Title:  Bad Days Are Coming

Disclaimer:  They're not mine.  I'm not making any money.

Author's Notes:  Apologies to anyone who read the version of this story that I put up last night.  I decided it just wasn't working, so I pulled it and revised it.  Anyway, I tend to write dark, angsty stuff, and this is no exception.  This will be Speed-Calleigh later on.  At least, that's the plan.

*****

I pull into a gas station and find Horatio and Eric waiting for us.  Us being me and Calleigh.  We're here to investigate a double homicide.  From the way Eric sounded on the phone, I'd say we're going to walk in there and find someone pretty important. 

"Well, let's get to it," Calleigh says cheerfully.  Sometimes I think she likes this job a little too much.

As we're climbing out of the car, Horatio walks over.  "Speed, Calleigh," he nods in acknowledgement. "I want the two of you to be extra-careful while you're in there."

"What's up?" I ask.

He lets out a breath and lowers his voice.  "Well, we have a gas station attendant, and we have a police officer."

Calleigh and I glance at each other.  We're both wondering the same thing. 

"Anybody we know?"  Calleigh asks.

Horatio crosses his arms.  "It's Matt Evans."

Well, that's that.  We know him.  Knew him. I didn't hang out with him or anything.  But I saw him around.  And I worked a case or two with him.  He was a nice guy.  Sometimes I really dislike this job.

"Well, let's get to it," Calleigh says, this time somberly.

As the three of us trudge toward the entrance to the gas station, I turn to Calleigh and say, "It's going to be a bad day, isn't it?"

*****

I'm crouched down on the floor, packing up the last of our gear.  Calleigh's standing over by the counter, just looking around the room. She seems a little shaky, so I start to ask her if she's all right.  But before I have a chance, she grabs hold of the counter and raises one hand to her head. 

I stand up and walk over to her.  "Hey, Cal.  You all right?"

"Whoa," she says, sounding a little embarrassed.  "I don't know what came over me.  I guess I got a little light-headed."

"Maybe you should go outside," I say.

"Oh, no.  No, I'm fine."  She turns to face me.  Putting one hand on my chest for support, she says, "I usually don't react like this."

"Calleigh, you don't have to explain anything."

Calleigh's one of the toughest people I know.  She's seen, and even been through a lot of life's nastier stuff.  She doesn't have to explain a thing to anyone. 

At that point, Horatio walks over.  "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah," Calleigh says.  "I got a little dizzy."

"Why don't you head outside?" Horatio suggests. "We're almost finished in here."

Fortunately, Calleigh doesn't try to argue with the boss.  She just nods, and then reluctantly heads toward the door.

As Calleigh leaves, Horatio turns to me. "How much do you have to finish up?"

"I'm about done, H."

He glances around the room.  "All right.  Good. Eric's interviewing the last witness."

"Any leads on a suspect?" I ask, kneeling down to finish packing our gear.

"Well," he says.  "We have a description."  He stands quietly for a moment, and then lets out a breath.  "I had lunch with him last week . . . Matt."

I glance up.  "I didn't know you knew him that well."

"We've known each other for a few years," Horatio says. "He had a wife and two kids."

I don't know what to say, so I don't say anything.

"You never know, do you?" Horatio says.

Standing up, I shake my head.  "No, you don't. That's why I don't bother to get close to anybody."