Samantha pulled her tired eyes back from the microscope containing what was now the eighty-ninth shell casing from a slew of AK-47's used in a recent gang shooting. She didn't expect to find anything too earth shattering in the relatively cut-and-dry gang shootout, but protocol demanded she view and chart each and every casing collected from the scene.
She rubbed her hands absently over her slightly rounded belly. While some woman had the luxury of wearing bulky clothing to cover their pregnancies, crime scenes and lab work were not the kind of place where such clothing was appropriate. So, much to Samantha's chagrin, she had to walk around the lab with a slight yet still obviously pregnant belly. Samantha sighed. "On to casing number ninety."
-------------------------------------
"Horatio Caine please."
The receptionist at the MDPD Crime Lab looked up at the brunette woman who stood before the desk. "I'm sorry?"
The brunette smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm here to see Horatio Caine. Is he in?"
"Yes, ma'am. I believe he's working in the lab. Shall I have him paged for you?"
"Yes. I'm sure he'll want to see me before I leave town."
"And your name ma'am?"
"Elizabeth. Elizabeth Caine."
-------------------------------------
"Lieutenant Caine?"
Horatio turned holding a small vile he had been about to place inside the centrifuge. He arched an eyebrow at the receptionist who stood in the doorway of the trace lab. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry to interrupt Lieutenant. But there's a woman here to see you."
Horatio glanced from the receptionist to the vile in his hands, the gesture clearly indicating he was busy. "Umm… all right. I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment… can they wait?"
"I don't think so sir."
Horatio sighed. "All right. Give me a moment." He set the vile down inside the centrifuge. Closing the lid gently, he pushed a button and turned back towards the receptionist. While he removed his lab coat he asked, "Did they give you a name?"
"Yes. She said her name was Elizabeth Caine."
Horatio stopped moving with his arms midway out of his coat sleeves. His shocked expression turned to the receptionist. She smiled understandingly and shrugged her shoulders. Sighing, Horatio hung up his coat and followed the receptionist to the lobby.
-------------------------------------
"Elizabeth." Horatio called out emotionlessly.
Elizabeth turned from her seat and smiled at Horatio who stopped before her and adopted his familiar hands on hips posture. She patted the seat next to her. "Won't you sit down?"
"I'd rather stand." Horatio responded flatly.
Elizabeth shrugged. "Suit yourself."
"Elizabeth…" Horatio sighed. "What are you doing here?"
"Can't an ex-wife come by now and then to say hello to her ex-husband?"
"Of course you can. But this would be the first time wouldn't it? And I think I know you a bit better than that. What are you doing here?" Horatio repeated.
Elizabeth sat back and crossed her arms still looking up at Horatio. "I heard you got married." She glanced down to the ring on his left hand. "I see I heard correctly."
"You heard correctly. Anything else?"
Elizabeth chuckled and stood, moving uncomfortably close to Horatio and smirking. She was tall, and stood nearly eye-to-eye with him. "You really don't like me do you?"
Horatio opened his mouth to respond.
"Horatio?" Samantha's voice interrupted as she walked into the lobby. Elizabeth's attention turned to Samantha and Horatio used the opportunity to take a step backwards from his ex's close proximity.
Elizabeth crossed her arms. "Excuse me, but we were having a private conversation."
Samantha arched an eyebrow. She glanced briefly at Horatio before she responded. "I apologize. I'll leave you alone then." Samantha looked at Horatio and instantly noticed his "please don't leave me" expression. Feeling suddenly territorial, Samantha added, "When you're finished darling…" She tiptoed up to kiss Horatio softly on the cheek. "… Please come find me."
Elizabeth snorted softly. "Ah. I see…" She glanced from Horatio back to Samantha, her eyes purposely moving down to gaze at Samantha's pregnant belly. "Finally found a womb to carry your children, Horatio?"
Samantha gasped and looked at Horatio. She wasn't able to catch his eye, as his usually kind blue eyes were busy shooting daggers in the direction of his ex-wife. Samantha crossed her arms, her expression guarded. "You must be Elizabeth." It wasn't a question.
Elizabeth nodded, stepping forward towards Samantha.
Horatio stepped sideways and moved his body in front of Samantha's effectively cutting Elizabeth off. "Get out." He bit out.
Elizabeth threw her hands up and laughed harshly. "Easy, Horatio… I wasn't going to attack your pretty little wife." She snorted and looked past Horatio to Samantha. "You don't look that far along… not too late to go take care of things." Elizabeth smirked and turned to walk away from the couple. A haze of red suddenly blurred Samantha's vision.
"You… bitch!"
Before Horatio could prevent it his spitfire wife had lunged past him and barreled straight into Elizabeth's retreating form. Firing off a string of colorful obscenities, including a few Horatio had never heard before, Samantha grabbed Elizabeth's arm and wrenched it painfully behind her back. Samantha lowered her voice and whispered dangerously in Elizabeth's ear. "If I ever see your face again…" She pulled Elizabeth's arm tighter, causing Elizabeth to cry out in pain. "I don't think I need to finish that sentence, do I? Just remember… I am a CSI. I know how to hide a body." Releasing her arm, Samantha watched Elizabeth turn around.
Elizabeth glared at Samantha, then turning the glare on Horatio she spat, "I just might sue."
"Sue this." Samantha said, bringing her fist back to connect squarely with Elizabeth's jaw. The impact sent her sprawling to the floor. Elizabeth brought a hand up to wipe the blood from her lip. Shrieking pitifully, Elizabeth shielded her face as Samantha came towards her with the intention of decking her a second time. The blow never came, and Elizabeth looked up to see Horatio restraining his fuming wife.
Horatio looked down at Elizabeth. "You have thirty seconds to get out of my sight. At thirty one… I let her go." He gestured his head toward his red-faced wife to emphasize his point. Horatio wasn't able to prevent a small feeling of glee from entering his body as he watched his ex-wife scramble to her feet and all but run from the lobby. It wasn't until Elizabeth disappeared from his sight that Horatio noticed the small delegation of people that had gathered in the area to watch the scuffle. Horatio's eyes tightened. "Move along." He ground out dangerously. The gawkers moved away even faster than his ex-wife had.
Samantha had calmed down considerably, but her body was still trembling slightly from the rage that had controlled her moments before.
Horatio sighed. "What were you thinking?"
Samantha turned her eyes to Horatio. "I wasn't thinking, I was reacting." Samantha pulled herself out of Horatio's arms. "Are you actually angry at me? Because I went after… that!" She gestured wildly in the direction Elizabeth had run.
Horatio uncharacteristically ran a hand through his hair as he sighed. "Samantha…"
Samantha gasped and backed away slightly. "You are! I… I can't believe you're upset with me! After what that woman did to you!"
Horatio glanced disapprovingly at Samantha. "I'm not upset because it was Elizabeth… I'm upset with your conduct inside this lab. You attacked a woman in front of your co-workers."
"She's not a woman." Samantha hissed.
Horatio closed his eyes a moment to calm himself. "You're missing the point."
"Horatio?"
He sighed. "Yes?"
"Go to hell."
Horatio flinched as though she'd physically slapped him, watching with shock as she turned away from him and left him alone in the lobby.
-------------------------------------
Samantha pulled aside the curtains to stare out the window for what seemed like the hundredth time that night. Horatio and Samantha had driven home from the lab that evening without saying a word to one another. As soon as Horatio had parked the Hummer he had unceremoniously informed Samantha he was going for a walk and left.
That was three hours ago. Samantha sighed and came away from the window, trying to shake the feeling that something was wrong. While most couples would consider the fight they'd had to be relatively minor, it was for all practical purposes the first one they'd had. So Samantha reasoned Horatio simply needed time to clear his head. The telephone interrupted her thoughts.
Samantha sighed and picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Samantha its Calleigh…" Samantha frowned at the sound of Calleigh's voice. It sounded like she'd been crying. "Samantha… Horatio's been shot."