We would like to thank ALL our loyal readers for your support while we have been away. In the next few weeks, you will see our stories being reposted here for all of you to read along with several NEW stories we've written while we've been away.

We appreciate all the kind messages we've received for our readers...we didn't realize how many of you were reading our stories, lol. It has brought HUGE smiles to us and we hope you'll continue to stick with us as we re-post some old favorites and hopefully new favorites. Thanks again!

CaineSpeedle & Speedfanatic05

Now for the good stuff!

**WARNING: STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT AND LANGUAGE! You Are Warned**

DISCLAIMER: We don't own any of the Miami characters and we're NOT making any money off of them!

SEQUEL TO: "Legacy Of Madness"

Darkness. It was what he felt when he began to surface, its tenuous hold on him becoming less and less strong. There was a lashing out of strength that rippled under him, enough to pull him out of the darkness that now seemingly covered him, but not enough to sustain him. As he began to find his way back to the light, he could feel how abused his body had been and then there was the insatiable hunger that was accompanying his ascent, not for food, but for the attaining of a higher euphoria. This hunger attached itself to him and as he began to break free of the bondage's of the darkness, Horatio could feel it taking over him and possessing his body.

Blinking, he could now perceive warmth all around him. From the radiated heat of what he was surmising was the sun, to a concentrated heat on his side, it felt almost divine to him considering the deep, darkness in which he was bursting forth from. He moved slowly and was rewarded with mind numbing pain and then as he opened his eyes, the memories that had been repressed came surging back, overloading and overwhelming him all in the same motion. Anxiety began to take root and he grasped whatever was under his hand and held on as his body began to quiver, the hunger now roaring almost beastly inside of him. It was almost too much to handle and as he began to focus more, he saw that he wasn't alone. She was there, sitting beside him with a look of utter horror. He hadn't forgotten how she had proclaimed her desire not to have him in her life and so her presence was perplexing, furthering his anxiety. Who he wanted, he remembered with clarity, was dead and she wasn't coming back which meant that the fix was eternally lost.

Beginning to weep as his body continued to shudder, Horatio spoke, his voice grave, "Adrienne's…gone…I need…it. She…had it. I need it."

After spending all week at his side, Calleigh felt as he gripped at her hand and lifted her head. His eyes blinked open slowly, his face pale, swollen and bruised like the rest of his body. A look of fear came over him and as he spoke, Calleigh knew exactly what his body was craving…needing. Sitting up more and leaning in to him, she spoke softly, trying to keep him calm, "It's okay now, Horatio. She can't hurt you anymore. You're bodies going through detox now."

Horatio's brows knit as if in a confused state, the hunger now thrashing inside of him. Now that he was starting to become more aware, he could feel ever inch of the ache that delved deep, the need to have it starting to thrum within him. He tried to pull his hand from her and his face away from hers, he bit out bitterly, "Get me out of here. I gotta get out of here…I need to get…."

"Horatio!" Calleigh bite out, trying to get through to him. Reaching for him, she made him look at her, "Fight it, Horatio…don't let this take you over like it did your brother." Seeing the look in his eyes change, she shook her head, "You can beat this."

His body still shuddered with the need, but the thought of his brother centered him. As deep as the fire burned inside of him, he still recognized that this was what brought his brother to ruin. He stared at Calleigh and tried to hold on to the defiance but faltered, his eyes crinkling with defeat, "I'm not strong enough anymore…Please…Calleigh. Get it for me. Just a little bit…"

"No, Horatio." Taking hold of his hand, she shook her head, "You know I can't do that. You have to get this poison out of your system." Gripping his hand more, her eyes pleaded with his, "Your body cannot take anymore, it almost killed you…and I don't want to loose you."

"You can't lose something you didn't have, Calleigh." Horatio could feel his body tremor and he shook his head more, "I want it to stop…It has to stop. Adrienne was going to make it stop." Pulling his hand from her grip he cringed, "She was going to stop it for me and you killed her."

Staring at him, Calleigh crinkled her brow, not understanding, "She was trying to kill you, Horatio. She damn near did too. I had to give you CPR…the doctors spent hours working on you because of her. She fed you heroin, Horatio. She overdosed you on it to kill you."

"She was making it easier. I wanted to die," Horatio said as he stared off. His eyes slid shut and he shook his head, "I won't be able to get it now. She's …gone. I need it so bad to take away the pain and now…I can't." The pain coursed through him as he tried to maneuver his body to turn away from her, "Why did you come, you should've let me die."

Tears began to set in and Calleigh looked down at her hands, "I…I love you and…I couldn't let you go, Horatio. I-I'm nothing without you."

"That's odd, because I remember you telling me that you don't…" The minute feeling of his muscles ticking caused him to pause and he blinked rapidly, feeling the sweat beginning. His body quivered rapidly and as he grasped the bed, he screamed as the pain scorched through him.

"Horatio…" she gasped as she reached for the nurse call button and then leaned over to him. Running her hand through his hair, she spoke in a calm soothing voice, "Shh, it's okay, don't fight it, Horatio. You're detoxing from the heroin. Let it get out your system."

Thrashing in agony, Horatio felt her hands and heard her voice in her attempts to try and calm him. His body acted on it's own accord, the burning desire to get that next fix warring with the dejection of the drugs already in his system. The flame that licked at every inch of his body continued on in one relentless wave after the other and his screams dwindled to a whimpered cry as the sweat began to drop profusely. Once it seemed as if the wave was receding, he panted and allowed her to stroke his hair in a calming manner. Even as the physical pain quieted for a moment, the hunger remained and he began to shake his head, his voice full of venom, yet quiet, "Don't touch me! Get me what I need, Calleigh. It's the only thing that's going to help."

"I am not getting you drugs, Horatio. They damn near killed you." Making eye contact with him she raised a brow and spoke firmly, "Whether you like it or not, I'm not leaving you. You didn't leave me…and I'm not leaving you."

Horatio held her gaze for only one moment before averting his eyes, the anger apparent. He flung his arm away from her and turned as much as he could, "You didn't want me. Leave me." The fire began to grow again and he thrashed, grabbing at his arms. He needed to get out of there, to find something to cool the fire that was torturing from within. Tearing at the IV, he screamed more as the fire finally consumed him again. His muscles spasmed and he grit his teeth to get him through the unimaginable pain.

Coming into the room with a nurse, Dr. Ron Beckley moved to the bed quickly, getting hold of Horatio's arm's. Looking towards the nurse he began to bark out orders, "Get me some orderly's in here so we can restrain him and call down to the pharmacy and have them send up some Suboxone."

Watching as the nurse did as she was told, she knew all too well about dealing with addicts. In the little time that Adrienne had been with him, she had gotten him addicted to the harsh drug. When the spasms began to subside some, she looked to the doctor, "How long will he be going through detox like this?"

Holding the red head down, he looked to the young woman and then shook his head, "With the drugs to help, it will take about a week for the hard withdrawal symptoms to pass, but the need will take years to eliminate and even then, he could relapse." When it was seeming that Horatio was calming, he relaxed slightly, "It's normal for an recovering addict to relapse between the first week and two years after kicking the habit."

"He'd never used before a few days ago…" she almost whispered as she continued to watch Horatio. Looking back at the doctor, she sighed, "What can I do to help him with beating this?"

"You can be there for him. Be stern and never waver. He needs strength and stability, but mostly to know that he's loved. The heroin took the pain away, and by telling him how you feel, how much he's loved and wanted, perhaps that will lessen the pain. Give him something other than the drugs to desire."

Nodding, she looked back as the door opened and two orderly's came in, one carrying cloth restraints. Watching as they got Horatio restrained to the bed, she felt her heart break at seeing him like this. Before her was a broken man, one she'd pushed away, but still loved more then life itself, Biting her lip, she moved back to his side once they had finished and placed her hand onto his. "I'm not gonna leave you, Horatio."

Horatio kept his head turned as he breathed in and out heavily, struggling with the restraints. A pulsating anger crashed through him and he closed his eyes, determining to suffer in silence. She had told him that she didn't want him in her life, and now, he couldn't help but remember the words that Adrienne had said, the picture of her and Tim in an embrace. His muscles spasmed again and he pulled harder at the restraints, groaning. The sheets that were under him were already drenched in sweat and the tips of his hair were darkened with it. He felt like his life was over and now he was being punished for not going the full steps to death.

Even among the pain, he managed, "I don't want you here, Calleigh. Goddammit, you tossed me away. Adrienne said that you toyed with me… you didn't really want…me."

Tired of hearing about Adrienne, Calleigh let her temper come into play to show him she wasn't backing down, "Adrienne lied to you! She tried to kill you, Horatio. She was the one toying with you…not me. I loved you and I still love you! Why do you think I showed up without backup? To find you!"

"I'm touched," Horatio responded sharply as he braced himself once more. He was becoming exhausted and the spasms were not relinquishing its hold on him. Anger spiked within him and he sneered as he writhed, "And where was Speed when you decided to come and find me, in your bed?"

Raising her brow, Calleigh shook her head, "Tim and I are only friends, Horatio. Just like you and him are. He was just as worried about you as the rest of us…he even helped Jesse and the others try to find you."

"Yeah, right. Only friends." Staring ahead, Horatio scowled, "I saw…pictures of you and him. Together. You were in his arms, Calleigh. So don't come here and tell me that you're here for me. You never wanted to see me again. I was going to make that happen." The overwhelming feeling of nausea over came him and he vomited, lashing out in deep seated pain. "LEAVE ME! NOW!"

"I'm not leaving you…" she replied as she hit the nurse call button. "You're stuck with me whether you like it or not! I love you and if I have to tell you that every minute of the day I will!"

As the nurses flooded the room, Horatio turned to her, glowering at her, "You'll be wasting your time."

"But at least you'll know I do love you," she stated firmly and then moved out the way as the nurse began to clean up Horatio and the bed. Crossing her arms over her chest, she stared at him, unsure just how much of this she'd truly be able to endure. Knowing he'd have to sleep at some point, she decided she'd call the one person that would be able to give her advice on how to proceed, Alexx.

When the nurses finished cleaning him up and another came in with the IV medication for his detox withdrawals, she waited until it was administered and the nurse left before approaching the bed again. Taking a seat back in the chair, Calleigh sighed, "I don't know what she filled you're head with, Horatio. The truth is I do love you. I left messages at your hotel…on your cell. I wanted to apologize to you…to tell you I do love you and cannot live without you."

Almost immediately, the medicine quieted the hammering and doused the flames, allowing him to relax for a short moment. Without the pain, there was just the undeniable hunger that now plagued him and he finally looked to Calleigh his eyes clear of the fury. Shaking his head, he whispered, "I'm lost, Calleigh. I'm lost forever."

"No, Horatio…no." Moving to the edge of the chair, she reached for his hand, squeezing it gently, "You're not lost. I'm here and I'm not gonna leave you again. I love you, Horatio…I never stopped loving you. I was…" she said as she took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to fight back her emotions, "I was stupid for not listening." Looking back to him, she took in a shaky breath, "I don't love, Tim…I never have. I've never been with him and I never will be. I love you and only you."

Another round of body tremors took control and he closed his eyes, biting down on his lips to keep from screaming. The pain rolled through every muscle and stiffened his body, making it harder for him to control. He gripped Calleigh's hand tightly and then released it when it seemed that the tremor cycle was over, shaking his head woefully. He was paying the price for his addiction, and even more so now because despite the dreadful pain, he still could taste the deep desire. He could feel the perspire dripping and he sighed heavily, turning from Calleigh, the shame filling him completely.

"I don't want you to see me like this, Calleigh," he whispered almost inaudibly. "I can feel the pull, Calleigh. I have to have it. I can't live without it."

"Horatio, I'm not gonna leave you." Getting up, she went over, getting a washcloth from the sink and wetting it. Going back to him, she leaned over the bed to him and began to wipe at his brow, "I love you too much to leave. I wish you'd understand that."

Taking a moment of pleasure from her attention, Horatio exhaled softly and continued to stare out, "I don't deserve happiness, or your love." His stomach rolled and he began to gag, the pain covering him again. In his mind, this was exactly what he deserved and as he began to seize, he released Calleigh's hand completely. His body stiffened and he whimpered, powerless to stop any of it.

Grabbing for the plastic basin, she placed it at his head and continued to talk him through the withdrawals, "You're not alone with this, Horatio. I'm gonna be here for you to lean on. I know you can beat this and you will, sweetie." As he got sick again, she waited until he expelled all he could and then set the basin aside. Using the other side of the washcloth, she wiped his mouth for him, "And you do deserve to be happy, Horatio…if anyone deserves that, it's you."

Gasping, Horatio stared at Calleigh as she looked down on him, her soft smile encouraging him. The problem now laid with if he could accept the love that she was trying to give him.

After deep silence, Horatio found himself becoming drowsy and his eyes closed slowly before he gave up completely, settling into a darkened slumber. The ache still burned deeply and the anxiety was tremendous, his body ticking uncontrollably.

Watching as he gave in to the exhaustion, Calleigh continued to gently dab at his face, trying to help keep him cool. She hated to see him this way and in some ways blamed herself for pushing him into Adrienne's trap. Taking in a deep breath, she leaned down to him, kissing his forehead and whispered to him, "I love you, Horatio…I love you." Standing back up, Calleigh quietly got her cell phone and headed to the door, needing a few minutes to gather herself.

Bending down and pulling out a bag of chips from the vending machine, Calleigh then moved to the soda machine to get herself a drink. The day had been hard for her, Horatio's sudden outbursts taking a toll on her. Throughout the day she'd stayed at his side for the most part, trying to keep him calm when he was awake and then taking a moment for herself as he slept restlessly.

Getting the bottle of soda the machine spit out, she turned to head back to the room, wanting to be there for when he awoke again. Taking the corner, she saw Tim standing at the nurses station talking to Horatio's nurse and headed for him. At the moment, she knew Horatio wouldn't want to see anyone, much less Tim being Adrienne had filled his head with lies about them. Coming to rest next to him, she gave him a small smile, "Hey."

Doing a double take, Tim looked down at Calleigh and smiled warmly, turning fully to her, "Hey. Things must be better, you're not at his side." Reaching out for her, he saw the dark circles that were coming and sighed heavily, "You're not sleeping again."

"I sleep when I can. He woke up this morning and it's been…hectic. He's having bad withdrawals and major outbursts. They had to restrain him to the bed after he ripped out his IV this morning," she said as she leaned against the counter. Shaking her head, she sighed, "He's also convinced that you and I are sleeping together."

"What? How can he think that? I haven't done anything to make him think that." Tim moved towards the elevators, "We're going to go and talk about this."

"Tim, not right now. He's finally resting again and I don't want him disturbed," Calleigh said as she reached for his arm and stopped him. Sighing, she looked around and then back to him. "Supposedly Adrienne showed Horatio a picture of you and me in an embrace and then filled his head with lies about us. I've been talking to him about it as much as I can and reinforcing the fact that nothing has happened between us."

"More of a reason why I should go up and talk to him. He has to know that I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize what you two have." Tim could see in her eyes the indescribable fear and relented, "Alright…I'll wait to see him, but he's gotta know that there's nothing between us."

"Then give him a few days to get over the detox," Calleigh requested. Pulling him aside, she took in a deep breath, "He's jonesing bad right now for a hit. They have him on some meds to help with the detox, but it does nothing for the cravings. Tim…the doctor said he could have them for the next couple years."

Tim winced and then sighed, running his hand through his hair. As much as Horatio had done for everyone else, he was now in need. The revelation that he would crave an illegal drug was one he couldn't come to terms with, but he knew that he would have to.

"We'll just have to be there every step of the way with him."

Nodding, she shifted her weight some, "Can you get hold of Alexx and see if she knows of a good counselor and a rehab program. He'll be needing one more then likely when he get's out of here. The other thing, keep you ears open with Jesse and them. I have a feeling this isn't going to bode well at the lab."

"I'll get up with Alexx and I'll keep an eye out at the lab. Horatio doesn't need any of the crap that's going to come with this. I'll tell Jesse to get rid of the tape," Tim said as he grimace, "there's no need to keep it around."

Taking in a deep breath, Calleigh brow furrowed as she looked down, "She raped him didn't she?"

"Yes, she did," Tim answered solemnly. He exhaled lightly and looked to Calleigh, "I'll order Jesse to destroy that tape as soon as possible."

Nodding, Calleigh looked back up at him, "It'll be a long while before he can return to the lab. Tim…why don't you see about taking the position until he can return? You know what needs to be done and how things run there."

Tim shifted his weight and sighed heavily, catching Calleigh's gaze. In all truthfulness, he hadn't thought about it, but now that she'd put it on the table, the idea was catching. "I'll consider it, Calleigh, but I won't make you any promises."

"You know he'd rather have you there then anyone else," Calleigh replied as she continued to look up at him. "He just needs time to recover…and I'm gonna help him with it so he doesn't relapse."

"I'll talk to the director to see what I'll have to do. In the meantime, Calleigh, you take care of yourself as well, you can't help him if you're not able to help yourself." Tim started towards the entrance and smiled, "He's lucky to have someone like you."

Giving Tim a smile, she called out to him, "He's lucky to have a friend like you. Call me later."

"I'll call you. Oh, and Emma says hi. She misses you," Tim said as he smiled lightly. "She wants you to come by whenever you have a chance."

"I will…and tell her hi for me." Watching as he turned and left out, Calleigh took in a deep breath and headed to the elevator. Getting on, she hit the button for Horatio's floor and then leaned against the wall. Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on the positive and helping Horatio beat his new addiction. When the bell for the floor rang, she pushed off the wall and when the doors slid open, she exited. Walking swiftly, she came to his room and slipped in quietly, finding him staring at the window. Closing the door, she went over to the chair and placed her chips and soda onto the side table.

"Hey, Handsome. Sorry I wasn't here when you woke up."

Keeping his eyes on the window, Horatio shrugged as he lifted his hands, his voice empty of any feeling, "When will I be released?"

Taking a seat, she reached for his hand, "When the heroin is out of your system. They only restrained you for your own protection, Horatio." Rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb, she smiled, "The nurse did say you'd be able to have some soup when you feel up to eating. It'll help you build you strength back up."

Anger suffused within him and he sighed as if annoyed, "I don't want to eat. There's only one thing I need and it will help me." Turning to face her completely, he scowled, "I'm finished at CSI, once this gets out that I'm a junkie, Stetler wouldn't rest until he made it public record."

"Horatio, the chief knows you were drugged against your will. This wasn't anything you did wrong and it wasn't your fault. I've…I've talked to Tim and asked him to see about taking over for you until you can return." Seeing the anger in his eyes, she sighed, "You know as well as I do he can do the job and he'll stand down when you're ready to go back. He's doing this for you, Horatio…to make sure you get the lab back."

"I'm sure he's doing this with the purest of intentions." Turning back to the window, his brow furrowed, "I've been thinking…How did you find me? How did you know what was happening to me?"

Looking down, Calleigh knew he'd have questions and was somewhat prepared for them. Licking her lips, she looked back at him, "Ta- I mean Adrienne sent me photo's of you two together…in bed." Taking a moment, she then continued, "I gave them to Tim and he took them to the lab to make sure they were authentic…and Jesse recognized her. He'd interviewed her and so he and Tim went to the address she'd given. It was bogus. They started doing some checking around, even went to your hotel. One lead led to another and they tracked you to the bar you'd met her at. Once they found out her real name, things began to fall into place."

Looking away briefly and gathering herself, Calleigh looked back down, "Then she sent us a tape at the lab. It…it showed her injecting you and then beating you."

Horatio's brow furrowed deeply as if concentrating and he closed his eyes as his voice dropped even more, "A lot of my captivity is a blur, but…I know…She…" Horatio couldn't finish and he shook his head, the images of what he went through coming more. He gripped the restraints and bit his lip, "I want to forget."

Moving her hand over his, Calleigh spoke softly, "Then let me help you, Horatio. You helped me after Christopher…let me help you now." Giving his hand a squeeze, she moved closer in her chair, "I love you, I won't leave you again…ever."

"You keep saying that, I just might believe you," Horatio said as he gave her a slight squeeze back. Feeling the tremors coming, he released her hand and turned away, his body stiffening almost instantly. The tremors were still coming, but not as intense or severe as the previous day. He was saved from dehydration that normally accompanied withdrawals because of the IV, but the physical pain that he endured was enough to drive him mad. Grunting and whimpering through the tremors, he kept his eyes closed, wishing that she wasn't here to see him go through this.

Reaching for the washcloth, Calleigh stood up and moved to the head of the bed. Seeing him breaking out in sweat again, she whispered to him and she wiped his brow, "I mean it, Horatio…I won't leave you. I love you and want to be with you." Taking a chance, she leaned over to him, giving him a kiss to his head and whispered in his ear, "I'll always love you."

Relaxing as the tremors passed, Horatio exhaled and looked to her, "I love you, Calleigh. But…I need…help. I want a fix so bad, my body hurts…my mind. How can you love someone like me?" His thoughts were tortured and he turned as much as he could from her, "If you knew the things I did, you wouldn't love me as much."

Running her finger through his sweaty hair, Calleigh shook her head and whispered, "You were tricked and lied to, Horatio. I do not blame you for this. Let me help you…let me love you."

Lulled by her touch, Horatio desired to rest more, hoping for a respite to the spine trembling muscle seizures. Licking his lip, he closed his eyes and sighed, his voice calm, "Will you be here when I wake up?"

"I will, I'm not going anywhere," she whispered as she kissed his head again. Running her finger slowly through his hair, she reached with her other hand, covering his, "Rest, Horatio…I love you."

Further and further he went, sinking into oblivion. His body ticked even as he began to rest, and Calleigh's touch succumbed. He hoped that he would be able to kick this, but as he felt the deep gouge that the addiction was doing to him, he knew he had a journey on his hands.