OF BOOKS AND RED APPLES

The following day, Calleigh entered her lab in a noticeably better mood than when she had left it the day before. Upon approaching her working position, she noticed something voluminous sitting on her table: a book. Curious, she put her white lab coat on, approaching the object. She picked it up.

Gosh, it's heavy!, she thought, helping her right hand, which was supporting all of the book's weight, with her left one.

-Vampire's culture throughout the centuries… seems like a textbook. -, she read aloud the title, chancing a comment on it. It was then, upon opening the cover, that she found a yellow post-it with something scribbled on it.

I hope this book will help you understand my behavior towards a certain redheaded man… Sincerely, Vera

Calleigh's brows furrowed in puzzlement; rapidly going through the pages, she found herself smiling, then laughing for no apparent reason.

-Okay, I got your message. I'll behave nicely. -, she told the empty lab.

Vera was humming to herself, wondering if Mistress Calleigh had got her little present.

No reason why we can't get along… it's not as if I'm really trying to steal her man… well, vampire, she thought to herself, shooting a glance in the direction of Jesse's form, bent over a microscope.

Nice ass. Broad shoulders, too… I definitely love his hair; gotta find a way to caress them sometime…, she smirked, quickly averting her gaze. Maybe, if everything went right today, she'd get the courage to ask him out for a cup of coffee, or possibly a beer…

-Hey, Vera!-, someone called her from behind her back. Mistress Calleigh!, her mind promptly supplied. She turned, waiting for the older woman to catch up with her.

-Yes, Miss?-, she asked politely, schooling her feature so as not to betray her nervousness.

-It's Calleigh. -, the blonde replied, somehow startling the auburn haired girl.

-It is?-, she wondered cautiously, her expression telling Calleigh that she desperately wanted to believe that it was some sort of peace offering, but was trying not to get her hopes up. Poor girl, reading her emotions was very easy.

-Yep, from now on it is. I… I want to make a fresh start, I've… sort of not being myself lately. -, Calleigh admitted, hoping to sound reassuring. She must have, for Vera shot her a shy grin.

-Yeah, I seem to recall a break up with a boyfriend…-, she replied, making the blonde chuckle.

-Yes, but it was me who dumped him, not the other way round as Alexx has told you. -, she pointed out.

-Yo girl. -, Vera deadpanned. The two women shared a laugh, walking together through the busy corridors. Unnoticed by them, hid in the shadows, Horatio smiled, pleased at the scene which had played out in front of his eyes.

Good, they'll become great friends…

-Good morning, Alexx. How are you?-, Vera greeted the ME, stepping into her dominion. The African American woman turned towards her, smiling broadly at the girl; it wasn't that often that she was addressed to and greeted in such a polite fashion.

-I'm fine, sugar. What about you?-, she replied jovially. Then, she noticed her T-shirt. She laughed.

-You like my shirt?-, Vera smiled, smoothing the garment over her stomach. It was a simple white shirt, a bit low cut, with almost non-existent sleeves; it was the writing, however, in black bold letters, which had caught the ME's eyes, for it read: I LOVE RED APPLES…

-I think it's brilliant. Has Horatio already seen it?-, the older woman wondered, still smiling. Vera nodded enthusiastically. –And what did he say?-, Alexx asked then. Vera shrugged, her smile turning into a smirk.

-He just laughed and shook his head. All in all, I think he liked it. -, she replied.

-I bet he did. Now, back to business, I have a patient who may turn out to be not so dead… wanna give me a hand?-, Alexx asked, turning serious. Recognizing her change of tone, Vera sharpened her attention.

-Sure…-, she said, taking off her silver cross from her neck. Alexx's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

-What are you doing? I've never seen Horatio with a cross before…-, she mused aloud.

-Well, that's because he's a powerful vampire. He can call them if he wants, even if he's not created them. It requires a lot of strength and control and… and I'm not a vampire and this way's more practical. -, Vera explained, approaching the corpse Alexx was pointing to her.

The girl put the cross directly in front of the dead body, then waited. After a couple of seconds, the silver cross in her hand started shining, its intensity rapidly escalating to a blinding white light. Nodding in satisfaction, Vera refastened the silver chain behind her neck, hiding the still shining object under her shirt.

-Doesn't it burn?-, Alexx wondered, nodding to the girl's chest though only half-opened eyes.

-Yes, it does. -, she answered seriously, showing the ME her right hand, where blisters were already forming. –A little pain helps reminding me my place in the world. I'm not human. -, she stated, then, in a lighter tone: -Don't worry, doc, I'll be as good as new in less than half an hour. Now I'll call Horatio to let him know that we have a vamp down here… I'll keep you company, in case our friend decides to wake up…-

-Hey, Vera, we have to go out on a mission. -, Calleigh's voice resonated into the autopsy room, her face poking out from outside. Vera looked at her curiously.

-But I have to survey the Probie Vampire… and I'm kinda enjoying helping doc Woods with her autopsies. -, the girl protested meekly, shooting a nervous glance at Alexx. Calleigh, too, shot her a look, curious this time.

-She's little, but strong. She can be very useful. -, she explained, grabbing a pair of bloody shears from the girl. The blonde looked at her in a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

-I don't even wanna know what you two were doing with those… anyway, Horatio's orders, he's gonna take over here himself while Vera's out with me. -, she explained patiently, stepping more fully into the room.

-He's trying to avoid Stetler, isn't he?-, Alexx guessed, a playful smirk plastered on her pretty face.

-Yeah, how did you guess?-, Calleigh laughed. Alexx shrugged elegantly.

-He wouldn't pass the chance to work side by side with you for any other reason. -, she said matter-of- fact, making Vera snigger and Calleigh look at her with wide eyes.

-I don't know what you're talking about. -, she replied, while Vera approached her. She grabbed the blonde by the arm, dragging her outside the room.

-Let's go, Calleigh. What do we have to do?-, the girl asked, distracting the older woman from the ME's comment.

-Uh, we have to retrieve the vamp's will, it's in his safe. -, she replied absent-mindedly. Vera nodded.

-Uh-uh, see if he mentioned something about becoming Mr. Pointy Teeth. Who's gonna terminate him should he had left it written that he didn't want to become a vamp?-, she wondered aloud.

-Not sure. Usually, it falls upon Horatio. -, the blonde answered, brows furrowed.

-Man, being the boss sucks. I hope he'll let me do it this time…-

***CONTINUES***

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