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**

"Depend upon it, after all, Thomas, Literature is the most noble of professions. In fact, it is about the only one fit for a man. For my own part, there is no seducing me from the path."

From "A letter to Frederick W. Thomas" (February 14, 1849) by Edgar Allan Poe

He sat across the street, his eyes focused on the hospital in front of him, waiting. In his many trips to her floor, he'd garnered that she was being released today, thankfully, because he had wanted to show her that he was sorry. He'd acted out of haste and anger, the sight of her in the red head's arms inciting a fury that he'd never known before. He wanted to show her that he meant business, the warning in her own home just the beginning. Hers wasn't meant to kill, and he was hoping that he would've left before her, but he didn't take into account that she may have had to go back to her car during work. It was regrettable, but the effect was the same. She now knew that he wasn't playing games.

A sort of anxious energy surged through him and he strummed the steering wheel as he smiled, the thoughts of what she would look like coming out of the hospital racing through his mind. He wondered if she would wear her blond hair up in a pony tail or let it flow, cascading down her back. The look he preferred was long and free, but he realized with her in pain and just being released, she wouldn't have had time to properly prepare it. He'd heard from the nurses on the floor that she was going to be leaving with a set of crutches, which delighted him to no end. The next package was going to go to her home because that is where she would be; there'd be no way the red head would let her work like that. The errant thought of the red head incited anger and he gripped the wheel tightly willing the calmness to take over. In order to be able to efficient, he had to remain in control.

As his mind wandered, his sights meandered back to the entrance, seeing her emerge. She was wearing wide rimmed sunglasses that took up most of her face and surprisingly, her blond hair was down. Sitting up and readjusting himself, he licked his lips almost absently, his heart starting to beat rapidly. He ached to touch her again, to take in her intoxicating scent once again. He wanted to get lost in her sparkling green eyes, hoping that she would be receptive to him.

Watching as a dark haired man pushed her, his eye ticked at his close proximity, gripping the wheel. He'd seen the dark haired man at the scene of the bombing, his scruffy appearance surely had to be a turn off to her. He wasn't deemed an obstacle yet, but he was going to pay strict attention to how they interacted around each other. As it was, he still had plans to enact in regards to her other suitors.

Holding onto the crutches, Vicki Morris eyed the area from behind her dark sunglasses as Tim rolled her out. Having come from the Undercover Unit, she had on many occasions had to pose as a fellow officer when having to bring down a suspect. Keeping her head tilted down slightly but her eyes up, she put her hand to her mouth as if she was coughing, even her body moving as such, "Speedle…looks…clear…"

"It may look clear, but this guy is an expert. Just keep your eyes open, okay?" Tim placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned down, "You got a set of her keys, right?"

Nodding to make it look good, she then looked at him some, "H gave them to me this morning."

"Good." Wheeling her to the car, he perused the area around as he helped her out of the wheel chair and placed her in the car, closing the door swiftly. Getting in, he started the car and then pulled off, heading towards her home. The ride was filled with silence and every so often, Tim checked the mirrors to make sure he wasn't being followed, but sure he was. With him thinking that Calleigh was going home, it was likely that he was going to make a mistake. Finally turning into her neighborhood, he turned to Morris and smiled, "So far, so good. Ready to play the role?"

Smirking at him, Vicki raised a well manicured brow at him, "Always. Just make sure you don't trip me up on the crutches." Coming to the house, Tim pulled into the drive and Vicki let out a low whistle, "Damn…maybe I should become a CSI, this place up scale."

Tim chuckled and shook his head, getting out. Going over to her side, he opened the door and helped her out, making sure she was steady on her crutches. Moving slowly, they made it to the door and she reached into her pocket book and retrieved the keys.

Watching as she pushed the door back, he smiled looking behind him in the rear view mirror to see the units and then ahead, shaking his head. Even with as much protection, there was nothing that was going to stop him from getting what he wanted, and he wanted her. With her in the house now, he waited patiently for the dark haired man to come out and leave. Minutes passed and he saw with delight that the man walked out of the door and to his car, getting in and pulling away. Assured that it was just her and the units, he smiled deviously, ready for his next message to come.

Doubling back to the hospital, Tim checked his rear view to make sure he wasn't being followed. Morris had settled into Calleigh's home well and as he left, Tim scanned the neighborhood again, with the hopes that he would stay and lie in wait. Sure that he wasn't being followed, Tim went around to the emergency room seeing her sitting in the wheelchair. In a fit of déjàvu, Tim smiled and leaned in, "I've done this already for the day, how are you feeling?"

"My leg hurts and I'm pretty sore, but, I've got my prescription already filled so I can knock on the way to your place. How did everything go?" she asked as she looked up at him, her concern for her double her focus now. "She knows what she's doing, right?"

"She's a professional, so she has it in the bag. We have about a four hour drive ahead of us. Plenty of time for you to rest." Looking over to her, he shook his head and exhaled, "Calleigh, this is going to work."

Sighing, she looked back down, "It better. I don't want this going south and more people getting hurt because of me."

Starting off, he shook his head, knowing that until this was all over, Calleigh was going to be a ball of nerves. He could only hope her time away from Miami would pull her out of the fear that now encased her. Heading out of the city, he saw that she was relaxing more and in turned he relaxed. He was determined to see this through and watch as her stalker was taken care of…for good.

Sitting in the back seat where she could prop her leg up, Calleigh took a pain killer with a bottle of water she'd brought with her. Finding a comfortable position, she laid her head against the backseat, the Miami scenery passing by them as they traveled through the city and onto the interstate. So much was happening to her and she'd barely had time to think about it all. Not only was she in danger, but everyone she knew was and they were all putting themselves on the line to help her.

Soon, the pills began to kick in and Calleigh yawned softly, covering her mouth with her hand. Looking towards the front, she watched as Tim focused on the road ahead of them, wondering if he doubted coming back now. Breaking the silence in the vehicle, Calleigh spoke softly, "Tell me about your little girl, Tim. We've haven't gotten to talk much since you've been back."

Taking a look through the rear view mirror, Tim smirked and then shook his head minutely agreeing with her, "Yeah, between the bombs and stalkers, we haven't had the chance to catch up, but we do now." Her expression of hurt hit him hard and the smile dropped, "I'm sorry, Calleigh, I didn't mean to make light of what you're going through. This is nothing to laugh about." Feeling the moment lost, he sighed and continued on a small smile reappearing. Just the thought of his daughter was enough to lift his spirits. "Emma…Emma's perfection. Pam never told me about her, I only found out when I came back here three years ago. There was two years that I knew nothing about my daughter, so I've spent our time together learning about her. I love her, and I'd take nothing for her, and if someone crosses my path to harm her, God help that person." Looking back at her, he saw her smile, his heart lifting more as he asked, "What?"

"It's weird to hear you talking like this. Before…I don't know, I guess it was because you didn't have a kid then, but, you were all about you and that bike of yours," she replied as she continued to look up front at him. "Whatever happened to your Ducati?"

"Oh, I still have it, but it's kinda hard to ride with a five year old. The car is for more practical means." He laughed and shook his head, "To tell you the truth, I never thought I'd see myself with a kid, but now that she's in my life…she's my heart."

Smiling lightly, Calleigh shifted some, "Maybe when all this is done and over with you can introduce us. I have to know though…does she look like you?"

"She has her mother's cheeks and lips, but everything else is me. Even down to the brown curls. I think that's why Pam doesn't want much to do with her, she looks too much like me." Shaking his head, he laughed, "Sometimes, it seems as if I'm looking in a mirror, she even has my demeanor down."

Smiling more, Calleigh looked out the side window at the passing scenery, "So does she love science like her dad does also then?"

"Mostly she likes to read, I think the science comes later. She likes to make up her own stories and tell them at bed time. Currently, we're on where the Princess goes to save the Prince from the evil stepmother. You can only imagine who the evil stepmother is."

Snickering some, Calleigh sighed, "Oh I remember those type's of stories. I think my favorite was of the evil King and Queen and they're son, the annoying Prince Poopy Pants, aka my family and baby brother."

"Yeah…but she takes it to another level. She's changed the story so many times, I just sit and listen now." Looking towards the console, he sighed heavily and frowned, "It was hard for me to leave her- I've never been away from her since she came to me, but this is important." Looking to Calleigh, a small smile rose, "A friend needed my help."

Catching his eyes in the rear view, Calleigh nodded and then shrugged, "I still feel shitty about you having to leave her though, Tim. There's not telling how long we'll have to stay away from Miami."

"I know, but she understands that this is important to her Daddy. You're my friend, Calleigh and a colleague. Anyone messes with you, they mess with all of us. Besides, getting away from everything for a while could be what we both need." He met her eyes and found himself staring a moment too long, the sounds of the blaring horns bringing him back. Averting his eyes back to the road, he cleared his throat and narrowed his brow, "Uh…we've still got some time, why don't you rest?"

Yawning, Calleigh smiled, "I think I will. The pain killers I think are starting to kick in." Closing her eyes, Calleigh began to relax, the movement of the car slowly starting to lull her to sleep.

Tim watched as Calleigh fell fast asleep, his thoughts running away with him. The gaze that they shared struck him as odd, something different transpiring. Shaking himself form those thoughts, he refocused and sighed, wanting more and more to hear his daughter's voice.

Walking swiftly through the hallways of Miami University, Horatio adjusted his badge on his belt. In the days that Calleigh and Tim had been gone, two deliveries had been made to Calleigh's house, the first being a bouquet of tulips and the other a bottle of expensive perfume, both of which came with cryptic quotes from different Edgar Allan Poe stories. After going by and checking in so not to give anything away with the decoy, Horatio had collected the new evidence and returned to the lab with them.

Coming to the door he needed, he glanced at the name on the bronze plate, seeing his name etched on it. Looking through the window and seeing the professor placing his things into a briefcase, Horatio knocked on the door and then opened it, finding the professor alone in the room.

"Excuse me…Professor Christopher Larken?" Horatio asked as he stepped into the room further.

Glancing up and doing a double take, Christopher furrowed his brow and cleared his throat, the sight of the red head in front of him surprising him. Continuing to keep himself busy, he dropped his gaze and reached for more books. "Um…Yes, I think you've found the right person." Giving him a saccharine smile, he looked up at him, "What can I do for the illustrious Miami Dade police department?"

"Well, sir, I understand one of my investigators talked with you about one of your students, Jessica Martin. I was hoping you might be able to answer a few more questions," Horatio said as he took in the other man, noticing how he remained busy with his things.

At the mention of the name, he sighed, "Yes, Ms. Martin. What a sad, sad incident. She was one of my best students. What a shame, she was going to go places." Finishing with his things, he forced himself to look up at him, the memories of him in her arms assaulting him. He fought the devious grin that itched to be revealed, the thoughts of what he had planned for the Lieutenant coursing through him. Exhaling lightly, he asked, "What else can I help you with, sir?"

Nodding his head, Horatio closed the distance between himself and then desk and picked up a book laying there on the edge, "Macbeth…one of Shakespeare's greatest works." Looking back up at the professor, Horatio raised a brow, "You had also mentioned that she had some…problems with her boyfriend. Can you elaborate on that for me please?"

"Sure, his name is Peter Lauder, he was in class with her. For a time, they were the consummate couple, but then things started to happen. More often than not, they arrived at class arguing, and it sometimes got a bit…out of hand." Shaking his head, he sighed, "Regrettably, Mr. Lauder struck Ms. Martin once just before entering class one day, and then after that…I never saw her again. Mr. Lauder came in once more before he too disappeared."

"Exactly when did this incident occur, sir?" Horatio asked, not liking what he was hearing.

"Um…a couple of weeks ago. I was hoping that they'd come back, we've had some crucial tests…But they never did." Shaking his head, he sighed, "What a waste…What we call death, however, is but the painful metamorphosis. Life goes on, sadly."

Tilting his head and placing the book back down, Horatio crinkled his eyes, "The Mesmeric Revelation by Poe…correct, Professor?"

"That's correct, Lieutenant. What some don't seem to understand is that death is but a catalyst- it leads us to the full design." Looking to him directly, his lips curling slightly, "I see you know Poe. He's considered one of the greatest romantic writers. He also has the unfortunate designation of being obsessed with death."

Nodding in agreement, Horatio raised a brow, "Well, sir, I thank you for your time." Pulling out one of his cards, he handed it to the professor, "If you can think of anything else pertaining to Ms. Martin, please give me a call at that number."

Taking the card, Christopher nodded and smiled, reading the numbers. He then looked to Horatio and nodded, "This case is very explosive, I would hope that this is concluded soon. Life goes on, you know."

"That it does. Have a good day, Professor." Turning, Horatio crinkled his brow at what the older man had said and shook his head slightly. Leaving out the room, he focused on Jessica's next teacher on the list.

Watching as the lieutenant left, he sneered and finished his packing, his mind now on his next destination. He was going to check in on her, and perhaps pay her another visit, his need to take in her aroma becoming more and more controlling.

He had waited across the street until the change of the units, already knowing that one patrol car usually left almost thirty minutes before the other rolled slowly on to the street, giving him a window to exploit. He learned to time it just right to get the optimum value of the time he garnered from their lack of tenacity in guarding her, and now, he was going to have another chance at contact with her.

Pouring the chloroform on the cloth, he walked up to the door and tried it, smiling as the door gave way easily. He'd been watching her since she got out of the hospital and even though it seemed out of character for her, it made his work even easier. Slipping inside of the home, he closed the door gently, listening to the ambient sounds of the home. The feel was different this time, almost as if he'd stepped into a stranger's home. Arching his brow, he heard her humming from the kitchen and tilted his head slowly in that direction. The sound became louder and his brow furrowed deeper, realizing that this was not the voice he'd dreamt of every night. When he entered into the kitchen fully he remained silent, watching as she moved, his anger welling instantly. He didn't know who this was, but it wasn't her.

Growling deeply, he moved forward as his fist clenched, "Who….are…you?"

Humming to herself as she fixed a bowl of soup, Vicki didn't notice that someone had even entered the home. When his voice broke the silence of the rest of the room, she jumped, turning quickly as the spoon fell from her hands to the floor. Seeing the older man approaching her angrily, she tried to counter him, going for her gun on the small island.

His eyes shot to the island and he grunted as he moved quicker, pushing the gun away the victorious thrill scorching through him when he tossed it across the island, seeing the kitchen knife lying next to it. Taking it in his hand, he gritted his teeth, brandishing it with confidence, "Don't lie to me BITCH. I know Calleigh…you're not her…WHO ARE YOU?"

Knowing she was facing Calleigh potential stalker, Vicki shook her head, backing up some and doing what she did best, role playing, "P…Please, don't hurt me…I…I'm just house sitting…"

"HOUSE SITTING!" he bellowed, moving closer to her. The blonde hair wasn't right, the brown eyes weren't hers, she was a counterfeit, a stranger. "I saw you…I saw you when he brought you here! I saw you coming from the hospital, so DON'T LIE!" Rushing her, he took her by her neck and planted her against the wall, pressing in on her. Squeezing her neck, the fury began to bubble over, gripping the wide blade by it's hilt as he screamed at her, "FUCKING TELL ME WHO YOU ARE!"

"C-Car…rol…" she gasped out as he held onto her, her hands gripping his wrist. Having a hard time breathing, she closed her eyes, letting some tears come. "Cal…hurt…bad…"

At the sound of her voice choking he laughed darkly shaking his head, "I thought I said NO…LYING!" Gripping the knife more he shoved her head against the wall forcibly. "She's not there. She's…nowhere!" In a hasteful move, Christopher plunged the knife into her abdomen and twisted it, opening the wound even further. Clenching his teeth, he stared at her, feeling the warmth of her blood as it oozed over his hand. Leaving the knife in her stomach, he squeezed her throat even more, feeling the bones shifting. As he watched, he saw her life dwindling out of her.

Walking out to his hummer, Horatio flipped open his phone, dialing the house number he was all too familiar with. Reaching the hulking vehicle, he unlocked the door and climbed in, his brow crinkling as the line continued to ring. It wasn't like Morris not to answer when he called and he glanced around the area, a uneasy feeling coming over him. Hearing the message machine click on, he decided to leave a message incase she was in the shower, "Ms. Morris, it's Horatio. Please give me a call on my private line, ma'am." Hanging up, he stared out briefly, unsure of things before finally starting the Hummer.

Hearing his voice on the answering machine, Christopher's lip's peeled back as he snatched the knife out of her and watched her slowly fall to the floor, her eye's blank with death. Taking heaving breaths he gripped the knife and stepped back, the moments ticking away at his resolve. His expression became heavier as he continued to step backwards, shaking his head, "You should've told the truth."

Walking out of the kitchen, he checked his watch and then stopped, taking a look down the hall towards the living room and then towards the door. He knew he had only a few minutes left but he couldn't help himself in the chance of being able to peer more into her life. He took a tentative step into the living room and made a quick perusal of her photographs. In most of them, it was just her, but then there were some with others in them. Seeing the familiar faces of the red head and the dark, scruffy guy, Christopher growled and then struck the picture, spider webbing the glass. Losing the desire to stay within this space now, he trudged through the hall and out of the door, determined to find her.

After checking on everyone at the lab and the evidence they were working on, Horatio was finally able to make it up to his office. The day had already been long and tiring for him and he was more then ready to go home and crawl into his bed. Heading up the steps, his cell began to ring and he pulled it out, looking at the caller ID. Seeing Frank's number flashing, he flipped it up, answering as he unlocked his office door, "What you got, Frank?"

Scratching his head, Frank sighed wearily and frowned at the sight of the coroner driving up, "Uh…Horatio, I think you need to get to Cal's. Something's happened."

Stopping his forward movement into his office, Horatio's head lifted, "What, Frank? Is Morris okay?"

"No, she's far from okay. She's been skewered, Horatio. She was found by a patrol when they made a welfare check, the door was ajar." Frank started moving towards the door and bit his lip in frustration, "Horatio, this guy is getting too close."

"I'm on my way, Frank." Closing the door, Horatio closed and locked his office back and headed down the stairs. Seeing Jesse coming out of trace, he walked swiftly over to him, keeping his voice down, "We've got a problem, get your kit and I'll fill you in on the way."

Taking a step back Jesse arched a brow, the intense tone of his voice taking him aback. Having known Horatio from the past, he knew that this tone was reserved for the truly horrific incidents. Doing as he was told, he turned around and went into trace, grabbing the kit and returning to Horatio's side. As the older man strode with purpose, he could see that this was bad. "H…what's going on?"

"Calleigh's stalker knows we used a decoy. He took her out and now there is no telling what he'll do next being Calleigh is gone." Coming to the elevator, Horatio pressed the button and turned to face Jesse, "This just went from bad to worse."

Groaning, Jesse closed his eyes and exhaled heavily, shaking his head, "At least Calleigh's safe away from here. Although… Morris…She had a little girl and a husband. Someone has to notify them." When the elevator opened, Jesse stepped through and rested against the wall watching as Horatio stood stalk still with his hands on his pockets. His shoulders sagged with the weight of the world and stared at the floor, his eyes knit in concentration. Things were decidedly getting worst. "How…H? How did this happen?"

Keeping his eyes down as he thought about there fallen comrade, Horatio sighed and raised a brow, "I intend to find out. Units were supposed to be there watching the place for anyone that didn't belong. When we get there focus on the front door. Frank said it was found ajar…that's why the unit checked it out and ended up finding her."

"What was the patrol doing? Sitting with their thumbs up their asses?" Jesse gestured to the elevator doors, and sighed heavily, "Has this guy been sitting and watching every move?"

"There is a good possibility that he has," Horatio said as the door opened. Both men walked out and Horatio pulled out his shades, "He seems to know more then what we think he does…and now with having access to inside her place, there is no telling what his next move will be now."

"Then we need to be extra sharp. I want to know where the deficiency was, how did this guy gain entrance to Calleigh's home when it was tagged with a detail," Jesse said as he kept up with Horatio. The determination was now building and suddenly, even though Calleigh was far away, he still felt concern for her. "We've got to find this guy and soon."

"Let go see what he left us behind," Horatio said as they exited the building and headed for Horatio's hummer.

Standing on the balcony of the quaint home Tim couldn't believe that he was back in St. Petersburg. When he had left this place, he didn't think he'd return, especially since he had decided on what direction to take his life. He'd come here right after his shooting to gather his thoughts. Being shot had put in into a tailspin, and staying in Miami was not an option. Having been to St. Petersburg before taking the job in Miami, he already knew the way of life there, acclimating himself well to his new life. After a while, he could feel the pull of Miami calling to him and the idea of leaving things undone sat ill with him. He returned to not only a situation but a child, and since the moment he'd come back, he hadn't looked back with regret.

Now holding the phone in his hand, he smiled at the thought of her, aching to hear her voice. It had been days since he'd left and he'd made good on his promise in calling her every day. When they talked, he heard about her day from Alexx and her, but he could also hear the sadness in her voice and wished that this ordeal was over. He wanted to be there with his Emma, he wanted to hold her and never let her go, and most of all he wanted to see her smile. To see her smile was like a healing balm and it was something that he needed at the moment.

Dialing the number, he waited to hear her voice, looking to see Calleigh as she stood at the stretch of beach, lost in her own thoughts, his eyes unable to tear away from her. The days that they had spent in each others presence had given him a different insight into the southern blond, and he now found himself intrigued about her. Their conversation had evolved from sparing words to flourishing moments of revelation. He was getting to know more about her and as an odd counterpoint; he was allowing his own walls fall.

Her voice pulled him out of his stupor and he smiled more, still keeping his eyes on her and her golden mane, "Hi Princess, how are you doing today?"

"DADDY!" Emma squealed as she jumped up and down in place, "I miss you, daddy. Are you coming home today?"

The question hit him hard and he sighed as he winced, glancing down at the worn wood of the balcony. Each day he called, he was greeted with that same question, and each day, he had to answer back, "No…sweetie…not today, maybe tomorrow, okay?" At her groan, he exhaled and rubbed his neck, "But tell me what you did today."

Frowning some, Emma walked over to the couch and climb up, "Me and Grammy Alexx went shopping. She let me get a new Barbie with my allowance." Sitting down, she sat back, crossing her legs Indian style, "Then we had pizza at Chucky Cheese."

"Ooh…so much, you're being a good girl, right Emma? Are you reading at night?" he asked, palming his chest.

"Yeah. Janie gave me some of her books she read when she was little. But I finished those, they were really easy," she said as she looked towards the TV. "Grammy Alexx said she'd take me to the library and find me some more."

"That's good, get some good ones to read, maybe when I come home, you can tell me what you got and we can get them again?" He wanted to sound hopeful to her, but he knew he was failing. Without talking to Horatio everyday, he couldn't be sure of when he was going home. "I miss you, Princess…"

Tears rimmed her eyes before falling and Emma's chin trembled, "I miss you too, daddy. I want you to come back home."

"Soon, sweetie. I promise, it's gonna be soon. I can't stay away from my Princess for long." Feeling the emotion starting to swell, Tim sighed and then turned away from Calleigh completely, "And when I do get home, we can do whatever you want, okay?"

"Can just me and you go to Disney World? No one else." she asked, her voice small and sad.

"Just us," he solidified as he sighed heavily. He could tell that she was about to cry and didn't want to subject her to more instead asking, "Sweetie, can I talk to Grammy Alexx? Is she around?"

"Yeah." Getting down off the couch, Emma went in search of Alexx, finding her in the kitchen preparing dinner. Going over to her, she sniffled, "I love you, daddy."

"I love you, baby. Be good." Hearing her give the phone to Alexx, he pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled frustratingly as Alexx answered, "Please tell me that Horatio's making progress. I don't know how much more she or even me can take of this."

Watching as Emma went back tot eh living room, Alexx kept her eye on the door and her voice low, "Tim, hasn't Horatio gotten in touch with you, baby?"

Arching his brow, Tim shook his head, his focus now intent on her voice, "No…what has happened, Alexx?"

"Ryan called me earlier…Timmy, Calleigh's decoy was murdered. They think it's that guy that's been stalking her," Alexx replied softly, looking to make sure Emma was still sitting on the couch. "They still have found anything to lead them to him."

Gripping the phone tightly, Tim turned back to see Calleigh as she continued to stare out, the anxious feelings growing. Morris had been found out and was murdered, bringing about a now untapped well of fury. Tim knew that he wasn't going to stop until he found absolution in his quest. The fact that he had yet to leave evidence of himself anywhere spoke to the lengths he was willing to go.

Finding his voice, he sighed heavily, "He's angry for being deceived. There is no telling what he's going to do now."

"Timmy, I don't like this. This guy isn't playing around. Do…do you think I should get Emma away from here, I mean, just in case…" Alexx asked, apprehension in her voice.

The thought had ran through his mind, but then he didn't want to disrupt her life any more than it already had- besides, this man didn't know him nor his daughter, there was no apparent danger. Sighing heavily, he shook his head minutely, "I don't think that he's much of a threat to you or Emma. You guys should be okay."

"Alright. Promise me, baby, that you two will be careful. I don't like any of this, Timmy. If he's killing and not leaving evidence behind, then there is nothing to stop this guy from tracking her down and coming there."

"Only a select few know of our whereabouts, unless he knew who did, he wouldn't be able to track us here." Just the same, the thought of Calleigh's stalker appearing at his door had him anxious, casting his eyes back out to the beach to see her making her way back in slowly. He warred with telling her the details of what was going on, knowing she would demand to go back to Miami and sacrifice herself for the greater good. If he could help it, that wasn't going to be even a thought.

Crossing her free arm around her waist, Alexx sighed, "Horatio needs to find this guy. There has to be something out there to give him a clue as to who he is."

A frustrated sigh voiced his agreement and he scowled, "That is an understatement, but until this guy wants to be known, he's a ghost."Wanting to exercise the disparaging thoughts, he forced a smile, "Can I speak to Emma once more? I can hear that she's sad, I wish that I could come home today."

"I know you do," Alexx said as she started for the living room. "I'll take her out later and get her mind off things, even if it is just for a little bit."

"I can't thank you enough, Alexx. You're a life saver," Tim said gratefully. He waited patiently for her to put Emma on the phone, smiling when he heard her voice once more, "Hey, sweetie, I just wanted to talk to you one more time. Remember to be a good girl okay?"

Looking down, Emma nodded slowly, the sadness of her father not there with her tearing at her emotions, "I will, daddy. Will you call me again tomorrow?"

"I will, baby." Hearing her about to cry, his own emotions scraped at the surface and he sighed wearily, "Don't cry, sweetie. This will all be over soon."

Her tears fell and Emma whimpered, "I want you to come home now, daddy…please come home…"

Sitting down next to her, Alexx held Emma, seeing how much the little girl was missing him. Wishing there was something more she could do, Alexx just kept on holding her, giving her as much comfort as she could.

"Don't cry, Emma," he pleaded. Rubbing his face roughly, Tim stared out into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, his heart breaking at the deep sadness of her voice. He promised her that he would never leave her, and now, he was hundreds of miles away from her." I love you, Emma…"

"I…I love…you…daddy…" Emma sniffled and then buried her head into Alexx as she cried more.

Taking the phone, Alexx sighed, "Timmy, I'll make sure she's okay. Why don't you call her back at bedtime? I'm sure she'd like that."

"Okay," he responded, his tone distant. He felt the environment change and he cleared his throat, wiping at his eyes before turning to face her as he finished talking to Alexx, "I'll call back at bedtime. Give her a kiss for me, Alexx."

Smiling and running a hand over the little girls head, Alexx nodded, "I'll give her several for you, baby. You two take care and stay safe."

"We will, thanks again, Alexx." Hearing her goodbye, Tim hung up the phone and sighed heavily, waiting a moment to turn to face her. The atmosphere was thick and he closed his eyes to calm himself more, not wanting to tread that path with her. Before he turned, he sighed, "How are you doing, Calleigh? Did you enjoy the beach?"

Leaning on her crutches, Calleigh watched as he kept his back to her, already knowing that his call to his daughter had been hard on him. Licking her lips, she looked around "Yeah, it was nice. Something about the beach seems to help me put things into perspective."

"Yeah, well, maybe it will help me," he said as he finally turned to her. Glancing at the clock, he smirked, "Are you hungry? We can go out if you want to."

Nodding, Calleigh finally looked back at him, "Any word on the case?" Since there arrival there, Calleigh had all but been on pins and needles, waiting for the call saying that they could come back, that the guy was in custody. And with every call he made, she hoped that some new information had been given.

Shaking his head, he sighed, "Sorry, Cal. There's no news." Deciding to forgo telling her about Morris, he continued, "Nothing's surfaced yet, but Horatio's trying. I'm sure that they will call if something happens." Moving away from her, he looked back at her and smiled more, "I'm starved, anything special?"

Sighing and a bit disappointed that nothing new had been found, Calleigh shrugged and moved slowly on her crutches, "I don't know. I…I think I'll just have a bowl of cereal. You go on and get what you want."

Stopping, he turned to see her walking towards the kitchen and sighed heavily, "Calleigh, you have to get out of this house. We haven't gone anywhere since we got here- he's not here. You're safe."

"Then you go, Tim. I'm not stopping you," she replied as she kept moving slowly forward.

Going up to her, he stopped directly in front of her, prohibiting her from moving any further. Seeing her annoyed expression, Tim frowned, "Exactly what is wrong with you, Calleigh? You're hundreds of miles away from the threat, but you're living as if any errant breath will alert him to where you are. Why are you doing this? What would be the harm in going out, if not just for a little while?"

Dropping her sights, she blinked slowly as she bit the inside of her bottom lip. Granted, she knew she was safe and sound where they were at, but something was telling her not to let her guard down. When he shifted his weight waiting on an answer, Calleigh sighed, "I just…" Looking up at him, she shook her head and shrugged, "I don't want anything bad happening to you, Tim. You've got a daughter and who's to say this guy won't track me down?"

Crossing his arms at his chest, he arched a brow, "You're worried…about me? Calleigh…there's nothing to worry about. On the off chance that this asshole does track you down-which, I can unequivocally say that he has a snowball's chance in hell of doing- I can take care of myself. I've survived so far, I think my odds are good." Shaking his head, he snickered, "So…now that you don't have to wait, what will it be?"

Sighing heavily, Calleigh rolled her eyes and turned to move around him and go to her room, "Fine then…a really greasy burger and fries will do."

Growing irritated, Tim sighed forcibly and moved to counter her again, "The idea is to get you out of the house. What you're wearing is just fine…"

"I want to brush my hair and pull it back, Tim. And a greasy burger and fries is just fine for me…as long as it taste good and has lots of ketchup," she countered as she looked back up at him.

Smiling, he nodded, "Now you're talking my language. Five minutes and we're out, alright?" Moving out of the way, he warned once more, "Five minutes, Cal. If you're not back, then I'm coming in and getting you."

Raising a brow as she moved, she turned her head slightly, calling back to him with a small smile, "Good one. You and what army? And will it be taped so I can show everyone at the lab your effort in the matter?"

"You don't think that I could take you?" Tim asked with a wide grin. He shook his head and sighed, "It's not that hard, Calleigh. There are things that is a weakness to every woman. It's just a matter of finding them."

Coming to her door, she looked back at him fully, "Who says I'm like every woman, Tim?" Leaving him with that to think about, she moved into her room so she could get ready.

Smirking at the closing of her door, he turned and went to his room, readying himself for the outing. Arching a brow, he laughed and entered his room, amused at her taking for granted that he was the average man.

Having taken a couple of sick days from the University, Christopher stayed mainly in his condo, pacing the floors relentlessly, the need to see her growing indefinitely. It had been almost a week since he'd seen who he thought was her being wheeled out of the hospital by the dark haired scruffy guy, and he'd nearly gone out of his mind, the ache becoming almost unbearable. Taking the young woman's life in her home had helped ease the edge of need, but hadn't blunted it, and he found now that he was just a nervous ball of energy, but without knowing exactly where she was, he could do nothing.

Stopping in mid pace, his expression lightened tremendously as he let the thoughts reign. The obstacles were as tall as ever, but when he was presented with an obstacle, it was a thrill to him to figure out how to strike it down. Grinning more and more, he moved to his in home office and sat down at his computer, flexing his fingers. Not only had he mastered the art of the written word, but he had also learned a few things about hacking into secured sites. Accessing the Miami Dade Crime Lab's site, he smiled fluidly as he typed, opening it up for his leisurely picking. Going through countless files, I happened upon hers and pulled her ID photograph up and stared at it, immediately transfixed. She had to have had this made earlier in her career, the youthful glint to her green eyes just as alluring as they were now. Reaching out to the screen he ran his finger tips down and sighed with pleasure, the sensation of contentment coursing through him. Staring a little bit longer, he then pulled his hand back and kept going, passing over several other photographs before hitting on the one who he was looking for.

His smile morphed into a sadistic grin as he read off his profile, each item causing him to laugh more and more, "CSI Level three Tim Speedle, let's see where I can squeeze." Perusing his records even more, he was impressed by what he saw; a few commendations from his superiors, several excellent reviews by his red head supervisor, and even a title of honor that he had obtained during a shoot out. He did notice that there was a lapse in time, five years where he had disappeared. Christopher couldn't garner what the purpose was, but it was a point of contention. Reading further, he smiled as his eyes landed on the information he was after, taking a moment to write down the information. Speedle had a daughter and a friend whom he trusted with everything, even being next of kin. Deducting that he would've left his child with this woman, he surmised that paying a visit was the next move.

Finishing up, he got up slowly and then moved fluidly throughout the house in preparation of his visit. Soon he was going to have her back within his grasp, and then he wasn't going to let her go.