Dislaimer: I don't have any rights to CSI: Miami… tears well up in eyes
A/N: Teehee… XD … NED, of course, and FINALLY some CaPe… XD
Chapter 17:
She had just wanted to figure out what the traffic was like on the streets of Miami that night. It had turned from that simple task of turning on the car's radio to an entire commotion on time.
The station that the CSI next to her had his radio set on was WIOD 610 AM, which gave weather and traffic news reports every six minutes. When she pressed the power button to turn the system on, the children in the back seats were fooling around and playing thumb wrestle.
"This is News Radio 610 AM giving you weather and traffic every six minutes. Tonight is a clear, warm and breezy July sixth, two thousand-six. An accident from-"
The rest of what the weather-man was informing the public was drowned out by Ella and Jem's snorts and giggles. Amusedly, Eric turned around and Natalia quickly glanced in her rear-view mirror before returning her eyes on the road that lay ahead. They still had several minutes before they would arrive at Eric's residence.
"Daddy!" Ella managed to get out between giggles. "The weather-man made a boo-boo!" Jem nodded in agreement; he was chortling so hard that he couldn't even make a remark. Upon the siblings' childishness, the two CSIs began to crack up, not daring to look at one another's eyes for fear that that would make Natalia drive them off the road. They had no idea what the two children were talking about, something that Eric addressed.
"Uh, duh." Jem didn't understand what could possibly be so confusing about the situation. The weather-man was a dum-dum for a moment. "He said that it's July sixth, two thousand six, but obviously, it's July sixth, two thousand fourteen." Ella began to giggle again. She, unlike her brother, thought that the weatherman was being silly for making such a big boo-boo.
Natalia stole a fleeting look towards Eric and they both arched eyebrows before she returned her mind-set to driving them safely. They both shared the same thought about the declaration of what the children thought the year was…two thousand fourteen.
Eric tried to swallow away the dryness in his throat. "What year do you think it is?"
"Daddy! It's two thousand…fourteen!" She thought that it was the silliest questions ever. "You should know that." She added exasperatedly, "You're always teasing me." She pouted cutely at the last bit.
So, it's true. These kids are delusional… why on Earth would they think it's the year two thousand-fourteen…it makes no sense whatsoever… The CSI sitting in the passenger seat frowned, as did the driver while she parked the car in front of the graying apartment.
While Natalia parallel parked, she tried to grasp the reality of the circumstances. What the heck is going on? There's no way… two thousand-fourteen…it can't be possible! Can it? My head hurts… this day… this is… all of it… everything's just so mind-boggling! She knew that Eric was contemplating the same thing. He must be… I mean sure those children can't really be ours… but if they're serious about the year… is it possible? They are just kids, but could they really make something like that up…it's not possible… is it? Unless they're compulsive liars… but they can't be… they're too innocent… they must be telling the truth… No point in frightening them… I trust them… it just gets complicated then… like why are they here?
Eric was drawing the same conclusions as he exited the car and helped out the two children, who weren't exactly enthusiastic when they saw where they were. Ella addressed her concerns in a low whisper that Natalia picked up on, making her snort. They never became aware of the red Jeep that slunk its way silently in the night, past their location.
"Daddy…why are we here? Did you upset mommy again?"
Surprised, Eric asked, "Why? What's wrong?" Don't tell me we live in some big house or something…
At her normal voice, Ella stated, "Mommy only drops you off here when you two are mad at each other and are shouting and angry…and mad…"
"Uhm," the CSI was slightly confused, "I live-"
"We're redecorating!" Natalia shot her colleague a wary glance, a look that did not go unnoticed by their son. "So, we're staying here for a while."
Jem cleared his throat and his eyes narrowed, a movement that was observed by his parents in the dim light of the street lamps. "Do you even know where we live? Cuz I saw a movie like this…you know when the aliens come and take over people's bodies and use them to get to the people closest to them… And I'm been watching you from the beginning… I just know something funky's going on." He folded his arms across his chest. Ella copied her brother's stance and frowned.
"Yeah! What he said!" Jem just rolled his eyes. What a weird-o…
It took all the two CSIs had not to start cracking up. Natalia pursed her lips before continuing. "It'll only be temporary. And I'm sure Eric, Daddy, has lots of stuff to do in there."
Picking off where she left off, he scooped up his younger daughter in his arms while taking Jem's hand. "Yeah, I have a television, movies, food, and… chocolate." The children cheered at the last part, making their parents grin. Jem used his free hand to take his mother's free hand and together the quartet entered the small apartment.
Upon entering, Jem shrieked, "Mommy! You can't make me clean my room anymore!" He grinned mischievously as he ran inside and plopped himself on the floor in front of the couch, which had clothes flung on it, as well as some DVD cases and books. That wasn't even the worst of it. As Ella slipped out of her father's hold and ran over to where her brother was, Natalia gave him a look. He held up his hands in defense.
"Look, it's not like I was expecting company…or a family to fall out of the sky."
Natalia laughed. "Really? That doesn't mean you can't clean up once in a while." She bent over and handed him a pair of boxers that she had accidentally stepped on, making him blush slightly.
"Fudge cakes."
"What now?" Coop asked quizzically. The situation was quite comical.
"I'm trying to figure out which would be worse."
"What?"
The entity continued as if she hadn't been interrupted. "Them finding out those kids are theirs or them finding out those kids are from a different time period. Oh yeah…the latter sounds worse!" Her voice was full of bitterness and stress.
"Look, it'll all work out in the end. It always does. Can't you calm down and just enjoy the show."
"No! I can't because then you got the creep-o or creep-os driving around in that car following them and planning Lord knows what."
"Shouldn't you know what?"
"I'm Fate…I know their fate…the outcomes of their actions…I'm not a psychic."
"If you're gonna be all old and boring, just go to Destiny and Father Time and hang out with them…I wanna see what happens." Coop was flushed with excitement and all Fate could do was sit and watch with him. She didn't want to hang out with the older entities. That would be boring. She took a deep breath to calm herself.
It was well into the night, when they found themselves standing outside in the artificial light of the shopping center before entering the humongous Toys-R-Us.
"You got the list?"
"Yeah." Luke knew that his future self wanted this to go nice and quick. He ran the items quickly through his head. Jack-in-the-box, metal bat, and a Three Days Grace single CD...specifically with the song 'I Hate Everything About You' on it. Upon entering the store, they split up, each getting half the items off the list.
About half an hour later, they met at the cash register. They were criminals, but they wanted the next day's crime to come as a shock and didn't want to be arrested for something as petty as stealing. Anyways, he had lifted the little cash from the dead man (the one rotting in his apartment).
While Luke had taken care of locating the CD, his older self had obtained the Jack-in-the-box. When one turned the handle, it played 'Pop Goes the Weasel!' until finally, Jack would jump out. There was also, with him, a smooth, slightly heavy metal bat. He smiled sadistically at the possibilities all these items together potentially had. As they paid, he knew where they had to go next. Maximus McGraw…he can scratch up the CD until it plays exactly what I need and repeat what I want. And I still gotta get that bottle of nitrous oxide.
"Yelina, is Horatio still in?"
"No, he left a while ago, which we should too. Why?" She peered over her cubicle to her colleague. Seeing his distress, she inquired, "Frank? Is there something wrong?"
"I just got off the phone with the Miami-Dade Penitentiary. Apparently someone pummeled a guard and helped a convict escape."
"Oh. Who?" Her brow furrowed. People never ceased to amaze her.
"They looked at the documents and said that some guy, Larry Miller, was missing from his jail cell."
"Is the guard still alive?"
"The guy had a coupla bruises, but that's all."
"Is he talking? They should have the security tapes."
"The guard didn't say or know much. I guess I should call the warden and tell them we'll pick the tapes up bright and early tomorrow morning?" He wanted nothing more than to go home and to go to sleep.
"And then we can call it a day…and let the next shift do their job."
"Someone's eager to get home," Frank joked as he dialed the warden's number.
"I've got Ray Jr. to tend to. I hope my mother didn't fall asleep again."
"Hah."
Once he got the penitentiary's supervisor on the phone, they chatted for a bit until they came to a mutual understanding. He would go with the lieutenant the next morning to obtain the tapes.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah. 'Night Yelina."
"'Night Frank. See you tomorrow." She made her way to the elevator. Frank would take the next one; he needed to clear up some files that were scattered across his desk.
She would have to speak with her later. She just ran off with him…this is a criminal case…I hope she doesn't want to go on leave again…
The woman sighed as she raked her fingers through her long blonde hair and placed it in a messy bun. Sure the blood on Luke Litano's orange jumpsuit was Officer Paledez's, but it was proper protocol to actually analyze the evidence. What was Valera doing all day? Natalia, I can understand…but Valera? She shook her head slightly. She had seen people leave hours earlier and Horatio had told her to leave, but she still had the evidence to examine.
She had swabbed the pipe, definitely confirming that it was blood and Officer Paledez's to boot, and had been about to look for usable fingerprints, when a sudden state of fatigue overwhelmed her. What? Why now? She felt so droopy-eyed. It was my day off. She sighed once more, knowing that she'd have to examine the evidence the following day, when her head was clearer.
After returning everything to the evidence locker, she pressed the button a number of times for the elevator to come down to her floor. Why am I so tired and sleepy? I have been getting enough sleep…it's so strange… Upon entering, she pressed the 'PG' button for the parking garage.
"Calleigh?"
She turned around sharply at her name; she had thought she was alone. Squinting her eyes and realized that she actually knew the person. "Peter? What are you doing here?"
"I was around the corner and was just going to come and check to see if you were still in. Are you okay? You seem kind of tired."
Her eyes narrowed. She may have been tired, but she wasn't stupid. "You were 'around the corner.' It's late."
"Calleigh, I was just going to come up ask you if you wanted to grab a bite to eat." His tone was full of frustration. Why is she so difficult?
The ballistics expert stifled a yawn. "I'm too tired…"
"At least let me give you a lift home."
She smiled widely. "I'd appreciate that." She knew her limits and wasn't about to go driving recklessly into the night. Her fatigue was too strong. The FBI agent smiled. Okay…maybe not that difficult…now if she'd only come with to dinner some time…another day…
"Score one for the entities!" Both of Fate's fists shot through the air. She was absolutely beaming.
"Score one?" He friend was befuddled.
"Well, I'm being humble…but thank goodness for the star dust!" She sighed happily. She knew that the blonde woman, Calleigh Duquesne, and the Secret Service agent, Peter Elliot, were meant to be together and she was just helping their little love train chug along.
"You know if you added the love-"
"NO WAY…I'm not ruining a perfectly good moment. He drives her home…tucks her in…and she'll ask him to stay…" She became dreamy-eyed at the last bit.
"Have you been watching Kate & Leopold… again?"
"What…no…" She stuck out her tongue.
"Cuz, seriously, there's no way she'd be all, 'Oh Peter, stay with me…please…I can't live without you.'" He said the last part in a, what he thought was feminine, high-pitched ditzy voice. "And I'm Cupid… She's the type of gal who will find love in her own time…even if she's blind and dumb and that love is literally standing right in front of her…"
Fate smacked her friend's arm. "There's always a chance!"
"Obviously…but only you know that."
"Not really. It was their fate to meet tonight… Only Destiny knows if they truly belong together."
"That's confusing."
"And what, love isn't?"
"Love is pure and simple. It's the humans that make it complicated."
"What-EVER." She rolled her eyes.
A/N: LOL… XD ... next chapter is gonna be interesting... LOL...