In a World They Forgot

Say What You Mean, Tell Me I'm Right

*Miki’s POV*

I sat amongst the boxes in the small, but cosy house we were moving into. It was late and neither of us had the strength to continue unpacking, despite how badly we wanted to. Greg had been telling me to rest all day, reminding me that I was fifteen weeks pregnant and needed to take it easy. I loved the man to bits but he was fussing around me like I was a delicate Faberge vase that needed to be handled with the utmost care.

However, there was something playing on my mind and it had been ever since I had discovered my pregnancy. As I sat there, hand on my tightened stomach, my thoughts wandered to my dad and the kind of man that he had been. Someone had killed him and then tried to kill me, but why? Kyle Cavendish was in jail for a long time, but the man who killed my father was still probably walking the streets and no one had been able to drag out a full confession. Kyle eventually succumbed and admitting to pulling the trigger in the back of the van, but he refused to reveal why he had done it.

To be honest, it hadn’t really bothered me; life had been too amazing to sit dwelling on the past and something that I may never know, but now things were so very different.

My dad had died before I was born and now I was fearful of something happening again to me. I was going to grow more vulnerable over the coming months and I didn’t want anyone taking advantage of that, just because they had unfinished business with the Romani name.

Most of the gang involved were off the street, but there were still one or two of the clever guys evading the law, but if they really had something to gain from killing me, then maybe they would try again and maybe this time I wouldn’t be so lucky. Plus, what if, one day, they came after my baby? I couldn’t live with myself if something ever happened to him or her.

“Hey Miks, what are you doing?” Greg leaned against the doorframe that led into the room I was sitting in; the one intended to be turned into a nursery over the upcoming weeks.

“Just thinking.” I told him, looking up to meet his gaze with a small smile.

“Looked awfully glum to be just thinking.” He noted, stepping over some boxes to join me on the floor, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me down to rest against his chest.

“I was thinking about my dad.” I admitted, knowing that Greg wouldn’t buy any act that I put on these days.

“Go on.” He encouraged, his fingers toying with my dark hair.

“I still don’t know why they killed him and then tried to kill me.”

“Miks, you know that cases go cold sometimes.” He said softly, glancing down to try and read my expression.

“I know, it’s just that I’m worried in case they come back again. I mean, they had to have a valid reason for trying to kill me when I didn’t even know the man who crossed them. Why go to all the effort for nothing?”

“I understand, but it’s been over a year since we got any new leads. Cavendish is in prison and there’s nothing going to get him out.”

“But there’s still people out there. Greg, I just need answers. I need to know that our baby is safe.”

“Our baby is fine. I’m not going to let anyone hurt either of you, ever.” He pulled me closer, lifting me onto his lap and cuddling me close.

“I want to see if I can look into the cases one more time. I may see something if I look at them and then speak again to my mom. She may know something trivial that could be crucial.”

“Brass spoke to her several times Miks.”

“But Brass isn’t her daughter! Look, I didn’t think about it at the time, but my mom used to tell me stories about the silly things my dad would do. Of course, she wouldn’t tell them to the cops because they just seem like stupid tales, but for me they were everything.” I explained, my logic shining through, clearer than the light of day itself, but Greg didn’t seem convinced.

“Miks, I don’t want you overworking yourself or putting yourself in danger.”

“I know and I promise that I won’t. I just want to give this one more shot before I have our baby.” I whispered, leaning up to kiss him softly.

He looked at me, worry written in his eyes, before he smiled softly, succumbing to my wishes and nuzzling my neck as he held me close. “Okay, but don’t keep anything from me on this one.”

“I promise.”

“Miki, I really don’t think it’s wise for you to do this.”

“But Griss, I need to know.”

“I’ve seen too many people lose themselves in personal cases. The last thing I want is for you to endanger yourself or your baby’s health chasing dead ends.”

“But I won’t. Look, I’m becoming more useless to this team because of my pregnancy. I can’t be around the chemicals, I’m going to be dealing with sickness and eventually nothing but paperwork and backlogs and I want to be able to do one useful thing before my maternity leave begins. If you think I’m drowning in the case then I have you guys to be my dry land.”

Grissom looked down at me and I tried to make him see just how important this was to me. A soft slump appeared in his shoulder and he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fine Miki, but I want you to promise me that you will take it easy and come to me with anything you find. You are not to chase up anything by yourself without consulting us first, understand?”

“Thank you Griss. I will, I’ll come to you and Brass with anything that may crack the case wide open.”

“Also, this case is to be put on the backburner. You already have a job to do and this team takes priority over a cold case, regardless of how personal it may be.”

I nodded, understanding him completely. I was just happy that I had a chance to work my dad’s case and hopefully find out why I had been forced to grow up without him.