CSI Miami Fan Fiction "Raymond's Christmas Carol" (Fanfic format)

Chapter 12-"Joy in Miami"

After emergency surgery, Albert Engleberg was placed in the psychiatric ward for observation. He did physically recover enough to attend a court evaluation hearing. He was ordered to be held at a nearby psychiatric facility for further evaluation. All four of the adult Grahams were at the hearing, as were Eric, Calleigh, and Horatio. Engleberg asked for Duncan all through the proceeding, even pleading with "Irene" not to send him away as he was being led from the courtroom. All Eric could do for a stunned Calleigh was to give her a long, comforting hug afterward.
Engleberg's employer, WTLK-AM, simply announced that Albert Engleberg was on an extended-medical leave with an undisclosed ailment-and an unknown date of return.
For Duncan, the awful nightmare that he had been carrying around for two years was now over. He was finally able to tell Horatio, Natalia, Ian, and David about what had happened to his mother, to everyone's relief. When Duncan asked about his father, Horatio simply told the young man that his father needed help and was in a very safe place where he wouldn't be able to hurt himself or anyone else ever again.

Bob Gormanson, for his cooperation in the burglary case and Engleberg's hearing, was given two years' informal probation. Part of the probation terms included 200 hours of community service. He spent that time—and more-helping out at various Safe Haven shelters: doing repair work, helping with the children, or other related activities. Bob found that he really liked working at the shelters, especially repairing things. There was an unintended consequence for the good: Bob's father soon joined his eldest son in helping at the shelters. The team knew that they had finally brought the Graham family some long-delayed closure. Natalia smiled as she placed the file to the evidence storage area. It made everyone on the dayshift feel much better to finally see "solved" stamped across the front of the box after two long years.

Everyone at both the Bobbo's North Shore Store and the South Beach Graham's Goodies were excited—it was December 19th, the day of the big Christmas broadcast! The on-air staff of WBLB-AM was at Bobbo's; their counter-parts from WROK-FM were at the South Beach Graham's. Five police vans—loaded with toys and other gifts-were present. The officers were having as much fun as everyone else as they unloaded the vans. The Safe Haven Fund benefitted greatly from both events. Many Bobbo's and Graham's customers, when they heard about the burglaries through the media, contributed extra money to make up for what had been taken. Contributions were still coming in even as the broadcasts were happening.

Horatio and Marisol were at the South Beach Graham's with Eric and Calleigh. Yelina arrived, looking for Raymond. He had left home early that morning—where had he gone? It didn't take long before Horatio located his nephew with Bob Gormanson, helping some officers unload toys. When he and Yelina saw this, she told Horatio, "It's as if Raymond has become a completely different person lately—I don't know what happened." Both saw the young men often as they unloaded toys and helped out in various ways during the whole event.
Yelina smiled as she watched her son—Raymond seemed to have shaken off whatever had been bothering him. She had heard about what happened to Bob Gormanson; Yelina no longer objected to Raymond's being around Bob again. As Eric, Calleigh, and Marisol saw Raymond at various times during the event, they also saw a changed Raymond. The family group told Raymond how proud they were of him after the event when they all arrived at Yelina's house.

Yelina awoke to quite a surprise the next morning. A single red just-opening rosebud, still damp with the morning's dew, was in a beautiful crystal vase on her dresser. Raymond didn't know anything about the little gift; neither did Horatio.

Raymond also found that that something had also been left for him. Two realistic little toy motorcycles—one black, one blue—sat upright on his desk, along with a picture of Raymond and his parents leaning against his books. Raymond wondered what this could have meant. Was it a trick of the light, Raymond thought as he looked closer at the picture….or was there something that brought a sparkle of life to his father's eyes?
Then Raymond slowly understood: the three items were reminders of what should be important to him, of what he had—and nearly lost. He gently rearranged the three items, placing the picture on a corner of the desk and carefully putting the bikes in front, the front wheels facing each other. Then he was on his way again, grabbing a couple of granola bars and leaving a note for his mother before he left: "Something to do with Bob at the lab—will be back later."

December 20th was a special day at the lab. As some of the personnel would soon be gone for the holiday, there was a little holiday party. Everyone munched on goodies and eggnog and had a good time as Christmas carols played on the overhead speakers.
Alexx, on her way through the lab to deliver a few reports, thought she heard actual singing coming from the reception area. A curious Ryan and an equally-curious Maxine also heard the music and went to find its source. They stopped halfway down the hallway to the reception area when the singing grew closer. Then, to everyone's delight, the joyfully-singing group came into the lab!
A group of cheerful carolers, led by Ian and Rose Graham and composed of some of the Safe Haven residents, were walking through the lab, singing carols as they went. All work temporarily stopped as everyone listened. Then, individually and in little groups, the CSIs and lab personnel began to join in. The now-larger group, loudly singing "Jingle Bells," all eventually surrounded the reception-area Christmas tree.
Horatio looked out over the merry crowd. He soon saw Raymond and Bob with some of the Haven children. Uncle and nephew looked at each other; Raymond, a small child holding each hand, smiled-he was enjoying himself. Bob was holding a wriggling two-year-old boy who wanted down to see "the twee." Horatio's blue eyes misted over, and he smiled as he and Eric made their way over to Raymond. The four of them shared a big hug and Christmas greetings. Horatio and Eric told Raymond and Bob how proud they were of both of them.
Then the carolers were off again to serenade another part of the department. Eric couldn't help but notice the huge smile on his brother-in-law's face as the carolers left. "Looks like Raymond's found his purpose," Eric happily noted.
"Yes, Eric," Horatio smiled as he finished his eggnog. "It looks like he has, indeed." They weren't the only ones who noticed.
Unseen by anyone, Ray Sr. was leaning against a wall near the door. He had seen what had been happening since his visit; he smiled and watched as Raymond walked past. The only thing that he really wished for now was to be able to tell his son how proud he was of him.