Thanks for the reviews.
I should have another chapter up later today!
**EDIT
********************
California, two days later, LAPD
Horatio: *places hands on hips* What do we have so far?
Calleigh: Pipe bombs, scattered throughout the room. One in the toilet tipped us off. There was a weak blast because of the water damage so it was basically a firework.
Horatio: How's everyone holding up?
Calleigh: Eric feels pretty guilty about it, he thinks it's his fault.
Horatio: How do you mean?
Calleigh: He picked the hotel.
Horatio: Okay, here's why this is a problem. That was a targeted blast.
Calleigh: They would have had to have pre-knowledge that we were going to be there.
Horatio: Excuse me. *leaves*
Calleigh: *nods*
Carly: *walks over* Lora's getting a few stitches down at the hospital, Colton's with her.
Calleigh: How about Lilly and Anni?
Carly: They're fine, just shaken up a bit. Ryan's with them right now.
Office
Horatio: *walks over*
Delko: *stands*
Horatio: Hey.
Delko: *scratches eye* Uh, look I'd like to process if I can.
Horatio: LAPD's taking care of that.
Delko: They don't work like we do.
Horatio: I understand that. *shifts positions*
Delko: What?
Horatio: You told Calleigh that this was your fault.
Delko: I think I know who did it. A guy named Zero.
Horatio: Yes, he's part of a Cuban gang.
Delko: He's also a friend of my father's.
Horatio: *stares at Eric*
Delko: We were talking last week before I left and I told him where I was going. *shakes head* I shouldn't have said anything. I didn't think it would matter.
Horatio: Half the team out of the crime lab for a length of time and it didn't matter.
Delko: Look, I'm sorry H I didn't know he'd do something.
Horatio: *looks around*
Delko: What is it?
Horatio: He knows Ryan and I are here too then.
Delko: Which means...
Horatio: He's coming.
Hotel room, California
Calleigh: *places down kit*
Ryan: Wow, H said it looked pretty bad but...Wouldn't have wanted to be in here when they went off.
Calleigh: *opens kit* We're only to collect what's viable for our case in Miami.
Ryan: What was it like?
Calleigh: *stands, clicks on flashlight* What was what like?
Ryan: The explosion?
Calleigh: We were all out of the room when it happened.
Ryan: That's good timing.
Calleigh: *looks up at wall*
Ryan: What is it?
Calleigh: There's a bullet hole here.
Ryan: You could see that?
Calleigh: *smiles* It's kind of my job, Ryan.
Ryan: Still.
Calleigh: *walks into bathroom*
Ryan: *follows*
Calleigh: *looks down* Okay, downward trajectory, bullet entered the wall and exited in here. *walks over to toilet*
Ryan: You find it?
Calleigh: *picks up bullet* Mhm. .22
Ryan: It's amazing that it's still in the room.
Calleigh: *stands* Well blasts usually have two phases.
Ryan: Right. Blown out and sucked back in.
Calleigh: Which means all of our evidence should be here.
Ryan: Good for us, not for the bad guys.
Calleigh: *nods*
Ryan: So why would someone shoot into the room when there are bombs?
Calleigh: Bombs need a trigger. Obviously they weren't detonating fast enough or efficiently enough so they went direct. Took 'em out themselves.
Ryan: Meaning whoever was trying to kill you guys was already here, not in Miami.
Calleigh: *turns head* And probably in an adjacent building.
Ryan: Let's check it out.
Miami Lab, Trace Lab
Lori: *walks over*
Stetler: *snaps latex gloves* Damn.
Lori: Looks like you're having trouble.
Stetler: Well since my lab ran out of staff, I have to do everything myself. *shakes head* Typical. So what is your business on the restricted part of this lab?
Lori: I was actually looking to get a file.
Stetler: What kind of file?
Lori: It's kind of out of the jurisdiction. Yelina sent me this way so I could ask you.
Stetler: No. It has to be for official police business and you're neither the police or on official business.
Lori: *nods* Right.
Stetler: So get out of here before I call security.
Lori: Is this how you treat all of your employees?
Stetler: Yes.
Lori: No wonder you're all alone in here. *leaves*
Stetler: What's that supposed to mean!
Outside
Lori: *opens car door*
Gunfire breaks out
Lori: AH! *ducks*
Police officers run outside, guns in hand
BAM BAM BAM BAM
Lori: *crawls to front seat, slides it back*
Cop: *drops to ground*
Glass shatters in car windows
Lori: *grabs gun from under seat*
Man in black walks over, gun in hand
Lori: *looks up, points gun*
Click click
Lori: *looks at gun*
Man: *pulls trigger*
BAM
Man: *drops to ground*
Lori: *looks up*
Gavin: *grabs Lori* We have to leave.
Lori: Why, what's going on?
BAM BAM
Gavin: *fires weapon*
BAM BAM BAM BAM
Lori: *covers head*
Gavin: He found out you're still alive so he sent his guys. *fires weapon*
BAM BAM
Lori: This guy really needs to finish what he starts, huh. *pulls apart gun*
Gavin: What are you doing?
Lori: *sigh* My magazine's empty.
Gavin: *lifts brow* You shoot a lot of people?
Lori: I shoot at trees. Helps me unwind.
Glass flies
Lori: *covers head* What are you doing here anyway?
Gavin: I already told you, you're my responsibility.
Lori: *frowns* I don't think that still applies.
Gavin: *grabs Lori* Move.
Twenty minutes later, Gavin's house
Lori: *walks in* You sure they didn't follow us?
Gavin: *closes door* No, but it's better than staying at the wild west.
Lori: *holding chest* Ow.
Gavin: *turns around* What?
Lori: I guess some of the glass got me.
Gavin: First aid kit's in the kitchen. *walks away*
Lori: *walks over*
Kitchen
Gavin: Sit.
Lori: Do I look like a dog?
Gavin: *pulls out chair* Please.
Lori: *sigh* I can live with a flesh wound.
Gavin: *sits* Unzip.
Lori: Excuse me?
Gavin: Your shirt.
Lori: *laughs* Yeah uh, if you say something like that again I'm going to have to kill you.
Gavin: If you'd like to patch yourself up, you can use the washroom but this is faster.
Lori: *unzips shirt* Just do it.
Gavin: *reaches into kit*
Lori: *stares at Gavin*
Gavin: *takes glass out of wound*
Lori: *squints*
Gavin: Sorry.
Lori: Just hurry up.
Gavin: *wipes wound, covers it with gauze*
Lori: *looks around*
Gavin: There.
Lori: *zips up shirt*
Gavin: *closes kit*
Lori: So how'd you know they were going to be there?
Gavin: Because I still work for him.
Lori: I thought he fired you.
Gavin: He has a temper but he still needs me.
Lori: *laughs* What could he possibly need you for?
Gavin: Intelligence.
Lori: *rolls eyes* Uh, yeah well he doesn't exactly seem very bright himself.
Gavin: *smirks* I meant security intelligence. Surveillance.
Lori: Oh. Does he know you're here?
Gavin: I tell him what he needs to know.
Lori: So that's a no.
Gavin: Look, I get that he has a vendetta and that once he puts his mind to something, you can't talk him out of it but he shouldn't be murdering innocent people.
Lori: So why'd you agree to the job?
Gavin: *stands* You hungry?
Lori: No.
Gavin: Well, you can help yourself to anything in the fridge when you'd like.
Lori: *stands* You've been pretty truthful about everything except why you've been doing this. I mean, come on you seem like a decent guy.
Gavin: I'm not. *slams kit into sink*
Lori: *flinches*
Gavin: You'd better leave, they'll be looking for you.
Lori: I'm not going anywhere until I get an answer.
Gavin: It's not even important.
Lori: Yes it is. You're not doing this to hurt people, you're not doing this for self satisfaction and you're definitely not doing it for the money so what is it? Why do you have to be a part of something so hideous?
Gavin: Because I don't have a choice.
Lori: What do you mean?
Gavin: *looks down at counter*
Lori: *stares at Gavin*
Gavin: I joined his team two years ago. I wanted something different, dangerous. I thought they were my answer. I worked a job for Zero involving an heiress, my job was to keep her in the house while my boss and his guys took care of daddy dearest and broke into the bank he owned. He was worth billions.
Lori: *nods*
Gavin: The girl fought, I tried to restrain her. She was the bargaining chip so we needed her alive.
Lori: ...So then what?
Gavin: She kicked me through a window. I managed not to fall off the roof so I ran back in and after her. I followed her down the stairs but one of us must have tripped because before I knew it, we were both tumbling. My gun went off...Right into her head.
Lori: That's terrible.
Gavin: If I had just let her go, she would have lived.
Lori: So why do you think you still have to do this?
Gavin: Zero found out and said that if I didn't do what he told me, he'd kill every hostage after that. He said "If you can't even keep one alive, there's no point in keeping any of them alive."
Lori: That's why you let me go?
Gavin: I'm sorry for even looking at that address to find you.
Lori: It's okay, I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself.
Gavin: I have no doubt about that. But these guys are really devoted to their job, they'll do anything to get it done.
Lori: So what do we do?
Gavin: We don't do anything. You're going home.
Lori: *laughs* I don't think so. I was shot at and I hate it when people shoot at me.
Gavin: Lor-
Lori: Don't. I've heard it a million times and I don't need to hear it again. I promise not to fall on your gun.
Gavin: *frowns*
Lori: *smiles*
TBC.....................
******************
Miami PD, midnight
Lori: *going through files*
Gavin: *looks around* Aren't there cameras in here?
Lori: Just shine the flashlight.
Gavin: Sorry. Um...So what exactly are we looking for?
Lori: The money.
Gavin: The money's in a file cabinet?
Lori: Your boss' main goal is to find the money and leave. Right?
Gavin: Yeah.
Lori: Then we'll give it to him. *pulls out file*
Gavin: What's that?
Lori: Security logs.
Gavin: You have access to those?
Lori: Well not legally.
Gavin: Of course.
Lori: *opens file* See this? Security was breached one year ago, 14 million was stolen.
Gavin: It was kept at the lab?
Lori: No. It was supposed to be burned three days after confiscation. Stetler must have taken it and claimed it was burned. Your boss has great tracking skills himself and looked around the incinerator area, found nothing.
Gavin: Then he starts looking into this lab, hires his guys and finds out who had his money.
Lori: That must have been why he was in hiding after his little mishap in Cuba. So I'm thinking Stetler's the next target and they're going to turn his house and other properties upside down.
Gavin: *stares at Lori*
Lori: *digs through file cabinet* I knew I saw this file somewhere.
Gavin: *sigh*
Lori: *grabs file* Here it is. Zero Santos.
Gavin: I could tell you what you need to know about him.
Lori: I trust the files a little more.
Gavin: Point taken.
Lori: Nothing personal.
Gavin: Alright.
Lori: *reading* Aha. He has affiliates in LA. Must have been the guys who took out the hotel room. So we're dealing with two groups. Your colleagues and his.
Gavin: *crosses arms* What makes you think those are the people who bombed the hotel?
Lori: Are they?
Gavin: I don't know, maybe you should check some more pieces of paper.
Lori: ...Are we not on the same page?
Gavin: That's irony.
Lori: *rolls eyes*
Gavin: If we're going to work together on this, you have to trust me.
Lori: I don't trust anyone.
Gavin: Then we're going to have a problem, aren't we?
Lori: I guess we are.
Gavin: *frowns*
Lori: *glares*
Gavin: The guys who blew up the hotel room are his affiliates.
Lori: So I'm right.
Gavin: *nods*
Lori: How many men do you think?
Gavin: At least fifteen to twenty.
Lori: And I assume they get a cut of the money.
Gavin: If Zero doesn't off them all first.
Lori: *closes drawer* How do I know you aren't just doing this to lead me into a trap?
Gavin: Does this feel like a trap?
Lori: Is it?
Gavin: No.
Lori: Good.
Gavin: Do you trust me yet?
Lori: No.
Gavin: But I don't know, maybe you're trying to lure ME to the cops.
Lori: *scoffs* Yeah right.
Gavin: Hey you can make that statement but I can't?
Lori: I'm not stupid enough to lure cops here. What we're doing is illegal enough as it is.
Gavin: Fine. Glad we have that straightened out.
Lori: Me too. *shuffling through papers* Man I feel like I'm in a bad REO Speedwagon song.
Gavin: What?
Lori: What?
Gavin: You said something.
Lori: Nothing, it's not important.
Gavin: *nods*
Lori: And what were you doing asking me out?
Gavin: Uh...That's not what I was intending.
Lori: Then what were you intending?
Gavin: I was going to make the whole 'kidnapping' thing up to you.
Lori: Well just say it next time.
Gavin: Fine.
Sound is heard
Lori: *looks around*
Gavin: I think we have company. Hide behind this desk.
Lori: Are you a moron? That never works. Especially if they turn on the lights.
Gavin: *grabs Lori*
Behind desk
Lori: It's probably just the maintenance crew.
Gavin: You want to get caught by the maintenance crew?
Lori: I don't want to get caught by ANY crew.
Gavin: Okay these people are the slowest garbage emptiers I've ever seen.
Lori: They don't get paid much.
Gavin: Picking up those cans must hurt that old guy's back.
Lori: So?
Gavin: Well maybe if I get my cut, the money could just anonymously go to him for his retirement.
Lori: *slaps Gavin*
Gavin: Ow!
Lori: Are you SERIOUSLY that nice? It's irritating.
Gavin: The guy's working hard.
Lori: You're not going to give criminal money to an old man. It's not right.
Gavin: Neither is making him work to the bone for nothing.
Lori: What happened to the guy who put a gun to my head and was going to throw me in a canal?
Gavin: Why, you like dangerous men?
Lori: *frowns* Did I say that? No.
Gavin: It's a scare tactic, it's never true.
Lori: Well thank God you don't cuddle your hostages.
Gavin: *rolls eyes*
Lori: Is he gone?
Gavin: Yeah.
Lori: *stands*
Gavin: *stands*
Lori: Alright let's head to California.
Gavin: Whoa, what?
Lori: We're going to stop them.
Gavin: We can't just go to California.
Lori: Why not?
Gavin: Because I'm supposed to be here.
Lori: So stay here. I'll go.
Gavin: I don't think so.
Lori: Either come with me or stay here and I'll do this on my own.
Gavin: Are you always this reckless?
Lori: Pretty much.
Gavin: *shakes head*
Lori: Is that a problem?
Gavin: You can take your finger off the trigger you know.
Lori: *lifts brow* What?
Gavin: It just seems like you push a lot of people away by acting tough.
Lori: Wow, thanks Dr. Phil I couldn't live with myself if you hadn't been here.
Gavin: And by making sarcastic comments.
Lori: So?
Gavin: What are you feeling?
Lori: ...*narrows eyes* I knew you were a woman trapped in a man's body.
Gavin: Come on, answer it seriously.
Lori: I'm feeling irritated. Good enough for you?
Gavin: That's it. Just...Irritated. The fact that you almost died like ten times in the last week doesn't affect you at all.
Lori: What's with you?
Gavin: You just seem on edge.
Lori: I'm not on edge. I-I mean, well my heart's beating out of my chest, my face feels really hot, the rest of me feels really cold and my knees are shaking a bit but I'm pretty sure that's normal considering we broke into a county facility.
Gavin: *smiles*
Lori: AHEM. Well I...W-I- *trips over desk* DAMNIT.
Gavin: You okay?
Lori: Mhm. A-Okay.
Gavin: You sure?
Lori: *yanking jeans from corner of desk* I'm just...A little stuck here. ERGH! *pulls jeans* AH! *falls backward*
Gavin: *runs over*
Lori: I'M GOOD. *stands*
Gavin: You mind wiping the prints off the desk before we leave?
Lori: *bites lip* Don't you just wish you could throw everything off the desk?
Gavin: *lifts brow*
Lori: Nevermind. *walks away*
TBC.................
