Eric walked down the hallway to his bathroom and took a peek at Tim laying on his couch.

"Speed?"

"Yeah?"

"You do know I have a guest room right?"

"I'm fine."

"Suit yourself." Eric mumbled and after finishing up in the bathroom, went back to bed. Tim sighed as he stared at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep. Not after the past day he had had.

S/C------

"Nice of you to come home." Tim said, seeing Calleigh at the kitchen table.

"I'm sorry. Next time I won't break curfew Daddy." she joked. Tim nodded and sat down across from her. "Was she good?"

"No. I couldn't feed her and then she wouldn't go to bed."

"Oh. She was asleep when I got home."

"Yeah? When was that? 20 minutes ago?"

"Tim, stop."

"Is this how it's going to be Calleigh? You going out with Mike every night of the week while I'm stuck at home with the baby?"

"You make it sound like taking care of your daughter is a chore."

"Calleigh, I had a life too before everything got screwed up. But I've made adjustments to accompany our new life. You, on the other hand, act like nothing is different. You get to go out on dates every night. I don't think I've seen another woman besides you in... seven months."

"That's your fault."

"It's not my fault. You always leave me with her."

"Then hire a baby-sitter or stop being here! I told you that you don't have to have anything to do with us."

"Why? So then I look like a jerk and you tell your mother, who already hates me, that I don't do anything to help you with Chrissy? You don't get it Calleigh."

"Get what?"

"How much she means to me! You think I'm doing this to be nice. I'm not. If I didn't want to be here, taking care of her and... and... and being here for everything then I'd leave. I like... no I love being around her."

"Then what are you complaining about?"

"I'm sick of you acting like she's a toy or something!" Tim exclaimed.

"I do not!"

S/C------

They had fought for what felt like hours but finally Tim walked out, not knowing he had left Calleigh in a heap of hysterics. He thought she didn't get it but she thought he didn't get it either.

'Stop thinking about her!' Tim yelled to himself. 'She doesn't love you so get over it! Stop acting like some lovesick teenager and find someone else to love.'

But Tim didn't want someone else. He wanted Calleigh.

S/C------

Calleigh tossed and turned in bed that night and went into Christine's room. She was sleeping peacefully and Calleigh sighed as she watched her. The seven month old had no idea what was going on. Calleigh reached out and pulled the thin blanket further up Christine. She stared at her daughter in awe, stroking her dark curls softly. It amazed Calleigh that the baby had not been planned, had been a total accident, and she had been scared to death when her doctor called and said she was pregnant but she couldn't picture her life without her and loved her so much. She just wished Chrissy's stubborn father would realize that she loved him too.

S/C------

"Did you talk to her?" Alexx asked. Tim shook his head. "Oh you didn't find time?"

"Yeah I did but we ended up fighting. I uh... left."

"So you just left?"

"Yeah. I'm living with Delko. I need to go get my stuff after work. Actually I'm gonna go now so I don't have to deal with her."

"Tim, are you alright?"

"I blamed her of being a bad mother." he said quietly. "Even though she's the best. I was just angry."

Tim suddenly stood up and grabbed a pen off the counter of the break room and a piece of paper. He wrote something down and then walked out, leaving the paper there. Alexx looked at it and was shocked to see what she was reading.

Horatio,

This is a letter of my resignation. It's not much but I hope you understand. If not, Alexx will most likely explain my problems to you. Please don't come after me. I just really want to be left alone for a while. I know it takes two weeks for this to go into effect but I'm leaving in three days. When I leave, I'll take a leave of absence until my two weeks are up. It has been an honor working for you and I'll miss you. You've been a wonderful mentor for me all of these years and I thank you for all that you've taught me.

Tim Speedle

S/C--------

Tim knocked on Calleigh's door and smiled slightly at Valera when she opened the door.

"Uh... I just need to get some stuff."

"Yeah that's fine." Valera let him past her. "Tim?"

"Yeah?"

"I really don't think you should just give up on her like this."

"Val..."

"Tim, you don't understand. You think you do but you don't." Valera went and sat down in the living room. Tim stared at her for a second then went upstairs to his bedroom. He packed everything and began to walk downstairs when something stopped him. Christine was standing up in her crib, gripping the railing tightly. Tim dropped his bags in the hallway and walked into the nursery.

"Hey..." he smiled. Christine opened her mouth like she was going to say something but closed it. "I'm sorry I'm walking out on you like this but... I don't think I can handle being around your mom much longer. I'm just... speeding up the inevitable."

"Da."

Tim stared at Christine, his mouth agape.

"What?"

"Da." Christine repeated. Tim felt himself getting choked up and scolded himself for being such a sap. "Da. Da. Da. Da."

"Smart kid." Tim smirked, ruffling her hair. "I love your mom a lot Chrissy. More than she can even imagine. I love you a lot too. Maybe she'll figure out where I am and keep me posted on you or she can be a total b–witch and let you forget who I am, which I'm sure she'll do. Mike's a good guy, apparently. But he can't top me."

Christine squealed with delight and Tim smiled, kissing her forehead. Then he walked out. He paused for a second and entered Calleigh's room. He went into her closet and grabbed the baby book off one of the shelves. Tim skimmed through the pages and found what he was looking for and grabbed the pen that was hooked to the cover.

First word: Da... what the hell else did you expect Calleigh?

Tim put an envelope in the page and put the book back and closed the closet. He went downstairs and Valera pretended like she hadn't heard the conversation between the father and daughter.

S/C------

Calleigh entered a quiet house that night, which was odd. Sometimes Tim would be home before her and he and Christine would be having a good time.

"Hey." she said quietly. Valera smiled and looked at Calleigh.

"Hey. I'll get going."

Christine lifted her head off Valera's chest and looked at Calleigh too. She frowned and said,

"Da."

Calleigh's eyes lit up.

"Oh my God!" she squealed. "How long has she been saying that?"

"Since Tim left." Valera replied casually.

"He was here?"

"Cleared his room out."

"Oh. Well... anyway I have to go write that down. Can you just stay a couple more minutes?"

"Yeah." Valera nodded. Calleigh disappeared upstairs to her room and grabbed the baby book out. She saw the envelope Tim left earlier and opened it, reading the letter.

Calleigh,

Soon you'll be realizing I'm writing this letter to you and maybe you'll be wishing I'm not gone. But I doubt that. I hope you're very happy the rest of your life. These past sixteen months have been wonderful, even though you think I'm lying. You gave me something I never thought would happen, our daughter. I love her more than you think and I'm truly going to miss her. Raise her good and good luck with Mike.

Tim

Calleigh stared at the letter and placed it on the bed. She picked the pen up, ready to write and smiled, seeing Tim beat her to the punch.