Setting: Monday, January 2, 2006: Miami

Sitting silently for a long moment, H processed the judge's words. Suddenly, Peg broke the stillness. "Thank you, Your Honor," she claimed, sounding triumphant. "I appreciate your recognition that I am the better parent for my son."

"If you interrupt one more time, Ms. Wilson-Caine, I will hold you in contempt," the judge replied calmly, looking straight at Peg. "I have not made a final decision. I asked a question I expect to be answered. If i need anything further from you, I will not hesitate to ask you."

Shock coursed over Peg's face and she sat, looking as if she'd been slapped.

H finally gathered himself. "Your Honor, if my evidence on behalf of my son does not prove that he would be safer and happier in my care, I cannot argue with you on your decision. I love Horatio Junior and will do whatever is right for him. I ask you to consider that he has come a long way in my care. The school reports and child psychological reports, I feel, display that he is a healthy, happy, child becoming well adjusted to his life."

Taking a deep breath, Horatio continued, "as for Madison, she has led, as shown by the second set of documents, a more stable and healthy life once I was able to provide care for her. I cared for her during her leukemia and, with the willing aid of her cousin, Horatio Junior, was able to provide her the needed bone marrow for her recovery. All of her medical bills were paid in full as well, leaving no worry of debt over her or her mother's head. Her mother's will specifically lists me as the child's next of kin and the desired legal guardian should something happen to Susie Barnum-Keaton. I love Madison and wish to provide her the same stable, healthy upbringing and chance of happiness I am providing her cousin, Horatio Junior. If the court feels she would be more secure and happy in a foster home, I will relent."

He met the judge's eyes, "however, Your Honor, know this. I will not give up on trying to get my children back. I will adjust whatever needs adjusting to meet the court and CPS requirements so I can provide what they need."

Peg looked like she wanted to speak or go to the restroom. She literally squirmed in her seat. Finally, she shot her hand into the air like a school child with an answer.

Quirking an eyebrow in curious amusement, the judge relented. "Yes, Ms. Wilson-Caine?"

"I love Junior, Your Honor. I have a stable job and home and responsible babysitters when I cannot be present. I want my son. Let Horatio take the girl. That's a fair split." Peg fairly spit the words out in her haste to be heard.

Nodding, the judge looked over the three sets of documents in a cursory fashion then said, "Ms. Wilson-Caine. How did you spend the evening of December thirty-first, 2005?"

Straightening, Peg said, "as my son was supposedly in the care of a responsible guardian, I chose to go to a party with friends. I had only two alcoholic drinks: one when I first arrived and one at midnight to celebrate the New Year."

"Very well, Ms. Wilson-Caine. Tell me about the next day. The first of January, 2006," the judge met her eyes, his expression neutral.

"I slept through the very early morning hours, from about half an hour after midnight to about seven. I got up and prepared for the lawyer's meeting reported in the evidence packet. I went to the meeting and Horatio never arrived. The lawyers expressed displeasure and I agreed. After the meeting, I checked my messages and found missed messages from the evening, several about my son being injured. I went to the hospital to check on Junior."

Peg stopped, but when the judge didn't say anything, she continued. "I got in an argument with Horatio and left for the gym. Then I went back to the hospital to check on Junior. I spent about two hours there then went back home for lunch, as I am on a special diet and did not want to chance the hospital food. I worked on a news article for work and had dinner then went to bed."

The dark-haired woman fell silent and waited, watching the judge intently.

"Mr. Caine, how did you spend the evening and following day of New Year's Eve and New Year's 2006?" the judge looked directly at Horatio.

"I was home with my girlfriend watching television. My children were at a children's costume party with Susie, hosted by Alexx Woods and her husband. Susie was supposed to bring the children back home and spend the night in the guest room. There was no time limit placed on her, but it was understood that she would arrive no later than one in the morning, giving the children a chance, if they wished, to watch the ball drop."

Without waiting for more than a breath, H continued, "I got the call, just after midnight, that there had been a severe car accident. I left home and went to the scene, where I found that HR, Madison, Susie, and Alexx's husband were victims. Mr. Woods and Susie died at the scene, Your Honor, and as soon as we got the children out of the car I went to the hospital. I accompanied Madison as she didn't know any of the others and was terrified. Alexx Woods accompanied HR, whom she was familiar with, so he wouldn't be without a friendly face. At the hospital I had both children placed in the same room, as well as the other surviving child victim. I spent the rest of the early morning and the entire day and night in the hospital, taking sabbatical from work so I could concentrate on my children. I only left them to make this hearing, though, I admit, I didn't attend the lawyer's meeting. At this time they are being watched over, in the hospital, by our friend Tim Speedle, one of the investigators at the lab, and another family friend, a US Marshal named Sergei Gideon they both met last May. I am still on sabbatical until the danger is past and the children are recovered enough to leave the hospital and feel safe and confident with a trusted adult they know for the times I would be working. I do not know when that will be, but I am prepared to use up all of my leave to wait and care for them."

Across the table, Peg narrowed her eyes and mouthed the words, 'suck up!'

Horatio ignored her.

With a nod, the judge sat back, stacking the three sets of documents into one pile and handing them off to the court reporter. "It is the decision of this court that the child in question, Horatio Caine Junior, be awarded to his father, Horatio Caine Senior, under full custody. The mother, Margaret Wilson-Caine, has visitation rights under supervision and on a court-appointed schedule to be determined at a future hearing."

As Peg stood and opened her mouth to protest, the judge held up a hand, glaring at her. "It is also the recommendation of this court that custody of the girl, Madison Keaton, be awarded to the person named in her mother's will as guardian. The court will provide this recommendation for that case."

"Just like that? The man who continually puts himself in danger and allows the boy to run wild into dangerous situations gets full custody!" Peg sounded incensed, her eyes almost wild in her anger.

"Yes, that is the final decision of the court, Ms. Wilson-Caine," the judge said, his tone held a hint of reprimand.

"This is not over! I'm going to appeal! Take it to a higher court!" Peg grabbed her belongings, ignoring her harried lawyer, and stormed from the room.

The judge sighed, not bothering to call the woman back despite the fact that he hadn't dismissed her, "please notate the record that the party of Margaret Wilson-Caine should undergo psychological evaluation and the court recommends that she not be considered for custody or private interaction with the child, Horatio Junior, until he is of legal age to make his own decisions. Dismissed."

Peg's lawyer winced but didn't argue the final decision, secretly agreeing with the judge on Peg's mental status.

Horatio stood, calmly, "thank you, Your Honor." He offered assistance to his sister-in-law to rise.

Yelina wisely kept quiet on her personal opinions, merely giving H a quiet "thank you" for his aid then walking with him from the court house and getting into the passenger seat of his car. As he climbed in, not questioning her despite the fact that they'd arrived in separate vehicles, Yelina turned to him. "Ray's? You never said. Why? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was protecting you, Yelina." H turned and met her dark eyes with his own, worried blue. "But I realized that I couldn't keep protecting you or Ray. Madison needs me more."

Unable to say the varied things crashing through her mind and screaming for attention, Yelina remained silent for a long moment. Finally, she cleared her throat and said, "yes, you don't have to protect me, Horatio. I'm a grown woman. Go to the children. I'm going to spend some time with my own son." Yelina slipped from the car and hurried to her own, not looking back at the pained look on her brother-in-law's face.

With a slow sigh, H started up his car and turned his eyes to the road before him.

Setting: Monday, January 2, 2006: Miami

With a soft frown, Speed's serious brown eyes tracked every movement of the slender blonde he spoke to. She kept gesturing to the papers in her hand, explaining and pointing out and questioning. Fortunately, she had also accepted a copy of Speed's DNA reports for himself, his twin, and Tony. It wouldn't get Tony awarded to him that day, but the CPS worker was more inclined to consider the child's uncle instead of putting Tony back in foster care permanently.

Especially as the last foster parent had taken him, without warning, from Hawaii and wound up getting into a motorcycle accident with the child.

The conversation between Speed and the CPS worker took place outside of the childrens' hospital room, quietly, with the door opened so Speed could monitor when Tony woke again. He glanced up at a call from HR. "Mr. Speedle?"

Speed glanced at the woman with him then turned and headed into the room, offering a gentle smile to the rousing nephew he'd barely met. "Hey, Tony. Feeling better?" He slid into the chair by Tony's bed, shooting HR a smile and wink, pleasing H's son.

The worker watched the man and child interacting without interrupting them.

"Tony, can I ask you a big question or two? Are you ready for big questions?" Speed asked.

"Big questions?" the eight year old frowned, eyes worried.

Nodding, Speed said, "I'll answer your questions if you answer mine." That seemed to draw the child in more so Speed said, "can you tell me if Uncle Jimmy let you drink anything before going on the motorcycle?" Tony had already revealed the driver had been calling himself Uncle Jimmy.

"Yeah, and I didn't like the stuff. He said it was medicine because I got sick on the plane and barfed," the boy answered readily enough. He apparently didn't see that question as one of Speed's big questions, but he did counter with, "do you have kids, Uncle Tim?"

Nodding, Speed said, "I have a daughter. Elizabieta. She's just a baby." He glanced over at a sound and seemed surprised to note the CPS worker still there, but Speed didn't make her stop listening. Instead he turned back to Tony. "You've been in foster care a lot, huh?"

"All my life," Tony sighed, sounding frustrated. "My mom and dad never wanted me, I guess."

"Well, I can tell you that your mom wasn't able to take care of you so gave you to people she thought could," Speed offered, trying to defend his one time friend. He didn't think his friendship with Megan would ever be salvaged, even after discovering it had been Tom who'd destroyed it. "And your dad died, Tony. I'm sorry."

Blinking wide brown eyes, Tony drew in a breath and asked, "was he a soldier? Lisa's daddy was a soldier and was killed in war."

Shaking his head, Speed answered, "no, your dad wasn't a soldier and he didn't die in war. But we can talk about such a sad thing later, okay? Was Uncle Jimmy your foster father?"

"Yeah, I was with him since June. He got me then left home and came here. I miss home sometimes." Tony studied Speed. "Are you from here?"

With a smile, Speed answered, "I used to live in New York, but I live here now, yes. I'd like to visit Hawaii sometime."

"Hawaii was home!" Tony sounded excited. "Oahu! I lived in Oahu!"

Nodding, Speed asked, "did you get to meet Stitch?" He sounded as serious as if the Disney character really existed.

Tony shook his head and sighed. "No. Never got to meet him or Lilo. I think they're just make believe, Uncle Tim. They are cartoons." After a beat, Tony asked, "am I going to live with you or go back to foster care?"

Ever honest, if possible, Speed said, "for now, foster care. But I'm already applying for you to come live with me, okay? And I want to keep you if you want to stay, as long as you want to stay. I'm going to get the child protection people to help me figure out how to take care of you the best I can."

With a solemn look, Tony met Speed's eyes and slowly nodded. Finally, the little boy, still young enough to be trusting, said, "okay. That sounds good. I guess big people need to learn things, too, huh?"

"Yeah, we do," Speed agreed. He patted Tony's foot. "Do you remember Joseph? Maybe he was called Joey?"

The boy lit up like a new bulb. "Yeah! Joey's my twin. But Uncle Jimmy didn't want him. So he left him in foster care back home. Do you want Joey, too?"

Smiling softly, Speed said, "yes, I do. I'm trying to find him. Do you know the name of the place you were in?"

Face falling, Tony shook his head. "No. I don't. Sorry." He looked like he wanted to cry. "I miss Joey."

Speed patted once more. "We'll start trying to find him. If we can, if the child protection people agree, we'll put you two back together again, okay, Tony?"

"Okay, Uncle Tim." Tony yawned then his face lit up when a nurse placed a tray of food on a table and swung it over his lap.

Speed backed off to let his nephew eat, looking over at the case worker. "I'd like to find Joey, too. I want both of my brother's children, please. The mother gave them up for adoption and I can get an affidavit from her if needed."

Closing her file, where she'd been unobtrusively taking notes, the woman nodded then rose to her feet. "We'll start the search for Joey and the paperwork and visitations for Tony."

Setting: Monday, January 2, 2006: Miami

With a frown, Tripp stepped out of the private office, staring at his phone in his hand. The sound of Rain's voice drew his blue eyes to her face, mouth opening a bit.

"Finally contacting your neglected waifs?"

Snapping his mouth shut, Tripp sent Rain a glare. "Ce-Ce just called me. They are not neglected or waifs," he growled. "I'm working doubles like everyone else, McGuire. They know that. It's why they're still with the Delko sisters."

"Huh," Rain said, not giving away her thoughts on Frank leaving his three children in the care of babysitters for two days. "You done playing telephone and wanna help me look over the evidence?"

"You got more in?" Frank asked, turning to follow the much shorter woman towards the AV Lab.

"I've been helping put it together cohesively. No more evidence, just makes more sense," Rain clarified, walking at a slow pace and nearly making the much taller detective trip several times.

Finally entering the lab, Rain headed directly over to Tyler's station. The tech had gone on break, so the five foot four inch woman slipped into his abandoned seat. "Okay, we've put together the accident. Pay attention, Frank." Rain started the program, which had no colors and only the bare minimum of graphics for the majority of the vehicles.

The accident took place at a slowed down rate, showing the two station wagons, followed by the Mack Truck then the purple compact. In the other direction traveled a red convertible and a yellow pickup truck. Suddenly, at a surprisingly reasonable pace, came a motorcycle from behind the bigger line of traffic, passing the compact then the Mack Truck before passing the station wagons, one then the other. The Mack Truck and compact began to try to pass the station wagons, as well.

Suddenly, from the south, heading northbound like the larger line of traffic, a four by four truck slammed through the group, spinning the convertible directly into the Mack Truck, causing the big rig to hit the pickup head on. The four by four also managed to careen off every single vehicle it passed, leaving paint traces on every vehicle on both sides of the road. It finished by slamming the motorcycle so hard, the lighter vehicle flipped up and over the wall. The four by four disappeared into the night, leaving the mass destruction behind it.

Rain hit the stop button and looked at Tripp. "The evidence shows a black Ford Ranger four by four with massive body damage and a possibly injured driver who, once sober, tried to cover it up. We've found CCTV footage along the route from before this scene and after and are tracing the truck as we speak, and," the Native American woman almost grimaced as she brought up another piece of evidence: a grainy picture of the front of the four by four. "This was snapped by the Museum CCTV after the accident. The plate is distorted but visible. We're running the few digits that we can read."

As if on cue, the computer beside Rain beeped loudly, causing Frank to jump in surprise, though Rain seemed to have expected the loud noise. She turned, glanced over the screen then grinned a bit wider, eyes lighting up. In the lights from the computer screens, her eyes took on the cast of unholy glee. She hit the print button and said, "we now have a list of all the black Ford Ranger four by fours with digits in the right places."

Standing, Rain looked at the unusually silent detective. He blinked at her then said, "grunt. So, how many we need to track down, Rain?"

"One," she said, sounding satisfied. "We've found our bastard."

Notes:

Note: In the SpeedBurn timeline series significant changes occur in various episodes, marking differences in each series. The initial drastically changed episodes are in chronological order: "Bait" (Without a Trace), "Reveille" (NCIS), "Lost Son" (CSI: Miami), "Bodies in Motion" (Crime Scene Investigation), "Summer in the City" (CSI: NY), and "In Name and Blood (In Birth and Death)" (Criminal Minds). Many episodes after those changed are also different. This story is number 29 in the grand scheme. Thank you.