Breathe

A/N: I might be borrowing some from the fourth season here...

Chapter 5

Tim walked in the doors of the CSI building, not recognizing it at first. It seemed so much more brighter and open than he remembered . He started to walk out before he saw someone familiar to him. Paula was walking to the reception desk and reaching to grab the phone as she noticed him. She waved him over with a warm smile as she continued to talk on the phone.

" Yes, I got it. Get the evidence from the locker and send it to DNA. I said I got it, Eric," Paula said as she continued to smile.

Tim smiled to himself when he heard who she was talking to. Then he heard her drop the phone and addressed him, " Hi , can I help you with something?"

" Yes, Paula, I'm here to see someone."

" Do I know you?" Paula asked as she looked at him harder.

Tim silently cursed to himself as he realized he had called her by her name. He had to remember that he wasn't Tim Speedle anymore, but that was hard considering that he still had memories and feelings from his previous life.

" I'm sorry, the person I wanted to see told me that I should ask for Paula. I naturally assume that you are her," Tim said as he sighed inwardly.

Paula flashed him a smile and started to write him a visitor's pass, " What's your name and who are you looking for?"

Tim had to think before he spoke or risk another slip up and being tossed on his keister out the front door, " Trent. Trent Spaulding, and I'm here to see Calleigh Speedle."

Paula looked up at Tim and stared at him for a moment. In two years no one had asked to see Calleigh, much less a man. " Are those for her?" Paula asked as she gestured to the bouquet of flowers.

" Yes, they are. I hope she likes them," Tim said as he smelled the scent of the carnations.

" I'm sure she's going to love them, but a word to the wise, she loves tulips," Paula said as she leaned in more.

" Thanks," Tim said as he winked at her.

When she finished the pass, he took it and looked down the long corridor that was now lined with mammoth windows. He remembered how much Horatio would complain about the budget and he now wondered how the face lift was possible.

" Paula, has this building changed?"

" Yes, it has. Some federal money has been funneled into the budget because of the new CSI that started. Her grants are what paid for this new modern look."

" New CSI, huh?"

" Yeah, her name is Natalia Boa Vista. She specializes in cold cases. I think that is all that she is able to do. Doesn't really make sense to me though."

" Really? Why?" Tim asked throughly intrigued now. So much had changed within the two years that he had been gone.

" Maxine has been the DNA tech for almost three years now, and this new CSI comes in and takes over. So Maxine was put on administrative leave, but she has been cleared and she clearly has seniority over Boa Vista."

" Valera was put on administrative leave? For what?" Tim asked. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Valera was always a stickler for the rules.

" It's a long story," Paula said as she took a look at him again. How would he know who Maxine was? " Are you sure that I don't know you?"

Tim glanced away to see Eric walking up to the desk with a file folder, and a shorter man following him. Eric had a look of disgust as he approached them. That was definitely a look that he wasn't used to. Tim then focused on the man standing beside Eric, noticing the attire he was wearing. The suit coat that he was wearing reminded him of Horatio, although this character couldn't pull it off as well as he did.

" Ryan, I told you to keep those reporters at bay. We don't need another incident like the park," Eric had said to him as he slapped the file on the desk.

" Hey Delko, I was just talking to her, how was I supposed to know that she was going to use it as a sound bite?" Ryan returned as he glanced in the direction of Tim.

" All I'm saying is that you need to watch what you say. Terrible things can happen from loose lips."

" I've been a CSI for two years now, I should know the ropes by now, and I don't need you lecturing me. Maybe you feel like you need to because Speedle did it to you?"

Eric turned around and glared at Wolfe. He clenched his fist at his sides and fought to contain himself. Speaking through clenched teeth, he leaned forward, " Don't you ever talk about Speed like that. You hear me? Never!"

" Hey, just making an observation there chief," Ryan said as he backed up . He glanced over to Tim who felt the sudden urge to hit this man. " Can I help you?"

" I'm just here to see someone," Tim spoke up.

" Who?" Eric asked as he turned to Paula, his fury still evident.

" Calleigh Speedle. Is she around?"

" I think she's in trace," Ryan offered then proceeded to walk away.

Tim watched him as he walked by the windows and imagined what it would be like to push him through one. Snickering to himself, he said, " Jackass."

Eric spun around when he heard that and looked at Tim again. It reminded him of something that was said in the past. He looked deep into Tim's eyes without blinking , just to make sure.

" What did you just say?" Eric asked as he continued to stare at Tim.

" He kind of seems like a jackass. How do you put up with him?"

Eric laughed and broke his sights on Tim, " I ask myself that everyday. But believe it or not he's gotten better."

" Really?"

"Yeah, when he started in trace, he was all about having to prove how he wasn't there to take the place of the previous tech..." Eric said as his voice trailed off. Tim saw the slightest hint of sadness as he turned away from him. Yet another regret that he had to contend with.

" Hey, I'm sorry if I was prying," Tim replied, suddenly not wanting to face Eric again. It was hard for him to see his best friend like this.

" No, no , it's okay. Speed was one in a million, but he's been gone for almost two years now. Ah, who were you looking for again?", Eric asked as he shook it off.

" Calleigh Speedle. I just wanted to thank her for all she had done for me while I was in the hospital," Tim said as he gestured to the flowers.

Eric smiled lightly and looked at Tim squarely in the face as if he was recognizing him for the first time, " Do I know you from somewhere?"

" The name's Trent Spaulding. You might not recognize me without all the blood around," Tim said sarcastically.

" What?"

" First Municipal Bank, last month... the bank robbery. I was the one lying on the ground, dying."

" Oh , yeah. I remember now," Eric said hesitantly. There was something about the way this man spoke that reminded Eric of someone. " I see you're all better now."

" Yes, thanks in part to Calleigh. She was there, I'm told , the entire time." Tim said as he glanced at his watch. He still remembered what time they all took a lunch break.

Eric noticed and stopped staring at him and pointed down the corridor, " Take the elevator down to the ..."

" Basement, then hang a right," Tim finished before he realized what he had said.

" Right. You sure you haven't been here before? Many people have a hard time finding the firearms lab," Eric returned as he studied him a little bit longer.

" I don't know why I knew that. Lucky guess , I suppose," Tim answered quickly. He then turned around and started for the bank of elevators.

" Um, sir, you have to sign in," Paula called before he could get away. Tim smiled slightly and returned to the desk and hurriedly scribbled on the sign in log. As he walked to the elevators, Paula looked at the sign in log and did a double take. " Eric look at this."

" What is it?" Eric asked as he kept his eyes on him. There was something nagging at him about Trent.

" Look at his signature," Paula returned quietly. Eric glanced at it and felt the color drain from his face. He stared at the wild signature, not sure of what he was seeing, blinking.

The scribble was plainly seen as Tim Speedle.

TBC...

A/N: sorry I had to leave you like this , The Show is coming on... :)