Eric had been in the Trace lab when he had gotten the call from Alexx that the autopsy report was ready. After leaving the crime scene he and Sami had accompanied Yelina to the sister's house. Sarah Milton's sister, Ashley Devin, hadn't been able to give them the names of anyone who would want to kill her sister and her husband. Problem was that as a defense lawyer, a lawyer period, James Milton had a long list of suspects who would want him dead. It would take some time to narrow down the list if they could at all.

Eric was slightly concerned with Sami. She had been silent on the way to the crime scene, but her mood had been drastically altered afterwards. He wasn't sure if he should have said anything and besides that he still wasn't sure what to say. She was still very new to him and he wasn't sure how to comfort her or if that was even what she needed or wanted. Eric never liked walking on eggshells with anyone, but in this case it seemed necessary. He was also not sure why he felt this constant need to protect her, it seemed instinctual an automatic response. After hearing that thought in his head he pushed it away.

When he entered the autopsy bay he noticed that Alexx wasn't alone. This time though it wasn't a victim's body on the table keeping her company. Horatio was standing next to her, watching as she walked him through the results of his own victim's autopsy. Eric paused a moment then walked through the doors. He gave Horatio a slight nod when he looked up and stood on the other side of the table waiting patiently and silently glancing down only briefly at the body in front of him.

"How'd things go today?" Horatio asked when Alexx had finished up. He looked up at Eric his expression unreadable as always and as always Eric looked him in the eye as he spoke to him. It had always seemed the best way to talk to Horatio, more honest.

"They were good. She seems a bit shaky but considering it's normal. I don't think the crime scene helped either. Certainly didn't help me. I think she's going to be fine."

Horatio nodded, "That's what Alexx told me." He paused, looking thoughtful, "Fitting into the group and her work performance, those two things I'm not worried about."

"So what are you worried about?" Eric asked softly, thinking he already knew the answer.

"I'm more worried about her adjustment emotionally. It's going to be tough going, but she seems like a tough young woman. She'll be fine."

Eric nodded and took the report that Alexx handed to him, "There you go sugar. It's all right there."

"Anything unusual?"

Alexx shook her head, "Nope. Sarah Milton died from loss of blood just as we thought. James Milton was shot three times, the first shot hit him in the abdomen the last two punctured a lung and nicked his heart. I sent all of the trace I collected on to the lab, it should be there waiting for you. Also the slugs I found have already been sent over to ballistics."

"Thanks Alexx," he gave her a slight smile and Horatio a nod and he was out the door headed towards the trace lab. Horatio watched him go then turned to Alexx.

"What's your opinion of all this?" Horatio asked, his arms crossed. Alexx thought for a moment.

"I watched her at work. She's really good I have to say, I think talent and drive wise she'll make an excellent addition to the team, just like Tim was. As for the rest, well that's something that'll have to come with time. She's still gotta find her Miami legs you know? And standing in Tim's shadow, in more ways than one, isn't going to be easy. I like her though, I think you're right, everything's going to be fine, maybe better than fine," she gave him a wide smile that he returned briefly then went back to concentrating on the victim in front of him.

Eric headed down the hall towards the trace lab flipping through the autopsy report as he did. Alexx's finding were all there, written up in the typical neat and thorough fashion she always present in her reports. Toxicology report came back clean and there was nothing unusual about the victims that was found. All in all it was turning out to be a standard shooting, besides the fact of course that these two people shouldn't have been found murdered in their home. Eric closed the file and looked up just in time to see Belmontes walking towards him a grin on his face.

Eric frowned, "What's with the look?"

"You're working with the new CSI right? Tim's sister?"

"Yeah, so?" Eric said a look of confusion on his face.

"Well then you might be glad to hear she's making herself right at home," Belmontes was still grinning.

"Okay, but what's that supposed to mean?"

Belmontes nodded his head in the direction he had just come from, "Head down towards the garage, check out the last bay. You'll see what I mean." He started to walk away then turned back towards Eric, "She's really cute, but I'm going to guess that you've already noticed." Belmontes raised both his eyebrows at Eric then turned and walked away. Eric watched him go still frowning then shook his head slightly. Curious though he headed toward the garage.

When he walked in he heard the music first. It was blasting from the last bay though muffled through the walls and several of the garage technicians were standing near the door to the bay, which was closed. They kept looking in through the small window set into the door. Eric walked towards them and as he did one of the techs noticed him approaching and stepped away from the door looking slightly embarrassed.

"What's going on guys?" Eric asked and looked through the window himself. He glanced back at the two techs who both shrugged their shoulders. Smiling slightly Eric walked through the door and closed it behind him.

Inside the last bay Sami was working on James Milton's SUV. All the doors were open, the trunk and hood popped open as well. The music was coming from a stereo that belonged to one of the techs. Eric recognized the music blasting from it. It sounded like Nickleback. Sami, dressed in a CSI jumpsuit, was leaning over the engine. Splotches of grease already decorating the jumpsuit and there was also a small smear on the side of her cheek. Eric stood there watching her for a moment then walked over to stand over by the side of the engine and peered in.

"I'm almost done processing this monster. It took forever to set up the fume hood."

Eric gaped at her his eyes wide, "You fumed the entire vehicle?"

"Yup, there's something about this thing that bothers me and I intend to find out what it is."

"What have you found so far?" He went over to the stereo and turned down the volume, "Nice choice by the way."

Sami looked up from the engine and smiled at him, "Thanks, helps me concentrate. I've only found so far what I've expected to find with the body being in the driver's seat. But I did find something unusual."

Sami leaned down to pick up something from the kit at her feet. She stood up and turned towards him holding up a fingerprint preserved in a piece of lift tape and backing. In her other hand she held up a partial fingerprint, "I found on under the dash on the steering column, and this one was under the hood of the car. These people keep a tidy vehicle so it was surprisingly easy to lift this. All we have to do is run them against the husband and wife to eliminate them then against anyone else that might have had access to the car. After that well it's just a matter of time."

"A matter of time before we figure out whether or not those are the killers fingerprints? How do you figure?" Eric leaned against a workbench and crossed his arms.

"The husband was trying to start the car when he ran from the killer after being shot the first time. I know this because the car's been tampered with. Someone 'fixed' it so that it wouldn't run. He or she must have planned on the husband possibly trying to run away. That means that the killer planned ahead. Just before we left the sister's place I asked her about the vehicles. Turns out that earlier that morning she had gotten a call from Sarah telling her that she'd have to cancel lunch because James' SUV wasn't working for some odd reason and that he was taking her car. It also explains why the engine was still warm when I checked it at the scene."

"So if he knew that the SUV wasn't working why go for it? Why not go for the other car?"

"Moment of panic. He's just been shot, he wouldn't have been thinking clearly so he went for the vehicle that not only was closer, but also his. Almost an automatic reaction you could say," Sami put the fingerprints back into the kit.

"That's a risk for the killer to have made. He had a fifty/fifty chance that James Milton would have gone for the SUV."

"It must have been a chance he was willing to take. Which means either he's extremely confident or he knows the victims personally."

Eric looked solemn as he stared at the SUV, "So now we just need to eliminate anyone who was at the Milton's place within the last twenty four hours."

Sami smiled that same mischievous energetic smile that would become her trademark, "Just so happens that our job has been made that much easier. I called Ashley Devin ten minutes ago and it turns out that Sarah and James had a dinner party last night. Just them and ten of their closest friends including Ashley."

Eric smiled back, "So we start with Ashley work our way from there. Got a guest list?" Before the words were even out of his mouth Sami waved a sheet of notebook paper in front of him. On it he could see Sami's neat careful handwriting.

"Three steps ahead of you already partner."

Eric chuckled and took the sheet of paper and examined it, "You keep doing this and you'll put me out of a job."

Sami smiled again but this time it was a different emotion showing through, "Now that would be a tragedy since I really enjoy working with you." She turned around and closed the hood of the SUV as Eric looked up. He hadn't seen her smile but he had heard the tone of her voice. He took a minute because what he had heard, he must have imagined it. Sami grabbed a nearby clean rag and began to wipe her hands with it as she turned to face Eric, all business once again.

"So, do you have a preference?"

Eric blinked at her, "Excuse me?"

"I mean, do you like to work trace or fingerprints?" Sami tossed the rag aside. Eric blinked again.

"Oh um I'll take the fingerprints if you want to take trace," he handed her the list back and she opened her kit and handed him the fingerprints she had collected.

"Deal, we have an understanding already," Sami shut her kit then stood up straight again. "I'll clean up in here, I'll page you if I find anything."

Eric nodded and headed out of the garage and mentally shook himself. He wondered what in the hell he could be thinking. After all, this was Tim's baby sister he was having these kinds of thoughts about. He sighed, over five months ago the rules would be clear. Tim's permission sought then if she was interested see how things went from there. But now he wasn't so sure. He sighed again. Best thing was to focus on the case, on work and catch whoever had murdered the Milton's. After that, it would just have to be one step at a time.