The New Recruits: Cha- Cha- Changes

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone of the principal characters, but I own all of the new recruits and Maura Stetler.

A/N: I don't know, I just feel compelled to keep going with this. I think it will be interesting to see how everyone deals with RJ's death ( for once , it's not Tim's).

Chapter 1

Jacinda walked into the lab with a slow gait, unsure if she wanted to even be here. It had been a month since they put RJ in the ground and she wasn't feeling very much up for work. Nor did it seem like anyone else was either. She passed by the break room where everyone was congregated and seeing their dour demeanor decided to keep going. She didn't know if she could handle any more questions about how she was doing. She had already felt sick enough of that.

As she passed by the trace lab, she saw Speed as he was frantically looking for something. The memories of calling him that fateful day replayed in her mind as she watched from the door. The sadness had enveloped him immediately and hadn't let go of him yet. She put her hand on the door, but then reneged, but not before Speed had glanced up. He stopped what he was doing and walked over to the door and pushed it open. From a distance, Tim Speedle looked no worse for the wear, but up close, Jacinda could see just how much of a toll all of this was taking on him. He had stopped shaving and apparently stopped caring about his clothes as well, they being rumpled much more than usual. And his usually expressive brown eyes that reminded Jacinda so much of RJ, had dulled considerably. He was half the man he used to be.

" Jacinda, I didn't get the chance to call you last night, I'm sorry. I got held up here," Speed said as he apologized.

" Oh it's okay, Mr. Speedle," Jacinda replied as she gazed at him. She could see RJ through and through. " I really wasn't feeling well anyway. What did you find?"

" Jacinda, I told you it's Speed . None of that Mr. Speedle stuff," Speed said with a hint of humor.

" Sorry, Mr. - uh Speed. What did you find?" Jacinda asked again.

" The plants that were found were apart of a tree that is grown mainly in the northern parts of New Hampshire. There's no way that this could survive down here with this humidity," Speed said as he gestured to the scopes. " So our perp traveled from New Hampshire to do his dirty work."

" Oh well that will explain why I couldn't find his prints on AFIS. I'll widen my search when I get to fingerprinting," Jacinda said as she felt her stomach flip. For a long time she had been experiencing nausea and she wondered if she was getting something.

Speed noticed and asked, " Jacinda, are you okay?"

" I just get sick from time to time. It seems like it's gotten worse since..." Jacinda started.

" Since RJ," Speed finished as he glanced at the floor. Everything had gotten worse since his son died. Robin had left him and he wasn't what he used to be. He didn't know how to function now, his life had been ripped to shreds in one fail swoop. He shook himself out of his funk and shifted his attention back to Jacinda. " Have you gone to the doctor? It could be something serious."

" I have an appointment today. That's why I wanted to get started. Maddison said I could take the rest of the day if I could get this done. But I won't. We are already short handed as it is. Poor mom is drowning in case files in firearms," Jacinda replied wistfully. As much as they needed the help, Jacinda figured that Maddison had left the position vacant in honor of RJ. But Jacinda knew that one day, someone would have to take the position, so she was trying to prepare herself to square with that.

Speed sighed heavily and again glanced down to the floor. It was like he didn't know what to say anymore. He wanted to share with Jacinda, but when opened his mouth, nothing came forward but sobs. Jacinda noticed and put a hand on his forearm trying to ward off her own tears. This had not gotten any easier for them.

" Speed," Jacinda said softly. " Why don't we go to lunch today. Get our minds off of this case, and talk. When's the last time you've done that for yourself?"

Speed looked at her through his tears that felt so heavy and drop his head , letting a small smile appear.

" I would like that a lot, Jacinda."

" Okay , so it's official. Lunch at twelve thirty. I should be back before then," Jacinda said as she turned to walk out.

" Jacinda."

" Yes?"

" Thanks."

Jacinda nodded as she pushed the door open and walked through. Suddenly the pain in her heart didn't hurt as much.

TNR

Maddison opened the door to the layout room with a heavy heart. Not a moment had passed that she didn't think about what was lost, what they had all lost. But even at that, she still had a job to do and a lab to run, despite what she felt and what she knew her team was going through.

As she set her eyes on them sitting at the table, she felt an overwhelming sense of joy that even through the pain of losing one of their own, they were still dedicated to their jobs. She knew that RJ would never be replaced in their hearts and memories, which made what she had to do much more harder . She cleared her throat as she started to speak.

" Good morning everyone. Before we get started, I have some news. It's been a month since we lost RJ and Calleigh has been back logged severely, so I thought that it was time that the position be filled."

Everyone dropped their heads, except Jacinda who continued to gaze at Maddison. She held a look of confusion as Maddison continued to talk, barely hearing a word that was being said. Jacinda shook herself out of it and glanced over to Speed who had began to get up.

" Speed, is there anything wrong?" Maddison asked as she saw him walking to the door.

" I need some air," Speed said as he pulled the door open roughly and walked out. Maddison exhaled and allowed the moment to pass.

" As I was saying, he starts today, so I would like for everyone to pull together and help him out," Maddison said as she opened the door. " Everyone, meet Rory Hutchinson."

Jacinda walked up to Rory and offered her hand with a smile , " Rory, I'm Jacinda Willison. I work in fingerprinting and underwater recovery. That's Eric Delko, I work with him, his daughter, Jen Delko, trace, and the fellow that you saw walking out was Tim Speedle, trace. And you'll be working with my mother, Calleigh Willison in firearms."

Rory took her hand and smiled at the introductions , " Wait, you are all related?"

" Yes, Calleigh is my mother and RJ, ...was Tim Speedle's son."

" Look, I'm sorry about that. It's a tragedy when it happens to us," Rory said as he noticed Jacinda's diminished enthusiasm.

Maddison handed them their assignments and left, leaving the team to get acquainted with their newest member.

TNR

Speed kicked the elevator doors as he waited for them to open. It's too soon, he thought angrily. He hadn't been gone more than a month and already, they were replacing him. He wanted to get away but he knew that he had to stay and finish his work, so he pressed the button to his trace lab and waited as the lift made it's way up.

When the doors opened, he made a bee line to the trace lab and settled down at his station. He reached for the head phones that were collecting dust on his desk and slipped them on his ears. He hadn't done this in a long time, but he couldn't help what he was feeling , he had to think, and the only way he could think was to shut himself off from the world. As the music blasted from the phones, he could feel as the world slipped away from him , and nothing else mattered.

Jacinda glanced at th clock in the doctor's office and sighed heavily, 11:30. She had already been back there once to take blood and urine tests, then they instructed her to come back out and wait for the doctor to call her back. While she waited, she flipped nonchalantly through a magazine, here mind where it was always, on RJ. She remembered the day that he died, the words that he had said to her before slipping away,

" I love you..."

What she wouldn't give to hear his voice once more, or to feel his touch. Jacinda was haunted by those words every night that she crawled into the bed that they had shared just that once. Those memories flooded her senses as well,

"What time is it?"

" Almost six. We've got to hurry or we'll be late. You want breakfast?"

"Not really. What happened last night?"

" You mean to tell me that you don't remember?..."

"Jacinda Willison," the nurse called.

Jacinda came back to the present upon hearing her name , and got up to follow the nurse to the back. When she got to a room, the nurse motioned for her to enter and to take a seat.

" Dr. Jones will be just a moment," the nurse said sweetly. Jacinda nodded and smiled as the door closed. She had to wonder what was up. Usually , she didn't have to wait so long.

Minutes passed before the doctor opened the door and entered carrying a chart. Daphne Jones was a petite woman with sandy brown hair and sparkling blue eyes. Jacinda always felt at ease when coming here, which she had done since she was a teenager. So they had an easy relationship.

" So, Jacinda, how are we doing today?" Dr. Jones asked as she sat down near her.

" Fine, it's just that I've been getting stomach aches for about a month now. They seemed to have gotten worse since I lost RJ," Jacinda replied as she glanced at the doctor. She could've sworn she saw a hint of sadness in her eyes briefly.

" Have you been talking about RJ a lot today?"

" We got a replacement at work. His name is Rory Hutchinson. He's nice and all, but..."

" He's not RJ," the doctor finished as she opened the file.

" Yeah," Jacinda returned sheepishly. She had a feeling that her doctor was stalling. " Hey doc, can you go ahead and tell me what's going on?"

Dr. Jones smiled and shook her head, " I never could put one pass you, Jacinda. Well do you want the good news or bad."

" I'll take the bad news first," Jacinda said nervously.

" Well the bad news is that, you'll be out of work in about eight months..."

" Eight months? Why what's wrong?"

" Jacinda, you didn't let me finish. You'll be out of work in eight months because you'll be preparing to have a baby."

" A ba- baby? But how, I mean ... I'm pregnant?"

" Yes, Jacinda," the doctor said with a smile, " you're about a four weeks along give or take a few days. Congratulations!"

Jacinda sat in the chair speechless. She was pregnant.

" Now, I expect for you to come to your prenatal appointments and to take care of yourself and the baby. Who are you going to get to help you?"

" Mr. Speedle," Jacinda said before she thought. How could she volunteer him for something like this.

" How do you think he will handle the news of his late son's child?"

" I- I don't know. I don't know how I am going to handle this myself," Jacinda said as she put her hand to her stomach. Her eyes filled with tears at the thought of having a piece of RJ with her.

" Well give me a call if you need anything, Jacinda. Other than that we are through here. Make your next appointment when you check out, okay?" Dr. Jones said as she got up. She put a hand on Jacinda's shoulder before walking out, " Congratulations again, Jacinda. You are going to make a wonderful mother."

Jacinda smiled at the thought and let the tears drop. She was going to be a mother.

TBC...

A/ N: oh boy :)

A/N#2: you like the new ballistics guy? I just couldn't help myself... :)