Disappearing Acts

Disclaimer: In the first chapter. Mild language warning.

Chapter4

Speed turned over in his bed , hugging his pillow, dreaming of her. He awoke with a start to find that the bed was empty, and Calleigh who was now Lauren, was no more than a stranger. He shook the cobwebs from his mind , cringing at the thought of not being able to hold her like he always did in the mornings before work. He didn't know how to greet her now that she was unofficially separated from him. He glanced at the night stand, seeing the ring that she gave him. He had placed it near the photograph that he kept on the night stand as a reminder of what he was fighting for. He would see the ring back on her hand, and she would be back in his arms.

As he pulled the covers away from him, he heard giggles coming from downstairs as well as the clanging of pots and pans. He smelled an awful stench in the air as if something was burning. Grabbing a t- shirt and his sleep pants, Speed opened his room door. Plumes of smoke filled the hallway and he coughed as he made his way down the stairs.

" Ooooh , daddy's going to be mad at you. Those are his gourmet pots," Speed heard Sascha say with laughter in her voice. Speed smiled to himself.

" It's just a little burn spot, I'll buy him some more," Lauren replied as she giggled some more.

" Do I need to call the fire department?" Speed said as he peeked his head around the corner of the kitchen.

" No, we were trying to surprise you with breakfast in bed, but it kinda went bad. I burned the scrambled eggs," Lauren replied as she turned off the burner. She placed a hand on Sascha's shoulder. " She helped out a lot. You've got a wonderful little girl, Speed."

" I didn't do it by myself,"he returned as he bent to hug Sascha.. He saw a hint of sadness briefly in her dark eyes. " Have you been getting to know Lauren, Sascha?"

" Yeah, daddy. She doesn't like everything that mommy likes and she said that her name is Lauren. My mommy's name is Calleigh." Sascha said. It was evident that the laughter was gone in an instant.

" That's right , Sascha. Remember what I told you last night?"

" Mommy had a bad accident and she forgot about us?" Sascha said quietly.

Speed looked at Lauren, noticing as she dropped her head. He then turned to see tears starting to form in his daughter's eyes. " Sash, why are you crying?"

" I want my mommy back! She looks like her, but she's not. She doesn't smell like mommy," Sascha said as she ran out of the kitchen.

" Sascha,..."

" Speed , let her go," Lauren said as she turned to put the burned pot in the sink. " She's not old enough to understand what is going on. I'm sorry for this. She's too precious to be going through this. It probably would've been better if I'd never came back."

" What?" Speed asked as he moved closer to her. He wanted to touch her, to feel her skin under his.

" Maybe this is wrong. Maybe I really don't belong here. I'll be making it hard for you and Sascha.," Lauren replied feeling the closeness of Speed. She inched over some to give herself room. " I don't want to put her through any more of this."

" What happened to trying again? Why are you giving up so easily?"

" Didn't you just hear her? She wants her mother. I am not her. I don't smell like her , I don't like the things she liked. Why are you pushing this?" Lauren asked as she spun to face Speed. Her face was inches from his and she felt something in that moment. Speed leaned in to kiss her, his lips brushing lightly passed hers. Before the kiss could get any more heated, the phone rang, pushing Lauren back to the sink.

Speed cursed under his breath and answered the phone, " Speedle."

" Good morning , Speed. There's a body..." Horatio started.

" Isn't there always one?" Speed replied sarcastically.

" Am I interrupting anything?" Horatio replied ,miffed.

" As a matter of fact, H..."

" I apologize, but I do have a scene that is in desperate need of being processed. Can you get here in twenty minutes?"

" Yeah, sure boss." Speed replied sullen. He felt like he had missed out on a chance with Lauren.

" And bring Lauren. Maybe she can help us," Horatio added.

" Okay, we'll be there in twenty," Speed said as he hung up the phone. He turned to Lauren, " Are you ready for work?"

" Work?"

" We've been summoned. Your kit , gun , and badge are at the lab. We will pick it up from evidence before we leave for the scene," Speed said walking to the stairs. He still felt the electricity of his contact with her as he prepared for work.

S/C

Speed tried to ignore the looks and the whispers as they walked into the CSI building . There was no doubt that everyone had heard by now that Calleigh had lost her memory, and that she was now being called Lauren. He even heard some people snickering as he passed them. Keeping his temper in check he continued to walk, sighing with relief as the elevators closed. He watched Lauren as she pressed the floor for the ballistics lab.

" Lauren, you just pressed the floor for ballistics. We are going to the layout room."

" Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that, just habit I guess."

" Do you remember how to get to the layout room?" Speed asked with hope in his voice. Slowly, she was remembering.

" I- I think so," Lauren said as her hand hovered over the buttons. She then pressed one, sure that she had pressed the right one. " Am I right?"

" Almost. You were getting ready to send us to see Alexx, in the morgue," Speed said as he pressed the correct button. " Do you remember Alexx?"

" Sorry, Speed. I don't. Everything is just blank right now. Ugh! It's so damned frustrating to feel that you should know something, but nothing comes up," Lauren said as she pounded her fist against the elevator wall.

" Look Lauren, I more than anyone, want you to regain your memory, but you can't push this. I'm realizing this now, rushing will not help. Take your time." Speed replied gently.

" That's what Horatio said to me last nigh. More or less," Lauren said as she daydreamed slightly.

Speed looked at her and saw what he had seen when he proposed to her. It was love. Could it be that Lauren was falling in love with Horatio? Can't be. Underneath it all, she's still Calleigh, Speed thought to himself. Lauren saw as Speed was lost in his thoughts as the elevator doors opened .

" Speed we are here. Speed?"

" Huh?"

" We are here. What were you thinking about?" Lauren asked giving him a small smirk, her accent thick.

" Oh, nothing," Speed replied as he sighed heavily. He dismissed the thoughts of his wife and Horatio. It simply could not happen.

" Good morning, Horatio!" Lauren had said a little too eagerly. Speed moved to his regular position at the lay out table.

" Good morning, Lauren. I hope you had a goodnight's sleep," Horatio said as he handed her a long white box.

" A present?" Lauren asked smiling a little too much.

" More like a necessary tool. You are going to need it if you are going on the scene with us. Open it."

Lauren opened the box and pulled out her gray 9mm. She held it in her hands, carefully checking it over. She chambered a round and made sure the safety was on. It was almost as if she was channeling the old Calleigh.

" Well, it seems familiar to you." Speed said as he looked away. Horatio looked at the joy that was becoming evident in her eyes.

" It's weird. I loathe guns, yet having this one in my hand seems so , so ... natural." she said as she strapped her holster on. She then placed the gun in the holster. She looked like Calliegh Speedle again.

" It's yours. We found it in the Hummer after the wreck. Speaking of which, Eric should be coming with your id and your badge," Horatio said as he looked at his watch. He then saw Eric as he opened the door to the room.

" I come bearing gifts," Eric said as he presented Lauren with her badge and id. He also had a slight smile on his face. " Nice to see you again, Cal- I mean Lauren. Do you remember me?"

" Sorry, I don't," Lauren said simply.

" He's Eric Delko," Speed huffed. " Can we get to the matter at hand here? I thought we had a scene to process."

"Actually, we have two scenes. Another one was just called in at the Tamani Canal. Eric , you and Speed take that one. Lauren and I will take the first one. Alexx will meet you there after she finishes her preliminary on the first one. Any questions?"

Speed resisted the urge to shoot up his hand and ask if Horatio was trying to steal his wife. Instead he shook his head somberly and watched as a overjoyed Lauren followed Horatio to the door.

" If there is nothing else, I'll see you later. Speed, keep me posted." Horatio added as he held the door for Lauren.

" Will do boss," Speed replied in a heavily sarcastic voice. His heart felt sick as he watched them walking through the halls talking and smiling.

" Speed, what's up with you?" Eric asked noticing the attitude that Speed had.

" Nothing. You ready to go, or do I need to find a leather couch?"

"Yikes! Who pissed in your coffee?" Eric asked as he started to the door.

" Nothing, and let's leave it at that," Speed returned. He now faced the reality of the situation.

TBC...

A/N: I couldn't think of the name of the trail that Horatio said in Golden Parachute as he and Eric arrived on the scene of the plane crash. If anyone knows, please tell me. Forgive me if it's not spelled right.

A/N # 2: This is getting to become it's own monster. I am not a H/ C shipper, but it makes for good drama, doesn't? I promise to do something about it by the time this story is over...