The Miseducation of Calleigh Duquense

Epilogue

Calleigh stayed on the edge of the bed with the phone in her hand, staring off in the distance. His body lain on her floor , his eyes open seeing nothing. She had been through so much, yet seeing Max dead, did not give her satisfaction. Her best friend was still gone.

After a few moments, Calleigh heard the ambulance as it pulled up in front of her yard and the sounds of police crusiers as they followed behind. She heard the door downstairs open and then heard the pounding of fists on her bedroom door. Seconds passed before she saw the door open and Tim rushed in the room. She could imagine how she looked with Max's blood on her and her room in shambles. Tears came to her eyes as Tim sat next to her and took her into an embrace. She now felt safe.

" Calleigh, are you okay?" Tim asked as he pulled away from her. He saw the blood that was on her and feared the worse.

" I think my hand is broken and my leg is fractured, but I am ok," Calleigh hoarsely said as the EMTS came into the room.

" But the blood..."

"It's all his. He attacked me from behind, and I was able to get to my gun, but not before he hit me with that," Calleigh said pointing to the wooden stick that lay near Max. " It was the same weapon that he used to crush Olivia's windpipe and ..." , she said as tears rolled down her face.

" Looks like he tried to do the same to you," Tim said lifting her chin up. Nasty bruises were already starting to form.

" We need to take her," one EMT said as he walked forward. Tim glanced back and glared at him.

Calleigh put a comforting hand on his cheek and turned him to face her again, " Tim, I'm fine. I need to get to the hospital."

Tim nodded then got up and let the EMTs put Calleigh on the gurney. As they were carrying her out, Eric , Horatio and Alexx entered into the room. Alexx went to Tim and touched his arm, noticing the longing gaze he had as the EMTs struggled to get the gurney down the stairs.

" She's going to be fine , Speed. She's strong."

" I know , but this Max character , he was abusive to her, and if she had any doubts about herself, we would be looking at her on the floor instead of him," Tim said as he glanced at the body.

" She put up a helluva fight," Eric said as he surveyed the room, the vanity and the chair were toppled over and blood was everywhere. He bent down and picked up the stick. " This is what he used on Olivia. He was going to do the same thing to Calleigh."

" She wasn't going to let him win," Horatio said as he knelt down to the body. Alexx then knelt on the opposite side and began her preliminary analysis, as Tim and Eric took pictures and collected the stick as evidence. There would be no trial for Max Shatterton, but the evidence would still be collected. The nightmare was over for Calleigh.

One year later

Calleigh walked to the headstone with her arms full of white roses. It had been a year since Olivia had died and at times it was hard for Calleigh to come to terms with it. Olivia had been there for her when she had no one else, and she was a great listener and would tell Calleigh what she really thought. She missed the conversations they would have, and the feeling of sister hood she shared with her.

Coming to the headstone, she bent slightly with her hand on her large belly. She and Tim had married six months ago after finding out that she was two months pregnant with his child. She admitted that they moved fast, but with Tim she felt like she had met the great love of her life. She married him with no doubts and was enjoying every minute of it.

" Hey , Liv," Calleigh said as she stood back. Tim was a couple of feet behind her, watching intently. He let her have her time with her friend. " I'm sorry I haven't been in a while, but things got kind of hectic. Tim and I got married and we are having a baby. What a shock huh? Who knew that you actually knew what you were doing that night at the club?" Calleigh continued with tears in her voice. She sighed and patted her stomach. " I have you to thank for bringing us together. I just wish you were here to enjoy it with me. Some good news, it's a girl so I am naming it after you. I know you hated your middle name , but I think Sascha is a beautiful name. Sascha Marie Speedle, has a good ring to it doesn't it? I'm due anytime now, and it has been a bumpy ride." Calleigh said softly.

Tim walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around Calleigh's shoulders. She smiled and placed a hand on his forearm. There was nothing better than being this man's wife.

" You okay?" he said softly into her ear.

" Yeah, I'm fine. I just wanted to thank her for bringing us together. I don't know if I would've ever met you if it wasn't for her. I'm grateful for her friendship."

" I'm grateful to her as well. She was a great person , Calleigh," Tim said as he moved from behind her to the stone. " It's a shame that the last thing she had to deal with was the brutality of one man."

" What matters is that she is at peace. I know she is smiling down on us," Calleigh said as she gazed at Tim. " She was truly an angel."

Tim nodded and reached his hand out to Calleigh's. Calleigh took it and they walked to the car in silence. There was nothing but happiness waiting for them.

CD

Calleigh sat upright in her bed ,feeling the pain shoot through her stomach. After the cemetary, she had started to feel bad and Tim took her home before returning to the lab. She glanced at the clock on the night stand, noticing that it was still late afternoon, and she got up to use the bathroom. As she walked to the door, another pain shot through her and she quickly turned around and got to the phone. She inhaled deeply as she dialed the number to the lab , hoping that he would pick it up on the first ring. The line rang for what seemed like a lifetime until someone answered. Calleigh recognized the Latin accent instantly and spoke quickly.

" Belmontes, it's Calleigh, is Tim around?"

" No. The last I saw him he was in the DNA lab. Can I take a message?"

Calleigh let a howl escape her lips as another , more intense pain flooded through her.

"Calleigh, are you okay?" Belmontes asked.

" Yeah, I'm just having a baby," Calleigh said sarcastically. Tim had rubbed off on her in the worse way. " I'll try him on his cell phone , if he remembered to turn it on."

Calleigh hung up the phone, then felt the fluid gush from under her. She quickly dialed his cell . When his voice mail picked up, the fury in Calleigh erupted.

" Dammit , Speedle! You're having a baby and you can't remember to leave your cell on! I'll be at the hospital giving birth to your child if you're wondering," Calleigh screamed into the phone. The voice mail cut her off and she hung up the phone. She then dialed 911 and told them that she was in labor. In minutes, Calleigh was in the ambulance on her way to the hospital. She had a few words for Timothy Speedle if he made it to the delivery room.

CD

Tim was walking out of the DNA lab with Eric when he remembered that he turned his cell off. When he worked in the trace lab, he wanted no interruptions, so he ditched the cell and put his headphones on, it was the only way he could ever get anything done.

" So how's Calleigh been these days?" Eric asked as they walked down the hall back to trace.

" Pregnant. Man , if you and Valera ever get your stuff together, I'm telling you now, wait for children," Tim said as he powered up the cell. He noticed as he had a message.

" Who says we are together?" Eric replied nervously.

" Delko, we are CSIs . We are trained to look past the obivous," Tim said as he saw Belmontes coming out of the trace lab. He dialed the voice mail hearing that he had one message.

" Hey , Speedle. Your wife just called and..."

"Dammit Speedle! You're having a baby and you can't remember to leave your cell on! I'll be at the hospital giving birth to your child if you're wondering..." came Calleigh's voice over the tiny phone.

"She sounds furious," Eric said as he looked at Belmontes with a amused smile on his face.

" Calleigh's having a baby," Tim said slowly dropping the phone to his side. It hadn't hit him just yet.

" Speed, I think you need to get to the hospital," Eric said cupping his friend on the shoulder.

" Calleigh's having a baby!" Tim replied as it finally hit him. He hugged Eric and Belmontes before walking quickly away.

" Um Speed, the garage is this way," Eric said as he pointed him in the other direction. Tim turned and walked past them heading for the garage.

"Delko, tell H that I had something to come up! I'm going to be a father!" Tim said as he called down the hall. Eric put a hand up and nodded as Tim turned and dashed for the elevator.

" The world is coming to an end, Sam. Speed's going to be some poor child's father," Eric said as he turned to walk to the trace lab. He called Horatio to let him know the news. They would go to the hospital after their shift.

CD

Tim rushed into the emergency room waiting area and immediately went to the window. The nurse looked up ,startled ,at this man with unruly hair and glared at him.

" Sir, there were three people ahead of you," she said sternly.

" What? I'm sorry. Look, I'm looking for my wife, she's in labor..."

" You'll have to wait your turn, sir , like everyone else. Next!"

" I don't think you understand, I said my wife's in labor. I need to find her."

" And I don't think you understand, you jumped ahead all of these people. You are going to have to wait your turn," the nurse said as she raised her voice slightly.

Tim was about to lay into the nurse when he heard his name being called.

"Tim!" Alexx said as she strode through the door. He moved away from the window and greeted Alexx with a wide smile.

" Alexx! I'm glad you're here. I need to get to where ever they have the babies," Tim said almost flustered.

" You mean, the maternity ward?" Alexx said smiling, as she put a hand on his arm. The Tim she saw in front of her was a stark contrast to the Tim that was cool and collective. She liked this Tim.

" Yes! I need to get there, quickly." Tim returned rapidly . He was breathing hard and Alexx noticed the prespriation on his forehead.

" Timmy, you need to calm down. I'll take you to the maternity ward, don't worry."

" Thanks, Alexx. By the way, how did you know that Calleigh was in labor?" Tim asked as he followed Alexx to the bank of elevators.

" Eric told me about what happened in the hallway. You didn't think I was going to miss my goddaughter coming into the world did you?" Alexx replied as she pushed the button on the elevator. Within seconds they were getting off on the maternity floor.

Tim went to the nurses station and ran his hands though his hair, he hoped that he wasn't too late.

" I'm Tim..."

" Oh , you are the one. There was a woman brought in screaming to high heaven about her slack husband Tim. I think you are in some hot water," the nurse said with a smile.

" Thanks for that tid bit of info. Can you direct me to her room?" Tim said sarcastically.

" Right this way sir. Your friend is going to have to wait in the waiting room."

Alexx nodded and threw Tim a huge smile as he turned and disappeared around the corner. She wasn't going anywhere.

CD

" Please get this child out of me!" Tim heard Calleigh scream as he opened the door. He peered in to see Calleigh bearing down on both sides of the bed, sweat pouring off of her. Her long blond hair was matted against her. The doctor was coaching her from the front as she continued to scream. Calleigh looked up to see Tim standing at the door. A part of her was happy to see him, but a good portion of her was pissed that he was just standing there. " Glad to see that you finally made it," she returned acidly.

" I'm sorry, babe. I was working in the trace lab , and I had to take some samples to DNA, I forgot to turn my cell back on."

" Do you see what you've done to me?" Calleigh growled.

" Cal, it takes ..." Tim started before a pillow flew past his head.

" Don't you dare get sarcastic with me, Timothy James. Not now," Calleigh said as she beared down against the pain. It was coming in waves now.

The doctor motioned for Tim to moved to the head of the bed then addressed Calleigh, " Calleigh, you are going to have to push, okay?"

" I can't push..."

" Yes you can. On three, okay?"

Calleigh took a deep breath and nodded, and Tim stood by her and grasped her hand. He had never seen her as beautiful as she was now.

" Alright , Calleigh, 1..."

" I can't do it," Calleigh cried.

" Yes you can, 2..."

" C'mon , Cal. It's almost over," Tim said as he caressed her hair.

"3! Push Calleigh!" the doctor ordered.

Calleigh beared down and pushed, feeling the tears fall down her face. The doctor looked up at Calleigh and smiled wildly. He pulled the baby through the birth canal and stood up.

" Here she is," the doctor said as he handed the baby to the attending nurse. Calleigh looked to the nurse as she took the baby into a corner. The room was eerily silent as the nurses began to clean.

" Doctor, she's not breathing," a nurse reported. The doctor left the foot of the bed and went to the station. Tim stood by helplessly as Calleigh grasped on to his arm.

" Tim, she's not breathing!" Calleigh said frantically.

" Calleigh , everything's going to be okay. The doctor is working with her," Tim replied as he continued to watch them work. He was praying that there was nothing wrong with his daughter.

Within seconds, the room filled with the frantic cries of the baby, and Tim let the breath that he was holding, escape loudly. The nurses continued to clean the baby, then brought it to Calleigh and placed her in her arms.

" Congratulations Calleigh and Tim. You have a healthy baby girl. 8 lbs. 7 0z. All ten fingers and toes accounted for," the doctor said with a huge smile. He was grateful that the baby had finally began to breath, it had almost become a disaster. " You have a name picked out?"

Calleigh looked at her daughter , unable to hide the joy and nodded. Tim gazed at her with tears in his eyes as well. She had a head of dark wavy hair, and looked just like him when he was younger. She was perfect.

" Sascha Marie," Calleigh choked out.

" Beautiful name for a beautiful child. Congratulations again," the doctor said as he walked to the station were the nurses were filling out paperwork. He left the new parents to be with their new born daughter.

" Well she's here," Calleigh said as she looked into Tim's eyes. " She's gorgeous."

" Yeah, so is her mother,"Tim said softly, " I love you, so much."

" I love you, Tim. I'm sorry if I was kinda bitchy to you..."

" No need to apologize. I would probably be worse if it was me. You did a hell of a job, babe," Tim said as he touched his daughter's tiny hands. He was in awe of the fact that he had a part in this.

Calleigh lifted her to Tim and asked , " You want to hold her , Dad?"

Tim looked at Calleigh with wide eyes, " I-I might hurt her..."

" You won't , Tim. Go ahead, hold your daughter," Calleigh said as she gestured to him. Tim gently took her into his arms and smiled down on her. Calleigh looked at her family and felt a single tear fall. She had been so long without love. Now she had an abundance of it, and she never wanted to let go.

The End.

A/ N: Yes , I guess you noticed that the baby is named Sascha. This actually is the prequel to Disappearing Acts. Very clever huh:) I hope you enjoyed the story... Read and Review please.