wedding

Horatio called everyone together at Lina's restaurant, a place they frequently visited as a family, but it was easy to tell something was wrong when the only people there were Horatio, Natalia, Eric, Calleigh, Mari, Kaya, Ryan, and Lina.



Natalia was the first to talk. "What's wrong H?"

"The ________ trial is coming up," Horatio said, although the adults in the room all knew, even Lina. "Given the circumstances, they want to put protection with each of us, and our families."

"That sounds good to me," announced Calleigh, who was pregnant and had a daughter at home.

"You really think Kaya and I need one?" Lina asked. "We didn't have anything to do with the trial." She knew her little sister was not going to think that having a bodyguard was cool.


"Yes. You may not have anything to do with this, but both myself and Nat do."

"I think it's best that all both of you have one. I know that I would want Cal and do want Mari to have one." Eric told Lina. Even though his daughter was still not school age, he was as protective of her as he had been her namesake, maybe more so.

Calleigh nodded vigorously.

"Lina's right. I don't want one," Kaya said, crossing her arms, defending her sister. "I didn't do anything and I don't want to go to school with a cop following me."


Natalia stood up. "Kaya, I don't care. You will have protection, whether you want it or not."

"Then I'm not going to school."



"That we'll talk about at home," Horatio told her.


"Can't we put the girls together?" asked Calleigh. "One cop for the two of them?"

"That okay, sis?" Lina asked softly. She knew more than to argue any further. What her father had said, the look on Ryan's face, told her regardless of what she wanted or believed, she would end up with an escort anyway.



Kaya nodded. "Yeah." As long as she didn't have to go to school, she would be okay, especially if she got to hang out with Lina.

"What about Kyle, Dad? He's supposed to be in tomorrow," Lina reminded him, knowing he already knew down to the minute when her brother would be home.

"I already organised protection for him."

She nodded, sure that her brother would be as thrilled as she was. After all, he'd been in the military since he turned eighteen.


"Okay, so we are getting one cop for Kaya and Lina; one for Cal and Mari, since they are always together; one for Eric; one for Ryan; one for Kyle; one for me; and one for Nat. Am I forgetting anyone?" asked Horatio.

"When Calleigh's working or testifying, Mari can stay with us," Lina told her dad. "That way Calleigh still has her guard."


"Okay. Is that okay Cal?"

Calleigh nodded with a smile. "Thanks, Lina." She had no worries about her friend taking care of Mari, although she was a handful at times.

"Okay. Then, everything is set."

"So let's eat." Lina said, feigning a cheer she had no real feeling for. "Ryan, you want to help?"


"Sure." Ryan followed Lina to the kitchen.

She waited until the door was closed. "You want to tell me why all of a sudden Dad's scared?"

"I'm not sure. He opened a letter this afternoon, but I couldn't see what it was."

"But you think protection is necessary. Eric obviously does."


"Whatever it was that scared your dad is big. Eric and I are just following his lead."

Her hand went absentmindedly to her almost unseen scar on her neck, something that she did when she was deeply troubled.


"You okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." She smiled for him and started to load one of the big trays with food to take out.


Ryan took the tray from her. "Talk to me Lina."

"About what?" She feigned innocence.

"Something's bothering you."