Title: Smile

Author: innocent choir girl (ff-dot-net), shannyfish (From Out of the Lab/Miami Heat/LJ)

Summary: An AU type of story, with Tim Speedle living through "Lost Son". How would the team we know be different? How would their lives be different from how it is up until the current season?

Category: Ship Ahoy! Calleigh/Horatio

Genres: Angst, Drama, Episode Related, Established Relationship, Friendship, Hurt Comfort, Suspense

Characters: Horatio Caine, Calleigh Duquesne

Rating: PG-13

Chapter: 1 "Troublesome Children"

Author's Notes: Alright, Kidlets! I have turned my laptop in for repair! You know what this means?! That's right! Not many updates…as you've noticed. I'll be writing in my notebook, though, and then typing it up when I can. I've been trying to catch up some reading since I've sort of gotten in a quiet kind of plotting spot. I blame not being able to be online so much and get lovely reviews and such from much chapter updating! So, I've decided to spoil y'all by putting up this chapter A LOT earlier than I had planned. Don't worry! I'm still working on the other stories! Stay tuned!

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Two Hummers pulled up to the scene to meet Detective Tripp. Calleigh and Ryan got out of the first one while Tim and Eric got out of the second. Both pairs of CSIs in each vehicle went to pull their kits out first before heading towards the scene of the crime. They already knew the basics. It involved drug dealers, which didn't really seem like a crime to any of them. They still had to run with the case anyway.

"Why are we here again?" Tim Speedle asked as they met with Tripp.

"I wonder that sometimes, too," Frank mumbled. He looked back over his shoulder at the splattering of bodies all over the tile and sand. It had involved mostly regular street dealers and then some higher ups. It wasn't a tragedy, but they still had to work the case. "We've got about fifteen bodies out here and then in the house," he snapped his head towards the beautiful Spanish style home that the pool and beach access belonged to. "You've got couples in various bedrooms. He turned his attention back towards the beach access where a few of the bodies were littered off the property. Crime scene tape had been strategically put in place, but that didn't keep people from staring. "My officers have been keeping the public back. You'd think people wouldn't have to be so God damn nosey."

"Who discovered the bodies?" Calleigh asked.

"Maid," Frank responded. "She only speaks Spanish. She's out front with some of my guys."

Speed nodded and looked at Frank, "Have you seen Horatio at all?"

"He called me right as y'all pulled in. He and Natalia are on their way." Frank smiled, "Maybe if he'd take time off for a proper honeymoon then he wouldn't be late all the time."

Tim didn't respond to that, but also knew that Frank was right. "Alright, Eric, start processing the house. Speed said taking the initiative to give orders. It was usually him or Calleigh, but he had a feeling that she had other things on her mind. "Wolfe, you start photographing the scene over there," Tim said pointing towards the tile area around the pool and the sand that led to the beach. "Photograph only. I'll be there in a minute." He turned to Calleigh to find a forced smile on her face.

"And I'll go talk to the maid," Calleigh finished for him with a smile.

"Right," Tim said noticing the smug look Eric gave Ryan before heading inside, and he didn't miss the glare Ryan threw back. He watched as Ryan started away. "No talking to reporters, Wolfe!" he reminded.

"You're never gonna let him live that down, are you?" Calleigh asked once Ryan was out of ear shot.

Speed looked at her, "He could have cost us the case and you ended up in the hospital because of it."

"It wasn't so bad," Calleigh told him. "My wrist is just fine now." She gave him a kind smile, "We all make mistakes."

"Wolfe's not ready to run on his own. The lab doesn't need him to make a mistake that could cost us our accreditation," Speed told her seriously.

She kept the smile on her face and placed her hand on his shoulder, "I know. At least with Eric and Ryan apart they'll be less fightin'."

"Thank God for that," Speed muttered. "Next time, Natalia and Horatio get to ride with those two."

"I'm gonna go talk to the maid. I'll be back," she told him as she headed for the house.

Speed wasn't thrilled about his babysitting job, but knew he could make better use of Ryan than Calleigh could at the moment. He could just see Ryan standing around while Calleigh spoke to the maid in Spanish, and Ryan nodding and pretending he knew what the hell was going on. With him, Speed could get a good jump on the work at the main scene outside. As he headed towards Ryan, he saw another Hummer pull up onto the beach making an even more effective blockade. "'Bout time," he muttered. The other Hummers were parked in the long alley drive area. So, at least everything was close at hand. He knew that his lieutenant would want an update, so he made his way through the bodies and Ryan. He didn't miss the bright smile on Horatio's face, he'd been like that since he got married. "Vics in the the house too," Speed quickly filled in. "It was probably a hit by a rival dealer. The maid was the one who discovered the bodies this morning. Calleigh's out front talking to her and I have Eric in the house processing."

"I guess I'll go help Eric then," Natalia spoke up stepping past the two men.

"Thank you, Ma'am," Horatio said. He turned to Speed, "Looks like you have everything under control here."

Tim smiled, "I told you that Calleigh and I could take care of the team… You should take that honeymoon. You both deserve it."

"We'll see," Horatio said with a smile. He noticed Ryan Wolfe photographing the bodies, "You're not ready to let him go yet?"

"No," Speed said. "Truthfully?" He waited for a nod from Horatio before continuing. "This might be a bad fit for Wolfe…that or he needs a reality check. He's so…so arrogant. He doesn't stop and process things before actually doing them. That's how mistakes happen."

"I know a CSI that needed more than just a second chance…" Horatio reminded. Speed had had trouble keeping his gun clean and it had almost cost him his life twice. The first time the Kevlar had caught it and the second time they'd almost lost him.

"Like I need to be reminded of it more," Speed said. "I've got Calleigh torturing me with 'gun cleaning parties'. You should not call something a party unless there's beer and chips involved."

Horatio smiled, "You're just going to have to show him that this job means more than just showing up. You did it with Eric."

Speed just nodded, "I'll try my best."

"That's all I ever ask for," Horatio said. "I'm going to check on Calleigh—"

"No, why don't I do that?" Speed asked quickly. It was a dance he'd begun to play with Horatio at every crime scene.

"But then who would watch Ryan?" Horatio said before heading into the house.

Looking back over at the bodies, he noticed Alexx was there with Ryan. He'd worry about Calleigh later. After all, they all had to work together. They'd all have to deal with how things were. "Hey Alexx," Speedle greeted.

Alexx smiled up at him. Tim Speedle was one of her favorite CSIs and sometimes wondered why he didn't go to medical school. She motioned with her head to the house and Horatio's retreating figure, "You know that's not a good idea."

Ryan looked around confused, "What wasn't a good idea?"

"Timmy knows what I'm talking about," Alexx told Ryan.

Speed shrugged, "I tried to stop him. It's just going to have to work. Life doesn't always go the way people want it."

He still had no clue what they were talking about, but figured that it was obviously the way they wanted it. He'd eventually figure it out, he thought.

Alexx frowned, "It's not her fault," she defended.

"I know," Speed mumbled. He sighed and looked over at Alexx.

"Fine, you watch Wolfe. I'll double check on Calleigh," Speed told her getting up and straightening himself.

Speed slowed when he saw Calleigh making her way out of the house with her kit. He could see her fake tight smile from where he was and knew that it was getting to her. Horatio had been married to Marisol for over a year and there had been several times where they'd almost lost Calleigh. Tim didn't want that to happen. "Hey, how are you doing?" he asked concerned as they got closer.

Calleigh stopped and responded, "I'm fine." It was a default response, but it was getting to be more than that. Being okay was a thing she wanted to get back. She didn't want to cry herself to sleep at night or wish horrible things on Marisol. She wanted Horatio to be happy.

"C'mon, Calleigh... I know you better than that," Speed pushed.

The fake smile disappeared and her lips straightened. "He's happy, Tim… And I know that should make me happy too," she told him bringing her empty hand up to her heart. "But it hurts…"

"So, what are you going to do? Go back to Louisiana?" Tim asked. When she shrugged in response, he challenged the weak response, "You told me that you have problems with your family there. Can you really live with those problems better than this one?"

Calleigh knew he was right, but it still hurt. She had contemplated changing shifts, but knew Horatio would question it. She didn't have a valid response for him…at least not one she could tell him. "I'm gonna…I'm gonna go back to the lab," she told him when she heard Horatio coming.

"You need an excuse to be out of the field or something," Tim told her quietly. "At least at the lab you can hide."

"Like what?"

"Tell'em you're pregnant," Tim offered with a shrug.

Calleigh smacked his arm as her jaw dropped. "I can't tell him that!"

"Aren't you and Jake still dating?"

No," Calleigh responded quietly looking away.

Tim tilted his head a bit, "When did you two break up?"

"Couple days ago…"

"But he still stops by ballistics all the time and flashes that smile he only gives you," Speed told her confused.

"I keep tellin' him no."

"What happened? Why didn't you tell me?"

It was true. Alexx and Speed were the ones that she'd been confiding in, but her break up with Jake Berkeley was not something she wanted flying through the lab or the department. "It doesn't matter."

"Why'd you two break up?"

Calleigh looked over her shoulder. Horatio wasn't in range to over hear them just yet. She looked back at Speed and quietly explained, "He pushed me against a wall durin' an argument." She rolled one of her sleeves up just so he could see the bruising. It was a dull bruise full of purples and highlighted with yellow.

Speed was going to comment on it, outraged at what Jake had done as he watched her roll her sleeve back into place. "Calleigh—" he started, but was cut off.

"Horatio!" Calleigh said quickly and as brightly as possible. "I was just tellin' Speed that I was gonna take Ryan and go back to the lab to start processin' evidence."

"I'm not sure we're ready to be short that many CSIs on this case," Horatio responded. "Do me a favor and check on Eric?"

Calleigh nodded and then swung her head over to Speed giving him a tight smile, "I'll be back," she told them before heading back towards the house.

……………

TBC…