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

Rating: R, R, and more R

Pairings: Speed/OC, Speed/Calleigh, Calleigh/?

Summary: The team searches for a serial killer before he strikes again, bringing an old flame back to Miami and destroying Tim's precarious relationship with Calleigh.

A/N: This story just would not leave me alone! I went back and re- read it the other day and decided that I could do better. Therefore, I am reposting the story with corrections, no major changes. This time, I have given a lot more backstory on the fight that broke Tim and Leanna up, among other things.

Chapter 6

Horatio paused at the entrance to the break room, weighing his desire to retain his sanity against his desire to know what was going on with certain members of his team. Leanna had come in that morning, detouring Speed's trace lab, planting herself in the break room, huddling over the stacks of photos again. Speed's eyes were bloodshot and he was in a horrible mood. Horatio had seen him nearly walk into the breakroom for a cup of coffee, but he'd seen Leanna there and turned the other direction. It was obvious to Horatio that not only was Speed avoiding Leanna; he was also avoiding Calleigh – who was biting everyone's head off, including his.

"You're going through those photos again?" Horatio questioned Leanna, pressing his luck and entering the break room for a cup of coffee.

She nodded vigorously. "I missed something in the pictures. I dreamed about it all night, the faces swirling in my dreams and I kept coming up with the hands. Normally a person doesn't think to disguise their hands."

She handed him two photographs. "Tell me what you see."

He looked quickly at the photographs and handed them back to her. "I see two different guys who could possibly be wearing disguises, but we can't prove it." He smiled warmly.

"You can prove it. Look closer," she demanded, pushing the photographs toward him again. "Concentrate on the hands."

Horatio studied the pictures carefully this time. "Are these guys wearing the same ring?"

She beamed. "Yes, he is."

"I'll be damned." Horatio exclaimed, leaning back in his chair. He handed the photographs back to her, taking notice of her left hand. The engagement ring was missing. Horatio chose to ignore this – for now. "Well, we finally have a lead," he said.

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"Leanna has discovered that two of the men who approached two of our couples were wearing the same ring," Horatio stated, sliding copies of the photographs to each member of his team.

"Same guy on different nights," Eric mused. "How did we miss that?"

"I'll be," Calleigh drawled, examining the photographs. "He must really like this ring a lot to be caught with it on twice."

"That's what we're hoping," Horatio began to explain. "Now that we have something tangible to look for, we're going to send everyone into the club. Four couples, posing as newlyweds – Tim and Leanna; Eric and Valera; John and Yelina; and Calleigh, you're with me."

John continued to detail the plan. "Two couples will go in the first night. The rest of you will be working in the surveillance van, tapped into the club's security system. Since it's easier to hide earpieces under a lot of hair, the girls will wear them, along with these."

John handed each woman a small box. Calleigh opened hers first, gingerly picking up a delicate silver charm necklace. "Aw, John, you shouldn't have," she teased.

"Actually, there's a wireless camera and microphone inside that charm, but you're welcome anyway," he grinned.

"We'll meet back here at ten o'clock," Horatio stated, "Eric, Valera, John and Yelina re in the club tonight. The rest of you – come dressed for a stakeout."

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"Hello patrons of Club Tremolar," Tim called out, having finally gotten Valera and Yelina's camera online. "I'll be playing God for the evening," he teased into his microphone. Vibrations on both Valera and Yelina's feed signaled their laughter.

"A truly frightening thought, Speed," Horatio was grateful for the improvement in his protégé's mood when Tim grinned at the comment. Now if he could just work on Calleigh and Leanna.

"Leanna," Horatio said casually. "I'm going to get some coffee. Care to join me?"

"Sure," she said, grateful for the opportunity to get out of the van for a while and away from Tim. She'd managed to avoid him for most of the day, and she still didn't know what to say to him. Plus, she was racked with guilt for almost kissing him and for allowing him to comfort her in such an intimate way.

Horatio offered her a hand as she crawled out of the van, then turned his attention to the remaining members of his team. "Calleigh, Tim?"

"Two sugars," Calleigh responded.

"Black," Tim answered.

Horatio and Leanna walked in silence for about a block. "Talk to me," he gently commanded. "What's going on with you, Tim and Calleigh?"

Leanna stopped. "I can't, and won't, speak for Tim and Calleigh."

Horatio placed his hands on his hips. He looked at her squarely and nodded. "Okay. Speak for yourself."

Leanna took a deep cleansing breath and smoothed the front of her jeans. "Tim and I had a fight. No big shock there."

He smiled. "What was the fight about?"

"Everything. My relationship with Jonathan, Tim's relationship with Calleigh, our relationship together........"

The remark caught him off guard. "Hold up. Tim's relationship with Calleigh?"

She nodded. "Tim says it's nothing serious, but I get different vibes from Calleigh."

Horatio was stunned. The thought of Speed and Calleigh together had never even so much as crossed his mind. He knew she'd gone out with John Hagen, but that was over and done months ago. He'd always thought, he'd always hoped.......

"Horatio?" Leanna questioned. She had started walking again, leaving Horatio nearly half a block behind. He jogged to catch up. His eyes stared at the pavement as they continued walking, processing this new information, looking for the signs he might have missed.

"Oh my God," Leanna exclaimed, observing Horatio's distress. "You're in love with her."

He was startled by her accusation. "What?"

"Calleigh," she stated. "You are in love with Calleigh."

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

Calleigh flipped nervously through a magazine while Speed concentrated on the video screens, checking Valera and Yelina's camera feeds against the club security system. A picture of the ring was taped to each monitor, just in case.

Speed glanced back at Calleigh, who glared at him when their eyes met. She turned back to her magazine, praying that Horatio would return soon. "Calleigh," he said finally, swinging the chair around to face her.

"Stop talking, Speed. Right now. Do not talk to me," she demanded.

He ignored her, desperate to explain. "We were engaged, Cal, four years ago. Things ended badly, mostly because I was a stupid hotheaded kid. I loved her so much, Cal."

"Tim," she responded harshly, cutting him off and slamming the magazine onto the floor. "I don't care."

"I know I've hurt you and I know you hate me right now," he pleaded, "but please understand, I never meant for any of this to happen, but I still love...."

The van door clicked and swung open, cutting off the rest of Tim's sentence.

"We're back." Horatio's words were merciful to Calleigh's ears. She smiled and took the cup he offered her. "Two sugars, just the way you like it."

"Thanks," she said, pulling the lid off the top and inhaling the fresh aroma. "Mmm, I love Brennan's coffee."

"I know," Horatio smiled, "you mentioned it once."

"I did?" Calleigh returned his smile, dumbfounded by his reply. She couldn't recall having told Horatio how much she liked this particular coffee house, but apparently she had. Horatio always surprised her like that, remembering the smallest details.

Speed took his coffee from Leanna, allowing his hand to linger on hers for a moment. Their eyes met and Tim noticed that the sparkle in Leanna's green eyes was gone, clouded over with pain – pain he had caused her. He'd turned her entire world upside down by admitting that he still loved her. But he couldn't, he just couldn't, allow her to go back to Washington without knowing how he felt – whatever the cost.

He also noticed when she pulled her hand away that she wasn't wearing Jonathan's engagement ring. He wondered if it had been missing from her hand all day.

Leanna glanced over Tim's shoulder at the screen. Leaning over him, she spoke into the microphone. "Yelina, go back to the right for a minute."

Yelina responded, turning toward John. Leanna continued, "The blonde guy at two o'clock. He's wearing the black shirt and blue jeans."

"What about him?" Tim questioned, causing Horatio and Calleigh to jump up behind them.

"Just a feeling. Try to get his attention, Yelina."

Yelina discreetly maneuvered herself and John into the blonde's line of sight. After a few moments, she finally captured his attention. He smiled at her, but didn't seem very interested.

"Guess he doesn't like Latin women," Yelina mused. "Maybe we try Valera."

Valera had no more luck with the blonde than Yelina did, although he seemed quite interested in Eric, even buying him a drink toward the end of the evening, much to Tim's delight and lightening the mood in the van significantly.

Yelina teased, "I guess I was right, he doesn't like Latin WOMEN."

Eric mouthed, "I hate you," into Valera's camera. She'd apparently told him how hard Tim was laughing.

"I wouldn't laugh too hard there, fella," Leanna warned. "Some guy may very well be hitting on you tomorrow."

A little while later, Yelina, John, Eric and Valera emerged from the club. Horatio reminded everyone that this was just the first night, they'd be right back here tomorrow. He then sent the group home, giving everyone the morning off.

Leanna excused herself from the group quickly, fighting the exhaustion tugging at her eyelids, hoping that she wouldn't fall asleep behind the wheel on the way to the hotel.

Speed jogged up behind her, finally catching up to her when she reached her rental car. "Lea?"

"I'm tired, Tim," she said weakly.

Tim placed his hands on her shoulders as she unlocked the door and pressed his forehead to the back of her hair. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of vanilla emanating from her auburn curls. "I know, baby, just, just wait a minute."

Leanna fought back the sensations coursing through her body from his gentle touch. She breathed a heavy sigh and turned to face him. Even though her brow was furrowed and her shoulders heavy with burden, she was still the most exquisite thing he'd ever laid eyes on.

Tim traced the side of her face with his finger. "God, you are so beautiful," he marveled, his eyes dancing with the love he felt for her.

"Tim," she said, exasperated.

"I'm sorry," he apologized quickly. "I just wanted to say what I should have said four years ago. Lea, I will always love you, and I promise I will support your decision."

"Thank you," she said quietly, turning and reaching for the door handle, and wishing desperately he'd made that promise four years ago instead.

Overjoyed that she hadn't slapped him or pushed him away, he continued, "I want to pick you up tomorrow, Lea, before we go to the club."

She turned to face him again, but wouldn't look at him as her eyes darted around the parking lot, considering his request. She finally leaned in and planted a chaste kiss on his cheek. "Okay," she said, climbing into the car.