Disclaimer: I don't CSI: Miami or any of its characters. I also don't own the phrase "Okie poke" because that's floofymiko's.

Chapter 10:

Even without any dead bodies on the table, it still smelled horrible. And it was cold, so cold that Ella had been clutching onto JoJo for warmth, until Jem snatched the fuzzy green bear away.

He hissed at her. "What did you do? How come nobody knows who we are?"

"Huh? Everybody knows us…and I didn't do anything. Give JoJo back!" She jumped off the table she was sitting on and went over to hit Jem, but stumbled over the big shirt she was wearing. Ryan, with Valera, had handed it over to her from Eric before proceeding to keep an eye on the two of them. Where did daddy go? Where's mommy?

Jem snickered at her clumsiness, but as if reading his sister's poor bamboozled mind, he replied in a softer voice, "Mommy fell again and got all sick."

"Again? Wait…mommy? You saw mommy!"

"Uh, duh…I just came over from there. Daddy told me that you were here."

"I wanna see mommy too!"

"NOT before telling me what's going on."

"What's going on?" Ella's naïve little mind didn't detect anything unusual going on and whole-heartedly believed that everyone was just acting silly for the day.

"I asked first."

"I'm not saying anything until I get JoJo back!" She reached out to grab her teddy bear, but was left empty-handed as Jem pulled back at the last moment. "Hey!"

The four adults looked up from their close-knit discussion. Horatio and Alexx had entered the morgue only moments earlier, both with grim, tired expressions on their face. With a worried look, Alexx kindly chided the two children.

"Jem, sweetie, don't tease your sister."

"Tell Jem to give JoJo back!" Jem wasn't particularly tall, but he was tall enough that when he stood on his tippy-toes and held JoJo above his head, all Ella could do to attempt to get her stuffed animal back was jump up and down with outstretched arms. As to not upset her, all the adults in the room had to bite their tongues to keep from laughing. They all shared the same thought. She's just too cute.

As no harmed seemed to be done, they went back to their quick discussion about recent events. They kept an eye out, though, just in case something happened to one of the children.

"What's going on, Ella?" Jem just knew something was off because his parents, and everyone else for that matter, were treating him oddly. Then his eyes narrowed as he peered over to the adults. His eyebrows furrowed as he realized something. What happened to Aunt Valera? Last time I saw her, she was big and fat. Kinda like mommy. That's weird. I thought it took longer for babies-

"Ha! Now let go!" While Jem was distracted by his thoughts, Ella took the opportunity to finally grab JoJo back, but it was all in vain as her older brother's quick reflexes kicked in. The resulting sound seemed to echo throughout the high-ceiling room. Ella clutched JoJo to her chest triumphantly as comprehension slowly hit her that Jem was grasping a fuzzy green limb with white stuffing coming out. Both siblings shared the same horrified expression.

Valera placed a hand over her mouth as she quietly said, "Oh, dear." This isn't good.

Jem started, dryly, "I didn't mean-"

Ella stopped him with a loud shriek and began crying hysterically. "You killed JoJo. You killed her!" She began to point at him. "You're-You're a mur-murgerber! JoJo's dead…her arm!" She kept crying noisily and all Jem's "I'm sorry"s were drowned out.

Alexx was instantly by her side to try to calm her down. Horatio went over to calm Jem down because he was getting pretty depressed from the whole situation. He hadn't really meant to dissect JoJo. She such a baby, it's just a dumb bear. Why is she wasting her energy on that? We have to find out what's going on.

Finally, Ryan thought of something. "Uhm, I have a sewing kit…it's in my locker."

Valera's eyes bugged out at this sudden statement. "Are you serious? I don't even own a skirt, let alone a sewing kit."

Ella, whose cries had been reduced to mere sniffles, gave a teeny smile. "You're like, Eesheedah." She stuck out her tongue, though, when Jem rolled his eyes and groaned. She's comparing Unky Ryan to Ishida from Bleach again. So dumb. Well, at least she's not crying anymore.

Glad that the mini-crisis was over, Horatio smiled. Ryan shook his head slightly in confusion and said, "I'll go get it now."

Valera laughed, "And I'm coming with you, because…I just HAVE to see this."

"It's a sewing kit." What's the big deal?

"Exactly." I mean c'mon, it's not everyday you get to see some guy with a sewing kit. Is it because he has OCD? Very interesting.

Their voices died out as they exited the room. Ella clutched the two pieces of JoJo carefully and protectively as she gave the cold shoulder to Jem, who was still trying to apologize for the accident. Horatio brought his attention back to Alexx. "I'll let Ms. Boa Vista know that Frank and Yelina returned with the witness to who found Officer Paledez's body. They've secured the scene and after our initial overview, Eric and Natalia can go process the scene."

"No, Horatio, we'll see when we get there, but I really think you should let Ryan and Calleigh go or someone else. I know Calleigh has the day off, but Natalia needs as much rest as she can get. Maybe she should take a couple of days off." Horatio nodded in acknowledgement. I know I told Natalia otherwise, but the last thing I need is for her to have breakdown in the middle of processing. And I also don't want to bother her, just in case this 'Luke problem' is all a false alarm. The stress wouldn't be good for her.

"Either way, she will need protective detail, especially with those kids in tow." Jem and Ella were too engrossed in a staring contest to realize that they were being talked about.

"Who do you plan on using?"

"Eric. They think that he's their father. So, if I give them both some time off, it would work out for all of them."

"Sounds like a good idea."

"We should get going. I'll call Yelina to watch them until Ryan and Valera return." He strolled over to the two siblings and squatted down. "Alexx and I have to leave you two for a while, but Detective Salas is going to come and watch you two until Ryan and Valera come back."

Ella and Jem seemed a bit puzzled at the sudden bombardment of names, but nodded anyway. The door opened to the morgue as Horatio and Alexx were about to leave. When Horatio saw who it was, he smiled. Good…they're in good hands, so I don't need to call Yelina. I should call Marisol and let her know that I may be late for lunch…again. I need to page Calleigh to meet me at the Everglades.

"DADDY!" Ella ran over and hugged her father's leg. "Look at what Jem did!" She gave her father a pout-y look.

Eric sighed. This is so difficult. It's not like I came prepared for these types of situations. And I'm not even a real father. They think I am, but I'm not. Maybe I should call Papí for advice…but then he'd ask questions…. "Jeremy, you did this?" Jem nodded sadly. "Did you apologize?"

"Yeah, I didn't mean to."

"And did you accept his apology?" This latest incident was amusing him greatly. He was trying his hardest not to show any emotion, but it proved to be a difficult task. They're so cute. I guess they do kind of look like us.

"Nuh-uh. I don't wanna." Ella shook her head.

"You're not going to forgive your brother?"

"Why should I? He hurt JoJo. He DISSECTED JoJo!"

"That was just a joke," said Jem defensively. "I didn't REALLY mean to dissect it."

"You just better hope that Uncle Ryan can sew like Ishida."

"You know he can't. And what are YOU going to do?"

"I-I-I'll call you Squirt FOREVER!"

"No, you won't." She's so dumb.

"OK! Are you two hungry?" Eric intervened quickly and successively as the boy and girl nodded furiously. He sighed with relief. Crisis averted. That was too close. "Ella why don't you leave your bear-"

"JoJo," Ella interrupted.

Eric momentarily hesitated before continuing. "JoJo, here. I'm sure Ryan will see it." First Wolfie…now he can SEW. This has got to be one of the oddest days I have ever-maybe I'm dreaming-that's got to be it…I've got to get someone to pinch me HARD.

"But-"

"Do you trust me?"

"Uh-huh." Ella nodded so fast that she became a little dizzy.

"Do you trust, Wolfie?" The three of them laughed at the name. It really is such a great nickname.

"Mm-hmm," Ella nodded once again, but learning from her previous experience, she nodded slowly.

"Then, you can leave JoJo here and Ryan will get to it. Okay?"

"Okie poke." She placed the two pieces of her green teddy bear onto the table and slipped her hand in her father's. "Let's go eat. I'm hungry!"

"Wait," said Jem, "I gotta go to the bathroom. Real bad."

"Is it an emergency?" Not again. Please, please hold it in until we actually GET to the bathroom.

"Uh, yeah…kinda gotta go real BAD." He was bouncing from foot to foot.

"Ok, let's go. Quickly." What do I do about Ella?

As if reading her father's thoughts, she stated, "I've been in the men's bathroom before." Then she began mimicking her parents, "If there's someone at the wall, no looking."

"Okay, well, I still want you to wait outside." The lab's safe…enough.

"Okie poke," she repeated, "It's not like I want to go inside the boy's bathroom. It's stinky. You got some real gassy guys in this place." Eric and Jem turned a bright shade of red at that declaration.

Jem sighed. "Just never, ever call Unky Frank Sir Farts-a-Lot EVER again. That was really not cool."

"YOU made it up!"

"But I didn't say it out loud!"

"Yeah, you just did!" Ella stuck out her tongue once more to her older brother. Eric released a short burst of laughter and scratched his head. This is embarrassing, standing here and listening to this. Sir FARTS-a-Lot? What is it with these kids and nicknames?

Eager to change the subject, Jem announced once again that he had to go and use the toilet.

"Yeah, c'mon daddy." Ella tugged on Eric's hand to get him to move. He followed behind the two children's lead. Why do these kids think that I'm their dad…and that Natalia's their mom…she said that she wasn't pregnant and I haven't known her for THAT long. Hopefully, he has more control than Ella. I don't have any more shirts to spare.

Natalia was beginning to doze off again. Why am I so tired and sleepy today? Maybe it's just this day overall. Mostly just the thought that Luke may be roaming the streets of Miami…he was never one to listen…why would he start with his parole officer? She wasn't even done eating and she just felt like lying down and sleeping forever. Wait… wait, I think this is a sign of depression. Oh, I hope they would just hurry up and come back. With that thought, she heard a hustling at the entrance to the break room. She could tell, though, that it was only one person and not a person with two children in tow.

"Good afternoon," spoke up a happy, cheery voice; its light Southern accent betraying instantly who it was, "How're you feeling?"

Natalia smiled, "Hi, Calleigh. I'm fine."

"That's good. You should get some rest. From what I've heard, you've given people some mighty scares."

"Yeah, well you shouldn't listen to what some people have to say." Natalia sighed. Anyway, how can I rest with children running around? Not that I mind that they think Eric and I are their parents. Argh. Natalia, stop thinking about that. Obviously, nothing's going to happen. He's just doing it for those kids. But that dream…what did it mean?...and what happened after it…was that-NO, it was just friendly concern, yeah, that's it…it FELT intimate, but I'm just over thinking it, that's all.

Calleigh laughed heartily, breaking Natalia's train of thought, a train chugging along at well over the speed limit. "See, you really do need a break." Natalia smiled. She hadn't heard a single word the blonde CSI had said in the past several minutes.

"Today's just been a…it's just been one of those days."

"Yeah, I heard about those kids." Calleigh was quickly eating a brown-speckled yellow banana that she had grabbed from the fruit basket lying on the counter between the sink and the refrigerator. Her initial purpose for entering the room was to grab a quick bite to eat before heading over to the Everglades to meet Horatio and process the crime scene there. My one day off…oh well, I have this job for a reason. To protect the people.

"Oh." Why am I even surprised?

"Word gets around quickly in this lab. I guess it's kinda like high school." She offered her friend a warm sympathetic smile.

"I should know." Natalia's voice held a resigned tone as she recalled how rapidly all the people employed to the Miami-Dade Crime Lab had learned that she was the FBI's mole.

Calleigh smiled sympathetically. "I'm sorry, but I have to go now. Are you going to be okay?" She discarded the banana peel into the nearby garbage pail.

"I'll be fine. Thanks." As Calleigh left for the Everglades, Natalia decided that she needed to stretch. Maybe it'll make me less tired. Wait…wait…no…I have to pee. This is really annoying, being pregnant…I have to pee ALL the time…ugh…my stomach hurts. Cramps are so painful…

A/N: Hehe… XD … Woo… Calleigh scene! XD … She has not been forgotten! XD … As for the rest of it… heh… XD … Let me know what y'all think! XD

Oh yeah, that line about the labhigh school was inspired from what she said to Ryan in Sex&Taxes---apparently I've never seen the beginning of that episode…I can't believe what a jerk Ryan acts like towards Eric… .