Disclaimer: (insert typical disclaimer where I complain about not owning CSI : Miami here) I only own Bayden and Whiris, and even then, Whiris's name was taken from the Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire game...and the song is How She Make Me Feel by Natural.
Notes: Okay, a sack of leprechaun gold each and Horatio plushies go out to: Kelly, calleigh rocks a lot, The Second Sky, TorisAunt, shay, Mac3, Huba (yay! You're here!), Kate, CSIrookiechick and agentpiperh. And as a consolation prize to those who sadly didn't make it into the first ten and thereby didn't qualify for a Horatio plushie...Jennifer and Calleigh and Horatio 4 evea get a David Caruso plushie each, which is almost as good, right?
Okay, on with the fic!
8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8
Chapter 2
Eric nudged Tim as Bayden returned after finishing whatever job H had gotten him to do. "Well, aren't you gonna ask him for his permission?"
Speed shook his head in the negative. It had only just occurred to the CSI that by trying to hook up his boss with his friend, they could get into trouble. Serious trouble. Trouble that Bayden didn't need or deserve. He turned to look at the young artist, who was frowning at his sketch books.
"Speed – did anyone come in and touch my stuff?" he asked, picking up the book that Speed had hastily put back, showing where one of the pages had been ripped. "Look – who would've done something like that, eh?"
"Can't imagine," said Speed solemnly, giving Delko a warning look to say nothing.
Being a wise man, Delko kept his mouth shut.
"I did see Calleigh come in just now, though," Speed went on, saying the first name that came into his mind.
"Calleigh?" repeated Bayden, frowning uneasily, though Speed didn't notice the nervous fidgeting. "Oh. Okay, I'll ask her if she touched anything, but, you know, it's really not that big a deal I guess."
Nodding, Speed ventured, "Want me to lend you some cellophane tape, you know, to patch that up?"
The green-eyes widened, Bayden was clearly horrified at the very idea of taping up his precious sketches.
"NO – I mean, no, thanks, it'll be fine." Hastily Bayden glanced at the clock, which read 5.30 p.m., and gathered up his work, saying, "I'm heading out now, you guys, so…see you tomorrow."
Once Bayden was gone, Speed turned to Eric. "Delko," he said seriously, "Tomorrow, if you get the chance, you grab Bayden's sketchbook and photocopy one of the sketches, then give it to me."
"Why can't we just ask Bayden to lend his sketchbook to us?" protested Delko.
"Because then if anyone asks, he can truthfully say that yes, he has drawn a sketch like that, but he has no idea how it got where I'm going to put it." Speed grinned. "What's the matter, Eric, don't you trust me?"
Delko looked warily at him. It wasn't that he didn't trust his coworker, it was just that whenever Speed got that look on his face, they were bound to get into trouble. Trouble neither of them needed or deserved.
But even that wariness didn't stop Delko from copying one of Bayden's sketches the next morning the second he got the chance, and then discreetly passing said sketch to Speed when he saw the senior CSI in the locker room.
Speed studied the drawing, and nodded, saying, "Good work, Delko, it'll do just fine."
The Cuban studied the picture of Horatio and Calleigh processing evidence side-by-side in the Ballistics lab, and commented, "If you ask me, the photocopying ruined the quality. What are you gonna do with it, anyway?"
"Hey, if they think it's low-quality, all the better," said Speed firmly. "Then maybe they won't go after Bayden." Carefully keeping the picture in a file in his locker, to bring home later, he added, "As for what I'm going to do – I'm bringing this puppy home later to Photoshop it a little. I got a friend who can help."
"Delko."
Both men jumped at Horatio's voice.
"Yes, H?" asked Eric, nervously. Man, why hadn't he become a Methodist or something? Being a Catholic, he was always feeling guilty.
"I need you right now. Speed, you have a home invasion downtown." Their supervisor frowned at Eric's fidgeting. "Is there a problem, Eric?"
"Um, no, I'll be right with you, H," he answered quickly. Too quickly, but Horatio simply squinted at him and accepted the answer.
"Later," Speed called to Delko, who grabbed his kit and followed their boss out of the locker room.
8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8
"Well?"
Speed's question slid right off the young computer geek sitting in front of the 18" computer screen, who was busy scanning the photostated picture from every possible angle. Finally, the geek nodded, looking very pleased.
"This is gorgeous!" said Whiris Mann, slapping Speed on the back enthusiastically. "I'd be more than honoured to Photoshop this for you – anything, so long as I can put my mark on this work of art!"
Relieved, Speed grinned at the blonde woman. "Thanks, Whirr."
"What did you want me to do again?" asked Whiris, running a loving finger over the page before she slid it into the scanner.
The Trace expert removed a sheet of paper he had hastily printed out that evening after shift. "Just add these song lyrics to it," he said. "You can do that, right?"
Whiris gave him a scornful look. "Of course I can do it. You wouldn't be here otherwise."
"Sorry," he apologized. "Anyway, thanks again, and I'll drop by tomorrow morning to pick it up?"
She gave him a distracted nod, already concentrating on her work. "Whatever."
When she remained silent and continued to ignore him, Speed took the not-too-subtle hint and saw himself out.
8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8
It was funny, how sometimes every bone in your body tingled, and you got this really bad feeling down your spine, like something in the very air around you was trying to tell you that something was up, Horatio Caine thought to himself as he stepped into his office that morning, closing the door behind him.
Settling down behind his desk, something caught his attention, and the lieutenant frowned as he reached out for the large brown envelope in the middle of the table. The words, "Lt. Horatio Caine, Miami Dade Crime Lab", were neatly printed on said envelope, and Horatio wondered who would have sent – wait, it couldn't have been sent. There envelope didn't have a stamp on it, or a postal mark, nor did it have the words 'postage paid' on it…so, someone had apparently dropped it off here. At his office. By hand.
A chill started up Horatio's spine as he recalled the uneasy feeling he'd had coming in to work that day…
Opening it, he pulled out a large, smooth sheet of paper – only to stare in complete and utter disbelief at what he saw.
It was a glossy and perfectly captured picture of him and Calleigh working together side-by-side in the lab, with words printed down one side of the paper:
"Could it be
the way she tastes
That puts me in a higher place
The smile on
my face when I'm around her
Her scent that
hypnotizes me
My center of reality
She is everything and
more
My heart has never been so sure
Through her eyes
she makes me see
I can't be without her
My life is about her,
and
How she makes me
feel
The angel that guides me
The fire inside me
She's like
a dream surreal
Everyday, another way of
How she makes me feel
Everyday I fight
the fight
She somehow always makes it right
She saves me from
the crazy life
Of runnin' round runnin' round
I've been through
every open door
But it just makes me want her more
It's easy to
see
She can find the best in me
I lay here beside
her at night
And I feel her inside every world that I write to
tell her
How she makes me
feel
The angel that guides me
The fire inside me
She's like
a dream surreal
Everyday, another way of
How she makes me
feel
She walks in the room just her look makes
My heart
starts to pound
I start to tremble
She speaks to me without a
sound
As she gets
nearer, my future seems clearer
Somehow
She gives me nothing to
fear
How she makes me feel
The angel
that guides me
The fire inside me
She's like a dream
surreal
Everyday, another way of
How she makes me feel"
And printed in Comic Sans MS font at the bottom were the words, "Admitting your feelings is the first step, H."
It took a full ten minutes for Horatio to get a grip on his temper. Counting slowly backwards from fifty, he strode out of his office, heading straight for the break room, where he found the object of his search making light pencil strokes on a sketch of a beach crime scene.
"Bayden," he said, the tone of his voice making the young artist look up instantly.
"Yeah, H?" he asked carefully. "What's up?"
Horatio dearly wanted to stuff the sketch down the young man's throat by now, but he controlled himself and said, "My private life is intended to be private, Bayden. If this was meant to be a joke, it isn't funny."
Bayden looked confused. "What joke? I didn't do anything-"
"Bayden!" Calleigh chose that moment to come barreling in to to the room, brandishing a picture identical to the one Horatio had received. "Did you send me this?" she demanded. "This isn't funny, Bayden!"
"I send anything to anybody!" exclaimed the young man. "I don't even know what you're talking about!"
Calleigh thrust her paper under Bayden's nose. "How could you not have done this?" she asked, furious. "Your signature's at the bottom of the sketch, the way you always sign your work!"
Bayden was busy reading the lyrics, but at Calleigh's accusation he looked up and protested, "No, this is one of my sketches, but I didn't do…this – I like my sketches au naturel and this one looks like it was photocopied…"
Seeing them calm down and look thoughtful, he practically pleaded, "Honest, guys, I didn't send them to you. I'd admit it if I had – you know I would!"
"All right, Bayden, we believe you," said Horatio, and Calleigh nodded, though she was still angry.
"Who would have sent these?" she wondered aloud, irritated. "Who would have so much free time to want to photocopy Bayden's work and…I don't know, insert song lyrics?"
Outside the break room, Tim Speedle wore an evil grin as he thought, 'I didn't have free time, Calleigh…what I had was a friend who owed me a favor…' With that in mind, he made a mental note to send some flowers to Whiris as a thank you gift.
"What's going on?" asked Eric, appearing at his side.
Speed turned to him with a grin. "Phase One of my plan was just set into motion, that's what."
"Oh?" Delko looked interested. "What happened?"
"They went for Bayden, but got off his back when they saw he really hadn't done it…now I'll start working on Phase Two while they're wondering who could have done it," said Speed.
"Do I have to do anything for Phase Two?" asked the younger man.
"Not yet," was the answer. "Go on in, I'll call if I need you."
Eric nodded, heading in, just in time to brush shoulders with the two "victims" as they left the room.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Horatio rip up the copy he had of the sketch and toss it into the nearest bin, while Calleigh started to do the same…
…but once the red-headed lieutenant had walked off, she hesitated, and Eric resisted giving a victory yell as she took another look at the sketch, then carefully folded it up to keep in her pocket instead.
Tim joined him just in time to see what he saw, and he grinned. Both men gave each other a high-five.
"See?" asked Speed in delight. "We got Calleigh already, how hard can it be to rope H as well?"
And while Delko had his doubts about them roping H in just yet, he had to admit that if Calleigh had given in so easily, surely…surely Horatio would do the same?
Only time would tell, and it was now time to put Phase Two into action.
8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8
Thanks to all those who reviewed! I'm all out of Horatio plushies now, but I have...(checks under bed) Aha! I have 5 Calleigh plushies and three Tim Speedle plushies for anyone who reviews! First five get the Calleigh plushies, and the first three after that get the Speed plushies, do we have a deal?
And shout-outs go to:
Kelly - How was the chapter this time around? I was rather blur when I wrote this, I confess. Hope you managed to get some enjoyment out of it anyway! And enjoy your Horatio plushie!
calleigh rocks a lot - I wrote, I wrote...now if you could please review?
The Second Sky - Your review made me blush...thank you! And i second the idea of H and Calleigh figuring things out, and not just in this fic!
TorisAunt - This is very different, yes, and I hope it continues to be so...I find that if you get too cliched people stop reading. Anyway, wish me luck in writing chapter 3!
shay - I updated, now I'd appreciate it if you reviewed. ;)
Mac3 - I once had a friend who wrote a fanfic that included this warehouse named Mark 5...no offense, but your sn reminds me of her fic every time...And just wait, I'm going for a scene where Bayden...oops. Nearly spilled the beans there, and that would never do, now would it? >:) Keep reading!
Huba - You're here! Wow! I'll let you in on a secret...even I'm not sure what Speed's plan is, but as I write each chapter, it reveals itself to me...anyway, glad you're here, and keep reading!
Kate - Thanks, I got the idea while I was bored in school. There'll be more of Bayden in later chapters, but for now I'm just going where my muse leads me. Hopefully she won't lead me into writer's block, though, she's done that before.
CSIrookiechick - Thanks, and my advice to you is to be careful while reading my other fics...it can be dangerous going through the thoughts of RK9's mind...take care now, we wouldn't want anything to happen to you before you finish this fic, now would we?
agentpiperh - My congratulations to you for only just making it into the top ten. You must have been sooo relieved. Hope you have fun with your Horatio plushie, and thanks for the review! ;)
Jennifer - Well, I haven't anymore Horatio plushies...but the David Caruso one i gave you should be just as good? If you really want one I'll try and see if i can make you another one...;) I aim to please all my reviewers. You can always try for a Calleigh or Speed plushie this time around, anyhow. Good luck!
Calleigh and Horatio 4 evea - I'm glad you like it! Enjoy!
Okay, and now, RK9 is going to stop hogging the Internet connection before her parental units began making noise...
Random quote of the day: "The strongest force of nature is the human spirit."
Peace,
RK9.