Disclaimer: I don't own CSI: Miami and unfortunately never will… sigh …or Like Water for Chocolate… that's a really good book though… Anywhoo, the ending scene of this chapter is kind of an incorporation of a scene from that book… XD
A/N: This is interesting… XD … hehe…
Chapter 13:
Eric and Jem exited the bathroom. I never noticed before, but it really does stink in here. Eric tried his hardest to prevent the smile that ached to appear on his face. I'm just glad that Jem can actually use the bathroom. That's a relief. Wait…oh, crap…where's Ella?
Jem was grinning broadly. Ella's wandering around again…heh heh… "She's so dead."
Eric turned to face the eight-year old boy. "Do you know where she could have gone?"
"How should I know? She's got the attention span of goldfish."
"You should know. You're her brother."
"You should know. You're her dad."
Eric sighed. He's got a point…even if it may or may not be true. This is so frustrating. I am NOT a parent. "Where do you THINK she went?"
"Probably in one of those rooms where they talk to the bad guys. She loves that. Well she loves when you or mommy take her along. "
The interrogation room. That's just great. "Come with me." He went to go on the elevator, but then remembered something. The interrogation rooms are being relocated temporarily on the second floor, until they finish renovating the first floor ones. He turned around and began walking toward the temporary ones.
"Aw…but I'm hungry."
"We have to find your sister first."
"She can find her own way, she's old enough."
"Old enough?" How's she old enough to take of herself? She's five.
As if reading his thoughts, the reply was, "She's five."
Eric tried not to laugh. "Which is exactly why we need to look for her."
Jem rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever."
Making sure that Jem stayed by his side and didn't also wonder off, Eric walked down the same hallway that Ella had earlier passed through.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" Eric was flipping out. Five seconds…Jem pees and out…okay maybe six to wash his hands…and now this! "HOW COULD YOU LET HER IN?"
"Whoa, Delko. Take it easy." The elder officer was trying to calm the hot-tempered man before an unnecessary brawl took place. This is his kid? The boy too? When did THAT happen?
"You're letting a five-year old, a MINOR, question a criminal! Don't TELL me to 'take it easy'." He went to roughly open the door and grab Ella out, but was stopped by a firm hand.
"I suggest that you cool it before you traumatize those youngsters." Eric's hardened gaze softened as he looked down to see Jem a little freaked. He rarely saw his father get angry.
Eric went to apologize, but the eight-year old beat him to it. "Hey, this means Ella's in a bunch of trouble." He grinned mischievously. "You know, she threatened to call me Squirt. I think she shouldn't get chocolate for a week, no, month…yeah…month."
Eric sighed with a small smile. Kids are strange… "And what about what you did to your sister's teddy bear? Same punishment?"
"Awww…fine…we're equal…hmph." Jem pouted a bit, which made Eric laugh. I wonder if they really ARE mine…ours…that would be…different… He, now calm, opened the door to the interrogation room.
"DADDY!" He was thrown back a little as the little thirty-five pound imp charged into him. "What took so long! I'm so bored and hungry. Mr. McFinley was very nice…he told me a story where he found an actual body…cuz some guy killed another guy and it was really interesting…but the 'secret' was kinda boring…"
Eric patted the girl on the head. "You know you're not supposed to go in there." He gave dagger eyes to both Detective Tripp and Salas. "Sometimes the guys in there can be very dangerous."
"I know, but I watch you and mommy and everybody else do it all the time." Eric nodded as he guided the girl out of the room. "Bye-bye Mr. McFinley. It was nice talkin' to you." She waved back to him.
"Pleasure's all mine, Miss Delko." He gave her a short wave. The two detectives bustled back into the interrogation room.
"Okay, you two rascals," said Eric wearily, "Let's go see Mamí." Okay…that was extremely awkward to say. I can't even bring myself to say that these are my children…they're clearly mistaken. Clearly…right? … But I'm already calling her their Mamí… argh… why is this day so COMPLICATED!
"Daddy?" Eric looked up from his thoughts to see Ella peering up at him, a question in her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, really. But I was wonderin' 'bout something."
"What?" She's so cute.
"What does 'slutty mole' mean?"
Before Eric had time to register what she said, Jem was laughing uncontrollably. "I don't know what that means, but I know it's a BAD word…you're in so much trou-ble!!!" He continued to laugh. We are totally UNEQUAL now!
"It is?" Ella was wide-eyed with confusion and fright. Uh-oh…I didn't mean to say a bad word…I don't wanna get in trouble…last time, I got no chocolate for a week…
Eric took his time to speak. Slutty mole could mean only one thing, one person… Breathe Delko, it isn't Ella's fault…breathe and handle this situation coolly… "Where-Who-Where-Where did you hear that from?" Nice job…
"Uhm…uhm…oh yeah… I overheard Mr. Cooper talking to someone about it."
Eric was fuming. Mr. Cooper…as in Dan Cooper? Ella pointed to a brightly lit area near the A/V lab, where there stood two men talking, some lab technician and Dan Cooper himself. "He's over there…am I in trouble?"
"No." His answer was short and brief as he stalked off to discuss proper protocol with Cooper. I'm calm…completely, totally calm…
"Yeah, man. I can't believe she's even working here." The spiky blond-haired A/V technician was casually talking to another lab technician. "I mean she was the mole and now a complete slut…it's no wonder-AH!"
Before he knew what was happening, he was being pinned against the wall by a very angry CSI. He growled in fury, "You mind clarifying something for me?" A group of random lab technicians huddled together, gossiping furiously. Most, if not all, were rooting for Eric.
Dan Cooper was freaking out. Why does this always happen to me? I saw, no heard, ONE thing and I get attacked, it's not fair. "Yo, man, chill."
"Why don't you tell me," the half-Russian, half Cuban man paused dramatically, not hearing the other man's comment, "why you are still bothering Natalia, over three months later? And setting a bad example for small children."
The A/V lab technician was slowly turning from a bright shade of tomato red to a deep shade of eggplant purple. "Look…didn't mean it." He was wheezing and his eyes were rolling back slightly. Ella gasped as she turned away in pure fright, while Jem looked on with intense curiosity.
"Eric." A calm voice broke through the thick tense air. Eric realized what he was doing and immediately let go of his grip. What the heck am I doing? It's like I have some sort of innate reaction…when someone hurts Natalia…then it's like: Eric mad. There must be something wrong with me…cuz that would make me a COMPLETE hypocrite…
He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep meditative breath. "Sorry, man." Cooper just coughed and walked back into the A/V lab. I should talk to him later. The little cluster of people quickly dispersed.
Eric looked at the two children. Ella was wide-eyed. She rarely saw her father get angry and already today she had seen him become irritated more than once. Maybe he's having a really really bad day. Is it cuz we're here? I don't think so…I thought daddy got food…can we eat now? I'm hungry…
Jem on the other hand was peeved. Aw, man! Unky H has the WORST timing…daddy was gonna beat the crap outta Mr. Cooper…he was turning purple…that's awesome! Whatever…I hope we can eat now.
Their father sighed and squatted down to their eye level. "Sorry, guys, but I have to talk to your uncle really quick before I take you back to the break room." The boy and girl nodded in understanding.
Horatio smiled with interest. "You're getting used to this already."
"Yeah, it's kind of strange and weird though."
"Parenthood is just that."
"Yeah…but these kids just came out of nowhere."
"Care to explain what that exchange was about?"
"Oh, yeah." He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry. It was stupid. I-yeah…it was just-it was nothing. Sorry."
The ginger-haired man frowned as he toyed with his sunglasses. "Mhmm…let's just hope the IAB doesn't hear about the incident." He treated his CSIs like they were his children; he never wanted to see them get into any trouble.
"That's highly unlikely…but it is Stetler we're talking about." The two men half-smiled. "Is that it? Because I gotta take these kids to Natalia…or at least to their lunch…but it may as well be an early dinner."
"About Ms. Boa Vista. Frank informed me about what the witness said and I'm still getting the results back from the crime scene."
"Ok." Did I miss something? I hope they were able to get answers from that witness under more credible circumstances.
"For right now, I want to put her under police protection. It may be unnecessary, but I want her to be safe. And I think it would be perfect if you were the officer in charge, since Ella and Jeremy are certain that you two are their parents. You'll both get a couple of days off to lay low until we know and understand this situation a little more."
"Oh. Uhm. Did I miss something? Like why she needs police protection?"
Horatio smiled. "I didn't tell you?" When Eric responded negatively, he replied, "Must've slipped my mind."
"Yeah." Eric laughed. "Must've." His boss smiled wryly as he took a few minutes to give his CSI a much abridged version of Natalia's predicament.
"Oh, wow. Uh…What do I tell-What should I tell Natalia?" Is she okay? I have to get back to her…is that why she fainted?
"You know what? Let me handle that. But first you all should go and eat. I'm sure she's waiting for you."
"Thanks, H." Horatio nodded and walked away to see what his trace analyst found off of the evidence from the Everglades crime scene.
Eric walked back to his small children. What a weird thought…I need to start getting used to this. Well, until their real parents find them… "You two ready to eat?" The response was a chorus of 'Yay!'s. Ella and Jem happily followed their father, each one holding one of his hands. I guess I could just keep playing along.
She had returned from the bathroom and was pacing around the break room. Can't be sleepy. Maybe I should finish eating…reheat that tea…There was a small short knock at the door.
"Marisol! Oh, wow. Hi." Natalia went over and hugged her friend. They had been roommates in college for a period of time. "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but what are you doing in the lab?"
"I came to see Horatio, actually. Find out if he's okay and all because he couldn't make it to lunch."
"Oh. He's fine…it's just problems with my ex…and there's this crime scene…and oh, I don't know." Just thinking about it was giving her a migraine. And it's not like I can take any medicine…I don't want the baby to get affected…which reminds me. "How's the baby?"
"The baby?" Marisol glowed with happiness as she placed her hand consciously over her stomach. Since it was only towards the middle of her first trimester, nothing was visible yet. "It's doing fine. I'm doing fine. The Lamaze classes really help."
"Yeah…that's great." I probably should start going to those things. "Um…I need to say something." Wow…way to go Natalia…that didn't sound dumb AT ALL.
Marisol smiled warmly. She knew her friend had gone through some-many- rough patches in the past. She also knew that her baby brother and Natalia were deeply in love. Eric and Natalia are soulmates…they've just got some of their own rough patches to smooth out…
"Well, I'm," Natalia paused and took a deep breath," I'm kind of pregnant…well, I've been pregnant…for the past couple of months." Great…tell everyone, BUT the one person I need to tell. Well, this is a step closer. This time I told a relative…of his…
The brunette gasped in shock and happiness. "Oh! Congratulations Natalia! When did you find out? Who's the father?" She was absolutely thrilled for her friend.
"Um…you kind of know him?" She hadn't meant for it to sound like a question, but she was so nervous and edgy that it came out that way. "And I'm…I'm three months further…I'm five months pregnant."
Marisol's eyes widened. "What! Natalia! How come you haven't said anything? Or taken any classes? Have you been taking classes? If not, please come with me next time! Natalia!" Natalia laughed dryly at her friend's scolding. Wait 'til she finds out who the father is. "Do I really know him?"
"Um…you're related to him?" God, I have to calm down…everything I says keeps coming out like a question. She took in a deep soothing breath.
"Really?" The suspense was getting her edgy. The fact that she was pregnant wasn't helping her jumpy emotions…or thoughts. I wonder if it's Papí. Scandalous. She knew that that would never happen, but the idea made her want to giggle and so she had to bit her tongue to keep from doing so. Well, besides Papí, I only have one other male relative…hmm…
"It's Eric." Natalia breathed out. Now, if I could actually get the courage to tell Eric, that'd be great.
Marisol's eyes shone with glee. Process of elimination… "Really? I'm so happy for the two of you!" She paused as a thought struck her. "I can't believe Eric didn't tell me!"
"Um…that's because I haven't told him yet."
"What? Why not?" Marisol was completely shocked. It's Eric. He's a great person. He's completely responsible. "Is that-Is that why you two broke up? He was so heartbroken after that happened."
Really? He sure has a funny way of showing it. "When I found out, I got kind of scared, I guess, and I kind of-I mean, I did- lied to Eric…because I wanted to see what his reaction would be if I wasn't pregnant. And he was happy and relieved-"
"Well, of course, he must have felt like he dodged a bullet. I know my baby brother inside and out; he would take complete responsibility and he really does care about you, although he apparently fails to show it." The leukemia survivor laughed sympathetically. I mean, he must not show or express it, otherwise she would have told him by now… they'd be married and living in the Groves… She had always been a complete romantic and therefore became semi-lost in her day-dream.
"Yeah…" She's just being nice…siblings 'care' for one another…so that doesn't mean much to me. Eric loves me like a sister? I'll pass…I have enough siblings as it is… "I guess…I guess I kind of chickened out."
"Nat, how were you going to explain to him-anyone, really-when you started getting a bump?" The brunette giggled at her friend's silly reasoning.
"I don't know…well, I already started getting a bump. I'm just wearing slightly looser clothing, but it doesn't matter, everybody knows now…except for him." Great…didn't Alexx warn me about this?
"You're worrying too much." A sudden idea sprung to Marisol's mischievous mind as she saw what Natalia could not. She chewed her bottom lip to keep from laughing and in a slightly louder voice, she proclaimed, "Natalia, I really think that you should tell Eric that you're pregnant with his child."
Natalia whipped around in her seat as a crash was heard behind her at the entrance to the break room. To her horror, she saw Eric, who had heard what his sister had basically shouted, splat on the ground with Jem and a little girl, who could only have been Ella, close behind. Could this day get any worse?
A/N: XD… That was fun to write… XDD
Oh man, finals suck! .
Oh yeah, sorry Cooper... LOL