Title: Fix Yourself
Author: Bj Jones
Rating: FRM
Disclaimer: I think we all know I don't own them and the reasons why. They are owned by various executives, producers, writers and studios that have more lawyers than I want to mess with. I'm not making any money just borrowing them for a bit and promise to return them.
Summary: He was tired of fixing it…
Beta: Star (Gil)
Genre: Slash – if you don't like it – don't read it
100 Challenges: [info]lover100 – Horatio/Speed
Prompt: #7 – Hardest Truth
Word Count: 1614



~*~

Horatio watched as the suspect was lead away. Another victim spoken for, another case solved. He moved back into the precinct, slowly moving towards his office, tired and at the edge of his rope. He was a few feet from his office when his pager went off. 'Dead body – Mayor’s Mansion'.

Grabbing his phone, he moved back down the hallway towards the front doors. "Tripp, talk to me."

‘Maid found dead in private bathroom of Miami-Dade's Mayor,' the detective answered. 'He's asking for you specifically to work the case.'

"Why me?" Horatio asked. "He must know if I even suspect there's foul play I will arrest him."

'You're Miami's guardian angel,' Tripp said with his normal drawl. 'And that's a quote.'

Caine slammed his phone shut and headed for the Hummer. There were times when he wanted to tell Miami-Dade to go fuck itself.

Drunk and I'm feeling down
And I just wanna be alone
I'm pissed cause you came around
Why don't you just go home
Cause you channel all your pain
And I can't help to fix myself
You’re making me insane
All I can say is

Horatio snapped the gloves off as he finished collecting the evidence. He glanced at his watch and sighed; five minutes to midnight. Well there had gone his plans of a nice relaxing evening, a. nice dinner, maybe a soak in the tub, curling up with his lover. The victim was a young woman, barely out of her teens. The Lieutenant looked up at the Mayor, who stood there expectantly.

“Where is her family?” he asked the couple.

“She didn’t have any,” the Mayor’s wife said.

“Is she legally here?” Horatio watched as the body was removed. He would have to talk to Alexx in the morning, but he had a good idea what had taken place. The blood pool was distinct and located in a central location.

“I’m not sure what you’re implying; we don’t hire illegal immigrants!” the Mayor snapped.

“Then you won’t mind me asking for her papers so I can locate any relatives.” The Lieutenant glanced over at Tripp. “Find out if she had contact with anyone outside the estate, specifically a boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend?” Miami’s First Lady asked, shocked. “She was a good girl…”

“Following the evidence, ma’am.” Horatio grabbed his kit and headed for the door.

“Lieutenant Caine, we can be sure of your discretion on this unfortunate situation.” The Mayor gripped the redhead’s arm.

“This unfortunate situation is a dead twenty year old woman,” Horatio reminded them as he pulled away and walked down the hall.

I tear my heart open, I sow myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
My scars remind me that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel

~*~

He looked down at the young woman laid out on the autopsy table. “Cause of death?”

“Bled to death.” Alexx soothed back the dark hair. “Poor thing didn’t stand a chance; she started hemorrhaging and just bled out.”

“What caused the hemorrhaging?” Horatio asked.

The ME handed him her report. “Complication of giving birth.”

“So she had a baby and then began to hemorrhage and bled out.” Horatio looked down at the report. “Time of death?”

“I would say between eight and nine pm,” Alexx informed him.

“Thanks Alexx.” He gave her a nod and left the autopsy theatre, heading for the DNA Lab.

“I’m still going through the samples,” Valera apologized. “It’s going to take a while before the results come back; I’ll page as soon as I find any abnormalities.”

“Thanks, Valera.” The Lieutenant moved back towards his office pausing slightly out of the Trace Lab.

Speed looked up from the microscope, catching his lover staring at him. He set down the pen and moved towards the door.

“H?” He asked as the redhead walked into the lab.

“Just wanted to stop by and say Hi.” Horatio leaned against the worktable.

“Missed you last night.” Speed wanted to reach out and wipe away the stress from his lover’s face.

“Well you know….”

“Miami never closes, but sometimes I wish she would stop calling my lover away.” Tim sighed and then gave H a small smile. “When she lets go for a moment, I’ll have a hot bath and massage oils ready.”

Horatio ducked his head slightly. “You take good care of me.”

“Someone has to.” The scruffy Trace Expert ran a thumb over the freckled hand. “Go do your thing and I’ll see you when you get home.”

Horatio took comfort in the small touch. He turned and walked out of the lab and back to his office. He needed to find out where Miss Gonzales' baby was and who was the father.

I tried to help you once
A kiss will only vise
I saw you going down
But you never realized
That your drowning in the water
So I offered you my hand
Compassions in my nature
Tonight is our last dance

~*~

The Mayor stood at the make shift podium, beaming at the press about the fine work of the Miami-Dade Lab and Police departments, at how they worked hard and efficiently seeking justice for all victims. Horatio stood back, away from the impromptu press conference.

He was tired.

Tired of being the one they all turned to.

Tired of being the one who had to tell the parents that their daughter died because she was too scared to tell the Mayor and his wife that she was pregnant.

Tired of watching criminals walk away.

Tired of standing behind the politicians as they eloquently took claim for the hard work for others.

He was fucking tired of being Miami’s Guardian Angel. For once he would like to tell the city to go fix its own damn problems and leave him alone.

I can't help you fix yourself
But at least I can say I tried

He heard it and his heart began to pound. The familiar roar of his lover’s Ducati. He tracked the movement of the yellow machine as it maneuvered through the parking lot, pulling up to the front of the precinct stairs.

Horatio glanced over at the Mayor still rattling on about the crime rates of Miami going down due to his hard work on making sure the lab became one of the top in the Nation.

The redhead looked at his lover straddling the Ducati, wearing tight black jeans, a tight t-shirt and leather jacket. Speed gave him a warm smile, his eyes full of love and devotion.

He made a decision.

Miami-Dade can go fuck herself.

He moved quickly down the stairs and settled onto the back of bike, slipping his arms around the slim waist as he whispered into his lover’s ear, “Take me home.”

“I would like to now turn the podium over to Lieutenant Horatio Caine, who diligently works to keep our streets safe…” The Mayor turned and paused when he saw the redhead missing. He looked around catching the flash of red hair fly by on a yellow bike as it left the precinct parking lot.

I'm sorry but I gotta move on with my own life
I can't help you fix yourself
But at least I can say I tried
I'm sorry but I gotta move on with my own life

~ The End ~