Chapter 10: Life as it is

Three days had passed and Calleigh felt a lot better already. Having Aimee around sure worked miracles for her, not just for her mood but also for her whole being. It was just like the old days, only now Aimee was capable of having more sophisticated conversations. They spend most the time talking, well Aimee was talking and Calleigh was listening. Aimee had a lot to tell about her life after they had lost contact. Calleigh felt bad for the things Aimee went through, she should have been there to protect her little sister. But fortunately everything worked out for Aimee, she had a degree and a remarkable CV for her age.

Today was Calleigh's last day off and she and Aimee decided to go out for the day. They had been walking around the city for a while and now they were sitting at a terrace enjoying the afternoon sun.

"We should go shopping," Aimee noted. "You could definitely use some advice from the Master."

"What's wrong with the way I look?" Calleigh said as if she was insulted.

"Nothing wrong with your look sis, you just need to update your taste a little," Aimee mocked.

"I think you should take advice from me," Calleigh said as she pointed at herself and Aimee to underline her point.

"If we start wearing the same clothes, everyone will think we are twins," Aimee concluded.

"I don't see the problem," Calleigh answered.

"I do! You are way older," Aimee said mockingly.

Calleigh looked insulted, but it was obvious she wasn't.

"Oh sis, you have never been able to pretend around me, you seriously need to work on that," Aimee laughed.

Calleigh loved the playful banter between them; everything seemed so much lighter and so much more fun. She was really enjoying herself; it had been a long time since she really enjoyed herself.

Aimee loved to see her sister so playful and relaxed. From the moment she arrived in Miami she had noticed her sister was tense and too serious for her own good. She was glad she had enlightened her sister's mood.

Calleigh drank the last bit of her drink and put the glass back on the table, "Ready to shop?"

"Do you really have to ask? I'm a woman!" Aimee answered.

"Jeeze Aimee, how old are you?" Calleigh teased her sister.

"Old enough to know what I'm talking about, and young enough to be able to act like this," was Aimee's answer.

"Smartass," Calleigh snorted.

Later that day they arrived at home. Aimee dropped her bags on the floor and plopped down on the couch with a deep sigh.

"I haven't had this much fun in….well ages," she said contently.

"Me neither," Calleigh said as she put her bags on the floor next to Aimee's. "Coffee?"

Aimee got up and walked up to her sister. "Nope, I am taking you out to dinner, and we are leaving right now."

"Well I guess that's decided then," Calleigh laughed.

Aimee linked her arm with Calleigh's and led her older sister out of the door.

"You are a nutcase, you know that," Calleigh snorted at the gesture.

Calleigh woke up early the next morning. In the past four days she had been able to fully relax and unwind and now she was totally ready to go to work again. Yesterday Aimee had called in, telling Horatio that she wanted to work half shifts again. Of course Horatio didn't agree, he said it was way too early to start working again.

When Calleigh had taken a shower and entered the kitchen, Aimee was already up, making them coffee.

"Top of the morning to you," Calleigh said as she reached for the coffee mugs.

"Good morning to you too sunshine," Aimee snorted. Calleigh was never that happy in the morning, usually that is.

As Aimee poured them both coffee, Calleigh noticed that Aimee was all dressed up for work.

"Don't even think about it," she said while looking at her younger sister with a stern face.

"Just half a shift," Aimee replied, "and there is no arguing about it."

"Do I need to remind you that you were in hospital not too long ago?"

"Do I need to remind you that I had 4 days to rest and had my big sister to take care of me?" Aimee replied.

"Don't you ever listen?" Calleigh sighed. She knew there was no arguing with Aimee. "Ok, if you think you can do it, then go, but promise me you will go home if you feel weak or ill."

"I promise," Aimee said. What Aimee didn't know yet was that Calleigh transferred back to Ballistics.

When they arrived at work they went straight to Horatio's office. Calleigh to say she was back and Aimee to say she was going to work anyway.

Their red headed boss was surprised to see both sisters.

"Hey Horatio," Calleigh said showing him one of her genuine 'Duquesne smiles'.

"Hey Calleigh, you look good," he said with a smile.

"I feel good," Calleigh smiled back before walking off to the break room.

"Hey Aimee, how are you feeling? How nice of you to stop by," Horatio said to Aimee as he motioned her to sit down.

"Sir, I think you and I both know I'm not here to stop by," Aimee said with a sweet smile.

"I'm afraid so, and you really have to stop calling me Sir."

"I'm sorry, Horatio, I just want to work half a shift. I would be bored out of my head at home, the only reason I didn't go crazy the past days was because Calleigh was there with me. I just need to do things," Aimee pleaded.

Before Horatio could reply the young blonde continued.

"I want to catch the guys who did this to me, or at least help to catch them," Aimee continued.

"I understand Aimee, but you were in the hospital not so long ago."

"I know, but I'm ready. I'm a lab tech, I don't even go out in the field and I have no intention to do so anyway. I just want to work."

"Ok, but only half a shift, I don't want to see you here this afternoon," Horatio said with a smile. "Welcome back Aimee," he said as he patted Aimee on the back.

"Thank you," Aimee smiled.

As Aimee walked into the Ballistics Lab she saw her sister working there, she raised her eyebrow and cleared her throat.

"What are you doing here? Don't tell me you are here to keep an eye on me," Aimee teased.

Calleigh smiled and looked up from the microscope. "I'm working here, you give yourself way too much credit," she snorted.

Aimee's eyes seemed to grow a size, "you transferred back?"

"Yes," Calleigh answered simply as she went back to her work on the microscope.

Aimee walked up to her sister and hugged her from behind.

Calleigh turned around and smiled. "Time to work now, colleague."

Aimee smiled and mockingly saluted her sister.

Horatio had followed Aimee to the Ballistics Lab; he wanted to see how she reacted on Calleigh working with her with his own eyes. After seeing the scene, he smiled. The bad guys in Miami were going to have a hard time with a dream team like this chasing them.

"Cal?" Aimee mumbled while she was working.

"Yes?" Calleigh answered absentmindedly.

"Remember you always told me to take life as it is?"

Calleigh looked up at Aimee and saw her sister's serious face. She smiled at the thought that Aimee still remembered almost everything she had told her when she was little.

"Yes, I do."

"I like life as it is, like this I mean," the younger blonde smiled.

"So do I Aimee."