Meant To Be

chapter 2

" Did you ever think that he was going to propose?" Maxine asked as they sat in the huge dressing room that was connected to the bathroom. Alexx was putting the final touches on Calleigh's hair, sweeping it up into a dramatic, smooth updo. Calleigh turned her head slightly and Alexx frowned .

" Can you answer without moving?" Alexx asked as she started over. " We'll never get done if you keep fidgeting."

"Sorry Alexx, it's just that I am so excited. I mean I would never had thought that I would meet someone, much less get married. But it's been like a dream come true," Calleigh replied as her voice got thick with emotion. Alexx patted her on the shoulder and smiled at her through the mirror.

" Calleigh, this is your day. You've worked hard and you've gone through some bad circumstances, but here you are. And you are marrying a man who practically worships the land you walk on," Alexx returned as she pulled her hair up again. She finished it off with some hair pins then stood back to admire her handy work.

Calleigh inhaled sharply and put a hand to her mouth as the tears began to protrude out of her eyes. She was beautiful. She lightly touched her hair and looked at it from both sides as Alexx and Maxine smiled behind her. She then turned to them as the tears finally broke free.

" Thanks you guys. You've made me beautiful."

" It wasn't that hard. I was just working with what God gave you," Alexx said as she hugged Calleigh. " Now, stop that crying before you mess up your makeup."

Maxine glanced at her watch as she moved to freshen up her own make up and put a hand on Calleigh's shoulder.

" Calleigh, it's one o'clock. I think we may need to get going."

Calleigh got up and moved to the dress that was hanging and sighed, " This is it, ladies. In a few hours, I'll be Mrs. Speedle."

They giggled furiously as they gathered all of their things and headed for the black Escalade that Alexx had driven. They would get to the church with time to spare.

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" Hey Delko, can you hand me an envelope?" Tim yelled as he picked up a piece of hair off of the leather seat. He felt his phone vibrate on his side as he repositioned himself comfortably. He put his tools down and glanced at the phone, noticing he had an voice mail. As he checked it , he heard Calleigh's frantic voice on the other end, Timothy Speedle, you better not mess up this day for me..." Tim exhaled loudly as he saw Delko at his kit.

Eric grabbed an envelope and hurriedly strode to Tim , glancing at his watch. They had been there for almost two hours and they weren't even half way finished. Eric handed the envelope and watched as Tim took it and quickly put the hair in.

" I could hear her all the way over there what was the problem?"

" I think she knows about the tux," Tim responded looking at the ground.

Eric glanced at his watch and asked , "Don't you think you should be wrapping this up? It's one fifteen."

" Do you mind, I'm trying to collect evidence," Tim said as he bent down again. He was aware of the time, but he knew he had to finish this.

" Speed, did you forget that you are getting married in less than two hours? You still have to go to the cleaners and pick up your tux..."

" What time did you say it was?" Tim asked as he stopped what he was doing.

" It's about one fifteen."

" Dammit, the cleaners close at one thirty. I gotta get out of here," Tim exclaimed as he got up from his position. He searched the scene for Horatio , but couldn't find him. He then turned to Eric and pulled his wallet out. " Do me a huge favor. Go pick up the tux and meet me at the lab."

" But what about this?" Eric asked as he looked around.

" Forget it. I'll finish it. Just get to the cleaners before the damn place closes," Tim stated irritably.

Eric smiled at Tim's frustration and waved the money that he was offering , away.

"No need, Speed. Just get this done, I don't want to have to be the one to tell Calleigh that you got stuck at a scene."

" Maybe we should let Horatio do it," Tim replied sarcastically as he finally saw the red head emerging from the shadows of the stores. Eric nodded and started walking to the Hummer.

" Where's he going?" Horatio asked as he saw Eric peel off from the scene.

" He has to go pick up my tux from the cleaners. They close in fifteen minutes," Tim said as he got back to work. As he snapped his pictures, Horatio answered his phone. When he finished, he let out an exasperated sigh. Tim stopped taking pictures and let the camera hang limply around his neck. That couldn't be good.

" Speed, that was Belmontes. He's stuck on the causeway. He said he should be here in about an hour."

" An hour? Horatio , I am supposed to be getting married in about an hour and a half," Tim said as he spotted the black Escalade as it came to a stop at the light a few feet away from them. He turned his back quickly and bent behind Horatio. A moment later,he looked up again, and the Escalade was gone. " H, I can't miss my wedding. Calleigh would kill me."

" I know, Speed. Just get as much as done as you can. I f you finish, just give me the evidence and I'll take it to the lab."

Tim let a defeated breath out as he got back down on his haunches, " That's ok, H. I told Delko to meet me at the lab with my tux. So when I finish, I'll take the evidence back."

Horatio nodded and left the young man to his work, hoping that he would get done on time. He didn't want another scene today.

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Calleigh bobbed her head to the music as Alexx drove the SUV through the city. At a stop light, Calleigh saw the familiar yellow crime scene tape that was strung around a parking area. She chuckled lightly as she saw the familiar raid jackets and the flashing of the bulbs.

" Oh look, a crime scene." Maxine said as she rolled her window down to get a better look. She rarely came out of the DNA lab.

" Feels funny being on the other side of the tape for once, doesn't it Calleigh?" Alexx asked as she glanced over to the scene. She saw something that she didn't want to see. She quickly adverted her eyes back to the road in front of her.

" Yeah , it does..." Calleigh trailed off. She had spotted someone who looked familiar. She turned to Alexx and then back again, this time seeing Horatio. " Alexx, Tim wouldn't be stupid enough to take a scene on his wedding day, would he?"

" Not on your life, why?" Alexxasked a little uneasily.

" Because I thought I just saw him. Over there," Calleigh said as she pointed out of the window.

" Don't be silly, Calleigh. Men maybe be neanderthals , but I hardly believe that he would be that crazy. You would..."

" I'd kill him," Calleigh finished as she turned back to see the light green. " Alexx, it's your green."

Alexx nodded slightly as she glanced in her rearview mirror at Maxine. They needed to get Calleigh married, and fast.

TBC...