CSI:Miami

Season 11

Episode 19

Austin looked up at the living room clock as his father descended the stairs with his mother's breakfast tray. "Dad, is Mom almost ready? We're gonna be late for school!"

"We've got enough time, Son. She's just finishing up her shower, and it shouldn't take her long to dress. She was just a little tired this morning."

"Do the twins make her tired?" Patty looked up from the cartoons and frowned at her father.

"Yes, they do, but she worked very hard yesterday." He looked up and smiled as Calleigh made her way down the stairs.

"Mom, don't work so hard today. You need to be careful."

She smiled at her son. "Don't you sound like your father. The two of you are so overprotective!"

"I am, too, Mommy! Look!" She held up a baggie filled with fruit. "I made you snacks for today so the twins wouldn't get hungry."

Calleigh leaned down and hugged her daughter, and then whispered to her husband, "What the twins really want is Cinnabon."

He laughed and shook his head. "Ready to go, kids?"

The nodded and grabbed the remote, and then ran for the door, backpacks in hand. An hour later, after a stop at Calleigh's favorite pastry shop, they pulled up in front of the lab. "If anyone touches my cinnamon rolls, I swear I'll shoot them!" She climbed the steps, cradling the precious pink box, and headed straight for the break room. She pulled one roll out and popped it into the microwave, and then topped it with the extra frosting she had ordered.

Eric stuck his head in and laughed. "Think you have enough frosting, Calleigh?"

"It's cream cheese frosting, it's got protein in it, so it's good for the twins."

"Protein, right. That's a good one." He laughed as she took a sip of her decaffienated coffee and made a face.

"Leave her alone, Eric. She had to give up regular coffee, she needs something to replace that. Her doctor said as long as she didn't overdo it, sweets were OK."

"Yeah, and they aren't for me. The twins wanted them. I got one for each of them."

"She said that about her pancakes this morning, too. Patty was on the right track, she bagged up some fruit for snacks."

"The twins don't crave fruit, they crave carbs. I'll eat the fruit, though. It'll taste great once I chill it." She licked her fingers and then went to the sink to wash the remaining frosting off her hands. "OK, off to work. I'm still working on those bullets from yesterday."

"Oh, H, that's what I stopped to tell you. I had patrol pick up Memmo's brother. He should be here any time. I thought you'd want to be there when we questioned him."

"You're right, I do. Thanks for handling that for me."

Calleigh moved past her husband, squeezing his hand as she went by. "I'll be in my lab if you need to talk afterward." He nodded and kissed her cheek. "Don't lose your cool, Handsome. We don't want to blow this case on a technicality."

His lips brushed her hair, and she heard him whisper, "I love you." He disappeared down the corridor with Eric.

"I love you, too."

"Talking to yourself, Calleigh?" Natalia suddenly appeared behind her. "Wow, what smells so good in there?" She nodded towards the break room.

"Cinnabon. The twins have been craving the cinnamon rolls with extra frosting. I'm going to be as big as a house."

"Not you. You never gain any weight! Hey, did you hear they brought Memmo's brother in for questioning?"

"Yeah, Horatio and Eric are in with him right now. I wish I could be in there, but my dear husband has made it clear that I have no suspect contact, so, it's off to my lab to work on the ballistics evidence they need."

"I'll go listen from the outside of the interrogation room and let you know what's going on. It's only fair that you get to know, since you're the one that found all the evidence."

"Thanks, I'll see you later." She headed towards her lab, while Natalia headed to the interrogation cells.

Memmo's brother looked nothing like him. Clean cut, no tattoos, and well dressed. He looked genuinely surprised about his nephew's behavior.

"They stay with me from time to time, but they live with my ex sister in law. She allows them to visit when they aren't in school".

"Do you have any idea how they got their father's weapons?"

"Not from me. I don't even own a handgun. You should talk to their mother."

"We don't have any information on her, would you be willing to give us her address so we can notify her of the boys' deaths?"

"Absolutely. She's going to be devastated. She's worked so hard to keep them out of their father's life." Horatio passed a piece of paper and a pen across the table and he wrote out the information. "This is her home address, and this is her work address and phone number, and this is her cell number."

Horatio retrieved the paper and stood. "I hate to ask this, but could you please make a formal identification of the boys? We had to use their fingerprints. I have to warn you, they're in pretty bad shape."

"Well, then, I'd better be the one to identify them. I'd hate for their mother to see them like that."

"Follow us." Horatio and Eric led Mr. Fiero to the morgue for the identification. Tom pulled back each sheet and he simply nodded. "Can I see the guns?"

"No, they are being used in the investigation. One of the weapons was used in a murder five years ago by the boys' father."

"The murder he's in prison for right now?"

"Yes, we'd never been able to match the bullet before, but there's new technology that enabled us to match that projectile with the weapons we recovered at the scene. We've already spoken to your brother. Fortunately, he's been very cooperative."

"I don't know why he turned out the way he did. We were both raised by the same parents."

"It happens more than people realize. Let me walk you out, and we'll get on with the notifications."

"Got to be the worst part of your job, huh?"

"Especially when children are involved." They showed the man to the door, and then climbed into the Hummer to meet up with the boys' mother. Horatio picked up his phone and dialed Calleigh, letting her know he'd be out for a bit. "I'll be back in time to take you to lunch, I really need a break."

"I'll be ready, Handsome. I love you."

"I love you, too."

When Horatio returned to the lab he was totally drained. He went directly to the ballistics lab. "How do you feel about taking the rest of the day off?"

"I think I've gotten enough work done on these guns. I am pretty tired."

"Good. It's settled then. I've called the school and the bus will bring the kids to the house, and I have a surprise waiting for you."

"I don't think I'm up to many more surprises, Horatio."

"This one you'll like. Get your lab squared away, and call me when you're ready to leave. We'll pick up some lunch on the way home."

"Sounds great. Thanks. I've been on my feet all day and the twins are NOT happy about it."

He kissed her softly and rubbed her abdomen. "You two behave for Mommie. I have a couple of phone calls to make, I should be done when you're ready to go."

She smiled as she watched him make his way up the stairs to his office, and then frowned as one of the twins kicked. "Horatio Junior, I know that was you. Did you hear your daddy? He told you to behave." She smiled again and rubbed her abdomen, and Horatio kicked again. They were getting more and more active. She cleaned her lab and locked the gun locker. Horatio was still in his office. She made her way to the lounge to put her feet up before she called him. Just as her feet hit the sofa, her phone rang. "I was just going to call you."

"Where are you? I'm in ballistics."

"The lounge with my feet up. Are you going to bring me my surprise now?"

"You don't get it until we get home. I'll be right there."

"We'll be waiting." She hung up and put her arm over her eyes. She was exhausted, but never would admit that to her over-protective husband.

"Ready, Sweetheart?"

"That was fast. Yes, we're ready,"

The entire ride home, Calleigh begged her husband to tell her about her surprise, but he wouldn't even offer a hint. She looked at him as they pulled in the driveway. "We've got company. Please tell me that isn't the surprise, Horatio?"

"We don't have company, Sweetheart." He helped her out of the Hummer and produced a key ring. "This is your new car. It has a very high safety rating, and all the family amenities."

"Family amenities?"

The seats have theater systems built in for the children. I had them put in all four back seats for when the twins are older. This IS the car you wanted, isn't it?"

"The Infinity JX35. Yes, it's the one I wanted, and I love the color. It'll be great for going to Louisiana."

"That was my thinking. The movies will keep the kids occupied."

"I can't wait to drive it, but, honestly, I'm just too tired right now."

"Then let's get you inside and get those feet propped up, and I'll make you some lunch."