Disclaimer: I don't own CSI:Miami in any shape or form – I am just borrowing for a little while and put them back when I am finished playing.

a/n – thanks for everyone who read and reviewed "A New Start for Mari" – this is a continuation of Mari's adventures with the Miami Crew.

a/n – also for readers information – words typed in "Italics" indicates that Mari is signing in ASL and words appearing in "Bold" text are text messages to and from Mari. Also Mari's character is loosely based on my hearing difficulties – like Mari – I wear hearing aids, lip-read and sign.

And the adventures continue….

Chapter 3 – Visiting the past…

Mari looked at the house. "God, this is going to be hard. I'm so glad that you are there with me, I don't think that I could do this by myself." Dean took the keys from Mari's shaking hand and unlocked the front door, and together they walked into Mari's past. "This place is like a museum, they haven't changed a thing, since I was here last."

They walked around the main level, then climbed the stair to the second level, where they found that Aaron's and Mari's bedrooms unchanged, like a shrine with a thick layer of dust. "I thought that they would have gotten rid of everything. It looks like Aaron and I could move back right at this moment," Mari breathed.

"Except for the dust of course," commented Dean. Walking down the hall, they came to the master bedroom, where Mari searched thru their closet for a suit and a dress for her mom and dad to be buried in. Dean helped Mari to pack up the outfits, and then Mari started looking thru her mother's desk, where she found her mom's journals.

"I also want to take these journals, my mom kept a journal ever since she was a teenager."

"We can go that, there is a suitcase here in the closet that we can use," suggested Dean, as he got the suitcase and started to help Mari to pack up the journals. Then he carried the two suitcases to the car for Mari.

Back at Dean's office, Mari picked up her car, then dropped off the clothes at the funeral home, before heading home, not noticing the car that was following her. At the house, Mari decided to leave her mom's journals locked in the car, until later. Inside Mari freshened up and then prepared a light supper, she had finished eating and was relaxing on the couch, when she saw the light connected to the doorbell flashing. Mari looked through the peephole and smiled when she saw the identity of her visitor.

"Hi, come on in Dean." Dean walked inside and Mari shut the door behind him. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, I just wanted to check on you and see how you were doing? You've kinda had a rough day today."

"Oh, thank you. Umm do you want anything to drink? Coffee, water or juice? I don't keep any alcohol in the house," said Mari, as they walked into the living room.

"I'm okay," Dean waited until Mari sat down on the sofa before sitting beside her. "So how are you doing?"

"I'm still processing everything. I still can't believe that my parents left everything to me."

"Have you checked your mother's journals? Maybe the answers to your questions are in there."

"Not yet, I don't feel ready to read them just yet. As a matter of fact they are still in my car."

"Do you want me to keep them at my office until you are ready to read them? It may not be safe to keep them in your car."

"Sure," Mari agreed.

"Horatio called me after I got back to the office with the results of Owen's background check. Mari, Owen is facing bankruptcy."

"What! But he comes from old money, his parents left him a fortune when they died."

"Apparently he lost it on bad investments and gambling."

"I wonder if that explains Owen's behaviour this afternoon, the wanting to hug me and handle my affairs," mused Mari.

Outside, Owen sat in his car, watching Mari's house with a scowl on his face. Reaching into the glove compartment, he grabbed a switchblade and quietly getting out of his car. Owen walked across the street to where Dean's car was parked, working quietly, he slashed all four tires before viciously scratching the paint – walking around the car to continue wrecking the paint job, he tripped over the curb and fell against the car, triggering the car's alarm. Panicking Owen ran back to his car and drove off down the street.

Inside the house Dean and Mari were talking, when Dean stopped talking, got up from the couch, heading for the front door with Mari following. "Dean, what's wrong?"

"My car alarm is going off," Dean opened the door, going outside to his car, Mari right behind him. They were stunned when they saw Dean's vandalised car.

"Don't touch anything, there may be trace evidence on the car," Mari ordered. "I'm calling Horatio."

TBC…..