Title: Commitment
Author: Bj Jones
Rating: FRAO
Disclaimer: I don't own them. We all know if I did a certain CSI wouldn't be dead. Various Executives, Producers, Writers, and Studios own them ... And they have more lawyers on retainer than I want to mess with. I'm not making any money and promise to return them to the lab in short order.
Summary: A commitment is made.
Beta: Veronica and Kay
Series: Secret Admirer, Birthday Boy, Summer Vacation
Genre: Slash
Author's Note: Since that episode didn't happen… Ryan didn't get a job in the lab… and I felt like being mean to him…
Challenge: 100 Situations ... Horatio/Speed/Eric
Prompt: #47 - Defenseless
Word Count: 4016

~*~

Horatio watched from the doorway as Eric drove Speed insane. Touching softly, light kisses ... Speed was writhing uncontrollably under Eric's manipulations. He was close to the point of begging.

Eric unbuttoned Speed's shirt, licking each patch of new skin exposed. Paying careful attention to the nipples, lapping at one then nipping at the second ... tugging on the piercing causing Speed to cry out.

"Damn it, Eric." Speed panted.

"Patience." Horatio called out from the doorway.

"You could come over here and join in." Speed's brown eyes were dark with lust and love.

"I like to watch." Horatio grinned.

"You two do realize that I…." His words were cut off by a moan as Eric's tongue dipped into his navel.

Eric paused as he pulled down Speed's boxer shorts. His fingers caressed the tattoo. Horatio moved forward, curious at what had Eric's attention. The tattoo wasn't new, Speed had got it before the summer. Four symbols: Love Friendship Desire Passion.

"When did you add this?" Eric whispered, his voice full of emotion.

Speed sat up on his elbows. "A few days ago. It's healed enough to take off the bandage." Speed smiled softly. "You were at the conference and Horatio was called into that task force. I figured it was a good way of surprising the two of you."

Horatio had moved up behind Eric, his eyes studying the new addition to the tattoo. "Speed?"

"It's my commitment to the two of you." Speed lay back down.

Horatio shifted to Speed's side, kissing him deeply. Inside the four symbols was a new tattoo, the initials: HES.

Horatio swallowed Speed's moans and pants as Eric pulled off his boxer shorts and began licking Speed's hard member. He sucked on the head, lapping up the leaking fluid, then with no warning deep throated him. Speed let go of Horatio's mouth, his head falling back against the bed as he screamed out his release.

He looked up to see his two lovers kissing passionately. "I want the two of you to fuck me."

Eric grinned as he moved up Speed's body, taking his mouth in a deep kiss, letting Speed taste himself on the other man's tongue. Eric moved to the side, letting Horatio take his place between Speed's legs. Speed didn't let go of Eric's mouth, but spread his legs in a blatant invitation. Horatio chuckled softly as he grabbed the lube.

He slipped one finger in, then looked at Speed. "You are such a whore." He was already slicked and stretched.

Speed pulled away from Eric with a feral grin on his face as he pushed back against Horatio's finger. "You like me that way."

Eric nibbled on Speed's ear, whispering, "We like you hot, horny and slicked, ready for us to pound you into the mattress."

Speed purred at the sensations he was receiving from his two lovers. "Fuck me already." He growled at Horatio.

Horatio entered him in one full thrust. Speed gripped the sheets, his legs wrapping around Horatio's back. Speed was lost in the sensations of Horatio's hard, deep thrusts. His head was thrown back ... his face showed pure bliss as he felt each delicious thrust. Horatio set a hard rhythm taking his pleasure as he slid in and out. Speed arched into each thrust matching him ... pulling him deeper into his body. Horatio couldn't hold out much longer at this pace. He thrust deeply and then stilled, spilling his seed into his lover's eager body. Speed was once again hard, his leaking cock demanding attention.

Horatio panted as he slipped out of his lover. Speed whimpered softly at the loss only to moan when Eric entered him gently. Eric was slow and easy; the opposite to Horatio. When he was fully inside, he locked eyes with Speed. Speed panted, tears in his eyes while Eric made sweet love to him. Eric set a sensual rhythm, drawing out the pleasure. Speed felt Horatio's hand on his hard cock, stroking him, matching Eric's pace. Eric began to speed up as he felt himself getting closer to release. He grabbed Speed's hips and lifted them as he thrust in deeply spilling his seed into the already wet channel. Horatio gave Speed's cock a small twist and pull; he felt the hot semen spill out onto his hands as Speed let out a breathless moan. Eric eased Speed's hips down and slid out of him. He checked to make sure they hadn't hurt him.

"I'm fine." Speed assured them sleepily.

Horatio pulled Speed into his arms; the dark head nestled against his chest. Eric curled around Speed from behind, his arm around him, with his hand resting on Horatio's stomach. The three slipped into an easy sleep.

~*~

Horatio was finishing up some paperwork when the call came over.

"Officer down! Need assistance!" The voice sounded haggard and a lot like Alexx. "I need rescue NOW! I have a wounded CSI!"

Horatio looked out to the lab, dread filling him. All three were out in the field. Eric and Calleigh working on a club shooting, Speed on a warehouse robbery. He hurried out of his office, making record time to the Hummer.

"Rescue is on their way." He heard the dispatcher state over the wire.

Horatio raced through traffic, sirens sounding as he headed for the location. He grabbed his phone. "Caine."

"Horatio." Calleigh paused.

"I'm on my way." Horatio informed her, knowing before she said it.

"It's Speed." She informed him.

"Get Eric to the hospital, then meet me at the scene. He was working a robbery; I have no idea why Alexx would be there, let alone anyone else." Horatio took deep even breaths to reign in his emotions. He would deal with them later; right now he had a case to solve.

"He'll be fine." Calleigh reassured him.

"Yes he will." Horatio clicked the phone off. "If he knows what's good for him, he'll be fine."

~*~

Horatio pulled up to the warehouse. He stopped near the police cruisers. Getting out of the vehicle he was drawn to a commotion near one of them. Alexx was screaming at a uniform, not just screaming, but having to be physically held back by Yelina. Alexx looked haggard and angry as hell. Her usually immaculate hair was disheveled. Her smiling eyes were sharp and fierce. There was blood on her face and clothes. She was spitting nails and the uniform was getting the blunt of her wrath.

"Alexx?" Horatio walked up to the small group.

"Horatio." She turned to him. "I want this man arrested." She pointed to the uniform.

"Alexx…" He placed his hands on her shoulder. He could feel her trembling. "What's going on?"

"Speed called me. He found what looked like body parts." Alexx began to explain. He could see everything was beginning to hit her; tears were forming in her eyes. "When I got here there was no officer on the scene. I… I called out, there was no answer. I found him bleeding on the floor." Alexx wiped away the tears. "Gun shot wound to the upper shoulder… They shot…God Horatio they shot him in the back he didn't even get his piece out. An evidence bag was in his hand."

"You called for back up and rescue." Horatio pushed for the rest of the story.

She nodded. "Yes. I turned him over to check his vital signs. His breathing was labored, so I eased the pressure off his lungs by laying him on his side. I tried to preserve the scene as much as I could but Speed's life was priority." She looked up at Horatio then at the uniform. "That's when he showed up. Just walked in like nothing was wrong, and asked what was going on."

"Officer?" Horatio turned to the uniform.

"Wolfe, Ryan Wolfe." The uniform introduced himself.

"Were you assigned here?" Horatio asked.

"Yes." Ryan responded. "I had a call."

"So you left him alone?" Yelina looked at him. "Did you not read the papers? A CSI in Vegas was kidnapped right out from under a cop's nose and you left a CSI alone at a scene?"

"He was fine." Wolfe shrugged.

Horatio's eyes narrowed behind his sunglasses. "I want you off the scene. I will be discussing this with your supervisor." Wolfe walked away muttering. "Do you have something else to say, Officer Wolfe?"

"Nothing, Lieutenant Caine." Wolfe walked off, heading for his cruiser.

Horatio turned back to Alexx. "Go to the hospital. Eric should be there by now."

Alexx nodded and headed for her vehicle. Yelina turned towards Horatio. "I overheard Wolfe talking to another uniform. He didn't know I was there or he might have not said anything."

"What did he say?" Horatio asked.

"He commented that the faggot got what he deserved. Why should he watch over someone like him?"

"What?" Horatio's voice grew hard.

"Rumors are going around about Eric and Speed, that they are lovers. Some of the uniforms have made comments." Yelina informed him.

"You have a problem with it?" Horatio asked a bit concerned.

"No." She smiled at him. "They make a cute couple."

"Do you think he deliberately left Speed alone? Not wanting to watch him because he was gay or rumored to be gay?" Horatio looked over at the approaching vehicle.

"Possibly, but he couldn't have known something would happen. Like you said it was a simple case." Yelina thought out loud. "Do you think he had something to do with it?"

Horatio watched as Calleigh walked up to them. "Let's find out shall we."

~*~

Eric sat next to the hospital bed, holding Speed's hand. "We're out." He said softly. "I hope you don't mind." The doctor had repaired the shoulder and told them that Speed was going to be fine. Speed wouldn't be in the field for a while but he would make a full recovery. He had sent Alexx home to change and rest. Now all he wanted was for Speed to wake up.

"It's all over the lab that we're lovers." He pulled Speed's hand up to his lips, kissing the fingers softly. "I guess someone saw us at the club, good thing they didn't see H."

When he heard the call, his heart stopped. He knew Speed was out by himself. Calleigh had taken control of the situation calling Horatio and getting him to the hospital. If no one knew about him and Speed before, they did now. He acted like a concerned lover. He was thankful Horatio was able to keep a straight head. Though he had a feeling later tonight, when it was just the two of them, he would let go.

"H and Calleigh are working the scene." Eric kept talking, hoping Speed was hearing him. "You didn't see him coming did you? He just walked in and shot you." Eric sighed. His second hand cupped Speed's face caressing the stubble cheek. "Come on, baby, open those brown eyes."

Eric heard a gasp and looked up. He sat there, shocked as he looked at his parents. "Mama, Papa?" Eric asked surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"The news said a CSI had been shot. They didn't say who. You weren't answering your cell phone and the department wasn't giving out any information." Eric's father stated as he stared at Eric's hand, which was clasped over Speeds.

"Can't have cell phones on in the hospital rooms." Eric replied, not sure what to say.

"Is this why you won't settle down?" Eric's mom hissed.

"Mama…." Eric warned.

"You're a fag?" Eric's father practically spat.

"Speed is my lover." Eric informed them. 'One of them.' He thought inwardly.

"I won't tolerate it." Eric's father declared.

Eric closed his eyes, wishing for it all to go away. He knew one day he would have to face this, but not in Speed's hospital room after he just got out of surgery. He re-opened them and looked at Speed. He felt the love he had for this man, thought of Horatio and what the three of them had. It wasn't normal but it worked. They were his life.

He looked up to see disgust on his parents face. Disgust for the best relationship he had ever had. "I love you. You're my parents and raised me to be my own man. Speed is my life…"

"No son of mine will be a sissy boy." Eric's father snarled.

"Father!" Eric hissed at him. "This isn't the place for this conversation. I will not have you upsetting Speed."

"He should die for corrupting me son!" Eric's mom glared at Speed with such hatred.

"Mr. and Mrs. Delko." Horatio stood at the doorway. "Please leave."

"Lieutenant Caine." Eric's father turned to reason with the redhead. "You know Eric and that he …"

"Yes, I do know your son. I know he loves Speed beyond life itself. I also know that my CSI has been seriously injured and doesn't need a commotion in his hospital room." Horatio stated simply. "Whatever your issue is, take it outside the hospital."

The Delkos left in a huff, not even glancing back at their son. Horatio turned to Eric, giving him a quick nod. Eric went after his parents. Horatio took his seat picking up Speed's hand. Horatio looked down at Speed's open and sad eyes. Horatio kissed his fingers. "Hi."

"Eric?" Speed whispered.

"He loves you as I do. We will get through this together." Horatio smiled. "Focus on getting better, go back to sleep."

Speed closed his eyes and fell back to sleep. Eric came back with tears in his eyes. He just took the second chair and sat across from Horatio taking Speed's other hand. He leaned over kissing Speed's forehead. "I love you." He whispered then looked at Horatio. "I love you too."

"Your parents?" Horatio asked softly.

"They decided their son can't be gay and if I'm with Speed ... I'm not their son." Eric stated sadly.

"Eric…" Horatio reached over cupping his cheek.

Eric's hand reached up and grabbed Horatio's putting it with his and Speed's; the three of them together. "I would rather have your love than be their son. The two of you are my life, my everything."

Horatio looked at Eric, seeing the emotion and seriousness of his statement. "Make a commitment with me?"

Eric cocked his head not fully understanding. "What do you mean?"

"Trust me?" Horatio asked softly.

"With my life." Eric responded honestly.

~*~

Speed fidgeted on the bed trying to get comfortable, grimacing he shifted back and with a groan ended up back on his back staring at the ceiling. Normally he didn't mind staring at the ceiling, but he usually had Eric or Horatio buried in him. Speed sighed with boredom.

"Hey." Alexx popped her head into the room. "You up to company?"

"God, please distract me from slowly slipping into madness." Speed smiled at her.

"Slipping?" Alexx teased. She looked around. "Where are your boys?"

"Horatio said there was a break in the case." Speed informed her.

"Have they told you anything?" She asked.

"No." Speed eyed her. "What do you know?"

"Enough." Alexx sat down next to him. "You do realize that everyone knows about you and Eric."

"Yeah." Speed leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling. "It's not a bad thing." He looked back at her. "Eric's moving in with me. Since we're out… we might as well be out."

Alexx grinned. "So only two houses to juggle."

"We figured Eric would be better off if he was out of the Cuban community." Speed sighed looking down.

"Speed." She forced him to look at her. "Honey, Eric loves you. His family well... some people just don't see that love is love and you two…three have it in bounds."

"I just hate that he had to give up his family for me…" Speed voice was soft.

"They gave me up." Eric stood by the door. He walked over and gave Speed a quick kiss before taking his hand. "I told them that they didn't have to accept you, like you or even talk about you, but they had to accept me and my choices. And they couldn't." He gave him a second deeper kiss. "Don't blame yourself for their prejudices."

Speed smiled slightly. "You moved in?"

"Working on it. Got to get rid of some of those books." Eric teased.

"Touch the books and I'm shipping you back to your parents." Speed looked pointedly at him.

Eric grinned. "I've got good news."

"You caught the perp?" Alexx asked.

"H is working on it." Eric informed her then turned back to Speed. "You've been released."

"Oh Thank GOD!" Speed moved to get out of the bed.

Alexx pushed him back in. "Hold on. Wait until they release you officially, and a nurse can help you."

"But I wanna go home now!" Speed pouted.

Eric kissed his forehead. "Patience."

"Screw patience." He looked up and grinned at Eric. "Better yet…"

Eric laughed. "You have a one track mind."

~*~

"Comfortable?" Eric helped Speed sit and get comfortable on the bed, fluffing the pillows. "You want anything?"

"Shut up and get in bed with me." Speed held out his hand. "I missed sleeping next to you."

Eric crawled into the bed. He leaned up against the headboard, Speed settling next to him, laying his head on Eric's chest.

"Tell me the truth." Speed held onto Eric.

"It hurts." Eric's arms tightened around him. "Just…they just walked away. My family…"

"I'm sorry." Speed kissed Eric's chest.

"Don't be." Eric stated firmly. "I'm home right now. Here with you and Horatio, you are my family."

"Yes, we are." Horatio walked into the bedroom slipping off his tie and jacket. Calleigh walked in a few steps behind him. "How are you feeling?"

"Better now that I'm home." Speed smiled sleepily. "So, the case?" He yawned.

Horatio grinned. "You need to sleep."

"Case first, then sleep." Speed yawned again.

"It wasn't a perp." Calleigh informed him as she sat down on the bed next to Speed.

Speed shifted and looked at her. "Who was it?" He asked shocked.

"The cop at the scene, Officer Wolfe." Horatio sat at the end of the bed his hand resting on Speed's foot. "we came to find out that he wanted into the lab. He was tired of waiting so he figured he would create an opening."

"So all the anti-gay talk?" Eric blinked at Horatio. He had been pulled off the case from the beginning, since he was too emotionally attached. He pointed out that so was Horatio, but the redhead pointed out in return that no one knew that.

"It was a smoke screen. Easier to take disciplinary action for leaving a scene because of a homophobic attitude, then go down for attempted murder." Horatio explained. "He wasn't expecting Alexx to come to the scene."

Speed finally came out of his shock. "Wait? Someone tried to kill me to get my job?" Speed closed his eyes, trying not to laugh. The chuckle escaped. "I'm sorry. I mean our job is so rare that somebody is actually willing to kill for it."

Calleigh had to grin at Speed's dark humor. "Lucky for us you love your job so much that you're too stubborn to die."

"Yeah." Both Horatio and Eric commented seriously, both remembering the feeling of dread that came with those two little word: 'Officer down.'

"I'm fine." Speed reassured his lovers.

Calleigh looked at the three men. The look and feeling of love that passed between them was inspiring.

She suddenly looked away, then crossed her arms in front of her and huffed. "This isn't fair!"

"What?" Eric asked taken by surprise.

"I finally get the three of you into bed and you're all clothed!" She growled pouting.

Speed roared with laughter then groaned in pain, but still chuckled. Eric and Horatio just stared at her.

~*~

The moment Horatio and Eric got home -- Speed pounced. He grabbed Horatio's tie and pulled him into the house, then reached out and grabbed Eric by the pants. With a swift kick the door was closed and Eric was against it being kissed to within an inch of his life. Horatio was being held by his tie, eyeing his two lovers. Speed let go of Eric, then turned and pulled Horatio towards him, devouring his mouth. Horatio slipped his arm around Speed's waist, pulling him closer. Eric moved in from behind trapping Speed between them, yet he still had a hold on both of them. He pushed back against Eric as he let go of Horatio's kiss and then moved towards the bedroom.

Horatio stopped resisting Speed's pull. Speed's arm jerked and he turned narrowed eyes on Horatio. "I've been cleared for all activities. I can even go back to work." He paused. "It's going to be just lab work for a while, but I'll be back in the field in no time."

"We have something to show you first." Horatio undid his tie, releasing it from Speed's grip.

Speed paused a bit, curious. "What?"

Eric nodded to Horatio as the two of them now maneuvered Speed down the hallway towards the bedroom. "With everything that happened." Eric paused. "I… we…realized that this is it."

"And since even if it was just two of us we couldn't get married, let alone the three." Horatio grinned. "We found something to show our commitment to you."

Speed stood there shocked as both men stripped out of their shirts. Speed couldn't help but smile at the matching pierced nipples. Both men turned around. Speed gasped his hands reaching out to touch.

On the back of Eric's left shoulder was an exact duplicate of Speed's tattoo. The same tattoo was found on Horatio's lower back.

Love Friendship Passion Desire surrounding the initials HES.

Tears slipped down his cheeks. He kissed each tattoo reverently. "I love you." He whispered softly.

Horatio turned around, pulling Speed to him and kissing him lovingly. He pushed him back towards the bed. Eric slipped behind Horatio nibbling on the redhead's neck. They made slow, sweet love, vowing their bodies and souls to each other.

~*~

Calleigh stood in the break room, hands on her hips, grinning at Horatio and Eric. "Matching tattoos?" Both men just looked at her. She grinned, batting her eyelashes. "Can I see?"

"Would it stop you from pursuing your quest?" Horatio asked.

"Maybe." Calleigh bounced. "Or maybe not."

Eric sighed and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt, slipping it off his shoulders. Horatio shook his head as he pulled his shirttails out of his pants, following Eric's lead.

"Wow." She touched each of them. She then looked at Speed. "You owe me twenty bucks."

Eric buttoned his shirt up and turned towards his lover. "What?" He demanded.

Speed looked a bit surprised. "I didn't think you two would cave." He commented, pulling out the twenty and handing it to her.

"I'm wearing you down." Calleigh smiled as she headed for the door. "One day, you just wait. One Day!" She vowed as she left the break room.

Speed looked at his lovers. "You know she's not going to give up."

"Who knew she had a kinky side as bad as yours." Horatio grumbled as he headed towards his office.

Speed just grinned.

While somewhere in the lab Calleigh plotted.