By Your Side
Chapter 11
A/N: Here it is ! The long awaited new chapter. Sorry that I took so long, I ran into some major road blocks. Hope you like!
Tim walked into the break room, obviously tired. He wore a ragged look and dragged his feet as he walked. He had been up for most of the night , working the various parts of the new case, but yet his mind wasn't consumed with thoughts of that. They were of his daughter. It had been almost eight months since he helped her pack her things to go live with her mother, and he hadn't gotten so much as a call from her. Every time he thought to call her, there was always a pressing issue that had to be dealt with. Now with a free moment, he decided that it was the right time to call.
Before he could reach his cell, the door to the break room entered and Alexx walked in. She noticed the more than normal disheveled look Tim had and it gave pause to her. She was very protective over her Timmy. She stood over him and put her hands on her hips, as if she was getting ready to scold him. He glanced up at her and pushed the chair next to him out from under the table. There was no chance that he was going to get away without not talking to her.
" I already know what you are going to say , Alexx," Tim said as he put his head down on the table.
" Really? What was I going to say?" Alexx asked as she sat down and folded her arms around her.
" How I need to take better care of myself, and how I need to have some vested interest in how I look when coming to work, and all that jazz."
" Well, Timmy, I was going to say that, but I also was going to say that you need to stop worrying about Sascha. I know you feel like she has forgotten about you, but she's going through a lot to be able to walk again."
" A simple phone call wouldn't hurt would it?" Tim asked as he lifted his head.
" Don't you see Calleigh here? You know, Horatio works here as well," Alexx said sarcastically,you can always ask one of them how she's doing."
" I've tried that, but they just shove it off , like it doesn't matter. I swear, I think they are trying to keep something from me."
Alexx nodded and sighed heavily. She knew why there was such secrecy in the matter of Sascha, but she swore to Horatio and Calleigh that she wouldn't tell Tim. No matter how hard it was. She glanced at him, wanting to tell him everything, then glanced back at the table. Tim noticed and started to ask , when the door opened again and Eric walked in. He went to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup then sat next to Alexx.
" Speed, what are you still doing here? The night shift ended almost an hour ago. Go home and get some rest."
" He's worried about Sascha," Alexx explained.
Tim shot her a look then returned his attention to the floor.
" What are you so worried about? She's fine." Eric said as he sipped his coffee. " What I want to know is when are you going to put in for the transfer? We are getting swamped in trace on the day shift."
" I'm going to talk to H about it when he comes in."
" Sam is really an understanding woman..." Alexx said before Tim shot his head up.
" Damn, what time is it?" Tim asked as he stood up. He had completely forgotten about Sam.
" It's eight thirty. Why?" Alexx replied looking up at him.
" I told Sam that I would meet her at the caterers at eight o'clock."
" Oh man , is she going to be pissed," Eric said with a smirk.
" Thanks captain obvious for that sterling observation. I gotta go." Tim said as he walk quickly out of the break room heading for the locker rooms.
" Be careful, Timmy," Alexx called out as she saw his shadow disappear. She figured that before the day was out , Tim would be back to talk.
Sam looked at her watch a second time as she stood outside the door of the caterer. The sun had begun it's assault on the citizens of Miami early, and sweat was already beginning to bead up on her face. She had not quite taken to the humidity and the heat that Miami had to offer, but she tolerated it to be with him. She was about to go back in and cancel the meeting when she saw a yellow streak pass her. She smiled lightly and met him at the curb, trying desperately to keep in mind that he was almost an hour late.
" Nice of you to make it," Sam said as she pulled her shades up on to the top of her head. One thing she did get out of living in Miami was the natural tan.
" I'm sorry , Sam. I got tied up at work," Tim said as he tugged the helmet off, revealing the thick stubble underneath. Sam looked at him longingly, thinking how hot he looked scruffy, then crinkled her nose at him.
" I noticed. Maybe next time you can stop what you are doing to shave," Sam said as she caressed his face. The feel of the rough stubble sent shivers down her back. She dropped her hand and turned to walk towards the door. " We need to get going. They said that they would hold the next appointment for thirty minutes. I really want to get these guys before they get booked up."
" Sam we have almost a month until the wedding. Is this really necessary?" Tim said as he walked behind her.
Sam stopped and turned slowly, glaring at him. Tim put his hands up in surrender then flashed a smile. Sam smacked him lightly across the head saying, " When your family complains about the main course, I'll point them straight to you."
" My father owns a chain of restaurants . I'm sure that he wouldn't mind..."
" Timothy James Speedle, I will not have your family working at my wedding," Sam said opening the door.
" Hey, there was no need to pull the full name card. It was just a suggestion," Tim said as he held the door open for her.
" Duly noted, and forgotten. You are not getting out of this , Speedle." Sam said as she walked through. Tim shook his head and sighed. His plan had back fired.
" Sascha! Are you ready?" Calleigh called from upstairs. She looked at her wrist and continued to brush her hair.
From downstairs she could hear the incessant giggles from her daughters. A smile began at the corners of her mouth. How can I be so lucky to have this?, Calleigh thought. Everything had come full circle for her when Sascha returned home, and she felt as if her life was finally complete. But there was something missing, Tim. There had been many nights that she sat up wondering if she had taken the right road in her life. Sure , she admitted that she loved Horatio, but the love that she still felt for Tim, ran deeper. There were times where she thought to tell him, but she realized that the time had passed. Tim was going to marry Sam, and she and Horatio were getting ready to celebrate their eighth anniversary. Their lives had gone on, despite her feelings.
As she continued to brush absently through her hair, she felt the familiar touch of her husband's arms as they wrapped around her shoulders. Even as her thoughts were on Tim, she still felt like Horatio was her savior.
" Good morning," he said softly into her ear.
" Morning, handsome. Think you can wrangle the girls for breakfast?" Calleigh said as she leaned into his embrace.
" If you can promise me a repeat of last night," Horatio replied coyly.
" Done. Now, they have to eat before they tear up the living room. Oh and Sascha has an appointment today at one. You think it will be okay if I take an hour?"
" Sure. Just make sure I have those ballistic reports on my desk before you leave," Horatio said as he turned her around to face him.
Calleigh stared into his blue eyes, feeling something was bothering him, but she decided to leave well enough alone. Horatio usually came to her if he wanted to talk. She smiled brightly as she kissed him abundantly, almost dropping the brush that she held on to. Moments later, she heard the sounds of crashing and she pulled away from him slightly, leaving her lips parted .
" I'll get Lizzy , you get Livvy."
" Deal." Horatio said as he pecked her on the lips then descended the stairs. Calleigh stood there for a second longer, dwelling on the look in his eyes. Then in an instant, Sascha appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
" Mom? Earth to mom, are you there?"
" Huh? Oh, Sascha. Whatcha need?" Calleigh asked after a moment.
" I was saying that I think Robi is going to let me walk with out the crutches," Sascha replied as she lifted up one gray crutch.
" Don't get your hopes up , baby. Robi said that you have been doing excellent, but she wanted to slow it down. She doesn't want to exceed your limits."
" I know mom, but I'm ready to show daddy that I can walk. It's killing me that I haven't talked to him in eight months, but I want him to be surprised."
Calleigh descended the stairs and came to Sascha. She pulled her long brown hair behind her ear and put a hand on her cheek. She couldn't be more proud of her daughter than she was at that moment. Sascha had taken an awful incident and used it to make a change in her life.
" He will be, believe me. I still think that he deserves to be in on it. You know how much he hates surprises."
" Yeah , maybe you're right, mom. If Robi lets me toss the crutches, I'll call him tonight."
" Good. Now, scoot, I still have some things I have to do before I get to work. Horatio is going to cook this morning." Calleigh said as she gestured to the kitchen. Sascha rolled her eyes and made a gagging sound. Calleigh lightly touched her daughter on the shoulder and said, " His food isn't that bad. You should give him a chance."
" You're right mom, but he can't hold a candle to dad's cooking."
" That's because your dad comes from a long line of cooks. It's not a fair comparison." Calleigh said as she ascended the stairs. " I f you don't have any breakfast, how do you expect to be ready for your appointment?"
" Okay , okay, point made. I'll eat," Sascha said as she walked abruptly on the crutches.
Calleigh smiled to herself and finished preparing for the day. There was no stopping her daughter when she got that stubborn side to her.
" So , you come again," Eric said as he saw Tim walk through the door of the trace lab. After the meeting at the caterers , Tim had gone home and gotten some rest.
" Yeah, I wanted to talk to Horatio about coming back on to the day shift. Have you seen him?"
" Not since this morning. He's been all over the place , this case has gotten us all spread out. I did see Calleigh though, but she was leaving."
At that precise moment, Horatio opened the door to the trace room and peeked his head in, " Eric do you have that sample taken from the clothing?"
" Yeah, H it's in the mass spec right now," Eric reported as he jotted down some notes in his file.
" Hey H, I need to talk to you about the transfer that you offered me," Tim said. Horatio stepped into the lab and let the door close behind him. He had started to think that Tim didn't want to come back to his shift, and he couldn't blame him.
" Okay, Speed. What is it?"
" I want to come back. I love nights , but I'm losing time with Sam and I feel like you need me here in the daytime."
" That is an understatement," Eric chimed in.
" Done. I'll need you bright and early tomorrow," Horatio said as he turned to walk away.
Tim nodded in agreement and started to say something before his cell went off. Horatio took the moment to slip out of the trace lab and disappear down the hall. Tim looked at the caller id to see that Sam was calling.
" Hi, babe. What's going on?" Tim said as he smiled briefly. The smile soon dropped as he heard her sniffling on the other end. " Sam, what's the matter?"
" I - I've been called back to work in New York. The head of the bureau requested me himself," Sam said tearfully.
" But you can't go, we have a wedding to get through in a month," Tim returned running a nervous hand through his hair. He had waited long enough to marry Sam.
" I have been assured that I'll be back within two weeks, three tops. But it's priority, Tim. I have to go."
Tim sighed , knowing he wouldn't win this battle. He closed his eyes and felt the frustration building behind them.
" When do you leave?"
" My flight leaves tonight. The faster I get there , the faster I can come home,"Sam said quieting herself.
" I'm on my way home." Tim said as he turned to his friend.
" Okay. I'm packing now, but when you get here maybe we can go out for dinner."
" Sounds nice," Tim said defeated , " see you when I get home. I love you."
" Love you too." Sam said as she hung up.
Tim flipped his phone down and placed his hands on the table, hanging his head low. He couldn't believe this.
" Speed, what's going on?"
" It's Sam. She's going back to New York," Tim said as he walked out of the trace lab. He wanted to have as much time with her before she left. His heart sank as he sped through the streets of Miami, letting the wind erase his tears.
TBC...