Tim made his way up the sidewalk to the rundown house. This was where Donny was; where his Lizzie was...

"Glad to see you made it." Donny snapped, getting off the chair he was sitting on. "You were down to a half hour."

"It took me a while to get your money." Tim said, swinging the gym bag in his hand. "Plus I had to get the plane ticket."

"Oh."

"Now give me Lizzie."

"Whoa, hold on." Donny smirked. "Have a seat Tim."

"I'd rather stand."

"Mhmm. I'd like to have a talk."

S/C--------

"What's taking him so long?" Calleigh asked worriedly. She, Tyler, Eric, and Horatio were in a surveillance van down the street from Donny's place. SWAT and squad cars were close behind them. "He said it'd only be a few minutes."

"Calleigh, calm down." Horatio ordered gently. "He knows what he's doing."

"No he doesn't Horatio! There's nothing in the bag except a bunch of notebooks and paper! What if he kills him?"

"Calleigh, if you'd kindly shut up we'd be able to hear what's coming over the audio feed." Tyler said.

"Tyler, you don't understand." she said quietly. "I need him."

"You've gotten on three years without him. A few minutes is not going to make a difference." Eric said.

"It may not be a few minutes." Calleigh snapped. "It could be the rest of my life."

"Why don't one of us go get some coffee?" Tyler suggested.

S/C------

"Why did you kill her?" Tim asked. Donny smiled evilly and leaned on his elbows on his knees.

"Because I had to. She would've leaked everything and everything would've been over. Now I know that you don't have anyone with you because if you did, then little Lizzie is going to get a bullet."

"Where is she?"

"Upstairs."

"Let me see her."

"Give me my money first."

'Shit.' Tim thought. This was what he was afraid of.

"No. I want Lizzie first because how do I know that you're not going to hurt her if I give you the money?"

"How do I know it's not vice versa?" Donny countered. "How do I know that my money is in there?"

"Don't you trust me?"

"Don't you trust me?"

"Well, unlike you," Tim started, "I haven't committed a crime so it'll be my word we're going on. Okay? So let's go get Lizzie and then I can give you your money."

Donny pondered this and nodded.

"Just because I'm a nice guy though." he said.

"Right." Tim nodded, following Donny upstairs.

S/C-----

"Now, you have your kid..." Donny said, sneering. Lizzie was tucked safely behind Tim.

"Let me let her out to the car first." Tim said.

"Daddy..."

"Shh... honey, everything's fine. Come on Donny, 'cause you're a nice guy, right?"

"Tim, I can't let you do that."

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because I still don't know if you're playing me or not."

"I'm not playing you."

"I hope you're not because you wouldn't want anything to happen to your precious angel right?" Donny asked. Tim glanced behind him to Lizzie, her green eyes, wide with fear.

"Look, she didn't do anything to you. Let her go."

"But see, then it's not fun anymore."

"It's not fun to begin with. Come on, she's just a kid."

"Exactly! A kid that means something to you. I can hold her life over your head and make you do what I want. Give. Me. My. Money."

Now Lizzie, was a smart kid. Tim held his hand back to her and she read it. Even though her dad's handwriting was messy she could tell that the black ink said, 'Van. Mommy. Go.'

Tim walked back to the door and opened it. Lizzie ran out and Donny glared at Tim and lunged for him. Tim ducked and shook his head.

"You don't get it do you?"

"Oh I get it."

"No. If you did, then you know that I have something planned." Tim said, enough of this stupid game.

"And that's why I'm going to kill you." Donny said.

S/C------

"Horatio, do something!" Calleigh screamed.

S/C------

Donny threw his gun down in disgust, seeing he was out of bullets.

"Give me yours." he ordered, eyeing the 9MM holstered to Tim's belt. He handed it over to him. Donny raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You're not afraid are you?"

"Nope. My daughter's safe. That's all I care about."

"So you don't care that you're about to die?"

"Not at all."

S/C-------

Calleigh couldn't believe what she was hearing. Why was he being stupid? Why was he acting like this? Eric had brought Lizzie into the van and she hugged Calleigh tightly.

"Oh honey, I'm so glad you're okay." she murmured, stroking her blonde hair.

"Mommy I was scared." Lizzie cried.

"I know angel but everything's fine now." Calleigh said as Horatio walked out of the van.

S/C-------

"Any last words Tim?" Donny asked, raising the gun. Tim nodded.

"I hate you."

"How charming." Donny smirked. His finger squeezed the trigger but... nothing happened. "What the fuck!"

"One thing you have to know about Speed," Horatio growled, grabbing Donny from behind, "He doesn't clean his gun."

Tim smiled and helped Horatio lead Donny outside.

"I told you I had a plan Donny." Tim said. "You just didn't get it."

"This isn't finished Speedle."

"Yeah it is. You're going away for a very long time." Tim nodded, taking his gun from Horatio. He started down the street towards the white van. Calleigh jumped out and hugged him tightly.

"God I thought he was going to kill you!"

"Nope."

"But you better clean your gun." Calleigh said sternly.

"Baby, I always do. I figured I'd just use this to my advantage for once."

"And if his gun was loaded?"

Tim pulled away from her and unbuttoned his shirt.

"Kevlar." he replied. Calleigh couldn't fight the smile off her face and he grinned back at her.

"I'm just glad you're all right." she murmured, moving closer to him.

"I'm glad you're all right too. Did you get Lizzie?"

"Yeah. Eric took her for some ice cream. I didn't want her to be around if things got screwed up. Can we stop talking?"

"Can I just say one thing?"

"Depends on what it is." Calleigh said, wrapping her arms around Tim's neck. She pulled his head down to hers but before their lips met, Tim said what he wanted to say,

"I love you so much."

"I love you too but if you ever pull a stunt like this again then I'll be the one trying to kill you." Calleigh said. Tim knew she wasn't kidding but snickered anyway. Calleigh rolled her eyes and met his lips in a slow, passionate kiss.

"We do have a murderer/kidnapper to book." Horatio said, walking past.

"Can't I just have five minutes?" Tim complained.

"Don't do it on my time." Horatio replied, then with a smirk he added, "Or my desk for that matter."

"Horatio!" Calleigh squealed, turning bright red. "I can't believe you just said that!"

He laughed quietly and made his way over to the Hummer. Tim waited until he drove away and then pulled Calleigh back to him, kissing her deeply. He backed her up against the van, rather urgently and Tyler popped his head out of the window.

"Hey! I am still in here!" he exclaimed. Tim groaned and Calleigh smiled, kissing his pouting lips. Again, they got into a heated kiss. He rested his hands on her hips and slowly they moved up and down her sides as Calleigh's played with his hair. Tyler rolled his eyes and stuck his head back in the window. Tim gave a yelp when he felt his cell phone vibrate on his hip. Giving the mechanism a glare, he flipped it open.

"What!" he yelled.

"You better get your ass in that car and get over to CSI or you're not going to have a job tomorrow morning."

Click.

"I hate that man." Tim mumbled as he and Calleigh walked towards their SUV.

"Oh it'll only be a little while and then we can go home. I'll put the kids to bed early..." she smiled seductively.

"Sounds like a plan and I like it." Tim leaned over the arm rest and kissed her quickly before driving off to CSI.

the end