Chapter 5

Disappearing Acts

Disclaimer: Do I have to go over it again? I don't own them... Never will , Mild language.

Chapter 5

Speed looked up from the evidence that he was trying to collect, feeling a pair of eyes on him. Turning , he saw as Eric was watching him intently. He sighed deeply and put his tweezers down. Without looking up he, spoke in a quiet voice, " I don't know how to get through to her. It's like she doesn't want to remember. Every time I try to get her to remember she clams up. I can't put Sascha through this for long. Lauren has not been the best to her."

" Tim, you know the doctor said it could take a while. It's only been one day. I think you are trying to rush this."

" I can't sit on my ass , Delko. I 'll lose her if I do. I might have already lost her," Speed said as he stood up to face his friend.

" What do you mean?" Eric replied as he put his air tanks down on the ground.

" I may be wrong , but I think Horatio is making a play for her," Speed said as he glanced at the ground. The words stung him even as he thought about them.

" You're kidding , right?"

" No."

" What makes you think that? He hasn't done anything but help her. Horatio wouldn't do that. He's too good of a man to do that."

" That's the point , he is a man. Lauren slash Calleigh, is a beautiful woman. And they have a past together." Speed revealed.

" Well you have nothing to worry about, she can't remember anything," Eric retorted.

Speed looked at him, irritated, " You know Delko, I give you way too much credit sometimes. She remembers him. I can tell when I look at her. She's practically head over heels for him."

" You're paranoid, Speed."

" You are an ass, Delko," Speed said not too kindly. He was getting angrier as he thought about the situation. He picked up his tweezers and began to collect evidence again. Eric took the cue that the conversation was over and he picked up his air tanks and took them to the van.

Speed finished his task and then met up with Alexx as she finished up on the body that was fished out of the canal. He knelt down next to Alexx and asked, " So what 's the preliminary analysis?"

" Good morning to you too, Speed. I'm doing great and how about you?" Alexx said as she turned the body over on it's back. This was her second body in less that two hours, and the day had just started.

" Leave the sarcasm to me, Alexx," Speed said as he smirked at her. " It doesn't fit you well."

" Try handling the case load I have today," Alexx said returning the smile. She noticed the sadness written in his eyes. " You want to talk about it?"

" Not really , but I know that you will get it out of me some how. Maybe later?"

" I'm open. Whatever it is I hope I can help. I never liked seeing you in turmoil."

" Thanks , Alexx. So what do we have?"

"Not much that I can tell you right now, the body is too degraded. I'll have to get him on the table to get a better idea, but what I can tell from the hole in his back that he had some help getting into the canal."

" How long has he been down there?" Eric asked as he walked up beside Speed. He had changed back into his street clothes and was putting on his sunglasses.

" Judging from his skin, I would say three days at the most. The bacteria is insanely high in the canal. I don't expect that you will be getting any trace from him. Sorry, Timmy."

Speed sighed but forced a smile to the surface. His day was getting better and better.

S/C

Lauren watched the scenery flash by as Horatio made his way to the scene. Her mind wandered from one thing to the next finally resting on the man that was sitting next to her. She couldn't quite place it, but she felt a strong connection with him. She glanced over at him as he drove and took in his features. Her heart stopped when she thought about those expressive blue eyes. Her body trembled with nervous energy as she thought about the words that she wanted to say. She opened her mouth and the words came tumbling out at a rapid pace.

" Horatio, did we have a relationship?"

The question took him by surprise and he glanced at her nervously. " What?"

" Did we have a relationship? I ask because I feel such a connection with you. Although , I am supposed to be married to Speed , I feel like we have something deeper."

Horatio stopped the Hummer at the edge of the yellow crime scene tape, and put the truck in park. He then looked at her with longing in his eyes. He couldn't do this here, but it had to be done; she had opened the door.

"Lauren, I -I don't want to do this here. Maybe we can talk over lunch or something? We got a scene to process."

" Okay , Horatio. Lunch. We will talk then, and no excuses now. I want the truth."

Horatio nodded his head and flashed her a weak smile, it betraying what he was really feeling inside. He was conflicted, wanting another chance with her, but not at the expense of his most trusted colleague and friend. How could he do this to Speed?

Getting out of the Hummer, Horatio met Detective Tripp as he crossed the tape. He threw a glance at Lauren and then updated Horatio on what was found so far. Lauren hung back , watching the red head as he worked. She noticed the methodical way he walked through the scene and his mannerisms as he collected evidence. There's got to be something there, Lauren said to herself. Horatio walked over to her as she stood by the Hummer, in his hand he had a spent shell.

" Lauren, I got something for you. You want to take a look at it?" Horatio said as he placed the shell in her gloved hand.

" Sure , but I don't know if I'll be much help," Lauren said as she looked over the bullet. In less than a minute, she offered, " It's a .45 revolver, with a right hand twist. The integrity of the shell is degraded but if you could find the weapon, I could match it in no time."

Horatio threw a surprised glance to her as she continued to go over the bullet, " You sure?"

"Positive. There's no mistaken the striations... Did I just say that?" Lauren asked incredulously.

" Yes , you did. Are you ok? Is there anything else you are starting to remember?" Horatio asked.

" No . It's like with the gun, I don't know how I know this , but it seems natural to me."

" This was your life, and you are the best of the best at it. You want to go pick up the rest of them? After you do that, we will be ready to go back to the lab."

" Okay, Horatio. Just point the way."

Horatio led her to the spot where several shell casings had been spent and he left her to her work. After she had finished, they packed up their gear and rode back to the lab in silence, neither wanting to say what they felt.

S/C

" I correctly identified the bullets at the scene!" Lauren exclaimed to Eric and Speed as they sat in the break room. Lunch had just started and Lauren stood by the door and peeked her head out every so often. Speed noticed and sighed heavily and continued to read the magazine, but not really reading. Truth be told he was happy for her, but he couldn't put the nagging feeling aside about Horatio and her.

" I'm glad to see that you are progressing," Speed offered as he turned the page.

" I really feel good about it. For once I feel like I belong somewhere," she said as she spotted Horatio turn the corner.

" Good. So are you going to be down in ballistics long? I was thinking that we could go to lunch,"

" I'm sorry Speed, but I'm having lunch with Horatio," Lauren said as she waved to him.

Horatio entered the break room to thick silence. Speed glared at him for a moment, then returned to his magazine.

" How's everything going?" Horatio asked as he placed his hands on his hips.

" Peachy," Speed offered adroitly.

" Something wrong , Speed?"

" No. Nothing's wrong. Everything is how it is supposed to be. Have a great lunch." Speed replied as he got up and left. Eric glanced between the men as Speed passed Horatio, the tension between them strong. Speed looked back as the pair walked out of the break room together and turned to go to the parking garage. He felt as if he had already lost her. In frustration , he kicked at the elevator door eliciting stares from passer bys. His life , had officially stopped turning.

S/C

Horatio opened the door for Lauren as they arrived at the restaurant . He had picked this place because of the good food and outstanding service, but mainly for the privacy the little booths offered. He followed Lauren as she followed the hostess to a small booth in the corner. They would not be bothered here.

" So, Horatio, I ask again, did we have a relationship?"Lauren asked as her green eyes danced in the sunlight.

" Yes. It was before you started dating Speed. We had been together for almost a year and well, it was good," Horatio said smiling to himself.

" So what happened?"

" I was having committal issues. I knew what you wanted but I couldn't bring myself to act on it. When you started to date Speed, I saw such happiness in your eyes. I couldn't risk that just to let you know how I really felt. Then you and Speed got married and little Sascha was born almost a year after that. All these years, I've held inside what could've been."

Lauren touched Horatio's hand softly and looked into his eyes. She saw years of torment as they were released through his tears. She spoke softly, " I remember our time together, Horatio. It's blurry , but I can remember it. It was special. That's why I feel like I do right now."

" What are you saying? You are willing to give me another chance?"

" If you are willing to take another chance," Lauren replied .

" I - I can't do this to Speed. You are his wife..."

"I'll get a divorce. Horatio, I want to be happy. Even if I can't remember the life I had with him, I still want to live. I deserve that much."

Horatio was unable to speak for several moments. His heart fluttered at the prospects at getting back with her, but deep inside , he knew that once he crossed that bridge , there was no going back. Over the course of lunch , he continued to ponder the events and the obvious repercussions that would follow. It would not be pretty.

TBC...

A/N: Isn't this just horrible? I promise that it will get better.