Calleigh pulled the red tape against the opening of the box that held the snipers gun and made sure it was perfectly sealed. She ran her fingertips over it gently, her part was finally done. She took a deep breath and pulled her phone from her pocket, part of her expecting to see a text from Eric on the screen, part of her knowing she wouldn't. All the screen read was the time. Two hours had gone by. She turned back to her work bench and signed her name in delicate cursive at the bottom of her documents regarding her findings from the gun. All confirmed that the bullets had come from the gun, that of which belonged to the shooter. The blonde picked up the box and walked it to the front to have one of the assistance put it away in evidence holding. Calleigh gave an accomplished grin as she walked back to the break room. Coffee. Coffee would be great. She entered the small room only to be greeted by another obstacle.
"Is there something you need help with?" Calleigh asked as she walked by Vega without making any eye contact. Elisia fiddled with her hands and then smoothed them out on her perfectly fitted suit. Calleigh turned back around once she reached the coffee pot, realizing Vega hadn't replied. "Weren't you just leaving?" Calleigh nudged again. This time she came to notice that she had already managed to hide her injuries with makeup. Impressive. She watched as the caramel skin toned woman moved anxiously under pressure.. Really unlike what Calleigh had seen from her before.
"I was looking for Natalia actually.." Vega finally replied. Not aggressive or condescending in any way, regardless of the attitude that Calleigh was shooting her way. Odd. Calleigh looked her over a few times. Maybe she was being harsh. Seemed as though Vega had a rough day.
"She has her hands a little full right now.. I can let her know you came by" Calleigh said softly as she finally began to pour herself a cup of coffee. She paused, taking in the aroma and the steam that came off the cup.
"I just wanted to let her know about a few things regarding the case" Vega spoke now with more assertiveness. Something that caught Calleigh's attention. She turned around, leaned against the counter and looked Vega dead in the eye.
"What information could you possibly have for us, pertaining to the case, that we might need" Calleigh said in attempt to keep her composure. She was trying her best to be civil with this woman since she knew Natalia saw something in her. But for anyone to insinuate that they knew more about the case then they did, the people actually involved, that was insulting.
"The shooter, he's dead. Died in surgery. Probably 30 minutes ago. I had a friend that owed me a favor" Vega explained bluntly. She seemed a little hurt that the blonde in front of her was being so aggressive but could understand. Calleigh froze. They could've really used that testimony. "Let her know I stopped by please" Vega concluded. She pushed her hair over her shoulders and exited the room just as quickly as Calleigh had entered it. Calleigh stood for a moment trying to plot the next move, feeling like they were always taking one step forward and two steps back.
She looked up again when she heard the door open. Ryan entered with a wide smile on his face as he gestured for Calleigh to follow him. She raised an eyebrow and felt a match smile spread across her face, knowing that they had to of found something. After grabbing her coffee off the counter she walked after Ryan, catching a glimpse of Natalia and Horatio heading back down the halls with Vega in tow. Calleigh felt herself roll her eyes involuntarily. She quickly felt a nudge in the shoulder afterwards and looked up to Ryan who had caught it. She couldn't help but smile at the fact that she had been caught in such a childish action. Once they finally reached an empty interrogation room Ryan quickly shut the door. He looked to Calleigh who was back to being stressed. Ryan's smile fell off his face, assuming something was wrong.
"What is it?" He asked simply. Knowing it must be a blow to the case, or something regarding the team. Each were worrying to think about. Calleigh sighed.
"Vega just informed me that our shooter is dead" Calleigh huffed. To her surprise, Ryan only smiled at this news.
"Well, turns out that isn't such a bad thing after all" Ryan said as he laid a series of documents out on the table for Calleigh to feast her eyes on.
"Our shooter had a gun on him, which of course we went through. The last call was from one Elliot Yeager... Sound familiar?" Ryan said with a smirk.
"It can't be.." Calleigh mumbled as she rapidly scanned the files in front of her. "I thought he didn't have any siblings?" Calleigh asked as she picked one paper off the table to study it more closely.
"Cousin! And we currently have an address for him, just waiting for the judge to approve our search warrant and were good to go! This connection is it Calleigh! This alone could be enough to put him away! We just need-"
"Hard evidence" Calleigh finished his sentence with a smile. "This is great" she said quietly under her breath. As if she was scared that if she admitted an actual good thing happening aloud, it might shatter. Ryan place a hand on Calleigh's shoulder.
"We're gonna get him" he whispered by her ear. Calleigh smiled. It was genuine, finally. Real hope. Calleigh nodded as Ryan scooped all his files off the table. "I have to go run something else to trace but I will keep you updated!" He said reassuringly.
"I think I'm gonna stop by the hospital again and let Eric know!" Calleigh decided in the moment. Ryan smiled back at his friend, it was nice seeing her strong and more confident. More like her usual self.
"Keep me updated?" Ryan said as he pointed at Calleigh.
"Keep you updated!" Calleigh said back as she followed him out the door and they went their separate ways.
The second Calleigh got into her Hummer on her own she started to feel like herself again. Driving herself in her own car on her own time. And the news was good! Bryan was still in custody, they had their lead, everything was going to be fine. She drove towards the hospital with a sense of her independence back. For a the first time in the past two weeks she felt okay. She reached the hospital and dialed Horatio from her Hummer, which she parked in the light towards the front of the lot.
"Calleigh?" Horatio answered, a small trace of concern evident but Calleigh chose to ignore it.
"Horatio, I'm at the hospital to check on Eric. I won't be long!" She informed him. Horatio was quiet for a moment.
"We don't have eyes on Elliot yet.. We don't know if he's dangerous" Horatio began. He didn't want to undermine his agent, especially since he knew she was more than capable of handling herself. But she needed to be aware of the risks. Calleigh paused for a moment, she hadn't even thought of that.
"I'll be safe, and quick" Calleigh finally replied back. She couldn't let him on to the fact that she had forgotten.
"Let me know when you're headed back" Horatio said firmly. Calleigh nodded before realizing that Horatio couldn't see through the phone.
"I will!" She finally spoke up.
"And Calleigh, let Eric know I'll check in later" Horatio finished, almost like he didn't want to let her off the phone. Calleigh smiled to herself. She had a great team.
"I'll call you when I leave" Calleigh finished. She heard an audible hum from Horatio and she hung up. She pulled down the sun visor from the Hummer and looked at herself in the mirror. She needed to compose herself at least a little bit. She hadn't even taken a single moment to think about the fact that Elliot could be violent, he could be watching, following her. She felt goosebumps go up her arms and tried to shake them off. She shut the visor and got out of the Hummer, walking with a powerful stance towards the building. She was an officer with the crime labs of Miami. Some of the best in the state. She was a successful and even record setting ballistics expert. She was strong and smart and in charge of this situation. The sound of her heels against the pavement giving her more confidence. She was not scared.
Upon entering the building she was relieved to find that the woman that was there earlier was no longer there. They hadn't exactly left the best impression. Calleigh approached the counter but before she had even reached it, the man had slid a guest pass her way. Seems like her run in earlier must have made a notable impression. Calleigh offered a thankful smile and took the badge and continued her walk back to Eric's room but stopped quickly when she heard his voice talking to someone.
"I know I am..." She heard him said loud and clear. He sounded defeated. Not like what she was used to hearing from him.
"You could have been killed hijo" a woman exclaimed at him. Calleigh knew exactly who the woman was. Calleigh quietly entered the room and watched as the small woman stopped her scolding mid sentence and dropped her arms. "My sons keeper" she said with smile and open arms as she walked towards Calleigh. Calleigh offered one arm to hug back the small woman who of course, was Eric's mother. They had met a few times now, some occasions being in the hospital when she had come to see her injured son. Other times at the lab. Eric's mother pulled away, holding Calleigh by the shoulders and looking at her with her head cocked to the side.
"What is wrong?" She asked suddenly concerned. Calleigh offered her a gentle smile.
"Nothing is wrong, it's just been a long day for us Mrs. Delko" Calleigh lied. She sucked her teeth and looked Calleigh up and down.
"You know I tell you to call me Carmen! And I know that something is wrong here, but I will let it be" the small Cuban woman responded as she turned back to Eric who was now sitting with his head in his hands out of embarrassment for his mother's actions.
Calleigh chuckled a bit before finally going and taking the open seat next to Carmen after she had sat down on the couch by the window of the room.
Carmen looked back and forth between the two with a smirk on her face. Eric shot her a look, almost threatening whatever thoughts she was having. "Ma.." Eric started, urging her not to say anything.
"So when are you two.." Eric's mother started. Calleigh covered her mouth, attempting not to laugh out loud at how blunt she was.
"Ma!" Eric said again. This time as more of a demand. Carmen smiled widely and leaned back in her seat, slightly towards Calleigh.
"You'll tell me, won't you?" Carmen asked quietly. Calleigh looked at Eric for a quick moment who looked furious. Calleigh looked back to Carmen who was waiting for an answer eagerly.
"As soon as I know myself, I promise to let you know" Calleigh said with a sarcastic tone. Part of her southern accent showing through. Carmen pat Calleigh's leg as she laughed and stood.
"I think I've had enough of the two of you today. You watch him for me, he takes more kindly to you I think" she finished as she pinched Eric's cheek. He smiled back at her as he held her hand for a second.
"Love you too" Eric replied sarcastically as his mother leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. She turned around again and blew a kiss to Calleigh, she waved back with a smile glued to her face. Carmen had such a bright energy to her that could light up any room. A trait that she passed on to her son.
Finally when the two of them were alone Eric looked back over to Calleigh. "Sorry about that" he muttered as he ran a hand over his face. Calleigh shook her head and went back to her now fitting spot on the edge of Eric's bed and smiled at him.
"She always has had a way with words" Calleigh laughed as she placed a hand on his.
"You'll let her know huh?" Eric asked her with a devilish smirk, referencing what she had said to his mother earlier. Calleigh felt her cheeks heat up at the comment. Eric squeezed her hand to draw her attention.
"So, when are you going to let her know?" Eric said quietly. Calleigh quickly looked him in the eyes. She knew that they had something and that they were going to talk eventually but she didn't think that it was going to happen now.
"When we get this case closed" she said seriously. Eric nodded and let the smile fall from his face. It was true. This case did need to be closed before they could focus on anything else. She felt horrible when she saw his face drop. She wanted to figure things out as well but they both knew it wasn't realistic. Eric picked up her hand and kissed the top of it.
"So what brings you here then?" Eric finally asked as he turned his head to the side, trying to stretch out a kink. Calleigh sighed as she stood again.
"Long story short, the shooter died in surgery. But his cell phone had calls from Bryan's cousin" Calleigh started.
"That's enough for a warrant" Eric replied as pulled his legs over the side of the bed to sit more formally. Calleigh nodded, agreeing with him.
"Ryan is working on getting the warrant" Calleigh said, trying to sound more chipper. She had been so excited about it all before she took everything into account. Eric immediately saw through her fake emotions. He reached forward and grabbed hold of Calleigh's hands, pulling her closer to him. Eventually the blonde stood between his legs, too close for any of her lies to be even slight effective.
Eric looked at her until she finally looked him in the eyes. He offered her a small smile as he rubbed circles over the tops of her hands with his thumbs. "I promise, this will all be over soon" He said quietly. Calleigh nodded. He was right. They just needed today. Today to get the warrant, seize Elliott's phone, question him, and make an official arrest. Once they had that done they would have eliminated all major threats and could then proceed with a hearing… again. Calleigh felt her phone buzz against her hip. She closed her eyes for a moment, hating that she was always pulled away from these quiet and pleasant moments with Eric. She unlocked the phone and answered.
"Duquense?" She spoke firmly. She listened for a little while and nodded a few times as she took in the information that she was being relayed over the phone. "Will do" She spoke again as she hung up the phone. Eric raised an eyebrow at her as he waited for her to tell him what was discussed. Calleigh finally took her free hand out of Eric's and stepped back with a smile. "We got our warrant! I'm meeting them at Elliot's residence" She said as she recollected some of her items off of the bedside table in the room. Eric watched as she re-clipped her badge onto her belt, after she holstered her gun.
"Cal?" Eric called out before she finished. She looked up again to see what it was he needed. "Be careful" He finished, once he knew he had her attention. She smiled up at him and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"Always am" She said back as she left the room. The sounds of her clicking heels against the floor echoing through the room. Eric finally laid back in bed and placed a hand against his side. The pain beginning to come back again. He hit the nurses station button and waited. Not just for the nurse to bring more medication, but for Calleigh to return safely.
OKAY FRIENDS! Sorry again for the late post but I really hope you are enjoying it so far! Next chapter will be Eric's release from the hospital and the search of Elliot's place. Plus, what ever happened to Bryan? What is he up to? Leave your throughs and reviews in the review section :)