The New Recruits: Cha cha Changes

Chapter 5

A/N: Yes , it' back! I feel like it's rising from the ashes , like a phoenix. I hope that you like!

Alexx flipped the sheet back to expose the paleness of the little girl's skin, and felt sadness rise up inside of her. She stroked the long blond hair absently, letting her mind wander to her own daughter who was still in school, safe. Alexx took a long look at the delicate features and dropped her head, her hands still on the little girl's hair. Why? Why would someone do this to an angel? Inhaling , Alexx took her tools in hand and started the Y incision. She would find out and give this precious little girl a voice.

" It's alright baby, I'm going to help you," Alexx said softly as she peeled back the skin on the girl's chest. Methodically, she searched for the clues, her mind staying focused on the goal. Alexx probed deeper into the little girl's cavities, finding the tiniest traces of evidence that would explain why this girl would never get to play in the sun again, or listen to the rain, or dance to the music . Alexx was her protector now, and she would protect her from the anonymity of death.

Deep into her work, Alexx didn't hear the doors open and only noticed Maddison when she stopped in front of her. She didn't look up, only continuing to search harder. Maddison saw the intensity in Alexx's movements and watched her . There was something that was eating at Alexx. Inside, Maddison could feel the frustration of having her team incapacitated by the losses that they suffered, knowing that there was nothing that she could do. Each of them were trying to find their own way through the labyrinth of their individual pain.

" Alexx, what do we have?" ,Maddison asked softly as if trying not to tread on the serenity of this heart breaking task.

" What we have is a classic case of abuse, Maddison. When I got her in here, the bruises became more pronounced. And I did an x ray and found that both of her arms had been broken at one time or another. I've also found recent bruising on her ribs, and not the type of bruising that you get from bumping around things, this was deep . Inside the tissue."

"Any way to tell if it happened during the murder?"

" Yes. The deep bruises were just starting to surface, so that meant that they happened peri mortem. Whoever killed her, didn't put the bruises there."

" What else did you find, Alexx?"

" Vaginal tearing, did a SART kit and sent the biologicals to DNA. And I scraped her nails ,finding epitheials . She fought like a champ, but it made no difference."

" Her killer was bigger than she was," Maddison said as she looked down into her still face.

" Yeah, and meaner. I took a look at the bruising around her neck and saw that the skin had been rubbed almost raw. I've never seen that before."

" Anger."

" Something made this person angry enough to twist their hands around her neck? It wasn't enough she was strangled, but she had to go through that as well, poor baby," Alexx returned gently. Maddison nodded and stepped back, causing Alexx to look at her. " I'm not finished, Maddison, there's more."

" More?"

" Yes. I found track marks on her arm..."

" Track marks? Alexx..."

" I don't know , Maddison, but I took some blood and sent it to tox . I would say that they looked medical, but nowadays, you really couldn't tell. But as soon as I know, you'll know," Alexx said with finality. Maddison took the cue and knew that she was finished. She turned to walk out of the autopsy theater , but stopped short of the doors.

"Alexx, are you okay?" Maddison asked as she turned around to face her again. Maddison could see the surprise in the expression of the medical examiner as she lifted a hand up to wave her off.

" Maddison, I'm fine , why do you ask?" Alexx said as she began to stitch up Shannon. Don't lie, Alexx, this is what you need, she said to herself.

" It just seems like you are not yourself today."

" She's not supposed to be here," Alexx said motioning to the slab. Neither was RJ, she added to herself.

" It's not the case... It's something deeper. You want to talk about it?" Maddison asked as she looked the Medical Examiner in her brown eyes. Alexx was unable to hold her gaze and she felt a round of tears starting.

" Uh- Um Maddison... I would love to ..." she said as the door burst open. They both looked up quickly to see Tim as he walked into the morgue with a file folder in his hand. Maddison noticed the limp even more as he came to them.

" I got something on Shannon's father," Tim said as he tried to avoid looking at her. She was a beautiful little girl, gone too soon. His mind instantly went to his unborn grandchild and his heart fell, fearing that this was the world that she or he would have to see.

" Really? How'd you get it?"

" Rory and Calleigh got to St. Josephine's and talked to her teacher. Apparently, Shannon has been living in foster care for almost a year."

" Any background?" Maddison asked as she turned fully to him. She couldn't look at the tiny body on the slab anymore, fearing that she would lose her self in the senseless act.

" Background isn't the word. He has a rap sheet that could circle the earth . Every thing from petty larceny to domestic disputes."

"Domestic disputes," Alexx said as she covered the girl. " That would explain the bruises. Any thing in there from child protective services?"

"No, the charges were brought by a Jeanne Moore. Probably Shannon's mother," Tim replied letting a breath escape.

"Any idea who she was staying with?" Maddison asked as she took the file from Tim. It was thick and read like a novel.

"Rory and Calleigh are following up on that. Alexx, you have that trace for me?"

For the first time, today, Alexx let a smile return to her face as she answered, " Here it is. I would never forget you, Timmy."

Tim took the envelopes from Alexx, also noticing that she didn't seem quite like herself. He made a mental note to talk to her later. He then turned to walk away without another word, leaving the two women to watch him. His son's death had taken the best part of him, and Alexx reached deep inside to fight the urge to run after him and force him to talk. If he wanted to talk, he would have to come to her.

" Alexx, great work as always," Maddison said as she started toward the door, " page me if you find anything else."

Alexx nodded as the door opened and closed, leaving her alone in her domain.

TNR

Calleigh opened the door to the lab, allowing Rory to pass before her with boxes filled with Shannon's school work. She guided him to the layout room and there they emptied the contents of the box on to the table. Calleigh figured that the best way to get to know the vic was to go through her mind. Small children usually projected themselves through the work they did in school. This would give them an inside view of what was going on with Shannon Moore.

" Alright , Rory, I'll start on the school work and you work victimology. The teacher said that she was staying in foster care, so see if we can get those records from child protective services."

" You know how hard it is to get through to them? I'll be on hold until Christmas," Rory explained.

Calleigh threw a pained smile at him saying, " Rory, it's the tiniest bit information that could help us . We do what we have to do."

" I know, I know, but I was just saying..."

" You were just saying how important it is to look into every avenue , right?" Calleigh said with a certian hint of sternness in her voice, telling Rory that he should just drop it and get to work. He sighed and sat down at a desk, grabbing for the phone. Calleigh smiled to herself as she started to sort through the contents of the box.

The door opened, and she glanced up to see Jacinda as she stood in the door with a look of discomfort. Calleigh stopped what she was doing and called to her, " Jacinda, how are you doing? How 'd the doctor's appointment go?"

Jacinda crossed the room with heavy footfalls. She had no idea how to tell her. She glanced over to the desk, seeing Rory perched there with his hand over his eyes as he held the phone limply from his ear.

Well I can't do it here, she thought as she came to her mother. " You got a minute?"

" Just starting in on the Moore case, whatcha need?"

" I just thought we could talk, but if you are busy, we can talk tonight. Dinner?" Jacinda asked as she gazed down at the drawings and class work. It reminded Jacinda of her days in elementary school. In her day, she didn't have to worry about the violence and strife that the kids did now, it was a totally different world.

" Ummmm dinner. I see... It must be important. I guess your father can keep Jacob a little later. Seven okay?"

"Fine with me , mom," Jacinda said as she smiled, then diverted her eyes again to the work. There was something that was gravitating her to it. " So, you are thinking to get into Shannon's mind?"

" Yeah. I remembered when you were in second grade and the teacher told you to draw a day with your family..."

" And I drew Jacob on the floor crying and you and dad were laughing."

" That's how you saw us, through your eight year old mind. So I figured if anything was going wrong in this little girl's life, she would tell us through her drawings."

Jacinda felt a darkness come over her as she absently put a hand over her stomach. Just thinking about the tiny girl lying on the slab in the morgue was enough to make her stomach turn. Calleigh saw the change in her color and got up quickly , moving her to the nearest wastebasket, which was near Rory. Rory jumped up, startled , just in time enough to witness Jacinda empty the contents of her stomach.

" Jesus, what the hell?", he asked as he stood up, narrowly being missed.

Calleigh glared up at the young CSI and said, "Rory , could you get a cool cloth?"

" I'm on hold," he responded as he inched away from the wastebasket.

"You'll probably still be on hold another hour. Get the cloth."

Rory glanced at the phone then to Calleigh, again seeing evidence of why he shouldn't argue and pushed through the door of the room, heading for the break room. Calleigh turned her attention to Jacinda, obvious worry in her eyes. She pulled the pale blond hair out of her face, and rubbed her back in a calming motion.

" Jacinda..."

" I'm fine mom. Really, I am," Jacinda returned as she slowly lifted her head up smiling weakly. "Really."

" And I'm really sure that you are not. You never get sick," Calleigh said , effecting the mother hen voice.

" There's a first time for every thing."

" Not funny, Jacinda. Maybe we should cancel dinner."

Jacinda shook her head slowly, fearing that the constant motion would set another round off, "Mom, I said that I was okay. Besides, I really need to talk to you."

" Well...," Calleigh started as she saw Rory walking down the hall with a rag in hand. Following behind him was Tim and he wore a concerned look as he opened the door.

"Cal, Jacinda , is everything alright?" he asked as he put a gentle hand on Jacinda's back. Calleigh noticed and immediately knew that something was going on.

" I was just sick for a moment, but it passed. I keep trying to tell my mother that," Jacinda replied as she looked Tim in the face, attempting to stave his concern. She received the cool cloth from Rory and he took his seat at the desk, taking the phone in hand. Pressing the button, he grinned widely as the same lame elevator music was still playing.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Tim asked , the father side coming out of him. This time ,Calleigh raised her eyebrows and smiled crookedly.

" Is there something I should know?"she asked , releasing her thick accent.

" You didn't tell her?" Tim asked as he looked to Jacinda again.

" Tell me what?"

" No, I was going to do it at dinner, but it seems like now is going to happen."

" What's going to happen?" Calleigh asked as she followed the volley between them.

" I think it's important that she know," Tim continued.

" And she will know, tonight."

" Alright, STOP !" Calleigh said , raising her voice. Rory glanced in their direction , shrugged then went back to his task.

Jacinda and Tim exchanged glances and turned their attention to the frayed woman before them. The jig was up.

" I want to know what's going on , and I want to know this instant."

" Mom..."

"Calleigh..."

Calleigh put a hand up and stopped them both from providing excuses. She wanted to know what was making them so crazy. " What about this instant do you not understand?"

Jacinda knew that tone very well, she being on the receiving end of it for so many years as a child growing up. She knew that when Calleigh Duquense said something, people moved into action.

"I'm waiting."

" Um, mom, it's kind of personal," Jacinda responded quietly.

" Well, whisper it. I don't care, I want to know what's going on with you."

Jacinda gave in and sighed heavily, there was no winning this one, " Alright, alright, I'll tell you... I'm pregnant."

Shock permeated Calleigh's calm features and she felt the need to sit down. Tim grasped hold of her arm and guided her to a seat, smiling at her. Her reaction was just about as subtle as his, with the exception of the mess that he made.

" Yo- you're pregnant?"

" Yes, mom. I am..." Jacinda said as she smiled slightly.

" How far along are you?"

"About a month..."

" Who's... who's the father?" Calleigh asked the shock still present in her voice.

Jacinda dropped her head and felt her eyes get heavy with the pain of saying his name, " It's Robert's, mom."

"RJ's ?... But how?"

" We spent a night together while we were working the bomb case... and well you know how it goes from there," Jacinda quipped.

Calleigh nodded and sat silent for a while then moved to hug her. Despite what they had lost, it seemed that there was something gained as well. Calleigh did have some reservations as for Jacinda being a single mother, but she pushed them aside, and vowed to help her in whatever she needed.

TBC...

A/N: I feel another chapter coming on... Stay tuned!