Marked For Duty

Out of Time

[A/N: As said before this story is going to be based of the storylines in Season 8-9 but there are some big and small details that will be changed for the sake of the story. *This chapter is also going to be the sort of beginning and introduction to Jesse and Madeline's relationship and is also based off of the episode "Out of Time" in season 8*. Hope you enjoy though!!!]

Madeline and Horatio were at the front door of the victim's and the husband's home. Horatio knocks on the door.

"Steve Bowers?" Madeline asks right after the door opens. There is a dark-skinned man at the door replies with a nod.

"Mr. Bowers, we're sorry to inform you but we found your wife's body. Can we come in?" Horatio breaks the information to him. The man again replies with nod and moves out the way to let us in.

Horatio lets him process the information but then he speaks up and says, "I was about to call state patrol. Figured her car broke down somewhere." As he finishes his statement Madeline looks over at Horatio and notices that his gaze was on something on the floor. She tries to see what he was looking at and notices that there is a trail of mud coming from the back door. She then starts to think what she's sure is Horatio is thinking; the trail came from whoever murdered Amy Bowers.

Just as she focuses back on Steve Bowers she hears him say, "Monday morning is the last time I saw Amy."

"Well today's Wednesday, what are you doing here?" Sully says suspiciously

"I came home when Amy didn't answer the phone. I was worried." Bowers argued back

"Can anybody vouch for your whereabouts in the last 24 hours?

Bowers stutters a bit before answering, "No, but I left a message on the answer machine this morning. You can listen to it." He tries to defend himself.

"Do you own a firearm?" Madeline speaks up again since she got there.

" I did but uh Amy didn't like having a gun in the house so I sold it. Guess I forgot to get rid of the bullets." he almost nervously replies.

Madeline had to admit that this man did sound a bit suspicious when trying to get his story out, but she didn't want to jump to any conclusions about the man because she could potentially be wrong. Horatio walks up to Sully and starts to have a quiet conversation with him. Madeline continues to stand there observong the house and Mr. Bowers.

"Mr. Bowers, have you been doing some cleaning?" Horatio finally speaks up after a few moments.

" I told you, I haven't been home." he says trying to defend himself

"Some of the bullets are missing." Sully says accusingly

"You think I shot my wife?" Bowers says incredulously as he stood up

"Yea" Sully instantly replies

Madeline walks up to them and hears Horatio say, " You know what maybe we shouldn't rush this, let's see how the evidence lines up"

"I know how it's gonna line up. Its a crime of passion. I mean this guy's greasy as lard. Come on, he can't even fake tears." Sully argues with Horatio

Madeline was conflicted with the argument. She believed that the husband's story was a bit suspicious and a lot of the evidence pointed towards him. But she also trusted the opinion of Horatio and would do anything he said.

" Sully somebody tracked mud across that floor. His shoes are as clean as a whistle. They never touched dirt" Horatio calmly argued back

"He washed them. Just like he spit-shined the rest of this place." Sully point back

As Madeline was watching the whole argument she was starting to agree with what Horatio was saying and said "Sully there isn't any motive"

Sully looked at Madeline saying " We'll get motive later. I'm taking the widower back to the barn, Make sure he doesn't leave town." As they walk out Madeline hears Bowers try to defend himself by saying that he didn't do it multiple times. Horatio and Madeline continued to look around the house for anymore evidence and before they leave she sees Horatio sniff the wall before he walks out of the house with Madeline following him.

***Time Skip***

As Madeline and Jesse are casually talking they get interrupted by a blonde woman walking into the office saying "Excuse me. Gentlemen. I'm sorry to interrupt you. I was wondering if someone could point in the direction of Lietenant Fred Dorsey. He's in the Special Investgation's Unit."

"How about I point you to my unit, and you can work the night shift with me?" Parker replies

Madeline rolls her eyes and stands while Jesse replies "I'm sure your wife would take issue with that, Parker." Jesse stands as well and we both walk towards the blonde woman

"Sorry about that" Madeline firstly says

"They're stuck in the stone age. I'm Jesse Cardoza and this is Madeline Grace." the woman sticks both her hands out with a smile and introduces herself as Calleigh Duquesne

"So you're Jesse Cardoza and you're Madeline Grace. I gotta remember those names" she says smiling

Madeline frowns a little bit before replying "Don't bother remembering his" she put an arm around his shoulder "...today's his last day" she finishes

"So you're looking for the lab?" Jesse changes the subject

"Yes please?" Calleigh replies

"Follow him" Madeline replies pointing to Jesse

***Time Skip***

For the rest of the day Madeline, Horatio, Calleigh and Jesse spent the rest of the day trying o figure out the case. Even one of Madeline and Horatio's good friends, Eric Delko was able to find the murder weapon of Amy Bowers. Sully and Horatio had a bit of a disagreement with the case because the A.S.A. has agreed to charge Bowers. Madeline and Horatio at that point were determined to find the killer of Amy Bowers and they had the help of Jesse and Calleigh.

As the four of them were processing the gardener, Horatio speaks up and says "Hang on a second, guys what is that?" Jesse then takes a piece of tape and sticks it on his shirt, but they determined it was dirt.

After the gardener starts to get annoyed and we start to find no evidence of him being the killer Horatio starts to tell him tilt his head back all the way. Calleigh then grabs a swab a swabs the inside of his nose and blood comes out. At that point all four of them know the blood doesn't belong to him.

In the end Horatio got a favor from one of his friends and was able to multiply the DNA sample and that was enough evidence to prove that the gardener killed Amy Bowers.
At the end of the day Jesse's shift ended and he officially wasn't working in that building anymore. Madeline and Jesse stood outside the building side by side not saying anything to each other.
After a while Madeline finally spoke up "You sure there isn't anything I could do to make you stay?"
Jesse sighs at the question "I don't think so. I think this is what I need."
Madeline takes a deep breath and replies, "Alright then. If it's what you need then I'm gonna let you go. But don't you dare lose touch with Jesse Cardoza. And I'm visiting at least once a year."
They both laugh and Jesse replies, "I'm counting on it" Madeline smiles at his reply.
Horacio then comes up to the both of them and bids Jesse goodbye and walks away. Madeline makes him put his box of belongings down and immediately throws herself into his arms. Jesse instantly react and wraps his arms around her waist. They hug for a moment before she pulls away and leaves a kiss on his cheek which makes Jesse blush.
"Don't you forget me while you're gone alright?" Madeline says with a sad tone in her voice.
"Never" Jesse replies with a smile. A smile that she returns