We would like to thank ALL our loyal readers for your support while we have been away. In the next few weeks, you will see our stories being reposted here for all of you to read along with several NEW stories we've written while we've been away.

We appreciate all the kind messages we've received for our readers...we didn't realize how many of you were reading our stories, lol. It has brought HUGE smiles to us and we hope you'll continue to stick with us as we re-post some old favorites and hopefully new favorites. Thanks again!

CaineSpeedle & Speedfanatic05

Now for the good stuff!

**WARNING: STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT AND LANGUAGE! You Are Warned**

"

A somber yet beautiful and peaceful gloom here pervaded all things ... the shade of the trees fell heavily upon the water, and seemed to bury itself therein, impregnating the depths of the element with darkness."

From "The Island Of The Fay" by Edgar Allan Poe.

Bringing the glasses to the table, he sat down and peered over at her plate, then regarding his with a wary eye. He couldn't believe how much she could put down and still remain as small as she was, her body lean and strong where it mattered. Arching a brow at the thought of that body unclothed had him clearing his throat and pointing to the plate, "You're going to eat all of that? Where do you put it all?"

Picking up her napkin and setting it in her lap, Calleigh then reached for her fork as a light chuckle fell from her lips, "I have a high metabolism…and in my family, you either ate or starved." Picking up a forkful of her macaroni and cheese, she looked up at him and smirked, "Don't tell me you eat like a bird, Jesse."

"Not like a bird, but not like a dump truck either," Jesse responded as he settled into his plate more. Taking up a fry, he pointed, "You're going to be dead on your feet later. All of those carbs…"

"Nope. Actually I still have some of Eric's coffee that he left, so I'll be fine." Taking a bite, she chewed and then wiped at her mouth, "So, at that scene this morning, was uh…was that Tim Speedle you were talking to?"

At the mention of his name, Jesse averted his eyes and nodded, "Yeah, it was. It's been a very long time since I've seen him. He's…changed. How long has it been since you've seen him?"

Taking a breath and sighing Calleigh shook her head, "Maybe four years. It wasn't long after he got shot again. Him and Eric kept in contact as far as I know." Picking her burger, she shrugged, "So…how was he?"

"Well," he started as he arched his brow and sat back, "for starters, he's a father. He has a daughter, maybe four or five. Looks just like him. I don't know what he's been doing with his life but he seems really devoted to her. Her name's Emma."

Stopping mid chew, Calleigh's eyes went wide and she slowly began to chew again. Finishing, she cleared her throat, "He's got a kid? Tim never seemed the type for kids. He was always so…moody and a smart ass."

"Yeah, but you had to see her, Cal. She's a splitting image of him. Curiously, he wasn't wearing a ring, so I'm concluding that he's not married." Jesse picked up another fry and nodded, "Yes, he's still a bit of a smart ass."

"Well…I guess some things don't change then," Calleigh replied and reached for her tea. Taking a sip, she then looked back at him, "So, did you and Natalia ever get together for drinks or is she still giving you the silent treatment?"

Jesse laced his hands as he placed them on the table and gave a mirthless laugh, shaking his head, "Even though I explained it to her, she's still got the wall up. But it's alright, I don't expect for this to last much longer. I plan on asking her again…that is when she's less inclined to slap me. What about you and ah…Eric?"

Frowning slightly, Calleigh shook her head and picked at her burger, "We're at a standstill. Plus…he went to Puerto Rico and I haven't heard from him in a month now, so…"

"So that means that we have something of an equal playing field then." Smiling he looked to her and arched a brow, "How about it, drinks, say… seven?"

"And have you stand me up to?" Calleigh asked with a smile, her accent kicking in some, "I don't think so. But, you can pay for lunch, how about that?"

"Aw…c'mon Calleigh. I stand her up one time and suddenly, I have a pattern? What about a little bit of faith?" Jesse chuckled and kept his eyes on the southern beauty, gesturing to the meal "I'll pay for both meals…Have dinner with me, and I promise, I won't stand you up."

Eyeing him, Calleigh thought about it for a moment and then picked up her fork, taking another bite of her macaroni. Swallowing, she shrugged as she glanced up to his questioning eyes, "Seven o'clock…but if you do me like Nat, just remember what I do for a living."

"No chances of that. Seven it is." Jesse glanced at his watch and smiled, "We're gonna have to get going soon, Calleigh. Want to take that to go?"

Watching them from afar, he cringed at the sight of their complacence, his hands twisting the napkin tightly. He'd been watching her all day, from one place to the next in hopes of gaining a moment of her time, but then she got called out to a scene and then this debauchery .Trying to keep his cool, he let go of the decimated napkin and reached for the glass of water, the clear liquid quaking under his trembling hand. The anger was just a residual of the emotions he felt for her. When she was alone, he felt nothing but serenity and peace, the thoughts of them together calming him easily. But when she was with someone, mainly the dark haired one, he felt a sense of possessiveness, wanting to do anything and everything to rid her of him.

As he shifted his eyes back to them, he saw his hand reach for hers and growled, unsure if he was going to be able to reign in his fury. When she detracted her hand, he relaxed and even smiled, realizing that the wiles of the younger man were for naught. She had no more interest in him than the common fly.

"She doesn't want him… she doesn't want him…" he repeated in a silent mantra as he watched them further. Straining, he read their lips and slammed his fists down before bolting. If she was going to go on a date with him, she was going to know that there was another that was vying for her heart.

After finishing lunch and arriving back at the lab, Calleigh made her way down to firearms to finish processing the multitude of spent bullets and casing that had been collected at their scene earlier that day. Going to her desk and locking her purse up, she then took another sip of the iced tea she'd brought back with her. Smirking some, she shook her head, still unsure if she should be going out with Jesse later that night.

A small voice in the back of her head kept telling her to cancel, but, going against it, she decided to go for it. She had nothing to loose. Reaching for her lab coat, she slipped it on and headed to vault to collect the evidence envelopes. Reemerging a few minutes later, she laid them out on her table and reached for a pair of gloves. Slipping them on, the sound of the door opening caught her attention and she smiled as Valera came in carrying a vase of Tulips.

A bright smile appeared and she leaned against the table, "Hey, Maxine."

"Hey yourself of popular one," the DNA tech replied cheerfully as she handed Calleigh the vase. "When I came in, Sue asked if I would bring these to you…and, they have a card."

Looking at them, Calleigh sat them onto the table and plucked the card out, "Did she say who delivered them?"

Resting against the table, Maxine shook her head and smirked at the blond, "No. But Calleigh, really, how many people here know you love tulips?"

"Not many." Opening the small envelope, Calleigh pulled out the card, reading it out loud.

"No pictorial or sculptural combinations of points of human loveliness, do more than approach the living and breathing human beauty as it gladdens our daily path." EAP

Crinkling her brow, Calleigh shook her head, "Who the hell is EAP?"

"Edgar Allen Poe," came a smooth voice from behind them. When they turned, he smiled at them briefly, his blue eyes crinkling in humor at their expression. Crossing his arms and leaning against the door jamb, Horatio continued, "It's from his story 'The Landscape Garden'. It's a very beautiful quote." Standing fully, he nodded to the young DNA analyst and smirked, "Miss Valera…"

Giving him a nervous smile, Valera nodded, "Sir." Looking back at Calleigh, she gave her a knowing smile, "I'll be up in my lab if you need anything else." Leaving out, she released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in his presence.

Watching her leave, Calleigh then focused back on her boss and friend, "So, what brings you down here? I haven't seen much of you today."

Horatio's eye brows lifted as he walked further into the firearms lab and stood closer to her, looking down at the petite southerner. His lips pursed in a small smile as he shook his head, "The job has kept me out most of the day, but I did hear something interesting about your scene. Speed was a witness? When were you going to tell me?"

Tilting her head some, she sighed, "I really wasn't sure if it was him…not until Jesse and I talked at lunch anyways. Until then, I didn't even know he was back in Miami." Moving her stool over some, she took a seat on it, setting the card aside. "Apparently he's also got a child now with him…a daughter."

"A daughter? That's an interesting revelation." Furrowing his brow, he nodded and then spoke again, his voice now thoughtful, "I wonder what he's doing back in Miami and how long he's been here. Did he say why he was downtown today?"

"Jesse filled me in more on the way back, apparently he and his daughter were out shopping for her. They were across the street when the suspects started firing. He did get a look at the vehicle, a SUV. Frank took his statement," Calleigh replied, the years of working as a CSI showing.

"Did he get anything else?" Horatio asked as he eyed the vase of tulips. He went over towards them and smirked, shaking his head, "I remember when I tried to give you flowers, you were none too happy about it. Who's the secret admirer?"

Looking at the flowers, Calleigh shook her head and sighed, "I wish I knew. The card was signed EAP. So…your guess is as good as mine. But, whoever it is knows what I like…and in some ways, that's a bit scary." Looking at him, Calleigh smirked, "But, you seemed to know all about that Poe thing. Sure it wasn't you?"

"No, it wasn't me, but to answer your question, I had a girlfriend who knew the works of Edgar Allen Poe. The Landscape Garden was one of her favorites." Laughing lightly, he sighed, "Well, it looks as if you have someone who really cares a great deal for you. That quote speaks to human beauty- someone is really taken by you." His brow furrowed as he looked to Calleigh, "But I can't stress enough how much you need to be careful. The greatest intentions…"

"I know, Horatio. I'll be careful. Besides, my place is like Fort Knox…they're not going to get in there without a fight…or a bullet in there ass," she smirked jokingly. Looking back at them, she sighed, "I would like to thank them for the thought though."

"And this all could be just someone wanting to thank you. I just urge vigilance in making sure that it goes no further." Moving away from the flowers, he gestured towards the scopes, "So…the scene this morning, what can you tell me?"

"Well, most of the spent rounds were too damages to get anything off them. But, there were a few I could get striations off of. There .45's…possibly from a Thompson or Browning. Both are similar," she stated as she turned on the screen for him to see. "I was getting ready to start on the casings that were recovered."

"And about how many were there?" Horatio responded as he looked to her intently. He knew he could trust Calleigh with the work and the load of taking a scene as well. She was tough as nails, and clever as well, something that Horatio held in high regard. "Is there any indication to my theory that this was a gang hit?"

"Well, we recovered thirty eight projectiles and fifteen casings," Calleigh replied as she went over and pulled out a file. "But, when I got back I had Kevin check on a few things and it seems there was a similar case up in Cooper City. Same MO, daytime, small business in the busy part of town, same type casing and expended rounds used. I'm waiting for them for send me over the case."

The information caught his attention and Horatio frowned, "Any suspects in the Cooper City incident?"

"No, but, I did find out that they had been having problems with a gang there. They call themselves the Red Angels. I've already got Frank checking into any gang around here with that same name."

"Or any affiliates. The last thing we need is a gang war brewing on the streets of Miami." Horatio gestured to the door and then turned to it fully, "I'm going down to the morgue to see Tom. He's going to tell me about the victims. Call me if there's anything to report."

Going over to her microscope and looking into the eyepiece, Calleigh called out to him, "Okay, handsome. Will do."

Exiting the firearms lab, Horatio's mind was a flurry with thoughts and ideas, many pertaining to the case. There was one thought that continued to permeate through his mind and the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to investigate further. One of the best trace analysts in Florida had left the job and was now back, and he was interested in the reasons why.

Walking over to the end table and getting the remote, she picked it up, turning on the television. Flipping through the channels, she smiled as one of the music channels caught her attention and she smiled at the woman as she danced around and sang. Putting the remote onto the couch, Emma went over and stood in front of the set as she watched. Slowly, her body began to move, the beat of the song making her laugh.

I wanna roll with him a hard pair we will be
A little gambling is fun when you're with me I love it)
Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it's love if its not rough it isn't fun, fun
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh,
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

Bouncing around, Emma fs dark curly hair bounced with her as she continued to watch. Lifting one arm up as she jumped, the other went down and started going back and forth as she jumped.

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(she's got to love nobody)
Can't read my
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(she's got to love nobody)

Laughing loudly, she didn ft hear as her dad came into the room behind her, instead, she continued to do her own little dance to the music.

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

Watching with his arms crossed, Tim smirked at his daughter dancing happily, trying her best to sing along with the music. There hadn't been much happiness that had followed them, so times like this were a reward and a respite from the despair and desolation that had plagued Emma's first years of life. As he watched her dance, he thought of the first time he saw her, in awe that he had a part in making her. Pam hadn't told him that she was pregnant, nor of the birth of her, only calling him when she had run into trouble. The call brought him back to Miami, despite having sworn to himself that he wouldn't return. He couldn't deny a child of his, no matter what had pushed him away from his life here. Her laughter, the light in her eyes as she smiled was evidence enough that he'd done the right thing.

Uncrossing his arms he walked further into the living room and then stood beside her as she bounced, finding the rhythm. Moving along side her, her sharp eyes caught him and she giggled, warming his heart and as the song began to fade, he slowed his jumping and then grabbed her by her waist, bringing her down with him on the couch. Tickling her, he couldn't help but laugh, the high pitched tone of her happiness keeping a tight hold on him.

Laughing and wiggling around on him, all Emma could do was ball up, trying to protect her sides and underarms. When she found an opening, her own little fingers went to his ribs and tried to tickle him back, only to get more from him. "Daddy! That….tickles…"

Tickling her even more, Tim attacked in a gentle manner, not wanting her to get overheated. It was one of those things he had to look out for with her condition, and living in the most humid of places wasn't helping either. Pam didn't think to tell him that she was asthmatic, leaving him to experience the horror of watching his child struggle to breathe without knowing exactly what to do. When she got out of the hospital, Tim made it his business to make sure he knew everything there was to know about her.

Stopping the tickling altogether, Tim released her and moved her curls out of her expressive brown eyes, watching as she gathered herself. Her color was flush and he sat up with her, concern laced in his voice, "Kiddo…you're getting hot…want to get something to drink before going for a bath?"

Coughing some as she gathered her breath, Emma nodded before she spoke, "Yeah. Can…can I have some grape juice, daddy?" Coughing again, her breathing began to become short and she pointed to the end table, "Butey."

Tim nodded and got up to go for the inhaler on the table, leaving her on the couch. Her breathing was getting shallow and he picked it up quickly, shaking it as he looked to his daughter. The color in her face was turning from red to a darkened color and he moved to her quickly, getting her to stand. Pumping it once, he watched the mist escape and then furrowed his brow, his heart starting to beat rapidly, "Baby, take in a deep breath when you take it in, okay?" Placing the inhaler at her lips, he pumped it into her mouth and nodded, "Deep breath, kiddo."

Doing as she was told, Emma took a deep breath in as Tim administered the inhaler. Waiting as he counted, she then released her breath and nodded to him, "Better." Watching as he closed the inhaler back, she moved into his arms, hers going around his neck and laying her head onto his shoulder, "Can I still have some juice?"

"Of course you can," Tim answered as he held her closer. He could hear the light wheezing and rubbed her back, closing his eyes as the fear began to dwindle. Pulling away from her, he stood and then picked her up into his arms and started towards the kitchen, "You can get a cup of juice and then we'll get a bath, how's that sound, sweetie?"

"Good," she replied softly as she hung onto him. The doorbell rang and Emma lifted her head, looking towards it. "Is that Grammy Alexx?"

Confused, he glanced to the clock to note the time and shook his head as he made way to the door. Since coming back to Miami, he could count on his hand how many times he had an unannounced visit. "No, she's not supposed to be here for another hour, but, do you want to go see who it is?"

"Okay." Holding onto him around the neck, Emma whispered, "What if it's the bad men from today, daddy?"

"Then I'd have to protect you, now wouldn't I princess?" Smiling, he touched her nose and strode for the door, opening it slowly. The sight of him standing there in his doorway caused his expression to drop and he frowned and turned away, gesturing absently with his hand as his voice held a hint of acidity to it."This is what I get for being a witness to something. Won't you come in, H? Make yourself at home?"

Hearing the sarcasm lacing his voice, Horatio raised a brow before stepping inside. Closing the door behind him, he stayed near the door, "Speed. How are you doing?"

Perceiving that he stayed near the door, Tim stopped and turned towards him, arching a brow, "You might as well come in, H. I promise, we're not going to bite…well, me, but her, I'm not so sure about, right Princess?" Tim chuckled at her glowering gaze that was directed at his former boss and he leaned in to whisper, "He's not all that bad, Emma. Be nice."

A small smile formed and Horatio began to follow. He'd never seen Tim really interact with a child like he was now. Coming into the living room, Horatio took a quick look around, noting that Tim still decorated the same. "I'm not gonna stay long, Speed. Jesse and Calleigh told me you were back in town."

"And that just warranted a visit, right?" He shifted Emma in his arms and sighed, "Can you wait for a second, I have to draw her bath." Moving towards the bathroom, Tim shook his head and sighed heavily, wondering just exactly what Horatio was doing there. Quickly pulling the water up, Tim turned the water off and then called into the living room, "Horatio…come back here, I have to get her in the bath."

Smirking, Horatio sighed and headed back, stopping just outside the door, but, where neither could see him. "Jesse tells me your saw the SUV that fled from the scene this morning. I was wondering if you might have seen the driver or shooter as well."

Undressing Emma, he raised his brows as he picked up the bubble bath and turned the faucet, pouring a cap full. Watching the bubbles rise, Tim smirked at her, "I saw the window come down and a weapon, but not a face. The windows were tinted darkly, I couldn't see anything." Placing Emma in the bath, he then stood and went to the doorway, leaning out, "You guys have any idea who this was?"

"We're not sure. Calleigh and Frank are checking on some leads though." Looking up at his former trace expert, Horatio raised a brow, "There's a chance it was gang related."

"Well, there's a novel idea. Gang's in Miami, who would've known?" Feeling the expectancy of something more filling the air, Tim arched a brow and chuckled, "Now that we've got the pleasantries out of the way, why did you really come?"

Smiling and nodding, Horatio knew Tim would get right to the point, "Two reason's actually, one to see how you were doing and the other…to see if you'd be coming back to work for us at the lab."

Tim's expression dropped and he glanced down at the floor, studying it. He'd thought about going back to the lab, but every time he had, he always came up with a reason not to. Hearing her splash, Tim turned his focus to Emma and smiled, the innocence in her eyes pulling at his resolve. When he was on the team a sense of purpose filled him, knowing that he was doing everything he could to make things right for people. Since leaving, he'd felt the oppressive weight of the knowledge that he wasn't contributing any longer.

"I have given it some thought, H. But there are things to consider now, such as the fact that I'm a parent. Nothing comes in the way of me providing anything for my child. Nothing."

Nodding in agreement, Horatio looked down as he slipped his hands in his pockets, "I understand what you're saying, Speed. I've got a son of my own and I'm the same." Looking up and seeing Tim's surprised looked, he smirked, "Did you think you were the only one besides Alexx that had children now?"

"You have a child?" Tim asked, truly astonished. He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head, narrowing his brow. Horatio had always been all about family, but there was a void that was heaved around him at the lack of children of his own even when he had been so effective with children in the community. A smile came to his face and he sighed, "They change everything, you know."

"You're telling me," Horatio replied with a knowing smile. "Kyle is sixteen…and him being here has changed my life in many ways. How old is Emma?"

Relaxing even more, Tim smiled warmly as he glanced back at her and winked, "She's five years old, and the most important part of my life."

"As it should be," Horatio said, a smile on his face. Shaking his head, he sighed, "Speed, you know the door's always open if you ever want to come back…even if it's strictly lab work or even as an Trace Advisor."

Tim nodded in consideration and then looked to the red head with a knowing smile, "How about I give you a call tomorrow after three? Emma has visitation with her mother and I'd rather be around, if you know what I mean. Your number is still the same, right?"

Nodding his head, Horatio looked down with a smirk, "Still the same." Nodding towards the bathroom with his chin, Horatio pulled out his keys, "I'll get going so you can take care of your daughter. I'll lock the door on my way out." Shifting his weight, Horatio looked back at Tim, "It was good seeing you again, Speed."

Tim grinned and bowed his head, chuckling lightly, "Same to you, H." As he moved towards the door, Tim stopped him, approaching slowly. He hadn't talked to her since leaving and was curious as to just how she was doing. Glancing quickly to the floor, he asked, "H…how's Calleigh doing…really?"

Raising a brow and looking down at the floor, Horatio shook his head, "She's been better, Speed. But you know Calleigh, she won't talk about it with any of us. She'd rather keep it to herself."

"Yeah, I know that by experience," Tim stated as he shook his head and sighed heavily. The regret was building and Tim felt anxious, starting to shift his weight uneasily, "I should've done things differently."

Looking down and crinkling his brow, Horatio sighed, "I think a few of us think the same of ourselves." Lifting his head, Horatio shook it, "You know she's been dating Eric don't you?"

"I kind of figured it," Tim answered with a half smile, "I mean, they never made it a secret before. They were flirting from the beginning." Looking to Horatio, he asked, "Is she happy?"

Releasing a deep breath, Horatio shifted some, "I don't think so, Speed. Eric…Eric's in Puerto Rico. He resigned from CSI."

"Resigned? Why?" Tim was astounded at the information and stared at Horatio, "What happened?"

"Speed, when was the last time you and Eric talked?" Horatio asked, unsure of exactly how much Tim knew about his friend.

"It's been years. I kinda lost track of him when I came back. I figured he had his life to life."

"Speed, Eric was shot in the line of duty a little over a year ago. The bullet…part of the bullet was lodged into his temporal lobe. Then a few months back, Calleigh and Ryan arrived at a scene where shots were being fired…they returned fire and…" Horatio said as his brow furrowed and he looked down again, "A vehicle fled the scene. Calleigh fired at the driver…the driver was Eric."

Taking in the information, Tim ran a stiff hand through his hair and turned to start pacing. Not only had his best friend been shot in the line of duty, but he'd also been shot by the one girl he knew that he loved. Finally able to face Horatio, Tim's brow crinkled, "So much has happened, H. I've been out of touch…"

Nodding in understanding, Horatio licked his lips and looked at him, "You have a life with your daughter now, Speed. I think that would be more important…taking care of her." Thinking about his brother in law, Horatio smirked, "You do know Eric and I are related now, don't you?"

"Related?" Crossing his arms, he listened for the sounds of Emma playing in the bath and then faced Horatio, "Now…that's an interesting fact. That must mean that you married one of his sisters. Which one was it?"

"Marisol…" Horatio replied as his voice trailed off. Remembering his deceased young wife, Horatio sighed, "She uh, she was gunned down by the Mala Noche."

Tim could hear the desolation take root in his voice and he sighed, "I'm sorry to hear about your loss, Horatio. If anyone, you deserve happiness."

"Thank you, Speed." Looking at his watch, Horatio sighed, "I really should be going. You need to take care of your daughter." Giving him a small smile, Horatio nodded, "Take care, Speed."

Catching him before he could turn, Tim gave him a thoughtful look, "Hypothetically…if someone wanted to apply, when would be a good time to do so?" The sounds of Emma's play became louder and he glanced back at the bathroom, then to Horatio, "I'm available after three tomorrow."

Smirking, Horatio nodded, "How does five sound to you? Just ask for me when you get there."

"Five o'clock sounds great." Tim beamed and then heard the sounds of water hitting the floor and groaned, hiking a thumb over his shoulder, "I really should get back there with her. See you at five."

"See you at five," Horatio repeated and then turned heading for the door. In what had turned out to be a visit for information on the case, it had turned into something better; something Horatio hoped would work out for them all.

Watching Horatio leave, Emma's light giggles caught his attention and he turned to see her standing in the hall, covered in white bubbles, her hair wet. Approaching her with a wide smile, he took her up into his arms and laughed while he tickled her neck, "You, little miss, still have to bathe. You didn't get water everywhere, did you Em?"

Squirming in his arms as she giggled, Emma shrugged, "Just a little. Daddy, can Squirt take a bath with me to? She likes to swim."

"No, Squirt can't come in with you. She's not safe to play with. Maybe we can get Dolly-she swims," he answered as he placed Emma back into the water. Stepping back he surveyed the damage and frowned, his voice stern, "Emma…we're going to clean up afterwards, aren't we?"

Looking at the floor, she then looked up at him and nodded, "I'll clean it up. Daddy…who was that man?"

Taking a seat next to the tub, Tim smiled lightly and shook his head, "That's someone I used to work with. He was my boss, he's a pretty cool guy." Looking to her, he crinkled his nose, "He's got silly hair doesn't he?"

"Like Carrot Top," Emma giggled and then reached for the soap. Filling her hand with the bar, she got the wash cloth and starting rubbing it, "Can we go to the park tomorrow? I don't want to see mommy."

"I know, sweetie, but it's something we have to do," Tim answered quietly as he tilted his head to look at her. The expression on her face told of her attitude and he hated to have to impose this on her. Switching sides, he sighed, "Okay, let's do this, I'll call Mom and see if she can see you on another day. Sounds good?"

Sighing, Emma shrugged, "I just don't want to see her. She didn't want me so I don't want her."

Running a hand through his hair, he gave in and exhaled frustratingly, "Alright…I'll call and cancel. Now…make sure to wash behind your ears, okay?" When she giggled, Tim stood and placed his hands on his hips, "I'll be right back, okay?"

"Okay," Emma replied as she began to wash her arms.

Leaving the bathroom, Tim went into his room and grabbed the phone, not looking forward to making this call. Dialing the numbers, he waited for her to pick up and began pacing slowly. When she picked up, he sighed heavily, "Pam…it's me, Tim. Got a minute?"

"Make it quick, Tim," Pam said as she placed her shirt into the small suitcase and then reached for her slacks. "What do you need?"

At the sound of her busy voice, Tim arched his brow and cleared his throat, "Um… are you in a hurry, I can call you back?"

"No, I won't be here. Look, I was gonna call…about tomorrow, Tim, I'm not gonna be there. I got this job and I've been in training for the past couple weeks. Anyway, they had a girl come down sick, so I'll be filling in for her."

"Well, this works out then. I was calling to cancel, Emma says that she didn't feel like going. I think she may be coming down with something." Tim hated to lie to her, but he just couldn't come out and say what his daughter really felt. Scratching his eyebrow, he offered, "So…maybe when you come back, we can schedule something. I'm sure you're anxious to see her."

"Uh…yeah…" Pam replied, not really paying attention to the conversation. Placing her shoes in, she sighed, "Look, I'll be working with American Airlines…but I'll be around Texas and all for the next few weeks, so how about I call when I'm back in town."

Her flippant tone angered him and before he knew it, he exploded, "You really don't want to have anything to do with her, do you? It's only about you, Pam, and not a beautiful five year old girl that you helped bring into this world! She was right to not want to see you…You know what, don't worry about it. I'll make it so you don't have to worry with her again."

"Don't start this bullshit, Tim. I have to live too, you know? What the hell you want me to do, live off welfare for the rest of my life? I got a decent job for crying out loud…oh, but wait a minute…it was okay when you were working at the damned lab though, right? But, I'm not allowed to try for better, is that it?"

Exasperated, Tim closed his eyes tightly and shook his head, "She can see that you don't want her, Pam. How do you think that makes her feel? Go for your job, get your life together, and while you're doing that, I'm going to file for sole custody, so this won't worry you anymore."

"Go screw yourself, Tim," Pam replied and then hung up the phone, tossing it aside and running a tired hand through her hair.

Hearing the silence that followed, Tim cringed, gripping the phone tightly in his hand. In an effort to keep from tossing the phone, he moved towards the door, each step calming him tremendously. As he neared the bathroom, he heard her laughing and a smile came instantly. Watching her play in the bubbles, he leaned against the door jamb and tilted his head, studying her. When she looked up to see him, he smiled more and entered into the bathroom, taking in the water on the floor, "You're done, let's get out, kiddo."

"But daddy…" she whined as she tried to dive under the bubbles, sending more water out of the tub and onto the floor.

Jumping back at the water that was now soaking his floor, Tim exclaimed, "EMMA! Get out…NOW!"

Jumping at his firm tone, Emma reached for the bath plug, pulling it and letting the water out. A frown stayed on her face as she stood up and waited for him to get the towel ready for her.

Tim sighed and rubbed his eyes his tone now defeated. In the three years that he'd had her, not once had he raised his voice. "Sweetie, Dad's a bit frustrated, but I'll be okay. I'm sorry for taking it out on you." He grabbed a towel and held it open, "Ready?"

Nodding, she stepped out and moved over to him. As he began to dry her off, Emma looked up at him, "I'm sorry too, daddy, for making a mess again in here."

"It's nothing we can't clean up, sweetie. So…don't worry about it." Finishing drying her off, Tim looked at her through the mirror and smiled widely at what he saw. Her big, round, expressive eyes were his color, but retained her mother's shape, giving her an innocent, yet mischievous look. Her long, chocolate brow hair framed her face in curls and was a monster on its own. He couldn't see how Pam could just give up on something as beautiful as their daughter.

Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly and, averted his eyes, the regret filling his voice, "I…uh…talked to Mom. It seems as if you're not going to have to worry about going to see her. I was thinking…how would you feel if you never had to see her again?"

Reaching for her brush, Emma handed it to him and shrugged, "I don't know. Would she still be my mommy?"

Tim took the brush and started to run it through her hair, sighing heavily, "She will always be your mother, Emma, but you wouldn't have to worry about having to see her again. You'd stay with me permanently."

Flinching some as Tim ran across a tangle in her hair, she thought about it and then asked, "But what if one day I wanted to see her, daddy? Would I still be able to?"

"If you wanted to, you could. It's all about what you want, sweetie." Pulling through her hair, he winced as he tugged on a tangle and sighed, shaking his head. "If you decided that you'd want to stay with her, it's possible. It's all in what you want."

Listening to him, Emma's eyes dropped and she flinched again. After a little bit, she finally spoke up, "I don't want to live with her, I want to stay with you." When he turned her around, Emma moved closer, her arms going around him, "I love you, daddy. I don't want to live with mommy."

"Well, then…it seems that we're stuck with each other then," Tim said with a smirk. "How would you like that?"

Smiling, Emma nodded, "I like that!" Laughing some, Emma tilted her head as she looked at him, "Daddy, thank you for my birthday stuff. I liked them all a lot. Can I show them to Grammy Alexx when she gets here?"

The door bell rang and he looked to Emma in surprise, "Guess what…I think Grammy Alexx has arrived! Go to your room and get your clothes on, I'll go let Grammy Alexx in."

"Okay!" Emma replied happily. Holding onto the towel around her, she quickly left the bathroom, heading to her room to get dressed.

Tim walked out towards the door and opened it, smiling widely, "You've just missed bath time. It was an odyssey. Come on in, Alexx." Moving aside, he allowed her room to enter before closing the door behind her, "And…Pam's pretty much not an issue any more."

Raising a brow and nodding as she came in and sat her purse down, Alexx turned to him more as she held onto the large gift bag she had brought with her, "And what prey tell caused that one to happen? Did she fall off the face of the earth or something?"

"You can say that, she bailed on Emma. She has an employment opportunity, so she took that. Emma really doesn't have the desire to see her- I took Pam out of the equation. I'm filing for sole custody tomorrow." Tim noticed the bag and asked, "So…what's up with the bag?"

"I got her a few things for her birthday…and before you say it, don't. I wanted to do this for her," Alexx replied as they walked over to the couch and sat down. "I would have been here sooner, but, I was called to the hospital for a consult."

"It's alright, actually, you're not the first visitor. Horatio stopped by," Tim answered as he heard Emma in her room. She sung the song she heard on the television loudly, causing Tim to shrug his shoulders as Alexx arched a brow, "What? She likes the music."

Chuckling, Alexx sighed, "Like father, like daughter. Next you'll have her a CD player and headphones." Seeing his expression, she raised a brow, "You got her one, didn't you?"

"It's in her room," he responded sheepishly. Hearing her coming down the hall, he looked to Alexx, "I'm sure what you have in that bag is going to blow that out of the water. Oh, and she's gonna want to tell you about every single thing she got. Just go with her."

"Alright…" Alexx said as Emma emerged in her pajama's. Seeing her eyes get wide, Alexx opened her arm's to her and the little girl ran over to her. Taking her in, Alexx hugged her tight, "How's my favorite five year old?"

Laughing, Emma pulled back and began to bounce up and down, "Grammy Alexx, daddy got me presents for my birthday!"

Smiling and nodding, Alexx raised a brow and whispered to her, "He did huh. Well, I guess that means you're a very special little girl then." Handing her the large gift bag, Alexx smiled, "And all special little girls need all the gifts they can get."

Sucking in a breath of surprise, Emma took it, a smile beaming from her, "This is all mine?"

"You bet it is. Go on and see what you got," Alexx said as she sat back up some.

Tim watched as Emma plundered the bag, snatching out presents as her eyes widened with each one pulled. Crossing his arms, he crinkled his brow and asked, "Just how much did you get her?"

Smirking, Alexx glanced over at him and then pushed at his leg with her hand, "Probably not as much as you." Smiling more as Emma came across more clothes for her Barbie, Alexx then looked back at Tim, "So, you said Horatio stopped by. What did he want?"

"First, he asked me about the scene that I was on today, and then somehow, it morphed into me coming by tomorrow to talk about coming back." Taking in Alexx's expression, he sighed, "I know, I said that I wouldn't go back, but I've got to do something. As nice as it is consulting, it's not the most lucrative field. I haven't gotten a call in weeks."

"Well, you've got to do what you need to, baby. I've always told you that. What about Emma though? Do you have something set up for her? A place she can stay while you're working?"

"I haven't thought about it, but…" he said as he looked up to Alexx, grinning. He laughed and shrugged his shoulders again, "I mean, you're on a strictly consult basis, right? You have the time…all you have to do is say yes."

Smirking, Alexx looked back to Emma as she played with her presents, "You're right…and yes, you know I'll do it. But, if I get called to the hospital, you don't mind Janie or Bryan watching her, do you? You know they'll take good care of her."

"Not in the least bit. I can trust them." He watched Emma play and smiled genuinely, "Thanks, Alexx. This helps out a lot."

"No problem, baby. Besides, she's such a joy to be around. Let's me see how you probably were when you were her age," Alexx chuckled. Sitting back and getting comfortable, she sighed, "So, what time did you want to drop her off tomorrow? I know you probably want to see everyone at the lab."

"Well…I told Horatio that I'd be around five, but I can change it. Can I call you and let you know?" Tim asked as he nodded at the new presents Emma showed off. He smiled widely and then chuckled, "You've just made a beautiful little five year old girl's life."

Smiling as Emma got up and ran over to her, Alexx laughed, "Good, I'm glad." Giving her a big hug, Alexx then looked at her, "So, did you get everything you wanted?"

"Yep!" Emma smiled as she hung onto her new Barbie doll. "Grammy, can you come see what daddy gave me? It's in my room and too big to bring out here."

"I'm sure I can," Alexx said as she stood up. Smiling, Alexx looked over at Tim, "We'll be back. Got to go see the good's."

Tim nodded and watched as they disappeared from sight. Sitting back more, his head lulled back and he closed his eyes, rubbing them. His decision to return to the lab had been an important one, now he hoped that it was for the best.

**SONG: "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga