Disclaimer: Don't own anything recognisable.

To Dolly: I hate you. *le sigh* In November will come the story Double Trouble, a much darker fic where you'll get what you wanted. I figure that having 3 new infants in the same story would get too much, but I'm not averse to having two stories going at the same time. And I was looking for a NaNoWriMo idea anyway. Don't worry, DLG will continue - work just got in the way.

To the rest of you: See? I listen and respond to reviews.

Chapter Four: In which Alexx bullies Speed, and Horatio and Calleigh move to CSI.

A week later, Speed and Avari were in their own home, however it was still fairly empty. Speed slept on a mattress, while Avari still slept in the chest of drawers Alexx had let them have. Speed had also made some make-shift bookshelves from some bricks and planks of wood, and had managed to salvage a broken-down couch from a garage sale. It was enough for them for the time being.

Alexx, however, had other ideas.

"Alexx, I don't need to get anything more," Speed crossed his arms, trying his best to dig his heels in. Unfortunately, he knew he was fighting a losing battle.

"Timmy, Baby, I love you, but you need furniture. Avari's still sleeping in a drawer!" It was beyond Alexx's comprehension how Speed could be so cavalier about Avari's upbringing. He still transported her around Miami in the front of his jacket while riding his motorcycle, and Alexx was fairly sure that if she didn't intervene, she'd be sleeping in a drawer until she was six.

"Key word: Sleeping. She's happy there, I don't see why I should force her out into a crib. She'll be ready for a bed soon enough, that'll be more than enough change for her."

"I don't think so. Timmy, we are going inside, and you are getting some furniture. You need a crib, a dinner table and chairs, a proper bed, and some crockery. I'm sick of seeing you eating off paper plates with plastic cutlery. You can get more later, but you can't keep living like this. Now shift it."

Speed hung his head and sighed. He'd put up a valiant fight, and was getting to the stage where he could resist Alexx for up to an hour, but she always managed to get her way eventually. He knew that this didn't bode well for his future disciplinary measures with Avari.

-DLG-

Back at headquarters, Megan was just finishing up some paperwork when she noticed someone standing at her door. Looking up, she saw Horatio smiling at her and holding a letter. She didn't need him to speak to know what it held - she had signed off on it herself.

"Congratulations, H. I hope you'll be sticking with us for longer than your last couple of jobs." She smiled back and looked down, missing the brief moment of tension that crossed Horatio's features. She looked back up as Horatio replaced his sunglasses. "Oh, Andy's submitted his retirement application. He's also suggested a replacement - some girl named Calleigh Duquesne. A patrol cop from New Orleans, but apparently she's something of an expert when it comes to guns. They met a couple years ago at a conference, and Andy decided to keep tabs on her career."

"And give her a helping hand?"

"Maybe. Her skill seems genuine though, I figure it's worth giving her an interview. I'm giving her a call tomorrow to set up a time. I may need to fly over to consult with her superiors though, so you might be on your own with the boys for a while."

"I'm sure we'll manage. You just focus on the red tape."

"Thanks. Speed's hosting the farewell party for Andy this Sunday, I'm sure you're welcome to join us."

"Speed?" That took him by surprise. "I would have thought Jo, or maybe Alexx..."

"I know. But there's not a lot of room at Jo's apartment, and Speed's become fairly close to Andy. Besides, according to

Alexx, Speed's quite the cook."

"I see. Well, I'd best make sure I'm there then. How's Speed fitting in, by the way?"

"He seems to have adjusted well. He and Jo have clashed a few times, but nothing serious. They're just both extremely snarky individuals."

Horatio chuckled at that. It seemed a fairly accurate description.

-DLG-

TWO WEEKS LATER (stupid writer's block...)

Calleigh Duquesne walked into the lab for her first day of work, filled with jitters. She'd met and gotten along fine with

Megan, and had agreed to leave her life in Louisiana behind for sunny Miami - not that there was much to leave behind. Now it was time to meet the rest of the team, and she was nervous as all hell.

She met up with Megan in the locker room, where the older woman was just putting her things away. Megan smiled over at her.

"So, ready to intimidate the rest of the crew?"

"Absolutely," Calleigh threw a thousand-mega-watt smile back. She usually had fun telling people her specialty, and completely shattering their misconceptions about her. In fact, she'd raised it to an art form.

Hastily stowing her gear, Calleigh clipped on her badge and gun before following Megan up into the lab itself.

As they walked down the corridor to the trace lab, Calleigh could hear music playing. After a moment, she recognised the band as Guns N Roses, and wondered who would be playing that sort of music in a crime lab. Her unspoken question was answered when she and Megan stopped in the doorway, and Calleigh took in the strangest thing she'd seen yet.

In the middle of the room was a table strewn with various equipment. On the opposite side, a young man about the same age as her was dancing and singing along to the music. She had to admit that he was cute, in a scruffy kind of a way. Black hair that stuck out all over the place, a hint of stubble, and decked out all in rumpled black. He was also holding a baby as he danced, who seemed to be having the time of her life.

After watching Calleigh watch Speed for a moment, Megan cleared he throat loudly. Speed whipped around and saw the two ladies watching him, and looked straight back, seemingly unfazed.

"Can I help you?" Calleigh was slightly taken aback by his voice. Laden with sarcasm, this did not seem to be a friendly individual. Megan, on the other hand, brushed it off completely. Maybe I'll get used to it, Calleigh thought to herself.

"Speed, meet Calleigh Duquesne, our new ballistics expert. She's moved here from Louisiana. Calleigh, this is Tim Speedle, but we all call him Speed. And the kid is his daughter Avari." Megan seemed to think of something. "Speed, why is Avari here?"

He shrugged and hugged the baby closer to his chest.

"She was running a bit of a fever this morning, and the childcare didn't think she should be there today."

"So you brought her here?"

"What else was I gonna do with her, leave her home to take care of herself?"

"Fair enough," Megan shrugged and turned to leave, when her pager went off. "Great, we've got a call out. Speed, you take it. Take Calleigh with you and show her the ropes."

Speed nodded and deposited Avari in a box he'd found, giving her her stuffed anteater to play with.

"Come on, newbie," he muttered as he moved past the women. He heard Megan murmur "be nice" low enough for Calleigh to not hear, and he grinned. Today was going to be fun.