Disclaimer: Still don't own them. No evil plan yet. Will work one out. And the song is "Better Off Without You", by North. Yes, North, the australian group signed with BMG Malaysia that even Australians haven't heard of... check www . officialnorth . com to learn more about them.
Notes: Sorry I took so long to update, but my home computer modem's down, so I can't go online...unless I visit my gran. Like now. And, also, i have other fics to work on that i haven't updated. Sorry, but I'll work on updating more often, I promise.
Oh, and the five Calleigh plushies go out to: CSIrookiechick, Melanie-Anne, Daisyangel, Kelly and woody27, and the three Speedle plushies go to Remote Control Princess, Huba and Calleigh and Horatio 4 evea. Congrats people, and the others get ten leprechaun gold coins each for being so kind...
On with the fic!
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Chapter 3
Eric Delko was happy. You could hear it in the way he was whistling as he strolled into the MDPD crime lab to start his shift. In fact, the hot date he'd had last night might even have had something to do with his good mood that morning.
And then, Tim Speedle proceeded to spoil said good mood. Unwillingly, but still…most people do get shocked when they walk into a locker room to see their coworker banging their head against the lockers.
"Speed!" yelped Delko. "What're you doing? You'll hurt yourself!"
Speed reluctantly stopped, turning to face Delko. "They just won't learn, Delko," he groaned. "They just won't learn…"
"What?" Now not only was Eric shocked, he was confused.
"H and Calleigh!" Speed said, throwing up his hands. "Or right now, just Calleigh."
"What happened?" asked Eric. "Did she ask H out? What?"
Speed moaned. "Did she ask H out, he asks…" He turned, and Eric was only just able to stop him from banging his head on the lockers again.
"Worse," Speed said dejectedly. "She let Hagen ask her out."
There was a stunned silence as Eric stared at Speed. "She didn't."
"She did."
This time around, when Speed started banging again, Eric joined in.
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Sketch and draw. Draw and sketch. Calleigh watched Bayden out of the corner of her eye as his pencil flew over the paper. His green eyes seemed slightly glazed over, as though he had gone into a trance of some sort.
Debating whether or not she should snap her fingers and see if he'd respond, Calleigh was interrupted by Speedle's and Delko's entrance. Both men were whispering to each other, and Tim threw a glance towards Bayden.
She stared. When had those two gotten so pally? Usually Tim would be using his seniority to bully the younger CSI, and Delko would be annoying Speed.
Curious.
Bayden suddenly seemed to wake up, blinking as he stared at his sketch. He had done a pretty good one of Calleigh and Detective John Hagen, but he frowned as he looked at it. Calleigh wondered why, but chalked it up to the fact that most artists were never satisfied with their work, no matter how perfect it already was.
"That's lovely, Bay," she said, hoping to make up for jumping to conclusions when someone had placed the sketch of herself and Horatio in an envelope taped to her locker.
It worked, Bayden beamed at her, pleased. "You think so? I was thinking I didn't like this one."
"No, Bay, it's really good," Tim put in from across the room.
Bayden seemed to almost literally puff up with happiness that they liked his work. "Thanks, guys," he said shyly. "It's not really that great."
"You're an artist, Bayden," came Horatio's voice from the door. "And your work is good. Your only problem is that you lack self-confidence. Take some pride in your work, will you?"
Bayden flushed, looking very cute as he did so. Stifling a giggle, Calleigh went over to Horatio and said, "Good morning, lieutenant. Did you just stumble in?"
"My alarm clock fell off my bedside table," Horatio explained. "It broke when it hit the floor. So I woke up late."
"I don't even have an alarm clock," said Bayden, in his quiet voice.
"Yeah? Then how do you always arrive on time?" an amazed Speed demanded.
"Why so curious, Tim?" teased Calleigh. "We each gave you an alarm clock for your last birthday party, and you still arrive late every day."
Everyone laughed, except Speed, and Bayden explained, "I use the alarm clock in my cellphone."
"Right, before this deteriorates any further," said Horatio firmly, "Let me give out the assignments."
Everyone shut up obediently, though Speed and Delko exchanged a grin between themselves as Speed carefully took up Bayden's latest masterpiece and hid it under his shirt as he walked out.
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The white envelope looked innocently at Calleigh from her locker door the next morning, but she eyed it warily, half-hoping that it wasn't what she thought it was. Maybe her mother had sent her a letter.
Right. And maybe her mother had sent said letter through one of Calleigh's friends at the lab, maybe the man at the post office in Louisiana had forgotten to stamp her mother's letter with the postmark, and maybe she was crazy.
Gathering all her courage, she opened the letter.
The sketch she had just seen Bayden drawing yesterday leapt out at Calleigh, and her heart beat wildly in her chest cavity as she stared at the lyrics of the song that were neatly printed along the bottom, Photoshopped into a nice design.
"Time and time you left me,
Every time I came back
Even though the harder we'd try
We'd never end up on track
I could have stuck beside you
Though I want you to see
I know it wasn't meant to be
Could have done it my way
Though I felt like a fool
Couldn't find a way to back down
Couldn't ever break all your rules
Believe me when I tell you
I'm happy to say
Wouldn't have it any other way
Cause I'm better off without you
Now I know for sure
Could have done it all without you
You never thought I saw
All the little things you did to hurt me
Never thought I'd get to say
I'm better off without you anyway
Always had the answer
Always had the last word
Always had to be the redeemer
You'd never wait to be heard
And still I stood before you
Don't miss it at all
Couldn't wait to see me when I'd fall
Cause I'm better off without you
Now I know for sure
Could have done it all without you
You never thought I saw
All the little things you did to hurt me
Never thought I'd get to say
I'm better off without you anyway
Wanted to hear the words you'd never really said
Though I can still recall the things you said to me instead
Wanted to run away and sort our troubles out
But it wouldn't make a difference cause I'm better off without
Cause I'm better off without you
Now I know for sure
Could have done it all without you
You never thought I saw
All the little things you did to hurt me
Never thought I'd get to say
I'm better off without you anyway"
What was going on? Calleigh groaned and leaned against the locker door, eyes scanning the words. Bayden had sworn over his dead brother the last time that he hadn't done it, and she believed him. He was simply too timid to even think about something like this.
"Why can't you stay out of my private life?" she hissed at the picture, as though by doing so it would come to life and make the actual culprit decide to stop.
"Calleigh? Is something wrong?"
The MDCL firearms expert turned to see her handsome red-headed boss standing in the doorway. 'Freaky', a voice in her mind said. 'It's almost as though he could sense something was wrong with you, huh, Calleigh?'
Firmly ignoring the traitorous little voice, Calleigh answered, "Yes, I've gotten another…um, letter."
Horatio strode over to her instantly, taking the sketch from her hand, and studying it, reading the little notation at the bottom out loud:
"Ditch him, Cal, you deserve better."
Looking at her rather flushed face, he said carefully, "You know, I got one this morning too – of me and Yelina."
Calleigh shook her head, feeling like someone had blindsided her with a truck. "Your sister-in-law."
"Yes, same song, same words – only adjusted to fit my situation."
"But, Horatio," said Calleigh, "Who's sending them?"
Her boss studied the paper in his hands as he replied, "Well, obviously it's someone we know well. I'd say it was someone at work."
She nodded. "And whoever it is has a knowledge of computers, or at least is good at designing."
"And he or she also has access to Bayden's sketchbooks," said Horatio thoughtfully. "And they don't want Bayden to get in trouble, after we went after him the last time…"
"Hang on," said Calleigh. "You lost me there…how do you know they don't want Bayden to get in trouble?"
Horatio pointed out the bottom right corner, where Bayden usually signed his name. "Last time, we jumped to conclusions because we saw Bayden's signature on the sketch. This time, the signature has been removed, I'd say with a computer. So whoever this is, they're in the lab."
He looked up grimly. "Ready to fish out the busybody?"
She swallowed. Then, she nodded, determined. "Yeah. Let's find out who's messing with our private lives."
"And while we're at it," Horatio pointed out, "We might just ask Bayden to keep a closer eye on his sketchbooks."
Calleigh grinned. "Yeah."
There was a comfortable silence, before Horatio asked tentatively, "So, how was your date with Hagen last night?"
"Date?" Calleigh frowned. "There was no date. Something came up, and he cancelled at the last minute."
"No kidding," said Horatio, an odd note in his voice. It sounded a little like…jealousy, but no, that was stupid. Horatio didn't feel things like jealousy, Calleigh told herself firmly.
"Uh-huh." She held out her hand. "Shall we go find Bayden?"
"After you, milady," he shot back, gallantly bowing and letting her lead the way.
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Shout-outs go to:
CSIrookiechick - Well, haven't you ever heard of Natural? I can understand not hearing about North, but I thought Natural was pretty well known. Anyway, glad you like the song. As for the spelling mistakes, I use the MWord spellchecker, and my aunt's an English teacher, so good spelling has been drilled into me since I was old enough to read.
Hollering might not be enough to save you. You might not be able to use your vocal chords. Just be careful out there.
Melanie-Anne - Tim's just putting two soulmates who are too stubborn to see the truth together, is all. You could call it a good deed, though right now H and Calleigh might not agree.
Daisyangel - Phase two coming right up in the next chapter...maybe. I might change my mind on that, but we'll see how it goes.
Kelly - What a coincidence! I have one more David Caruso plushie that I just found. it's a bit dusty, you'll have to wash him...I'm sure you won't mind, right? >:) See what i do for loyal reviewers?
woody27 - Okay, I updated. Now, could you drop me a review?
Remote Control Princess - Thanks for the review! It made my day.
Huba - Great! I hope this song fit as well. :)
Calleigh and Horatio 4 evea - me neither! Hopefully I'll be free to type out the next chappie soon.
calleigh rocks a lot - Yeah, I understand, my aunt hogs the computer too. But i'm just glad you did review... Thanks! B)
shay - (blushes) Aw, thanks. I was just thinking the characters were slightly OOC, but thanks for saying I managed to keep them in character...
Mac3 - Great! Glad you'll keep reading. Now, I'm off to discover what Tim has in mind for Phase Two.
Bummer - Good to hear. thanks for the review.
agentpiperh - Okay, here's chapter 3...and i'll just go work on chapter 4. Wish me luck!
Thanks to everyone whp reviewed! I'm going to make plushies for those who review this chapter, and I'll give them out in chapter 4!
I might or might not be making David Caruso plushies this time around. Or maybe I'll do Yelina plushies that everyone can use for target practice. Hmm. Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Well, review, people! I have plushies to make, and chapters to type out - it's a busy life. And I just entered the IMPAC essay writing contest - the winner gets to go to Dublin to collect the prize from the ambassador of Ireland, and the first 20 short-listed entries get a Merit award... I wrote 1200 words on "My Country - My Dream" despite me not being a patriotic person, can you believe it? Wish me luck in winning that, guys!
Random quote of the day: "If at first you don't succeed - so much for skydiving."
Peace, RK9.