Samantha settled into the routine of the Miami-Dade Crime lab with relative ease. Horatio had been concerned the other members of the ballistics team might treat a relative newcomer with some hostility, but he was pleased to learn that they too seemed to have welcomed her with open arms. Samantha Higgins had a way of getting under your skin. Unfortunately, Samantha's newly found routine was about to be interrupted.
Horatio found Samantha hunkered over a microscope containing what Horatio assumed was one of many bullets recovered from the multiple homicide of a prominent local family. He cleared his throat to announce his presence.
Samantha turned around and smiled at Horatio who now leaned comfortably against the doorway to the ballistics lab. "Hey. What brings you to this side of the building?"
"Pack your bags." Horatio stated simply.
Samantha's face fell. "What?" Oh Lord, I've been here for less than three weeks and I'm already being fired.
Horatio could practically hear the gears in Samantha's mind shifting into hyper speed as she wrapped around the obviously wrong conclusion. Horatio held up his hands. "I'm sorry, that obviously isn't the way I should have mentioned this. You most certainly are not being fired if that's what you're thinking." He flinched with surprise when Samantha slapped him soundly on the arm.
Samantha had a look of horror on her face as she held her hand to her heart. "Don't do that to me! You almost gave me a heart attack!" She frowned slightly. "What are you talking about then?"
"Forensics convention. You, me, and about 500 other criminalists from various parts of the country."
Samantha chewed her lip a moment, an expression Horatio had learned meant she was worried about something. "Why are you taking me?" She gave a short laugh. "I'm the new girl." She left out the part about being terrified by the thought of spending so much time alone with the object of her rapidly developing affections. The kind of affections one wasn't supposed to be having for their boss.
Horatio chuckled. "That is true. But I need Eric to run the lab while I'm away. And for reasons unknown to me, Ryan all but cringed at the thought of attending a convention in Minneapolis." Horatio leaned forward and squinted playfully. "I don't think he likes me."
Samantha laughed. "Well…I certainly didn't think I'd be heading back to my home state quite so soon."
"Also the top ballistics expert in the country is going to be presenting. I thought perhaps you might---."
"---RYAN SOMMERS!" She shrieked, her green eyes dancing with excitement.
Horatio smirked. "That's the one."
"I'm in." Samantha replied in a heartbeat. "When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Down in the trace lab…
"I can't believe Horatio is actually going to a forensics convention. He avoids those things like the plague. Says they 'Take him away from work for too long'" Eric told Ryan.
Ryan nodded. "I heard the board of directors forced his hand on this one. They want the head honcho representing the lab this time around. He asked me to go with him but I turned him down."
Eric's mouth hung open in shock at the news Ryan had just delivered. "Wait a minute… you passed up a free vacation?"
Ryan arched a sarcastic eyebrow. "It's a forensics convention not a vacation."
Eric snorted. "Oh yeah my apologies. You passed up a week in Minnesota with nothing to do but eat, sleep, and attend a few seminars. Yeah you're right that sounds like hard work compared to this." He held up a crusty green T-shirt to prove his point.
Ryan leaned towards Eric slightly and lowered his voice. "I didn't pass it up because I didn't want to go."
Eric frowned. "Enlighten me."
Ryan smirked. "Who do you think he's taking to the convention now." He stated proudly.
Eric's eyes flew open wide and he laughed knowingly. "Oh you ARE good my friend I will give you that."
Ryan smiled smugly. "Don't I know it." He got up and walked purposely from the room calling out over his shoulder one last time. "Don't I know it!"
Eric laughed and proceeded to scrape trace evidence off the crusty shirt.