It was now the 9th of December, over two weeks since Connie Queens and Jack Greendale had been attacked and Jack had been brutally murdered. Connie Queens had only properly woken up three days ago and only this morning had the police been given access to her. They had gotten lucky; Connie had seen her attacker and was able to give a detailed description to the sketch artist. There was no way of knowing if it was Rothdale but at least they now had a lead and a witness. They were hopeful that the prints and DNA from their other Wonderland crime scenes would all link to the one person.

Eric was relieved to finally return to Miami-Dade headquarters and felt an odd jolt of joy as he stepped through the doors. He was still in pain and on medication and not allowed on any field work but Horatio had consented to him doing lab work and admin work until he was completely fit again. He headed to ballistics to call in with Calleigh and was surprised to find Tim there.

Tim glanced up at his friend and looked slightly embarrassed as he paused what he was doing. "Welcome back Delko," he said sincerely.

Eric grinned back at him. "It's good to be back, are you cleaning your gun Speed?"

"Yes he is," Calleigh answered chirpily as she emerged from the shooting room and tugged up her orange tinted goggles.

"You make it sound like I'm being punished," Tim grumbled as he resumed cleaning his Jericho.

"Not punished, trained," Calleigh corrected happily as she stepped over to survey the weapon. "Better," she praised.

"How long have you been here?" Eric quipped.

"An hour," Tim retorted moodily as he frowned. "I thought it would take ten minutes."

"And that's your problem," the blonde scolded him before she smiled at Eric. "Welcome back to work Eric! Speed and I finally got a lead on the Wonderland case; we're just waiting for Ridley to come in so we can do some interrogating."

"Interrogating?" Eric echoed.

"Some drug users Frank lifted might have seen our guy without his mask," Tim explained, "and are willing to give us a lead in exchange for some leniency."

"We're also hoping their description will match Connie's," Calleigh added eagerly.

"Seriously? That's great!" Eric enthused. "So where is Ridley?"

"She was feeling a bit sick this morning, sore stomach or something, so she took the morning off," Tim said dismissively, "but she's on her way now."

"So sympathetic," Calleigh scorned with a disapproving shake of her head. "We need to wait for Horatio too; he's collecting Raymond Jnr from school."

"Ah shit I've to take the little bugger tomorrow," Tim lamented. He winced when Calleigh clipped his head lightly with one hand.

"His name is Raymond; don't call him mean things," the blonde said, "and no McDonalds tomorrow Speed."

"Yeah I know, Ridley's already told me off," Tim complained as Eric snickered at him.

It took another twenty minutes before Ridley finally arrived just after five with Horatio close behind, having once again narrowly missed the chance to claim his own parking space. After Calleigh got them up to date with the case they headed to police station where Frank had four drug users ready to deal.

Ridley and Horatio took one each in an interrogation room whilst Tim and Calleigh observed. Tim couldn't help but feel a gush of pride for his girlfriend as he watched her put her interrogation skills into action. It was entertaining watching a five feet six, thin woman make a six feet something, muscular, tattooed drug user squirm uneasily.

"Look, there's only one deal going here," Ridley said as she folded her arms and laid her New Yorker accent on thick, "and there are four of you, first to give us something useful gets it. So what have you got?"

"You want to know about the dealer, right?" the man retorted, trying to sound tough and failing.

"Do I?" Ridley retorted with a raised eyebrow and a shrug. "It depends, I'm not into any drug dealer, I want this one." She tugged out the copy of the sketch based on Connie Queens' description and slammed it down onto the desk. "Do you know him? And don't give me shit, you say it's him just to end this and I promise you won't only go straight to jail when I find out but I'll personally pick your cell mate."

The thug frowned as he studied the sketch, it was a man with short, dirty fair, swarthy skin, an ugly scar down his left cheek and beady eyes that Connie hadn't known the colour of. "It's him," he grumbled, "he has the same scar."

"And does he have a name?" Ridley demanded.

The man shrugged. "He calls himself Lewis."

"And where does he hang out?"

"The old Sunset Bay Hotel, that's where he does his business anyway. Now, can I get that deal?"

"Mr. Brooks you had better hope I find him there," Ridley said as she pocketed the sketch and stood upright again. "If he's there, you get the deal." She exited the room, ignoring the protests he yelled at her and joined Tim and Calleigh in the corridor.

"Good work," Tim praised.

"Thanks," Ridley retorted with a smile before she looked through the window opposite where Horatio was wrapping up his interrogation. "How's Horatio doing?"

"Good," Calleigh answered, "he got the same answer as you so either it's a clever trap or the Sunset Bay Hotel is our place."

"I take it, it's a derelict hotel," Ridley mused.

"Closed down in the nineties," Tim explained, "financial problems and..." He paused and looked thoughtful for a moment.

"What?" Ridley pried curiously.

"And a family was murdered in their room, two kids, mother and father, looked like the father shot them all and then himself," Tim answered dryly, "it wasn't exactly good for business."

Horatio finally exited his interrogation room and met Ridley's inquisitive stare. "Sunset Bay Hotel?" He made it a query.

Ridley nodded. "My guy said the same."

"I guess we'd better go then," Horatio said eagerly. "I'll let Frank know, it's a big hotel, but if we have too many numbers he might run and there are a lot of ways in and out of a hotel."

"Why did it have to be dark?" Calleigh grumbled as they surveyed the large, derelict hotel before them.

"It's nice," Ridley enthused, "in a creepy way," she added as Tim and Calleigh gave her looks of disbelief.

The hotel consisted of three buildings linked together, the two outer buildings were six floors tall whilst the central building was ten with a tower in its centre that mimicked a bell tower and held the lobby as well as the penthouse suites and seemed to be an unlucky thirteen floors, excluding the top of the tower itself, which was technically a floor but most definitely not a room. Pale gold in colour with columns at its entrance, its walls bore cracks and had ivy scaling them. The earth before it was barren, consisting of sand, soil and clumps of dry, dying grass, and the palm trees swishing silently in the low breeze just seemed eerie rather than exotic. Their only light was the electric lampposts flickering on the pathway leading up to the hotel, giving off an unhealthy white glow that was made murky thanks to the dirt and bird droppings on the glass.

"How the hell are we going to find our way about in there?" Tim queried.

"Torches," Frank answered helpfully, "and the place supposedly still has electric running."

"Who's fitting that bill?" Horatio queried curiously.

Frank shrugged. "Private company, there have been plans to reopen or redo the place for months now but it always seems to fall through."

"Well, if we could refrain from flicking on all the lights," the redhead suggested, "we don't want him to spook and run."

"If he's even here," Detective Sanchez commented wearily.

Tim gave him an unfriendly look but said nothing, he knew the man was only here doing his job but he didn't like the way he kept looking at Ridley. He didn't really like the way Detective Hagen kept eyeing Calleigh either as he felt it was unfair taking advantage of Eric's absence.

"So what's the plan H?" the blonde quipped.

The redhead glanced from her to Ridley hesitantly and both women frowned as they recognised the look in his blue eyes. He was trying to come up with a plan that kept them safest.

"Cops first," Ridley said quietly, "we've got to secure the scene."

"Do you?" Tim queried dryly with a frown.

"We do," Detective Sanchez answered calmly, "you guys might be tough CSIs but you are still just CSIs, we need to go in first, you can follow us but have your weapons out. You have no idea if this creep is working alone or not."

"And he's a madman," Ridley remarked helpfully, "the whole place could be booby trapped."

"Ah Ridley as if the hotel wasn't unnerving enough," Calleigh replied with feigned happiness and a tight smile.

"Let's head for the main doors," Horatio suggested, "check the entrance carefully and then go in. Frank, you guys can lead the way."

Frank nodded and he, Detective Sanchez and Detective Hagen took the lead. There were three other cops already round at the back trying to keep an eye on the premises, more numbers would definitely have been preferably but budgets were tight, staff was low and the evidence was scant, six was the best Horatio could get and the captain had made it very clear that he should be extremely grateful for that and would not be given a second chance to do this.

They moved slowly in the shadows of the palm trees, heading up the path carefully, wary that they were about to plunge into the unknown. They tensed when a lamp suddenly cracked and burnt out above them causing Calleigh to let out a brief giggle.

"Eric would love this," Tim murmured as he tugged out his Jericho and gripped it tightly.

"Are we going to split up in here?" Calleigh queried quietly. "It is a big place after all."

"We'll have no choice," Ridley murmured as they finally reached the porch, which was raised on four stone steps and had a column on either side. The double doors were wooden, formally painted blue the paint had all but chipped away and there was graffiti flanking either side of the doors including the words 'MAGIC DUST' in blood red paint.

Detective Sanchez tested one of the gold handles, it was unlocked but the door was stiff, forcing him to lean against it and shove hard. After a couple of shoves the door finally gave way and he and Detective Hagen rushed in with their guns raised. The others followed with more caution to survey the abandoned lobby.

"This would be good for a Halloween party," Ridley murmured appreciatively as they looked around.

There were cobwebs everywhere, dust lingered on all the tables and the lobby desk, graffiti stained the walls, which most of the wallpaper had been peeled or torn from. It had evidently been a grand room once with marble floors, columns and chandeliers. The rolls of blue carpet leading to the receptionist desk and to the stairs had several patches and questionable stains and the couches resting around the circular tables had numerous holes, burn marks and stains, and many of them were on their sides or upside down.

"I don't suppose anyone was kind enough to suggest a floor?" Frank queried sardonically as he waved his torch about.

Ridley and Horatio looked at each other before they both shook their heads.

"If I were an insane magician obsessed with Wonderland which floor would I deal drugs from?" Ridley queried aloud.

"There's a question I never thought I'd hear," Tim answered dryly.

"Well it's bound to be accessible," Calleigh murmured, "the ground floor or just one up, if he sleeps here he probably doesn't deal from his sleeping quarters."

"And if he's the narcissistic perfectionist he comes across as not just any room would do," Horatio continued with a small smile.

"He always coveted the superior house," Ridley murmured, "so yeah the penthouse suite would probably make sense."

"Stairs," Detective Sanchez complained.

"He likes a show though," Ridley continued, "the magician act, the theatre, the way he sets up his victims, it's all very dramatic."

"Well I don't think there's a theatre here," Calleigh retorted with a look of uncertainty.

"No but there is a ballroom," Tim answered as he pointed to a sign for it, mostly obscured under dust.

"It's a good place to start," Horatio agreed.

"On that note I don't think we should separate," Frank said, "let's just take it carefully one floor at a time."

They started heading in the direction of the ballroom, pausing when they all began to hear the faint noise of classical music playing. "Once again, if the walls start bleeding I'm going," Ridley commented deprecatingly.

"I'm going with you," Calleigh added chirpily as they continued moving forward.

Ridley took the lead this time, pausing at the double doors with Detective Sanchez opposite her. "Ladies first," he said with a teasing smile that set Tim's teeth on edge.

Ridley scanned the door quickly with help from Detective Sanchez's torch before she reached tentatively for the door. She could feel her heart beginning to hammer just a little harder in anticipation as she eased it down slowly. Sensing no signs of a trigger being set she dared to push the door in slowly, it was stiff but not as bad as the front doors and moved inwards slowly with a treacherous creak.

"That looks familiar," Tim commented sardonically in a low voice.

There were numerous round tables, all of which had their chairs stacked on top of them, some upside down, in uneven piles. It was hard to tell where the music was coming from but for a moment they all thought they were seriously outnumbered as they spotted a cluster of bodies on the dance floor.

"They're not moving," it was Horatio who noticed first.

"We need lights," Frank hissed.

"He could be in here," Horatio retorted warily as he took a step forward, gun drawn and ready.

"Right because he didn't hear the door," Tim answered, "and he can't see the torches."

"Come on Speed now's not the time for sarcasm," the redhead scorned lightly.

They moved across the soft carpet as gently as they could but everyone was on edge and they seemed to almost unwilling divide as Calleigh and Horatio moved to the left to avoid some tables, whilst Frank and the detectives moved the right to navigate around them and Tim and Ridley kept going straight up the middle.

It was Tim and Ridley who reached the dance floor first. At that moment the lights clicked on and Tim almost lost it.

The figures on the dance floor were all dressed in identical black suits and white rabbit masks and many of them were holding black colts in raised arms. It was Ridley who assessed the situation quickest, the figures weren't real, mannequins probably, and the sparkle on some indicated strategically positioned mirrors. She reached out and grasped Tim's right hand before he could shoot in a panic.

"It's okay," she said softly, "they're not real Tim."

Tim's heart was pounding so hard it made his chest throb and he felt his throat tighten as he seemed to struggle for air. He could feel a cold sweat start to rush over him as all he could see was that fucking mask mocking him.

Horatio, Calleigh, Frank and the detectives all moved in a hurry knowing someone had to have turned on the lights. They looked about wildly for the switches or a figure who may or may not have slinked off.

Tim felt himself double over slightly as his chest burned with pain. He remembered it all too clearly, that horrible, blazing pain, and the blood choking up his throat. His breaths were coming out too quickly now and he couldn't stop them. Blank eyes. That black circular hole that spelled death. That sudden, horrible noise of a gunshot.

Ridley released Tim's hand as she stepped into the dance floor slightly and looked about curiously. "Smoke and mirrors," she grumbled in irritation.

BANG!

Everyone jumped at the shot. Ridley's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Tim and his smoking gun wordlessly. There was a low groan of pain behind her and a loud clatter that had her jumping and turning in surprise. One of the rabbit masked men had been real after all.

"Fooled me once," Tim sneered as he lowered his gun and stepped up beside Ridley, "but not twice asshole." The rabbit mask turned up to him accusingly but he didn't feel fear anymore, just a calm satisfaction.

Detectives Sanchez and Hagen hurried to seize the man, kicking his gun out of reach before they forced his hands behind him, ignoring his shrieks of pain as they did.

"You're getting good at disarming shots Speed," Horatio praised as he hastened to them.

"It was an accident," Tim retorted coldly, "I was aiming for his heart and I got his shoulder, got to work on that." He put an arm around Ridley who was still stunned and pulled her close as if to reassure both her and himself that she was okay.

"Well good work anyway, he'll be fit to question," Horatio answered cheerfully.

When the chandelier above them flickered out in darkness they all exchanged an amused but weary stare. "I think it's time to check out," the redhead said calmly.

"Every time," Tim groaned with a roll of his eyes at the pun.

After the magician's arrest the case had been smoother to wrap up. A thorough search of the hotel had resulted in disturbing photographs, half made costumes for some sort of cat, a king, a bird, a duchess and a caterpillar and ramblings on the wall in paint told a disturbing story of an 'unfinished queen' and 'ruined knave'. There was also a collection of clothes that ensured the man would be found guilty as they had belonged to all his dressed victims, evidently souvenirs. Finally, his gun and bullets were a match for the bullet that almost killed Tim.

With all that evidence gathered and, of course, his DNA being tied to several crime scenes, it was an easy matter to coax a confession out of him, which Horatio did. It was Ridley who got his identity out of him, it took several long, tiring and frustrating hours but after mentioning the 'Imperfect Alice' and taunting him about it being his shameful failure and mocking him over his envy for the Chimera House, which was now the den of spoiled teenagers, she finally got him to angrily admit that he was indeed Mr. Charles Rothdale Junior.

It was after this lengthy interrogation that Ridley allowed Horatio to take her out for a quick, late night coffee.

"That was good work with the interrogation," the redhead praised across the table of the diner, "it was especially clever using his sister's name."

Ridley gave a tired smile as she nodded and glanced about the diner. She remembered Horatio taking her here before, after the Clown and Babysitter case. Back then it had been more like an interrogation but now she felt they were out as friends, no ulterior motives. It was interesting how things had changed over time.

"So..." Horatio looked thoughtful for a moment. "When are you going to tell Tim the news?"

"What news?" she queried as she looked at him in surprise. "That the guy confessed? Tonight I guess."

Horatio smiled and shook his head. "No, your other news Ridley."

She looked confused for a moment before her eyes widened and she flushed and bowed her head slightly, looking to the cup clutched between two hands. "How did you know?" she queried quietly.

"I just noticed," he retorted gently.

"Really? Well I didn't know for sure until yesterday," she muttered. She looked up at the redhead with a serious stare. "I don't know how to tell Tim," she admitted. "Can you imagine? Hey Tim you know how we've only really been going out for a few months well, I'm pregnant, Merry Christmas." She sighed miserably.

"How far along are you?" Horatio pried.

She shrugged. "About a month, er...it was Vegas I think."

"Ah." He nodded and took a sip from his cup. "Well, whilst Tim leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to my nephew I think he will be better about it than you think."

"Maybe," she murmured doubtfully before she felt the tears prick at her eyes. "Shit Horatio things were finally getting good again; I don't know how to handle this. I don't know if I can." She glanced down at her hands again as they started to tremble.

Horatio reached out a hand to hers and said confidently, "of course you can do this Ridley and you won't be alone. Come on now, don't start stressing until you have spoken to Tim, I promise it won't be as bad as you think."

She nodded even as she rubbed at her eyes with her free hand. "I'm sorry," she babbled, "it's just...this whole year it's been one thing after another, I just..."

"Want to be happy," he finished for her. "I know, I understand."

"Sorry," she mumbled with an apologetic look, "I mean it's selfish saying this when you lost Yelina."

"My pain doesn't make yours any less important," he assured even as he swallowed hard. Even the mere sound of her name still made him tense and fill with a deep regret and guilt. "Now, I didn't mean to upset you I just wanted you to know that I know, so you can talk about it if you want," he said awkwardly.

She nodded. "Thanks," she murmured.

They continued their coffees amicably before Horatio finally drove Ridley home.

Tim's bike was in the drive and the living room lights were on indicating that he was still up. The redhead was happy to see it, the last thing he wanted to do was leave Ridley home to an empty house. He was surprised when Ridley leaned across the car seats to give him a close hug. "Thank you," she said sincerely, "for everything, especially after all the grief I gave you."

"It's alright," he assured with a slightly embarrassed smile as he flustered just a little. When she leaned back and reached for the door he hesitated before blurting out awkwardly, "I...I'm always here for you Ridley, alright?"

She gave him a small, warm smile in response. "I know," she said, "and it means a lot, and...I'm here for you too, okay? You know with Raymond and stuff, this doesn't change that, I still want to help out."

Horatio nodded gratefully. "I know, good night Ridley."

"Good night Horatio." She shut the door and headed up to the door to face the music.

She headed in, locked the door and entered the living room. Tim was slouched in the couch half-asleep with the television on. He glanced over at Ridley and sat up with a questioning look. "Well, how'd the interrogation go?" he quipped.

"Good," she confessed, "he's Rothdale."

Tim frowned as he stood up and rubbed at his neck with his left hand. "And that's it?" he queried dubiously. "Is something wrong?"

"Um..." She frowned and looked at the floor awkwardly.

"Ridley?" Tim stepped up to her, reaching out a hand to squeeze her right arm. "Is this to do with your doctor's appointment yesterday? You said it was just routine." His brown eyes widened when Ridley suddenly burst into sobs. "Shit, what's happened?" he demanded as he instinctively drew her close to him with both hands. "Ridley you're worrying me here, what's wrong?" he pressed for an answer.

"I...I...I'm pregnant," she confessed weakly. She felt Tim tense against her and that only made the sobs come harder.

For a moment Tim was frozen as he tried to digest this sudden news. He swallowed hard and tried to calm his heartbeats, well aware that Ridley could hear them. "Oh."

"I...I'm sorry."

Tim glanced down at her questioningly. "Sorry? Shit Ridley it's hardly your fault," he scolded her. "Come on, this is...well it's a shock but we'll make it work."

"Wwwhat?" Ridley pulled back and looked up at him in surprise.

"We'll make it work," he repeated more seriously.

"Really?"

Tim nodded and kissed her brow gently. "I know we have been through a lot and we have had our ups and downs but I love you Ridley and you love me and I know I want to be with you so this, well it's earlier than planned but it's okay."

"But you said you didn't want any for five years and we've only been together for a few months," Ridley retorted.

Tim gave her a small, sheepish smile. "Yeah I said that but hey, sometimes life is full of surprises I guess." He pressed a hand against her stomach, swallowed hard and questioned, "how...er...well when did this happen?"

"Vegas," she confessed as she blushed faintly, "well I think, the dates seem to um...make sense. I think that night, we had so much to drink and we er...had too much fun on the carousel."

"Right..."

"Yeah, it was um...sort of spontaneous so there was-"

"Yeah, I remember, sort of," Tim interrupted, "I got a bit carried away, no condom, yeah I remember that, I think. Well hey, conceived on a carousel in Vegas, it's certainly going to be a fun story to tell them."

Ridley laughed at this before hugging Tim close. "I love you," she said sincerely as her fears and worries seem to wash away in his warm grasp.

"I love you too Ridley but you know that, you're the only woman I'll ride carousels for."

Oh wow just the epilogue to go! So yeah it all came full circle for Tim, I felt he earned this arrest. Anyway, thanks for the lovely reviews as always and if you want a sequel let me know, I am contemplating one.