I may have not had an outline for this chapter and just kind of wrote what came to mind.

Wax On…

Kristine smiled as she watched Ryan and Horatio walked into the salon. Horatio's eyes shifted around the room as he took in the light blue wall color and salon decorations.

"Well look what the cat dragged in," she said as she walked over to the counter. "I see you're right on time, Officer Wolfe. Oh but, Lieutenant Caine, I don't seem to have you down for an appointment today," she said with a smirk.

Horatio smiled at her and leaned against the counter. "Well I don't have an appointment but I thought I would see if I could get an appointment with you, Krissy."

Kristine smiled and penciled Horatio's name in after Ryan's. "Well let me take care of Ryan first and I'll see what I can do for you, Horatio," she said with a wink.

"I'll be waiting," Horatio smiled back.

Horatio watched Kristine cut Ryan's hair. She playfully styled it into a fo-hawk and Ryan laughed. "No, no keep it that way," he chuckled, "I think I'll punk it out today."

Kristine laughed and ran her fingers through his hair. "Damn boy, you've got yourself some nice hair! No wondered Jessie Boo let you stay. You ready for the rest of your appointment?" The tips of Ryan's ears turned red and he turned his face away from Horatio and quietly responded.

Horatio watched as Kristine led Ryan into the back of the salon. They were gone for almost half an hour before they finally reemerged into the lobby. Ryan sat in the chair next to Horatio's with his legs slightly spread and his left leg bouncing nervously.

"What's with Ryan?" Horatio whispered as Kristine fastened an apron around his neck.

Kristine chuckled and began messing with Horatio's hair. "I think he's embarrassed."

"Why?" Horatio inquired.

"Boy just got a wax job," Kristine whispered.

"Wax? He got his eyebrows waxed?"

"Nope, think lower."

"Chest?"

"A little lower, Lieutenant."

"Well what did you wax, his belly button? I mean there really isn't anything lower…" Horatio's voice trailed off as realization washed over him.

Kristine chuckled as she began cutting Horatio's hair. "Yup, Ryan boy likes to come in once every six weeks or so and trim up the hedge, if you know what I mean," she said with a wink.

Horatio chuckled as he watched his red hair fall into his lap. "Well I just learned something new about my future son-in-law."

Kristine beamed at him as she stood in front of him and turned his head side to side. "Ryan proposed to Jessie Boo?"

"Not yet," Horatio said, blowing a lock of hair off his nose.

A confused expression washed over Kristine's face. "Horatio, how can Ryan propose if Jessica's…"

Horatio sighed. "Kristine I'm going to let you in on a little secret, but you have to promise you won't tell anyone."

"Can I tell my hubbie?" Kristine smiled at him.

"Of course, I wouldn't want you keeping anything from Robert," Horatio chuckled.

"Ok, so what's this big secret?"

"Jessie Bug's not dead," Horatio quietly said.

Kristine smiled brightly and tousled his hair. "I knew it!" she quietly smirked, "I told Robert she wasn't dead! Where's the little Bug hiding?"

"To be honest I don't know," Horatio said a little disappointed, "She refused to tell me when she left. I miss her like hell though."

Kristine smiled as she brushed the hair off Horatio's shoulders. "Well I'm sure your little Bug will be home soon enough."

Horatio chuckled as Ryan attempted to discreetly scratch between his hips and groin. "You know Jessie Bug might have something to take the edge off there, Ryan," he said as he turned into his driveway.

"Shut up," Ryan said, shaking his head.

They walked through the laundry room and into Horatio's house. An excited Lucy came bounding towards Ryan, leaving a light watery trail behind her. She looked at the floor and her ears tucked back in shame. Ryan chuckled and scooped her into his arms. "It's alright, Lucy," he whispered reassuringly, "It was an accident."

Ryan began cleaning the floor while Horatio held the excited puppy in his arms. "Bug picked out a cute one," he said as Lucy licked his face, "Energetic too."

"Yeah, but I like her anyways," Ryan said. "Do you think Jessica bought Lucy to help me? You know, to help with the separation?"

"Well Jessie Bug always did think about others before herself a lot," Horatio said, setting Lucy on the ground. She bounded over to Ryan and bite at his heels. "Holds up to the blue heeler part of her," Horatio chuckled.

"Yeah, I've been trying to get rid of that habit," Ryan said, placing his foot against Lucy's chest and pushing her back. Lucy's ears tucked down and she whimpered. Ryan sighed and held out his leg. Lucy happily bit the hem of his jeans and tugged. "But it's so hard because she's so cute."

Horatio laughed and reached down and flicked the dog in the nose. Lucy whimpered again and stared at Horatio. He looked down at her with a stern expression. "It's just like a child, Ryan," Horatio explained, "You have to be stern and not give into their cute."

Ryan scrubbed the carpeting in his living room, trying to clean the stain Lucy had left. She whimpered and nudged against his elbow. Ryan smiled at her and scratched her ear. "It's ok Lucy, it was an accident," he said.

Ryan's phone rang and he looked at the name on the screen. "Nick, what's happening man? Long time no ring."

"Ryan Wolfe, how you are doing?" Nick Stokes's happy voice sounded from his phone.

"I've been good, how are things in Vegas?"

"Good, good," Nick answered, "How's Jess?"

"Um, she's good," Ryan explained as he walked into his kitchen.

"She there right now?" Nick inquired.

"Uh, no she's not," Ryan quickly said, "It's just me and Lucy right now."

"Lucy? Who's Lucy?"

"Our new dog," Ryan explained, "Jess bought her a few weeks ago."

Nick chuckled. "What, life as a CSI too boring for you two?"

"Oh no, it's plenty active enough," Ryan laughed, "Jessica's just always wanted a dog, that's all."

"Shut up Greg!" Nick exclaimed, "I'm on the phone with Ryan. What? No, I'm busy…ok, fine. The lab rat wants to talk, that cool with you?"

"Greg? Yeah, of course!"

"Ok, give me just a second," Nick said. There was fumbling and clunking noises but eventually Greg's excited voice sounded in his ear. "Ryan! Oh my god, Ryan, how are you?"

Ryan chuckled. "Geez Greg, you make it sound like we haven't talked in years."

"Well it's been a while, I feel like you and Jess never call anymore."

"Sorry Greg, we've been kind of busy lately, catching lots of bad guys."

"Ok I forgive you!" Greg exclaimed, "How are things going with you guys? How's the baby?"

Ryan felt like his heart had stopped. He didn't realize he and Jessica had never told Nick and Greg that their baby had been killed. "Um, well, I…." Ryan stuttered.

"Uh oh," Greg suddenly said as Ryan heard the sounds of running feet, "Nick's trying to take his phone back."

"Then maybe you should give it back," Ryan quietly suggested.

"But I'm not done talking," Greg said as he clearly dodged someone.

"Greg, I can call you any other time, give Nick back his phone."
Ryan heard Greg stop running and the sound of someone running into him. "Ok, well you should give me a call later. I have so much to tell you!"

"Ok Greg, I'll call you, I promise."

"Sweet!" Greg happily exclaimed. "Give me that!" Ryan heard Nick snap. A frustrated sigh met Ryan's ear. "Sorry about that," Nick apologized, "He's been really excitable lately. I think he's getting laid or something."

Ryan chuckled. "Yeah that can make a guy an entirely different person."

"Anyways, the reason I called is because I have a professional question," Nick continued on, "I was hoping to get Jessica but I keep getting a message that her phone's disconnected. I figured since you guys are just two peas in a pod and you were her supervisor you probably taught her anyways."

"Alright, shoot," Ryan said as he filled Lucy's bowl with puppy kibble.

"We've got a scarf that we think was used to smother our victim. If we can get prints off it from our suspect then we can nail the guy."

"Ok, so you're having trouble lifting prints," Ryan commented. "Have you tried gold powder?"

"Gold powder?" Nick inquired.

"Yeah, you heat the gold flakes and it'll stick to the oils from the skin on the fabric and you can get a lift. Just like super glue fuming."

"Oh, ok, got it," Nick said, "I'll see if we've got any of that. Glad I called you, boss."

"Actually I learned that one from my boss, Horatio, Jessica's father," Ryan explained.

"Well thank you very much sir, and tell Lieutenant Caine that I also send my gratitude. I appreciate it very much. Now maybe I can get that bastard finally."

"Hey not a problem, feel free to call me at any time you need something."