Chapter 6

Delko was frustrated. Tim could tell in the way he slammed into the lab. He'd never say so, but Delko scared him a little bit when he was angry or frustrated. He could be unpredictable, and Tim didn't really like that. He liked things to be orderly and routine, even when the order and the routine were only in his head, and no one else could see it.

"What?" he asked, looking at Eric.

Eric shook his head. "Just the case," he replied.

"Yeah." He could sympathize. The scene hadn't yielded up any earth shattering revelations. There had been no condom in the trash, no missed trace evidence, and no new evidence about the identity of the victim. Tim was convinced now that the victim was using an assumed identity, but there was no proof in the house. But the identity was too thin, and didn't fit right. He'd been poring over the DNA reports when Eric came in, hoping that there might be something else he could use.

Eric sighed and leaned against the counter. "Where's Cal?"

"No idea," he replied. "Talking to Alexx, maybe."

"You guys have nothing, too?" Delko asked.

He nodded. "Nothing but déjà vu," he sighed.

Delko snorted, and was quiet. Tim chewed the inside of his cheek in his own frustration. He couldn't tell anymore if there was really nothing there, or if he just wasn't seeing it in his exhaustion. He wouldn't admit it, but his eyes kept going in and out of focus, blurring the words on the report, and he had that disconnected feeling that came from too little food and too little sleep. He sighed, and went over to check on something at the computer.

"You're limping," Delko said, breaking the silence.

"What?" he asked, startled.

"I said, you're limping," Delko replied.

"Oh," he said. He hadn't noticed that his knee was aching until Delko pointed out his limp. "I didn't notice."

"You ok?" Delko asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," he said, shaking his head. "It's no big deal."

"Right," Delko said, skeptically.

Before he could reply, Calleigh and Horatio entered the lab. "I just got back from talking to the DA," H said to Eric.

"Yeah?" Eric replied.

H shook his head. "It's a non-starter. He won't take the case. I had to let Piper go."

"Damnit," Eric cursed, slamming his hand down on the counter. Tim jumped and blinked.

"Eric," H said, warningly.

"I know," he sighed. "Sorry, H."

"It's all right," H said. He turned his gaze onto Tim, who attempted to look more together despite the wave of dizziness that swam through him as he straightened up. "Calleigh says you guys are having a rough time of it," he said.

He shrugged. "I don't know." Calleigh opened her mouth to say something, but stopped.

"Ok," H said. "Ok, this is what we're going to do. We're going to call it a day and start fresh in the morning. Why don't you all go and get some rest, and we'll see where things stand tomorrow."

"H, there's still…" Tim protested, but was cut off.

"Speed, the reports will be there in the morning. And you will be too, after a good night's sleep," Horatio said. "I want you to go home and get some rest."

"We will," Calleigh said before he could say anything.

"Good. I will see you all in the morning," Horatio replied, as he left the lab.

Delko sighed. "I'd better go clear off the layout table before I go, otherwise night shift won't have anywhere to work."

"Ok," Calleigh replied. She turned her attention to Tim as Delko left them alone in the room. "All right, cowboy, pack it up. We're going to go eat, and then I'm taking you home and putting you to bed," she said, in a voice that brooked no argument.

"Cal," he started, but stopped when he saw the look on her face. "Ok," he sighed.

"Good. You've got ten minutes, and I want to see you in the lobby," she told him as she turned to leave. He sighed and gathered his things, ignoring the dizziness that swept over him again as he stood.