A Son's Choice

Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, just the adoration.

A/N: I was writing another story and it has stalled ; this one takes the place of that. Enjoy

Warning: Language, intense scenes

Rating: K+

Tim never felt like a hero. There was nothing in his DNA to even signify that he had the potential to be one, but he was satisfied with his lot in life, coming as close as he could ever be to that. He was the one to make sure that the victims of violent crimes wouldn't go unheard, their last voice. He was a crime scene investigator. True he loved the science more than the police work, but there was something satisfying to his soul when he collared a killer. It satiated a long dormant feeling of not doing enough, not being there when someone dear to him needed it. It fed him the constant peace that he was seeking to find, however, he never knew if he would ever be able to say that it was truly enough. It was with this mission that he attacked every case with passion and zeal. And no one knew that better than his closest friend, Alexx.

Alexx was the county's Medical Examiner and Tim's constant. Whenever he needed something , whether it was to listen or to be listened to, she always provided him with an open door. Their relationship was more than friends, more so mother to son, she keeping a watchful eye on him. There was nothing anyone could do to Tim without her knowing, and everyone knew that she wasn't one to play with, so for the most part, she was his protector. He relished the fact that he had someone to come to , his relationship with his own mother being strained to the limits, and he spent as much time as possible with her and her family, feeling like an adoptive son.

Walking into the lab that day, he never would've guess that they'd be in the predicament they now found themselves in. It had been just an ordinary day, the sun beaming mercilessly down on Miami, making the skin crawl with sweat. The heat was oppressive, but Tim had learned to live with it, just as everyone else in the Miami Dade Crime Lab. So on a day like that, he opted for a t-shirt instead of his regular button ups ,eliciting stares from everyone.

He spotted her as she made her way to the lay out room, with a file in hand. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, telling him that she had already completed her first post of the day. She smiled at him as he opened the door for her, and watched as she handed the file to Calleigh.

" So, Speed, how was your date last night?" Eric asked as he looked up to see him standing there.

" It was a date," he replied simply. He really didn't feel the need to divulge anything to him, but he knew that Eric was going to pester him until he gave up something. " We went to a club, danced, talked, then went home."

"So , you'll be seeing her again?" Alexx asked with a crinkle in her eyes. He turned to her and regarded her with a tight smile, it softening as he sighed audibly.

" It's up to her. Why are we so interested in my love life today?"

" I dunno, maybe because you finally have one," Eric said humorously.

"Cute, Delko," Tim returned just as their cell phones all went into action. Each of them groaning, they moved to empty the room.

" Hey, Timmy. You mind if I catch I ride with you?" Alexx asked as she walked to the elevator.

" Have I ever?"he returned .

" I'll be five minutes."

" Meet you in the garage," he said as she got on the elevator.

/ A Son's Choice/

The ride to the scene was peppered with questions from her, but he didn't mind. It showed that she cared for him ,and he there was nothing better. He answered her questions with a small smile on his face as he turned to look at her as she talked animatedly about being careful when dating. Only when they arrived at the scene, did the cab of the Hummer get eerily quiet. The silence echoed the despair of their hearts. As the Hummer came to a stop, Alexx got out quickly , grabbing her kit, and walked to the crime scene tape. Tim stood there looking at the building, or what was left of it, as Horatio came beside him and stood with his hands on his hips.

" Tell me that is not a school on fire ,H," Tim said as he sighed heavily.

"It was called in about two hours ago. The body was found in the basement. Most of the children had gotten out safely, but there are casualties."

Tim shifted his weight awkwardly as he gazed at the smoldering building, nothing but a shell of its old self, " Who would do this?"

" I don't know, but we are going to find out. Calleigh and Eric are already in there, checking out the first three floors. I'll go talk to the principal and you go to the basement."

"Most likely where the fire started," Tim said as he nodded.

"Right. Fires are usually started to cover or kill," Horatio said as he turned to walk off, " Work fast ,Speed. The chief doesn't know how long the building will last."

"No problem, H," Tim replied as he walked towards the building. The school was burned almost down to its foundation, smoke still wafting off the smoldering building. He could still feel the heat of the fire as he approached a door and he waved his hand in front of him. In minutes , he was in the basement with Alexx as she went over the body. The radio on his side crackled to life as he put his kit down and knelt by her. " So what do we have , Alexx?"

" A poor soul who got caught at the wrong place and certainly wrong time," she said as she turned the body over.

" Is it a student?" Tim asked fearfully. It was those cases that hit him the hardest.

" Doesn't seem to be. He has on a uniform. Janitor maybe?" Alexx returned as she found hole in the back of the head. Tim looked around him to see that they were at the origin of the fire.

" It started here," he said as he took his camera out and started photographing. He could hear the support of the building as it groaned.

" That would explain why there is no blood around, the fire would've burned it up. I found a GSW to the head. Looks like from front to back. I'll know more at the post."

"All units, be advised, chief is wanting all personnel to get out of the building, now." Tim's radio said as it crackled to life. Tim glanced at Alexx who was already putting her things away quickly. There was no way that she was going to get trapped down here. " Guess ,its time to go."

" You don't have to tell me twice. I hope that its steady enough for them to get the body out,"Alexx replied as she heard the beams cracking. Tim looked up to see debris falling from the ceiling.

"C'mon, Alexx, let's get out of here," Tim said as he grabbed her hand. She stopped when she saw his kit still sitting by the body.

" Timmy, you forgot your..."

Tim turned around to see the ceiling as it dropped in front of her, the thunderous sound making him jump. He frantically called her name as more and more pieces came down. She called back to him and he went to her. The building groaned more , and he grabbed her , forcing her to the ground , covering her with his own body. Then the world came crashing down.