Another World, Just Hours Away

Tampa was a world away from Miami for the Delkos. There were many of the same types of attractions and things to do as Miami but here, there was no way Eric or Calleigh could be called to a crime scene simply because it was too far a distance. That and the couple decided to take a week's vacation. Each family had their own two-bedroom suite with a living room and kitchenette. The kids so far had enjoyed an afternoon trip to the Florida Aquarium. Now everyone was enjoying time in the hotel pool. Tonight Nevaeh was staying with her dad's parents' in their suite, so Eric and Calleigh could have a "proper" be it, a belated wedding night. Shortly after dinner Calleigh packed Nevaeh's knapsack with the girl's pajamas, clothes for the next day, two extra pull-ups and other over-night essentials. She put a few of the rainbow chip granola bars Nevaeh liked in there as well. But she knew the grandparents already had goodies. "Bunny," her daughter's favorite stuffed toy was taking separate transport. By his ears in the the little girl's hand.

This was technically the second "bunny." Nevaeh was none the wiser. The first had finally seen too many trips through the washer and dryer. But luckily the toy was a popular model, therefore easy to find. There were three more "back-up" bunnies on the shelf in the closet for when this one met his demise the same way.

"Mommy and daddy will see you at breakfast, okay, sweet-pea?" Calleigh said, giving Nevaeh a kiss.

"Otay, mommy," Nevaeh replied.

The entire group were going to have breakfast from the buffet in the downstairs diner

They stayed up late watching movies, was what Eric and Calleigh told an inquisitive seven-year-old Sasha when he asked why the two looked so tired the following morning. A group family vacation of any kind wasn't an experience Calleigh hadn't had before. But it was something the Delko clan made sure to do once a year since grandchildren started coming to the family. Eric had always went along even before his daughter was born. Now he was both a doting dad and fun uncle. These trips were going to make many memories for his (and Calleigh's) daughter—and hopefully her siblings as she grew up. Calleigh, too, was finding the experience wonderful and realized why Eric made time for this. The three were going to keep doing it for years to come.

Abuela and Dedushka's ulterior motive for wanting Eric and Calleigh to have time alone was hope the younger couple would come home with a "little souvenir." The two didn't intend on this but weren't guarding against it, either. It wasn't sure how long the adoption process would take to complete. Even though it was just a piece of paper, in some ways a security net it felt important that it be done before they had a second child. Tammy couldn't be considered anything more than a traditional surrogate to any sensible person. Despite the fact she was conceived the "old-fashioned" way.

"'Wonder how Calleigh and Eric are enjoying their weekend?" A worn-out Tim Speedle said to an equally tired and grumpy Ryan Wolfe.

The two were at their second corner store robbery of the day. In the first, the clerk's injuries didn't appear life-threatening but an hour ago was still in surgery. She was able to give a description of the shooter before she was loaded into the ambulance. Tim, the only single CSI was working his third twelve hour shift. He was silently glad he wasn't permitted to work for two days after this. His bed was looking better by the minute though Tim didn't think he was going to make it past the couch when he got home.

Ryan and Natalia had had their fingers crossed that they could have a quiet weekend together but they were on-call and they weren't shocked when they got a call-out.

"Me, too. I bet Nevaeh is loving it. Calleigh said she cried every time their phones rang the past few days," Ryan said.

Just before the family went on their Tampa trip Eric and Calleigh seemed to be away from their child most of the hours of the day. For three days Eric said that one of them would get in the door from one call and get another. The two men understood why the tot was beginning to hate their work cellphones.

"Eric said the same. Knowing Nevaeh I'm surprised she hasn't tried to flush their phones," Tim chuckled.

The Delkos had thought about that.

Their precious child was going through a phase to trying to flush objects out of curiosity.

No matter how time-outs she got for it.

They knew their phones were on top of her list since they "took mami and papi away," thus their cellphones always of out the toddler's reach.