Title: Vacation's Over
Author: Bj Jones
Rating: FRM
Disclaimer: I don't own them. They are owned by people who have mean nasty lawyers that can and will eat me for lunch. Not making any money - just borrowing them for a moment or two... or three....I'll return them when I return them.
Claim: I may not own the characters or the series they are from, but I do own the story, original characters and concepts
Summary: Rick comes back to work…
Beta: Christina (Dino)
Genre: Slash
Series: A Second Can Change the World, Revelations, Playing It Forward
Challenge: 12 Stories - Horatio Caine/Timothy Speedle/Rick Stetler
Prompt: #4 - Days
Word Count: 2093

~*~

Rick Stetler pulled up to the precinct and parked his car; sitting there he stared at the front doors trying to get his game face on. He had taken two weeks off, to get everything that had happened straight in his head. It was a lot to deal with, the revelations of Horatio and Speed, and then confronting his own issues. Taking a deep breath, Rick grabbed his briefcase and headed into the building.

"Lieutenant Stetler," Christina, the receptionist gave him a small smile. "Welcome back, I've left your mail on your desk, here are your messages."

"Thank you," he nodded slightly going through his messages. He has always liked her; she was kind to everyone and was sincere about it. Christina also seemed to know what was relevant and what was gossip. Anything she would tell him was important for the department, not mere gossip. "Anything interesting I should know?"

Her voice wavered a bit, causing Rick to look up at her. Christina rarely hesitated unless it was serious. "There was a shooting..."

"Why wasn't I called?" He demanded pissed as hell that no one informed him. An officer involved shooting need special handling, and as much of an ass as he was there were others in his department who worse, especially when it came to 'particular' officers. God he hoped Horatio was on the case, at least the cop would have someone fighting for him.

"I don't know, they had Detective Rebecca Mendles looking into it," she informed him.

Rick just looked at her, "Tell me you're kidding."

Christina shook her head. "No. It's been tense. You know how we get when it's one of our own. And well I think Lt. Caine actually missed you." She gave him a bright smile.

"Well Rebecca's a cold hearted bitch, and that's coming from the hard ass in the department," He shook his head. "Who was shot?"

"Timothy Speedle." She waited for the explosion.

"Is Rebecca still alive?" Stetler asked without thinking, as his heart was hammering in his chest. 'Speed? What the hell happened? Is he okay? And more importantly was Horatio on a killing rampage?'

"Barely," Christina looked around and leaned forward. "She went after Speedle for gun maintenance."

'Somehow I doubt it was dirty.' Rick shook his head. "He does have a history."

"Well Detective Duquesne cleared it said it was not only clean, but he got a shot off," She shrugged. "Rebecca then accused them of closing ranks...."

"Repeat, is she still alive?" Stetler shook his head. All the years he went after Horatio and his team, the one thing he never did was accuse them of hiding evidence.

"For now," she smirked. "Never did like her. Anyway, Speed is doing fine. He's back to work today actually, lab work he's not allowed out in the field. Though Lt. Caine is watching him like a hawk, and momma Alexx is mothering her injured cub."

"Oh God..." Rick groaned he could imagine. "Thanks for the information, so when the shit hits the fan I'll know why."

"You're welcome," she waved as he headed for the elevator.

~*~

He dumped the messages on his desk, and moved the mail over into his inbox. Looking at his phone, he dreaded the little blinking red light. Instead of listening to the messages he decided to go see how things were for himself. The urge and need to make sure Speed was alright hummed through him. Rick didn't know when it had happened, or if it was new or had been hiding all this time. Since that night at the bar, the younger man had taken presence in his thoughts, which really wasn't a good idea, because he had no doubt in his mind, that if Horatio even got wind that he was interested in Speed.... He shuttered at the thought.

Rick watched the scruffy CSI work in his lab; he was leaning up against the table, favoring his left leg. He could see a cane near by sitting on one of the work tables. He opened the door and folded his arms across his chest, giving his best, 'I'm annoyed that one of Caine's crew got in trouble, again.'

"Your first day back and you have to come and annoy me?" Speed eyed the IAB agent.

"So I hear you were shot?" Stetler stepped into the lab letting the door close behind him.

"Yeah well some druggie came back to the scene and decided that I was stealin' his stash and shot me," Tim looked over at him. "I pulled my gun and told him to back off, when he took another shot, I fired my weapon and he went down screaming like a stuck pig."

"Where was the officer on scene?" Rick asked. Maybe he should have read the report. Though he doubted he would get the full story from Rebecca's report. If there was someone in IAB who hated Caine more than him, it was her.

"I have no freakin' clue," Speed shrugged. "Something H was looking into. Didn't you read the report Rebecca wrote up."

"Best to get the information from the source, than a diluted attempt at making Caine's life miserable," Rick gave him a slight smirk. "Though I'm surprised he... well he's protective of his team."

Tim's eyebrow rose as he took in the IAB officer, "Vacation did you some good."

"Let's just say I know now where my life is going," Stetler straightened up and turned serious. "You got a shot off; does Duquesne's report state that? Though I should be happy it didn't jam."

Speedle sneered at him, "I learned my lesson thank you very much. Far as I know it's all in the report. Though hasn't stopped an inquirer into the situation, I have a hearing in two days."

"WHAT?!" Rick stepped back slightly, getting control of his emotions.

"Well I thought you had it bad for Horatio, seem Rebecca has it worse. Of course she wants to bed him...." Speed looked over at Rick his eyes flashing with emotion neither could name. "But it's not Horatio you want to bed is it."

Rick shook his head and turned towards the door. "Don't worry about the hearing, I'll find out what's going on."

"Rick..."

"Not here," Stetler turned and looked at him, his mask in place. He opened the door. "Well at least you got a shot off this time, Speedle."

Speed rolled his eyes, "I'm so thrilled you're back, Stetler..." The door slammed with a loud bang causing him to jump slightly. Tim looked up to see Horatio watching him. He gave him a small smile and went back to work. Taking a deep breath he steadied his nerves. He had no idea what the hell happened, but something did.

~*~

Stetler hid his smirk, at the shocked expression Rebecca had when she walked into her office to see him sitting there. "So you're back from your vacation?"

"I had a nice time thank you for asking." He groaned inwardly, great he was now channeling Speed. "I read over your reports on Speedle. Tell me you're not being a fool and taking this to a hearing?"

"Yes, he has a history of faulty gun maintenance..." She said sitting down at her desk.

"Gun was clean." Rick tossed Duquesne's report onto the desk.

"A team member checked it...."

"Same team member who reported it dirty the first time," Stetler pointed it out. "And if you're read the report you would have noticed that the Ballistic expert from night shift also checked it and came to the same conclusion. Plus the evidence from the scene, also done by someone on night shift, pulled a 9mm bullet from the suspect. Clearly indicating Speedle got a shot off."

"I thought you would be all for taking Caine down." Rebecca sneered at him.

Rick stood up and leaned over the desk getting into her personal space. "Taking Caine down has always been a priority, but I'm not going to risk getting my ass handed back to me when the evidence clearly shows Detective Speedle was not only in the right, but followed procedures. The officer who should be questioned is the one who left him alone at the scene. Why aren't you investigating him?"

"He's a patrol cop, who's been on the force for years... married, couple of kids..." She glared at him. "Speedle is a lousy cop..."

"He's one of this lab's top CSIs, more conviction rates than anyone, besides Caine. So you're willing to take down him, and let a fat, lazy cop off because he's got a wife and kids." Stetler sneered. "If you peruse this I'm going to sit back and just watch Caine destroy you."

Rick turned and moved for the door. Great not only was he channeling Speed but Horatio also....

"You're just jealous that I'm finally able to take Lt. Caine down while you just sit there jerkin off." Rebecca stood up and snarled at him.

Stetler turned back towards her, his eyes narrowing in contempt. "Take a look around, after the hearing it will be the last time you see this office." With that he turned and slammed her door only to run directly into the redhead.

"Rick."

Rick couldn't help but be amazed how much emotion Horatio could put into just saying one's name. "Caine,” he replied.

"I heard you were back. How was you're vacation?" He asked simply.

"Good, might need another one soon." Rick looked over at him. "Look, do us a favor and keep your team out of harm's way. It's hell on paperwork, and looks like I'll be needing a new IAB officer."

Horatio smirked slightly, "Well some people haven't learned not to fuck with me."

Rick couldn't help but think that was a warning directed at him. He looked into the cold blue eyes, a bit surprised to see the sunglasses off. "Yeah well... don't get used to it, I still think you're a vigilante."

Horatio leaned in as he passed him, "I do what most dream about doing, but don't have the balls to do it."

Rick growled and stalked off in the other direction. To most it looked like once again the two bitter enemies were fighting. Stetler was flushed with anger at being one upped again by the infamous Horatio Caine. He slammed the door to his office and leaned against it, but what they didn't know was how much that sultry voice affected him.

"FUCK!" He was hard and aching and he could only see dark eyes, and hear that low sultry voice.

~*~

"Morning, Lt. Stetler." Christina smiled as she gave him his messages. "Some interesting news this morning."

Rick read through the messages a smile forming on his face. "Looks like I'm going to be searching for a new IAB officer."

"Yeah, sad isn't it." She frowned just slightly, playing the role.

"Morning Rick," Horatio slipped off his glasses and smiled warmly at the receptionist. "Christina, do I have any messages?"

"Yes, sir." She said handing them to him. "We we're just discussing Detective Mendles new assignment to outreach."

"Couldn't happen to a better detective," Caine smirked. He turned and headed towards the elevator and just as he got on it, "See you around, Rick."

Stetler stared at the closed doors trying to suppress the emotions that went through him. He turned to see the receptionist eyeing him, before going back to her work. With a sigh he grabbed his messages and waited for the elevator. 'When the hell did my life get so fucked up? About the time you opened your eyes and saw them for who they were, and couldn't help but see how incredibly sexy they were.' It was amazing how his inner voice was starting to sound like a mix between Horatio and Speed. Stetler moaned as he got into the elevator it was going to be a long day.