Hostages

When the morning came, my eyes opened to the sun coming through the window. Looking over to my right, I noticed the empty spot where someone recently slept. I began to question if yesterday really happened. Was this actually Calleigh Duquesne's house or was I dreaming and whoever this is, that's the real world? Glancing at my hands, I saw they were still paws and not fingers so that much was real. There was a heavenly scent coming from the impression on the bed. A scent I never wanted to forget. I wanted it to be her. That what we talked about last night really happened. My thoughts were going back and forth when a new smell filled my nose from the distance. A smell that made my mouth water...bacon. My heart began to race. There was obviously someone else here. Swallowing hard, I slid over until I was able to put my front paws onto the floor, followed by my back paws.

Once standing, I stretched front ways and back ways to get the sleepy from my legs. Though they were a tad shaky from nerves, I made my way out of the bedroom. Passing through the living room, I caught a glimpse of a woman with long, blonde hair as she crossed the kitchen in front of the doorway. My heart skipped a beat. Calleigh was real. Everything did in fact happen yesterday. I met her, made her see I was human still, came to her house with her, and heard her call me hers. Her and Natalia. I belonged to both of them. Not sure how I managed to keep walking, my legs threatening to give out the closer I got to her. The scent of her overpowered everything she was cooking. Mainly because I was so focused on it.

Calleigh was already dressed for work wearing a blue polo, black slacks, black heeled boots, and freshly blowdried hair that swayed softly as she walked. There was no stopping now. She needs to know I'm awake. The second I stepped into the doorway, Calleigh turned to look at me. With a smile, she said, "Good morning, Fire Wolf. Did you sleep okay?" I took a few steps into the kitchen and sat down, nodding in response to her question. "Good. I figured I would cook us some breakfast for your first day as a CSI." My nerves had begun to calm the more she spoke to me, allowing me to wag my tail with excitement. Turning off the stove, Calleigh carried two plates to the small dining room table. I followed over to sit next to one, which was placed directly across from the other. The plus side to being as big as I was, my head was at the perfect height to eat from the plate comfortably at the table.

As we ate, Calleigh made conversation, "Big day for you. Are you excited?" After taking a mouthful, I nodded before flattening my ears with a small whine. She smiled, "You'll do fine. If you get confused on what to do, we'll help you. Nobody is perfect, especially on the first day." I relaxed a little with her reassuring words. She then said, "I was texting Horatio and Natalia last night before I went to sleep. Told them that you figured out you can still type pretty good and what you wanted to be called. And don't worry, that's all I said." I did a slow nod to say thank you. After we finished eating, Calleigh cleaned up the kitchen, then proceeded to help me get my vest on. I had to wait for her to open the doors to allow me to leave the house and get into her car, which I do believe in time I will figure out how to do that myself. Even with paws, there still has to be a way to turn knobs and pull handles. I may have the body of a wolf, but this human brain will help me figure it out.

During the drive, my heart became unsteady again with the idea that I'm about to be at the Miami Dade Police Department where the crime lab was located as well. Which is also where everyone will be, everyone including Natalia. I know I was there yesterday, but now I'll be going in with the purpose of working. Walking into the front doors was like walking through a portal on the TV screen. The only difference is the stares I was getting from all the cops, detectives, lab workers, and the familiar faces of the guys I will be working with: Erik Delco and Ryan Wolfe. They waved as we walked by toward the locker room. Not long after we got there, a voice spoke from behind me that made my insides smile. Turning around, I saw Natalia walking towards me. My tail had a mind of it's own as it wagged nonstop. Sitting down on the bench next to me, she placed her right hand on my head and proceeded to stroke passed my ears a few times. I could hear the happiness as she spoke to me, "It's good to see you. Are you ready for your first real case?" I nodded, making her smile again as she stood up to look at Calleigh. "Alright. Let's go see what Horatio has for us."

Walking in between both Calleigh and Natalia felt like the safest place I could be. Like there was no possible way anyone could touch me here. The excitement I had, there were no words for it. We didn't even make it halfway to the meeting room when Calleigh's phone rang. She answered it right away, "Good morning Horatio......Uh huh.....Oh that's terrible.....Let me ask her." She looks at me to relay the question he wanted to ask, "They have a hostage situation and they could use a canine unit. Unfortunately there are none available. Horatio told them about you and they're asking for your help. Are you up for something like that?" I gulped, then slowly nodded. Calleigh could tell my hesitation, but told Horatio I would and that we'll meet him there. After hanging up, she had us follow her into an empty room. Squatting in front of me, she asked, "Are you sure? This is a really big assignment for your first day. Nobody would be mad at you if you don't want to do it." "Exactly," Natalia agreed. "If you're not ready for this yet, we can do something smaller for you." Shaking my head, I walked towards the door and looked back at them. Calleigh stood up, "Okay. Let's get going then."

Wasting no time, we rushed to the Hummer to get there as quick as possible. As Calleigh weaved in and out of traffic, sirens blaring, I thought back to yesterday when I rode in here for the first time with them. They had no idea at the time that I was still basically human. They talked as if I wasn't even there. Now I belonged there. They knew who and what I was, including me on all conversations. My mind then drifted to where we were going. Never thought that my first official case was to save someone's life. That's when a new fear crept up. A fear of what if I failed? What if I couldn't save anyone? Taking a deep breath, I calmed my nerves to keep myself positive. I just need to rely on my wolf instincts with a little help from my human thinking. I'm sure whatever I do, I will save a life today.

When we got there, the roads were filled with flashing lights from cops, SWAT, an ambulance on standby, and a news van. Even though everyone was there for one reason, that didn't stop all eyes turning to me the second I jumped down from the Hummer. I'm sure a lot of them were shocked to see a large wolf show up in a police vest ready to work. While we walked towards where Horatio was waiting on us next to the SWAT captain, Calleigh placed her hand on my head to help ease my fears with a few pets, pushing my ears back with each stroke she made. It definitely helped when she spoke softly to me, "Don't worry about anyone else. Remember, they only see a wolf. We are the only ones who see the human in you." I nodded as she pet me a couple more times.

"Good morning ladies. Fire Wolf," Horatio greeted us as we finally got to where they were, saying the last part with a nod in my direction. "Fire Wolf? That's cute," the captain said sarcastically and yet I could tell he meant it as well. Turning to Calleigh and Natalia, he spoke to them, "Okay, we have one armed suspect with two hostages...his wife and 8 year old daughter. We got the call around 4:12am from his mother when she tried to get in the door. He's been refusing to answer the phone and hasn't made any demands. Leads me to believe he's gone psychotic. We were able to get one of the windows in the back cracked open, away from those nosey news cameras. He may be watching from the TV. If you can get your...uh...dog into that window, she can sneak around and take him down. Can she do that without anyone getting shot?" Calleigh looked at me and without asking me, I looked into her eyes and slowly blinked one time for yes. She looked back at the captain with her hand on my head, "She can do it."

With that confirmation in his ears, he led us to the back of the house in a crouched position where we met with another SWAT officer. Once there, he proceeded to slowly open the window enough so that I could fit through with Calleigh's help. Once I stepped onto the carpet, the officer lowered the window to where it appeared to be closed. Looking around I could tell I was in the master bedroom. I believed it to be the furthest from the living room so it was actually a good entering location. Slowly, and very carefully I made my way down the hallway, constantly focused on the sounds and smells the deranged man gave off. I made it to the end where I could lay low and peek around the corner, keeping my ears flat to be less noticable. He was wearing a white tank top, basic blue jeans, and messy black hair that looks like it hasn't been combed in weeks. In his hands was what I thought to be some kind of rifle.

The guy was pacing back in forth in front of the couch where his wife and daughter sat terrified. The wife had long, dirty blonde hair and wore a green tank top with blue jean shorts. The daughter had matching hair but wore a long yellow sun dress. To my left was the kitchen which circled around to the dining room and back to the living room. Ideas were going through my head at rapid speed, trying to figure a way to get that gun from him without it going off. I watched him with intense focus as he paced, noting his postures, habits, but most importantly on how he handled the gun. Every so often he would actually put it down in the table and adjust his pants or run both his hands through his hair. I knew right then what I needed to do.

The moment he turned his back toward me during his pacing, I quickly, yet silently darted into the kitchen. I heard the little girl lightly gasp, which caused her dad to say, "What was it? Did you see something?" I could tell he was moving towards the hallway. That girl made a quick and smart response, "I thought I was going to sneeze, but it went away." The man grumbled and went back to his pacing. He wasn't in his right mind so he was thankfully redirected easily. I army crawled to the edge of the kitchen, just out of sight of the dining room table. Like a cat that was ready to pounce, I prepared my back legs to spring to second he set the gun down. Slowing my breathing, I calmed my racing heart, then continued to breathe slowly up until it finally happened. The gun was set down and his hands went up into his hair.

Time was too valuable to waste, his hands hadn't even made it to his head when I sprang forward. I had actually moved so fast that he fell backwards as he turned around in surprise. His stumble worked in my favor, I was able to grab the gun with my mouth and threw it aside towards the kitchen. I could see the fear in his eyes as I bared my teeth, growling, causing him to back away. I made a fake lunge, forcing him back into a corner in the living room. Once I had him away from his family, I turned toward them with a gentle expression and made a quick glance at the front door. They took the hint and rushed to the door. The guy made an attempt to stop them but I went back into protective mode and made a bite in the air at him, forcing him back into the corner again. I heard the cops outside say, "Hold your fire!" Signaling that the wife and daughter were in good hands.

When I knew they were safe, I backed away to allow the man to move a bit. Like a sheepdog herding a flock of sheep, I made him go towards the front door. I think at this point was when he admitted defeat because when he opened it, he was already putting his hand on his head before they even told him to. I took that moment to go pick the gun up in my mouth, right above where the trigger was, and carry it outside. Calleigh greeted me at the bottom of the steps to take the gun from me. With a smile, she said, "Good girl." I wagged my tail and enjoyed the few ear scratches I got from her. When Horatio came up beside her, holding his sunglasses in his hands, I slightly lowered my ears and took a few steps toward him. His smile was as soft as his eyes, which had the look of approval. He reached his hand out slowly and let it hang in the air. I swallowed hard, stepping forward one step to allow his hand to rest on top of my head. He did two small strokes and said, "Good job." Pulling his hand back, Horatio put his sunglasses back on and continued the praise, "That was very good work."

It was then that the SWAT captain came up to us with praise as well, "I'm not sure what she did in there, but that was the fastest resolve we've had in a hostage situation. And not even a bite mark on him." Calleigh pet my head with a smile, "She knows what to do and what not to do. She knows harming someone is only a last resort. To take a more harmfree approach first." "I would love a canine like that on my team. Would you be willing to let her come on?" I did a whine and growl combination and I backed away until I was standing sideways behind Calleigh. Natalia had joined us by then and heard that question. She too stood in front of me saying, "I don't think she wants to do that." "And she belongs to myself and Natalia. Fire Wolf is our dog. She won't go to anyone else." I could sense Natalia looking at Calleigh for a second with confusion but quickly corrected her gaze. The captain tried another approach, "You can still be her handlers, just want full access to her." That's when Horatio stepped in, "She's staying with us. But if you need help again, then you give me a call. And I will let you know if she's available. Okay?" Frustrated but yet understanding, the captain nodded, "Fine. That wolfdog has some amazing potential." The whole time they were talking, in the midst of my fear was the sense of amazement. They hadn't known me a full 24 hours yet and were already protecting me. Both Calleigh and Natalia stood in between the captain and myself to keep him from me. It was an incredible safe feeling.

After he left, Calleigh sighed, "That was rough. Thank you Horatio." He nodded, "We know exactly what she is and that's all anyone doesn't need to know. I will always do whatever it takes to keep her here." Looking down at me, he smiled, "Your secret is safe with us." I did a single nod at him in thanks. We made our way back to the Hummer to drive back to the lab, finally allowing Natalia to ask the question that's been sitting in the front of her mind, "What was that all about?" "What was what about?" Calleigh sounded as confused as Natalia." "You said, 'Fire Wolf is our dog.' What did you mean by that?" Calleigh looked at me through her rearview mirror. I gave a long sigh, then nodded at her. She then pointed to beside me, "Get my laptop. I saved what Wolf typed last night. She wanted to tell you this all herself. I guess in a way she still is, I'll just give more details if you need me to."

Natalia turned around and got it from next to me and then opened up Microsoft Word I had used. Saving what I type does make it easier so I didn't have to retype everything. I wanted to watch her expression but I was nervous to what she was going to think. So I simply just looked out the window with my ears down. A few minutes passed when a touch on the side of my face made me jump. Looking over, I saw Natalia smiling, "If you want this, then I'm okay with it too." "You have to make it official." Natalia looked at Calleigh, "What?" "She wanted me to verbally call her my dog so that it would be official. So you may need to do the same." "Oh. Okay. Yeah, I can do that." Setting the laptop aside, Natalia surprised me by actually crawling into the backseat with me, pulling me into a hug that positioned my face under her chin. With it resting on the top of my head, and her right arm wrapped around so that she could hold me and stroke the side of my face at the same time just like Calleigh did last night, Natalia spoke the words that made my heart race with excitement and yet melt with her love, "Fire Wolf, I have never had a dog as wonderful as you. I'm so glad of all the dogs in the world, you are mine." I felt my body collapse into her as she wiped away a tear I didn't know I had.

The rest of the day was easier. They took me to a crime scene of a murder and I was able to identify the killer within a couple hours. All I had to do with use my nose and their pressure to make him crack. Horatio said he wouldn't be able to put me on the payroll but wanted to still pay me with something. All I had to do was lick my lips to tell him what would be the perfect payment. I got the best steak ever for lunch and I know that's just the beginning. That night I went home with Natalia, but not before getting more head pets and neck scratches from Calleigh. Horatio had 5lbs of deboned chicken delivered to Natalia's house for my dinner, giving me a full belly for the night. My fear was leaving from all I had felt when I first met them. I was now comfortable enough to completely relax around both of them. Falling asleep came easy. Soon I was drifting off laying next to Natalia Boa Vista, my owner.