Disclaimer - I don't own the Miami characters - sadly, they belong to Jerry Bruckheimer and CBS. I do own Tim's wife and son, though and any other characters I might introduce as this little story progresses.

Rating - PG

Summary - Horatio finds one day that nothing is as he thought it was. Although some characters named can be found in my other stories, this one is completely independent of anything else and stands alone.

A/N - I've been gone a long while, and MAN is it good to be back! It's hard to find any time for writing when you're working fifteen and sixteen hour days. I've finally wrapped my head around my new job and this story just wouldn't leave me alone. Every time I watch an episode that doesn't feature my beloved Speed, I find something else to write about.

Now that I'm back to writing, soon I'll be back to reviewing! Tessa, Nathalie, I've missed you guys!!!!!!

Horatio strode the halls of the Miami Dade Police Crime Lab - his blue eyes focused and calm, taking in the sights and sounds of the morning shift beginning another day that surrounded him.

"Lieutenant Caine?"

He stopped and turned to face the department receptionist. "Yes, Marnie?" he asked with a slight smile.

"There's a woman here to see you," the petite brunette replied. "Says her name is Leanna Speedle."

Horatio's breath caught in his throat at the name. "Leanna?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, sir," Maria said with a nod. "She's in your office."

He blinked twice in quick succession. "Thank you," he said automatically, quickening his step in the direction of his office - desperately fighting the urge to run.

Calleigh fell into step beside him. "Good morning," she said in her usually sweet Southern drawl. "I have those ballistics reports for you."

He hadn't heard a word she'd said, but didn't want to admit it. "Uh-huh," he muttered, finally arriving at his office. He glanced down at the woman who'd stepped into the #2 spot after Tim Speedle's death and smiled softly. "I have a meeting, but I'll find you right after."

"Okay," she said, returning his smile. He watched for a moment as she turned on her heels and started back down the hallway, then placed his hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath.

He opened it slowly, finding a woman he hadn't seen in five years standing in his office. She turned to face him, and Horatio took in the sight of her - the darker hair, the softer figure, the tiny lines framing her bright green eyes.

"Horatio," she said, her voice no louder than a whisper.

"Leanna," he answered plainly. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Leanna closed her eyes and tilted her head down toward the floor. "It's Tim."

He shifted his weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other, processing Leanna's words. "Leanna," he replied with a slight cock of his head, "Tim's been dead for five years."

Leanna shook her head softly and reached into her handbag. She handed him the picture of a family - he recognized Leanna's image immediately. Beside her was a small boy - the mirror image of his beloved friend who'd died so unnecessarily in a downtown jewelry store. Leanna smiled as she glanced at the picture Horatio now held like a bomb. "That's our son, Nicholas," she explained. "He's three years old."

Horatio's gaze continued to the left side of the picture, where a handsomeman with a scruffy beard and dark eyes smiled back at him. Tim.

He swallowed hard, fighting back the tears in his eyes as Leanna continued. "This picture was taken three months ago, at a park down the street from our home in New Orleans." She paused, letting the news sink in. She laid a hand on Horatio's shoulder and he sank onto the brown leather couch. She sat beside him and took one of his hands in her own.

"Tim's not dead, Horatio," she said quietly. "But he's missing, and I need your help."

TBC...