"So we have no idea where he's at or what he might do?" asked Calleigh.
"Exactly." stated Horatio.
"Well that's good news." said Tim sarcastically.
Calleigh shot Tim an evil look. "Can you just try to act your age for 5 seconds?" replied Calleigh and got up and practically ran into the kitchen.
Tim sighed. "Go talk to her i'll let myself out."
Tim nodded and walked into the kitchen. He found Calleigh leaning against the counter and slipped his arms around her waist and sighed into her hair.
"Why do you always have to be so sarcastic about eveything?"
"I don't know i've been like this since my senior year in high school. When...Zack died. I guess its just my way to try and hide my pain. You gotta have something with this job."
Calleigh turned in his arms. "I'm sorry."
"For what you didn't do anything?"
"I just...Tim you don't know how hard it was without you. Angie stays out at all hours at night."
"Well baby she's almost 20 years old she can stay out as late as she wants."
"I know Tim...but it doesn't stop there. She drinks. Does drugs-"
"What?"
"I caught her with pot one day. She never went to college her and Kyle broke up then went back out. Danny barely talked to me. He'd go to school come home and go to bed. Lilly had nightmares. I just I don't know anymore Tim. With you this family is so strong. But without you were not a family at all were just 4 people who happen to see echother everyday. This family needs you, the kids need you, I need you."
"Come here." said Tim as he pulled Calleigh to him. "I'm sorry. I promise you we'll get everything worked out, we'll catch Tommy and out him away for good. You have nothing to worry about ok."
Calleigh nodded and pulled away from Tim and pulled off his black t-shirt. Her hands automatically went to the various scares he had all over his chest. The one very close to the heart from McCauley Jewelers. The puncture wound from Dispo Day, the little one on his arm from the fire at club Decsent. The two on his back from Tommy Lewis.Calleigh knew he had ones on his leg from the snow mobile accident when he was in high school. The 4 scattered out on his chest like a connect the dot game from Tommy Lewis and Billy Masters.
"We've had to many close calls Timmy... to many." said Calleigh as her hands stopped on the scar from McCauley Jewelers. Tim's hand went over hers.
"I know."
"The thought of taking the chance of actually losing you would be enough for me to leave this job." Calleigh said with tears fighting there way to the surface.
"You'd give up your position at CSI for me?"
"Mmhmm..."
"Well if you leave then i'd have to leave."
"We could open up our own resturant...or or or you could go into photography." Calleigh suggested.
"And what would you do?"
"I don't know. I could be a stay at home mom."
"Calleigh Lilly's four she's going to be going to school next year you'll be bored out of your mind. Guns are your life. You can't leave this job."
"There not my life if they cost me yours!" said Calleigh as tears streamed down her face.
"Cal...look at me." said Tim as he pulled her chin upwards." Your not leaving your job and i'm not leaving mine. We got through Dispo day, McCauley Jewelers, the club fire, the crime shooting, and we'll get through whatever else comes are way. Ok? What was it you used to say to me?"
Calleigh smirked. "When life hands you lemons...you make lemonade."
"That's it." said Tim as he picked Calleigh up.
"Where are we going?" asked Calleigh.
"Upstairs."
"Why?" asked Calleigh stupidly. Calleigh was smart but she could ask some of the dumbest quesitons. Mind you this is the girl who didn't know what spinners were.
"So I can prove to you that i'm not going anywhere."
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Calleigh glanced at the clock when she heard the front door open and pushed Tim off her.
"Danny's home." whispered Calleigh.
Tim nodded. Wow time really does fly by when your having fun. "I'll be in the bathroom. Then i'll come down."
Calleigh nodded and quickly put her clothes back on and walked downstairs. "Hey Danny."
"Hey mom."
Calleigh noticed Maggie was sitting on the couch. "Hi Maggie...its good to see again."
"Pleasure's all mine Mrs. Speedle."
Danny looked down at the ground at the mere thought of his own last name. Calleigh smiled. She liked Maggie she was a nice girl. "Danny honey I need to talk to you."
"I was just gonna pick up Lilly."
"Well Lilly can wait a minute." started Calleigh. "Sit."
"Mom your scaring me. You don't have like cancer or something do you?"
Calleigh laughed lightly. "No honey um...last night...I found out that...uh...your father...-"
"Mom I don't want to talk about Dad."
"Well maybe she needs to." said Tim as he walked down the stairs.
Danny's mouth dropped and Maggie clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Dad..." stated Danny softly.
"Hi."
"What...I...how...uh-"
"Its ok. I know your confused right now but I can explain."
'EXPLAIN!" yelled Danny. "Explain! You don't know what i've went through. The constant wondering if I did something wrong, hearing mom cry herself to sleep at night. Lilly running into my room when she had a nightmare. Hear Angie throwing up in the bathroom when she got to drunk. The looks at school. Dad do you honestly know what it was like to be the kid who's father died saving his older sister."
"I can imagine."
"Well you can imagine all you want but you will never actually understand." yelled Danny and ran out of the house, the door slamming behind him.
Maggie got up slowly. "I'll go talk to him."
"Well that went well." said Tim sarcastically.
"Tim..."
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"Danny.."
"Leave me alone Maggie."
"Dan he's your father."
"Yeah a father who lies."
"Dan..."
"No Maggie. He lied to me. And then he just comes back and expects me to be ok with it."
"I'm sure he doesn't honey...you didn't even give him a chance to explain why he lied to you." said Maggie as she sat down next to Danny on the porch swing.
"Maggie don't try to make him out to be the hero."
"Well he is...he risked his own life to save your sister."
"Yeah its all about Angela isn't it."
"Is that what this is about Dan? The fact that you lost him because of your sister, or the fact that you didn't lose him because of you?"
"Maggie don't."
"Daniel I have known you since we were in diapers. I mean were a regular Corey and Tapangi. You were so happy, you laughed, you joked, but after your dad...di...left you just crawled under your shell, you yelled at your mom, ignored me. I can take the you ignoring me part but do you know how many times I saw the hurt look in your mother's eyes when you yelled at her. Or when Lilly would ask you to watch a movie with her you'd yell at her and tell her to go away." said Maggie as she ran her hands through Danny's hair. Danny moved his head roughfly.
"Your family needed you and you just left them."
"Well I guess it runs in the family."
"Daniel Speedle I just...you know what. I'm done talkin to you. Danny I love you. And your father's alive. I just don't wanna see the hurt look on your face when your father does die and you tell me that you regret being a jerk while he was still alive. I saw that look on you the day of his funeral. You guys have been given another chance, do you know what I would give to have my mom and baby brother back?"
"I forgot about that. I'm sorry."
"Well I haven't I think about that day all the time. I was in that car with them. Those stupid ballet classes." started Maggie her voice cracking. "I didn't even want to take them but my mom wanted me to. My mom died instantally my 3 year old brother died on the way to the hospital and I walked off with a broken arm. Danny don't let your family go."
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"Well what are you waiting for go talk to him."
"He doesn't want to talk to me."
"How do you know if you don't try."
Tim nodded and walked outside.
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"Maggie would you mind if I talked Dan for a minute?" asked Tim as he closed the door.
"Not at all Mr. Speedle." said Maggie as she leaned oer and kissed Danny on the cheek. "I love you. I'll call you later."
Danny nodded. "Bye Mr. Speedle."
"I"ve known you for 17 years Maggie you can call me Tim.
Maggie nodded. "I'm really gald that your ok...Tim."
Tim smiled and watched Maggie get into her Dodge Neon. "Can I talk to you?" asked Tim as he took Maggie's spot.
"Sure. I don't have to be anywhere."
"Danny look I didn't want to do this. I don't even remember agreeing to it. But non the less I did it-"
"I don't care why you did it. I'm just glad that your ok." said Danny and threw his arms around his father's kneck. "I love you Dad."
"I love you to champ." said Tim as he hugged his son back. Tim looked over at the window and smiled over at Calleigh who returned it brightly. Her family was slowly going back together.
"Yeah you hug him now. Be the happy family. But be careful... i'm always watching." said Tommy to himself.
TBC...