Disclaimer: Don't have any rights to CBS's CSI: Miami… anyways, it'd be too much work and stress… XP … LOL
A/N: Yeah… this chapter is just weird … seriously… LOL… XDD
Chapter 19:
He thought he heard a rustle and then dead quiet. Currently, he felt like there was something watching him, but like a small child, he was too afraid to open his eyes and see who it was… or if it was anyone at all. After what felt like a long while, he finally peeped out into the darkness, only to jump nearly a mile out of his skin.
Once he caught his senses and recognized who the small dark figure was, he quietly berated her. "Ella, do you know what time it is? What on earth are you doing out of bed?" He didn't think about the fact that she maybe she had to use the toilet or something.
"Daddy. There's someone at the door." Her tone was so quiet and monotonous, that was it was quite unnerving and creepy for her father.
"Ella. Come to bed. Whoever it is…they can come back when it's appropriate."
"Papí, you must answer the door. Someone's at the door." Her same eerie tone persisted. He felt compelled to listen to her; then, maybe it would stop.
"Alright. Alright. See I'm up, I'm up. Now, get to bed."
"Will you answer the door?"
"As long as you keep your end of the bargain."
"I'll be waiting for you Papí."
Eric shook his head slightly as he left to see who was at the front entrance. What's up with her? It's beyond disturbing. It's as if something's possessing her. He looked through the peep hole at the front door and saw no one there. What's Ella talking about? No one in sight…this is too creepy. Great, Delko, watched too many horror films have we? He threw open the door and looked around. Nobody…obviously, it's nearly two in the morning. I've gotta tell Ella that there's better ways to get attention. He sighed and was about to close the door, when he noticed a box on the front steps. What on earth? He picked it up and brought it under the streetlamp's soft orange glow. It looked brand new, but smelled sickeningly familiar. A Jack-in-the-box? What the heck's going on?
He turned the handle and listened to Pop Goes the Weasel!... until he literally almost did jump out of his skin. The nauseating odor that reeked from the bobbing Jack had him turn away in disgust. Is that blood? What kind of sick joke is this? With further study, he discerned a paper, also a little stained with a red fluid, inside the box. That had better not be blood. He took out the paper and found it to be, in fact, a note.
It read: YOU AND THE GIRL ARE NEXT.
"Shit!" The items fell from his hands. Ella… no… it must be Natalia… Did that maniac figure out where we live? He ran down the stairs and scanned the streets. It was all in vain, since the miscreants had sped off before he had first opened the door. His breathe becoming erratic as he snatched up the items from the front steps and stuffed them deep within his coat closet in the foyer. He didn't want Natalia to be worried. I can deal with this…call Horatio… in the morning. No point in waking her at this hour and frightening her out of her wits. He bolted the door and double-checked all the windows and went as far as checking the air vents. He went into the bathroom to wash the stains off his hands. He scrubbed until his hands were nearly raw. That monster is not getting near her…even if it kills me.
With that determination, he reentered the bedroom. He was a bit surprised to find that Ella was fast asleep, as if she had never gone and waken him from his slumber. Maybe she didn't. Did I even go and check to see if she was in the bed while I spoke to that possible imposter. What if Ella had been asleep the whole time and I was talking to… All he could remember was that the person he had spoken to earlier had certainly given him the spine-chilling vibe. What if… He sighed and shook his head. I'll drive myself crazy thinking of the hypotheticals.
He lay in his bed once again, but found it hard to return to a state of peaceful thinking. He let out a strangled breath. Why can't this insanity end?
"Heh. Guilty as charged."
"That's all you have to say? You've been berating me about Council this and Council that and how to properly handle the love dust and the love and star dust combo and on and on. And then you go, like the HYPOCRITE you are, and nearly make the guy nearly pee in his pants!"
"Well, I figured it would speed things along."
"What… for the worse?" Coop looked bewilderedly to his friend beside him. "You can't go around possessing little children. How does that have anything to do with fate itself?"
"Not with hers, just his!" She was trying, but miserably failing, to defend her poor actions. She didn't know why she did it; she just felt that she had to. They would have found the box eventually.
"I don't know. Hopefully, she won't remember anything, but he certainly will. You'll be lucky if he doesn't go mad."
"He won't. He'll just think it's a night-"
"Yeah, until he checks his closet and lo' and behold, the Jack-in-the-box is still there, bloody Jack, note, and all. You know humans are fragile creatures and once you take away their sanity…"
"I didn't mean to do any harm…maybe I can posses-"
"Do you hear yourself? From now on Fate, let's be observers of our previous actions and nothing more. We will no longer interfere. Repeat that. We will no longer interfere. Fate!"
"Alright!" She stuck out her tongue. "We will no longer interfere."
"Maybe I should change we to I," he muttered mostly to himself.
"Hey, I heard that!"
"Good. Now, let's pretend this is a movie!"
"Where's the popcorn?"
"Popcorn? Ew… I want chocolate." The two ran off in opposite directions to get their desired snacks before returning to their seats.
"Where are you carrying me?" The woman sleepily murmured her question.
"To bed, ma'am. You'll be much more comfortable." He smiled down at her, while she giggled.
"You're so sweet."
From the lab, they had gone to her Lamaze classes for an hour before leaving to grab a bite to eat at their favorite restaurant, Casa Tua. He had reserved the 'good' seats, as always, which were outside the lovely Mediterranean stone beach house and within the equally stunning garden terrace.
They had ordered their favorite dish of Grilled French Turbot, which came decorated with fennels and blood oranges, and skipped out on the red wine, for obvious reasons. For dessert, they had the scrumptious apricot tart with sweet almond ice cream. It was filling and quite satisfying.
Of course, she could ask for nothing better than what she had; a loving family and wonderful husband.
"You're tucking me in too?" Horatio can be so extraordinarily sweet. I mean he always is, but I can't believe how incredibly lucky I got.
"Good night, Marísol." He kissed her lightly on the forehead and the lips, and then once more on her tummy.
"Good night, Horatio." As he turned out the bed-side lamp, her whole face beamed with pure happiness, which radiated over into him. Underneath the thin covers, they fell asleep peacefully within each others arms.
Neither had the foreknowledge of what the following day's events would bring.
A/N: Alrightie, I made myself hungry writing the last section. LOL. --grabs some chocolate-- Okie, I'm good. XD …So lemme know your thoughts… XD