Title: Cause and Effect (5/?)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters (including Maria. She's made it quite clear that she owns her own damn self, thank you very much.) I'm just borrowing them and will return them when I've had my fun, somewhat dazed and disheveled, but otherwise in their original condition. Also, Maria and I have decided to keep Eric for a while, and we're sending Tim to Yana...
Rating: Still R, but no smut, so all you conservatives and prudes (uh, maybe that was a little redundant) can chill, okay?
Pairings: Eric/Maria, Tim/Calleigh, John/Yelina, Horatio/Adele
Feedback: Hey, you! Yeah, I'm talking to you! You're reading this, right? Well then review it! Come on, pretty pleeeeeease? It only takes a minute or two, and it makes my day. Besides, we both know you've got the time. What else are you going to do, work?
Dedication: Yana, for, as always, putting up with my crazy self. Jackie, Tina, Mel, Annie, Dorothy, Nonnie, and all my other loyal reviewers, what would I do without ya'll? I'll tell ya what; I'd stop writing! And that would suck. So, thanks!
Note: Two chapters without any reviews on fanfic.net? Did everyone join the fic list or something? Remember, the more reviews I get, the faster I write!
"Why am I not surprised?" Eric said with a smirk when he saw Calleigh and Tim outside Horatio's office, trying to appear casual.
"Hey, it was her idea." Tim defended himself.
"Yeah, and I heard you disagreeing with me the whole way up here." Calleigh shot back, ruffling his hair affectionately.
"Hey, come on, not the hair." Tim pulled away from her and grabbed her wrists to subdue her. "What's that?" He asked, indicating the folder in Eric's hand.
"It's, uh, the pictures the hospital took when Maria was there three years ago." Eric said uncomfortably. "I didn't look at all of them, but the first few...you know, Hagen told me the other day not to look at them. Kinda wish I'd listened to him."
"Oh, shit, Eric..." Calleigh sighed.
"I don't want to talk about it." Eric insisted. He gestured to the door. "How's it going in there?"
"Well, she and Horatio are having a, uh, disagreement." Tim said.
"A 'disagreement' or a fight?" Eric asked.
Calleigh shrugged. "Well, it has the potential to escalate-"
"Oh, for fuck's sake, Horatio!" Maria's scream interrupted.
"Yep, there it goes." Tim observed.
"Hey." Eric caught Maria's arm as she stormed out of the office. "Come on, we'll talk to him together."
"No way in hell I'm talking to that stubborn jackass about this again!" Maria snapped, trying to shake him off.
"Come on, you're not giving up." Eric told her. "And calm down, you're going to make me all paranoid again." He opened the office door. "H? Can we get another minute?"
"I'm sorry, Eric, I can't let her talk to Aimee." Horatio replied without looking up. "The conflict of interests is-" He was cut off as Eric slapped the folder down on the desk in front of him. "What's this?"
"Conflict of interests would only be a problem if there was any chance that Maria was wrong." Eric pointed out. "You know that Grant was abusing Aimee, and the proof is in that folder. Take a look at those pictures and tell me if you think that looks like the work of a man who's capable of changing his ways."
"What was that?" Maria asked as Eric closed the office door behind them. "I mean, the folder?"
"Promise you won't get mad?" Eric asked. "It was pictures from when you were in the hospital three years ago. And uh...evidence that they collected."
"Oh, geez." Maria sighed, leaning against the wall. "You didn't look at any of it, did you?"
"A couple of the pictures, yeah." Eric admitted. "I figured that whatever was in that folder couldn't be any worse than what I'd imagined."
Maria touched his cheek gently. "And?"
"I was wrong." Eric winced. "Let's just say I'm glad that son of a bitch is dead."
"Hey." Maria said softly, putting her arms loosely around him. "It's okay...no, no it's not okay. But it's over."
The door behind them opened and Horatio stepped out, looking uncharacteristically shaken. "You can talk to her alone for five minutes, Maria. I'll watch through the two-way."
Maria nodded. "Fair enough."
"Hey." Eric pulled Maria close as they approached the interview room. "You can do this, all right?" He kissed her gently. "I'll be right here."
"I know." Maria said, understanding exactly what he meant. As he went to join Horatio behind the two-way mirror, she took a few deep breaths, then opened the door. "Hi, Aimee."
"He's cute." Aimee said casually, tilting her chair back.
"Yeah, he's amazing." Maria sighed, sitting down across the table. "I never thought I'd find someone half as incredible as he is, after everything Adam did to me. I didn't think I'd be able to move on, and let anyone in. And I almost didn't, I almost fucked things up with Eric, because I couldn't accept what had happened to me, and deal with it. But he didn't give up on me. Kinda like how I'm not going to give up on you."
"What do you mean?" Aimee asked.
"I know you." Maria said firmly. "Shit, Aimee, I practically am you. At least, I'm what you could be in a few years. I fell into the same trap you did. All I'd ever wanted, all my life, was to be in the Army. When that ended, I thought my life was over."
"I was just pissed about it." Aimee scoffed. "I went through all that training, worked my ass off, and I was in Khandahar for two days before that goddamn mortar attack."
"Hey, you lasted a lot longer than I did." Maria told her. "But all that training and hard work, it stays with you, doesn't it? I mean, sometimes I'll tell someone I'll meet them at zero-sixteen-hundred without even realizing it, or my boss will tell me to do something, and without even thinking about it, I'll say 'roger that,' or even 'hoo-ah.' Especially when I'm stressed out, or scared."
Aimee leaned a little closer. "Like how?" "Well, for example, when I'm dealing with a suspect, if they're getting belligerent, I start feeling defensive, like I'd be ready to kick their ass or even shoot them if they try anything."
"Okay, I see where you're going with this." Aimee said.
"He was going to kill you, right?" Maria asked, grabbing the younger woman's arm to stop her from standing up. "Something he did or said tipped you off, he was finally gonna do it. After months of raping you and torturing you, and beating you within an inch of your life, he was going to go ahead and finish the job that night."
"He smacked me around." Aimee said softly. "Then he took the gun, and he..."
"I know." Maria said. "Your cervical tissue was all over the gun sight. And...he used to do the same thing to me."
"Then he put the gun aside, said he'd want to use it again later. And then he took his pants down, and got on top of me, and he..." Aimee's voice broke. "He had his hands around my throat the whole time, I thought he was going to kill me like that. When he was done, he said he wanted to take a shower, because I'd got 'skank' all over him. And then when he got back, he was going to use the gun again. The way he said it, I just knew...I knew he was going to kill me."
"So then what did you do?" Maria asked gently. She reached across the table and took Aimee's hands.
"I felt numb." Aimee sobbed. "But there was something in me, some part of me wanted to live. It's all kind of a blur, but I got the gun, and I went in the bathroom. He turned around and started to ask me what I was doing, and I just aimed and pulled the trigger, three times. Twice in the chest and once in the head, just like we learned in basic."
"It's a good thing you did that, Aimee." Maria said, taking a deep breath. "It is. And it's a good thing you told me all of this. Now you just have to tell the State's Attorney."
"I...I can't." Aimee gasped.
"Yes, you can. And I'll be right there with you." Maria promised her. "Aimee, he's prepared to offer you a deal. Probation, counseling, that's all you'll get. You can get your life back."
"What am I supposed to do with myself? Aimee asked.
Maria shrugged. "Anything. I didn't know what I would do after I got away from him, but I found my way. And I found Eric, too. I didn't think I'd ever fall in love again, but I did. Even after everything that Adam did to you, Aimee, I know that you'll find someone who will really love you, and really take care of you."
Aimee looked skeptical. "Does he know about what Adam did to you?"
"Yeah, he does." Maria said. "I wish he didn't, because I know it breaks his heart, but he's helped me deal with it and move on. We love each other, and we're together and...I'm...I'm pregnant with his baby. I've got a new life, and you will too, eventually. It won't be easy, but I know you can do it, Aimee."
Behind the two-way mirror, Horatio turned to Eric, for once at a total loss for words.
Eric just smiled proudly. "Oh, yeah. Surprise."
Horatio managed a startled chuckle as he placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Well done, Eric."
"You did it." Calleigh congratulated Maria, giving her friend a hug.
"We did it." Maria corrected. "And Aimee. It took a lot for her to admit to all the shit he'd done to her. I would know."
"So where is she?" Tim asked. "Getting a ride to the Marriott. I personally arranged for her to be put up there until she's back on her feet." Maria explained.
"Actually, I'm still here." Aimee said as she came up behind them. Dressed in a pair of surgical scrubs that had been the only thing that fit her, she looked much more comfortable than she had in the hideous orange jumpsuit. "I couldn't leave without thanking all of you again." She stepped over and hugged Maria. "I guess I just thought that being in jail, or even getting the death penalty would have been better than being with him for another minute."
"Preaching to the choir, honey." Maria sighed, holding up her wrist so Aimee could see her scars. "Now, remember, the counselor we've set you up with is going to call you around three to set up your first appointment, so be in your hotel room then, okay?"
"Are you kidding?" Aimee actually cracked a smile. "I'm going to be too busy cleaning out all the chocolate in the mini bar to be anywhere else."
"Good." Maria said. "But just in case you do need anything, there's going to be an officer in the adjoining room, just let her know."
"I will." Aimee promised. "I better get going but...thank you. For everything. And good luck, you know, with the baby."
"Thanks." Maria grinned. "Call me, all right?" Aimee nodded.
"Yeah, you bet." She walked away then, looking over her shoulder and waving once more as she did.
"It's like she's a completely different person." Calleigh observed.
"Yeah, that's because she's finally free." Maria said. "She's still got a long way to go, a lot of healing to do. But she's free. Anyway, I have to get going."
"Where?" Tim asked.
"Eric and I managed to get two hours off. Got a doctor's appointment." Maria explained.
"Yeah, I just talked to H." Eric added, coming up behind her. He slid his arms around her waist and kissed her on the cheek. "Oh, and he said to tell you congratulations."
"How'd he take the news?" Maria inquired.
"He was pretty much speechless." Eric replied.
Maria laughed. "Wow. Sorry I missed that."
"Everything looks healthy." Dr. Raeveska assured the couple, studying the image on the screen in front of her. "How have you been feeling, Maria?"
"Tired." Maria replied. "And sick. And...really confused. How did this happen?"
"It was never impossible." Dr. Raeveska explained. "The odds of you getting pregnant were extremely slim, but you got lucky."
"Every night." Eric added under his breath.
Maria heard him and laughed as she slapped his arm. "Ignore the pervert." She looked over at the monitor. "So, can we see it?"
Dr. Raeveska grinned as she turned the screen to face them. "Absolutely."
"Oh my God." Maria gasped, grabbing Eric's hand. "Eric, look."
"Yeah." Eric managed to say. "That's it? That dot right there is our baby?"
"Actually, that dot is just a dot." Dr. Raeveska said. "That dot next to it is your baby."
"Wow." Maria laughed, blinking back tears. Turning to Eric, she saw him smiling as he stared at the image in front of him. "I love you." She whispered.
"I love you, too." Eric said as he kissed her forehead. He looked at the screen again, then back at Maria. "Both of you."
TBC...