Chapter Six

The ride to the apartment was a silent and tense one. There was always going to be something between us both. Unfortunately the previous events with Hagen had damaged the fragile possibility of anything happening between us. Hagen had broken Calleigh, in more ways then one. I was for her when Hagen had started beating on her. I was the first person she told. It had taken a while to get her to talk to H about it. Eventually she'd found the strength to ditch Hagen, she never filed a report against him, I didn't understand how she could bare to work in the same atmosphere as the guy. Hagen had stayed way from Calleigh for a very long time. Now on the brink of what seemed t be a break down, he was coming at her full tilt. Things were going to get rough from now on. Horatio had been making noises about getting statements from the both of us before I left the building. Calleigh was coming in tomorrow as normal. I think she already knew that this had gone far enough with Hagen, this time she was placing charges against him. Calleigh wasn't weak, she'd do anything she could to prove she was ok. If I was a different type of guy I would of kicked up a fuss, but to be honest I seriously understood what had been happening. Calleigh couldn't take anymore damage emotionally. She'd run a risk assessment in her brain and I was too much of one for her to take a chance.

I realized we hadn't spoken for awhile once I opened the apartment door. I didn't know what else to say to her. I put my helmet on the kitchen table and found myself turning to the balcony on which the windows opened out onto. It was too dark to see anything behind the window itself, yet I saw the red light of the answering machine flashing in its reflection. I guessed Calleigh had gone into the bedroom; I moved into the living room and looked at the answering machine curiously. Two new messages. I looked at the clock, we had only been gone a couple of hours. In my head I was going over the vow I made to myself. Even if I couldn't be with Calleigh in a relationship I would protect her no matter what. As a friend and a colleague, she was too valuable to the team and to me to just let go. I pressed the button on the answering machine listening to its automated voice tone impatiently.

"Yea… I know I have two messages…Hurry it up already." I scowled at it crossing my arms over my chest. The first message was from Delko reminding of my promise to analyze all his D.N.A, he must of found out I'd left the lab early, it then turned out this was a sideline, he was actually calling to see how Calleigh was doing.

When the second message invaded my ears I found myself staring at it in disbelief.

Go away, go away, go away. The thought was echoing loudly in my mind. I couldn't push that voice out and away from me.

"Hey Tim it's me Madeline remember me?" I closed my eyes for a second trying to ward away the image in my head. Who could forget such a beautiful viper? I leaned back on the couch for a second. Madeline Soloman was a lawyer I'd had a short love affair with. Amazing sex, beautiful body, unfortunately looks could be deceiving she was a conniving, twisted woman. She'd used me to gather some important case details that managed to get her client off the hook. She tried to play me and Delko off at the same time too, also making a ploy for Horatio in the process. As I said the woman was evil, unfortunately by the sound of it she was going to try and edge her way back into my life.

As if. I wasn't that dumb anymore. Still listening out for the message I switched the radio in the kitchen on, so it's sound drifted into the living room.

"I was wondering of you want to hook up sometime, I'm only here for one night. I've booked us the President's Suite at Holiday Inn here. I'll be waiting for you here. Ciao."

"Yea and I'm stupid enough to fall for that trick again." I growled at the message as I deleted it. The farther away that witch was from me the better. I heard something thud behind me and turned around to see Calleigh behind me. Her bags packed and her resting the key to my apartment on the coffee table.

"Calleigh?" I frowned at her unable to comprehend what she was doing. She held up a hand silencing me. I took to break eagerly, wanting her to explain.

"Tim, I'm going back to my apartment, I've made things awkward here, and I'm sorry." She told me. I watched her shocked but my brain tuned into its logical side.

"But Calleigh… you can't." she looked at me, hands in her hips. I continued.

"Your apartment's a crime scene. You're not allowed on it, that and the door currently has no hinges." I reminded her with a weak smile. She sighed. I reached out for her, to touch her arm. She recoiled from me quickly, her eyes wide. Mentally I was hitting myself. I took a deep breathe and pulled my hand back slowly. Calleigh reached out quickly and grabbed my hand, entwining her fingers in mine.

"You're not him…" she murmured moving closer to me slowly until we were inches apart.

"No I'm not. I could never be like him." I told her brushing a stray strand of her blond hair from near her beautiful eyes. Her lips were close to mine now, I wanted nothing more than to reach out and kiss her.

"Haven't you got another invitation for tonight?" she asked me, nodding at the answering machine. I could feel her warm breath on my lips as she spoke. I couldn't tear myself away from the deep oceans of her eyes that were pulling me in. She had me here, and there was no way to get away from her.

"I'm not really up for a tussle with a snake." I told her rolling my eyes. Calleigh's brows furrowed.

"That's Madeline?" Calleigh asked raising an eyebrow.

"The one and only."

"Sure you don't want to go? I hear she's beautiful." Calleigh said quietly. My eyes were still on hers, she was giving me a choice, her or Madeline. I'd already made my choice.

"If you like preying mantis." I spoke dryly. Calleigh stifled a laugh. I could feel her body so close to me. Tantalising and carefree, she was so innocent and so tempting at the same time. A song was drifting out over the radio now. I didn't know whether to tell her or not. The words I wanted to say would change everything. I wouldn't be able to take them back.

"Calleigh… Miss Duquesne, would you like to dance?" I asked. I really wanted to be close ot her right now. Just to know that she was here and that she was alright. Calleigh smiled at me in her warm and usual way.

"Why Mr Speedle I'd love to." She drawled. She reached out wrapping her arms around me softly. We swayed gently for a few moments; I closed my eyes, resting my cheek on her smooth hair. My ears began to pick up lyrics from the song that was playing.

I don't wanna let you go,

So I'm standing in your way,
I never needed anyone like I'm needin' you today.

Do I have to say the words?

Do I have to tell the truth?

I took a deep breath. The damn song was getting to me. It taunted me unfairly, riddling my mind with the impulse to tell her how I felt. It was true every single word from it. I wasn't really thinking when I said it. I was still thinking of that damned song, and how much damage love songs in the word create.

"I'm in love with you Calleigh." The words erupted out of my mouth. I clenched my jaw shut.

Stupid, stupid Tim. One of my rules was to never get involved so deeply it could hurt; unfortunately I just crossed my own boundary and destroyed it in one step. I didn't stop to think how she'd react to this. In my mind I was giving her more reason to flea as opposed to stay. The thing was after what had happened last night I needed her. I had always needed her to do so many things. I'd come to this mystical realization that my life was nothing if she wasn't in it and it was true. It took me a moment to realize we'd stopped swaying and that her whole attention was focused upon me.

"Tim…" she looked speechless. I knew that feeling well, after all those months of thinking it, the effect of the words had rendered me without speech also.

"You don't have to say anything." I told her taking a step back, trying to out some distance between us both. She probably needed space, and I needed my fucking head screwing on. I was trying to mentally erase everything I had just said, but that dumb song had gotten to me and the words were just replaying in my mind. Calleigh took a step towards me. I took another step back raising my hands to ward her off. She was frowning now. I really couldn't take this level of rejection right now. I was trying to delay it as much as possible. She stepped forward, grabbing my hands and holding them securely in her own. Her eyes met mine, and I found myself unable to move or tear myself away.

"Tim, I love you." For a few seconds I was frozen, struggling to understand what she was saying. Calleigh took the initiative and guided me to the couch, forcing me to sit down. She flopped down next to me looking concerned.

"I've felt this way about you for years now." She uttered. I felt my jaw drop open again. I didn't have a clue what I was doing this was heavily uncharted territory for me. My brain wouldn't function, before I knew it my arms were around her, holding her, my lips brushed her forehead, at the same time my nose taking in the smell of her hair. I loved it. I was lost in her. Her hands reached up stroking the stubble on my jaw, at the same time she pulled her head back from my face. I shivered as her nose traced down my throat and gently across my collarbone. Her lips parted in that spot, her tongue darted out tracing the line of it gently. I moved my hands up the inside of her arms gently, tracing circles slowly as I did so. Calleigh stopped for a second, she reached for my hands and placed them on her waist, slowly she proceeded to undo each button on my shirt, kissing the spot where each one had been. Right now Calleigh needed to be in control. She'd lost so much and now she was trying to regain it. She was testing out the boundaries of our relationship, to be honest I didn't mind, I understood what it was like to lose control the way she had. I'm just glad she was trying to regain it all with me, the person whom she loved.