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

"Men have called me mad; but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence– whether much that is glorious– whether all that is profound– does not spring from disease of thought– from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect."

From "Eleonora" by Edgar Allan Poe

He listened to the beautiful melody as he cut methodically, taking great pride in the delicate work that he'd set about. Letting the music flow through him, he closed his eyes and paused for a moment, allowing the light piano play on his sensibilities, the thoughts of happiness and joy running concurrently with the images that now filtered through his mind. In his mind, he was with her, loving and carefree, despite the many obstacles that stood in his way. In his mind, he could protect her from the harm that came to her even as she sought justice for those weaker than him, in his mind, he was perfect for her.

The solitude compelled him to expand on his dream, and a light smile formed on his lips as he exhaled breathily, the ending chords of the piece now echoing through his study. Among all of his belongings, the things that he regarded the most, she was the most beautiful by far. It was only she who could capture his attention and hold it tightly within the grips of her piercing eyes, the smile of her lips quickening his heart. With just one sight of her all consuming beauty, he was rendered helpless by design, only his thoughts prevailed, searing her into his consciousness. It was by these memories that he now worked towards a future with her, and by keeping his record of her life, he was assured that he would be rewarded with access to her, to show her just how much that he really did love her. In time, he would show her the truth of love, in time he would possess her. The one who had stolen his heart with just one glance and now commanded his life. The one who was named, Calleigh Duquesne.

Sliding out of the air conditioned hummer, the three CSI's moved to the back, opening it and retrieving their kits. The bright Miami sun shone down, heating the city and casting a heavy blanket of humidity over it making it more like a sauna. Days like these always seemed to bring out the worst in people, there tempers short and reasoning all but gone. Closing the back of the hummer up, the three began to head towards the yellow police tape that sectioned off the area. Onlookers and shop keepers standing about, just to get a glimpse of what had transpired.

Signing in and then ducking under the tape, Calleigh Duquesne set her site on the business that had been riddled with bullets. "Look's like I'm going to be kept busy for awhile. The outside here look's like Swiss cheese."

Taking a quick look at the façade of the business Walter snickered and then started walking along side his partner in crime in more ways than one, turning back towards the blonde southern beauty with a wide smile. In his transfer from the night shift, he felt that he was the odd one out, but he soon realized that all it took was one day with the CSIs from the day shift to know that it was all about the family vibe, and that was the one thing that he could do right.

Striking out at Jesse with the back of his hand, he gestured to the building again, "Well if it looks like this out here, you can only imagine what it's like in there. Does anyone know how many bodies we're looking at?"

Jesse exhaled heavily and shook his head, glancing towards Calleigh as she stopped and opened her kit, catching her eyes when she returned the look, and laughed lightly, "There hasn't been a determination, Tom's still in there. But from what it looks like out here, whoever was in there, most more than likely didn't survive."

"Let's just hope it wasn't alot," Calleigh said softly as she pulled out a pair of gloves and then her pliers and flashlight. With her camera strapped around her arm, she stood back up, "We need to find out from Horatio if this was gang related or a random."

"Speaking of our fearless leader, anyone seen him?" Walter asked, taking a quick perusal of the scene. He noticed a dark haired man standing with a little girl, holding her hand as he stared at the building behind them. Crinkling his brow, he asked, "Hey…Jesse, check that guy out, standing with the little girl. He seem suspicious to you?"

Eyeing Calleigh from behind as she began to take photo's of the riddled building, Jesse then turned, looking in the direction Walter was talking about. Seeing the man with the little girl, Jesse let out a laugh and playfully hit Walter in the stomach, "Only of being at the wrong place at the right time possibly." Leaving the CSI, Jesse walked towards the man and child, a smile on his face. When he got close enough, he shook his head, "And here I thought you'd had your fill of stuff like this."

"Unfortunate for me, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he answered as he nudged his chin towards the building. "How many victims are there?"

"No clue yet," Jesse replied as he came to stand in front of him. Looking down at the child and seeing a resemblance, he raised a brow and looked back up, "Uh, am I missing something here? You get married and didn't tell me?"

Tim chuckled and shook his head as he looked back to his old friend, smirking, "Now, don't you know better, Cardoza? No…this is my daughter, Emma. Her mother and I had our…differences." He continued to grin as he raised his brow, "When did you get back into town?"

"Couple month's ago. Horatio gave me a spot on the team. So uh…about what happened here, did you see or hear anything?" Jesse asked as he placed on hand on his hips as his other held his kit.

"I was coming out of the shop across the street when I heard the tires on the pavement. I looked up to see a dark SUV speeding. The window came down and I saw the weapon, then I pulled my daughter down and covered her. I got the last three of the plate, 792. That's about all." He looked down to see Emma's expression drop and then back up to Jesse, crinkling his eyes against the sun, "Mind if I get out of here, my little girl's tired."

Looking down at her, Jesse sighed, "Let me get Tripp over here so he can get your statement. We'll also need your contact information…you know the drill with all this." Looking back up at Tim, Jesse smirked, "Speed a dad…never thought I'd see that one. I'll go get Frank so you two can get out of here."

"That would be greatly appreciated." Before Jesse could turn around, he cleared his throat and turned his gaze to the scene, seeing her long blonde hair glinting in the sunlight. It had been some years since he'd seen her last, but she hadn't changed one bit. A small smile came over him and he scratched his temple, "Uh…how's…how's Calleigh been doing? It's been a long time since I've seen or talked to her."

"Why don't you ask her yourself then? I'm sure she'd love to see you." Shrugging some, he smiled, "Besides, it might cheer her up some. She hasn't had the best year. If you want, I'm sure she can spare five minutes to talk to a witness."

The thought of talking to her again coursed through him like ice in his veins and he dropped his gaze, shaking his head stiffly, "No…that's alright, she's pretty busy. Maybe I'll be able to talk to her later." Feeling a tug at his hand, he smiled as he sighed, "Besides, Emma has plans of her own."

Nodding in understanding, Jesse took in a deep breath, "Okay, well, I'll go get Frank then." Backing up and pointing to him, Jesse smirked, "Come by the lab or call me there so we can catch up."

Tim arched his brow sarcastically and smirked, "I'm sure you're too busy doing your CSI thing to chase old ghosts, but I'll keep it in mind." Bending to the little girl, his smile turned genuine and he asked, "Ready, kiddo?"

Nodding and looking around, Emma then looked back at her dad, "Can we have ice cream still, daddy? Remember you said if it got hot we could?"

"I did say that, didn't I?" Rubbing his chin, he looked to see Tripp approaching and let a small tuft of air escape. "I've got to talk to someone, but I'll make it fast, then we can go to the ice cream shop. How does that sound?"

Smiling for the first time since the shooting, Emma nodded and wrapped her little arms around him, "Thank you, daddy."

Raising a brow as he approached the former CSI, Frank then smirked and pulled out his note pad and pen, "Look what the cat drug back to Miami. How the hell are ya doin', Speed?"

"Good, be even better if I can get out of here." He sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging just that much more, "I want to get her out of here as soon as I can. So…ask away."

Looking down at the little girl and seeing the resemblance to Tim, Frank, pursed his lips and then looked back at the former CSI, "Okay, well, did you see anything?"

"I came out of the shop across the street and saw a black SUV with dark tint speeding down the road. The window rolled down and I saw a weapon protruding and then I pulled my daughter down as the shots rang out. I looked up to see the SUV fleeing west, getting the last three of the tag number." Tim glanced back at the crime scene, watching as Jesse and the other CSI moved into the building, leaving Calleigh there, his attention rapt. The instant memories of years past came and he sighed wistfully, shaking his head, "792. That's all I've got."

Writing down the information as it was given to him, Frank then handed Tim the notepad and pen, "I need your contact info incase Horatio needs to talk to you later."

Writing down his name and number, he took up Emma's hand, "Now, if you will excuse us, we have an ice cream date to get to."

Taking the notepad and pen back, Frank smirked, "Never was one to stay away from the sweets were ya. Good seein' ya again, Speed."

"Same to you, Frank." Pulling at the little girl's hand, he turned away from the scene and started walking, only turning back to see Calleigh entering into the building. With a small smile, he picked up his pace and headed for the ice cream parlor, his thoughts now treading in the past.