Disclaimer - I don't own any of the CSI characters, including Tim Speedle, sigh, but hey, a girl can dream, can't she? I do, however, own Leanna and Nicholas. They are part of my master plan to create a life for Timmy outside the office.

Pairings - Tim and his lovely wife Leanna, Horatio & Calleigh, Eric & Valera

Rating – We've moved up to R- Timmy felt the need to use the F-word, and he and Lea are arguing, not to give anything away, and I may feel like a little make-up sex later.

Summary – Two prominent physicians are murdered in their Coconut Grove home. All clues point back to the couple's daughter, who is hiding more than one devastating secret.

Please keep in mind, I'm not writing this story like this is April 5th, 2004. The story takes place at an undefined time in the future.

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Calleigh sat Mikayla's bouncy seat on the kitchen counter top and tossed open a cabinet door, taking down four of her bottles. Calleigh hummed while she worked, preparing the baby's bag for daycare. She placed four equal scoops of formula into the four sections in the round Tupperware container and snapped the lids shut.

She'd enrolled Mikayla into daycare with Nicholas and yesterday was their first day. During the first hour, Calleigh disappeared for fifteen minutes – Mikayla screamed bloody murder the entire time. During the second hour, when Calleigh disappeared for twenty minutes, Nicholas must have decided he was tired of all the crying and was able to entertain Mikayla for a full ten minutes. During the third hour, she disappeared for a full half hour. By this time, Mikayla was figuring out that even though Calleigh was leaving her, she always came back.

Today, Calleigh was going to leave Mikayla for a full four hours and return to the daycare during her lunch hour. Then she'd leave for another four hours, and return to get Mikayla that evening. "You gonna be good today, little one?" Calleigh asked gently, tickling Mikayla's tummy. The baby laughed and kicked her little arms and legs. "I'll take that as a no," Calleigh laughed.

Horatio watched the display from the hallway, completely engrossed in the scene playing out before him. "Good morning!" Calleigh called out brightly when she noticed him. "We are getting ready for school."

Horatio smiled gently. "I can see that." He stepped up to the counter and leaned against it, touching Mikayla's cheek gently. The baby smiled at him and laughed brightly, reaching for his finger. She finally captured it and immediately stuck the finger into her mouth. "I think she's hungry," Horatio commented.

Calleigh didn't respond, but handed him a jar of oatmeal cereal and a spoon. Horatio popped open the lid and scooped a small spoonful out of the jar, feeding it carefully to Mikayla. "Calleigh....," he said gently.

"Yes, Horatio?"

He took a deep breath and began, "I think it's time you met Michelle."

Calleigh closed her eyes and turned to face the counter, leaning against the edge and biting her bottom lip with uneasiness. "Okay," she replied simply and returned to her tasks.

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Tim held Leanna's hand and tapped his foot nervously. 'What in the hell is taking the damned doctor so long?' he wondered. Leanna's hand clamped down on his knee. "Stop," she commanded.

Tim rolled his eyes starting biting his fingernails, anything to distract him for a moment from the news Dr. Tallent would deliver. "What the hell is taking him so long?" he finally asked aloud.

"These things take time, Tim," she sighed, "You know Dr. Tallent isn't going to keep us waiting any longer than he has to."

"How can you be so calm about this?" he asked irritably.

"I just am," she replied, flipping absent-mindedly through a magazine.

Dr. Tallent opened the door and stepped inside. Leanna's OB/GYN was tall and very distinguished looking, with salt and pepper hair and wire-rimmed glasses. Without a word, he sat down on the stool and rolled halfway across the room to the couple. He rested one ankle on his other leg and opened Leanna's chart. Tim fought back the waves of nausea rolling over him and tightened his grip on Leanna's hand, tapping his foot again.

Dr. Tallent swallowed a grin and looked at Tim over the top of his glasses. "Calm down, Tim," he demanded, making a notation in Leanna's chart.

"For God's sake, just tell us!" Tim demanded.

"Well, you're pregnant, Lea," Dr. Tallent answered. Leanna squealed with delight and reached over to hug her husband.

"Oh God," Tim cried out, letting his head fall between his legs. "I think I'm going to pass out."

Leanna rubbed Tim's back and smiled at Dr. Tallent apologetically. "He's been like this since I told him yesterday."

"It happens," Dr. Tallent shrugged. "Don't you want to know when the baby's due?"

"Of course!" Leanna said brightly, abandoning Tim to reach for her Palm Pilot. "Okay, shoot."

"Looks like around December 20th," he stated, making another note on the chart.

"A Christmas baby! How perfect is that?" Leanna cooed, tapping on her palm screen to record the date.

"Maybe for you," Tim griped, his head still between his legs. "I'm serious here, I think I'm going to pass out."

"What is wrong with you?" Leanna asked angrily.

"Nothing a vasectomy won't fix," Tim shot back.

Leanna shifted in her chair, glaring at her husband, hurt clouding her normally brilliant green eyes. "If I didn't know you better, I'd think you weren't happy about this," she said quietly, sliding the Palm back into her briefcase. "Doctor," she said formally, "do you need us for anything else?"

Dr. Tallent's eyes darted from Tim to Leanna as if he were watching a tennis match. "No," he answered, shaking his head. "Just make your next appointment on the way out."

She nodded and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. "Thanks," she whispered.

Tim paced the floor while Leanna made her next appointment; then followed his silent wife out the door and onto a crowded, waiting elevator. She refused to look at him and crossed her arms defiantly over her chest. Tim could see tears in his wife's eyes. "Lea," he said quietly, attempting to wrap an arm around her waist. She shrugged out of his embrace and took a step away from him.

He closed the gap between them quickly, whispering into her ear. "Baby," he tried again.

She turned her head toward him and hissed, "Don't 'Baby' me."

The elevator stopped on the first floor and Leanna stalked out, her anger compelling her to walk even faster than her 5'10" frame would normally carry her. She took her set of keys out of her briefcase and opened the door to her Tahoe, climbing in and slamming the door.

Tim climbed into the driver's side, taking a deep breath as he slid his set of keys into the ignition. "Lea," he said gently, reaching out to place his hand on her arm.

She yanked her arm away. "Don't touch me and don't talk to me," she ordered, turning her attention to the window.

"I'm sorry," he offered, "I didn't really mean what I said back there."

"Oh, I think you did," Leanna scoffed, wiping away the tears spilling down her cheeks. "I think you meant every word of it."

"Lea, I just...I wasn't...Fuck, I don't know," he sighed, slouching deep into the leather seat.

"You just what, Tim?" she asked. "You just don't want another child?"

Tim closed his eyes and sighed heavily. "You know that's not it, Lea."

"Then what?" she demanded. She turned to face him, and his heart broke. Her green eyes were reddened by her tears, tears he had caused. He reached out and took her hand, stroking her smooth skin with his fingertips.

"I just didn't want another child this soon," he said quietly.

Leanna shook her head and pulled her hand away again, settling back into her seat. "Well, it's a little late for that," she said angrily.

"Obviously," he muttered, starting the Tahoe.

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Calleigh held tight to Horatio's hand, pausing outside the interrogation room to take a deep, cleansing breath. Then she looked up at Horatio and nodded. He returned the gesture, kissing his wife on the forehead. She stepped into the room alone, closing the door behind her. Michelle sat at the table alone, and stood when Calleigh stepped inside.

"Where's my daughter?" Michelle demanded.

Calleigh took another deep breath and tried desperately to slow her racing heart down. "She's at school," Calleigh answered calmly. "Horatio said you weren't able to see her yet, so I didn't bring her. Maybe next time."

She sat down at the table, opposite Michelle. "My husband, Lieutenant Caine, wanted us to meet," she said, wringing her hands slightly. "I'm not exactly sure why, but..."

"How is she?" Michelle asked, her tone much more gentle.

Calleigh brightened immediately. "She's fine. She really likes the day care; I think she likes being around all those other babies. She's so funny, have you ever noticed how fast she can change expressions?" she rambled.

Michelle smiled weakly. "Yeah, I've noticed."

"Oh God," Calleigh cringed. "Of course you have, God, what am I saying, you're her mother, of course you've noticed."

"It's okay, Detective," Michelle smiled and took Calleigh's hand in her own. "I know what it's like, everything my Kayla does is totally brilliant, and of course no other child has ever done anything as amazing. You don't have any children of your own, do you?"

Calleigh shook her head. "No," she answered quietly.

"I think you're going to be a great mother," Michelle stated, squeezing Calleigh's hand. "I asked the Lieutenant to meet you. I wanted to ask you if you would take care of my daughter until this is over with, one way or another."

Calleigh breathed a deep sigh of relief. "I would be honored, Michelle."

"Thanks," the younger woman said gratefully, giving Calleigh's hand another squeeze. "I hear that Mikayla really likes you, and that's good enough for me."

"Michelle," Calleigh asked gently. "What if you're convicted, what about Mikayla?"

"I'm going to be convicted, Detective," Michelle answered, "and as far as Mikayla, I don't know, I guess it will depend on the sentence."

"Why don't you just tell my husband where your sister is, Michelle?" Calleigh asked softly. "He knows that you didn't actually pull the trigger. Why are you protecting her?"

Michelle sighed. "Lauren is older than me, did you know that?" Calleigh shook her head and Michelle continued. "Dad took a rather 'unhealthy' interest in me early on – being his namesake and everything. Lauren tried so hard to protect me. Detective, she'd even make me switch rooms with her; trying to fool him into thinking she was me. This is the least I can do for her."

TBC....