Boy it's nice to have the internet again. Anyway, this is my first CSI fanfic so i hope you guys enjoy. Just as a little warning, I stopped watching the show after Speedle died so I don't know much of what's going on now but I'm slowly updating myself. As such this fanfic takes place a little after the epi where Tim dies and Ryan Wolfe doesn't exist in this storyline of mine only cause I don't know his character at all, so consider it my version of what season three would have been like with Sami in it Please R & R!

Disclaimer: the usual, i don't csi miami or any of it's character concept and the like, unforutnately. Sami however is my own creation.

The hot Miami sun beat down onto the blacktop of the CSI headquarters parking lot baking the surface and causing the heat to ripple up in soft waves. Without fanfare and without any onlookers a Shelby GT 500 pulled into the parking lot and settled itself into the nearest spot. The car was spotless, blue with a wide white racing stripe, the engine purring. A moment later the engine died down and the door opened to deposit its driver onto the hot blacktop.

The woman was in her mid to late twenties, and stood at about 5'7", her long dark slightly curly hair pulled back into a ponytail held together by a dark blue ribbon. She was slight with subtle feminine curves and wearing a black Aerosmith band shirt with 'distressed' jeans and black boots. Her gray green eyes scanned the parking lot and fixed on the building in front of her. She seemed to hesitate, a brief look of fear, nervousness, and excitement rushed across her features. After a moment, she took a deep breath and closed the door. She popped open the trunk, took out a forensic kit and a duffel bag, and headed into CSI headquarters.

It was their first morning break and already Eric felt beat. He had just finished a case that had dragged on for almost a week. In all fairness though it had helped him to focus his mind and challenged him at the same time. It was a real satisfaction to finally catch the perp when all the evidence was in line solidly. A job well done in his mind. He made his way into the break room and fixed himself a cup of coffee. He was just taking his first sip when Calleigh walked in with a sigh and made a beeline for the community fridge. He chuckled at the expression on her face

"Long day already? The day's just started."

"Don't remind me," her southern drawl was always pleasant to the ears. "I'm cleaning up after nightshift so I'm a little testy. The ballistics lab is a mess," she stood up an apple in her hand and went over to sit on the couch. "Let's just say that I'm glad for a break."

Eric nodded and paused, "You hear anything from Horatio about the new recruit?" The question was asked slowly and softly. He looked down a moment then back up at Calleigh. She frowned slightly and took a bite of her apple. After a moment she shook her head and swallowed.

"Not yet, but I hear that he or she is due any day now. For some reason he's keeping all details a secret. I don't know why, but he is."

"He must have his reasons," Eric hesitated again. "I guess it was time to bring someone in, I mean it's been four almost five months since…." His voice trailed off and he suppressed a pained expression from his features. A sad distant look held itself on Calleigh's normally sunshine bright face.

"Yeah, it's a good way to move on though. It'll be good for everyone in the long run," she sounded like she was trying convincing herself at the same time.

"I guess, but it just feels weird you know? Like it's too soon or something, I don't know," he shrugged and sighed then took a sip of his coffee. Calleigh gave him a half smile then went back to finishing her apple. They stayed in that easy silence for a few moments. Just as Eric finished his coffee and was about to see if he could find Horatio he was stopped by a figure standing in the doorway of the break room.

It was a woman who looked like she was a little younger than he was and she was beautiful. Her skin was lightly tanned but not by exposure to sunlight, more like a natural color. Her strangely light colored eyes offset her skin and dark hair. He froze a moment and took in her casual clothes then the kit in her hand and the duffel bag. She had a visitor's badge clipped to one of the belt loops of her jeans. She also looked a little lost. Spotting Eric and Calleigh she seemed to take in a breath of relief.

"Um, sorry to interrupt but I was wondering if one of you guys could give me directions?" Her voice was soft but clear and steady. Eric glanced over at Calleigh.

"Where did you need to go?" Calleigh responded a look of curiosity on her face.

"I'm looking for Lieutenant Caine's office? I think I took the wrong hallway or something…."

"Oh well, you're not too far away," Eric finally found his voice. "You just keep going down this hallway, take the first left and at the end of that hallway you should find him there."

She gave Eric a smile and turned it to Calleigh then back to Eric, "Thanks, this place is a little direction twisty."

Calleigh smiled, "It can be sometimes."

"Thanks again," she threw Eric one last smile, a little lingering unless it was just his imagination, then headed down the hall. Eric looked over at Calleigh and she looked back over at him their gazes locking.

"New recruit looks like," Calleigh said and took a bite of her apple.

"Something about her seem familiar to you?"

Horatio was going over some files in his office when there was a soft knock on his door. He looked up a little surprised. If it had been Calleigh or Eric they wouldn't have bothered to knock since they most likely would have come up from the lab. Seeing that he was alone and not too apparently busy they would have just came in. Someone new, and maybe the person who's file he was looking at at that moment

"Come in," his voice was loud enough to carry through the mass of the door. A second later the door opened and he smiled slightly at the nervous looking young woman who walked into his office. As predicted it was the person's whose file he had in front of him and he wondered at her sense of timing. Horatio gestured for her to sit, the duffel looked heavy, and she did, albeit a little stiffly. He could see her FBI training peeking through her casual exterior.

"Good morning, I see you've arrived a day early detective."

"Anxious to get started sir and the title detective is going to take some getting used to," she allowed a smile to peek out making her look younger than she already did.

Horatio smiled a little and glanced down at her file then back up at her again, "Well you can start by dropping the sir."

"Excuse me?" She blinked at him a bit and he smiled again.

"Around here I like to keep things casual. No Lieutenant, no sir, just Horatio or H. Coming from where you are it might be a bit difficult, but I'm sure you'll adapt Samira."

She recovered herself and smiled, "Well then in that case it's Sami."

"Sami?"

"Yeah, only my mother calls me Samira. Anyone else they just use it when they're angry at me or to get my attention so I just like to be called Sami or Sam, either works."

Horatio nodded slightly, "Sami or Sam it is then." He stopped and paused for a second looking down at her file, "I realize how difficult this is going to be for you." His voice was low when he spoke. Sami stiffened in her seat a little a blank distant expression on her face.

"It is, but I'll be all right."

He nodded again, "Hopefully the transition can be made easily, but that isn't always what happens. On the other hand you'll find nothing but support from me and your fellow CSI's I can guarantee that."

Sami nodded herself staring down at her hands, "I can believe that. Tim used to talk about you guys like a second family so I can also imagine how awkward I'm going to make things."

"It will be, but before you know it, you'll be a big part of this family too."

Sami looked up and gave him a soft half smile that was full of sadness but hope. And that was something that Horatio took to be a good sign.

Calleigh had already been in the trace lab when she had gotten the page. She went on with the analysis that she was in the middle of and a minute or two later Eric showed up and walked over to the lighted table where Calleigh stood.

"What's up?" He asked standing opposite to her on the other side of the table. Calleigh shrugged.

"Don't know, I wasn't the one who paged you. Got one myself."

"Must be Horatio then, I wonder what's going on."

"Must be about your new girlfriend," she teased smiling wide. Eric frowned at her in mock anger.

"What do you mean girlfriend? She's a new CSI that's all…."

"And you think she's cute, don't deny it I saw the look on your face Eric Delko. There's no mistaking that look in your eyes," she grinned at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

She shook her head and laughed softly. When she looked up she saw Horatio standing in the doorway looking at the both of them with a bemused expression. Calleigh gave him one of her trademark sunny smiles. Horatio stepped into the lab and behind him stepped the woman that they had talked to earlier. She was still carrying her kit and her duffel slung over her shoulder. Calleigh turned the smile easily over to the woman who returned it with a smile that was softer and shy. Eric stood where he was keeping his expression neutral and friendly.

"You guys having fun?" Horatio asked stopping at a point so that the woman was standing next to him.

"Well you know the usual, collecting bullets, fibers, hairs and the like. All a day of fun for a CSI," Eric grinned.

"Hm, well I have called all of you here to introduce you to the new recruit that everyone's been talking about."

"Small lab, lots of talk," Calleigh said apologetically to the woman who looked slightly embarrassed.

Horatio put a hand on the woman's shoulder, "This is Calleigh Duquesne and Eric Delko. Guys this is our new CSI. Detective Samira Speedle."