Finally got this wretched thing finished. I really should have made it a two-shot. XP

Thanks for waiting and reviewing PunkPrincess145, EmilyProctorslittlegirl, Carrro, Le Pecore Nere, Hope06

Part 3/3: Breeze

It felt nice- it really did.

Odd how I was in Brazil merely a couple of hours ago, and now I was back in Miami. Not only that, but I had found my missing CSI. And I couldn't help but feel a strange sort of tearing in my heart. It's hard to decide whether you should be happy you found someone you truly care for or worried about the one lone family member left in your life. I know I can't. Imagine trying to figure out which emotion to show.

And as I stood there on the patio, fingering my sunglasses and looking towards where the sun had rose, I began to wonder about what would happen during the rest of the year. I couldn't help but think back on the whole year. My son, Ron Saris, Julia coming back into my life, and now this... it seemed like one incoherent blur unless I sorted out the pieces and looked at them one at a time. And even then, I was surprised at how much- or how little- stuff had happened in the past few months.

It really is amazing how fast time flies in Miami.

I couldn't help but feel serene as the wind ruffled my hair, seeming to joke around with me. Hadn't felt like that in a long time, and I don't know if I should have really felt this way or what. It worried me a lot to think I can act so calm in these dark times in life, and yet it didn't. The door to the outside opened up behind me, and I heard footsteps walking towards the railing. The brunette looked semi-hopeful, standing awkwardly as if I was about to gnaw him out for something.

"You wanna tell me what happened, Horatio?"

I still kept smiling. It was weird- even though Stetler was there with me, I didn't feel the slightest bit annoyed with him standing there. I ducked my head and gave a very small smile. "And why do you care about what happened, Rick?"

He shifted his stance. "You didn't even seem the slightest bit worried before you left. It's almost as if you were expecting it to come or something."

'You have no idea,' I thought.

I turned my head and fingered my sunglasses a little more, contemplating my answer to the matter. Rick probably wouldn't have understood why I went there, and then I'd have to go into the whole story about Marisol and her death and greeting Riaz in Rio, and I didn't feel like reopening the same wound again. Now the only question remained- how would I tell this man what had happened without making it the story of my life?

Finally, I had the words. "I was expecting it to come."

Stetler looked stunned for a moment before attempting to regain his casual demeanor. "You were?"

"I was. If you want to know the truth, I went to Brazil in 2006 for a day and I had a thing I had to accomplish there." I kept it vague enough for Stetler to not know what happened but gave him enough information about what I had- erm, done when I was there.

The man didn't look convinced. "Who did you murder?"

I'm pretty sure the only thing that was keeping me calm was the breeze. "It doesn't affect your life, so what does it matter to you, Rick?"

"You know IAB is going to do a background check!" he replied, forcing himself not to growl in exasperation.

"And why would they do that? I haven't done anything wrong," I told him flatly.

I hated messing around with Stetler, but right now, I was kind of enjoying messing around with his head. The man looked as if he was about to burst a vein or something. I leaned off the railing and faced him. "Look, I'm pretty sure you have something better to do than waste your time on me. You've already done a good amount of damage on me with all your crap, so why don't we just call it a day and go home like other people do?"

The man smirked. "Oh, and you're with 'other people?'"

"Are you?" I retaliated quietly.

The agent opened his mouth, but no sound came out. I had him in the corner where he was meant to be.

The breeze ruffled my hair again. I gave a very small smile. "I'll tell you the real story some day. Right now, though, is just not the time."

Stetler looked at the parking lot, his lips pressed together. "Fine."

And there we stood for a few moments, lost in our own worlds and wondering how much more even I could take emotionally.

IT'S DONE. My god, I finished it. Anyways, thanks for reading, and feel free to review.