Disclaimer: I own anyone you don't recognize. Everyone else belongs to Anthony Zuiker.

WARNING! A/U! VERY A/U!

S/C------

Ryan quickly grabbed the door leading into CSI as he saw a blonde walk up.

"Oh thanks." she smiled, a southern accent coming from her mouth.

"No problem." Ryan followed her into the elevator and they stood in silence. Ryan glanced down at the baby carrier held tightly in the woman's hands. "Cute baby."

"Thank you." she smiled again, making Ryan's heart do a flipflop.

"How old?"

"She's three months old." she replied as the elevator dinged. Ryan let her out before him and then followed her out.

"Wolfe you're here." Horatio said, then saw Calleigh. "Calleigh and adorable little Gabby."

He bent down and smiled at the sleeping baby.

"I... um... I did expect you to be in today." he said, glancing up at his ballistics expert.

"Yeah well I um... I couldn't just sit at home, not today and besides we agreed I'd come back today. I already stopped by in case you're wondering."

"We all deal with it in our own way." Horatio nodded. "Oh, Ryan Wolfe, Calleigh Duquesne."

"We met in the elevator." she smiled, running a hand through her hair. Ryan nodded.

"So what did you need Horatio?"

"I need you at a crime scene. Cal, you up for it?"

"Finally someone to process my bullets!" a laughing voice said, walking up. Calleigh glanced over her shoulder and smiled seeing Eric. He hugged her tightly, careful of the sleeping baby. "Are ya busy?"

"I can spare some time for you Eric." she grinned. "Horatio do you need me at that crime scene?"

"Nah. Ryan can handle it. I just figured..."

"I think I need to get re-familiarized around here." Calleigh said. Horatio nodded.

"Ryan, I'll meet you out at the car in five." he said.

"Got it Horatio." he disappeared down the hall. Gabby opened her tiny mouth to form a yawn and Eric was mesmerized.

"Okay, hand her over." he said. Calleigh smiled and set the carrier down on the floor gently. Eric bent down and unbuckled the baby, taking her into his arms. "Wow..."

"Yeah I know." she whispered, fingering Gabby's dark curls lightly.

"Well I'm going to beating the boys off with a stick when you get older." Eric smiled as Gabby opened her green eyes to stare at him intently.

"Who's that Gabby?" Calleigh cooed. "That Uncle Eric?"

"Horatio... Calleigh!" Alexx exclaimed, walking over. "Honey, I didn't think you'd be in."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" she asked, a forced smile on her face. "I'm fine."

The other three exchanged a glance and Calleigh scowled at them.

"Ooh give me my goddaughter!" Alexx smiled. Eric pulled away from her.

"I just got her and she's my goddaughter too."

"Yes but you're a bad influence on her."

Horatio covered up his laugh in a cough.

"I've got a crime scene to attend to. You gonna be here a while?"

"Always." Calleigh smiled as she, Eric, and Alexx walked into the break room.

S/C------

"Hey Alexx."

"Hey Ryan. I guess you want to know what happened to your victim huh?" she asked as the young CSI walked over.

"Yeah."

"Okay. Well I was getting him prepped. You're welcome to stay. It should only take a short while."

"Yeah that's okay." Ryan positioned himself out of Alexx's way and watched her work. "Alexx?"

"Yeah?"

"Who's Calleigh?"

"Calleigh was one of the best CSIs that the lab had ever seen." Alexx murmured.

"What happened? The baby?"

"No. Last year, as you know we lost Speedle."

"They were close I take it?"

"Oh sugar they were more than close. They had been married a year and a half." Alexx said, taking Ryan off guard. "When Tim died, she just lost it I guess. Wouldn't come into work at all. About two weeks later we began to get worried and I went over there. She said she wasn't coming back, at least she was taking an extended leave, a very long extended leave."

"How long?"

"Today was her first day back. We, of course Horatio, Eric, Valera, and I, all helped her out but she just didn't come back. Then Gabby was born and she took some maternity leave. I didn't think she'd be back today however."

"Why not?"

"September 20th."

"So?"

"Today marks the one year since Tim's been gone."

Ryan sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Ryan, don't bring any of this up to her. Don't even tell her I told you. She's just starting to get back to her old self and I... personally I think if it weren't for the baby, she'd be gone."

Ryan wasn't going to question any further.