Disclaimer: *see chapter one*

A/N 1: Hey guys, sorry I'm so late getting this up (I know I said Monday or Tuesday) but I haven't been feeling well, and school has been crazy this week -so I haven't had a lot of time to write. Hopefully this chapter is worth the wait! On that note though, I have a research paper due in about a week for my english class, which means the next chapter may be a little bit of a wait (though I'm hoping to get in done some time today and post it next week.) Keep your fingers crossed. ;)

Chapter ten ahoy . . .

Horatio and Calleigh descended the stairs from his office, unaware they were being watched from the trace lab by Eric, Natalia and Ryan. Turning back to his computer screen, Ryan continued to try and narrow down Saris' location. "Is anyone besides me surprised by all this?" At matching looks from Eric and Nat he added, "I mean H and Calleigh, not Saris."

"No."

"Yes."

Nat scoffed, taking a break from scanning security footage. "You're kidding me right, how is that shocking to you two? There's always been a spark between them, hell, there was already a pool when I got here about how long they'd been sleeping together –or when they finally would."

"He's ten years older than her," Ryan stated incredulously.

"Fourteen technically," Eric corrected. Out of all them, he'd known the pair in question the longest, known how close their bond was . . . but even he was surprised they had a daughter.

The brunette rolled her eyes, "When you love someone, age is irrelevant." She glanced between the two men adding quickly. "And before you ask how I know she loves him, all you need to do is look at Caylee's middle name."

"Soleil. It's French, which would be Cal's family not Horatio's." Ryan replied, his hazel eyes curious, wondering what Natalia was getting at; Ryan himself not fluent in French.

"Sun," Eric mumbled softly, "Soleil is French for sun." He looked over at Natalia for confirmation, to which she nodded. Eric sighed, a sad smile gracing his lips, "It was her way of hanging on to him, on to Miami."

Ryan shook his head, looking from Natalia to Eric and back. "Wait a minute, are you guys saying Calleigh foresaw this? That Ron would try and kidnap Caylee, just to get back at Horatio?"

"If not Saris then someone else, H has plenty of enemies. . ." Eric stated, cut off mid sentence by Natalia.

" . . . She couldn't risk it, not after her kidnapping. She knew Horatio had enough on his plate with Julia and Kyle." The trio shared a knowing look, their team had always been more like a family, with Calleigh's departure three years ago shaking it to its foundation. Now however, the southern ballistics expert was back, her place within that family -as Horatio's right hand- still withstanding and not likely to change. Out of all the child abduction cases they'd worked, this time the team knew it was personal, was family . . . and that none of them would rest until Caylee was back safe with them.

"We have to find her," Eric stated.

MIAMIMIAMIMIAMIMIAMIMIAMI

Calleigh exhaled slowly, the redness in her eyes quickly fading, her slender fingers wiping away traces of mascara that had smudged and ran down her cheeks. She jumped slightly as her phone vibrated against her hip, the women's bathroom empty except for herself. "Duquesne," she answered, drying her hands with a paper towel.

"Miss me?"

Calleigh stiffened, the phone almost slipping from her shoulder as Saris' voice entered her ear. Her voice was calm but pointed. "How did you get this number?"

"You'd be surprised what money can get you," Ron answered.

"What do you want? I would've thought you'd gotten your kicks for the day." Their last conversation a little over an hour ago, still fresh in her memory.

Ron gave a sarcastic chuckle, "My fight is with Caine, not you."

"Son of a bitch," Calleigh swore, her temper rising again. "You kidnapped my daughter, so I'd say your damn well lookin' for a fight."

"Careful Lieutenant, I have an offer, a trade per say, if you want to get the kid back." He paused, continuing when she didn't respond. "A hundred million and safe passage to Brazil . . . you make the drop alone."

"I'm not agreeing to anything unless I talk to Caylee,"

"Have that much faith in me do you?" He taunted, to which Calleigh scoffed.

"You're a con-man and a murder -I wouldn't put anything past you." The sound of rustling was heard; a few seconds later Calleigh heard soft whimpering. Her voice became soft, gentle. "Caylee?"

"Mama," the toddler's voice was high in pitch, a clear sign she was scared, the accompanying sniffles indicating she'd been crying. Calleigh inhaled sharply, her heart shattering as she pictured her daughter. Trying to keep her voice steady, she tried to soothe Caylee; praying this would not be the last time she heard her child.

"Everything's gonna fine baby, I'm coming to get you. Be a brave girl ok?"

Caylee's voice was slightly calmer, "Uh-huh."

Once again Calleigh heard rustling and Ron came back onto the line. His tone was almost a sneer, "Satisfied?"

"Not even close," the hard edge had returned to her voice. "Where's the drop?"

MIAMIMIAMIMIAMIMIAMIMIAMI

Exiting the bathroom, Calleigh ran right into a pacing Horatio. "Where's the fire?" he asked, taking hold of both her arms to steady her. Glancing down into her green eyes he knew something was up, "What is it? What happened?"

She exhaled deeply, debating whether or not to lie to him. 'I can't . . . I can't do that to him again.' Swallowing, she diverted her gaze momentarily, not sure how he'd react but knew it probably wouldn't be well. "I just got a call from Saris; he's agreed to let Caylee go for a payout of hundred million and safe passage to Brazil." Their gazes locked, Calleigh's pleading him not to fight her, while Horatio's became dark with anger.

"He wants you to make the drop alone." His voice was low and steely. Calleigh nodded softly, her eyes never leaving his, "Where?" He asked.

"The docks," she paused looking down at her watch. "In about four hours."

"You and I both know its trap," he replied.

"More than likely," the blonde agreed. "We also know Caylee's still alive -and with him."

Horatio blinked at this news, scanning her eyes; his own hopeful. "You spoke to her?"

"Briefly," she answered, pinning a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm gonna take my phone down to Ryan, see if he can make sure they're at the drop site, then head over to the bank and pick up the cash."

As she moved to walk away Horatio grasped her arm, "I'll worry about the money." He tagged her eyes with his adding, "You're not going in there without back up." Calleigh gave him a soft smile, gently pulling her arm away.

"Wouldn't dream of it Handsome," she replied.

TBC . . .

A/N 2: Love/hate? Click the review button, you know you want too! :)