Title: Stalked

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

Summary: Taken from the previews for "Born to Kill". Since the episode was so disappointing given the misleading promo. Calleigh is targeted by a killer and Horatio and the others must race to save her.

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: 9 "Lost Time"

Author's Notes: none

………………………

It was getting brighter outside, and Horatio knew that too much time had ticked by. They needed to find her. He'd already seen Natalia along with his lab techs filter in. He was sure that they'd all be informed of the current situation by Eric and their nightshift counterparts. He turned his back to the lab and walked to his window. It was his portal to Miami; he only wished it could pinpoint Calleigh's location for him. The knock at his door was something he expected, but ignored just the same. He didn't want to talk about it anymore. He just wanted to find Calleigh.

Frank had waited as patiently as possible before going ahead and letting himself into Horatio's office. "They've got the sister of that creep Jostice down in the interrogation room."

"I know, Frank," Horatio said turning to see that Tripp was not alone. Jake Berkeley was by his side. "But I don't think she's going to tell us where Calleigh is…"

"So, what? You're just going to give up?" Jake challenged.

"No," Horatio told the eager young detective. "She may not tell us, but we know who he is, what he looks like, we have his prints, we have his DNA, and we have his address."

"His address is his sister's, but I can assure you he's not livin' there," Frank spoke up.

Berkeley didn't like how Horatio was playing the game. Calleigh had been working with the crime lab for some time, didn't he care about her? Calleigh always seemed to value Caine's input, praise, and leadership. Didn't he give a damn about Calleigh? Even a bit? So, Jake did something he knew no one would let him forget, but he knew he'd keep his job just the same. He closed in on Caine, pushed him up against the hard wall, and pulled him up by the man's collar. "You listen to me, Caine! If that bastard TOUCHES her, I'm holding you personally responsible!"

"We're going to find her, Mr. Berkeley," Horatio said looking straight into the younger man's eyes. His voice was soft and patient. He knew the man's frustrations. Jake Berkeley wasn't the only one who cared deeply for Calleigh Duquesne.

"That's enough," Frank spoke up a bit harshly. Fighting between them was doing them no good.

…………………….

Alyssa Willers was an average woman dressed in black slacks and a blue stripped button up blouse. She leaned back and her blonde hair fell down her back. She waited patiently, letting her blue eyes take in her surroundings. Her arms were folded neatly in her lap as she watched as an officer walked into the room. "It's about time; I need to pick my daughter up from daycare soon."

Tripp noticed that her words were not sharp; her voice was filled in merely fact. It sort of bothered him that she wasn't irritated. He could work better if she was irritated. "Do you know why you're here, Mrs. Willers?"

"Something about my car being used in a crime," she said simply. "I don't know how that's possible. My husband took it on a business trip. Of course, if it was stolen, then I can see how that could be possible."

"We'll look into gettin' in touch with your husband soon enough," Tripp told her. "When's the last time you had contact with your brother?"

"Norman?" she asked surprised. "I don't know… Years probably… He's sort of a loner… We were never close."

"Do you know where he's currently livin'?"

"No idea," Alyssa responded coolly. "For all I know, he's moved out of the state."

"Oh, he hasn't," Tripp assured. "In fact, we believe that he is in possession of your vehicle. We have video surveillance of him using your vehicle in order to not only abduct one of our CSIs, but hit her as well."

"I'm sure you're wrong. Norman's strange, but he's not a killer."

"Mrs. Willers, do you know that your brother uses your address as his permanent residence?"

"No," Alyssa told him with a frown before crossing her arms over her chest. "I've already told you that I haven't had any contact with my brother in years…"

"Mrs. Willers, I must inform you that if we find out that you've had anything to do with your brothers or any of the murders...we WILL prosecute you as an accomplice."

"Is that all? I need to pick my daughter up from daycare," Alyssa informed him as she stood up.

………………………

Tripp entered the observation room where Horatio had been observing from. "She seems straight…"

"But?"

"But," Frank spoke up figuring that he wasn't the only one seeing something odd with the picture, "There's something hinky with her."

"Since when does daycare end at nine in the morning?" Horatio asked.

"It doesn't," Frank said irritated that he'd missed that. He'd merely wanted information on Norman Jostice's whereabouts and a possible lead on Calleigh.

"She's running, Frank."

……………………..

TBC…