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.

Horatio woke that night to the unsettling feeling that he wasn't alone. A tiny sliver of light through the ivory curtains illuminated a figure sitting in the armchair beside the window. Horatio reached beneath his pillow for his gun.

"Shelby's lasagna isn't half as good as mine. You and I both know it."

He recognized the voice immediately, but kept one hand on his gun as he sat up and reached for the bedside lamp. The room was suddenly bathed in a soft amber glow, and both blinked against the intrusion of light.

His ever-present beard was overgrown, his dark, curly hair in desperate need of cropping. There were fine lines around his eyes, matching Leanna's, and tiny sprigs of gray at his temples that hadn't been there five years ago. But the eyes were exactly the same. Irises the color of strong, finely brewed coffee that only darkened when he was angry or frustrated. Eyes that had the ability to boar a hole straight into one's soul.

"I don't remember. It's been five years since I've eaten your lasagna," Horatio smirked.

"Fair enough."

"Why are you here?" Horatio questioned. "Leanna's convinced you've been kidnapped."

"I left to protect her and Nicholas," Tim said flatly. Horatio was caught off guard by the lack of emotion in the younger man's voice.

"Care to explain?"

One corner of Tim's mouth curled up in his version of a smile. "I'm glad you're here, H. My family is safe with you."

"Your family," Horatio responded, glaring at Tim over the bridge of his nose, "would be safer if you'd tell me what's going on."

The smile spread to the other side of Tim's fac e. "I've got it under control."

Horatio scoffed and shook his head. "I don't think I'd be here if that was the case, Speed."

"I haven't completely forgotten how to do this, H," Tim countered.

"Really?" Horatio asked sarcastically.

"I had a great teacher," Speed answered. "Leanna did exactly what she was supposed to do. She brought you here."

"You brought me here to protect your family?" Horatio demanded. "So, who, exactly, is going to protect you?"

Tim broke eye contact for the first time since Horatio flipped on the light and he swallowed - hard - a motion not lost on Horatio's finely trained eye.

"What you're doing," Horatio surmised aloud, "isn't exactly legal, is it?"

"It's riding the line pretty hard, H," Tim conceded.

"Speed," Horatio sighed with a disappointed shake of his head.

"It's under control, Boss."

"For how long, Speed?" Horatio asked.

"This life isn't what I want for my family."

"So let me help you," Horatio nearly begged.

"No," Tim said forcefully. His tone defied argument, but Horatio was undeterred.

"Speed."

"I can't..." his voice trailed off and Horatio could see Tim's eyes welling up with tears. "I can't live the rest of my life like this."

"Like what?" Horatio questioned.

"The hiding, the stories, the lies. We haven't seen our parents in five years. Leanna still cries almost every day, thinking about what Nicholas is missing out on. He doesn't have grandparents, he doesn't have aunts and uncles, he doesn't have godparents, H. And worst of all, he doesn't have you."

Horatio shook his head softly. "I've met him, Speed, he's a beautiful child."

"He's the greatest thing I've ever done," Tim smiled brightly, "Besides marrying his mother," he added with a laugh.

"Of course," Horatio returned the smile before finally addressing the 'pink elephant' in the room. "Why me, Speed? Why not the feds, why not Eric?"

"Because with you, saying I have to protect my family is like preaching to the choir," Tim answered.

Horatio chuckled. "Someone has been married a Southerner a little too long, Speed."

Tim grinned. "I have an incurable addiction to Southern women. And no desire to go into treatment for it."

"Red heads, in particular," Horatio added.

Tim's smile turned wistful. "I miss that auburn hair, H. She's a gorgeous brunette, but, God..."

Horatio sighed. "I remember."

Tim sat up straight in the chair and sighed. "My name is Tim Speedle. My wife is Leanna. I can't live the rest of my life calling her Lori. I have to remind myself every single day that when my wife calls me Tony, she hasn't forgotten my name."

"I can only imagine, Speed."

Tim slumped again and rested his head on the back of the chair.

"I just want you to know," Horatio continued, "that I'm here under Alexx's orders to get you back in one piece."

"And if that means blurring the lines of the law?" Tim questioned.

Horatio sighed. "I don't have to be Horatio Caine, Miami Dade Police Lieutenant. I could just be, Horatio - your friend."

Tim let out a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Thanks." His eyes opened and re-focused on Horatio. "It's good to see you again, H."

"I want you to swear to me, Speed," Horatio's voice was nearing anger, "swear to me this won't be the last time we see each other."

"It won't H, I swear," Tim nodded.

"Alive, Speed. I can't go through that again."

Tim dropped his face toward the floor and nodded again. "I swear." He stood from the chair and sighed. "I've gotta get going," he said softly, making his way to the door. In a moment, he was gone.

TBC...