Alternate Ending: By Your Side

A/N: I got a request for an Alternate Ending! If you were happy with the first ending, then feel free to skip this one. I'll write at the drop of a hat, so here it goes.

The next morning, Tim walked into the lab with a sullen look on his face. Things had not gone well for him last night as he saw Sam off at the airport. There was just so much to be said, but neither of them wanted to say it. He had returned to his empty home and sat up the rest of the night , thinking. Now in the brightness of the morning, Tim realized that he had made a grievous mistake in letting her go without assuring her the security that she so desperately needed.

As he began his work, he saw Calleigh pass by. He got up quickly to catch her before she made it to the elevator.

"Calleigh! I've been wanting to talk to you about Sascha. Is she okay?" Tim asked almost out of breath.

Calleigh turned around and faced Tim seeing a certain sadness in his eyes that startled her.

" She's fine. Working hard is all. I keep telling her to call you."

" Why doesn't she? Have I done something wrong?" Tim asked with hurt in his voice.

" No. She's very intense when it comes to her rehabilitation. She strong and focused. Much like her father," Calleigh said as she pushed the button to the elevator. She turned again to see someone behind Tim, and a smile appeared on her face. " I got to go Tim. See you around."

Tim nodded slightly and watched Calleigh get on the elevator. As he turned he heard a familiar voice call to him.

"Daddy."

Tim turned completely around to see Sascha standing with a cane. Tears welled in his eyes as he took in her standing form. It had been so long since he had seen her stand completely. She stood the cane next to the wall and began to take little steps until she had gotten her balance, then she began walking at a normal gait. Tim watched her as she walked the distance of the hall way, all the while with a huge smile on her face. When she got to him, she noticed that he was crying at full tilt.

" Daddy, why are you crying?" Sascha asked softly. " I'm walking."

" I-I'm so proud of you honey. And I miss you," Tim tearfully as he took her into a strong embrace. Sascha enveloped herself in her father's arms, joyful that she could finally touch him. She too had missed him.

" I missed you too daddy, but I wanted to do this, alone. I even told mom to just drop me off at the center for my appointments. For months it was just me and Robi."

" You worked hard. It's been eight months. Just eight months... and you did it," Tim replied with a smile forming.

" I'm a Speedle, once I get something in my head I don't let it go. Didn't I tell you that I was going to walk down the aisle at your wedding?" Sascha said as she pulled away from him. She noticed the sadness in his face and was puzzled. " Daddy, what's wrong?"

" Sam went back to New York last night..."

" You didn't do anything stupid did you?" Sascha asked sternly.

Tim looked at her and smirked. She was definitely a Speedle.

" No, the FBI called her back to work. Some important case that they needed her on. She said that she would be back in two to three weeks," Tim replied before his cell phone rang. Tim looked at Sascha then to the cell , then put a finger up. Sascha leaned on the wall as he answered the phone.

" Speedle." Tim sighed into the phone.

" Speed, we have a call out. DB in the Grove. Alexx will meet us there." Horatio reported.

" I got to get my kit. I'll meet you at the Hummer."Tim said noticing something different in Horatio's voice.

" Okay, Speed."

The phone went silent before he could form a question and he flipped the phone down and shrugged slightly. He then returned his attention to Sascha .

" Sash, I gotta take this. Maybe we can have lunch or something."

" I'd like that dad. Maybe I can hang around Valera in DNA until you get back."

Tim hugged her again and smiled as she turned to walk away. He watched her as she got to the DNA lab , remembering at the last moment that she had forgotten to pick up her cane. He picked up the cane where she left it then strode to catch up with her.

" Sash, you forgot this," Tim said as he handed her the cane.

" Oh, yeah, right." Sascha returned. AS Tim turned to walk back to his lab, Sascha called, "Dad?"

" Yeah sweetie?"

" Be careful."

" I will," Tim replied as he turned to go. He glanced back at Sascha before opening the door to the lab and smiled. His day just got brighter.

---

" Good morning, Alexx," Tim said lightly as he knelt by the body that she was analyzing.

" Not for this guy," Alexx said as she turned the body over. She had been there ten minutes before Horatio and Tim and was almost finished. " Your guy, got caught unawares, he was bending to get his morning his paper and ... he got this instead." Alexx said pointing to his head.

" A gun shot wound. So someone was waiting for him to go and get the paper and take him out then?" Tim asked as he looked over the body.

" Nope. The bullet originated from inside the home," Alexx said as she turned the head to reveal a fairly large entrance wound. " What you see in the front is actually the exit wound. Through and through."

" Is there anyone else in the house?"

" No. He had no family here at the time. His wife was away on business and when she returned this morning this is what she found. She called the police in hysterics from outside. She never went into the house."

" What a way to find someone," Tim said as he got up. He looked to Horatio who was looking over at the blood pool. He noticed as Horatio seemed to be on an edge of a thought. Tim turned back to Alexx as she got up and asked, " Alexx, have you noticed how Horatio's been acting?"

" He's always like this at a scene. You've known him for years, it's just the way he works."

"Yeah, but this is different," Tim said as he watched Horatio enter the house. A moment later, Calleigh pulled up and got out of the Hummer, a bright smile plastered on her face.

" So, Alexx, what do you have for me?" Calleigh asked as she set her kit down.

" You are a little late, Calleigh. GSW to the interior of the skull, through and through. There's a bullet with your name on it somewhere out here."

" I had something to take care of before I got out here. The doctor called me with some news."

Tim looked at her with surprise, is there something wrong with her?

" And?" Alexx said with a little apprehension in her voice.

" And , I'm pregnant." Calleigh said with a light sigh. I haven't told Horatio yet, so please guys.."

" Oh don't worry about me," Tim said as he put his hands up. " My lips are hermetically sealed."

Calleigh laughed at Tim then proceeded to look for the bullet. Alexx gathered her things and was heading for the coroner's van when gunshots rang out from inside the house. Tim, Calleigh and the two uniforms filled their hands with guns as they quickly entered the home. They went through the bottom of the house, making sure that it was cleared. Tim then walked up the stairs cautiously with his gun trained. As he opened the first door, he saw the blood first. Tim took out his radio and made the call.

Tim knelt down next to Horatio, who was on his stomach and felt for a pulse. To his surprise it was strong. He then felt as Horatio began to stir and he helped the Lieutenant turn over. His color was pale and his breathing was shallow, but the man was still alive.

" Speed, wha- what happened?" Horatio choked out. He was bleeding profusely from the shoulder and the blood flowed steadily from his wound.

" H, don't move. You were shot," Tim answered as he heard the ambulances in the distance. He looked back to see Calleigh standing behind him. She had a look of horror on her face as she saw the blood pooling by Horatio's side. She tried to speak, but nothing came. She just stood there staring at the blood. " Calleigh, he's going to be fine."

Calleigh moved to Horatio's side and Tim got up and stood behind them. He would let them have their time.

" Horatio, what the hell do you think you are doing?" Calleigh said softly as she ran her hand through his red hair. She let a small smile play across her lips. The comforting touch of his wife, calmed Horatio and he attempted to smile back.

" I should've been ready," Horatio whispered. Calleigh noticed the blood on her hands and her color began to drain.

" Shh, don't you worry about that now, handsome. You are going to be okay," Calleigh continued in a hush tone. Inside , her heart was reeling. She had seen some bad shoulder shots, but this one seemed a little too close for comfort. She figured if he would've been shot an inch to the right , she would be holding his lifeless hand. Calleigh dismissed the thoughts and heard as the paramedics came through the door. Calleigh moved quickly out of the way and allowed them to work on him. When they were ready for transport, Horatio held his hand out for his wife. Calleigh took it as she tried to stave off the tears that were threatening to come forth, " I'm right behind you, Horatio."

Horatio nodded as the paramedics led the gurney out of the room . Calleigh started to follow, then stopped in front of Tim , who had a weary look on his face. She put a hand on his forearm and kissed him softly on the cheek.

" Thank you, Tim."

" For what?"

" Helping him," Calleigh said as she walked out of the door.

Tim stood in the room with his lieutenant's blood on his shirt. He looked to his right and saw the body with two well placed rounds in it's chest. In all the commotion Tim didn't see it, and now in the stillness of the moment, Tim took the time to process it. Alexx walked in behind him quietly and watched as Tim stood and took in a deep breath.

" Are you alright, Timmy?" Alexx asked as she moved beside him. She glanced at the body and set her kit down. She would get to that in a moment.

" He could've died, Alexx."

" But he didn't."

" But he could've, and where would that had left Calleigh? She's pregnant with his child... he has two little girls," Tim said with obvious emotion. " I should've been with him."

" You were here to help him, Tim. He's going to be okay. You did nothing wrong," Alexx assured. She hated to see him this way.

" Then why does it feel like it?" Tim asked as he stepped out the door. Alexx dropped her head and sighed softly, then began her work. She would let him have his time to think.

Outside, Tim felt the overwhelming need to talk to Sam. She had only been gone for twelve hours, but he missed her sorely. He pulled his cell from his pocket then dialed her number. The phone rang several times before she picked up.

" Tim?"

Tim felt tears come to his eyes as he heard her voice. He cleared his throat and spoke, " Sam, I just wanted to hear your voice. Are you okay?"

" Yeah, I'm kinda in the middle of something right now. Are you okay? What's wrong?" Sam asked feeling the raw emotion in his voice.

" I'll let you go. We can talk later."

" Tim? Wait, what's the matter?"

" You're busy, I can call back," Tim said deflated.

" Hold on," Sam said as Tim heard her excuse herself from the room. When she got to a secluded area she spoke again, " Now Tim, what's going on?"

Tim fought to hold on to his emotion, not doing a very good job at it. He let the tears fall as he spoke into the phone.

" I just wanted to hear your voice, to make sure that you were okay,"Tim said as he paced the floor. Seeing Horatio on the floor, helpless made Tim realize that in a split moment , his life or hers could be over. He couldn't live another moment without telling her how much he loved her.

" I'm fine, Tim, but obviously, you're not."

" You left on a bad note last night and I couldn't let another moment go by without letting you know how important you are to me," Tim said as he finally gathered control over himself." I love you."

" I love you too, Tim. Now if you want me back in Miami in time for our wedding, you'll have to let me go," Sam said as she played with the engagement ring on her finger. " Call me tonight, okay?"

" Sure. Oh and Sam..."

" Yeah, babe?"

" Be careful," Tim said as he finally let a smile play across his face.

" I will. Love you."

" I love you," Tim retorted as he flipped the phone down. He back into the room and saw as Alexx was almost finished.

" Feel better?" Alexx asked not looking up.

" Tons. So what do we have?" Tim asked as he knelt down. Just talking to her had set things right in his world.

TBC...

A/N: this alternate ending should turn out happily, I think.