A/N: THANK YOU to all of the readers for great reviews of my story as I hope it provided some entertainment for your reading pleasure!
Changes
Horatio arrived at the lab early the next morning and as he went to the break room to start a pot of coffee, his mind was in conflict with his heart. Since he had made the decision to retire, there had been an internal battle between his feelings for his family and those of his strong desire to wipe as many criminals off the streets of Miami as he possibly could. In the past, he never really thought about the dangers he faced, but now, now he was very concerned since it would affect the woman and children he loved dearly.
As he went through the motions of making coffee, one thing he desired most now is for Calleigh not to have to work at all. He chuckled as he thought that might not go over real well with her. He would love nothing better than for her to be a stay at home mom, providing love and support for their children full time and it would be nice for him to be able to come home to a wife and family waiting to enjoy a homemade meal together. While he was growing up, the fact that his mother stayed home for him and his brother was the only stability he could depend on. They at least could count on one loving parent at home. He always dreaded his father coming home with his antagonism and hatred toward the family he was supposed to love. He swore to himself long ago that if he ever had a family of his own, he would make sure he never did anything to make them dread him coming home at the end of the day.
"Good morning H," Eric said with some relief reflected in his voice, "I'm not really surprised to see you back at work this morning!"
Horatio glanced up from his cup and slightly smiled, "Eric…seems ages since I was here last."
Eric shook his head slightly and smiled as he began making his own coffee…a stronger blend of Cuban.
"Man, I can't tell you how we have missed you being here…me especially, since I have had to take over your duties."
"Thanks for covering for me Eric. I would appreciate you handling any call outs this morning, I have a meeting with the chief at 8, but I shouldn't be longer than an hour."
"Sure H," Eric said as he wondered what this meeting was about.
"Calleigh and the children are coming by later this morning, if you are in the lab, I know they would like to see you and the rest of the team," Horatio said as he stood to leave.
"Great, I'd love to see them."
Eric really wondered then what was going on as he knew Calleigh had already begun her leave of absence.
Horatio met Walter and Natalia coming into the break room as he headed out and stopped and shared 'good mornings' with them.
Natalia walked over to Eric and commented, "Horatio looks to have lost some weight from his ordeal, and looks somewhat still stressed. You think he's ok?"
Eric replied wistfully, "Yeah…he seems to have a lot on his mind."
Horatio retreated to his office with his cup of coffee and read over his letter of retirement again, just to make sure it covered everything. He then pulled out Calleigh's letter of retirement that she gave him to sign and pass on to the chief, he smiled as he thought he would never see the day she would relinquish her control over the ballistics lab.
She was going to start checking to see if a part-time position was open at the Training Institute beginning after summer was over as she did not want full-time right now. He knew if that was what she wanted, she would make the best forensic instructor they'd ever had in the place.
Glancing at the clock it read 7:50…by the time he arrived upstairs at the chief's office, he would be right on time if he left now. He took the elevator, with their letters in hand, and hesitated as he reached the chief's door, after a moment he turned the knob giving him access to the secretary's office.
"Lieutenant Caine," Shirley greeted him, "so nice to have you back…how's Calleigh and your children?"
"Thanks Shirley, everyone is fine."
"That's good go on in, he is expecting you."
Horatio entered the office and walked across to greet his superior.
"Lieutenant so good to see you…what may I help you with today?" the chief asked after shaking hands.
Forty minutes later, Horatio walked out of the chief's office overwhelmed. His mind covering all that the chief informed him about. His CSI team was going to be moved to a central location to an area north of downtown Miami, and consolidated with local, state and federal forensics experts under the auspices of the Forensics Services Bureau consisting of 62 scientists and support staff. The process of change had already begun and the chief wanted Horatio to meet with his team and give them the option of being field officers or strictly analysts. Those that opted for the lab could still keep their police certification, but they would no longer go to crime scenes, everything would be brought in by skilled officers in the field to the Bureau to be analyzed, thereby eliminating the danger to the team. The chief sited budget constraints and the fact that there were over 1,700 submissions per month coming into the lab.
The information that shocked him the most was the offer the chief made to him and Calleigh personally. Refusing to accept the letters of retirement until they talked everything over together, including his offer of establishing an in-house children's after-school center where employee's children could be supervised and given a place to finish school work before going home with the parents. It would also include an outside area for exercise and play.
As Horatio walked off the elevator deep in thought, he did not notice Eric's approach telling him they just got a call out to a DB if he wanted to go along.
"H…you ok?" Eric asked as Horatio didn't even acknowledge what he just said.
Horatio then realized Eric asked him about something and he looked up and began to stammer, "Uh, sorry…Eric, what did you ask me?"
"We just got a call out to a DB, I asked if you wanted to go?" Eric wondered if it was wise for Horatio to go since it seemed his concentration was off.
Horatio quickly gathered his wits and answered, "I definitely do want to go, Eric…ride with me?"
"Sure," Eric answered as they headed for the front exit, I think I had better ride with him considering his lack of attention. I wonder if H has been cleared for field work.
Arriving at the scene, they found a young girl's body that had been washed up on the beach and called in by a young couple who had gone to the isolated location to get away from the crowds.
Tom, the M.E. arrived shortly after the team got there and he began examining the remains.
After a few minutes, Horatio walked over to him and asked, "Know anything yet Tom?"
"I can tell you for sure that she was not killed here, more than likely the tide brought her in, as you can see she is fully clothed so my hunch is she fell off a boat and the currents finally brought to this beach. She has been in the water probably no more than 4 days at the most, but I'll be able to tell you more after I get her on the table and put her dental records in the system."
Tom glanced up at Horatio and added, "By the way…good to have you back Lieutenant."
"Good to be back, Tom. Let me know when you get the results." Horatio requested as he slipped on his sunglasses before walking over to where Ryan was examining the scene.
Natalia had finished collecting her DNA samples and had left the scene for the lab.
Eric was still interviewing the young couple a few yards away.
"Find any evidence Mr. Wolfe?" Horatio asked softly as he took his usual sideways stance, one hand on his badge and one on his weapon.
Ryan began, "Of course as you know, most of the evidence has been compromised due to the salt water, but Natalia found this locket around the victim's neck when she was collecting DNA. It has an engraving on the back, "All my Love Derek, April 4, 2011."
"Very good, Mr. Wolfe, take it back to trace and see what you come up with."
Horatio and Eric headed back to the lab as it was approaching lunchtime and as they entered the building, Paula gave Horatio his messages; also informing him Calleigh and the children were waiting in his office.
Eric said, "Guess I'll miss seeing the family H. I know you guys are going to get lunch so, maybe next time. Tell them 'hello' for me."
"They will probably come back to the lab with me Eric…um…I need to call a staff meeting at 2 this afternoon if everyone will be here."
"Sure H, I'll tell the rest of the team." Eric began wondering what the meeting was about.
Horatio entered his office and received a warm welcome. "Hi Daddy," Austin and Patty said in unison as they looked up from their game. Horatio walked over and kissed each one on their head as he didn't want to disturb their concentration.
"Hi Handsome, Paula told me you went on a callout…getting back into the thick of things right off I see."
"Trying Sweetheart," Horatio answered with a grin as he wrapped his arms around her.
"How did the meeting go this morning? Do I need to go talk to the chief too?" Calleigh asked with curiosity.
Horatio looked down and then looked into her green eyes and said, "We need to talk about it after lunch Cal." Horatio answered as he noticed the concerned look Calleigh shot him. You're not going to believe it Sweetheart, Horatio thought as he managed a smile.
"How about lunch," Horatio asked out loud.
"Yeah…I'm hungry," Austin responded, followed by Patty.
Horatio chuckled and said, "As often as they're hungry, you'd think we never fed them!"
Calleigh laughed with him as she kept her arm wrapped around his waist and watched their children jump up and begin to put their game away.
Horatio drove them to a beachside café where they could get a quick lunch and afterward let the children play on the beach as he and Calleigh discussed the chief's offer.
"Horatio…you were offered the rank of CAPTAIN!" Calleigh was thrilled as she said the words. "You know Handsome, ever since you mentioned retirement to me I knew in your heart it would be hard for you to accept no longer being in law enforcement, and to tell you the truth, I didn't think it was the time."
Horatio began to speak, but Calleigh held up her hand to stop him, "Horatio, I know you are concerned about our safety, but you know enemies will always be out there…nothing will change that whether you retire or not. If you accept this position, you will still be on the force, but in more of an administrative position. With the lab's role changing, it will be even better. I think you ought to do it, and when the time comes that is right for retirement you will have better benefits."
"Cal…he offered for you to work part-time when you are ready to go back to work, regardless of how much time you need off with the baby, AND at the rank of Lieutenant over the forensic identification section! With the stipulation that down the road you could go back to full-time if you wanted to."
Calleigh's hand flew to her mouth in shock, "He…he did? Oh my stars!"
Horatio smiled, "He did. He said he did not want to lose your ballistic expertise and that the lab would struggle along until you returned. Also, the lab will have an in-house, supervised after school program set up for employee's children, complete with exercise and play area. Oh by the way, on my recommendation, Eric is going to be promoted to Lieutenant over the analytical section of the lab."
Calleigh threw her arms around Horatio's neck and hugged him then pulled back and looked into his smiling blue eyes as he softly said, "Lieutenant Caine, hmm that's going to take some getting used to," and then he tenderly kissed her.
As they sat and watched their children play, and looked forward to Calleigh's checkup in two days, he felt he had the best of both worlds…a loving wife and family and still be able to help his beloved City of Miami eliminate the criminal element that seemed to be increasing drastically on a daily basis.
The End!