Authors Note: I felt it was important to bring Lindsey into the story as she is after all Catherine's daughter, hope the two of them are in character.
Chapter 3. First meeting.
Calleigh was watching how Greg was twirling Natalia, and then pulling her close moving to the tunes from the radio in the DNA lab. She was giggling happily. They made a really good couple.
They had now been together for almost six months and saw each other as much as it let itself do. The same of course went for herself and Catherine. The older lady was coming over with Lindsey in about an hour. The twenty year old girl had not yet met Calleigh spite the fact the fact that they had been going out for almost as long as Natalia and Greg. The reason for this was that Lindsey mostly lived at the school and was seldom at home the few times Calleigh had been there.
It had been hard coming back to Miami after the week in Vegas and Eric and Calleigh had had a dozen fights at least after that. He had been hurt and upset with her and for good reason and she had tried her best to fix things with him, as she hated when they were not at talking terms. In time they had however settled their differences and managed to remain friends and coworkers.
Now the blonde was walking nervously up and down the hallways of the crime lab. She never once considered having a child, not that she ever minded that Catherine had a daughter. Still seeing her for the very first time was defiantly freaking her out.
As she walked into DNA to hand something to Natalia, she was nervously biting her lower lip. Natalia and Greg that had gotten aware of her presence stopped dancing, and turned the music down. The brunette looked at her friend saying, "It will be okay, she'll love you I'm sure."
"I don't know, I mean not only am I someone her mother can consider a future with, I might even become her step-mother if things work out. And if she doesn't like me…" the blonde said with a heavy sigh.
"Will you stop worrying so much, I agree with Natalia, she'll love you," said Greg in a soft tone.
"I don't know, maybe I should have gotten her something considering it's her first time here and all," said Calleigh.
"You seriously need to calm down," said Greg, giving her a warm smile.
Calleigh let out an annoyed huff as she wandered down the hall towards the elevator, when she decided on the stairs instead.
Natalia looked at Greg asking, "Should she be worried, all things considered it's the first time they meet."
"I know Lindsey can be a handful even for her mother, but I honestly don't think she has anything to worry about," he said, giving his woman a kiss.
"Lindsey, would you put that aside," said Catherine, nodding towards her IPhone, she had been occupied by it ever since she got off the plane. Lindsey took the earphones out, rolled them around her phone and put it in her pocket saying, "Happy?"
"Thrilled, will you try to behave?" Catherine asked, looking at her with pleading eyes.
"Don't I always?" said Lindsey with a sigh.
"Don't get smart with me," said Catherine in a warning tone.
"I'll try to be nice to this woman of yours," said Lindsey as she slowly got out of the car. Catherine had just parked outside the Miami Dade Crime lab; she took a deep breath and got out herself.
Lindsey looked at the huge building in front of them and whistled saying, "You should really get a lab like this, this building and the location is just cool."
"Well I would if I could and if I could afford it," said Catherine as the money had been a little tight lately when it came to the crime lab.
"I don't know, I kind of like the lab as it is, but you could get updates computer wise and such," said Lindsey after thinking for a second.
"I actually should," Catherine admitted, knowing her daughter was right.
"So she's in right?" said Lindsey as they neared the entrance.
"Should be, I'll check with the receptionist when we get there just in case," said Catherine.
"I know it's probably too soon to ask you this, but are you guys planning on getting married and settling together?" Lindsey asked, she needed to know where this was going.
"You are right as we haven't yet discussed that, but I do wish to do that," said Catherine with a dreamy smile.
"You're not planning on more children?" Lindsey's voice sounded insecure.
"I'm afraid I'm too old for that, and I can't picture that…" Catherine stopped as the elevator doors opened.
"But if she did wanto the possibility is there right?" asked Lindsey.
"Yes, but why are you asking me all this?" Catherine asked.
"I…I don't know, just always wanted a sibling I guess," she shrugged.
Catherine nodded as they walked over to the reception and asked, "Is Calleigh here?"
"Mrs. Willows, you're back, last I saw she was headed down for firearms and as I haven't heard anything else she should be there," said Paula and smiled at Catherine.
"Thank you, do we need access passes to get down there?" Catherine asked.
"You can borrow a guest pass if you plan to stay long," Paula answered.
"That would be great," said Catherine honestly, making Paula start on filling out what she needed for that. She carefully gazed over at Lindsey that was looking around in the lab with curious eyes.
"Catherine," she heard a familiar velvet rumble said.
"Horatio, it's been too long," said Catherine, turning to hug the older male that had walked up behind them. She hadn't gotten to see him last she was there.
"And you must be Lindsey, I've heard about you," said the old redhead, looking at the younger female.
"Only good I hope," said Lindsey, shaking his hand.
"Yes, so are you staying long?" he asked.
"We haven't decided yet," Catherine answered.
"You're the boss of this?" Lindsey asked him.
"I am along with Calleigh yet, she's my co-supervisor," he answered her.
"Cool, can we look around after we seen her?" Lindsey said, looking at her mother with pleading eyes.
"Of course, we'll find you after we've been downstairs," said Catherine, nodding at the redhead that nodded back before they walked back to the elevator.
"How old is he?" Lindsey asked a moment later.
"A little older than I am why?" Catherine asked back.
"Just thinking you could have hooked up with him over Calleigh," said Lindsey.
"He's already taken, he got back together with his ex and the mother of his son," said Catherine.
"He got a son?" Lindsey questioned.
"Same age as you," said Catherine, but quickly added, "Don't even think about it."
"I'm not, so where is this woman of yours?" asked Lindsey as the elevator doors opened. With great curiosity the young woman looked around on the basement of the crime lab, which would hold a morgue, and the firearms lab and also some storage room. Being halfway raised at a crime lab herself she found it interesting to see the difference between this and the one at home. She glanced in through the windows at the morgue finding it there like home it was a man in charge. She opened a door next to it finding a little wardrobe and a toilet, on the other side a storage room. Catherine didn't say anything she just let her girl explore like she used to do when she was only a child.
The last place they came to was Calleigh's beloved lab. Catherine had been there a couple of times before over the months they had been a couple. She slowly opened the door and peered inside to eye Calleigh bent over a microscope, looking at a bullet, noting something down on a paper.
Lindsey standing a step behind her mother seeing the couple together for the first time saw something she hadn't seen in the longest time. Seeing how her mother looked at this woman, she saw love, deep, meaning filled love. A tear started to find its way down her cheek, Lindsey assumed from happiness.
Catherine that realized that she should introduce her daughter and also say hello to her girl slowly walked forward and wrapped her arms around Calleigh from behind and kissed the top of her head whispering, "Hey sweetheart."
Calleigh that had been too occupied by her work to notice them coming in startled, before turning her chair and pulling Catherine in for a kiss before whispering, "I'm glad you are here."
Lindsey, still standing by the door wrinkled her nose a little. Calleigh aware of the young woman's presence turned to look at her saying, "You must be Lindsey."
"I am," she answered, looking the blonde up and down, she was wearing a black suit with a light blue shirt under the jacket.
"So we finally meet, did you have a nice flight here, are you hungry or thirsty?" Calleigh asked her polite.
"Yes, it was okay I suppose, I'm a bit hungry as plane food sucks," Lindsey said, rolling her blue eyes lightly.
"Tell me about it, well I'm about done here, so I'll take you both out to eat, you'll chose the place," she said to Lindsey.
"I can choose anywhere?" she asked, wide eyes.
"Anywhere you wish, money will never be a problem for me," said Calleigh, like Catherine she was pretty wealthy.
"Cool," said Lindsey excitedly, hurrying towards the elevator. As Catherine and Calleigh followed, Catherine turned to her and whispered, "You know she have expensive taster right?"
"Like her mother then, not that I mind either," said Calleigh with a smile, pulling the older woman into the elevator.
It was the same evening that Natalia and Greg were sitting wrapped up in each other on her place. His arm around her shoulder, her eyes lazily closed as they were watching TV. She was tired from work, from not being to see the man she loved whenever she wanted like normal couple.
She sighed snuggling up to him even closer, wondering if it was better to end it, but she couldn't do that as she wanted to be with him. In the distance she could even picture a future with him.
"Easy babe, it will be alright," he said in a calm tone, gently stroking her. Natalia chose to believe him as she closed her eyes and slowly drifted off, safely protected by his arms.
In another home in Miami two women were curled up in bed, naked, gently caressing each other. They had considered going further, but they didn't feel right about it with Lindsey in the house. They did however need some privacy after not having been together for about four months. Both had been too busy working.
Calleigh looked deeply into Catherine's blue depts. asking, "So how long are you staying?"
"How does forever sound?" asked Catherine, gently stroking her cheek.
"Are you being serious, what about work and Lindsey?" asked Calleigh, looking at her mistress in disbelief.
"I could always transfer labs and think we both could use some change of scenery," said Catherine with a smile.
"You're really serious about this aren't you?" asked the blonde.
"I am yes as I hate being apart from you," said Catherine honestly.
"And I you, so are you thinking about getting your own place or move in here?" Calleigh wanted to know.
"I have to debate that with Lindsey, but I think it would be more convenient to live with you," said Catherine.
"I understand and you are both welcome here," said Calleigh, just as there was a knock on the door.
Calleigh reached for a top close by and pulled it on before saying, "Come in."
Lindsey entered, frowning a bit over the two women that seemed to be half-naked, before saying, "I was wondering if it was okay if I went out if I wasn't too late."
"Where exactly would you be going?" Calleigh asked, before Catherine had time to say anything.
"There is this movie I wanted to see, starts in like thirty minutes and thought I look at the nightlife, I won't go anywhere, and my fake ID days are over. Plus I thought you could use some privacy," said Lindsey, looking at them with pleading eyes.
Calleigh nodded saying, "You can take my car, no scratches or accidents, no drinking or boys in any way. Be back as soon as the movie is over."
"Of course, and thanks, do you have a spare house key?" she asked.
"Top drawer in the dresser in the hallway, call if you get later than planned," said Calleigh.
"I will, and thank you, I'll be careful with the car," she said and beamed at Calleigh.
The blonde nodded and the young woman was about to leave when she turned to face them again, nervously biting her lip. The two women looked at her with questioning eyes and Catherine asked, "Something wrong, butterfly?"
"No, it's just we've never meet and you are treating me as I was yours, I really appreciate that," she said, nodding towards Calleigh.
"What did you expect, a bad stepmother," said Calleigh with a slight giggle.
"I don't know really, I have to go," said Lindsey with a sigh, leaving them.
"If I hadn't known any better I would say she was about to say that she loved you," said Catherine with a smile.
"Not possible, I haven't known her for that long, so will you talk to her about moving in tomorrow?" asked Calleigh.
"I will, now that we are planning to take our relationship to the next level and move in together, there is a matter Lindsey brought to my attention we should discuss," said Catherine, thinking about what Lindsey had said earlier about wanting siblings.
"Which is what, who's gonna pay for her expensive lifestyle and gadgets?" asked Calleigh, she had noticed that not only had Lindsey got the IPhone, she also had the IPad and her clothes was not cheap ones.
"Cute and no, she does work to afford some of her stuff and I have that covered. Either way she was wondering if we were planning to marry and have more children. I am of course too old, but you…Have you even given the matter some thought?" asked Catherine.
"Wow, wow, wow, and hold your horses. We just agreed on moving in together, and now you want children. This is too fast; I mean we already have a daughter, a wonderful one. Well she's not rightly mine yet, but…To be perfectly honest I haven't thought that much about it, considering the hours we work and all it's hard to raise one. I know you did it, but…Can't we just settle for what we have right now, and if the opportunity comes we'll take it. I'm not saying no," said Calleigh, looking at Catherine with tender eyes.
"I can settle for that for now," said Catherine, bending in to kiss her mistress very gently, wondering what her daughter would say when she brought up the subject of moving in there. Not that she had to follow; she was after all an adult and did what she pleased. Still her opinion mattered to Catherine. She however didn't have time to dwell on that as Calleigh was in a playful mood and as was she.
Lindsey came back a little after midnight. She parked Calleigh's light blue car in the garage and went into the house via it. She made sure to close the garage door behind her and wend into the kitchen that was the next room, making herself a glass of apple juice and some leftover Chinese food. Probably from sometime before they got there. Didn't taste too bad. She then walked over to living room, finding a worn-out gun magazine. She figured why not, if this woman was going to be her stepmother she could at least try to get what she was about. She grabbed the gun magazine and a number of Glamour magazine that was close buy, before walking upstairs.
She put the Chinese food and the magazine in her room and walked across the hallway to say goodnight to her mother and Calleigh. She knocked gently on the door, silence. She slowly opened only to find them asleep. Calleigh's head resting on the strawberry blonde's bare bosom. Her blonde hair spreading covering most of it.
Lindsey stood for a moment watching them, they both looked so peaceful and happy, making her think that maybe it wasn't such a bad idea that the blonde had come into their lives. She smiled at them whispering, "I love you both."
Then she walked back into her room to read and eat what was left of the leftovers.
Feedback alway welcome and very much appreciated :o)