I'm starting to think "if you can't say something nice" policy is going on with this story! :(

On-the-Job Horror

A jealous, violent man, a wrong number with a seductive message had resulted in a dead expectant mom. Horatio hated to put Ryan through this scene but he was only other CSI available. He was glad that at least Walter was able to be there. Anyone who had a soul would traumatized by what they saw but at least Walter wasn't married with a baby on the way. Caroline Waterman was married and expecting her first baby, a boy, ironically to named Ryan. Her husband, Elliot was a jealous, violent man. A man had dialled the home's number and left a seductive message meant for his girlfriend, on the answering message. Caroline couldn't convince Elliot it was a wrong number, the message wasn't for her and she wasn't cheating him. Elliot punched his wife in the face, breaking her nose and knocking her unconscious before picking her up and throwing her body over the stairs. The woman died from a broken neck in seconds.

The man first said his wife's death was an accident, she was on the top of the stairs, lost her balance and fall. There was something about the man's demeanor made Horatio and the others disbelieve him. It was apparent the man, underneath his exterior he was ready to explode with rage. Besides this, plus the fact his wife's nose was bleeding, moved to the side of her face, the woman was dead at least six hours. The man was immediately taken into custody. It didn't take long for the man to break down and confess.

And blame his wife for her own death.

He told Eric and Horatio about the message on the machine. Walter had already found the message. He had tracked down the number and he and Ryan were on their way to talk to the caller, a man named Jayson. Jayson had only realized that he had made a one-digit misdial after hanging up. He hoped the mistake would just be embarrassing and was horrified to hear the call may have caused not one, but two murders. Under Florida law, Caroline's baby was considered a victim since the baby could now survive outside the womb if born. Ryan called Horatio in interrogation and let him know what they had found out.

Elliot raged about the phone call, calling his wife a "whore." Previously he told Horatio that Caroline was "stupid" and "useless." No matter he did, Elliot said, he couldn't "smarten her up". He killed her because he was adamant she was cheating. As for the baby, he "didn't want it anyway." He was "glad it went away with her." There had been virtually no chance of saving the baby. After a pregnant woman dies, her baby has only moments to live. When police and paramedics arrived, the woman's body was already cold.

Eric informed the man the phone call he was referring to was indeed a mistake, but mistake or not, he had no right to murder his wife and now he would have to face the consequences.

"You okay, baby?" Alexx asked Ryan gently when he and Walter returned to the scene and continued processing.

The victim's body had already been removed and was on the way to the morgue.

Ryan sucked in his breath and nodded. This was part of the job and he had to suck it up. He couldn't avoid certain things because of marriage and impending fatherhood. He hoped he could make the world even a bit of a better place for his daughter.

The other expectant father at the lab, Eric, was surprised at how much he was able to control himself in the interrogation room. Inside he had wanted to crack the man's skull.

"You did well, Eric," Horatio complimented the younger man.

"Thanks, H."

Horatio steadfastly refused to allow either Eric or Ryan to view the autopsy of Caroline Waterman. He would do so himself. It would involve the removal of her newborn son from her womb. Neither CSI had to see this at this point in his life. The lieutenant believed that both deserved to witness the miracle of birth before having to see something like this. Ryan was relieved not to view the post-mortem, he could imagine Eric was as well. Ryan didn't argue when Horatio told him to go home before five p.m.. Always happy to go home to his wife, getting there early after a rough day was going to feel great. He smiled to himself, the image of his wife and her very pregnant belly entering his mind. Emily strongly disagreed, but her husband thought she was the beautiful sight. He thought it was cute that she had taken to wearing his shirts when she were just relaxing at home. Emily seldom watched the news, it all being for a most part depressing. But she could tell every time her husband had witnessed something more traumatic than usual. And she had heard something about the murder of a pregnant woman in the county by her husband. If her husband attended the crime scene she wouldn't have been surprised. Not that she intended to ask him.

"Hey babe," Ryan smiled, entering the living room of their home, seeing her with her feet up in his recliner.

Emily's job had her on desk duty now, handling responsibilities like photo shop products. Part of her was grateful to be off her feet and in the air-conditioning all day at this point in her pregnancy but she was also starting to get bored.

"Hey," she said, leaning into him as he kissed her head. Sensing his mood, Emily got out of the chair, stood up and gave her husband a hug. Ryan didn't resist. It was what he needed.

Badly.

Mood swings, pregnancy cravings and all he adored this woman and the baby she carried.

In her journal of letters to her baby daughter that night Emily wrote:

Dear Bella.

I didn't ask him and it's not like he could really tell me, confidentiality rules and all that, nut I think your daddy saw something really bad. Not that anything he ever sees at work is ever"good," I guess I mean whatever he saw today got to him more than usual. You know that though because of all the extra kisses he gave you tonight. Chances are it's what mommy caught glimpse of on the news today.

Your dad's a very strong person, as is everyone he works with. I'd never be able to do his job. Well sweetheart, mommy's tired. I'm going to turn in for more hugs with daddy.

I love you,

xoxxox

Mommy

Ryan was indeed affected by what he had seen. He was still baffled by how one person could hurt another. He couldn't fathom putting his hands on Emily in a remotely similar fashion. He had no right to; even if you're that angry, you kept your hands to yourself. Everyone on the team had to meet individually with the department therapist tomorrow. He was sure what kind of questions both he, Eric and Calleigh would be getting.

Do you think this case affected you more because of your baby?

Do you think that parenthood is going to affect you ability do the job?, etc,...

I can hardly wait, he thought sarcastically as he fell asleep.