Title: After the Storm
By: Bev *too*
Pairing: Speed/Horatio
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Horatio has a hard time after the events in "Blood Brothers". Speed looks out for him, and helps him to find some kind of peace.

Speed was watching Horatio as he slowly walked over to the parents of the dead girl, sat down heavily, and began to talk quietly.

The mother burst out in tears, and turned to her husband, who embraced her in a comforting gesture.

Speed swallowed.

Comfort.

Was there anything like comfort when you were told that your only child had been killed? Horatio's eyes searched and found Speed's, locked with them, and answered all his questions. They'd caught the murderer, and thanks to Horatio's stubborness he go behind bars for a very long time.

After a few minutes, the mother turned to Horatio, and, hesitantly, embraced him as well. Even without seeing his eyes, Speed knew how deeply touched his boss was by this gesture. The father reached for Horatio's hand, gripping it tightly. They sat like that for a few more moments, before Horatio carefully entangled himself from the crying woman's hold. He spoke some final words, and got up.

Speed quickly turned around, and left.

It would have been too embarrassing to be caught watching his boss.

To be caught staring at him.

Staring at the man who was so much more than his boss. At least to him. At least that's what he wished for. Longed for.

But now his shift was over, and suddenly he felt deadly tired. All he wanted to do now, was to go home, take a hot shower, and fall into his bed.

*****************************************

Horatio was drained, emotionally and physically tired as never before. After he had left the parents, he had searched for Speed, only to be told that he had left already. Frowning, he glanced down at his watch, and noticed that it was time for him, too, go home.

Now he was standing in his office, silent, and wasn't wuite sure what it was he wanted here. He laid his hands on his hips, and rolled his head, hearing the loud *knack* when another sinew popped back in place. Then he stared down at the floor.

When he raised his head again, his eyes fell on Yelina. She was standing in front of his office, smiling. He reciprcated the smile, tiredly.

He felt like a bastard that he had to destroy her hopes so ruthless. But who would he have done a favor by preventing that someday maybe they would come together.

Nobody.

Even worse, he could have hurt someone who meant a lot to him. Someone who didn't know about his feelings.

Suddenly she turned away, and Rick Stetler appeared by her side. Now her smile was directed at him. He gently took her arm, and led her away.

And Horatio envied her. She would never have a problem with showing her affection, or maybe even her love, in public.

And he?

It could have been him. She had been waiting for him, for a single word of him. But his heart belonged to someone else.

Of it would have been another woman, it would have been a lot easier. But no, his stupid heart had fallen for another man.

Sighing, he left his office, locked his door behind him, went down to his Hummer, got in, and drove off. Off to the sea. The constant murmuing of the waves had brought him comfort and peace on more than one occasions. And today wouldn't be any different.

**************************************************

Tom Speedle couldn't sleep. As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw Horatio's face, the pain in those remarkable blue eyes, his tense back, as he had been walking over to the parents. He knew how much he hated to be the bearer of such bad news.

At least this time he could tell the parents that the killer of their child ws behind bars. And that he would stay there for as long as he lived.

But Horatio's eyes. His eyes. So full of sadness, so full of pain. Speed just couldn't forget that sight.

He moved on his other side, punched his fist into his pillow to make it more comfortable, and tried again to sleep.

After another hour he knew that it was hopeless. With a deep sigh, he got up, got dressed, and walked out to where his bike was standing. With a loud thundering sound it became alive. Speed headed towards the beach. He knew where he would find Horatio.

****************************************

Horatio didn't hear the roaring sound of the motorbike, He was sitting close to the sea, had undone his shoes and socks, and watched the water playing around his feet. His thoughts were miles away.

In his mind, he saw again and again the arrogant face of that young man, could hear his mocking voice.

"I may killl someone in your country, but I may not drink and drive?"

Involuntarily, his hands clenched into fists. No, he wasn't allowed to that, either. He had been dealing with the wrong man. And now he would have a long time to think about his mistakes. But the young woman wouldn't be able to come back.

Night fell down, and the breeze grew stronger. He laid his head on his knees, feeling the warmth of the sand fade away, and how the cold slowly crept into his bones. But it didn't matter to him. Nothing mattered to him right now. Suddenly he felt that he was no longer alone. Without looking, he knew that it was Speed who carefully draped a blanket around his shoulders, and sat down next to him. Never breaking the silence.

They sat like that for a few minutes. Finally Horatio asked,

"How..."

"...would I know where to find you?" Speed finished his question with a smile, and Horatio nodded.

"That wasn't too difficult. You always come here to think. Meanwhile I even know your preferred part of the beach."

And suddenly Horatio had to smile, too.

"Am I that predictable?"

Speed became serious again.

"No, H. Not predictable. Reliable. Lots of us count on your reliabilty."

Though it was getting darker, Horatio was still wearing his sunglasses. Now he slowly put them off, and turned his face to Speed.

"Reliable can be boring sometimes. What, if I don't want to be ... reliable?"

Horatio made the word 'reliable' sound like an insult, and for a few seconds Speed didn't know what to say.

"H...I don't think I get you quite..."

"Yelina."

"Yelina?"

Now the younger man's confusion was complete. Horatio bowed his head before returning his gaze to Speed.

"Yelina let me know today that she wants...more."

"More?"

Still the young CSI wasn't able to follow the logic in his boss' statement. So Horatio knew he had to be direct.

"She wants me."

"Oh...OH!"

Horatio laughed dryly.

"Yes...OH!"

The dark eyes of the younger man locked with the blue eyes of the man in front of him.

"And what do you want?"

Speed's voice has dropped.

"Me? I don't think that you really want to know."

Speed swallowed. It was now or never. Carefully he scooted closer, until he was touching the other man.

"And what if?"

"Speed."

Horatio's voice had a warning undertone. His self-control was undergoing a heavy test, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could resist the personified temptation next to him.

"Horatio."

To hear his whole name almost broke his resistance, and a shudder ran down his spine. It sounded like a caress.

"What do you want, Horatio? YOU. Not Yelina. Not all the others. Only you."

Speed's voice was deep, seductive, throaty, and it would have been only too easy to read all things possible into that voice. But maybe Speed really only wanted to help. Wanted to lend an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on. And that soft timbre, that throaty seduction existed only in his imagination.

But the hand, that found its way on his shoulder, was no imagination. Nor was the warmth of that hand which was slowly gliding over his shoulder til it reached his face. Nor was the softness of the lips, which came slowly, questioningly down upon his own.

And Horatio gave in. He gave in completely, took Speed's face in his hands, and reciprocated the kiss, deepened it, pulled the young man closer and closer until he was sitting in his lap.

They kissed endlessly, tenderly exploring each other's mouth until the need for air made them break apart. At that time, Speed's T-shirt was lying in the sand next to them, and Horatio's shirt was unbuttoned.

"God, H. How long have I been waiting to do this." Speed murmured gently, while his fingertips draw gently circles over the older man's arms, dissapearing into his sleeves. For a second, Horatio's heart skipped a beat, only to go on with doubled speed.

Carefully he pushed his hips up, and brought his hard member closer to Speed's, which caused the younger man to moan softly. Horatio laughed silently.

"I guess I can imagine. What do you think...we move this to someplace more comfortable?"

One last kiss, and Speed jumped up, pulling Horatio to his feet. When they were standing nose to nose, Speed whispered,

"Your place or mine?"

Kiss.

"Mine. It's closer. I want you, Tim Speedle. You don't know how much I want you."

Speed groaned only slightly.

**********************************************

They reached the condo in a record time. None of them could later tell how they managed to get inside, get through the door, let alone to undress and fall into bed.

Later only one thing was sure...the second they touched the bed, the were over each other, devouring each other, hands glided over hot skin, elliciting gasps and moans.

"I want you, Speed. Please, oh please, let me..."

"Whatever you want, H." was the lovingly murmured answer, somewhere on Horatio's skin.

It took a lot of will to pull away long enough from Horatio, to reach over to the nightstand to get the lube and a condom. The fact, that his nipples were exactly next to Horatio's face and that his lover was using this fact to drive th younger man crazy, wasn't really helpful.

"God, H. No, don't...if you go on with that, it'll be over before we begin." he warned with a throaty voice. The only answer he got was a soft caress with a warm tongue that caused his knees to buckle.

As he leaned back to rip the condom open, he could watch his lover in all his glory. Horatio was lying in front of him, naked, skin almost glowing with desire, and his cock was so hard that it was almost laying flat on his stomach. His hair was tousled, where Speed had run his hands through to pull him closer. His mouth was slightly opened, his lips swollen from all the endless kisses, and his eyes were clouded.

But the moment Speed wanted to put the condom on him, Horatio grabbed his wrist, and stopped him.

"No, Speed. I want you. In me," he whispered so quietly that Speed had to concentrate hard to understand him. But when he did, a shiver ran over his body, so powerful that ever hair on his body was standing up. His mouth was suddenly dry, and his hands trembled.

Not even in his wildest dreams had he ever imagined that. That Horatio Caine would want him, Timothy Speedle, in that way.

It was difficult for him to roll the condom over his erect penis, and the hot, longing looks from his lover weren't helping in the slightest.

But finally he managed it, when Horatio suddenly moved up against him, and kissed him deep and passionate.

"How do you want me?"

A deep groan came from Speed, and for a few seconds he wondered if it was possible to die of passion.

"Forever, H. Forever." he said the first thing that came to his mind. Horatio's smile was almost blinding in it's joy.

"And tonight? Now! How do you want me?"

The tender murmuring was seductive, and Speed was sure that he had to wake up now any moment. This couldn't really happen, could it?

"I want to look at you," he murmured. The thought of looking down into those amazing eyes while he reached his climax was almost enough to make him come immediately.

With a feline like movement, Horatio laid back, pulled his knees up, and exposed himself to his lover.

Speed stared. And swallowed. He was sure that never before had he ever seen such a trusting and such a erotic gesture.

And then he thought about the melting polarcaps. About cold winternights in New York city. Abut skiing in Alaska. About anything which would safe him from coming too soon.

"God,H. Do you know what you do to me? I'll never be able to get you out of my system."

"That's the plan."

With trembling fingers, Speed began to prepare his lover. Soft, careful he inserted one finger into the body of the man he'd wanted for so long. With a deep groan, Horatio let his head fall back, and raised his hips slightly, to take the invader deeper in.

Snow. Ice. Blizzard. Cold feet.

Speed began to sweat.

Two fingers.

2 and 2 is four. 4 and 4 is 10. No, wait...9?

Three fingers.

"Speed, please...I need you now. Come to me..."

He didn't know how long he could last, as he carefully removed his fingers from his lover's body, and wiped them hastily at the nearby towel. He positioned himself between the older man's legs, and slowly he began to push himself inside his body.

But Horatio was far from being gentle and careful. He wanted this man. He wanted him so baldy, and he wanted him right now. So when he felt him push deeper, he lifted his hips to meet him halfway, and in one swift motion, Speed was buried to the hilt in the velvet heat of his lover.

For a few seconds they simply lay there and gazed at each other, speechless with sensation.

"Oh Speed, my Speed..." whispered Horatio, and a single tear rolled down his cheek. Tenderly, the younger man wiped it away, and started to move. Out, one second enjoying the sensation, and then deepdeepdeep back in again, in into this incredible heat.

He didn't last long. None of them could. When Speed felt that he was only one or two thrusts away from his climax, he reached out and closed his long fingers around the hard penis of his lover. One stroke, two, and Horatio came. Came endlessly. The feeling of Speed's finger around his cock undid him totally. He almost exploded. He was swept away by his orgasm, and Speed followed him into this white hot extasy only seconds later, head thrown back, a cry escaping his mouth, before he collapsed atop his lover.

And from somewhere Speed heard the words,

"I love you, Speed."

************************************

They lay close together under the covers.

Content, satited, together.

"I love you, too, Horatio."

Horatio raised his head, and then this blinding smile appeared again, which always did such crazy things with Speed's stomach. Which always caused it to make flip-flops.

Suddenly Speed remembered something. He propped up on one elbow, and watched the older man intently.

"What? What's wrong?"

"H., you should know...I meant what I said earlier."

For a few heartbeats, Horatio wasn't able to follow his trail of thought, but suddenly he remebered the answer to the first "How do you want me?"-question.

With a very content sigh he lay back, pulling the younger man with him.

"That's good, Speed. Because I'm, too, thinking long-term here. VERY long-term."

He closed his arms tightly around the young man, closed his eyes, and within some moments he was fast asleep.

And Speed?

Followed him only seconds later, lulled in by his lover's steady heartbeat under his ear.

The end