Meant to Be

Chapter 6

Calleigh watched the door intently for her signal to come in from Alexx. They had arrived ten minutes earlier as the guests were still streaming out of the ballroom on to the beach. When she got the all clear as Alexx held up an okay sign, Calleigh opened the door and began to step out. Maxine hurried to the passenger side to assist her, grabbing the train of her dress before it hit the ground. Calleigh blushed as she felt the hundred pairs of eyes that followed her all the way into the building. It made her feel like a celebrity of some sorts.

When she got into the ballroom, she looked around the vast room to see elegant tables set up with white tulips for center pieces. In the corner of the ballroom, she saw the caterer as they were setting up the wedding cake. She glanced at Alexx wide eyed, and Alexx smirked and shrugged her shoulders.

" Hey, when I call in a favor, I make it a good one," Alexx explained.

" I can't thank you enough, Alexx."

" Be happy, and make my Timmy happy. That's reward enough for me," Alexx returned as she saw Kenwall enter into the ballroom.

" Hi sweetheart," he bellowed.

" Daddy!"

" Did you think that I would get lost in translation? I wouldn't miss this for the world."

Calleigh moved to hug her father, careful not to get any make up on his crisp cream suit. Then she heard music coming from outside and she walked over to peek out through the window to see a string quartet as they began to play a classical piece. She turned to Alexx again, and felt the tears well up in her eyes. This was more than she could imagine, despite what she had been through that day. She was ready. But where was her groom?

S/CS/CS/C/S/C/S

" I can't believe this," Tim said as the Hummer came to a stand still. There was a collision and they were stuck in the thick of it. Tim sighed as he eyed the watch. Four fifteen. A good hour and fifteen minutes past the time he was supposed to get married. " Can't these people go around?"

Eric honked the horn and then hit the steering wheel in disgust as he watched the patrol officer handling the accident walk over to the Hummer.

" Hey! We are trying to get this situation diffused," the officer said as he peered into the vehicle.

" Is there anyway, officer that we could squeeze through? We are a bit late for something," Tim asked in his nicest tone. It was taking all that he had not to lose control. He had to remain focused.

" Squeeze through?" the officer said as he glanced at the Hummer's hood. " You're joking right?"

" Officer..." Horatio spoke up from the back of the Hummer.

" Wolfe," the officer said trying to see the voice that addressed him.

" Wolfe," Horatio repeated with a sternness in his voice, " we have a situation ourselves here. We have to be somewhere..."

" Well , you are going to have to wait just like the other fifty people that have to be somewhere," Wolfe interrupted.

Horatio leaned forward and Wolfe all of a sudden began to cough harshly, " Um, Lieutenant Caine, I- I didn't realize that it was you."

" What , you couldn't see the letters on the side of the Hummer that said " Miami Dade Crime Lab?" Tim asked in a thick sarcastic tone. He didn't like this Wolfe character.

Wolfe glanced at him sheepishly and picked up his radio from his shoulder, "This is officer Wolfe, I need a path cleared, we have priorities ."

Eric smiled as cars began to slowly move to the opposite side, allowing more room for the Hummer to maneuver.

" Here you go, sirs. And I truly apologize for any inconvenience," Wolfe commented dourly. He waved them through then gazed at the Hummer as it passed through. As the Hummer disappeared down the road, he cursed to himself. He could definitely count his chance of joining the crime lab ,out.

In the Hummer, Eric floored the gas and barreled down the strip. For safety ,he activated the light bar and hit the sirens. There was no way they were going to be late.

S/C

Calleigh looked out of the window again as the sun began to dip slightly. She glanced from Tim's parents to her brother who sat across from them and wondered what they were thinking at that precise minute. Lost in her thoughts, she was startled as the door opposite her opened.

" Miss Duquense, your fiancé hasn't arrived yet," the priest said as he walked in and straightened out his robe.

" I'm sure he's on his way," Calleigh explained nervously. It wouldn't do to lose the priest now.

" I'm okay, Calleigh. I just wanted to apprise you of the situation."

" Thanks , father. I hope that he will be coming in any moment now."

For his sake, he better be, Alexx thought as she glanced at the crystal wall clock.

S/C

Eric slammed on the breaks in front of the hotel and tossed the keys to the valet as Tim and Horatio got out. Tim left them and went inside, looking from one end to the next. He finally set his eyes on the customer service desk and trotted over to it. He was counting on this person to help him find the ballroom.

" Um, excuse me," Tim addressed the clerk, who had her back to him. When she didn't turn around, Tim cleared his throat and tried again, " I said excuse me!"

" What?" the clerk swung around to face him. Tim's face dropped as he recognized the face of his ex girlfriend, Pam. " Oh, Tim, it's you. What do you want?"

" Nice to see you too, Pam. Can you tell me how to get to the ballroom?" Tim asked, trying to be as pleasant as he could be.

" The ballroom? Why are you so dressed up? Did someone die?" Pam asked with venom in her voice. " You never dressed up for me."

" Pam, I really don't have time for this today. Can you tell me where the ballroom is or not?"

Pam continued to ignore Tim as she picked up the phone and started talking to someone else. Tim gazed at her in disbelief and hit the counter top, causing many eyes to be focused on them. Pam turned to Tim and sneered at him. Then a tall man in his early forties noticed the scene and walked over to the desk.

" Um , excuse me sir, is there something I can help you with?"

Tim turned and saw the badge that read 'security' and motioned to Pam, who put the phone down.

" I need some information and she is not giving it to me," Tim said exasperated. It frustrated him that he was so close, yet so far away from being where he needed to be.

The security guard noticed Tim's demeanor and readied himself. There had been too many times that some joe schmo came in to harass the employees. He glanced up to Pam and asked, " Is this guy bothering you, Pam?"

" Yes , Jackie, he's causing a disturbance," Pam answered as she smiled wickedly at Tim.

" I was not! I was trying to get directions to the ballroom!" Tim yelled.

Jackie , the security guard, took his hands and grabbed Tim by the arm, " Alright buddy, time to leave."

" What? I haven't done anything," Tim said as he snatched his arm away from the man.

Jackie grabbed Tim's arm again and this time, Tim lost his control and swung at the guard, hitting square across the nose. Within moments security guards came from nowhere and tumbled Tim to the ground. Tim struggled for a moment, his anger overflowing. He then stopped and allowed the security guards to pick him up. As he felt the cuffs being slapped on his wrists, he thought wistfully, All I want to do is get married.

S/C

Alexx turned as she heard the commotion coming from the other side of the door. It sounded like there was a title fight going on out there. All of a sudden, she got the feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach and dropped her head. Calleigh glanced back at Alexx, also hearing the noise and wondered what had happened. Alexx walked to the double doors of the ballroom and opened the door slowly. Everything that she had felt was right on the money, as she saw the young man in the tuxedo being picked up off the ground by the group of security guards. Sighing heavily, Alexx opened the door and walked out, leaving a very confused and emotional Calleigh behind.

S/C

Horatio and Eric walked into the lobby of the extravagant hotel, searching for their friend. Eric took a moment to scope the crowd, hoping to see him.

" H, did you see where Speed went to?"

" Maybe he's already in the ballroom," Horatio said as he heard a commotion coming from the customer service desk. They turned their attention to the security guard approaching the desk then saw him.

" Oh man, we better get over there before,..." Eric said as he saw Tim pull back and swing. He and Horatio moved into action and tried to meander through the sea of people , finally getting through to see the guards cuffing a very pissed off Speed.

S/C

Alexx walked over to the guards and got their attention.

" Excuse me officers, but I need you to release this man," Alexx said as she glared at Tim. He turned at the sound of her voice and smiled until he saw the look that she was giving him.

" I'm sorry , we can't do that, ma'am. He's causing a disturbance," a security guard said as he pulled roughly on Tim.

" Hey , that's not necessary," Tim said lowly.

" He's getting married in the ballroom, today." Alexx replied.

" Well he's also been harassing an employee and he assaulted one of our officers," another guard chipped in.

" I didn't harass her," Tim said as he shot Pam a deathly look.

" What do you call yelling and striking the counter ?" Pam asked.

" You weren't doing your job," Tim countered.

" Alright ! Cool it," the first guard said. He glanced at the guard that had gotten up off of the floor, " Jackie, you okay?"

" I'm fine," Jackie said as he continued to hold his nose. " I think it's broken."

Alexx threw up her hands and surrendered. She had done all she could to keep this day moving for Calleigh and Tim, but now there was nothing she could do. Unless, they let him go, Tim was on his way to jail. Horatio and Eric came up and dropped their heads. What they needed now was a miracle.

TBC...

A/N: Will they ? Won't they? Who knows at this point...