Only Love

Samantha pulled her
tired eyes back from the microscope containing what was now the
eighty-ninth shell casing from a slew of AK-47’s used in a recent
gang shooting. She didn’t expect to find anything too earth
shattering in the relatively cut-and-dry gang shootout, but protocol
demanded she view and chart each and every casing collected from the
scene.

She
rubbed her hands absently over her slightly rounded belly. While
some woman had the luxury of wearing bulky clothing to cover their
pregnancies, crime scenes and lab work were not the kind of place
where such clothing was appropriate. So, much to Samantha’s
chagrin, she had to walk around the lab with a slight yet still
obviously pregnant belly. Samantha sighed. “On to casing number
ninety.”

-------------------------------------

“Horatio Caine
please.”

The receptionist at
the MDPD Crime Lab looked up at the brunette woman who stood before
the desk. “I’m sorry?”

The brunette smiled,
though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m here to see
Horatio Caine. Is he in?”

“Yes, ma’am. I
believe he’s working in the lab. Shall I have him paged for you?”

“Yes. I’m sure
he’ll want to see me before I leave town.”

“And your name
ma’am?”

“Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Caine.”

-------------------------------------

“Lieutenant Caine?”

Horatio turned holding
a small vile he had been about to place inside the centrifuge. He
arched an eyebrow at the receptionist who stood in the doorway of the
trace lab. “Yes?”

“I’m sorry to
interrupt Lieutenant. But there’s a woman here to see you.”

Horatio glanced from
the receptionist to the vile in his hands, the gesture clearly
indicating he was busy. “Umm… all right. I’m a bit
preoccupied at the moment… can they wait?”

“I don’t think so
sir.”

Horatio sighed. “All
right. Give me a moment.” He set the vile down inside the
centrifuge. Closing the lid gently, he pushed a button and turned
back towards the receptionist. While he removed his lab coat he
asked, “Did they give you a name?”

“Yes. She said her
name was Elizabeth Caine.”

Horatio stopped moving
with his arms midway out of his coat sleeves. His shocked expression
turned to the receptionist. She smiled understandingly and shrugged
her shoulders. Sighing, Horatio hung up his coat and followed the
receptionist to the lobby.

-------------------------------------

“Elizabeth.”
Horatio called out emotionlessly.

Elizabeth turned from
her seat and smiled at Horatio who stopped before her and adopted his
familiar hands on hips posture. She patted the seat next to her.
“Won’t you sit down?”

“I’d rather
stand.” Horatio responded flatly.

Elizabeth shrugged.
“Suit yourself.”

“Elizabeth…”
Horatio sighed. “What are you doing here?”

“Can’t an ex-wife
come by now and then to say hello to her ex-husband?”

“Of course you can.
But this would be the first time wouldn’t it? And I think I know
you a bit better than that. What are you doing here?” Horatio
repeated.

Elizabeth sat back and
crossed her arms still looking up at Horatio. “I heard you got
married.” She glanced down to the ring on his left hand. “I see
I heard correctly.”

“You heard
correctly. Anything else?”

Elizabeth chuckled and
stood, moving uncomfortably close to Horatio and smirking. She was
tall, and stood nearly eye-to-eye with him. “You really don’t
like me do you?”

Horatio opened his
mouth to respond.

“Horatio?”
Samantha’s voice interrupted as she walked into the lobby.
Elizabeth’s attention turned to Samantha and Horatio used the
opportunity to take a step backwards from his ex’s close proximity.

Elizabeth crossed her
arms. “Excuse me, but we were having a private conversation.”

Samantha arched an
eyebrow. She glanced briefly at Horatio before she responded. “I
apologize. I’ll leave you alone then.” Samantha looked at
Horatio and instantly noticed his “please don’t leave me”
expression. Feeling suddenly territorial, Samantha added, “When
you’re finished darling…” She tiptoed up to kiss Horatio
softly on the cheek. “… Please come find me.”

Elizabeth snorted
softly. “Ah. I see…” She glanced from Horatio back to
Samantha, her eyes purposely moving down to gaze at Samantha’s
pregnant belly. “Finally found a womb to carry your children,
Horatio?”

Samantha gasped and
looked at Horatio. She wasn’t able to catch his eye, as his
usually kind blue eyes were busy shooting daggers in the direction of
his ex-wife. Samantha crossed her arms, her expression guarded.
“You must be Elizabeth.” It wasn’t a question.

Elizabeth nodded,
stepping forward towards Samantha.

Horatio
stepped sideways and moved his body in front of Samantha’s
effectively cutting Elizabeth off. “Get out.” He bit out.

Elizabeth
threw her hands up and laughed harshly. “Easy, Horatio… I wasn’t
going to attack your pretty little wife.” She snorted and looked
past Horatio to Samantha. “You don’t look that far along… not
too late to go take care of things.” Elizabeth smirked and turned
to walk away from the couple. A haze of red suddenly blurred
Samantha’s vision.

“You…
bitch!”

Before
Horatio could prevent it his spitfire wife had lunged past him and
barreled straight into Elizabeth’s retreating form. Firing off a
string of colorful obscenities, including a few Horatio had never
heard before, Samantha grabbed Elizabeth’s arm and wrenched it
painfully behind her back. Samantha lowered her voice and whispered
dangerously in Elizabeth’s ear. “If I ever see your face
again…” She pulled Elizabeth’s arm tighter, causing Elizabeth
to cry out in pain. “I don’t think I need to finish that
sentence, do I? Just remember… I am a CSI. I know how to
hide a body.” Releasing her arm, Samantha watched Elizabeth turn
around.

Elizabeth
glared at Samantha, then turning the glare on Horatio she spat, “I
just might sue.”

“Sue
this.” Samantha said, bringing her fist back to connect squarely
with Elizabeth’s jaw. The impact sent her sprawling to the floor.
Elizabeth brought a hand up to wipe the blood from her lip.
Shrieking pitifully, Elizabeth shielded her face as Samantha came
towards her with the intention of decking her a second time. The
blow never came, and Elizabeth looked up to see Horatio restraining
his fuming wife.

Horatio
looked down at Elizabeth. “You have thirty seconds to get out of
my sight. At thirty one… I let her go.” He gestured his head
toward his red-faced wife to emphasize his point. Horatio wasn’t
able to prevent a small feeling of glee from entering his body as he
watched his ex-wife scramble to her feet and all but run from the
lobby. It wasn’t until Elizabeth disappeared from his sight that
Horatio noticed the small delegation of people that had gathered in
the area to watch the scuffle. Horatio’s eyes tightened. “Move
along.” He ground out dangerously. The gawkers moved away even
faster than his ex-wife had.

Samantha had calmed
down considerably, but her body was still trembling slightly from the
rage that had controlled her moments before.

Horatio sighed. “What
were you thinking?”

Samantha turned her
eyes to Horatio. “I wasn’t thinking, I was reacting.”
Samantha pulled herself out of Horatio’s arms. “Are you actually

angry at me? Because I went after… that!” She
gestured wildly in the direction Elizabeth had run.

Horatio
uncharacteristically ran a hand through his hair as he sighed.
“Samantha…”

Samantha gasped and
backed away slightly. “You are! I… I can’t believe
you’re upset with me! After what that woman did to you!”

Horatio glanced
disapprovingly at Samantha. “I’m not upset because it was
Elizabeth… I’m upset with your conduct inside this lab. You
attacked a woman in front of your co-workers.”

“She’s not a
woman.” Samantha hissed.

Horatio closed his
eyes a moment to calm himself. “You’re missing the point.”

“Horatio?”

He sighed. “Yes?”

“Go to hell.”

Horatio flinched as
though she’d physically slapped him, watching with shock as she
turned away from him and left him alone in the lobby.

-------------------------------------

Samantha pulled aside the curtains to stare out the window
for what seemed like the hundredth time that night. Horatio and Samantha had driven home from the lab that evening
without saying a word to one another. As soon as Horatio had parked the Hummer he had unceremoniously informed
Samantha he was going for a walk and left.

That was
three hours ago. Samantha sighed and
came away from the window, trying to shake the feeling that something was
wrong. While most couples would consider the fight they’d had to be relatively
minor, it was for all practical purposes the first one they’d had. So Samantha reasoned Horatio simply needed
time to clear his head. The telephone
interrupted her thoughts.

Samantha
sighed and picked up the receiver. “Hello?”