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.

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.

"Tim's not dead, but he's missing and I need your help."

Leanna's words echoed over and over in his head. It simply wasn't possible. He'd been there, on the floor, holding Tim's hand when he died. There was no possible way he was alive - and yet, in his hand - irrefutable proof.

Horatio stared at her and shook his head in utter disbelief. His gaze fell once again to the picture he still held in his hand. "I don't understand," he said, his voice shaky with emotion.

Leanna Speedle tightened her grip on his hand and began to explain. "Tim didn't die in that jewelry store, Horatio," she said softly.

"He did, Leanna, I was there," Horatio argued.

Leanna regarded Tim's friend and former boss with sad eyes. "If he could have told anyone, Horatio, it would have been you."

"Told me what?" he demanded forcefully.

Leanna sighed and leaned back against the soft leather of the couch. "Do you remember the Bruckson case that Tim had wrapped shortly before you took over the lab?"

Horatio nodded and Leanna continued. "Martin Bruckson lost millions of dollars, some legit, some not, when the verdict was handed down. He made some vague threats against Tim that no one took seriously at the time. But, the longer he was in jail - the more specific the threats. It became obvious that someone was following Tim - taking pictures of him, of us. I went to my bosses immediately. But, before anything could be done, I was kidnapped."

Confusion furrowed Horatio's brow. That wasn't the way he remembered it. Leanna Clark hadn't been kidnapped - she'd broken up with Tim, leaving him devastated. And yet, somehow, pieces began fitting together in his mind. He let her continue, uninterrupted, afraid that if she stopped speaking for even a moment, he'd wake up - the conversation a dream - Tim still dead.

"I didn't leave Tim, that was just the story the feds came up with to explain my sudden 'absence'. Bruckson had me kidnapped," she said plainly, the words connecting more of the puzzle pieces in Horatio's brain. It all made sense now - Tim's agitation, his lack of concentration - and why Leanna hadn't attended the funeral.

"The feds began the preparations for Tim to go into witness protection immediately. He was going, H, with or without me."

Horatio sighed. "But, since you're a federal agent, it was in their best interest to find you?"

Leanna smiled softly. "Something like that. Everyone knew Bruckson was behind the kidnapping, but we couldn't prove it. My supervisor allowed my partner to go to Bruckson, as a mole. Thomas said that he was willing to hand Tim over, in exchange for my return."

"Oh my God," Horatio groaned and ran a hand through his auburn hair. He stood and planted his hands firmly on his hips. "It was all a setup. The last five years of my life have been a lie," he said angrily.

"Horatio," Leanna responded, nearly leaping to her feet. "We had to do this. It was the only way to keep him safe."

"But I saw him," Horatio nearly screamed. "I was there, Leanna, leaning over him, begging him to hang on when he died."

Tears fell from Leanna's emerald green eyes and she brushed them away with the back of her hand. "I know, H," she said quietly, "Tim told me all about it. He remembers every millisecond of that moment. The fear and the knowing in your eyes, how your voice cracked..."

"STOP!" Horatio demanded, yanking his arm away from her and stepping back behind his desk.

"Horatio?" Leanna questioned.

"I said STOP!" he repeated, swallowing hard and staring at the woman who he had believed for so long had broken his protege's heart. He'd never forgiven Leanna for leaving Tim. He firmly believed she was the reason Tim had stopped caring enough to clean his gun - again. And yet, here she was, telling him that the dreams he'd had almost every night for five years were true - his friend was alive.

A knock on the door brought Horatio back to reality. "Yeah."

Alexx entered the office, her nose stuck into a thick file. "Horatio," she said in her teasing tone, "how many times have I begged you not to write and walk at the same time? I can't read your handwriting." She glanced up to find the lieutenant starting past her - seemingly into thin air. She followed Horatio's gaze. "Lea?" she asked quietly, swallowing hard and backing toward the door, as if she'd seen a ghost.

"Hello, Alexx," she answered, her voice as quiet and unsure as the medical examiner's. "It's good to see you again."

Alexx's chocolate eyes darted between Horatio's and the woman who'd broken her beloved Timmy's heart. "What the hell is going on here?" she demanded angrily.

"Alexx," Horatio said slowly and deliberately, "I have reason to believe that Tim is alive."

She stumbled back toward the couch, color creeping out of her face, incredulously shaking her head. "No," she said quietly, repeatingthe single wordover and over. Horatio sat down beside her, tracing imaginary circles on her back to calm her.

Leanna knelt down in front of her, taking Alexx's hands in her own. "He loves you so much, Alexx. He's told Nicholas all about you. He even refused to name godparents for Nick, because he wanted you to be the godmother."

"Who is Nick?" Alexx asked with tears in her eyes.

"Their son," Horatio said gently, placing the photograph in her hands. Alexx sucked in a gasp and traced Tim's features with her fingertip. "Timmy," she said softly as the tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Where is he?" she asked sometime later, looking up at Leanna with tired and worried eyes.

Leanna smiled softly. "We've been living in New Orleans under the name of Spears. Tim is Tony and I'm Lori. He manages the FBI crime lab there. Alexx, he's been missing for two days."

Alexx shook her head and turned to Horatio. "You're going, right? To help Leanna?" Horatio opened his mouth to argue, but the feat in Alexx's eyes stopped him cold. "I can't lose him again, Horatio," she pleaded, taking his hands in hers. "Please."

TBC....