Scene 3

Setting: Crime lab, not too far from the Motners' home. The three are heading to Ozzy's office and it's around 8 o'clock. The weather has cooled off a bit, but it there is still a warm breeze traveling throughout the town mixed with sadness and sorrow for the Motners' loss.

Characters Present: Ozzy, Mindy, and Caity.

(After a long day, the team has left the crime scene and returned to the crime lab. The building is towering up into the sky with grey, misted windows and black cars scattered in the parking lot. The sky begins to darken, and Ozzy's watch reads 8:06. Ozzy parks behind the lab and they all pile out of the car lazily. All three are exausted.)

Ozzy: (enters the building, holding the door for the girls) I don't know about you two, but I think this is going to be a difficult case.

Mindy: Oh Ozzy, I agree. That poor, poor girl. I just feel so horrible for the family.

Caity: (nods, but says nothing. She hasn't said a word ever since she caught view of Gabriella's body.)

Ozzy: (stumbles into the elevator, waiting for the rest of the crew to pile in before pressing floor 5) It's never fair when someone that young passes away, may it be from disease or murder.

Mindy:Of course not. No one deserves to die, especially at that age. (shakes her head)

(They arrive on the fifth floor and walk down the hall until reaching Ozzy's office, room 44. Ozzy takes a seat behind his desk, while as Mindy looks out the large, open window with crossed arms. Caity collapses into one of the blue bean bags in the corner of the room. The room is silent for a second and a warm, summer breeze flows in to start the conversation back up.)

Caity: (speaking for the first time since they had entered the lab) When will Gabriella's body be brought in for the autopsy?

Ozzy: The night crew told me they'd bring in the corpse tonight, though I will probably won't begin the autopsy till tomorrow afternoon. Why do you ask?

Caity: (with no hesitation) I want to be in room while you do the autopsy, Ozzy.

(Mindy and Ozzy stare at her with wide eyes. She was so squemish when she had seen the body earlier, how in the world could she watch Ozzy cut open the corpse?)

Caity: (fidgeting in the bean bag chair) Well, I know that sounds absurd, but I've been thinking. I really need to over come my fear of dead bodies sometime. I mean, I'm a freakin crime investigator. Looking at dead bodies is what we do. (shrugs) Like you said, Mindy, you can't shield me forever.

Mindy: (walks away from the window and towards Caity) I know I said that hun, but I didn't mean that you had to overcome your fear right away. You have to take it bit by bit at first. Seeing the autopsy is a hard thing to do. I witnessed my first autopsy years after I had began to work in the field. (rubs Caity's back) I didn't mean to make you feel rushed, or try to make you do something you didn't feel right about. Honestly.

Caity: (stands up quickly) No Mindy, I'm ready. Really! I am going to do it.

Ozzy: Well...if you're sure...

Mindy: (gives Ozzy a dirty look) Ozzy! Are you encouraging her? This is only her first case! She is not ready. (pauses, giving Caity a long, stern stare) Caity, I advise you to not do this.

Caity: (face turns red) Mindy, you aren't my mother.

Mindy: (bites her lip) I know that, but-

Caity: No, no buts. I'm doing it, okay? I have to. You don't have the right to keep me out of the room.

(With that, Caity storms out of the room and slams the door. Mindy turns to Ozzy with a frown.)

Mindy: (takes a seat across from Ozzy's desk) Oh Ozzy, she's right. Why did I have to act like that? Why do I always act like that around the new ones?

Ozzy: (pats Mindy's hand) Because you care about them. (stands up and walks behind Mindy, placing his hands on her shoulders) You're just trying to protect her, like any good friend should do.

Mindy: (mutters) Like any good mother should do...

Ozzy: (ignoring her comment) And plus, you are probably right. Caity ain't really ready to watch the autopsy. She could barely look at her face earlier without turning green. I wouldn't be surprised if she barfed all over Gabby's insides when I open her up.

Mindy: (not being able to hold in a laugh) Try not to jinx it. (smiles and gets out of the chair, interlacing her fingers with Ozzy's)

Ozzy: (leans in to give Mindy a quick kiss)

Mindy: (holds up a finger to Ozzy's eager lips) Don't get ahead of yourself buddy. (turns her head to the door) Not here, not now.

Ozzy: (disapointed) Fine. Can I have a hug at least?

Mindy: (grins) Sure. (wraps her arms around his neck. They hold the position for a while before Mindy breaks away.)

Mindy: I'd better get going. Tomorrow's gonna be rough and I need some sleep to be prepared for it all.

Ozzy: (nodding and turning to his desk, absent mindingly stacking various scattered papers) You're right. So Cait won't be viewing the autopsy, will she?

Mindy: I don't...know. I just don't know. I guess it is her choice. Maybe she can handle it all. Let's just discuss it all tomorrow, mmkay? Night Ozzy.

(Ozzy nods and squeezes Mindy's hand. She leaves, her arms wrapped around her body with worried and troubled eyes. Ozzy watches her go, secretly longing to grab her hand once more and kiss her. To hold her body close to his, sharing body heat. To run his fingers through her short, chestnut colored hair. To just be with her in a completely safe place, where no one could hurt either of them. He sighed and glanced at the floor. Mindy had made it clear before. They just couldn't have a relationship like that. No matter how much he wanted her, he couldn't have her. Slowly, Ozzy picked some clutter off the floor, gathered his things, and left for home. Alone.)