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**

"The best chess-player in Christendom may be little more than the best player of chess; but proficiency in whist implies capacity for success in all those more important undertakings where mind struggles with mind."

From "The Murders In The Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allan Poe

Sitting in the waiting room and looking though a magazine, Calleigh shifted in her seat again, wondering why she just didn't stay home. After waking up in Horatio's arms and then fixing them breakfast as he showered and got ready for work, she had saw him off, spending the next four hours alone with her thoughts.

Flipping the page, she glanced at the door, wanting to just get up and go, but something seemed to hold her there. Placing the magazine back onto the table in front of her, she gathered her purse just as the door to the back opened.

"Ms. Duquesne…" the receptionist said as she held her chart in hand.

Looking at the lady, Calleigh stood fully, giving her a hesitant smile and went over, following her back to another office. Taking a seat in the chair the receptionist offered her, Calleigh set her purse down next to her and looked around, seeing the certificates and licenses that adorned the wall closet to her.

Coming through the door, Macy Reynolds smiled as she pushed her small framed glasses up, coming around to face her newest patient. Instantly, she saw hesitation and a small amount of fear in her eyes, but mostly she say determination. Extending her hand, she tilted her head, her long, brown hair falling over in a cascade, "Hi, Ms. Duquesne, I'm Doctor Macy Reynolds. It's nice to meet you."

Standing up and taking the woman's hand, Calleigh nodded and spoke softly, "Nice to meet you, ma'am." Sitting back down when the Doctor went around her desk to her chair, Calleigh once again looked around, a nervous feeling coming to her.

Noticing the apprehension, Macy smiled as she sat down and placed the files down, "You can call me Macy. Before we get started, do you have any questions for me? Any concerns?"

"Uh, well…" Calleigh started as she finally looked back at her, "I'm not sure if I really need any help. I've been doing fine actually…"

"I see," Macy responded as she continued to watch her. Her smile never wavered and her tone never changed as she relaxed slightly, "How do you sleep, Ms. Duquesne? Do you wake up from nightmares, reliving your time with your captor? Are you curious about some things that you experienced?"

Eying the woman, Calleigh tried to put up a tough exterior and shook her head, "Everyone has nightmares. It's part of being human. And as for curious…he was a delusional with grief over his dead wife. I understand why he did what he did."

Seeing the façade, Macy nodded and clasped her hands in front of her, "Yes, everyone has nightmares, and you've not been thinking of the experiences that you've had, delving further to try and make sense out of it?"

Licking her lips and shaking her head as she looked away, Calleigh pursed her lips with a tight smile, "He was psychotic, there not much more to think of with that."

"I understand that he chose you because you resembled his deceased wife, with an exception of a few things. He cut your hair…did he sexually assault you? His wife was three months pregnant when she died, in his psychotic break, he had the inclination to know that his wife was expecting. He expected you to become her in all sense of the matter, didn't he? How did that make you feel?"

Sitting back at looking at the woman, Calleigh sighed heavily, "I didn't feel. I used the hostage seminar classes I took to survive. I played his little game against him, made him think I was devoted to him…and when I got the chance I let my LT know when and where to find us."

"So, you didn't feel ashamed, violated when he molested you?" Arching her brow at Calleigh she nodded, "Well, Ms. Duquesne, it seems that you are right, you're perfectly fine- if you like to live in denial and fear. You wake up in the middle of the night, petrified that things are the way they used to be when you were captive. You hang on to a significant other to forget the humiliation and the pain you suffered when you were forcibly molested, and you're constantly seeking understanding in to how he thought. Yes…you're right, you're just fine."

Crinkling her brow, Calleigh knew she hadn't mentioned Horatio or half the things she was saying and her temper began to flare as she stood up, "Who the hell has told you anything about me?"

"No one's told me about you, except what information I have on the intake. There was a report made by the Vegas PD about your sexual assault, and telling by the black circles around your eyes, you're not getting ample amounts of rest. This is all simply what I'm seeing, Ms. Duquesne." Leaning forward slightly, her expression softened even more and she sighed, "I'm here to help you cope with what's happened to you, to deal with it so you can move on. You're not here by force, Ms. Duquesne, but I urge you to use this opportunity wisely. It won't hurt."

Staring at the woman and remembering Horatio's words of not being able to come back to work without her release, Calleigh huffed and sat back down, crossing her legs and tapping her foot in the air, "I have to be here so I can get released for work again."

"Well, I guess that means that you have to stay for this session at least. You have the option of changing therapists at the conclusion, of course." Keeping her eyes on the blond, she sighed heavily, "The first step, Ms. Duquesne, is to admit that there is a problem. Once we do that, everything else falls into place."

Shifting some in the chair and crossing her arms over her chest, Calleigh shook her head and shrugged, "There is no problem. Big deal, I have a nightmare or two…in my line of wok it's normal."

Macy nodded and pushed her glasses up again, glancing at the clock, "You see a lot of gruesome images, I imagine. Have you had nightmares before your captivity?"

"Who hasn't had a nightmare? It's nothing that isn't out of the ordinary." Looking at the woman and seeing her blank expression, Calleigh sighed, "Fine…yes, but very rarely."

"And how would you say is the frequency of your nightmares now?" Silence cloaked the room and Macy waited patiently as she looked to Calleigh, seeing the indecision in her eyes. "Do you have them nightly?"

Dropping her eyes down some, Calleigh shrugged her shoulders and looked back at her, "So what if I do. I deal with them and go back to sleep."

"And do you wake up out of these nightmares normally, or have you screamed, thrashed, or woke up in a cold sweat?" Seeing the dubious look on her face, Macy amended, "What I'm trying to arrive at is if these nightmares are stress related. You may be experiencing some form of post traumatic stress disorder." Flipping the chart open she arched her brow, "I see that you were given Ativan at the hospital in Vegas, are you still taking them for anxiety?"

Reaching down and into her purse, Calleigh brought out the bottle of medicine and set it in front of her on the desk. Sitting back Calleigh pointed at it, "See for yourself. I'm not sure how many I've taken exactly."

Taking the bottle in hand, she read the label and then opened them, "Quite regularly. Do you use them for all your instances of anxiety?" Looking to Calleigh, she closed the cap back and then placed the bottle back on the desk, "I can prescribe you more if you'd like."

"I can't be on them if I go back to work," Calleigh said as she turned some in her chair. "And I want to get back to work."

"Okay, well, the alternative is to be able to use skills you learn here to cope with what may come about." Smiling warmly, Macy took off her glasses and pushed her hair away from her face, revealing a scar that ran from her temple down the side of her face. Noticing Calleigh staring, she chuckled and gestured to it, "I see you noticed my beauty mark. It's a lasting impression from my ex husband. He was an abuser. It took me a very long time to be able to trust anyone again, and I had some help along the way. I had to heal thy self before I could heal others."

Relaxing a little, Calleigh looked down, adverting her eyes some before looking back up at the woman, "What…what did you do?"

"I went to a therapist, did medication therapy and slowly, I began to trust again. It helps to talk about things that bother, or perplex you, Ms. Duquesne. Keeping it hidden isn't a productive way of dealing with this." She turned away from her and shook her head, a bitter expression crossing her face briefly, "My ex took the better part of me when he hit me, but I've slowly come out of the cocoon that I put myself in. Sometimes, I still have problems, I can't have my back against the wall, and I need ample amount of breathing room. Those are things that will probably stick with me for the rest of my life."

Nodding slightly, Calleigh licked her lips and looked down at her hands, noticing her fingers turning white from gripping so hard, "I…I've been talking it out with my…uh, a friend of mine that's close to me and staying with me for awhile."

Macy smiled as she turned to her fully again and noticed her hands, the smile fading, "Calleigh…are you okay?"

Looking up suddenly, Calleigh moved her hands, and then sat on them, "Yeah…I'm okay. Just a little nervous about being here." Releasing a breath, Calleigh gave Macy a small smile, "I'm not usta having to do anything like this."

"There's nothing to worry about, Calleigh. Here you can talk about anything on your mind, and it stays between us. You can tell me your deepest feelings, and no one else will ever know." Macy arched a brow and chuckled, "If you're having a problem, that you don't want anyone to know about, I'm the person to see."

Swallowing, Calleigh nodded and bit her lip, trying to get up the courage to tell her innermost thoughts to a perfect stranger. Huffing out a tuff of air, Calleigh shook her head, "I don't know where to start."

"From the beginning, that's always a good place," Macy replied good naturedly. Giving her a gentle wave of her hand, she nodded, "Whatever you're feeling, Calleigh."

Nodding slightly, Calleigh took in a deep breath, releasing it slowly, "Well, there not much to tell about. He…he took me cause I resembled his dead wife…cut my hair to make me look even more like her and took me to Nevada to live out his…fantasy I guess you could call it."

"And your reaction to this?" Macy asked, raising her brow.

Thinking for a minute before answering, Calleigh looked back at Macy, "I was angry, like anyone should be. But, I also remained as calm as I could…mainly so he would. I played his game to an extent, would let him called me his wife's name…talked to him. As long as I did that, he was fine…and so was I. I even gained his trust."

"Okay, so you did what you could to survive. That's natural, but…what about your feelings? Did you grow to care about him in any capacity?" Macy watched her for reaction and reminded, "Remember, what you say here is confidential, nothing will get out."

"I…I didn't want to see him get hurt. In our talks…I saw how much he had loved his wife. How he praised her and all but worshiped the ground she walked on. He was devoted to her," Calleigh replied softly. Taking in a shaky breath, she looked down, "He had treated me the same some of the time."

"And how did it truly make you feel when he was killed?" Macy made notations and then looked to her again, "This only helps if you're truthful with how you feel, Calleigh."

Looking down at her hands again, Calleigh shrugged, "You mean when he killed himself? In some ways I was relieved. No other woman would have to suffer and there was no risk of anyone else getting killed." Staying quiet for a moment, Calleigh then spoke softly, "His last words were that he loved me."

Macy met her eyes and nodded, speaking softly, "Calleigh, if you are having some residual feelings from your time with your captor, it's okay. Often, we begin to grow fond of someone who takes on the authoritarian role. This syndrome is called Stockholm Syndrome. You are relieved that he's gone, but there is something there that mourns him, and it's perfectly fine, Calleigh."

Nodding her head, Calleigh looked back at her, "I know about that…from some of the victims I've worked with." Shifting in her chair once again, Calleigh sighed, "I just wish things would have turned out differently. He deserved to pay for killing those innocent people, people that tried to help me. But in another way, I'm glad he took his life, he's not in any pain from the loss of his wife anymore."

"And that is okay, Calleigh. You said he treated you like his wife and he called you by her name, did you start to identify yourself by her?"

"No, never. Just, in the end, I got him to see me as me, not as his wife…I thought I could help him," Calleigh said as she finally looked back at Macy. "I was trying to help him, but at the same time, deceiving him."

"Deceiving him into believing that you were responding to his efforts," Macy surmised evenly. Making another note, she glanced at the clock and then smiled, "You did what you had to do to survive, and you're still doing so." Placing the pen down, Macy got up and moved to a file drawer and pulled a book out, handing it over to Calleigh, "Calleigh, I want you to do something for me. Write what you feel at any moment in this journal, any anger, elation, sorrow- anything. When you come back, we'll talk about it, okay?"

Taking the book in hand and looking at it, Calleigh then looked back up at her, "So I have homework then?"

"You don't have to do this, Calleigh, but it will help you in recognizing your feelings. It's just a little something." Extending her hand, she tilted her head, "It was nice meeting you, Calleigh. I do hope we can talk again."

Shaking her hand, Calleigh then gathered her purse and stood up, preparing to leave. Crinkling her brow as she pulled out her keys, Calleigh looked back at Macy, "When…when would I need to come back?"

"You want to do twice a week to start? We can see where to go from there," Macy offered as she moved back around her desk. Pulling out a card, she handed it to her, "If you need anything, Calleigh, call me, day or night."

Taking it and looking at the card, Calleigh nodded and then sighed, "Twice a week…I…I think I can do that." Lifting her sights back, she shifted her weight, "Can I bring someone with me?"

"If you think you need to, yes, but Calleigh, this person will be privy to what we discuss here. It's your discretion to use."

Understanding fully, Calleigh raised her brow, "He was there and knows what happened to me. Even helped rescue me. I trust him."

Macy nodded and gave a small grin, "Then it's fine with me. See Sarah before leaving, she'll give you your next appointment."

"Okay." Going to the door and opening it slightly, Calleigh then looked back at Macy, "Thank you."

"You're welcomed, and anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."

Nodding, Calleigh then stepped out the room, closing the door behind her. Closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath, she released it slowly and then headed out. Stopping and making another appointment, Calleigh then left the office, going to her car and pulling her cell phone out. Unlocking the door, she hit the speed dial and placed the phone to her ear. Smiling as he picked up, she got in.

"Hey, Handsome. I'm not disturbing you am I?"

Hearing her voice, Horatio lit up and then turned from the body, starting to walk away. He knew that she was just coming back from her appointment and he was anxious to hear how it went. "No…I'm okay, we're just on scene-how did your appointment go?"

Getting in and closing the door, Calleigh started the car, turning on the ac, "It was okay. Not like I thought it'd be. But uh, I have another appointment with her in two days."

Frowning, he asked, "I thought you said it went okay. Why does she need to see you twice a week?"

"I guess so I can get in and out and back to work quicker. Everything went fine today though…she did give me a journal to write my thought's in. I'm supposed to bring it with me when I come back so she can talk about them."

"That's a good idea." Looking out into the vast area, he smiled, "I'm glad to hear that things went well. So…what are you going to do now? It looks like I'll be a while, I have a very interesting case…ah…unfolding." He glanced back to see the ME trying to pry the corpse apart and sighed, "I'll try not to be too late."

Slipping on her seat belt, Calleigh smiled, "Well, if you are, I'll understand. I know how it can get out there." Putting her car into reverse, Calleigh began to back out, "I was thinking about going to the bookstore and maybe do a little shopping. It'll keep me busy."

"Book store? Anything interesting?"

"Uh…" Calleigh started as she shifted the car into drive, "Just looking for any new firearm books. I want to stay up on everything, ya know. I might also see if there is any book's just to read for fun."

Noticing the hesitation, Horatio's brow furrowed, "Everything okay, Cal?"

"Yeah, I was just backing out the parking space, Horatio. I'm fine." Placing the car into drive, she began to head out. "So anything interesting happening today? What type of scene do you have?"

"The guy's a pretzel, someone found him compacted in a trunk." Starting to make his way back to the scene, he shook his head and smirked, "You'd love this, there were about fifteen projectiles and a gun is in the trunk. Preliminaries are stating that there is a wound at the temple."

Frowning somewhat, Calleigh pulled out from the parking lot and started down the street, "At least you guys still get to have some fun while I get to sit on my ass and do nothing." Realizing she was being hard, Calleigh sighed, "I'm sorry, Horatio."

"It's alright, sweetheart," Horatio replied, stopping in his tracks. By her response, he knew he would have to watch what he said around her. Looking over to see Frank waving him over, he sighed and rubbed his forehead, "I'm being called back, Calleigh. Can I give you a call later?"

"Yeah, that's fine. You uh, you take care out there, okay?" she replied softly as she pulled up to a light and stopped.

Horatio couldn't help the feeling that came over him and he stopped, staring at the ground as the concern washed over him in a wave. He wrinkled his brow and asked again, "Calleigh…is there something bothering you?"

Pressing on the gas as the light turned, Calleigh sighed, "I just want to be there with you guys. I feel like I'm out the loop. I'll be okay, Horatio. Please, stop worrying."

"I'll never do that," he vowed. The disappointment in her voice ate at him and he sighed heavily, "You'll be back in no time, Cal. You just have to have patience."

Twitching her lip, Calleigh pursed her lips, "Yeah, patience. Gotta have a lot of that, don't I?" Continuing down the street, she checked her mirror and changed lanes, "Look, you'd better get going. I'm sure they need you there and not on the phone with me."

"Calleigh, I'm sorry. It was insensitive of me…"

"It's okay, Horatio. It's just something I have to learn to deal with." Seeing the bookstore coming up, she began to slow, "Look, I'm at the bookstore now. Give me a call later if you get a break."

"I'll make sure that I do that," he said as a smile came upon his lips. Just before he stepped back toward the scene, he looked away, "I love you, Calleigh."

Slowing and pulling in, a small smile formed on her lips, "I love you too, Handsome. But careful, okay?"

"Careful," he answered back softly. The need to hold her came over him suddenly and he had to turn completely away from the scene, whispering, "I can't wait to see you tonight, Calleigh."

Smiling as she drove through the parking lot looking for a space, she cocked a brow, "Maybe after dinner we can take a nice hot bath together and relax. How does that sound to you?"

"Sounds like I should try my best to get done," Horatio answered with a low chuckle. He felt a flash of heat surge within him and he cleared his throat roughly, the images bombarding him. Realizing that he needed to get back to work, he nodded, "Okay…I've got to go, see you tonight."

"Okay, Handsome," she replied as she pulled into an empty space. Placing the car in park, she smirked, "Love you."

"Love you," he answered back. Hearing the line drop, he folded his phone down and slipped it back into his pocket, the determination to finish now working through him.

Coming back home from a long trip had it's attributes. Tim often felt like he was returning to a comforting place in coming home, as if the trip had been rough and weary. Of course, the trip to Orlando and back hadn't been the least bit rough; he'd thoroughly enjoyed his time with his daughter, loving the smile that now graced her face almost incessantly. He was glad that after weeks of being away from him and home, she was rewarded and insanely happy. She'd talked him silly almost all the way to home until she fell silent. Even when they arrived home, he felt bad about waking her. Now as she slept burrowed deeply in her covers, an easiness came over him and he exhaled lightly, ignoring their bags. He'd put them up whenever he got to them.

Going to the living room, he sat down and closed his eyes, his thoughts now shifting to Calleigh. The phone call that he'd waited for never came, and the concern for her was deep seated, wondering how she made it through her first session. He flirted with the idea of calling her, but he didn't know what she was up to so he waited. Glancing towards the phone on the coffee table, he reached for it and then dialed, waiting for her to pick up.

Stepping onto the elevator and pressing the number for the floor she wanted, Calleigh then looked down at her phone in her hand as it began to ring. Seeing his name on the ID, she smirked and answered, hoping not to give away where she was at. "Checking up on me now, are we?"

Hearing the smile, he countered, "You reneged on your promise. I had to see what was up. So…how are you?" Narrowing his brow, he asked playfully, "Did you finally find out that you're insane?"

Smirking, Calleigh raised a brow, "Ha ha…she said I'm perfectly normal. But, I still need to talk out a few things. But, I didn't mean to blow you off. I went to the bookstore afterwards to see if they had anything I could read while I'm out."

"You went to the bookstore? Was there something specific you were looking for?" Laughing, he nodded, "I would've thought you'd read up on the karma sutra already."

"No, but I'm sure you have. Anyway, I went to see if they had any new firearms books, which, they did, so I'll be enjoying reading up and getting more info on what we need to be watching out for."

"Ever the studious," Tim chuckled as he arched a brow. Enjoying the conversation, he continued on, "No copies of The Joy of Sex among the wares?"

Chuckling as the elevator came to a stop and the door opened, Calleigh stepped out, looking both ways, "No. All I got was firearms books, oh, and murder, mystery one that looked interesting." Seeing the number she needed she smiled, going to it and ringing the doorbell, "So, what are you up to?"

"Just sitting in the living room, Emma's asleep. She was thoroughly exhausted. It gives me some time, that's for sure. What are you doing? Is the boyfriend home yet?" Hearing the doorbell ring, he got up, and moved towards the door. He was sure that no one was coming by, so the visitor intrigued him."Hold on a minute, Cal."

"Okay." Standing there smirking, she heard him unlocking the door and cocked a brow as he opened it, "Care to buy some cookies, mister?"

The sight of her at his door left him speechless for a second before he shook himself out of it, the phone dropping to his side slowly. He took in her features and his heart skipped a beat; besides the fading circles around her eyes, her beauty was flawless. Her smile held him captive and he swallowed hard as his eyes swept her body totally. Finally back to looking at her eyes, he smiled crookedly, "What kind are you selling?"

"Sugar cookies of course," she chuckled as she closed her phone. Maintaining eye contact, she tilted her head, "So, surprised?"

"Very," Tim answered with an appreciative nod, stepping aside, "come in." When she walked through the door, he watched her as she moved past him, the sway of her hips almost hypnotic. Clearing his throat, he closed the door and then glanced at his watch, his brow lifting, "As much as I am loving your presence, isn't the boyfriend due home soon?"

Turning back, Calleigh raised a brow at him, "Please call him by his name, Tim. He is your friend, ya know?"

Exhaling heavily, Tim rolled his eyes, "Alright…Horatio. Better?"

"Yes." Sliding her phone back into her pocket, Calleigh smiled, "And to answer your question, Horatio and the others are out on a scene. Sounded pretty bad when I talked to him earlier."

"So, he's otherwise engaged?" Coming up to her, he stopped in front of her and smiled, "Um…have you had anything to eat yet?"

Looking up at him, she shook her head slightly, "No, not since breakfast early this morning. Why? Planning on cooking?"

"I am now." Taking her hand, he led her to the kitchen and then released her hand, turning to face her again, "Anything special? We're kinda low on something's, but I think we have enough for a decent meal." Crossing over to the refrigerator, he opened it and looked in, "I've got some chicken, I know, and I think I may have beef…"

"Tim…you don't have to cook anything. A sandwich or something like that would be just fine," Calleigh replied softly as she watched him. "I uh, I haven't got my appetite back all the way."

"A sandwich, okay…Hm…Ham and cheese okay with you?" He pulled the ham and cheese out, along with the dressing and set them on the counter. Going for the bread, he smirked, "Think you can handle a sandwich of my very own?"

Watching him, she moved over to the counter next to him, "I guess I can try." Looking around the area, she smiled, "You've got a nice place here. Really roomy."

"Thanks, I need that space for a rambunctious five year old. This gives us enough space between each other, but even then, there's still even more space." Preparing the sandwiches, he chuckled, "It just so happens to be affordable on top of everything else."

Turning and leaning back against the counter, she crossed her arms over her chest and smirked again, "And what about this dog you're getting. Gonna be able to keep it here?"

"We'll figure it out," Tim said as he finished up. Arching his brows, he added, "All I know is that she's been talking about it forever, so I can't go back on my word now." Presenting a finished sandwich, Tim smiled, "There, would you care for some chips with that?"

"No, I should be good with this," Calleigh replied as she took the plate from him. Catching his eyes, she smirked, "Where are we eating, here or…"

"We can eat out in the living room, I think we can keep it clean," Tim answered, holding her gaze. A soft laugh emitted from him as he nodded forward, "If the missus wakes up, I'll blame it on you."

Chuckling lightly, Calleigh turned back began to head out with him. Going over to the couch and sitting down, Calleigh set her purse aside and got comfortable, "So, when did yall get back?"

"Earlier, I gave Emma a few hours in the park and then had to pry her from it. I was determined to get back home." Settling down, he moved to place his plate on the coffee table, taking a chip. Slipping it in his mouth, he sat back and looked to her, his smile never fading, "So…really, how did the session go? Were you okay?"

Chewing the small bite she'd taken, Calleigh nodded and swallowed before answering, "It was okay. Doctor Macy seems nice and all. Plus, she's been through her own type of trauma. So in some ways, she understands."

"It matters when there's understanding." Picking up another chip, his brows raised and he asked, "How does the boyfr- I meant, Horatio…how does he feel about it all?" Giving her a sheepish look, he shrugged, "What? I caught myself this time."

"Be nice. I mean, he could be over here right now demanding you stay away from me." Seeing his confused look, Calleigh shrugged, "He knows how you feel about me, Tim. I told Horatio."

His smile faltered and he shook his head, his tone dropping slightly, "I didn't expect any less. It doesn't change how I feel about you, Calleigh. He'll just be on his p's and q's more." Grinning mischievously, he added, "At least he better be."

Taking her sandwich in hand, Calleigh raised a brow, "I'll make sure everything stays in check. Horatio knows I love him and he doesn't have to worry."

"I'll take your word for it, Cal." The silence impeded and for a moment, it was just the sound of their eating, along with the soft tick of the clock above the television. Inside, he wanted to stake his claim to her and fight for her, but he knew, ultimately, that led to losing her. He valued their friendship more than his heart at the moment, but he hoped that the time would come where that wouldn't be an issue. Breaking the monotony, Tim cleared his throat, "Um…so…how many times will you be seen by the therapist?"

Swallowing, Calleigh wiped at her mouth with the napkin he'd given her, "Well, for now twice a week. Hopefully by going that much I can get back to work quicker. I'm not looking forward to sitting at home."

"Well, if you need any company, don't hesitate to ask." Seeing her dubious expression, he sighed heavily, "I promise, I'll cool it with the innuendos and claims to your heart. Really, if you get bored, maybe you can shame me on the firing range."

Shaking her head, Calleigh looked at her sandwich and then back to him, "I don't want to pull you away from Emma anymore, Tim. I'll be fine, really. Who knows, maybe I'll take in some extra classes or something."

"Contrary to what you may believe, my daughter does get tired of having me around, that's why I have a babysitter. I mean, I'm sure Horatio won't be receptive to you spending all your time with me- so that means that you won't be pulling me away from Emma."

"Horatio doesn't have a say so in who I spend time with or what I do," Calleigh stated and then took another bite. Chewing, she glanced at him, "I just don't want to impede on your time."

"Well, it looks as if there's no problem then," Tim smirked as he took a bite of his sandwich and then looked to his watch, "So, you have time to talk then?"

Nodding and setting her plate onto the small table, Calleigh swallowed, "Yeah, I've got awhile…as long as I can get something to drink." Giving him a smile, she chuckled, "By the way, the sandwich is good."

Tim nodded and felt warmed by her compliment, chuckling, "And that's just a sandwich. One day I'll have to cook for you and …maybe Horatio. I'm still on the fence about that." Getting up quickly, he asked, "What do you want to drink?"

Letting his comment about Horatio go, Calleigh looked up at him and thought for a moment before answering, "Tea or water will be fine, whichever is more convenient." Standing with him, she smiled, "And I can help ya know."

"Nonsense, you stay, you're a guest." Giving her a wink, he glanced to the plate, "Finish that and I can serve dessert."

"No, no dessert for me, Tim. Really, the sandwich is plenty," Calleigh replied as she sat back down and took her plate back in hand. "Just a drink and I'll be good to go."

"You're sure that I can interest you in dessert. I brought a chocolate mousse cake on the way in." Tim gave her a sideways glance and then turned to walk away, "I'll give you a second to think about it."

Smiling some as he went into the kitchen, Calleigh sat back, getting comfortable and looking around as she continued to eat. Taking notice of the décor, Calleigh chuckled to herself, not seeing a lot of change since she had last visited him at home, almost five years before. Taking notice of the pictures he had dotted around the place of Emma, Calleigh could only imagine what it was like having to raise a child alone. Hearing him come back as her eyes settled on a picture of Tim and Emma, she nodded towards it, "When was that picture taken, Tim?"

Placing the two plates of cake on the coffee table, he chuckled, "About a year after I came back. I had just found out about her, and Pam had given me a chance to get to know her. She was already three when I found out about her."

"Wow." Looking at the picture more, Calleigh smiled, "She looks a lot like you, Tim. And from that little bit of time we spent together, she also takes after you in a lot of ways."

"That's what everyone says," Tim answered back warmly. He sighed heavily and then smiled, "I'd take nothing for her, she means the world to me." His smile faded and he looked away from the picture and grimaced, "Her mother doesn't want to be around, it hurts Emma to know that her mother doesn't want her."

Looking back to him and noting his expression, Calleigh tilted her head some, "Tim, she still has you…and that, that is what is important now. You want her and you love her…some kids don't even have that." Setting her plate aside, Calleigh raised a brow, "But, if she ever needs a female to talk to…she can always talk to me."

Tim looked to her and shook his head lightly, "I wouldn't want to impose on you, Calleigh."

"You wouldn't be. Besides, every girl needs a female to talk to. I know she's got Alexx, but, this way, if Alexx is at the hospital, she could always call me." Giving him a smile, Calleigh shrugged, "Just think, I could one day teach her how to shoot like me."

A loud guffaw was released and he wiped at his eyes, "I would love to see that happen. Emma, shooting like you? She's more interested in dolly's and dogs. But you know…good luck with that."

Shrugging, Calleigh raised a brow and smirked, "Stranger things have happened, Tim."

"I agree fully, life's full of surprises." He caught her gaze and snickered lightly, "You never know where life's going to take you."

"That's right. But, I can see your future," Calleigh replied with a mischievous smile.

"Is that right? And what do you see, Calleigh?" He inched closer to her and smiled, "I didn't know you saw the future."

Chuckling, Calleigh closed her eyes, "I can see you going back to the kitchen for the drinks you forgot." Opening her eyes back, she laughed at his expression, "What…you asked."

Shaking his head, he got up and started for the kitchen, "I knew that I'd forgotten something, do you want anything else while I'm up?"

"I'm good, thanks," she called back to him and reached for the remainder of her sandwich. Finishing it as he came back with their drinks, she took the offered glass and then took a long drink, washing her meal down. Setting it down, she sat back and looked over at him, "So, when are you coming back to the lab?"

Tim settled slowly and closed his eyes, "I haven't made a determination yet, Cal. I don't know…Things have changed." He opened his eyes and looked to her, "I'll think about it more."

Turning to him more and leaning against the back of the couch, Calleigh tilted her head, "Tim, where else in Miami are you gonna fined a job like yours at the lab. You work in trace, it's air conditioned, the pay is great, Horatio even gave you a schedule to work around Emma. Where else is gonna do that for you?"

"Nowhere," he admitted. Turning to her, he centered his attention on her, "I was doing well before he offered me the job, I can still consult, and that would free up time for Emma. But on the other hand, the extra cash would be helpful…"

"And Horatio said he was putting you in still for a raise he'd talked to you about in Vegas. He said that you thought it'd be great with getting full custody of Emma." Reaching over and setting her hand onto his and giving it a squeeze, Calleigh spoke softly, "Horatio isn't holding anything against you for what you said about me…and he still wants to be your friend, Tim."

"That's very noble of him. Like I said, I'll give it a thought." The air suddenly stilled and he looked to her, "I'll give it a thought, Calleigh."

"Okay." Retracting her hand, she looked down and chuckled, "You know, five years ago I never pictured life like this. Thing's have been like a roller coaster for me."

Nodding thoughtfully, Tim reached for her hand and squeezed, "I know what you mean, Calleigh. At the drop of a hat, things can change, but sometimes, change is for the better." He smiled and then reached for her face, caressing it briefly, "Change can sometimes be what you need."

A jolt of electricity ran there Calleigh and she remained still, looking into his eyes. After a moment of silence between them, Calleigh whispered, "Sometimes though, I don't want things to change. I like how they already are."

Staring into her eyes, Tim nodded and then exhaled lightly and looked away, shaking his head, "You can't blame a guy for trying. But, I'll always be there, Calleigh, no matter what, okay?"

Moving closer, Calleigh reached to him, her arms going around his shoulders and giving him a hug, "Thank you, Tim…that means more to me then anything."

Holding on to her, he closed his eyes and savored the feeling of her in his arms, the warmth and her scent impeding on his senses. He didn't want to let her go, for fear of this not being real, but he knew she wouldn't stay. Their relationship would stay within the bounds of friendship.

Releasing her slowly, he spoke softly, "It seems that you're gonna buck the trend and say screw change."

Looking at him, she shook her head slightly, "What do you mean, Tim?"

Again reaching for her cheek, he sighed and smiled lightly, "You're dead set against anything other than Horatio. Even…even if it's what's best for you."

"And how do you know he isn't what's best for me?" she asked as she searched his brown eyes.

"I only know what I can do for you, Calleigh. I could love you like you've never known, make your wildest desires come alive and I'd take care of you, protect you. I could do this, if you would just allow me the moment." Tim stroked her cheek as their eyes connected and he smiled lightly, "Just let me love you."

Staring at him in disbelief, Calleigh swallowed and whispered, "But I love Horatio, Tim."

"And not me," he answered back lowly. Releasing her completely, he averted his eyes and smiled, "I gave it all I had, and yet, it still wasn't enough."

"I'm sorry, Tim." Dropping her eyes, Calleigh moved to get up, "Maybe I should get going. I'm sure you have things you need to do…"

Tim reached for her to stop her and stood, his brow knit, "You don't have to go, Calleigh. There's nothing left for me to do." He kept his eyes on her and shook his head as he ran his fingers through his hair, "I'll behave from now on, I promise."

Looking up at him, Calleigh sighed and crinkled her brow before looking back up at him, "Okay." Sitting back down, she glanced at the clock and then back to him, "When will Emma be waking up?"

"Anytime now. She's going to gain her second wind and then there's no stopping her. She's going to tell you everything she did without stopping to take a breath." Tim laughed and sat back down and relaxed more, "She is aching to tell someone of her trip."

Smiling lightly, Calleigh nodded, "Well, I'm a good listener, so she can let it all out." Sitting back again, Calleigh turned to him, "Have uh, have you heard from Eric?"

Crinkling his brow as he reached for his drink, he shook his head, "No…I haven't heard from him. Why?"

Taking a deep breath, Calleigh debated on telling him about the message she'd gotten on her phone, but then relented, "Well, he uh…he called earlier this morning while I was in the shower. Said he'd be back soon but that was about it. I didn't know if he'd contacted you."

"No, he hasn't but then again, I haven't heard from him in years. I don't see where he'd break tradition now." His tone was sharp and he shook his head, "I won't hold my breath."

Tilting her head, Calleigh crinkled her brow as she looked down some, "What happened between you two? I mean, you usta be best friends and all." Looking at him again, she sighed, "If it's not my business…"

"It's nothing that dramatic, Calleigh. He made some bad mistakes, we just lost contact with each other. It's never going to be the same between us."

Nodding in understanding, Calleigh looked down at her hands and raised a brow, "What happened between us then? Once you left, you never called or anything."

"I wanted to get as far fro m Miami as I could, and I figured that without me around, you'd forget about me. You'd move on with your lives, almost as if I was never apart of them." Running his eyes over her face, he sighed, "it was the worst decision of my life, not calling you, Calleigh."

"So much happened after you left. John killed himself in my lab…Eric lost his badge with some girl, Horatio got married and then lost Marisol…so much has happened." Looking up at him, she shook her head, "I didn't know where you'd gone, otherwise I would have tried to find you."

Taking in all the information, Tim shook his head and sighed heavily, almost unable to listen to all of the horrible things that his friends had encountered in his absence. He thought he had been sparing them the knowledge of where he was when in truth, they had no time to worry about him because of the things that were happening to them.

Regret filled his voice as he looked away and he shook his head again, "You've all been through so much…"

"But so have you," Calleigh countered back with. Giving him a small smile, she sighed, "You became a father, have gotten to spend so much time with Emma, you've been able to watch her grow. Tim, that there is so much more important."

Sighing heavily, Tim nodded, "You're right, she's more important than anything in my life." A smile came over him as he admitted, "If not for her, I don't know where I would be right now."

Chuckling some, Calleigh shook her head, "Probably chasing some hottie and getting into trouble."

"Probably," he chuckled as he looked up. The smile grew as she walked towards them, rubbing her eyes hard. Leaving Calleigh on the couch, he approached and knelt, smoothing her now straight hair away from her eyes, "What's wrong, kiddo? You okay?"

Nodding, Emma leaned into him, her arms going around his neck loosely as she laid her head onto his shoulder. Yawning again, she sighed, "Can we go back to Disney World, daddy?"

"Maybe next year, sweetie." He held her close and then lifted her slightly, "Emma, we have a visitor, remember Calleigh?"

Moving her head, but keeping it on his shoulder, Emma looked over at the woman, her brow crinkling some. Gone was the long flowing lock's of gold, replaced with shorter ones. Nodding slightly, Emma murmured, "She's the pretty lady, daddy."

"She sure is," Tim answered as he gazed at Calleigh. Smiling widely, he shrugged her off his shoulder and nodded toward her, "Don't be rude, kiddo, say hi."

Lifting her head slowly, Emma spoke softly, her voice entrenched deeply in sleep, "Hi..."

Smiling, Calleigh leaned forward, her arms resting on her knees, "Hi Emma. It's good to see you again." Noticing her hair, Calleigh smiled more, "Wow, who did you hair for you? It's beautiful?"

"My Granny. It's straight so it won't tangle," she answered as she turned to Calleigh more. Reaching for her hair, her eyes crinkled and she asked, "Where's your hair? It was so pretty."

"Emma," Tim groaned as he pulled her back, "don't be rude."

Glancing at Tim, Calleigh shook her head, "No, it's okay, Tim." Looking back at Emma, Calleigh gave her a small smile, "Someone cut it while I was sleeping…but, it's okay now, I like it short too."

Emma smiled and nodded, "It's short. Why did someone cut it when you were sleep?"

Tim slapped his face and groaned, closing his eyes at her inquisitiveness. Opening them, he looked to Calleigh to see her smile fading slightly, "Cal…I'm sorry…"

"It's okay, Tim." Taking in a deep breath, Calleigh tilted her head some, looking at Emma and seeing so much of Tim in her, "They cut my hair because they were mean, Emma. But that person can't do that anymore now. They've gone away and won't be coming back again."

"Good, 'cause they were mean." Emma frowned and then looked to her father, "She's okay, Daddy. Why are you always sad?"

Looking to Calleigh, Tim shook his head and then refocused on Emma, looking into her deep brown eyes. Her curiosity was a product of her concern and he suddenly wished that he'd hidden his feelings for Calleigh more. "I like Calleigh a lot, I just wanted to be sure she was okay."

"She's okay, so don't be sad, Daddy."

Knowing that Emma didn't understand his true feeling, Calleigh looked down at her folded hands for a minute before looking back at them. "She's right, Tim. I'm gonna be okay now. I've got my best friend back with me now."

"Yes, you do," Tim answered as the smile grew. He realized now more than ever that his friendship with her was more important than his heart. "He's not going anywhere and he's going to be on better behavior."

Smirking some, Calleigh chuckled, "Well, I'm glad to hear that…although, he'd better keep his since of humor and snarkiness. I tend to like both those attributes."

"Those are ingrained, you couldn't get rid of them if you tried. But be careful of what you ask for." Tim laughed lightly and reached for her hand, squeezing it, "I let you go because I love you. I'll always be here for you, Calleigh."

"Thank you, Tim," Calleigh replied sincerely as she looked into his eyes. Hearing Emma's giggled, Calleigh smiled and looked at the little girl, "Whatcha giggling about sweetie?"

Covering her face slightly, Emma answered, "Daddy says that he loves you. He doesn't say that unless he means it."

Smiling more, Calleigh leaned over, whispering, "I know, you dad's cool about stuff like that, huh? But, he tells me he loves you more then anyone and anything, so that means you're a very lucky girl."

"I know," she smiled widely. Emma dissolved into giggles and looked to Tim, "I love my Daddy."

"And I love you too," Tim said as he took her into his arms. Holding her close, he closed his eyes and exhaled lightly, rubbing her back slowly. Slowly pulling away, he glanced to Calleigh, smirking, "She's ruthless…"

"Any just what you needed in your life," Calleigh replied as she sat back again. Smiling at the two of them, Calleigh shook her head, "You two look like two peas in a pod though."

"There's nowhere I'll go without her. We're attached to the hip." Tim kissed Emma and tickled her almost incessantly, driving the little girl into fits of laughter. Hearing her beginning to wheeze, he stopped and looked to her, "Emma…baby, are you okay?"

Crinkling her brow, Calleigh could hear the lite wheezing and looked at Tim, "What's the matter? Is she okay, Tim?"

"She's asthmatic, severely." Getting up quickly, he moved to the table, opening the drawer. When he didn't find the inhaler, he looked to Emma who was starting to cough, scratching his head, "Where's your inhaler, Emma?"

Moving over to Emma and rubbing her back as she coughed, Calleigh kept a calm voice, "Tim, what about your bags? Did you take it with you?"

"I thought I put it back," Tim said as he crossed the room. He was trying to remain calm, but looking back at her and Calleigh, he couldn't help but become anxious. Walking towards the back, he asked, "Cal…can you get her something to drink?"

"Yeah…" she replied as she stood up. "Come on, Emma, you can come with me while daddy get's your inhaler." Leading the girl to the kitchen, Calleigh looked around, pursing her lips. Going to the cupboards, she began to search for the cups, finding one and getting her some water. Kneeling down, Calleigh placed it into her hands, "Okay, Sweet Pea, small sips, okay?"

"O-okay," Emma rasped as she took the cup. Taking a sip, she closed her eyes and coughed harder, her eyes crinkling. She then looked to Calleigh and shook her head as tears began to fall, "I need my butey…"

Running her hand over her hair, Calleigh nodded, "Your daddy is getting it for you. Just try to stay calm, he's getting it." Moving to her side, Calleigh smiled as she began to rub her back again, "You know, when I was little, my brother had asthma also…and sometimes, it helped if he would close his eyes and think about a special place he really like and my momma would rub his back. You want to try, see if that works for you? I can rub your back for ya."

Nodding quickly she took another sip and looked up, "Where's Daddy?"

Coming into the kitchen, Tim eyed Emma cautiously and then looked to Calleigh, "I've got to take her, I can't find any of her inhalers. I must've forgotten to get a refill." Moving to Emma now, he knelt, "Baby, I've got to take you in for a breathing treatment."

Watching her, Calleigh looked at Tim, "Get your things and I'll drive, Tim. You need to be focused on her."

Tim picked up Emma and then looked to Calleigh, "Are you sure? It's getting kind of late, Horatio will wonder where you are."

"Horatio will understand," Calleigh said as she ushered them out of the kitchen. Going to the couch and getting her purse, she went back to them, "You need anything else?"

Heading to the door with them, Calleigh opened it, letting him go first with Emma and then followed, closing and locking the door behind them. Pulling out her keys, she moved ahead quickly to the elevator, hitting the button. The distraction was one Calleigh needed, but not at the expense of the little girl. Waiting for the doors to open, she decided she'd give Horatio a call once they were at the hospital and Emma was safe.