Title: The All-Important Missing Scene
By: Perpetual Motion
Pairing: Hortatio/Speed
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Notes: Okay, the people at CBS are just *asking* for it with "Dispo Day" and now "Tinder Box". They *want* there to be slash.
Summary: Slashy scene cut from "Tinder Box".

When the call came over the radio, I thought my heart would stop. Club Dissent was on fire. I'd watched Speed get ready, teased him about not shaving and leaving his cuffs open.

"You know, the scruffy, slightly unkempt look will only get you so far."

Speed had walked across the bedroom and stopped just in front of me. He gave me a once-over that made my skin prickle. "I think I got far enough." He had kissed me throughly before heading out the door. "See you later."

"Bye."

Three hours later, the call came over the scanner. I shattered a perfectly good coffee mug when it slipped from my fingers and hit the kitchen floor. I left it there, my old green coffee mug in a tiny lake of coffee, and ran like hell for the door.

I had the scanner on as loud as I could stand it as I drove like mad to the club. I got there, and it was just smoke and fire and a hundred people who *weren't* Tim. I freaked a little. I saw Delko and just screamed for Speed.

He gestured towards the doors of the club, and there he was. He had soot all over his face and clothes, and he was barking at people to keep moving. I just stood for a second, watching him being *alive* and not hurt before I forced myself to be professional and ran over to help.

As soon as we got everyone out and the fire trucks came up, and the firefighters started their job, I grabbed Speed by the front of his shirt and pulled him around the Humvee. I pressed myself againt him, my hands on either side of his head, and just listened to him breath.

"H, I'm okay." He slid his hands under my suit jacket and pulled the back of my shirt out of my pants. He rubbed his hands against my back just above my waistband. "I'm right here."

I leaned my head on his shoulder. "I didn't tell you I loved you before you left."

"You don't have to. Don't feel guilty about that. I didn't say it, either."

I pulled back to look at him. "I love you."

"I love you."

I kissed him a little harshly, felt his teeth against my lips, and breathed in through my nose. All I could smell was soot and fire. I pulled away and pressed my nose against Speed's neck. There was still a smell of soot, but I could smell his cologne, and soap, and it calmed me down.

"Horatio?"

"Yeah?"

"We're going to have a scene to process pretty soon."

I kissed him again. "Not just yet."