The New Recruits

Chapter 10

Calleigh glanced at the screen of her computer and sighed heavily. Even though she had a lot of work still to do on the case, she just couldn't get Tim out of her mind. She knew that it was a mistake in going to his home, but she had to tell him. Even if he didn't return it, he had to know how much she loved him.

"This is all your fault," Calleigh said out loud to herself. Her voice sounded ominous in the tiny room that was her firearms lab. She continued to look at the screen as the different types of bullets ticked off rapidly. She turned away from the computer and her eyes fell on a picture of her and Tim that she kept on the corner of her desk. She stared at him in the picture and felt a smile creep on her face. Instantly she was transported into the past.

" Calleigh, I can't let you marry Phillip," Tim said as he caught her before she walked on to the elevator.

" Tim, it's not your decision. I love Phillip and I 'm going to marry him tomorrow," Calleigh answered as she snatched her arm away.

" Calleigh, why are you doing this? I love you, don't you see that?"

" Speed, what I have seen was your unwillingness to commit to our relationship. I can't sit and wait for you the rest of my life."

" You haven't given me a chance, Cal. Every since that day in the break room, you hadn't talked to me. How can we work it out if you won't let me?" Tim asked , feeling sadness as it crept up on him.

" It's too late, Tim. I'm getting married tomorrow," Calleigh retorted as she walked on to the elevator. As the door closed she saw a tear drop from his eyes. She sighed heavily and swiped at her own tears. She hoped that she was doing the right thing.

Calleigh was snapped back into the present as the computer beeped with its findings. She hit the print button and heard as the printer hummed to life . As she got up to take off her lab coat, she saw him. Startled, she let out a little scream and jumped slightly.

" Good lord, Tim, you scared me," Calleigh said as she tossed the lab coat onto her chair. She glanced at his side to see him holding a cane. " So you're okay to drive now? I suspect that we will be seeing you in the lab soon?"

Tim smirked and lifted up the cane, " Not for another week, but I will be glad to come back. Listen, Cal , I think we need to talk."

"Talk? Talk about what?"

" Us."

Calleigh walked to the printer and retrieved the report, shaking her head, "There is no us, Tim."

" You mean to tell me that you haven't been thinking about me the way that I have been thinking about you?"

Calleigh stopped and dropped her head. She could never fool Tim Speedle.

" There's nothing we can do about that, Tim. You are married and I..."

" You are getting a divorce. Calleigh, I've known you for what, almost thirty years now? I know when it comes to family you never back down and you never quit. Divorce is not you."

" You're so smart, Tim. Since you know so much, why couldn't you see what was going on between us back then? Why couldn't we save what we had?" Calleigh asked , her voice rising.

" You wouldn't let me, Calleigh! Every time I tried to talk to you, you shoved me away. Then you married Phillip, I married Robin, life went on. I fought hard for us , Calleigh. Which makes this even harder." Tim said as he shifted his weigh t slightly.

" Whatever you have to say ,Tim , just get it out."

" I'm staying with Robin, Calleigh. Things between you and I are complicated, and I don't want to ruin it for RJ and Jacinda. They have a real shot at happiness."

" What about our happiness? Don't we deserve to be happy?" Calleigh said as the shock of his words sunk in.

" I love you still after all these years, Cal. But we have to think about someone else now. Our children love each other."

" Love is overrated," Calleigh stated harshly.

" It's never simple, Cal. But that's the beauty of it, you never know what you have until you take a chance on it," Tim said as he walked over to her. " Give them the chance."

Calleigh looked up into his brown eyes and saw the sincerity in them. She wanted so much to be with this man, but she knew he was right. Jacinda's happiness mattered most.

" I've lost my chance," Calleigh said as she felt a stream of tears pour out of her eyes. She dropped her head and stared at the floor.

" I'll always love you, Calleigh. But it's better this way."Tim returned as he lifted her chin up. He then bent to kiss her softly. Calleigh felt his tears as they dropped from his eyes on to her chest. After he gently pulled away from her, he asked, " Are you okay?"

Calleigh smiled brightly and wiped the salty streams off of her face, " Yes. I'm fine Tim. I guess it's fitting that we shared our last kiss in the same place we shared our first. Poetic even."

Tim chuckled at Calleigh and pushed her hair back. The love that he shared with her was now deep down in his heart where it would be for the rest of his life.

" I'll see you next week?" Tim asked as he turned to walk out of the lab.

" Sure," Calleigh said as she walked to the opposite side of the room. She smiled lightly at him and he smiled back, then pushing the door open and walking out. Calleigh stood there for a moment longer and touched her lips. She had just lost the man she would ever truly love.

" Where are we going?" Horatio asked as Maddison turned the wheel of the Hummer. She hadn't spoken since they left the hospital and he knew that it wasn't good.

Maddison glanced over at her uncle, happy to hear his strong voice once more. This had been a close call and she was taking no more chances until she was satisfied that he was out of danger. She turned the wheel once more and came to rest in front of a modest Spanish style home. Instantly, Horatio knew where he was.

" Maddison, why are we in front of Yelina's house?" Horatio said as he let the window down. The soft breeze blew inside of the vehicle and whipped around Horatio's hair.

" This is where you'll be staying for a while, Horatio."

" There's no need for this, Maddie. I can take care of my self," Horatio replied as he glanced back at the house.

" Horatio, someone's after you, and you are not in the best condition right now. I just want to keep you safe. Can you not argue with me on this?" Maddison asked as she saw the door open to the home. Ray walked out and waved to the Hummer while Yelina stood at the door. Horatio could see from his vantage point as the Columbian beauty had not changed much.

" I still think you are taking this too seriously, Maddie. I am a cop, a very good one. I can handle myself," Horatio said as he winced a little.

" Sure. It's only going to be for a little while, Uncle H," Maddison said as she unhooked the seat belt . Raymond came to the passenger side and opened the door.

" Hey, Uncle H!"

" Raymond." Horatio said as he stepped out.

" Mom's been waiting for you. She says that you two have a lot to catch up on," Raymond said with a smile.

" I'm sure she did. So was this your idea, or your sister's?" Horatio asked as he closed the door. He walked gingerly up the walkway.

" It was Maddie's , but I think it was a good idea. There was no way we could've left you at the Hospital with what happened."

Horatio nodded then plastered a smile on his face as he came up to Yelina. They stood apart from each other for a moment , the unspoken words filling the air with tension. Raymond looked back at Maddison as she carried a bag up to the door.

" Yelina."

" Horatio. I hear that you are up to your old tricks again," Yelina said as a beautiful smile played on her lips.

" What would that be?"

" Getting yourself killed," Yelina replied, " Maddison."

" Hi , Yelina. Thanks for agreeing to this," Maddison said as she handed the bag to Raymond.

" Not a problem. Raymond , you know where to put his bag?" Yelina asked as she turned to Ray.

" Yeah, mom."

"Good. Why don't we go inside? Have you eaten , Horatio?"

" No."

" Well , you're just in time, dinner's almost ready," Yelina stated as she walked inside the home. Horatio looked at Maddison as she beamed. Now that Horatio was out of trouble, she could focus on piecing this puzzle together.

TNR

"Oh man , he's not going to like this," a man said as he watched the red haired cop get out of the Hummer. His instructions were specific, Horatio Caine was not to live through the night. He turned the van around, praying that he would have another chance. If he didn't finish the job, he was a dead man.

TNR

"Good morning to you, sleepy head," Jacinda said as she saw RJ turn over. She was sitting at her desk working on the computer with a silk robe on.

RJ blinked heavily and sat up quickly. The last thing he remembered was having his last drink at the club. He looked at his clothes as they were strew about the floor , intermingled with hers. There was no mistaken that something happened in this room last night.

" What time is it?" RJ said as he swung his legs over the bed.

Jacinda clicked off the computer , took off her glasses, and turned to him with a smile on her face then got up to sit beside him on the bed.

" Almost six. We've got to hurry, or we'll be late. You want breakfast?"

" Not really. What happened last night?"

" You mean to tell me that you don't remember?" Jacinda asked as she leaned into him. She could still smell the cologne in his skin. " Maybe this will kick start that memory."

Jacinda took him in a passionate kiss and pushed him back onto the bed. She then straddled him and looked down into his eyes.

" Oh, I remember now," RJ said as he smiled up at her. In one fail swoop he turned her over until she was flat on her back, " I remember this more though."

He bent down to kiss her and she returned the kiss forcefully. When he lifted up she heard the cell phone on her table ring. She moved to answer it and RJ took her hand away gently.

" RJ, it could be the lab."

"Or it could be your mother," RJ said as he smirked back at her. " I want to get back at the matter at hand."

Jacinda glared at RJ and he relented and got up. Jacinda scurried to the table in hopes of catching it before it stopped.

" Willison."

" Jacinda? We have a floater," Maddison said.

" Where?" Jacinda said as she pulled a hair behind her ear. RJ started to speak, but Jacinda put her hand up.

" In the harbor. I'm going to need you here."

" I'm on my way," Jacinda replied as she looked at RJ. When she flipped the phone down, she looked to RJ. " Gotta scene, RJ. You coming with?"

" Nope, I'll be at home. I'm not going near a scene until I've been called." Instantly , he heard his own cell phone humming from under a pile of clothes.

"I'll see you there," Jacinda said as she leaned over to peck him on his cheek. RJ glared at her and fell back onto the bed.

" No rest for the wicked." RJ said as he closed his eyes. He would be going in after all.

TBC...