Title: Ours
Author: Bj Jones
Rating: FRAO
Summary: They have someone taking care of them
Prequels: Mine and Yours
***
Once again we take a trip back into a world where that fine line between right and wrong is blurred. How far does one go to protect loved ones, when their fragile existence is threatened those around them step over that fine line and enter the twilight zone.
***
“Hey, Speedy.” Alexx looked up and smiled at the young man. “What can I help you with today?”
“You finished with our victim?” he asked, nodding to the young woman lying on the slab.
She nodded. “Just finishing up. I put her clothes and any trace elements on the counter.”
“Anything interesting?” Speed grabbed the bags of evidence.
“Did a rape kit, it came back negative,” the ME stated.
The CSI paused. “That’s odd, with her clothes and where she was located…hmmm. Thanks Alexx.”
“Coming over for dinner Saturday?” she asked.
“H and I will be there.” He waved as he moved out of the morgue only to run into Stetler’s replacement pain in the ass.
“Speedle.” She glared at him.
“Rebecca.” He sighed as he tried to move around her.
She stood in front of him. “I have a few questions for you.”
“About?” Speed crossed his arms in front of him.
“Detective Bernstein.” Rebecca sneered.
“What about him? He was killed a couple of months ago,” the Trace expert asked.
“Your relationship with him,” She demanded.
“What?” Speed asked.
“It’s strange don’t you think… You and Horatio in a relationship and both of your ex’s get killed,” she pointed out.
Speed’s eyes narrowed. “First off, Yelina was never Horatio’s ex. Second of all my relationships past or present are none of your business.”
“It is if murder was involved.” Rebecca got up in his face.
“I think that’s enough.” Alexx stood behind Speed, hands on her hips.
“Mrs. Woods…” The IAB officer started in on the ME.
“Don’t you Mrs. Woods me. You’re harassing a member of my team in my morgue. I suggest you run off before I call Horatio.” Alexx glared at her.
“That’s right he protects his whor,e doesn’t he.” She glared at Speed. “How much I wonder?” She turned and stormed off.
“Thanks Alexx.” Speed’s voice was soft. “I’ll talk with you later.”
***
“Miss Duquesne.” Rebecca stood at the break room door.
Calleigh resisted the urge to roll her eyes; she plastered a smile on her face. “How may I help you?”
“I have a few questions to ask you.” She closed the door and sat down at the table.
“About?” The blonde ballistics expert asked. She hoped and prayed it wasn’t what she thought it was going to be about. Rumors had been going around that there was a mole in the department. One of them was trying to take the team down, asking questions especially about Horatio and Speed. A few of them had had a meeting, they had an idea who the mole was, but they were looking for the bigger rat. Calleigh had a sudden suspicion she knew who it was.
“I’m concerned about how Horatio is treating his team, considering his relationship with one of his team members.” Rebecca tried to sound calm and business like, but Calleigh could hear the underlying disgust and hatred.
“There’s not anything to be concerned about.” She smiled brightly. “Horatio treats everyone the same.”
“Come on, he’s sleeping with Speedle, no special treatments?” Rebecca smiled reassuringly.
“No.” Calleigh shook her head.
“Speedle must get away with more stuff, leave early, long lunches?” She pushed.
“Nope, matter of fact, Speed is the one who puts more hours in, working on cases. He’s always been very dedicated, half the time one of us has to drag him out.” The young woman hid her smirk.
“Inappropriate touching at work?” The IAB agent’s voice started to become hard and angry.
“Nothing, half the time I forget they are in a relationship, they keep that well out of work.” Calleigh stood up. “Now if you would excuse me, I have actual work to do, rather than sit here and help you on your witch hunt.”
Rebecca stood up indignant. “This labs integrity is my priority…”
“Oh, go stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.” Calleigh smiled. “Have a nice day.”
***
Eric looked up from his work and groaned. “No, no, and ahh no.”
“What are you talking about?” Rebecca stared at him from the door.
“No, I don’t feel Horatio shows Speed any special treatment, no, I don’t feel harassed by their relationship, and aahh no I’m not going to help you on your little hunt,” he stated before going back to work.
“I wasn’t going to ask you about their relationship,.” Rebecca snapped.
Eric’s eyebrow rose, “So what do you want?”
“I think one, if not both of them is selling out…”
Eric’s laughter echoed in the room. He wiped away the tears from his eyes. “Oh, that is good.” He sobered up and looked her dead in the eyes. “No. Those two are so loyal to this lab and each other they would do nothing to harm it, instead they would do anything to protect it.”
“Really.” Rebecca crossed her arms in front of her. “Murder?”
“What are you blabbering about?” Eric sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.
“Would they go so far as to protect this lab or each other by murder?”
He snorted. “Speed and Horatio? What the hell are you smoking? Get out of my lab, before I complain you’re harassing me.”
***
“Rebecca.” Horatio slipped off his glasses and looked at her. “Care to explain why you are harassing my team?”
She turned and looked at him. “I’m investigating rumors of corruption, indecency, and possible murder.”
“If you are after me, I can care less, but leave my team and the lab out of it,” he said. “Or I’ll have to take measures.”
“Shoot me like you did Bernstein?” Rebecca spat at him.
Horatio’s eyebrow rose. “Murder?” He slipped on his glasses. “Now you’re just reaching.”
***
“She’s the mole,” Eric said simply as he sat down.
“Really.” Calleigh responded sarcastically. “I’m not worried about Miss Trying-to-get- into-Every-Guys-Pants-so-I-can-Find-Information-Out. Did you really sleep with her?”
Eric shrugged. “Easy lay, wasn’t very good, it was like a bad porn movie.”
“And do I want to know about you watching bad porn movies?” Alexx slipped into the booth.
“No, me…never.” He smirked as he sipped a drink.
“What do we do about the real rat?” Alexx asked. “She’s got enough clout to cause problems.”
“There’s no evidence anywhere of any wrong doing.” Calleigh leaned back in her seat. “So…”
“She’s all bark and no bite.” The newest member of their team sat down. “But her barking is getting loud.”
“Plus she’s upsetting Speed.” Alexx sighed. “He’s getting agitated, quiet, retreating into himself, and we know how that can be a problem.”
“Shit, I didn’t notice,” Eric growled. “And if he goes dark we get a broody Horatio…”
“So we need to get the yappy bitch to shut up,” Ryan said.
***
“Did you guys get one of these?” Eric asked, walking into the break room holding up a letter.
“Yeah,” Calleigh sighed. “Speed is beside himself. Horatio had to take him home. She’s gone too far. To split the team up….”
Ryan stalked in. “This isn’t right, the bitch…”
“What’s wrong?” Natalie asked walking into the room.
“Like you don’t know,” Eric growled. “So tell me, is sleeping with all the men in the lab to get info normal for you or just this lab?”
“What?” She stepped back indignant.
Calleigh rolled her eyes. “So how much did Rebecca pay you to spy on us?”
“I wouldn’t…”
“Have and did,” Ryan stated. “And now people are suffering because you’re a… what’s the word, Eric?”
“Slut,” Eric answered.
“What are you talking about?” She glared at them.
“Rebecca is trying to break the team up; she’s sending Speed and Ryan to night shift.” Calleigh growled. “And Eric to swing-shift.”
“Oh…” She looked down. “She brought me in to, but over time…I didn’t know how to get out.”
The three looked at her. “All you had to do was talk to Horatio.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Natalie asked sincerely.
“What information do you have?” Ryan asked.
***
“I will not let you tear my family apart.” Alexx glared at Rebecca.
“Too late, transfers are already going through,” she sneered. “Nothing you or anyone can do about it.” She smirked as she grabbed a cookie off the plate and walked away.
“Don’t be too sure about that honey,” Alexx picked up one of the cookies and bit into it. “Peanut butter, my favorite.”
***
Horatio looked down at the body on Alexx’s table. “How did she die?”
“Allergic reaction,” Alexx stated. “She snagged one of my cookies, it was peanut butter, I made them for Speed, they’re his favorite.”
“I know.” Horatio grinned at her.
“She had an instant reaction to the peanut butter in the cookie, one should ask before taking.” Alexx shook her head. “Did you know she was allergic?”
“No, I don’t think anyone did.” Horatio shook his head. “Come to find out IAB was investigating her, some new information came into light, Natalie came forward to tell them Rebecca had been blackmailing her to get info on the lab.”
“So everything is back to normal?” she asked calmly.
“Teams stay where they are at, the mid-shift and night shift weren’t happy about being moved either.” The redhead stated. “Meanwhile, I’m taking the rest of the week off, Speed is still very upset and I’m taking him out of town.”
“You take care of my boy.” Alexx smiled at him.
“I will.” Horatio gave her a small smile. “By the way, what was that song you were humming when I walked in?”
“A song I heard a while back,” Alexx shrugged. “I got troubles oh, but not today
Cause they’re gonna wash away.”
“It had a nice tune,” the redhead said as he left the morgue.
Alexx looked down at the body before covering her up and closing the drawer. “I told you not to mess with my family.” She glanced up at the rest of the team that were standing in the theatre. “We take care of what’s ours, and those boys belong to us.”
***
Speed laid against his lover as the two relaxed at a small cabin on one of the endless beaches in the Bahamas. They were lying out in the hammock and just watched as the clouds went by and listened to the waves wash against the shore, enjoying the time alone with each other.
“We should invite Alexx and the team over for a barbeque,” Speed suggested.
“Thank them for their loyalty,” Horatio said.
“They are loyal to you.” Speed looked up at him.
“To us,” the redhead kissed him on the forehead. “We’re a family. As much as you and I belong to each other, we belong to them.”
“It feels good knowing that they are watching over us.” Speed settled back in his lover’s arms.
“As we watch over them.” Horatio held him close.