Eric walked into the break room and saw Tim sitting there.
"Hey, I uh... need to talk to you."
"About what?"
"I um... I know it's kind of short notice but... well uh... would you be my best man?"
"Really?" Tim looked honored. "Eric I, yeah. Of course."
"Okay then you have to be at the rehearsal dinner tonight." he said, running a hand through his hair. "I can't believe this is actually happening."
"I'd console you but I've never gotten married before." Tim smirked. "You do want to be with Valera right?"
"More than anything. You don't understand. She means the world to me. I love her so much and I... I guess I just never thought she'd go for a guy like me but here we are two days away from our wedding. I'm just... worried she'll change her mind."
"The only way that's going to happen is if Hell freezes over."
Eric smiled slightly and nodded as the door opened.
"Eric, I need to ask you something."
Tim sighed to himself, hearing Mike Hoffman's voice.
"Yeah uh... you remember Tim Speedle right?"
Mike nodded.
"Yeah. How did you propose to Maxine?"
"I said, 'hey let's get hitched.' Why?"
"Well, between the three of us," Mike smiled. "I'm gonna ask Calleigh to marry me."
Tim felt his heart stop and Eric glanced at him worriedly.
"Uh... Max slapped me after I said 'hey let's get hitched.' So I went for the slightly more romantic approach, one knee, will you marry me blah blah blah stuff. When are you gonna ask her?"
"During your wedding." Mike said. "Do you know where she is? She asked me to pick her up."
"Ballistics." the boys said together. Mike stared at them oddly but nodded.
"You can't go down there though." Tim said. "Personnel only. I'll go get her for you."
"Alright. Hey, not a word right?" Mike smiled.
"Yeah sure." Tim walked out and leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath. He had come back and everything was going downhill. Tim finally started for Ballistics and Calleigh was in the firing range. He waited until she was done and she smiled when she saw him.
"Hi. Chrissy was asking for you this morning."
"I'll see her later. Calleigh, we uh..." 'Find your courage Speed.' he thought. 'Just tell her.' "We need to talk."
"About what?"
"Do you love Mike?"
Calleigh was taken aback.
"Yeah I do. Why?"
"I uh... no reason. I just... want to make sure that he treats you and Chrissy good."
"Yes. He's wonderful to both of us. He can't top you with your own special way but yes he's good to me." Calleigh was touched by Tim's caring ways.
"Okay. I just... wanted to make sure." he mumbled, feeling like an idiot. "He's up in the break room by the way."
"Okay. I'll be right there." Calleigh smiled.
S/C-------
"I don't know what to tell her." Tim mumbled. Alexx patted his shoulder sympathetically. "I don't want them getting married but she loves Mike. And I... if I say something I'm going to feel like a complete idiot."
"What people say and feel are two different things Timmy. Just tell her. Maybe you'll get the reaction you're hoping for. Maybe you won't but at least you said something."
Tim nodded, then realized they were standing in the morgue, an opened body in front of them.
"I'll uh... let you finish." he smirked humourously. Alexx smiled. "I'll see you at the rehearsal."
"Mhmm. Bye Tim."
"Bye Alexx."
Tim went out into the hallway, heading back to the break room and realized Alexx said the most helpful things.
S/C-------
Two days later...
Tim bit his lip and ran a hand through his hair. He had two days to tell her and what did he do? Wait till the last minute, as always. Now Calleigh was nowhere to be found and Tim was afraid he was too late.
"Hey handsome, you look a little lost." a seductive southern accent drawled. Tim glanced over his shoulder and gave a relieved smile, seeing Calleigh behind him. "Dance with me."
Tim relented and wrapped an arm around Calleigh's waist and taking o0ne of her hands in his. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.
"What?"
"I..."
Calleigh paused when she felt a tap on her leg. She glanced down and smiled, seeing Christine there.
"Up!" she smiled at Tim.
"I think you've been asked to leave." he smirked, giving Calleigh a look.
"You owe me a dance Speedle." she smiled as Tim picked Christine up. Calleigh stepped away and watched tearfully as Tim danced with Chrissy, occasionally whispering something in her ear. Why weren't things like this now? She hadn't felt anything for Tim in a long time but slowly, everything was coming back to her.
"What's with the tears?" Alexx asked. Calleigh nodded over at Tim and Chrissy. "Aww... I want a picture."
The girls laughed as Alexx snapped a picture and she looked over at Calleigh.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. I just... I don't know. I'm really confused right now."
"About what?"
"Just things..." Calleigh really didn't want to go into it. Alexx gave her a knowing smile and walked away as the song ended. Tim walked over, Chrissy still in his arms. "Honey, I need to talk to Daddy for a few minutes."
"No." Chrissy whined, clinging to Tim. He chuckled and kissed her cheek.
"I need to talk with Mommy. You want to sit with Aunt Alexx?"
Christine pondered this, then nodded.
"Calleigh, honey!" Mike walked over, a big smile on his face. "Can you spare a few minutes?"
"Uh..."
Tim felt his courage slipping away and nodded.
"Go ahead." he muttered. Calleigh let Mike pull her away and Tim a hand through his hair, knowing the next time he saw Calleigh, she'd have a ring on her finger and it wouldn't be from him. He didn't know why but he was doing it again. He walked over to Eric, tapping him on the shoulder lightly.
"What's up?" he asked, then saw Tim's dejected look. "Oh... I'm sorry man."
"Yeah um... I um... I'm going. Congratulations. You guys will be really happy together." he said quietly.
"Thanks Tim." Eric nodded, hugging him tightly. Valera sighed and hugged Tim as he kissed her cheek.
"You gonna run away from your problems again?" she asked.
"It's the only way I get over it." Tim mumbled. Valera grabbed his hand and gave him a pleading look.
"Tim..."
"Valera, look I'm really happy for you guys. I gave my little celebration... I'm going back home."
"I thought this was your home." Horatio piped up. "Everything you love is here."
Tim glanced over his shoulder to where Christine was sitting on Alexx's lap.
"I got over it the first time. I'll get over it again. Bye guys."
"Speed..."
"Tim, wait,"
"Don't act like this..."
Complaints burst out from his three friends and they looked at each other, not knowing whether they should say more. Tim shook his head and walked over to where Alexx was.
"I'm going." he said quietly.
"Timmy, why don't you stay?"
He looked away from Chrissy and up at Alexx and she was shocked to see tears brimming in his eyes.
"I can't."
"Stop being stubborn."
Tim ignored her and swallowed his tears, giving Christine a fake smile.
"Listen, I gotta go alright?"
"No." Christine shook her head.
"Hey, I don't want to go but I have to."
"No you don't." Alexx said quietly. "Tim, you left her once... don't do it again."
"She won't remember me in a couple of weeks." he laughed lightly, hugging Christine tightly. "I love you Chrissy. Okay?"
She nodded and started crying. Alexx gave Tim a look and he pushed his tears away again. He kissed Christine on her cheek and left the room. Tim gave a shaky sigh and began heading out to the parking lot.
"...will you just stop!"
"No. Why won't you answer me?"
"Ow Mike stop it! You're hurting my wrist!"
Tim knew Calleigh's voice anywhere and quickly headed towards her.
"Hey!"
Mike turned towards Tim, who had a deadly glare in his eyes.
"Tim..." Calleigh sounded relieved.
"Get the hell away from her." he ordered.
"Why don't you mind your own business?" Mike spat.
"She is my business now let her go."
"Tim..."
"Shut up Calleigh." Mike ordered. "I'll deal with him."
"Leave him alone!" she exclaimed but Mike ignored her and roughly let go of her, making her lose her balance. He walked over to Tim and glared at him.
"Leave us alone."
"I'm not leaving her alone until I know you're away from her so get the hell out of here."
"You don't know what this is about."
"Yeah I do. She won't give you an answer to your proposal so you have to get rough with her? No... you want to take hit her, you start with me got it?"
"You walk in here like you're her knight in shining armor or some shit." Mike sneered. "You're not. So just turn around and go back to your little party with your stupid friends."
"You can't order him around." Calleigh had got back on her feet and was walking towards them. "You know what? I'd rather be with him any day because he's twice the man that you'll ever be. And my answer to your lame proposal is no."
Mike slapped her across the face. Calleigh cried out in pain and Tim punched him in the jaw.
"You better get out of here before I give you more than a bruise." he warned. "And don't think that I won't."
Mike opened his mouth like he was going to say something but walked off. Tim knelt down next to Calleigh and turned her face towards him gently.
"You okay?"
Calleigh nodded and Tim helped her to her feet. She hugged him tightly and he hugged her back.
"Thanks Tim."
"I'd do anything for you."
Calleigh looked up at him and he dipped his head, meeting her lips in a soft kiss.
"Mmm... you know that thing I had to talk to you about?" she smiled. Tim nodded, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they walked back to the reception. "I wanted to tell you that I love you. That I have and for the past two years practically I've wanted to say something but I haven't."
"Funny. I had to tell you the same."
"Really?"
"Yep. I love you Calleigh." Tim leaned down and kissed her tenderly. Calleigh wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled them closer together.
"So uh... are you staying?"
"Do you want me to?" Tim asked, resting his forehead against Calleigh's.
"More than anything." she kissed him deeply, neither wanting to let the other go.
"About time." the CSI team muttered, watching from the window.
the end
