Chapter Seven

The morning after the night before, I've had a few of them, some hellishly regretful. However this morning was a blessing. After we made love last night I fell asleep with Calleigh in my arms. I never wanted her to leave my side. It felt like I'd been touched by an angel. Calleigh had turned around to face me, her eyes watching my face serenely. The sheet covered up to her chest, she rested her head on her hands. I kissed her forehead gently as she nestled into my chest. The memory caused me to smile. There had been no awkwardness, just bliss. I felt exhilarated and proud. I'd won Calleigh's heart, just as I'd won her respect years ago. Right now I was feeling damn good about myself. Seeing Calleigh back to her confident self was amazing. She was full of smiles for everyone. I think the entire lab was alarmed by her current mood considering the events she'd been though. We decided this morning to keep our relationship a secret until we were sure that was the direction we wanted to go. Fortunately we were both professionals, we could function in a work environment without each other. I was running through the trace samples Delko had found on the gun at the crime scene. Some red thread, trapped on the safety catch. Peering into the microscope I tried to match the thread to the suspects clothing. I'd given my statement over Hagen's attempted raping this morning. Calleigh was in there now with Horatio giving a statement. She was strong she'd get through this. We were all there for her. I looked up seeing Alexx entering the Trace Lab.

"Hey sugar, got some more trace just for you Timmy." She said handing me a brown evidence envelope. I glanced up at her.

"Thanks Alexx." She stood in front of me her arms still crossed.

"Calleigh still in there honey?" she asked, my eyes met hers and I nodded putting the envelope to the left of me.

"You've cheered her up, and I see your smiling an awful lot today Timmy. Anything you want to tell me?" Alex asked raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing to tell Alexx." I told her as Delko burst into the lab.

"You got my results yet?" he asked grinning from ear to ear. I looked up handing him the sheet with my comparisons on. His smile widened.

"And we have a match. Thanks Speed man." Eric said. I loved seeing Eric happy; he was having a rough time lately. Seeing him smile was a blessing. Lately it seemed everyone had found a reason to smile.

"Let me get you a soda Speed, it's on me." Eric said slapping me on the back.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" Alexx looked pointedly at both Eric and me. I shrugged in return.

"Speed's got me a suspect and he's going down." Eric told her reaching the doorframe and leaning in the open doorway.

"This the murdered cop case from last night?" Alexx asked curious.

"One and the same." Eric said. "And now we've caught his killer."

I stood up and took off my lab coat, hanging it up. Eric backed out the door way into the corridor, with me and Alexx following.

"You boys sure work fast." Alexx said hands on her hips.

"We're lean mean crime fighting machines." Eric shouting victorious, rounding a corner, he walked straight into someone; there was a flurry of arms as Eric pulled away bewildered.

"Delko where is Calleigh?" A deep booming voice commanded. My eyes jerked to the person, our eyes met at the same time.

"Speedle, you bastard, you turned her against me." Hagen howled loudly. Heat began to run through me as I marched up to the son of a bitch, Alexx moved between me and Hagen, blocking my path. Delko was staring at Hagen in shock.

"Did she fuck you Speedle, is that it? You want her that badly?" Hagen was attempting to taunt me.

"She left you because you were beating on her, and when you couldn't have her anymore you tried to rape her. She's not a possession Hagen." I heard myself saying calmly. Hagen darted forward suddenly grabbing Alexx's arm and flinging her away from me. She hit the wall with a loud thud. It was then I realized he's truly lost it. He came at me, his eyes bloodshot, his suit a mess, his hair untidy. He stunk of booze. I was glad Calleigh wasn't here to see this. He reached me swinging widely; I ducked backwards as he came at me. I wouldn't lower myself to his level here. He was a mad man; he's proved this by hurting Alexx. All my pent up rage was building, as he swung each punch at me. I wanted to hit him for Calleigh and now for Alex who was running down the corridor to get security.

"You son of a bitch." Hagen turned towards the owner of the voice, as a fist struck him straight on the nose. From the sound of the crunch that echoed through the corridor, Eric had just broken Hagen's nose. The noise sickened me for a second, causing me to freeze up. All around us alarms were going off. Hagen lunged at Delko, fists swinging at him. Hagen's massive frame against Eric's slender figure wasn't the best pairing, especially with Hagen laced with booze.

"Is she fucking you too Delko?" Hagen screamed, he was now on top of Eric, his hands wrapped around his throat throttling him. Rage ran through me as well as panic as Eric's head hit the floor again. I moved forward gripping Hagen's hair and wrapping my arm around his throat to incapacitate him, yanking him off Delko. Behind me a door opened.

"Eric are you alright?" I called over at Delko. He was lying on the ground, moving slowly, his hand on the back of his head. Hagen was still grabbing at my arm as I continued to restrain him. Security members were racing from each side of the corridor towards us.

"Speed, what the hell is going on here?" Horatio appeared from somewhere behind me, analysing the situation, taking in Delko sprawled on the floor. I threw Hagen away from me. He took another lunge at me and as I dodged out of the way, a set of security guards grabbed him, yanking him back.

"I'll tell you what's going on Horatio; Hagen stormed on in here like a bat out of hell, screaming all kinds of crap about Calleigh. That boy deserves a prison cell." Alexx was by Eric's side examining his head wound.

"I'm sorry honey, but you are gonna have to go to hospital. He's messed up the back of your head pretty well." Alexx told Eric.

"Now don't try to move too much sugar, you'll be ok."

"Calleigh, you fucking whore, how could you do this to me?" Hagen screamed up the corridor. The noise echoed, bouncing off the walls behind me. I turned slightly seeing Calleigh behind me staring down at Eric as he moved slowly with Alexx's help.

"Calleigh, you bitch. I swear to God, Calleigh…" Hagen was dragged through the double doors at the end of the corridor; they closed shutting off his voice. There was silence between us all for a few minutes. Shock coursed through me.

"Speed…" I looked down at Eric leaning against the wall. Blood had pooled on the floor, and was now streaked up the wall. He gave me a small smile.

"Thank you." He spoke hoarsely. I crouched down in front of him.

"Don't be getting all soppy on me Delko; you may just make me cry." I said, getting a deep laugh from Delko.

"Seriously Delko, thank you." I spoke calmly.

"No problem man, just looking out for you." I smiled and rose to my feet, turning to Calleigh. Horatio was down the hall with her. Calleigh's arms were wrapped around herself tightly, her head bowed low. I didn't want to interrupt, by the looks of it she was dealing.

"How about you Alexx?" I asked. "Are you alright?"

"Don't you worry about me sugar." She said sitting next to Delko. "Nothing more than bumps and bruises."

I crossed my arms on my chest, as we waited for the paramedics.

"I don't understand what made him burst in here, shooting his mouth off like that." I said out loud what I had been thinking. I felt a presence behind me, I turned slightly seeing Horatio over my shoulder.

"His captain suspended him today. I sent him the charges that we were going to be filing against Hagen. He decided immediate suspension was the best option." Horatio answered my question, hands on his hips. I looked behind him to see Calleigh in the distance. She was leaning against the wall, her face looking in the opposite direction. I squinted in her direction, looking at my hands. I felt useless; I was the only one that had come out of this unhurt.

"Horatio how is she?" I asked watching her curiously.

"She's gonna be ok. Speed, she'd pretty shaken up. I need to keep an eye on her." I nodded and stepped towards Calleigh. I reached out a hand to touch her. She jumped involuntary. I took a step back and crossed my arms over my chest defensively. She looked in pain. I looked at the floor then back at her.

"Are you ok?" I asked. Dumb question. Yet I knew not to molly coddle her.

"I will be." She told me looking down at the ground. She looked up at me.

"It's just I never expected him to come to work and look for me. I mean he's hurt you all, and your all still here. You all protected me." She told me her eyes were filled with unshed tears; she turned her head away towards the corridor.

"Calleigh. We're your family. You're all that matters to us here. You were here for me when I needed to talk, and we're all here for you now and forever. Don't worry, we're not gonna let anyone harm you." I told her wrapping my arm around her shoulders. She nodded and let me embrace her for a few minutes. Slowly she pulled away from me, with a slow smile that melted my heart.

"I've got work to do in the ballistics lab. We're backed up." She told me. I knew she was going for some peace and to settle her mind. That's what she did, she fired off rounds. I watched her as she walked away from me down the corridor. She was strong, and fiercely independent. She didn't need to be protected from things. She dealt with monsters everyday. It was the monster close to her that she couldn't deal with the one that she had trusted.