Horatio glanced at his Caller ID and smirked, seeing the name 'Speedle' pop up.
"Hello?"
"Hey Horatio." a southern drawl answered him.
"Aren't you supposed to be on vacation?"
"It's not much of a vacation."
"What do you mean?"
"There's a murderer running around the neighborhood."
"Oh. Well be careful."
"Yeah I've heard from about everyone of my in-laws. I just wanted to check and see how my baby was doing."
"Your lab is still standing if that's what you mean. When are you guys coming home anyway?"
"The 26th. So in two days."
"Oh. How are you feeling?"
"Fine. My mother-in-law won't let me do anything." Calleigh said as Tim walked out onto the porch. "She thinks I'm an invalid. I'm beginning to feel like one too since I'm not doing anything."
She stood up and let Tim sit down, then he pulled her down into his lap.
"So what's going on with this murder spree?"
"We don't know much. For now we're not CSIs, just civilians."
"Oh. Well take it easy Cal."
"I will Horatio. You want to talk Tim?"
"Yeah. Put him on."
Calleigh handed the phone to Tim and he accepted it, with a lingering kiss from Calleigh.
"I'm gonna go inside." she said quietly. Tim nodded and brought his cell phone up to his ear.
"Hey H."
"Speed, don't do anything stupid."
"I'm not H."
"Not yet you haven't. Speed, remember. You're on vacation. Let the Syracuse police do their job."
"They don't have a lot to go on Horatio and the killer, whoever he is, is going after the younger crowd. I just can't wait to get home so Calleigh is safe."
"I understand that but don't do anything stupid. She almost lost you back in September, we all almost lost you. I don't want to have to go through you being unconscious for a few days again. I'm not saying start acting like Superman and try to prevent anything but be on guard."
"I am." Tim insisted, unaware that he was being watched from down the street.
---------S/C--------
"Well this is a lovely way to spend Christmas Eve." Maggie said sarcastically. "Nicholas, if you leave this room one more time..."
"But Mommy I'm bored!" Nicky whined. "Let me go outside!"
"You'll get swept away in the blizzard." Greg said.
"That wouldn't be such a bad thing." Tim smirked, who was staring out the window at the swirling snow.
"Tim, honestly!" Susan exclaimed exasperatedly. "Are you going to treat your child this way?"
"No. My child isn't going to be demon spawn."
"Are you insulting my son Tim?" Maggie asked.
"Yes Maggie. They're out of control."
"They're six years old! And you know who they remind me of?"
"No."
"Their dear uncle when he was their age. You were an evil child!"
"So I cut your hair and it looked horrible." Tim shrugged. "No big deal."
"I had school pictures the next day and I looked like a boy!"
"You always look like a boy. At least I didn't bury the cat in the snow."
"I do not look like a boy!"
"Can we please stop fighting?" Calleigh asked.
"We're not fighting honey." Tim replied.
"Yes you are. Both of you are acting like idiots."
"Grandpa, I thought you were gonna read The Night Before Christmas." Tommy said. "You always read it the night before Christmas."
"More like The Nightmare Before Christmas." Tim muttered under his breath, earing himself a smack from Calleigh.
"I was Tommy but then the power went out." Jack said. "I can't read without light."
"This is boring." Jimmy complained.
"How about we play Simon Says." Tim suggested. "But instead of Simon Says it'll be Uncle Tim Says. And Uncle Tim says you all better stop whining, or better yet, stop talking."
"I don't wanna play." Nicky said.
"Nice try sweetheart." Calleigh smirked.
"How about we all go to bed now or else Santa isn't coming in the morning." Maggie said. "Come on up—"
Maggie was cut off by a muffled bang and Tim's head snapped up. He leaned over to his father.
"You still have the Smith and Wesson?" he asked quietly, hoping no one heard him.
"Tim, stop." Jack brushed him off.
"Dad, where is it?"
Jack sighed and nodded.
"Down in my office, in the safe. Combination is your birthday."
Tim nodded, grabbed a flashlight, and headed down the hall to his father's office.
"Tim!"
He groaned and turned around, shining the flashlight on Calleigh.
"Baby, get back in there."
"What are you doing?"
"Just checking things."
"Your father has a Smith and Wesson?"
"What's a Smith and Wesson?" Nicky asked, popping up between his aunt and uncle.
"Nicky, what did I tell you?" Maggie yelled. "Get back in here or else... Santa isn't coming!"
Nicky quickly ran back into the living room.
"I just want to make sure there's nothing going on. Please, honey..."
Calleigh hesitated in responding but nodded and flung her arms around Tim, kissing him deeply.
"I love you."
"I love you too. Now go." Tim turned around and went on with his journey to find the Smith and Wesson.
"What's a Smith and Wesson?" Nicky asked again.