Author's notes - big spoilers for Lost Son so if you don't want to know what happens don't read. This is an AU so some details are different
Disclaimer - not mine only Horatio's son is mine.
It was 20 years since Speed had died, every year on Speed's birthday Horatio always managed to find his way to the grave and sat there talking to no-one for hours. This year however he was there early. He himself had retired years earlier and had left Calleigh in charge of the lab and now she was dead, looking at the letter held tightly in his hand he wondered how he could have been so wrong about people and how he had no idea until an hour ago.
An hour ago.
Horatio Caine was on his way to being drunk when the letter came through his door, stumbling over to pick it up he recognised the writing on the envelope.
"To be delivered to Horatio Caine after my death" He read out loud. Well there was certainly no disputing the fact that Calleigh was dead. She had been tracking down a suspect only to find him and his friends waiting for her. She had been found dead two days later floating in their victims pool, she had been tortured. Her funeral had been the day before with a vast turnout and now she
was gone and this letter was here. Opening it he prepared to read
Horatio,
There have been so many times over the years that I have picked up a phone or a pen and tried to tell you this. You cannot imagine what it has been like living with this for all these years. But I'm getting ahead of myself, 2 days before Speed died I was contacted by a member of the mob who told me that they had my father and would kill him unless I did something for me, they claimed they had a man on the inside and they would know if I told any of you.
I tried to let you know what I could I told Alexx that I was going to kill Speedle, when I got back to the lab and confronted Speed about my Chrome light he told me to get his from his own kit. All I was to do was to make it so his gun did not fire, I did not know what they were planning but believe me Horatio when I say that I did not realise what they were planning. I made sure that the gun was dirty and that there was no way it would fire, I thought after the previous incident that if he had to use it then people would just assume that he hadn't learnt his lesson.
When I heard your call over the radio I knew just how stupid I had been, I knew that I would have to process Tim's gun and that would be an end of it. I should have come forward then but I couldn't. I know I have no reason to ask this off you but please believe me when I say that I did not realise things would get that far out of hand, and whatever you think of me in future do not hate me.
When you retired and I took over as head of the lab I knew that there was no way I could say anything, I had been compromised because of my father once and there was always the possibility that I would do so again, so I kept quiet until now. Do what you want with this letter but believe me when I say I had the best intentions.
Calleigh
Horatio sat stunned he had no idea that Calleigh had been hiding something like this, he did not know what to do. There was no point in informing the crime lab Calleigh was dead, Speed was dead releasing the information would cause more harm than good. Walking out to his car he headed for one of two places that he had always felt able to talk.
Now
As always Horatio was sure he could feel someone with him in the graveyard, the first few times he had tried to see who was there but never saw anyone, now he was used to the feeling and knew it was Speed keeping an eye on him and the others. Standing up from his crouch by the grave Horatio grimaced at the pain in his knees and back a reminder that he was not as young as he once was.
"Well Speed, thank you for listening." Horatio said as he made his way out the graveyard. If he had looked back he would have seen the young man with black hair and 5 o'clock stubble looking after him with a sad smile on his face at how soon it would be till they saw each other again.
Now there is an epliogue to this which is very mild H/S