Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, including Tim Speedle (sigh), but hey, a girl can dream can't she?

Rating: We'll start out with PG-13 for now.

Pairings: Speed/OC (Jennifer), Horatio/Calleigh, and maybe we'll give Eric a little love this time!

Summary: Speed's wife is kidnapped and all the clues lead to a case Speed and John Hagen worked on early in their careers.

Author's Note - I almost feel like I'm making Speed cheat between two women right now! However, my brain hurts and I desperately need a break from the serial killer in Love Lost Returned. This story has been in my head for a few days now, and if I don't get fingers to keyboard - I'll forget it all!

Chapter 6

Jennifer awoke Saturday morning to the strong smell of bacon, pancakes and coffee. "Oh crap," she muttered. Tim tried to make breakfast, she thought to herself as her eyes opened slowly. I wonder how many pots he burned?

Her heart fell into her stomach as her eyes focused on her surroundings. She was still locked up in the dark room, still kidnapped, still away from the ones she loved. Jennifer closed her eyes quickly and opened them again, praying it was all just a bad dream.

It wasn't. Tears stung her eyes what she guessed was the nine hundredth time since all this happed. She slowly rose from the bed, straightening the t-shirt and cotton pajama pants Travis had given her last night. She tried the door, surprised to find it unlocked. She stepped cautiously into the loft, surveying the room for Travis.

"Good morning," he called brightly from the kitchen. "I hope you're hungry," he laughed, looking at the food he'd just cooked, "I went a little overboard."

Jennifer turned around slowly, examining the windows in the loft. They were up near the top of the ceilings, much too high for her to see out. She had absolutely no idea where she was. She surveyed her surroundings in the daylight. It was tastefully, but sparsely decorated. Women's clothes were strewn out over the couch and shoes lined the area rug.

"What's all this?" she asked curiously, picking up a white polo shirt.

Travis beamed. "Do you like them? You'll need clothes, of course. Size 8, right?"

"I'm not even going to ask how you knew my size," she said irritably.

"You probably don't want to know," he grinned. "I made breakfast, come eat."

Jennifer sat down at the small round table, and picked up her fork. A lump formed in her throat and she pushed the pancakes around on her plate. "I make pancakes for Ben every Saturday morning."

Travis sat down beside her, pulling his chair up to hers. He lifted her hand gently. "Jennifer, I know you're hurting, and I'm sorry for that. I think you're going to have to forget about Ben if you want to survive."

"You planning to kill me if I don't?" she asked sarcastically.

"No, not at all. That's not the way I meant that. I just meant for you to survive mentally. I don't want my wife to go insane," he grinned at her.

Bile rose in her throat with his words. She ripped her hand out of his. "I'm not your wife," she spat out.

He smiled and took a bite of his pancakes. "You will be soon enough."

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Tim trudged into the office early Saturday morning, Ben clutching his hand as if he were holding on for dear life.

"Bennie!" Calleigh called out brightly to her godson, swooping him out of Tim's grasp and into her arms. "How's my favorite boy in the whole world?" She peppered sweet kisses over his cheeks.

"I miss my Mommy," he said glumly, tiny tears welling up in his eyes.

"I know, baby, I know." Calleigh hugged him tight. "You want a doughnut? I brought some in this morning."

"Yeah," he said, squirming to get down.

"We'll be back," Calleigh told Tim. "Go check in with Horatio."

Tim nodded and headed up the stairs to Horatio's office. He knocked once on the doorframe. Horatio swiveled in his chair and Tim realized he was talking on the phone.

"What's up?" Tim asked when Horatio ended his call.

"We have a lead," Horatio said, handing Tim a legal size sheet of paper.

"He bought a boat," Tim stated, reviewing the sales slip.

"He bought a boat," Horatio echoed. "Tim, this is good news."

"Yeah, it'll be great news if we ever find the boat."

"Ben knows?" Horatio asked, seeing Calleigh walk past the office door with Ben in tow.

Tim shook his head and frowned. "I swear that kid's psychic. He knows entirely too much to be normal."

Horatio smiled weakly. "We'll find the boat Tim. We'll find Jennifer. I haven't let you down yet and I'm not about to start now. I have the entire vice squad checking their forgery contacts. If Travis is getting papers for he and Jennifer, we'll know."

Tim rolled his eyes. "He's already got the papers, H. Don't you get it? He's one step ahead of us."

Horatio stood and placed his hands squarely on his hips. "Tim Speedle, are you giving up?"

Tim turned and looked into the lab where Calleigh sat coloring with Ben. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "No, H. I'm not giving up, I love my wife more than life itself and I want to find her. But, I have a six-year old son who has lost two parents already. I'm just being realistic."

Horatio had never wanted to slap another person more than he wanted to slap Tim Speedle right then. "I can't believe you," he said, crossing from behind his desk to step in front of Tim. "Jennifer has never once given up on you. How dare you give up on her?"

Tim grabbed Horatio by the front of the shirt. "Don't tell me how to deal with my family, Horatio."

Horatio pushed Tim's fist away, stepping away from him, he jaw clenched tight. "Get out of my office," he demanded.

Calleigh looked up just as Tim stormed out of her husband's office. She kissed Ben on the top of the head. "I'll be right back."

"What happened?" she asked, stepping into Horatio's office. When Horatio turned to face her, his face was as red as his hair and tears streamed down his face. She was stunned by his appearance, crossing over to wrap him in her arms.

"He's giving up, Cal. I don't know how to help him," Horatio cried, burying his face in Calleigh's hair.

Calleigh took his face in her hands. "He's hurting more than you or I could ever imagine. If we knew Jennifer was dead, at least he could grieve and get on with his life. But she's out there somewhere, just floating in the wind. He can't get to her, he can't find her - this is the first time in his life he's been totally dependent on someone else. He's lost without her. We've got to be strong for him."

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"Travis Haley rented a loft near the Port about three months ago," Eric reported over the telephone to Horatio. "We're on our way there now."

"Give me the address, Eric, we'll meet you there," Horatio said. Scribbling down the address, he looked hopefully at Calleigh. "Haley rented an apartment."

"I'll go get Tim," she said.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"POLICE!" Horatio called out; pounding on the door, "Open up, Travis."

Tim stood anxiously behind the group of officers, his gun drawn. Horatio knocked one final time before giving the order to take the door down. The splintering of wood followed and Horatio entered the apartment slowly, with Tim, Calleigh and Eric behind him.

Tim headed instinctively to a small door at the corner of the loft apartment. He opened it to reveal a small, dark bed area. He picked up the pillow and brought it to his nose. Jennifer's perfume - he recognized it immediately.

"Speed!" Horatio called to him from the main living area. He was holding a small white envelope with Tim's name on it. Taking the envelope from Horatio, he already knew what it contained. Shaking the contents into the palm of his hand, he ran a finger over the smooth white metal of Jennifer's engagement ring and wedding band.

Hot angry tears fell from his eyes. He sat down hard on a dining chair, slipping her rings onto his pinky finger, right next to his wedding ring.