A/N Hi guys! Sorry for the slow slow slow updates! I have been on vacation…so here is Chapter 6. I finally figured out where I wanted to go with this story. Reviews are really appreciated…
Chapter 6 Damage Done, Alliances Made
Eric could only see what was outside the tank top but even then, it was awful. Hand prints were on her forearms and blue blotches were beginning to scatter her face. Eric's eyes trailed down to her stomach. Deep purple bruising was barely visible from under her tank top and a small cut from Hagen's fist was bright red on her left cheek.
"Oh Cal…" Eric trailed off.
"It looks worse than it is and it doesn't hurt," Calleigh responded for both their benefits.
"Calleigh, can you roll over?"
Splotches of colour decorated her pale back as well.
"Calleigh, there is no way in hell you are going to work tomorrow."
"Yes Eric, we've already established that fact," Calleigh said dryly.
"But…you are going to work," Calleigh insisted.
"What? Our deal was that neither of us are going in," Eric recalled.
"Just go tomorrow, Eric," Calleigh said exasperatedly. "It's just going to make me feel guilty if you stay and besides…Horatio will know something's up if we both don't show up."
"Fine," Eric agreed. He hovered around her bed not knowing what to do or say next.
"Go home and sleep!" Calleigh said laughing as she motioned for him to leave with her hands.
Eric left Calleigh's apartment chuckling and as he went through he heard her call him.
"Wait!" she yelled to him.
"What?" he asked.
"Can you take my key and lock the door?" Calleigh questioned, still laughing from before.
"Sure…where is it?" Eric wondered.
"On the dresser, next to my hair brush," she explained.
"Alright…good night…do not come to the lab tomorrow."
"Yes mom," Calleigh replied snickering.
Meanwhile… (Cue dramatic music)
Detective Hagen stormed into the IAB office.
"Stetler!" Hagen roared, positively steaming.
Rick Stetler, a tad startled rose from his not-so-comfy chair. "Detective Hagen. What can I do for you?"
"I want an investigation into the lab!" he demanded angrily.
"And on what basis would we need an investigation at CSI?" Stetler asked calmly though his insides began to prickle with evil joy.
"Duquesne assaulted me and Delko may be in an intimate relationship."
"Alright. Good enough for me!" Rick said giddily.
"I wasn't quite thinking about just an investigation," Hagen hinted.
"So, what is your idea?" Stetler questioned.
Hagen explained his not-very-well-thought-out plan to the sergeant.
"Besides the fact that you're are not very smart, and that we will have to watch for little details, I actually like it…it will put heat on the lab and I will have revenge on Horatio Caine," Stetler said evilly while Hagen was staring at him dumbly.
"Two days from now, IAB investigations start. Be ready and don't make any mistakes!! No fingerprints, DNA, nothing! Anything that could lead to Caine and his team finding out will screw the whole thing up!!" Stetler ordered.
"Fine."
Two days later… (A/N I shifted the timeline so both CSI: Miami and CSI: New York are in their third season. 10-7 never happened though.)
The CSI team was gathered in the break room. Calleigh and Eric were on the blue armchairs, Horatio was leaning against the counter, Alexx was on the sofa and Ryan was waiting for his breakfast near the microwave.
"So, Calleigh are you feeling better?" Alexx asked.
"Much better, thank you Alexx," Calleigh replied suddenly feeling uncomfortable and quickly changed the subject.
"I talked to Stella yesterday and she told me all about their action-packed day…there was a drug raid and then the perps came back to steal their coke by pretending there was a gas leak. Mac, Stella and Hawkes stayed inside the building as everyone was evacuated and took care of the bad guys," Calleigh said excitedly, "and Danny and Adam were held hostage and were rescued by the heroic Flack. Oh, and Danny and Lindsay got it together and Mac and Peyton are going to London…together!"
"Hey! That's great! Finally. Everyone knows that Danny and Lindsay were made for each other! It's about time!" Eric congratulated.
"Mac and Peyton hmmm?" Ryan asked. "I never would've expected that."
Alexx and Calleigh stared at him. "They've been a couple for a quarter of a year, Ryan!"
"When I was down there, I always wondered how Stella and Mac would do as a couple," Horatio said speaking for the first time.
"You don't think that –" Ryan was cut off by the entrance of Stetler into the break-room.
"IAB investigations. Who's first?" Stetler said.
"On what grounds?" Horatio asked with evident dislike.
"An anonymous source that one of your CSIs had an altercation with a detective on the force."
"I'll go first," Alexx volunteered begrudgingly.
"Let the interviews begin."