Tim stared out the window as he stopped at a red light. It had been three months since he had come back to Miami and nothing had changed with the cases. Roberts slipped through their grasps again. The feds tried to get Tim to go undercover again but he wouldn't leave Calleigh and Gabby. He snapped back to attention as he heard his cell phone ring and various horns beeping behind him.
"Yeah, yeah." he mumbled, making a left turn as he flipped his phone open. "Speedle."
"Tim, it's Allison. Allison Christensen."
"Hi. Um... what's up?"
"We've got a lead. I know you asked to be kept informed."
Tim pulled into, ironically enough, McCauley's Jewelers and got out of his car. Allison was talking his ear off. She had officially taken over Jack Cassidy's spot after his body had turned up floating just off shore.
"Tim?"
"Huh? Oh... sorry Allison I'm uh... Christmas shopping for my wife." he said, stepping up to a counter. "What were you saying?"
"I know this is horrible timing but... um... Roberts has turned up in Los Angeles."
"Allison, I can't. I'm really sorry..."
"Tim, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have even started to ask you but you're the only one that knows how this guy works."
"Look, I don't work for the FBI anymore. I'm just a CSI that's trying to do his job."
"You were an agent first."
"I was agent for a year. Majority rules."
"I understand."
"Allison, if it wasn't Christmas and I knew how long I was going to be gone, I'd do it but I can't. I just... I can't put my family through hell again."
"Tim, it's okay. You don't need to make excuses. I shouldn't have called. Good-bye."
Before Tim could respond the phone went dead. He sighed deeply and reattached it to his waist.
"Hi, I need to pick up a bracelet..."
S/C------
"I'm home!" Tim called, walking into the living room.
"We're in here." came Calleigh's frustrated voice. Tim smirked and walked into the kitchen.
"Oh honey..."
"Don't oh honey me. Will you help me clean this up?"
"I'll take her." Tim quickly offered, not wanting to be left with the kitchen covered in baby food.
"Nuhuh. Grab a rag and start cleaning." Calleigh ordered, removing the tray from the high chair. "Why do you need to do this Gabby? Huh? Why can't you be a good little girl and eat?"
"Because she's a Speedle." Tim smirked. Calleigh tossed a wet washcloth at the back of his head and it slipped down onto the floor. "That wasn't nice."
"Yes it was. You've been off gallivanting around town while I've been here trying to get her to eat."
"You won't be singing that tune when you get your Christmas present." Tim winked, grabbing Calleigh by the waist. She struggled against him and yelped as they slipped on the floor. Tim landed on his back in the baby food and Calleigh landed on top of him. He smiled slightly and pulled her head down to his to kiss her.
"Nice try." Calleigh muttered. "But not gonna work."
"Oh really?" Tim flipped her gently so he was on top. He kissed her neck softly and Calleigh moaned lightly. Tim was encouraged by this and slowly worked his way up.
"Uh..."
"I'm not stopping." Tim mumbled. "Never thought of the kitchen as being very romantic."
"Tim, my head is in baby food. So it's not romantic and besides our six month old daughter is sitting in her high chair right there." Calleigh said. Tim pulled his face away from hers and realized they were lying in a pile of baby food. Gabby giggled and clapped her chubby hands. Tim moved off Calleigh and she stood up.
"Now I have to give her a bath and take a shower." she complained, unbuckling Gabby from the high chair.
"Maybe I'll join you." Tim grinned.
"Clean." Calleigh called over her shoulder as she walked out.
"Slave driver."
"I heard that."
S/C-----
Tim pulled Calleigh back to him, kissing her tenderly. She sighed into their kiss and pulled away slightly.
"Something happened today."
"What makes you think that?"
"You're trying to win me over with sex."
"Can't I make love to you without having to have a reason?"
"Yes but that would be entirely unlike you." Calleigh teased, kissing Tim's pouting lips. "What happened?"
"Nothing, come on... don't ruin the moment." he smirked, making her laugh.
"We won't have a moment if you don't tell me what happened."
"IgotacallfromtheFBItheywantmetogoundercoveragaintofindRoberts." Tim said quickly and silenced Calleigh's future complaints with a passionate kiss. She forgot about his response for a minute and then pulled away.
"I hate it when you do that."
"Do what?"
"Try to use your... your... talents to get out of trouble."
"My talents?" Tim raised an eyebrow. "So I'm good huh?"
"Stop changing the subject!" Calleigh exclaimed, trying to fight the smile off her face. "What did you tell her?"
"Her? You jump to conclusions sweetheart."
"It was Allison Christensen that called you wasn't it?"
"Yeah."
"What did you tell her?"
"Told her there was no way in hell that I was leaving you again."
Calleigh shook her head and moved off the couch to the window.
"Calleigh, come on!" Tim exclaimed exasperatedly, moving behind her. "I told her no."
"Tim, I know you want to go."
"I'm not leaving."
"No. You want to find him."
"I'm not going."
"Tim, I know you. You get so addicted to a case that you're not happy until you find who did it." Calleigh said, turning to face him.
"That's not true." he protested.
"Yes it is. Go."
"No. It's too close to Christmas and I don't know how long I'm gonna be gone. I mean, I was gone a year the last time."
"Yes and the last time I also thought you were dead." Calleigh said. "At least this time I will have some glimmer of hope."
"This time? Who said I was going?"
"I did and I know that you're only saying you won't go to make me happy. Just go and solve this once and for all because if you don't... then it will just come back later and you'll have to figure it out then."
Tim knew she was right.
"What if I told you that I didn't want to go because I don't want to leave?"
"I'd tell you that it was a load of shit and I don't like when you lie to me."
"Why are you like this?"
"Because I'm not doing this so you get your fix of finding a killer. I'm doing this so you can finally solve this case and not put me, Gabby, or any other people in danger. You promised me I had nothing to be scared of."
"I did."
"I'm scared when I know he's still out there. So go find him and make everything right again."