Thanks.
And you're welcome Katie.
Standing Alone
Lab, 1 year later, 10 pm
Katie: Anni don't go to sleep. It's supposed to be a sleepover.
Anni: If I'm not allowed to go to sleep, why is it called a sleepover?
Katie: That's just to fool parents.
Jess: Will you guys shut up already?
Katie: Are you sleeping too? Come on this was supposed to be a girl's night out.
Jess: We're not even outside.
Anni: Yeah we're in the lab and I'm trying to sleep. And you know what would have made this night more fun? Guys.
Katie: Think with your upstairs brain Anni.
Anni: I can't. It doesn't exist.
Jess: Burn.
Anni: Yeah I just realized that.
Katie: I can't believe Lori's having her 18th birthday party next week.
Anni: She's 18? I thought she was 17.
Katie: You either can't count or you lost a year of your life somewhere. She's older than the other kids in her class.
Jess: Because she was born in January?
Katie: Yeah.
Anni: Why are we still talking?
Katie: Because Katie doesn't want to sleep.
Anni: Well Katie has to shut her trap so Anni can sleep.
Katie: Shut up. *throws shoe*
Anni: OW! Where did you get that?
Katie: My foot.
Jess: Who wears shoes to bed?
Katie: I do. Keeps my feet warm.
Jess: Wear socks.
Katie: I am wearing socks.
Jess: Yeah well you suck.
Katie: Why is everyone mad at me?
Jess: We're not mad. We're tired, which means we're grouchy.
Katie: Isn't Carly supposed to be here?
Jess: She's at home with her baby.
Katie: Dang. And I wanted this girl's night out to be complete with Carly. Stupid kids.
Anni: Well that's the reason Lori isn't here.
Katie: I know.
Jess: We suck. All we have to talk about it babies and how much we want sleep. I feel old.
Katie: I feel young.
Anni: You sure you didn't get botox or something? I mean Miami's the plastic surgery capital of the world.
Katie: I age well.
Anni: Sure you do. Hey do you have a boyfriend yet?
Katie: Uh no. Why would I have a boyfriend?
Anni: You sleep in that big house by yourself honey.
Katie: Lori's there. I'm not alone.
Anni: What about that man presence?
Katie: I can do without it just fine. I have been for the past year and seven months.
Jess: Ouch she's been keeping track.
Katie: What's that supposed to mean?
Jess: Nothing.
Katie: I hate you all. Go to sleep.
Anni: THANK YOU!
Two hours later
Katie: ...Are you guys still awake?
Jess: I was asleep until you woke me.
Katie: Sorry.
Anni: Ergh, who's talking now?
Katie: Me, sorry. Usually when I need to talk, there's someone there who will listen.
Anni: I'm not your boyfriend.
Katie: I know.
Anni: I'm not even a boy, thank God.
Katie: *sigh* Aren't the stars beautiful?
Anni: That gum has been on the ceiling for like two years.
Katie: ....I was actually looking out the window.
Anni: Oh. My bad.
Two weeks later
Calleigh: Come on guys, we have a case.
Delko: Whatever happened to just sitting in the Hummerhome?
Calleigh: We'll get to that tomorrow. Right now Horatio wants us to finish this case.
Delko: Yeah but I was having fun playing video games.
Jess: Yeah let us play a little bit longer.
Calleigh: Guys, as CSI Level 3, I expect a certain behavior among everyone. And that doesn't include video games.
Jess: Can it someday? If Horatio says so?
Calleigh: I'm not talking to Horatio. He's mean.
Anni: Tell me about it. I offered to get his coffee and he snorted at me like a pig. How rude.
Calleigh: Did you say anything back?
Anni: No way. I didn't want to be oinked at.
Delko: What if Horatio's in an extra happy mood and we can go in the Hummerhome right now?
Calleigh: You have to get back to work, no matter how many times you say you want to get back into the Hummerhome.
Horatio's office
Horatio: Have a seat, Lori.
Lori: *sits*
Horatio: *sits* What's on your mind?
Lori: ...Mom's been pushing me to get a real job. Something that pays more than mimimum wage.
Horatio: And what did you find interested you?
Lori: I want to be a cop.
Horatio: ...Really.
Lori: Yeah. At least I think that's what I want to do.
Horatio: You're not sure.
Lori: I need to do something.
Horatio: There are plenty of places hiring.
Lori: No, I need to do something here.
Horatio: We need paper clerks.
Lori: I need to be a cop.
Horatio: Well...Lori you're very young. And usually people your age have to go to college first.
Lori: I'll pay for it myself with my part time job money.
Horatio: I don't think this is a good idea.
Lori: Why?
Horatio: I know there's a part of your life that you need to fill, but I'm not sure this is the answer.
Lori: It was either that or grow up hating the life. I'm not going to grow up hating.
Horatio: First, I want you to go to college.
Lori: Okay.
Horatio: If that works out, you can apply here. I'll put in a good word for you.
Lori: Thank you.
Horatio: You hang in there.
Lori: I will, thanks.
Horatio: *walks over* Come on, I'll buy you lunch.
Lori: Oh no, it's okay. You don't have to do that.
Horatio: You sure?
Lori: Yeah.
Horatio: Tomorrow we're heading out in the Hummerhome. Did you want to come?
Lori: Nah, y'all can go ahead without me. I have some applications to fill out, and I have to drive down on over to the store and pick up some groceries.
Horatio: You sure?
Lori: Yeah.
Horatio: So where are you off to now?
Lori: I have to go to work. Listen H, I'll talk to you a little later.
Horatio: No problem. Anytime you need to talk, you know where to find me.
Lori: Thanks. *leaves*
Horatio: *places hands on hips*
Megan: *walks in* I have some news.
Horatio: Regarding what?
Megan: The mission in Columbia.
Horatio: Is everything alright?
Megan: It's a war zone. The organization was attacked yesterday by Columbian soldiers.
Horatio: ...Alright, from the top.
Megan: *closes door behind her*
Lab
Katie: Anni, give me the remote. Seriously.
Anni: Get your own.
Katie: I can't believe we're still fighting over the remote.
Anni: We should get more than one.
Katie: I know.
Anni: Or one of those universal remotes so we can play pranks on Eric and switch channels on him.
Katie: OH man that would be awesome.
Anni: Yeah while he's watching Jeopardy, we can switch it to porn! *cackles*
Katie: ...Have fun with that Anni.
Horatio: *walks in* Katie, I need to talk to you.
Katie: About what?
Horatio: Let's take a walk.
Katie: ...Alright.
Halls
Katie: ...How could that happen?
Horatio: No one was prepared for it. The Columbian army just...Blew away parts of their cities. Over 5000 people are dead.
Katie: ...So the organization isn't a threat.
Horatio: Not anymore. Something went wrong and the army acted.
Katie: It must have been pretty serious.
Horatio: Our American teams are being flown back to the US immediately pending an investigation.
Katie: Investigation?
Horatio: Information was leaked by a source within the country.
Katie: Oh...
Horatio: So all of the American teams will be back in three days.
Katie: ...All of them?
Horatio: The ones that are still alive.
Katie: Horatio...I need to know...
Horatio: I don't have any word yet from Colin's team. None of them have checked in.
Katie: So they're...
Horatio: It's possible.
Katie: I need to tell Lori.
Horatio: She already believes he's dead.
Katie: No. She needs to know the truth. She needs to know that there's a possibility that he's still alive.
Horatio: If he's dead, this will make things harder for her.
Katie: I have to tell someone.
Horatio: Unfortunately that's not possible. This is need to know information only.
Katie: ...Three days. You'll let me know who comes back?
Horatio: I will.
Katie: *nods*
Horatio: You okay?
Katie: Honestly...No. I'm not going to be able to sleep for the next three days. *laughs*
Horatio: *smiles*
Katie: ...Besides, even if he does come back...He won't be the same.
Horatio: We don't know that for sure.
Katie: Yeah well even though the mission was cut back a few years because of the stupid army, I'm just scared.
Horatio: It's natural to be apprehensive.
Katie: I know.
Megan: *walks over* Horatio. I just got a call. Colin and his team were all found dead.
Horatio: *blank stare*
Katie: ...
Horatio: Did you get visual identification?
Megan: The officers at the scene did.
Horatio: Megan, how many people did they find?
Megan: Three.
Horatio: Megan, there were four people on that team.
Megan: ...Then they're missing someone.
Horatio: Keep checking with them.
Megan: You got it H. *leaves*
Katie: What does that mean? Does that mean he's okay?
Horatio: We don't know for certain.
Katie: *wipes eyes* I want to be there when they get back.
Horatio: I don't think that would be a good idea.
Katie: Horatio, please.
Horatio: ...I'll see what I can do.
TBC................