Christi had requested a leave of absence. Nearly a month had passed since the ordeal of that child custody hearing and then having to end it with Rick. Even in the privacy of her home, it all tortured her.
Since she wasn't returning any phone calls or emails, Eric finally decided to go over and check on her. Since Christi had given him a spare key, he let himself in quietly, stopping at what he saw.
The living room was littered with takeout boxes of all kinds scattered about. In the back he could see dirty laundry piling up. From the looks of things her clothes hadn't been washed in weeks. "Christi you here?"
"Go away!"
Eric stepped around the containers and up to the doorway of her bedroom. She lay face down on the bed, ignoring the world. "Come on Christi, you need to come back to work."
"No" she said to the wall.
"Sweetie come on, you need to get out."
"Not until my so called father is out of the lab." She whimpers.
"You're never gonna get Chris back if you don't."
"I've tried. I called and told them Rick and I aren't together anymore but they don't believe me so there's no point."
He sat down on the edge of the bed. "Sweetie, look at me."
Slowly she turned up and looked at him. Her eyes and face were puffed up from crying.
"Christi, look. I will do whatever it takes for you to get him back. My family loves you like one of us. Now come on. Get up and get cleaned up and let's get over to the lab. It'll take your mind off everything. Besides, H is worried about you. He wants to know where the lab's best CSI is."
Slowly she sat up, holding her head down. "Okay." Finally she climbed out of bed and headed into the bathroom. Minutes later Eric could hear the water running. He smiled.
He wondered around her apartment and went into Chris's room and found it looking like an atomic bomb went off in the room just like he left it all those days ago.
After a few minutes he hears Christi get out of the shower and she starts getting ready. Once she comes out of her room she gives him a small weak smile.
They head into the hummer and the ride over there was a long grueling ride and a comfortable yet awkward silence.
After what seemed an eternity, Christi dragged herself into the lab.
"Well hey there! Look who's back" Alexx said as she put her arms out for a hug. We missed you, Sweetie!"
"I've missed you guys too."
Speed just happened to walk by and give her a quick glance. Burying her face into Alexx's shoulder, she pretended like she'd never seen him.
Horatio stepped out into the hallway. "Well, welcome back. Everything better?"
"I don't really want to be here." Her voice sank to a whisper, just in case anyone might be listening. "But if I want my son back I have to prove to the courts I can have him." She turned around and sighed. "Horatio, because of you, I lost the best thing in my life because of you. Rick's a changed person, but you just don't want to see that. ." With that she walk away, down the blue hallway, away from him.
Upon seeing Stetler in the print lab, Christi changed her direction, walking to the ballistics lab where Calleigh was test firing. At the door she donned her mouse ears and safety goggles.
"Calleigh, can I just stay with you for a while?"
The ballistics expert put the weapon down and turned to her. "Sure. Why here?"
"Well, Stetler's doing something in the print lab and right now I just can't face him. I'll help you run striations, test fire weapons anything. Please just keep me busy in here so that I don't have to talk to him. Please?"
"I guess that's all right. I have a few firearms there that need testing."
"Thank you!"
"You know, you'll have to face him sooner or later."
"I know. I'm just not ready to."
"The .38 snubnose first. That's a rush for Natalia."
Calleigh heard the door open. She put down the firearm and turned to see Rick standing at the doorway, his safety goggles and mouse ears on."Rick."
"Miss. Duquesne. How's Christi holding up?"
"Barely hanging in there. She's putting on a front. She just needs a little more time, Rick. When she's ready, she'll come talk to you."
"How did someone get her to finally come back?"
"Eric went to her home and spoke to her. They have a sort of brother-sister relationship. But whatever he said, she's more determined to get her son back than she has in a long time."