Slightly Condoned
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Rating: R (later)
Pairing: Eric/OC, Speed/Calleigh
Summary: After the death of Janet Medrano (Body Count) Elisabeth Kaytlin is hired as the new ADA. Under the condoned guide of Horatio Caine's ex-wife, Mia Dayton, who also happens to be the DA for Miami, as her first assignment Kaytlin is forced to reopen a cold case, which also happens to be Eric Delko's first case with the Miami-Dade crime Lab.
Spoiler: Tinder Box, Body Count
A/N: I *need* to take a break from Cardboard Copy.and perhaps this is a feeble attempt for your entertainment, but I just need to write an Eric fic.he's so lovable.hope you like it. Note: direct mentions from episodes will be featured later.
***
Part 6 - Amidst The Chaos
Speed was still relishing the leftovers of his breakfast when Horatio walked into the break room with a mission for an extra large caffeine boost.
He didn't even notice the trace expert dining on the lunch table until he heard Tim's grunting voice transpire, " Got anything stronger back there?" He asked, as he watched Horatio empty a packet of coffee into the percolator filter.
Horatio seemed startled for a moment but quickly retaliated, " I wish." He smirked and Speed gave him a ghost of a smile as he put his half finished meal away.
" So do I." He commented, and Horatio made his way to the table.
" Not hungry?" He asked, genuinely concerned. It was no secret around the labs that since his days working at his father's restaurant, the Syracuse born had a passion for cooking food not eating it.
" You want it?" Speed asked, gesturing toward the package.
" Oh no, I don't think I could stomach anything right now." Horatio spoke as a matter-of-factly forcing Tim to question what state of mind his boss was in.
" Rough morning?" He asked empathetically and Horatio nodded.
" On of the worst. Let's see." He began and Speed prepared to listen, noting to himself that this would be interesting.
" I overslept, and burned my wrist on the coffee maker. Then Alexx informed me that our investigation was terminated by Detective Tripp because the evidence proved to be inconclusive. Then I spoke to my ex-wife, who reminded me dutifully why I divorced her."
" Didn't she cheat on you?" Speed cut in absent-mindedly.
Horatio nodded, clear faced without a hint of pain, as he continued, " And I virtually threatened her and then Eric probed me about some cryptic bullshit, which I'm sure he cared more about then me, and I feel guilty for stirring him into the wrong direction." Horatio exclaimed, and watched the coffee maker spit out the coveted liquid.
Speed let out a chuckle, and Horatio raised an eyebrow, " What's so funny?"
" You are." Tim smiled, and then elaborated, " After all these years of helping people you still don't have confidence in the fact that you give out the best advice."
Horatio was taken aback by this confession but still couldn't shake the feeling that something was up with his CSIs, especially the one he left at the mercy of his ex wife and her assistant.
" Speaking of giving advice." Speed began, after Horatio didn't talk much.
" Yeah." Horatio questioned, but before Tim could admit his feelings with his own inner demons, Calleigh intruded on their conversation.
" Calleigh." Horatio turned to his ballistics expert with a fond _expression on his face.
Tim was a different story but Calleigh ignored him as she placed the report in her hand in front of the two men.
" What'd you find?" Speed asked, looking up at her with an indifferent, professional gaze, as if they didn't share their bed at night.
" I." Calleigh folded her arms over her breasts and continued; " Found DNA." She finished coolly and Tim eagerly opened the folder.
***
" Nothing." Eric exclaimed, and shot a bundle of papers propelling across Elisabeth's desk.
" Easy there, my desk doesn't deserve such torture." Elisabeth scooped up the files he discarded and put them into the folder they fell out of.
" Yeah, well neither do we. This is bullshit, there is nothing we can do, don't you see that Liz?" Delko asked indignantly, trying to make his point come across, and Elisabeth was slowly started to believe it.
But before she could reach a decision, they had a visitor.
" Everything okay back here?" Mia popped her head through the door crack and Eric murmured to himself, " You have got to start locking that door."
Elisabeth heard him and stifled a laugh as Mia looked between them.
" Everything is fine." She replied to her boss, and it was Eric's turn to interrupt the conversation when his cell phone rang.
" Delko."
There was a moment of silence, and then he replied with a keen yes, and hung up.
" What's new on the front?" Elisabeth asked.
" DNA." Eric said, raising the attention of the two women.
" DNA?" Mia confirmed, stepping further into the room.
" DNA." Eric nodded, and Elisabeth stood up, " Looks like we need to go back to CSI." She studied Eric's indifferent reaction, and concluded that he really didn't care.
" Good. Keep me posted." Mia folded her arms over her chest and walked out of the office.
" Okay, she's gone. What did they tell you?" Elisabeth asked in a half whisper.
" Speed called. Male DNA, we had a secretor." Delko explained.
" Why didn't you see it before?" The ADA questioned.
" I have no idea, but something tells me that we're about to find out." Eric stood up as well.
" Lead the way." Elisabeth motioned Eric toward the door.
***
Fifteen minutes later the whole team was gathered in the confines of the Trace Lab.
Eric was too wrapped up in the confusion swirling in his brain toward a certain ADA to notice the tension between his coworkers.
Elisabeth, however, wasn't as easily fazed by their façade, and how badly they were trying to cover up their inner feelings to benefit the investigation.
" Welcome to my world." Was all she could think at that moment when she glanced over at Delko and quickly looked away because she herself wasn't sure what could come out of that.
Calleigh smiled as the couple stepped into the Lab, and ignored Speed's presence completely. She didn't know if she was doing it out of courtesy to her friends or to protect herself from lashing out, but whatever it was, she continued the charade, and with a brief hello gave Elisabeth the folder in which the DNA results reclined.
Elisabeth studied it wordlessly, and then turned to look at Eric to see if he'd like to read the file.
He dismissed it, and shot Speed a brief glance, " Yo, how'd we miss it?" He asked, with slight disappointment but Tim noticed it anyway and shrugged, " These things happen."
" They shouldn't." Delko pressed on, contradicting what his friend was trying to play off as no big deal. It kind of shot his confidence straight to hell, and he even went as far as to question Elisabeth's faith in him and his job.
He'd been dead on sure that they hadn't missed anything while processing that case 18 months ago, and as it turned out he'd been dead on wrong.
" Well, what'd ya gonna do about it?" Speed asked, tracing patterns only visible to him on the floor.
" Is this all?" Elisabeth transpired, feeling an argument coming on, which she was compelled to stop, seeing as though the other CSI wasn't up to it.
Calleigh took an exasperated sigh, and rested her palm on the edge of the table as she spoke, " For the time being yes." She confirmed and Elisabeth could sense that she was worn out and it was only early afternoon.
" Listen, I've been meaning to ask you. I read the files on the suspects you interviewed, and the only two mentioned are Council Woman Escalante and her husband. Was that solely based on what the witness at the neighboring table heard?" Elisabeth asked, placing the file on the lit table, and then resumed glaring at Calleigh for answers.
" Uh." Calleigh's voice stretched and Speed cut her off, " Yeah, is that a problem?" He said in a tone that said he didn't like her probing his girlfriend for answers she already knew.
It was kind of interesting to watch how his mind worked and his actions. It seemed to Elisabeth that even though both of the men were equally caring, Eric and Tim were completely different from each other.
Elisabeth didn't know if it was particularly rude of her to assume things, but in her eyes Speed seemed like a puzzle, and mystery of sorts, whether as Eric was an open book, and she didn't know which of the two was a lesser evil.
Each had advantages and disadvantages, but right now, they were at an all time low. Only then did it occur to her that the entire room was stilly quiet and it was starting to get deafening.
" No. It's not a problem; I'd like to know if the witness was credible. Did he suffer from any illnesses?" She questioned, and didn't notice Delko send her an impressed once over.
It seemed to him as if she was being forced into this, and could honestly care less about the outcome, it didn't matter, she'd still keep her job, but obviously the ADA had other intentions.
At least he liked to think so.
" Not that I remember, no, but I can do a background check again." Speed volunteered and Elisabeth noted that subtleness wasn't one of his strong attributes. It was bluntly obvious that the man was bursting to leave the room and the awkwardness attached to the people surrounding him.
Elisabeth weighed her options. She could either permit him to do so and save him from this hell, or she could decline and then he'd be miserable with her.
She went for the former.
" Thanks, I'd appreciate it." She gave him a fond smile, and replied back with a nod, " Peachy. Page me if something comes up." He added, and fled the room.
His lingering words sort of hung in the air, until Eric spoke, " Anything else you'd like us to do?" He asked curtly, and Elisabeth wanted to smack him for being an ass for no reason.
It seemed as if she was shortchanging him ever since they left the restaurant, and as if now he was making her pay for it, by being indifferent and rude.
" Yeah, as a matter-of-fact I do." Elisabeth said, enjoying the power that her authority held. It was good to have some one do your biddings for you, especially since they deserved it for being charming one minute and a jerk the next.
" Shoot." Calleigh pressed on, and Elisabeth smiled at her, completely condoning Eric's raised _expression.
She'd left him hanging, and there was no doubt in her mind that he deserved it.
Jackass.
She wasn't supposed to be this clingy, and worried about him, and their situation, especially when there wasn't one.
And she would've liked if there were, that's what bothered her the most out of all this. Even though Eric was dropping subtle hints on his interest in her, it seemed as if she was the only one feeling the vibe that was sparking between them.
" Do you have enough semen to ID the male?" Elisabeth asked thoughtfully, and Eric shot her another daunted look. She ignored it, although secretly she was pleased that she could rile him up at least some how.
Payback's a bitch.
" Already done. His name is Leo Hunter. He's 29 years old and works as a personal trainer in a YMCA downtown." Calleigh handed Elisabeth another report hidden amongst the clutter on the desk, that Eric was sure Horatio didn't approve of.
" Good. Thank you." Elisabeth skimmed over the paper work, and then turned to Eric.
" What?" he asked, a little annoyed that she was finally paying attention to him, and her look told him that it was business related.
" You and I are going to pay Mr. Hunter a visit, are you up for it?" Elisabeth asked, a bit of excitement evident in her voice and Eric found it daring that she was happy to be in on that part of the investigation.
" I can always ask Calleigh." Elisabeth added, letting him know that he wasn't, by a long shot, her last resort.
" No, it's okay, I think we can handle it." Eric stopped before she could rant any more, and Elisabeth gave him a tightlipped smile.
" Okay, I've got the address so I'll drive." She added, and Delko rolled his eyes, " Like hell you are, it's my car." He announced.
" Then you can walk." Elisabeth winked at him and before he knew it, his keys were in her hand, and she was leading him to the parking lot.
***
Calleigh was still in the Trace Lab going over the DNA results one more time, trying to piece together a logical reason as to why they'd missed this evidence before.
Coming up short on an explanation, she planned to head down to the shooting range and relieve her frustration on paper targets rather than people, when John Hagen walked into the Lab.
" Duquesne." He greeted her with his standard smile, which she returned cheekily, " Hagen."
Then she was about to step out of the room, but he touched her arm in reference that he wasn't done here.
" Yes?" Calleigh's voice trailed off, giving him time to explain.
" Horatio sent me." The detective said ambiguously, making Calleigh question his intentions.
" To do what?" she asked, and he let go of her arm.
" To discuss you testifying in court in case matter of Kerner Vs. The Commonwealth." John explained, and Calleigh immediately stiffened upon the mention of the criminal who killed her best friend.
She stepped back a little and collected herself by fumbling with the buttons on her chemise, then looking back at Hagen she took a deep breath and sighed, " I, I thought that trial was over?" Calleigh looked up at him with hopeful eyes but he turned away, and explained, " It was postponed on the account of new evidence."
He gave her the space she needed, as she tensed up even more, and instead of focusing on the man in front of her, she looked passed him, drawing patterns only seen by her on the wall behind John.
Hagen was sort of confused. He'd never seen her in such a state, not even when they found Janet's body together, or when Hank Kerner threatened her. Granted he didn't spend enough time outside of work with her to know how shaken up she was over her best friend's death, he had a pretty good idea, and how to approach this matter wasn't one of his strong pursuits.
" Right. The prison break. I would've assumed so, but it's been two months John, what do they want now?" Calleigh asked curtly, and knew she was misplacing her anger, but that didn't stop her from acting, annoyed and less than compliant.
This wasn't making her feel any better, and wasn't allowing Hagen to do his job properly. He, however, allowed her to grumble, because knowing what she was going through, he didn't want to push any buttons and end up on her bad side.
She *did* have a 9mm attached to her hip, but so did he. It just seemed pretty unfair that she was a better marksman than him by a very long shot.
Hell, she could probably take on any man in this department and win, so he decided to stir clear of her wrath and instead try to keep her grounded for the time being.
" Mia would like to do a deposition with you, a written one, or a taped one, depending on whether you'd like to testify in court or do it privately." " And have it broadcasted all over the news that the CSI who caught the bastard is too scared to witness him in the process of conviction, I don't think so John."
Calleigh interrupted him with edged reply, and he tensed up as well, sensing an argument boiling between them.
" Calleigh, look, don't kill the messenger, I'm just passing on the word. If you'd like to voice your complaints go see Dayton, not me." he finally snapped and could see Calleigh wasn't fazed, instead she remained sort of discouraged.
Defeated, the look on her face plagued him, and somehow he wanted to comfort her out of it.
After a moment of long, deep silence, Calleigh exhaled and caved in, " I'm sorry, your right. This is by no measure your fault, and I'm sorry I directed my anger toward you. It's just this case, him, Janet, all the other victims."
She couldn't bare to finish the thought, as she grabbed the files she needed and bolted out of the Trace Lab, leaving Hagen both confused and a little relieved that he didn't do something stupid like give her a hug.
It could've been misinterpreted as a romantic gesture, and it was bluntly obvious that that certain CSI was taken and he just didn't need those kinds of rumors clouding him.
After the case with Dispo Day, and the encounter with a flashback from his days at Narco with Ray Caine, he already had enough on his plate, and for a short minute John Hagen finally felt like he related to Calleigh.
***
Reloading her gun, he watched her shoot another round at the paper mannequin, 50 yards down the line.
He wondered about the shake in her shoulders as she flagged the target in, and replaced it. But he thought nothing of it, until she took off her ear protectors and sat down on the table she usually used for bullet comparisons.
Murmuring some incoherency to herself, she had no idea he stepped into the room, looking quite apprehensive and tense, but only because if he didn't experience those feelings, he'd have no other choice but comfort her, and break apart the stonewall he built around himself that morning.
Putting her hair in a twist she looked up and encountered his brown eyes boring deep circles in hers with his enigmatic stare.
Pressing her palm against her stomach, vainly trying to suppress the butterflies that were forming at the pit of it, she wasn't sure who'd made the first move, but somehow they ended up kissing.
Speed wondered if this was all their relationship was based on.
Two fucked up people trying desperately not to fall deeper into the hole they dug for themselves, by clinging on to something, some one in this case.
It was kind of ironic that he burst through his shell and she helped him do it without so much as lifting a finger, all she had to do was be available and that's exactly what she did.
She let him have her, and he took the bait. And now just when he thought everything was looking up, she stole the floor right underneath his footing and he ended up falling again, just because of that stupid conversation over breakfast that morning.
Taking chances wasn't worth it sometimes he'd said and left the room, well, what was he doing now, unbuttoning her blouse.
He didn't remember if she stopped him or if he stopped himself, but somehow they ended up inches apart and she was studying him suspiciously, but almost neurotically.
Then she buttoned up her shirt, and wiped the tears, which he tasted on his lips now that he had a moment to recuperate. She'd been crying, and he gave in to his feeling, shit.
This was bad, whatever it was, it was bad, but he was determined to help her, so that at the end of the day, at least one of them could say, " I'm okay."
And by all accounts if he had to choose between her well being and his own, he'd pick hers in a second, she deserved a lot more than he did.
" They, they want me to testify in court." She said, hiccupping on her sobs, which proved to be just as translucent as the paleness of her skin was.
Speed wanted to reach out and make those tears disappear but he couldn't bring himself up to do it, and he didn't know why. This angered him, but mostly just frustrated his nerves.
" I, I just don't think I can do it without either shooting Kerner right there, or fucking up the deposition. Neither of those are gonna benefit Mia's case." Calleigh wiped the tender skin under her eyes cautiously, as she retold Speed what Hagen did, and her feelings behind it.
Speed remained silent, not really knowing what to say, as he savored the last bit of saltiness on his lips, overpowering the sweetness of Calleigh's kisses.
He was at loss for words obviously, at a very bad time, this was dire, and the consequences that he would render if he didn't reply would be twice as worse than the empathy he was feeling right now.
" Tim." Calleigh looked across the room at him, her blue eyes glistening with the lucid liquid that Speed recalled kissing away.
" Yeah?"
" Don't say anything, just hold me." She said to him almost inaudibly.
Now there was something he could do.
TBC.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Rating: R (later)
Pairing: Eric/OC, Speed/Calleigh
Summary: After the death of Janet Medrano (Body Count) Elisabeth Kaytlin is hired as the new ADA. Under the condoned guide of Horatio Caine's ex-wife, Mia Dayton, who also happens to be the DA for Miami, as her first assignment Kaytlin is forced to reopen a cold case, which also happens to be Eric Delko's first case with the Miami-Dade crime Lab.
Spoiler: Tinder Box, Body Count
A/N: I *need* to take a break from Cardboard Copy.and perhaps this is a feeble attempt for your entertainment, but I just need to write an Eric fic.he's so lovable.hope you like it. Note: direct mentions from episodes will be featured later.
***
Part 6 - Amidst The Chaos
Speed was still relishing the leftovers of his breakfast when Horatio walked into the break room with a mission for an extra large caffeine boost.
He didn't even notice the trace expert dining on the lunch table until he heard Tim's grunting voice transpire, " Got anything stronger back there?" He asked, as he watched Horatio empty a packet of coffee into the percolator filter.
Horatio seemed startled for a moment but quickly retaliated, " I wish." He smirked and Speed gave him a ghost of a smile as he put his half finished meal away.
" So do I." He commented, and Horatio made his way to the table.
" Not hungry?" He asked, genuinely concerned. It was no secret around the labs that since his days working at his father's restaurant, the Syracuse born had a passion for cooking food not eating it.
" You want it?" Speed asked, gesturing toward the package.
" Oh no, I don't think I could stomach anything right now." Horatio spoke as a matter-of-factly forcing Tim to question what state of mind his boss was in.
" Rough morning?" He asked empathetically and Horatio nodded.
" On of the worst. Let's see." He began and Speed prepared to listen, noting to himself that this would be interesting.
" I overslept, and burned my wrist on the coffee maker. Then Alexx informed me that our investigation was terminated by Detective Tripp because the evidence proved to be inconclusive. Then I spoke to my ex-wife, who reminded me dutifully why I divorced her."
" Didn't she cheat on you?" Speed cut in absent-mindedly.
Horatio nodded, clear faced without a hint of pain, as he continued, " And I virtually threatened her and then Eric probed me about some cryptic bullshit, which I'm sure he cared more about then me, and I feel guilty for stirring him into the wrong direction." Horatio exclaimed, and watched the coffee maker spit out the coveted liquid.
Speed let out a chuckle, and Horatio raised an eyebrow, " What's so funny?"
" You are." Tim smiled, and then elaborated, " After all these years of helping people you still don't have confidence in the fact that you give out the best advice."
Horatio was taken aback by this confession but still couldn't shake the feeling that something was up with his CSIs, especially the one he left at the mercy of his ex wife and her assistant.
" Speaking of giving advice." Speed began, after Horatio didn't talk much.
" Yeah." Horatio questioned, but before Tim could admit his feelings with his own inner demons, Calleigh intruded on their conversation.
" Calleigh." Horatio turned to his ballistics expert with a fond _expression on his face.
Tim was a different story but Calleigh ignored him as she placed the report in her hand in front of the two men.
" What'd you find?" Speed asked, looking up at her with an indifferent, professional gaze, as if they didn't share their bed at night.
" I." Calleigh folded her arms over her breasts and continued; " Found DNA." She finished coolly and Tim eagerly opened the folder.
***
" Nothing." Eric exclaimed, and shot a bundle of papers propelling across Elisabeth's desk.
" Easy there, my desk doesn't deserve such torture." Elisabeth scooped up the files he discarded and put them into the folder they fell out of.
" Yeah, well neither do we. This is bullshit, there is nothing we can do, don't you see that Liz?" Delko asked indignantly, trying to make his point come across, and Elisabeth was slowly started to believe it.
But before she could reach a decision, they had a visitor.
" Everything okay back here?" Mia popped her head through the door crack and Eric murmured to himself, " You have got to start locking that door."
Elisabeth heard him and stifled a laugh as Mia looked between them.
" Everything is fine." She replied to her boss, and it was Eric's turn to interrupt the conversation when his cell phone rang.
" Delko."
There was a moment of silence, and then he replied with a keen yes, and hung up.
" What's new on the front?" Elisabeth asked.
" DNA." Eric said, raising the attention of the two women.
" DNA?" Mia confirmed, stepping further into the room.
" DNA." Eric nodded, and Elisabeth stood up, " Looks like we need to go back to CSI." She studied Eric's indifferent reaction, and concluded that he really didn't care.
" Good. Keep me posted." Mia folded her arms over her chest and walked out of the office.
" Okay, she's gone. What did they tell you?" Elisabeth asked in a half whisper.
" Speed called. Male DNA, we had a secretor." Delko explained.
" Why didn't you see it before?" The ADA questioned.
" I have no idea, but something tells me that we're about to find out." Eric stood up as well.
" Lead the way." Elisabeth motioned Eric toward the door.
***
Fifteen minutes later the whole team was gathered in the confines of the Trace Lab.
Eric was too wrapped up in the confusion swirling in his brain toward a certain ADA to notice the tension between his coworkers.
Elisabeth, however, wasn't as easily fazed by their façade, and how badly they were trying to cover up their inner feelings to benefit the investigation.
" Welcome to my world." Was all she could think at that moment when she glanced over at Delko and quickly looked away because she herself wasn't sure what could come out of that.
Calleigh smiled as the couple stepped into the Lab, and ignored Speed's presence completely. She didn't know if she was doing it out of courtesy to her friends or to protect herself from lashing out, but whatever it was, she continued the charade, and with a brief hello gave Elisabeth the folder in which the DNA results reclined.
Elisabeth studied it wordlessly, and then turned to look at Eric to see if he'd like to read the file.
He dismissed it, and shot Speed a brief glance, " Yo, how'd we miss it?" He asked, with slight disappointment but Tim noticed it anyway and shrugged, " These things happen."
" They shouldn't." Delko pressed on, contradicting what his friend was trying to play off as no big deal. It kind of shot his confidence straight to hell, and he even went as far as to question Elisabeth's faith in him and his job.
He'd been dead on sure that they hadn't missed anything while processing that case 18 months ago, and as it turned out he'd been dead on wrong.
" Well, what'd ya gonna do about it?" Speed asked, tracing patterns only visible to him on the floor.
" Is this all?" Elisabeth transpired, feeling an argument coming on, which she was compelled to stop, seeing as though the other CSI wasn't up to it.
Calleigh took an exasperated sigh, and rested her palm on the edge of the table as she spoke, " For the time being yes." She confirmed and Elisabeth could sense that she was worn out and it was only early afternoon.
" Listen, I've been meaning to ask you. I read the files on the suspects you interviewed, and the only two mentioned are Council Woman Escalante and her husband. Was that solely based on what the witness at the neighboring table heard?" Elisabeth asked, placing the file on the lit table, and then resumed glaring at Calleigh for answers.
" Uh." Calleigh's voice stretched and Speed cut her off, " Yeah, is that a problem?" He said in a tone that said he didn't like her probing his girlfriend for answers she already knew.
It was kind of interesting to watch how his mind worked and his actions. It seemed to Elisabeth that even though both of the men were equally caring, Eric and Tim were completely different from each other.
Elisabeth didn't know if it was particularly rude of her to assume things, but in her eyes Speed seemed like a puzzle, and mystery of sorts, whether as Eric was an open book, and she didn't know which of the two was a lesser evil.
Each had advantages and disadvantages, but right now, they were at an all time low. Only then did it occur to her that the entire room was stilly quiet and it was starting to get deafening.
" No. It's not a problem; I'd like to know if the witness was credible. Did he suffer from any illnesses?" She questioned, and didn't notice Delko send her an impressed once over.
It seemed to him as if she was being forced into this, and could honestly care less about the outcome, it didn't matter, she'd still keep her job, but obviously the ADA had other intentions.
At least he liked to think so.
" Not that I remember, no, but I can do a background check again." Speed volunteered and Elisabeth noted that subtleness wasn't one of his strong attributes. It was bluntly obvious that the man was bursting to leave the room and the awkwardness attached to the people surrounding him.
Elisabeth weighed her options. She could either permit him to do so and save him from this hell, or she could decline and then he'd be miserable with her.
She went for the former.
" Thanks, I'd appreciate it." She gave him a fond smile, and replied back with a nod, " Peachy. Page me if something comes up." He added, and fled the room.
His lingering words sort of hung in the air, until Eric spoke, " Anything else you'd like us to do?" He asked curtly, and Elisabeth wanted to smack him for being an ass for no reason.
It seemed as if she was shortchanging him ever since they left the restaurant, and as if now he was making her pay for it, by being indifferent and rude.
" Yeah, as a matter-of-fact I do." Elisabeth said, enjoying the power that her authority held. It was good to have some one do your biddings for you, especially since they deserved it for being charming one minute and a jerk the next.
" Shoot." Calleigh pressed on, and Elisabeth smiled at her, completely condoning Eric's raised _expression.
She'd left him hanging, and there was no doubt in her mind that he deserved it.
Jackass.
She wasn't supposed to be this clingy, and worried about him, and their situation, especially when there wasn't one.
And she would've liked if there were, that's what bothered her the most out of all this. Even though Eric was dropping subtle hints on his interest in her, it seemed as if she was the only one feeling the vibe that was sparking between them.
" Do you have enough semen to ID the male?" Elisabeth asked thoughtfully, and Eric shot her another daunted look. She ignored it, although secretly she was pleased that she could rile him up at least some how.
Payback's a bitch.
" Already done. His name is Leo Hunter. He's 29 years old and works as a personal trainer in a YMCA downtown." Calleigh handed Elisabeth another report hidden amongst the clutter on the desk, that Eric was sure Horatio didn't approve of.
" Good. Thank you." Elisabeth skimmed over the paper work, and then turned to Eric.
" What?" he asked, a little annoyed that she was finally paying attention to him, and her look told him that it was business related.
" You and I are going to pay Mr. Hunter a visit, are you up for it?" Elisabeth asked, a bit of excitement evident in her voice and Eric found it daring that she was happy to be in on that part of the investigation.
" I can always ask Calleigh." Elisabeth added, letting him know that he wasn't, by a long shot, her last resort.
" No, it's okay, I think we can handle it." Eric stopped before she could rant any more, and Elisabeth gave him a tightlipped smile.
" Okay, I've got the address so I'll drive." She added, and Delko rolled his eyes, " Like hell you are, it's my car." He announced.
" Then you can walk." Elisabeth winked at him and before he knew it, his keys were in her hand, and she was leading him to the parking lot.
***
Calleigh was still in the Trace Lab going over the DNA results one more time, trying to piece together a logical reason as to why they'd missed this evidence before.
Coming up short on an explanation, she planned to head down to the shooting range and relieve her frustration on paper targets rather than people, when John Hagen walked into the Lab.
" Duquesne." He greeted her with his standard smile, which she returned cheekily, " Hagen."
Then she was about to step out of the room, but he touched her arm in reference that he wasn't done here.
" Yes?" Calleigh's voice trailed off, giving him time to explain.
" Horatio sent me." The detective said ambiguously, making Calleigh question his intentions.
" To do what?" she asked, and he let go of her arm.
" To discuss you testifying in court in case matter of Kerner Vs. The Commonwealth." John explained, and Calleigh immediately stiffened upon the mention of the criminal who killed her best friend.
She stepped back a little and collected herself by fumbling with the buttons on her chemise, then looking back at Hagen she took a deep breath and sighed, " I, I thought that trial was over?" Calleigh looked up at him with hopeful eyes but he turned away, and explained, " It was postponed on the account of new evidence."
He gave her the space she needed, as she tensed up even more, and instead of focusing on the man in front of her, she looked passed him, drawing patterns only seen by her on the wall behind John.
Hagen was sort of confused. He'd never seen her in such a state, not even when they found Janet's body together, or when Hank Kerner threatened her. Granted he didn't spend enough time outside of work with her to know how shaken up she was over her best friend's death, he had a pretty good idea, and how to approach this matter wasn't one of his strong pursuits.
" Right. The prison break. I would've assumed so, but it's been two months John, what do they want now?" Calleigh asked curtly, and knew she was misplacing her anger, but that didn't stop her from acting, annoyed and less than compliant.
This wasn't making her feel any better, and wasn't allowing Hagen to do his job properly. He, however, allowed her to grumble, because knowing what she was going through, he didn't want to push any buttons and end up on her bad side.
She *did* have a 9mm attached to her hip, but so did he. It just seemed pretty unfair that she was a better marksman than him by a very long shot.
Hell, she could probably take on any man in this department and win, so he decided to stir clear of her wrath and instead try to keep her grounded for the time being.
" Mia would like to do a deposition with you, a written one, or a taped one, depending on whether you'd like to testify in court or do it privately." " And have it broadcasted all over the news that the CSI who caught the bastard is too scared to witness him in the process of conviction, I don't think so John."
Calleigh interrupted him with edged reply, and he tensed up as well, sensing an argument boiling between them.
" Calleigh, look, don't kill the messenger, I'm just passing on the word. If you'd like to voice your complaints go see Dayton, not me." he finally snapped and could see Calleigh wasn't fazed, instead she remained sort of discouraged.
Defeated, the look on her face plagued him, and somehow he wanted to comfort her out of it.
After a moment of long, deep silence, Calleigh exhaled and caved in, " I'm sorry, your right. This is by no measure your fault, and I'm sorry I directed my anger toward you. It's just this case, him, Janet, all the other victims."
She couldn't bare to finish the thought, as she grabbed the files she needed and bolted out of the Trace Lab, leaving Hagen both confused and a little relieved that he didn't do something stupid like give her a hug.
It could've been misinterpreted as a romantic gesture, and it was bluntly obvious that that certain CSI was taken and he just didn't need those kinds of rumors clouding him.
After the case with Dispo Day, and the encounter with a flashback from his days at Narco with Ray Caine, he already had enough on his plate, and for a short minute John Hagen finally felt like he related to Calleigh.
***
Reloading her gun, he watched her shoot another round at the paper mannequin, 50 yards down the line.
He wondered about the shake in her shoulders as she flagged the target in, and replaced it. But he thought nothing of it, until she took off her ear protectors and sat down on the table she usually used for bullet comparisons.
Murmuring some incoherency to herself, she had no idea he stepped into the room, looking quite apprehensive and tense, but only because if he didn't experience those feelings, he'd have no other choice but comfort her, and break apart the stonewall he built around himself that morning.
Putting her hair in a twist she looked up and encountered his brown eyes boring deep circles in hers with his enigmatic stare.
Pressing her palm against her stomach, vainly trying to suppress the butterflies that were forming at the pit of it, she wasn't sure who'd made the first move, but somehow they ended up kissing.
Speed wondered if this was all their relationship was based on.
Two fucked up people trying desperately not to fall deeper into the hole they dug for themselves, by clinging on to something, some one in this case.
It was kind of ironic that he burst through his shell and she helped him do it without so much as lifting a finger, all she had to do was be available and that's exactly what she did.
She let him have her, and he took the bait. And now just when he thought everything was looking up, she stole the floor right underneath his footing and he ended up falling again, just because of that stupid conversation over breakfast that morning.
Taking chances wasn't worth it sometimes he'd said and left the room, well, what was he doing now, unbuttoning her blouse.
He didn't remember if she stopped him or if he stopped himself, but somehow they ended up inches apart and she was studying him suspiciously, but almost neurotically.
Then she buttoned up her shirt, and wiped the tears, which he tasted on his lips now that he had a moment to recuperate. She'd been crying, and he gave in to his feeling, shit.
This was bad, whatever it was, it was bad, but he was determined to help her, so that at the end of the day, at least one of them could say, " I'm okay."
And by all accounts if he had to choose between her well being and his own, he'd pick hers in a second, she deserved a lot more than he did.
" They, they want me to testify in court." She said, hiccupping on her sobs, which proved to be just as translucent as the paleness of her skin was.
Speed wanted to reach out and make those tears disappear but he couldn't bring himself up to do it, and he didn't know why. This angered him, but mostly just frustrated his nerves.
" I, I just don't think I can do it without either shooting Kerner right there, or fucking up the deposition. Neither of those are gonna benefit Mia's case." Calleigh wiped the tender skin under her eyes cautiously, as she retold Speed what Hagen did, and her feelings behind it.
Speed remained silent, not really knowing what to say, as he savored the last bit of saltiness on his lips, overpowering the sweetness of Calleigh's kisses.
He was at loss for words obviously, at a very bad time, this was dire, and the consequences that he would render if he didn't reply would be twice as worse than the empathy he was feeling right now.
" Tim." Calleigh looked across the room at him, her blue eyes glistening with the lucid liquid that Speed recalled kissing away.
" Yeah?"
" Don't say anything, just hold me." She said to him almost inaudibly.
Now there was something he could do.
TBC.