"You know my father has... issues." Calleigh stared. "He... he got into a bit of trouble with gambling. He had a card partner, Don Vartan. My father, gambling is another addiction for him, he kept betting and betting and got so deep into debt. My mother left him. She took me and my brothers and moved to New Orleans. He was allowed to see us and one day he begged my mother to let me come down to Darnell."

Tim was afraid of what he was going to hear.

"When I went down, Don and his son Michael were there. I... I was used to clear my father's debts. He screwed Don so bad and it was either my father get killed, Dave was with the mob, or when I turned twenty I had to marry Michael. My father, being the selfish bastard he is forced me to get to know Michael. I was sixteen. He was eighteen. He was going to college up in New Orleans so it was convenient. All the girls at school envied me. He picked me up everyday after school. I had a cute boyfriend who was kind, sweet, and romantic. Michael was nothing of the kind. If they wanted someone kind, sweet, and romantic they should've met you."

Tim smiled slightly and saw Calleigh was close to tears.

"Come here." he pulled her into his arms and she cried into his chest.

"He was falling in love with me, at least he said. I hated him. I hated him so much. On my twentieth birthday we had a quiet wedding. My mother wanted to kill my father. Michael allowed me to finish college but when I joined the New Orleans Police Department... that's when things got rough. I actually began to like Michael. I thought he was an okay guy. You know how my father... abused me. I was happy to be away from him. I thought maybe I could actually learn to love Michael. But then... there was a guy at the police department. We became friends. Dave was a great guy and he... I began having feelings for him. Tim, I want you to know that this was like a high-school crush. I love you more than anything and I always will."

"I know baby. I'm not jealous." he brushed Calleigh's now brown hair behind her ear and stroked her cheek.

"I came home late from work one night and Michael got mad. He... he hit me, multiple times and that's when I realized he was nothing that I thought he was. I got scared. I felt like when I was a child. I was the victim again and I hated that. Then I found out he... he was a hit man. He made me swear that I would never tell anyone. So, scared, I agreed and went on with my normal life. I wanted to be with Dave. He was a good man. He met me at my car one day and we kissed. Michael unexpectedly showed up then and he wasn't mad. He even invited Dave over for dinner. When Dave came, we ate, talked, and Michael went upstairs. I was talking with Dave and Michael came down and put two bullets in Dave, execution style. Our neighbors heard the shots and called the police. They saw me and took us downtown to the station. I swore up and down to Michael that I wasn't going to say anything. The Feds came in, seeing the last name 'Vartan.' I almost got arrested until I finally pulled one of them aside and told them what was going on."

Calleigh took a breath and Tim rubbed her back.

"They said that the best thing to do would be to get out of New Orleans. They arrested Michael and his departing words were he'd get back at me. I ignored him and a few weeks later Horatio came and offered me my job. I moved to Miami two days later and I met you. About two years ago, I had this feeling like someone was watching me. I got letters in the mail, I saw cars following me..."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Tim asked.

"I didn't want to worry you. The final letter that I got said that Michael got parol and he was coming for me. He said that he knew about you and would kill you, that I was his and no one else's. Dennis, Dennis Sackheim, found out. He was the fed that worked Dave's case. He forced me to go into protection, immediately. I told Horatio and we set everything up. If Michael knows that I'm alive, which he probably does because he always knows everything, then he's going to come here. That's why I need to leave. I'm not putting you and Hannah in danger."

They sat in silence, Calleigh allowing Tim to digest everything.

"He thinks you're dead. You can stay here. We... nothing bad will happen." he babbled.

"Tim, stop." Calleigh pressed a finger against his lips. "I have to go. I don't want to but I have to. At least until the feds catch him then I can come back and... and things will be fine again."

-----------S/C----------

Tim woke up the next morning and looked around.

"Calleigh?"

He got out of bed and walked downstairs. He smiled, hearing giggling coming from the backyard. Tim leaned against the patio door, watching Calleigh with Hannah. He missed this, a lot.

"Isn't it early for you to be up?"

Both girls jumped and turned to look at Tim.

"Daddy, you scared me." Hannah giggled, falling into Calleigh's lap.

"I'm sorry baby. I'm just wondering why you're up at seven on a Sunday."

"Mommy wanted to talk."

"And leave me alone in bed." Tim muttered, sitting next to Calleigh.

"Hannah, go inside for a minute." Calleigh said. She scowled but ran into the house anyway. "I thought about what you said."

"Really."

"Yeah. I don't want to leave."

"I thought you had to."

"I want to keep you and Hannah safe Tim."

"I want to keep you and Hannah safe too." he said, looking over at her.

"But I don't want to leave you again."

"Listen to me Calleigh. I would die for you. I will never let anything bad happen to you. Or Hannah. I don't care what I have to do but I don't want to let you go again."

"Good because I'm not going anywhere and I'm counting on you to protect me, Mr. Knight-In-Shining-Armor."

Tim shrugged and gave a cocky grin.

"That's me." he winked and Calleigh pulled him in for a kiss. All joking aside, Tim put a serious face back on. "I love you.

"I love you too."