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**

"Yet I am not more sure that my soul lives, than I am that perverseness is one of the primitive impulses of the human heart - one of the indivisible primary faculties, or sentiments, which give direction to the character of Man."

From "The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe

Staying down low as Christopher filled a couple water bottles he'd found, Calleigh looked around the paddock area as the horses in the corral moved around freely. Wishing she had a way to get to one without getting shot at, she dropped her gaze, wondering if they'd even make it out alive. It'd been over two hours since they had fled from the house and she hadn't been able to see if anyone had followed.

Coming out of her thought's as he nudged her arm and handed her one of the bottles she whispered to him, "Christopher, none of this is a good idea. We've got no place to go…we don't even have transportation now or food."

Turning to her, incensed at her lack of faith, he snarled, "You don't believe that I'll protect you? That I can protect you?" Grabbing her arm tightly, he pulled her closer, "You want them to find you, don't you, Calleigh?"

Feeling her anger, Calleigh growled back, "If I wanted them to find me they would have back in Georgia." Snatching her arm away from him, she glared, "Trust me, if I didn't want to be with you I would have gladly had you kill me already."

Settling some, he stood back and eyed her curiously, arching a brow, "You…you want to stay with me? You don't want to leave?"

Giving him a frustrated sigh, Calleigh shook her head and raised a brow, "Why the hell do you think I've stayed? For my health? To have fun? No…I stayed 'cause I care about you, Christopher. I care about you and only you." For good measure in making him think she'd changed, she reached over and cupped his cheek, "There is no one else for me."

"So…you trust me, right? You trust me to know what I'm doing, Evelyn?" He scratched his head and smiled slightly. "I knew you wouldn't doubt me, Evie. I'm doing this because I know that they won't look for you for long."

"Then what will we do? Where are we gonna go?" she asked as he began to fill another small bottle.

Christopher smirked and then handed her the bottle, "Once things calmed and they moved on, we can go back to the house. No one is going to think to come back, especially if they think we're half way across the desert. I'll just circle back around." To see that she had faith in him warmed his heart and he smiled more, "Trust me, it's not going to take long."

"What will we do for food? We'll have to keep our strength up somehow," she said, stating the obvious. Holding onto the two bottles, she motioned over at the horses, "Couldn't we take a couple of them? We'd be able to get further ahead of them."

Eying the horses, he shook his head hesitantly, "I don't know, Evie… I don't know how to ride. I'll end up killing myself." He stood away from her and pondered about the food issue, "We will need to get food… I think I could maneuver myself."

"You can ride with me. I know how to ride. You can just hang onto me," Calleigh said, knowing the horse would leave tracks for the others to follow. "We'll be able to move faster and carry more with us."

Smiling, he nodded, "Okay…alright, you go ahead and get one, and we can get moving." Moving with the bottles, he looked back at her, "You're a package deal, smart and beautiful."

Glancing at the house and seeing the light's off, Calleigh nodded to it, "If you can get some food, we can put it in the saddle bags. Just…don't hurt anyone, okay?"

Approaching her, he smiled and reached for her cheek, caressing it before lowering his lips to hers. Kissing her softly, he whispered, "As long as no one crosses me, they will be fine." Searching her eyes, he frowned, "Trust is not an issue, is it Evelyn?"

"I didn't run at the motel did I?" she asked, giving him a small smile, "And I had the opportunity to then, but I didn't. I choose to stay with you."

"Yes, you did. I can't wait to get settled with you," he answered as he stared at her for a moment longer. Pulling himself away, he sighed, "Be careful getting that horse together, I'll be right back."

"Okay," she whispered. Watching as he moved away, staying down, she looked over at the corral and sighed, "Now to get one that's broke." Setting the bottles down, Calleigh saw a couple lead lines hanging from a hook next to the corral gate. Going over and getting one, she went in, keeping the line hidden behind her back. Speaking softly as she walked over to the horses, she smiled, "Easy guys, I'm not gonna hurt you, just need to borrow one of you for a little while."

Eying one, she smirked and raised a brow, "I think you'll do." Walking slowly over to the gelding, she held out her hand, letting him sniff her before running her hand up his muzzle and forehead. Seeing him lower his head to her, she took hold of his halter and clipped on the lead. Running her hand now down his neck to his back, she placed her arm over him and leaned into him, happy that he didn't flinch.

Listening as he approached the house, he glanced back and then tried the door, frowning as it didn't give way. Reaching under his shirt, he pulled out the gun and turned it, striking the glass with the butt. As the glass shattered, he winced and then waited, hearing nothing. Reaching through the jagged glass, he maneuvered his hand to the knob, grimacing as the glass caught his skin. Disengaging the lock, he opened the door and stepped into the darkness, keeping his eyes open for any sign of the residents. Glad to hear nothing but silence returning to him, he moved quickly and pillaged the cabinets, grabbing anything he could carry.

Just as he was about to step back out of the door, the lights came on and he stopped in his tracks, hearing her request in his head. "Just…don't hurt anyone, okay?"

"What are you doing here?" came an angry voice.

Christopher turned slowly and smiled, shaking his head, seeing the anger rising on his face. "I just need a few things that's it. I'm leaving now…"

"I'm calling the police, you broke into my house!" the man said as he crossed the room to the phone. Picking it up, he dialed furiously, "You're in big trouble…"

Pulling the gun up, he cocked the hammer and then shook his head, "Don't…"

Stopping in his tracks, Jake Taylor held one hand out as his other held tight to the phone, "Look mister, I don't want any trouble here…"

"Things don't have to be this way. Just put the phone down," Christopher warned as he gripped the gun. Glancing towards the door, he shook his head, "She doesn't want me to hurt anyone…"

Placing the phone down, Jake placed both hands up, "Just take what you need and go…just don't hurt us, okay?"

Picking up the food that fell out of his hand, he kept the gun steady, "Just stay right there, and I'll just get the stuff and leave." Backing towards the door, he sighed and shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry…I didn't mean to break your window."

"Just leave us in peace, that's all I ask, mister," Jake replied as he kept still.

Walking out of the door, he headed for the stables, quickening his pace. He knew that the owner was now on the phone, reporting the break in. Entering, he glanced around and breathed heavily, searching the area with his eyes, "Evelyn! Where are you?"

Walking the now saddled horse out from behind the barn where she'd been hiding, Calleigh whispered loudly, "Christopher…over here." When he reached her, she took the food, placing it into the saddle bags. Looking at him, she raised a brow, "Any trouble?"

Shaking his head, he smiled, "The owner came down, but I didn't have to use the gun. He let me go." Looking back, he winced and held his hand, "He's probably going to call the cops, we need to get going."

Finishing with the saddlebags, she noticed him holding his hand and took it in hers. Seeing the blood seeping from the cut, she shook her head, "You're hurt." Knowing they didn't have time right then to get it cleaned up, she reached down, bringing up the hem of her dress and pulled hard, ripping it. Tearing off a long strip from around the bottom, she quickly wrapped his hand, "That'll do for now."

"Yes…but your dress," he responded almost mournfully. Shaking his head, he sighed, "We're going to have to buy you more." Taking a look at the horse, he arched a brow and held his hand, "You're sure about the horse?"

"Already been up on him, he's fine." Mounting easily, she held the reins and looked down at him, holding out her other hand, "Your turn, cowboy. Just place your left foot in the stirrup, grab the horn with your left hand and step up and bring your right leg over him."

Doing as he was told, he swung up on the horse and then settled behind her, gripping her by the waist. Breathing in her scent, he closed his eyes, "I've never ridden before, take it slow, okay?"

"I will, just keep holding onto me and you'll be fine," Calleigh said as she nudged the horse to walk. Heading back into the darkness, she navigated him as she adjusted her dress somewhat, a little unnerved that so much of her leg was showing to Christopher. "We'll be able to cover more ground now, and we won't tire ourselves out."

Allowing his hand to drift to her exposed leg, he felt himself calm. Although he had to rethink some things, he was sure that he could still have a life with her. Skimming her leg, he smiled, "Just think, by tomorrow, we'll be back at home and then you and I can start our life together."

Shaking her head, Calleigh looked back at him, "Not tomorrow. We'll have to stay away from there for a couple days, Christopher. They'll hang around for at least two days, so we'll have to find someplace to hide out til then. After that, it should be safe to go back."

"You're sure two days?" he asked, moving his hand slowly on her leg. Being close to her kept his heart rate up and he sighed, reigning in the desire, "How do you know they'll stay for two days?"

Looking back forward, she smirked, "I usta work in law enforcement, remember. It's protocol. They'll keep at least a dozen officers watching the place for forty eight hours to make sure we don't return. Then they'll leave and we can go back. It'll be best if we don't head back til night though, that way we'll be out of sight when we get there and you'll be able to see that they are gone."

"Okay, so forty eight hours." Chuckling under his breath, he leaned to kiss her bare neck whispering, "I have no idea how to camp out. I'm a city boy."

Smiling some, she began navigating the horse around the brush she could see, "We'll be fine. We just have to remember to drink and stay hydrated, especially tomorrow during the heat of the day. We'll also have to stop at some point to let the horse rest some."

"Now, I do know where we can settle down, it's a ridge of boulders that hang over, it's good shade and can keep us cool." Christopher moved his hand from her leg and slipped it around her waist, pulling himself closer to her, "You're going to take care of me."

Feeling his close proximity, Calleigh smiled and nodded, "You know I will. I even grabbed two canteens of water from the barn. When we get there I'll wash out that wound and make sure it doesn't get infected."

Christopher kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, "And when this mess is behind us, I can take care of you the way you were meant to be taken care of."

Turning back to him the best she could in the saddle, she reached up, cupping his cheek, "I'd really love that, Chris." Giving him a soft kiss, she sighed, "We'll make it."

"Yes, we will," he answered back. Even though the darkness was encasing, he felt as if he'd seen his future, and it was with her.

As the sun began to rise over the mountains of the desert, Tim turned to see the exhaustion readily evident in his eyes. They had spent the night searching for her only to come up with nothing, the cool temperatures a welcome. He knew that it was going to be a vast change when the sun rose, the temperatures jumping to the triple digits and the sun beating down on them. They were prepared with supplies, but his thoughts went to Calleigh and her captor, sure that he'd seen them escape into the night without anything. This would be a new kind of hell for them, one that they wouldn't survive without water. The thought had him pushing himself, despite the exhaustion, knowing that it was important to find them before the sun began to cook the earth.

Glancing to his colleagues he took a deep breath and then spoke, breaking the silence that had lasted for hours, "The sun's coming up soon. Do you think we should stop for a second to regroup?"

"Yeah," Ray said as they came to a good spot. Shrugging off his pack, he looked up at the sky and then pulled out his cell, "I need to call Catherine anyways to a status check. You two rest."

Stopping completely, Tim exhaled heavily and then looked to Horatio seeing the trace of pain mixing with the determination to keep going. Opening the pack and grabbing a bottle of water, he sighed, "We had to stop, H. We've been going all night."

Nodding as he breathed heavily, Horatio groaned as he took off his pack and sat down on one of the rocks. "I know, Speed. Maybe we'll be able to find there tracks…we can't be too far behind them."

"That could be true, but Horatio, we have to break. We can't run ourselves down into the ground here." Taking a gulp of water, he asked, "How are you doing?"

Pulling out his own bottle, he grimaced as he moved, "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me, Speed." Taking a drink of the cool liquid, he swallowed and looked around, squinting his eyes, "I hope Catherine and Jim got the birds in the air."

"I'm sure that they did," Tim answered as he put his bottle away. He continued to study Horatio's stilted movements and grimaced, "How are the ribs, H?"

Taking another drink, he placed the lid back on, "They hurt, but I'll be alright. Right now Calleigh is more important."

"I agree, she is important, but we can't run ourselves down."Seeing the expression, Tim sighed heavily, "I'm just saying, H. In order to be there for her, we have to be strong."

"I know that, Speed…and I'll be fine. This rest will do me good…and you," Horatio said and then looked over seeing Ray on the phone talking. Running a hand through his hair, he shook his head, "She's got to be thirsty and tired by now."

The despondency in his voice took Tim by surprise and he sighed, "Yeah…hopefully though, they've stopped for a while. He wouldn't push her too far."

Looking back at Tim, Horatio raised a brow, "Right now, there's no telling what he'll do to her. He'll be wondering how we knew when they'd be getting there and asking questions. If she doesn't comply or come up with a good enough answer to satisfy him, he could snap on her."

"For his sakes, he better hope he doesn't," Tim groused as he shook his head. He refused to think that Larken would hurt Calleigh, but he had to be prepared. One thing was for sure, if Larken had hurt Calleigh, he wasn't going to survive their confrontation. Glancing to Ray, he nodded, "Wonder what they are talking about."

Glancing over at Ray, Horatio shook his head, "No telling, but…" he said as he stretched some and groaned again, "I'm sure he'll fill us in. Ray's good about keeping us on top of things."

"Yeah," he answered as he saw Ray hang up. As he approached, Tim asked, "So…what's going on?"

"A lot…" Ray answered as he came to them and took off his pack. Kneeling down and taking out his water, he took the cap off, taking a drink before continuing, "Got choppers in the air, should start seeing them soon. Also, there was a break in last night. Seem's Larken held a guy up at gunpoint and stole some food…then stole a horse. Look's like there on horseback now, which means they can cover more ground."

"And they are getting farther and farther away from us. Has anyone gotten a peep out of them? A trace of where they could be heading?" Tim glanced out at the vast desert and sighed, "This place…is too big."

Taking another drink, Ray swallowed and then smiled, "Not really, Speed. But, Catherine's got a team heading for us now with horses. Brass and his guys found a set of horse tracks leading away from the property not too far from here." Seeing Tim's expression, he smirked, "Hope you can ride, Speed."

"Not exactly the type of horsepower that I had in mind, but if it's all we got, then I'll have to make due." Turning to Horatio he asked, "Are you going to be able to ride in your condition?"

Unsure, Horatio looked at Ray, "They carrying first aid kits with them, Ray?"

Nodding and pursing his lips, Ray wiped at his sweaty brow, "Yeah, it's required. Why?"

"I'll need to tape myself up. It'll probably make it easier," Horatio said and then looked over at Tim. "Don't worry, if it get's to be too much, I'll let you know."

"Yeah, because if Calleigh ever found out that I let you go on hurting, she'd have my head." Chuckling, Tim asked Ray, "So, how long do we have until they arrive?"

"Half hour at the most. Catherine's been tracking us all night, so she knew exactly where to send them," Ray said. Looking out at the high desert, he shook his head, "It's gonna be a hot one today, guys. "When they get here, we'll have more water in the bags and Catherine sent you two sun screen. Horatio, she said to make sure you bathed in it."

Smirking, Horatio nodded slowly, "Duly noted."

Realizing that they had been traveling at night, Tim asked, "Horatio, did you remember your glasses, you're going to need them out here."

"There in my pack," Horatio replied as he rolled his head on his neck, hearing his crack some. "No worries, Speed, I came prepared." Reaching for his water, he took the cap off and glanced at him, "Remind me to put you in for a raise when we get back to Miami."

"A raise… That's nice, unnecessary, but nice. It will definitely help with the plans that I have." Taking in Horatio's curious expression, he elaborated, "I plan on obtaining sole custody of Emma. Pam's just not as into her as she should be and Emma has no desire to see her right now. So, I think the raise would be great right now."

Nodding, Horatio sighed as he swallowed a drink of water, "You'll be able to give her more. And if you need any help with the custody, let me know. I had to go through it with Kyle."

"I'll keep that in mind, H. Thanks." Turning to Ray, he smirked, "So, Langston, do you have any kids or a significant other?"

Smiling some, Ray sat down and stretched out his legs, "Wife and kids, no…girlfriend, yes. But, she travels with her work a lot, so we only see each other a couple times a week," he replied as he looked at the other men. "She's an executive loan officer for Wells Fargo Bank."

"A scientist and a banker, interesting," Tim said as he laughed. Glancing to Horatio, Tim sighed and shook his head, seeing his distraught expression, "We're going to find her, Horatio and she's going to be okay."

"I know, Speed…I know," Horatio replied quietly and looked out at the vast land ahead of them, knowing Calleigh was out there somewhere waiting on him to find her.