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**

"I have said that the sole effect of my somewhat childish experiment -that of looking down within the tarn -had been to deepen the first singular impression. There can be no doubt that the consciousness of the rapid increase of my superstition -for why should I not so term it? -served mainly to accelerate the increase itself."

From "The Fall Of The House Of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe

Driving through the darkened city, Adrienne made another turn, watching her rear view closely to make sure she wasn't being followed. After having gotten Horatio bound and then chloroformed, she'd then used a wheelchair to move him to a van she'd borrowed and then got him in with the wheelchair ramp. Making one last turn, she pulled through the alley and up to the back of one of the buildings. Parking, she pulled the keys from the ignition and turned in her seat, looking back at her prisoner.

Getting up and moving to the back, she opened the side door and unlatched the ramp. Getting it into place, she then turned back to a sleeping Horatio and moved behind the wheelchair. Pushing it onto the ramp, she then hit the button on the inside of the door and the ramp lowered. Seeing his head lull some, she smiled and leaned down, whispering in his ear, "Soon you'll be feeling a lot of pain, Lieutenant. You'll pay for taking my love from me."

Coming out of his drugged induced unconsciousness, Horatio's eyes opened slowly and his brows knit in confusion. His head felt like a ton and his mouth was dry, making talking a odyssey. Managing to get a word out, he breathed heavily, "T-Taylor…"

Hearing him, she laughed, "Aw, what's the matter now, Lieutenant? Cat got your tongue? Don't worry, here soon you'll be screaming your head off for me."

Horatio shook his head and heaved, "Wh- why? Wh- what did I do to you?" Swallowing hard, Horatio looked to her in earnest, "Can I…get…some water?"

Pushing him to the door, Adrienne went around him with the keys to open the door, "I don't think so. You're going to suffer…jut like you made Chris suffer." Pushing open the door, she turned back to him, "Then you'll die a very painful death…and I'll make sure blonde get's to see it."

Horatio could see the anger in her eyes and he blinked slowly, wishing that the fog of the chloroform would wear off. He detested not being able to think clearly and the frustration built as he began to struggle, "You…you don't have to involve Calleigh. This is between me and you."

"Oh but she is involved. That bitch and you took something that I loved from me…and no you'll both pay. I'm sure the photo's I sent her of us has her hating you already."

"Photos? What…photos?" Horatio wracked his brain for any inkling of what she was talking about and became angry, "What goddamned photos, Taylor!"

Smiling, she came to him and leaned down, her fingers trailing his jaw, "Why the photo's of us fucking, Horatio…aw, you don't remember me telling you? She received them yesterday…and I'm sure she wants nothing to do with you now."

The memory returned to him and he closed his eyes and whispered, "Calleigh…" He could only imagine what she was going through, what those pictures had done to her. Seething, he spat out, "She's not going to believe them. She knows I will never do anything like that to her."

Laughing more, she raised a brow, "Funny, that's why that other guys been staying with her? Even spending the night there?" Pulling out a photo from her back pocket she showed it to him, "Even letting him be this close?"

Staring at the photo, Horatio felt his heart slump, the sight of Calleigh in Tim's arms searing through him. Swallowing hard, he shook his head, "They're best friends, he's…he's always been there for her, it's…nothing."

"From what I hear…he's in love with her," Adrienne whispered and then smiled. Standing back up, she moved behind him and began to push him through the doors. "Although, I'm sure he won't mind you being out the picture now. He can be her next conquest."

"Speed…wouldn't…he said he'd be a friend," Horatio responded, almost lost in his thoughts. The old familiar feeling of jealousy rose inside of him and he growled, "She wouldn't…"

A laugh came from Adrienne as she pushed him further into the building and then into a room, "Oh, but I'm sure she is now, being you've been fucking me and she has the proof. She got to see you in all your glory Lieutenant. You should be proud."

Horatio shook and then hung his head, "I've done nothing that I'm proud of." He closed his eyes and sighed heavily, "She's better off without me then. I'll just keep hurting her."

"Oh I wouldn't doubt it," Adrienne replied as she locked the breaks into place. Coming around in front of him, she lifted his chin and looked into his eyes, "Who'd want anyone that betrays them?"

"She wouldn't take me back after this," Horatio resigned as he stared at her, "so, do what you're gonna do, Taylor. Kill me."

Cupping his cheek, Adrienne shook her head, "No Horatio…first, you are going to suffer…then, then you die a very slow and painful death."

Horatio nodded, as if accepting his lot and then exhaled lightly. Turning his head to loosen her hold on him, he grimaced and then spoke lowly, "You'd be better off getting this done. No one's going to care that you've taken me."

"Oh I know that. And the trail I've left them is a dead end anyways." Standing up, she laughed some, "Cause see, they'll be looking for Taylor Davis…who doesn't exist. However Adrienne McIntyre…" she replied as she raised a brow and smirked, "they've never heard of and know nothing about."

"Then why prolong this?" Horatio asked, his fury building. Now that there was no other way to reach Calleigh and it was evidenced that she was moving on with…Speed, he didn't feel the need to fight the inevitable. He glared at her and spoke acidly, "You've taken everything I've had and you've destroyed it, you have my life in your hands, but yet you're wasting time. Just fucking kill me and get it over with."

"Aw, and here I thought you wanted to spend time with me and get to know me better," Adrienne mocked and then stood up. Checking his binds, she went over to the small desk in the corner of the room and opened the drawer. Bringing out a rolled up towel, she set it on the desk top and rolled it out. Revealing several syringes and three vile's, she then picked one of each up, taking the cap off the syringe needle, "I'm sure you'll be begging me to kill you soon…even more then you are now. But, I'm gonna take pleasure in watching you die slowly."

Horatio eyed the syringes and swallowed, "What is that? You don't have it in you to take me out without drugging me? And here I thought Christopher meant so much to you." Horatio's eyes set hard and he smirked darkly, "You're pathetic, I see why Christopher didn't want you."

Paying close attention to what she was doing, Adrienne filled the syringe and then placed it and the vile down. Getting the rubber band, she wrapped it around her arm tight and then felt for the vain in the crook of her arm. Taking the syringe back in hand, she turned for him to see as she began to dose herself, "You see Horatio…I like to do things on a high. It makes things so much more interesting…like killing you. But, you'll get to feel this high as well."

Watching as she pumped herself full, he shook his head, "There's no way you're getting anywhere near me with that. I'll kill you first," Horatio promised as she began to smile widely. He closed his eyes and then opened them, watching as she approached him, "Taylor… don't do this."

Raising a brow, she laughed, "And just what do you think you're gonna do? Arrest me?" Laughing more she shook her head, "You can't even move from that chair."

Struggling slightly, he realized she was right, she'd tied the binds tightly and he was powerless to stop her. Keeping his cool, he nodded and looked to her again, "You're not going to get away with this."

Coming to him, she looked down at him as she held the syringe where he could get a good look at it, "You see though…I will. As I said, they'll look for Taylor Davis…Taylor Davis doesn't exist. So see, I will get away with this."

Horatio's eyes centered on the syringe and could feel his heart beating rapidly. Never once had he tried drugs, but he knew of the history of addiction that blazed through his family. He steered clear of anything that would have the potential for addiction for that very reason. Gulping, he shook his head, "You don't want to do this, Adrienne."

"Yes I do," she said plainly as she knelt down beside him. Pulling the extra rubber band from her back pocket, she wrapped it around his arm tight, tying it into place. Glancing up at him, she smiled, "Here soon, you'll feel like you're on cloud nine."

He winced at the tightness around his arm and looked down at it, the non abused veins and then closed his eyes. The anticipation was getting to him and he gasped as he suddenly felt the prick of the syringe and the burn of the poison that was now coursing through his veins. Instantly, he felt the rush and then the feeling of euphoria that he couldn't fight. Dropping his head, he shook it and breathed in and out heavily.

Releasing the band from his arm, she smiled up at him, "Give it a few and you won't feel anything…well until I start in on you. Then you'll feel every little bit of pain I exert on you."

Trying to lift his head, he smiled lazily and nodded, "Adrienne… Don't. Don't do this."

"Too late, Horatio. You took Christopher from me…I could have had a chance with him. Now, you're gonna pay for that." Standing back up, she looked down at him and went back over, setting the syringe down. Leaving out the room, she headed back out to the van to get her bags of toys that she'd brought to inflict pain.

Lifting his head to watch her leave, Horatio could barely feel anything, his eyes sliding shut. Even as he knew that he was in this alone, something inside of him longed to see her face just once more.

Shifting his weight, Tim groaned as he felt a weight on top of him, anchoring him down to the couch. He opened his eyes tentatively to see the slight rays of light that were beginning to shine through the cracks of the venetian blinds, blinking back the sleep. The last he remembered, he spent most of his night consoling Calleigh, trying to remain positive about the situation that they now found themselves in. Each time her tears fell, his heart broke a little more and by the end of the night, he was just about as exhausted as she was. As soon as he felt himself relaxing more, he knew that it would be only a matter of time. But he wasn't surprised in the least that Calleigh had fallen first.

Moving a little more, he glanced down to see a plethora of blond hair and smirked as he smoothed it away from her face. She slept peacefully, even as her eyes knit faintly. Reaching to caress her face tenderly, Tim sighed and shook his head, wondering what it would take for him to have a chance. Continuing to stare, he could only smile as she moved, her eyes now relaxing more. When they opened, he smirked, "Good morning, beautiful."

Blinking slowly, it took a moment for Calleigh to realize where she was. Remembering talking with Tim the night before, she figured they'd both fallen asleep thereon the couch, they day taking it's toll on them. Looking up at him, she spoke softly, "What time is it?"

"A quarter to eight." He smoothed his thumb over her skin and asked, "How did you sleep?"

"Okay I guess," she replied as she began to sit up. Groaning, she released a breath, "Although, I think I might have been in that position too long." Stretching some to work out the soreness, she glanced at him, "I'm sure you're gonna be hurting."

"Yes, I already feel a crick in my neck, but it's not something that's going to stop me." Deciding to hold onto her for a moment longer, Tim asked, "Do you want something to eat? I can whip up something easy."

Shaking her head, she got a little more comfortable, "No, I'm good. I'm not really hungry. If you are, please go ahead."

"Calleigh, you have to eat something. You can't be any good to anyone if you don't take care of yourself." Stroking her hair, he smiled, "I can fix your favorite."

Shaking her head, she shrugged, "I don't want anything heavy on my stomach right now, Tim. I'll eat a piece of toast or a rice cake, okay?"

"Okay, toast it is," Tim answered as he stared out. He liked the serenity of the moment and smiled lightly, "Is juice okay too?"

Raising a brow, Calleigh shook her head, "Out of juice. It's milk, tea, coffee or nothing."

"Milk, tea, coffee, or nothing. I like the choices, I think I'll take coffee. Would you like for me to make you a cup?" When she tried to pull away from him, he held her tight, "Calleigh, wait…are you sure you're okay?"

Stopping, Calleigh adverted her eyes and shrugged, "Would you be, Tim?" Looking back at him, she sighed, "I want to go to the lab with you today. I'm tired of sitting around here alone. I need to be doing something."

Tim could see that her demeanor was changing and let her go, watching as she stood. He exhaled and shook his head as he stared out of the window, "What exactly do you think you'll be doing there? You're unable to touch anything, you can't go out…You'll be twiddling your thumbs there and I'm sure that's going to be far worse than doing it here."

"At least I'll be around people though," she replied in a frustrated tone. Running a hand through her hair, she headed for the bathroom, "At least I won't feel alone."

"I could stay here with you, Calleigh. Truth be known, I'm not supposed to be at that lab either. I haven't solidified that I'm coming back." He got up to follow her and was met with the closing door, placing a hand on it, "Calleigh, you're not alone in this."

Turning around and facing him, Calleigh shifted her weight, "I need to be doing something to help find him, Tim. I'm going crazy sitting here."

"I can understand that, Calleigh. More than you know, but you won't be able to do much if you're a ball of nerves there. We're doing everything we can to find Horatio, but because of the importance of him to you, you may not think we're moving fast enough. What we don't need is mistakes."

"I have to do something, Tim. I can't sit here another day feeling this way," she said as she ran a hand through her hair.

"Well, how about we go out? Just go and not think of any of this. You need a break, Cal." He could see the war that was being waged and offered, "Just give it a thought, Calleigh."

Looking away, she closed her eyes and nodded, "I'll think about…but for now…" she said as she looked back at him, "I have to use the bathroom. You mind giving me some privacy?"

"Not in the least bit. I'll…be out here, making that cup of coffee. Do you want one?" Tim was trying to get back on an even keel with her, but could see it faltering, instead stepping back.

"I'll be in the kitchen, Cal."

"Thanks, Tim." Closing the door, Calleigh turned and leaned against it, closing her eyes and fighting the urge to scream out. So much frustration had built up over the past few weeks and Calleigh could feel it inching it's way to the brink of exploding. Opening her eyes, she moved from the door, deciding to try to see if they could at least go to the range. If there was any place that she could release her pent up frustrations it would be there emptying out round after round into targets.

Rambling around the kitchen, Tim allowed his thoughts to drift to something to take Calleigh's mind off of things. After a second of thinking, Tim smiled and then shook his head, disbelieving that he'd almost forgotten about it. While the coffee was brewing, he moved back down the hall towards the bathroom and then knocked softly, "Cal…I think I have an idea on how you can cope."

Flushing the toilet and pulling up her sleep pants and panties, Calleigh walked over to the sink and turned on the water, calling out, "And exactly what would that be, Tim? And you'd better not have been standing out there the whole time I've been in here."

Wrinkling his eyebrows, Tim shook his head, "Ah…no, I haven't been standing here the whole time. I was making coffee and it came to me that you haven't been to the range lately. What better way to expend some frustration than pumping bullets in inanimate objects?"

Washing her hands and then drying them, she went to the door, opening it, "I was already thinking about that myself. You don't mind going do you? Or do you need to get to Emma?"

"Alexx has Emma, so she's good. I'll tag around for a while, that is if you don't mind."

"I don't mind." Moving past him and smelling the brewing coffee wafting through the house, she headed for her room, "I'm gonna change and then I'll be right out, Tim."

"Good, that gives me the chance to shower and change before we go." Turning to go into the guest room, he smiled, "Save me a cup, okay?"

"I will. Remember to clean up your mess in my bathroom though," she called out as she went in, closing the door behind her. Shaking her head, she headed towards her closet, and her eyes settled on a picture of the team that she had hung up. Going to it, her eyes went instantly to Horatio. He'd been standing beside her when it was taken and had just taken off his sunglasses. Reaching up and touching it with her fingers, she whispered, "Hang in there, Horatio…we're coming."

After a refreshing shower, Tim entered into the kitchen to see her standing with a cup in her hand, sipping absently. Coming beside her to grab his cup, he smiled lightly and sighed, "Just enough left. I see you're ready to go."

Taking another sip, Calleigh nodded slightly, "Yeah." Setting her cup down then, she looked down at it, her voice soft, "Tim…do…do you think we'll find him soon?"

Even though she tried to hide it, the worrisome tone that was in her voice was readily evident. Moving closer to her, he answered, "Of course we will, it's just a matter of finding all the right information. Now that we've got a name, we can move on that." Reaching to move a strand of hair from her face, he shook his head, "Calleigh, he's going to be fine."

Nodding slightly, she lowered her head and crinkled her brow, "I keep trying to think positive…but it hard."

"I know it's hard, but we've got to try, Calleigh." Taking her into his arms, he held her close and then let her go, "You're going to see him again, and when you do, hold on to him."

"I will…" she whispered as she moved to him more and slipped her arms around his neck. Hanging onto him, she closed her eyes, "Thank you for being here for me, Tim."

Stepping completely away, Tim glanced at her sidearm and then to her, smiling knowingly, "How long has it been since you've used it?"

"Awhile…but it's been cleaned and I field stripped it a few times when I was bored." Seeing his look, she shrugged, "What, it kept my mind off things."

"Spoken like a true bullet girl. Since it's been a while, and well, I'm not obviously any competition, you want to make a friendly wager?" Tim smirked and then narrowed his brow, "Are you up for it?"

"What type of wager?" she asked as she reached for her cup again, remembering the wager she and Horatio had between them.

"If I win, then I cook you dinner, and you have to eat it. If you win, then…you cook for me. Sounds good?"

Knowing Tim was just trying to help, Calleigh nodded silently and took another sip of her coffee. Swallowing, she looked at what little of the dark liquid there was in her cup, "You want to use one of my guns?"

"Yeah, if you don't mind," Tim answered uneasily as he scratched his head. Looking to her, he shrugged, "It's been a very long time for me."

Looking up at him, she turned to him more and leaned against the counter, "You carried on in Vegas didn't you? I thought I saw you with one."

"I did, but it wasn't by choice. It wasn't like I was trying to qualify for a proficiency. I'm very uneasy when it comes to firing now." Shaking his head, he started towards the door, "Offer still stands."

Setting her cup down, she followed, "It's a deal…but…only if you let me help you, Tim." Stopping him with her hand to his arm, she gave him a small smile, "It's the least I can do."

"You've got a deal. My skills are…laughable." The smile he got in return warmed his heart and he laughed, "I'm serious…you'd probably be disgusted."

"I doubt that. But, no matter what, I'll help ya out there. Besides, if you decide to go back to the lab and return to the field, you'll need your sidearm. I'll make sure you're trained properly."

Thanks, I appreciate that, Calleigh. It would be nice to be able to go back to work completely." Gesturing with a wave, he grinned, "Ready?"

"Let's get you a firearm and we will be then." Leading him back to her room, they went in and she went to her walk in closet. Opening it, she then went to her gun locker she had in there and unlocked it. Opening the doors, she looked down, "Okay, Tim, what are you more comfortable with? And don't say none."

"Whatever you got, Cal. Honestly, it doesn't make a difference." Seeing her expression, Tim relented, "Alright, a nine millimeter. That's just like our service weapons, right?"

"Yes." Seeing the gun she wanted, she reached for it but kept it out of his view, "Now, before you day anything…just trust me, ok?" Bringing out his service weapon that he'd carried years ago, she looked up at him, "You need something that is familiar…and it's safe, Tim. I've made sure of it."

"Well, that's going to go a long way to helping me. I can't thank you enough, Calleigh for doing this."Taking the weapon in hand, he sighed and shook away the memories, "If only I had done better at this…"

"It's in the past, Tim. Let it go. I'll work with ya and get you where you need to be." Locking up the locker, she turned back to him, "Who knows, if you practice enough with me you'll be some good competition…then we can up our wagers."

"Up our wagers, that sounds pretty promising," Tim said as he arched his brow. Winking, he finished, "Well, I better pay more attention."

"You'll do fine, Tim." Leaving out the room, Calleigh closed the closet door back and then followed him out the room. Going to the living room, she grabbed her purse, "Well, I'm ready when you are."

"Let's get going then." They walked with each other to the door and he opened it allowing her to go through first. The warm air of the day hit him and he sighed heavily, "Another scorcher of a day. I can't believe that I chose to live here."

"Just think, it's better then freezing your ass off in the winter," she replied as they headed towards her car. Going to the trunk, she popped it open and pulled two gun cases forward. Upholstering her, she placed it into one, while Tim did the same with the other, "There's shade at the range now if that help's any."

"Shade in Miami…that's just like a sprinkler in hell." Hearing her tiny laugh as they got in, he raised his brows in surprise, "Now that sounds like the Calleigh I know. Where have you been?"

Getting in, Calleigh raised a brow, "I think I've been away from you guys far too long."

Tim settled in next to her, laughing, "I'll say. I tell you what, the moment you get reinstated, I'll come back. Sounds like a good deal to you?"

Starting the car, Calleigh slipped on her seatbelt, "That could still be awhile, Tim. And I'm sure you need the money, especially with getting full custody of Emma."

"I still have my consulting, I'll be fine." Tim smiled lightly and then turned to look out of the window, "My parents said they would help out though, so we're going to be just fine."

Backing out, Calleigh then turned on the air conditioning and put the car into drive. Heading down the road, she glanced at him, "When we get back…think we can do some digging of our own?"

Her question perplexed him and he turned to her and narrowed his brow in confusion, "Ah…sure, but what do you think we'll be able to find out on our own? Do you know something that I don't?"

"No, I wish I did…but at least it'll keep my mind busy for awhile," she said as she slowed to a stop. Pulling out onto the busy street, Calleigh sighed, "I need to stay busy, Tim…otherwise I'll loose it again and I don't want that."

I don't want that either. So…we'll do something, look up this Adrienne McIntyre something. We're going to get to the bottom of this."

"We need to and fast. The longer Horatio is with her, the less his chances are for coming out of this alive." Trying not to think about the negative outcome, Calleigh pressed on the gas more, wanting to get to the range and let her frustrations be released so her mind would clear.