Disclaimer: dont own anyone, but JoJo, Jem, and Ella.
A/N: Yeah, sorry for the slowness..but yeah.. that's me! Hope you like it, and remember to review! (sorry if it's short!)
Chapter 2:
She's so dead. JoJo's going DOWN! Jem was infuriated at his sister for no reason other than the fact that he strongly believed that this was all her fault. This being him walking around the quiet, silent hallways, searching for at least one familiar face. I'm so telling on Ella. I'm not 'Squirt.' I'm older than she is! Where's mom and dad?
A woman with chestnut colored hair turned a corner onto the same hallway. She was preoccupied with thoughts on the case at hand and didn't notice the young boy at first. "Mommy!" the little boy was excited to finally find someone he recognized and so he gave the woman a bear hug. "I found you! Ella's acting stupid and mean again. She's gonna get in trouble, right? As punishment, can I have her chocolate stash?"
With concern, the woman softly said, "Uhm, do I know you?" This was not the most brilliant thing to say to a confused child, but she was an equally confused adult.
"That's great, mommy," Jem rolled his eyes, "that's gotta be the biggest brainfart ever; can't even remember your own son."
The woman gave him a strange look. They both shared the thought of What is going on? "Are-are you lost?"
"Sort of," Jem recollected his thoughts, "I don't know how I got here. I bet it's all Ella's fault. She started it."
The woman smiled and without thinking said, "I'm sure that's not true."
The child grinned widely, revealing a set of tiny white teeth. "See, your brainfart passed."
The CSI began to worry over at the condition of the boy's mentality. Did he hit his head? How hard do you need to hit it for a clouded vision? How come he thinks I'm his mommy? C'mon Boa Vista! There must be a way to make this situation less awkward and puzzling. "Sweetie, do you know where you live?"
Jem was becoming anxious. "There you are again asking weird questions. Are you sick mommy?" His youthful face became worrisome and held a slight frown.
This was getting frustrating for the both of them. She really wanted to assist this child in any way she could because she figured that his parents were probably very worried and searching for him. Therefore, she repeated her previous inquiry.
"With you, mommy. And daddy. And Ella Nutella." The eight-year old crossed his arms across his chest to make himself appear more adult-like. "Duh."
"Don't be rude," the woman instinctively said in a motherly tone. Whoops, a mother-like tone's probably not going to help the kid realize that I'm NOT his mom. And who's the father… or, rather my supposed husband? A thought struck her mind. "Did Luke put you up to this?" She winced upon mentioning that name, since it brought back bad memories.
"Who's Luke? You're confusing me mommy."
"Natalia!" shouted a brown-haired man as he entered the scene. "H has been paging you for over half an hour!" Everyone, it seemed, with the exception of CSI Calleigh Duquesne, treated Natalia coldly, ever since they learned that she was the FBI's mole for the lab. CSI Ryan Wolfe acted no less frostily.
Oblivious to his tone, Jem beamed with excitement. "Uncle Wolfie!" The two adults looked at the child strangely. Natalia quickly checked her pager, which shouted 911-CAINE-MEET IN CR. CR was the conference room. She mentally berated herself for getting so easily distracted. My job is on the line for a kid who thinks I'm his mother? But he needs help… She was getting frustrated. If only people trusted me again.
"Ryan, can you do me a favor?" Please.
"No."
Dammit Ryan. "Please! Just watch… Jeremy… while I go see what Horatio wants. That's all I'm asking… for about 10 minutes."
"Fine," grumbled Ryan, "but realize that my job is on the line here." Babysitting a kid who calls me 'Wolfie' was not part of the job description…
"Thank you so much!" It felt like a weight off of her shoulders. "Bye Jeremy, I'll see you later." She smiled and waved to him as she walked down the hall and around a corner toward the conference room.
"Bye mommy!" Jeremy waved his small hand enthusiastically back. Ryan's eyebrows did a tiny dance as he tried to comprehend the situation. I knew Natalia had a marriage that ended badly, but a kid?
"So, Uncle Wolfie, how's Auntie Valera feeling? Mommy and Daddy said that she got sick the other day. Did she make you sick too? Whenever me or Ella get sick we usually get someone else sick too. Mommy and Daddy say that that means its con…tay…jus… I don't know what that means, but mommy and daddy make it sound bad and I don't like it when bad things happen…" Jeremy kept babbling on, not caring necessarily whether or not Ryan was actually paying attention to him.
Ryan was preoccupied with his own thoughts. What is this kid implying about me and Valera's relationship? I wonder who he thinks his parents are…aside from Natalia. This is going to be an interesting day, that's for sure.