1Chapter Fourteen

The shock hadn't died from Tony's face as he fell onto the floor. Tim had gotten out of Jackson and Eddie's grasp at the last second and flopped onto the floor, unharmed. Horatio and Eric ran into the room and Eddie, the stupid one, tried jumping out of the second floor window. Eric grabbed him though and slammed him up against the wall. Jackson didn't even try getting past Horatio. He just let the officer that had came in with them handcuff him. Horatio checked on Tony and looked up at Eric.

"Nice shot." he commented.

"He's dead?"

Horatio nodded. Calleigh had run into Tim's arms, sobbing hysterically.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." she cried. Tim sighed into her hair.

"We're both fine." he said quietly. He pulled away from her and wiped her tears away. "For a second I thought you really were gonna shoot me."

Calleigh gave a short laugh and wrapped her arms around Tim again, kissing his passionately.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

-S/C-

Tim quickly turned, seeing Rick Stetler heading his way. Horatio had warned him that Stetler was making the rounds and talking to the whole team about the past few days.

"Yeah I'll be right there Delko." he said, snapping his phone shut. He kept on walking the other way.

"Speedle!"

Tim glanced over his shoulder and saw Stetler was catching up to him.

"Stetler, what a surprise." he said dryly.

"I want to talk with you Speedle."

"Yeah. Um... I've got an investigation going on and I'm going to have to take a rain check." Tim said. "So we'll talk later."

"Its important."

Tim sighed and nodded, following Stetler into a deserted room.

"You want to tell me what happened?"

"My kid got kidnapped. I went after him, got held hostage. Calleigh came after me. She escaped with Nicky with help from Horatio. Then she got kidnapped by Anthony Marques, was forced to hold me at gun point. Eric Delko shot him before he could do any serious harm." Tim said. "End of story."

"You said Calleigh was the one pointing the gun. Why didn't Delko shoot Calleigh?" Stetler said.

"Marques had his arms wrapped around Calleigh, holding her hands against the gun. Eric then shot Marques."

"Why didn't Calleigh just turn the gun on Marques?"

"I don't know. Ask her."

"Well she's your wife. Did you do something to make her want to point a gun at you?"

Tim stared at Stetler incredulously.

"I mean, she's your wife and supposedly loves you so shouldn't she want to protect you not kill you?" he added quickly.

"Supposedly? Yeah. You're gonna have to ask her on that one. I'm really busy Rick so if we're done here..."

"Yeah. Go ahead but don't stagger too far." Stetler said.

"What the hell does that mean?" Tim growled, turning towards him.

"I may need to question you again."

Tim didn't say anything, just walked out of the room. His cell phone went off and he saw it was Calleigh.

"Yeah."

"That any way to greet your wife?"

"Sorry. My results done?"

"Yeah. You nearby?"

"No. I'll pick them up later. Thanks Cal."

"Yeah. Hey, you okay?"

"Oh nothing a visit from our favorite IAB sergeant can't solve." Tim said sarcastically. "He's coming for you next."

"I can hardly contain my excitement. I'll see you later."

"Yeah." Tim snapped his phone shut and saw Delko coming towards him.

"Be right there huh?"

"Sorry man. Got stopped by Stetler."

"I already went through that. Asked me why I shot Marques. Told him he aimed a gun to my best friend."

"Delko, I've never felt so loved before. What do you got so far?"

"Just a bunch of garbage..." he said as they started walking.

-S/C-

"Calleigh..."

She made a noise to show she was listening as she had her nose down a microscope.

"Your full attention would be greatly appreciated."

Calleigh realized who was talking and stood up straight.

"Rick, I was wondering when you'd stop by my humble abode." she said, smiling slightly. Stetler returned the smile.

"I was wondering if we could talk." he said. "About your days spent with Anthony Marques."

"Best days of my life." Calleigh muttered sarcastically. "What do you need to know? I'm sure Horatio, Eric, and Tim have filled you in."

"Speedle actually couldn't answer a few of my questions."

"Well fire away."

"Why didn't you just turn the gun on Marques instead of keeping it pointed at Speedle?"

"Well Rick, I didn't shoot him. He's still very alive. Nothing is wrong. Everyone is fine."

"That disappoint you Duquesne? Answer my question."

"I didn't train the gun on Marques because one, he had his arms wrapped around me from behind and I wouldn't have been able to aim the gun at him and two, he threatened to kill my son if I didn't do what he said."

"So you value your son's life more than Speedle's?"

Calleigh stared at Stetler for a moment then went back to working.

-S/C-

Calleigh slammed a few glasses down onto the table, ranting the whole time. Tim sat back in his chair, letting her vent.

"How the hell does he expect me to choose between you and Nicky? Oh I hate him so much and then he makes me take a leave of absence! Just because I wouldn't answer his damn question! THEN... I read his report. Horatio let me sneak a copy, he said that I have emotional issues in my marital life and I should seek counciling!"

"Why don't we file for a divorce right now?" Tim smirked. "Then you could answer Stetler's question. I wish I shot Tim because he just pisses me the hell off. You'd be back at work now. We wouldn't be having issues."

Calleigh stared at him.

"I'm kidding." he added.

"NICKY DINNER'S READY!"

"Let's not talk about this anymore." Tim said before their son scampered into the room.

-S/C-

"Dad? Dad? Dad!"

Tim slowly opened his eyes.

"What's wrong Nick?" he mumbled sleepily. He glanced at Calleigh and saw her back was to him.

"I can't sleep." he replied. Tim stared at him. They never had this problem. Nicky didn't say anything else. Tim knew his stubborn ways had been passed on down to his son. He wouldn't ask if he could stay with him and Calleigh for the night because he was trying to be a big kid. Sleeping with Mommy and Daddy when you're afraid is for babies. Sitting up, Tim smiled.

"You can't sleep or you're scared about something?"

"Both." Nicky muttered. Tim nodded and got out of bed.

"Come on."

Nicky followed him back into his room. He crawled into his bed and Tim sat down on the floor, leaning his back against the bedside table.

"I'm sorry."

Tim looked at him.

"What for?"

"For waking you up." Nicky replied.

"Don't be. Nicky, anytime you want to talk I'm here. Even if I'm sleeping." Tim said. "Okay?"

"Yeah." Nicky's eyes closed slowly. "Daddy?"

"What?"

"Will you stay?"

"I won't move a muscle." Tim smirked, making Nicky smile. Tim didn't know how long he sat there, watching Nicky sleep. Calleigh had walked in during the night and sat down next to Tim.

"Why are you sitting here?" she whispered. Tim went into the story and Calleigh sighed. "I feel so bad."

Tim wrapped his arms around her and she rested her head on his chest.

"We can't do anything about it. Its over." he said.

"I feel like we could've prevented it from happening."

"Baby we can't stop everything as much as we want to."

"Tim, he's hurting and he won't say anything." Calleigh said. "I just wish this never happened."

"So do I." he muttered. "Go back to bed."

"Not unless you come with me."

"I promised him I'd stay."