It was too silent in the room. Eric was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall. Horatio was trying to find some coffee and Tim had his elbows on his knees, hunched over, and his face buried in his hands. The only sound in the room was one of Tim's sobs once in a while.

"I'm sure she's fine." Eric said quietly, though he had his own fears. His eyes were red-rimmed and he played with the carpet on the floor. Tim's head shot out of his hands, his eyes red and his cheeks tear-stained.

"Shut up Eric. Just shut up."

"I'm trying to help." he muttered.

"Yeah well every time someone says it'll be fine it gets worse." Tim snapped. Horatio reappeared with someone Tim never saw before and Alexx.

"Any news?" Horatio asked. Tim shook his head.

"Where's Calleigh?" the guy asked. Eric shot him a withering glare and Tim felt he had no reason to speak to someone he didn't know.

"Are you okay?" Alexx asked, pulling Tim into her arms. He shook his head again, another fit of crying coming on. "Oh Timmy..."

"Wolfe, I need you over at the scene." Horatio said quietly.

"Why do I have to go?" he asked. Everyone turned and looked at Ryan.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Tim asked, wiping his eyes. "If he tells you to do something then you do it."

"Who are you?"

"Tim Speedle."

"You're... you're dead." Ryan stammered.

"Yes. I'm a ghost. I'm a figment of your imagination." Tim said sarcastically.

"What I don't get is why you all get to sit around waiting for news on Calleigh and I have to go process the scene." Ryan said.

"You wanna know why?" Eric asked. "Because we're so close to her, we could be family."

"You only work with her."

"Really?" Eric pushed himself off the ground and got in Ryan's face. "I've known Calleigh for four years. She's become like a sister to me and so help me God if she doesn't make it and if you don't get over to that damn house and process that damn crime scene and that bitch gets away I'm gonna make your life a living hell."

"Besides, you don't question Horatio Caine." Tim said. Ryan shook his head and walked out.

"Hopefully he leaves for good."

S/C-----

Tim stared at the wall and sighed deeply. He had been here for too long and no update.

"I feel bad for leaving Gabby with Valera."

"It's okay." Eric tossed his cell phone up and caught it. "She loves your kid. And by the way, thanks for getting your wife pregnant."

"No problem."

"Valera wants one now."

"Being a father is great. Best thing in the world besides your wife."

"Yeah well... I'm not quite ready yet."

"How do you think I felt? I come back after a year and she just plopped her down in my lap and said, 'Here, you have a daughter you good for nothing bastard."

"Really?"

"No but she was thinking it." Tim smirked. Eric laughed. "I mean, I left her alone..."

"She was pretty upset for the first few weeks then she found out about Gabby and she started pulling herself together again. When Gabby was born she was happy and was back to her normal self but I could tell that she was still hurting and wanted you."

Tim closed his eyes slowly, trying to stop the tears from falling. He let her down. Finally he stood up and walked over to the nurses' station.

"Can I help you?" one of them asked. Tim nodded.

"Yeah. Can you tell me what's going on with Calleigh Speedle?"

"She's still in surgery Tim." the nurse said. "But once I know something, you'll know something."

"Thanks." he muttered and sat back down. How long was he to sit here before he was told either she was fine or... gone?