Title: In Another Life (1/?)
Author: Aeon Cole
Rating: FRAO (for later chapters)
Genre: Angst. Romance
Warnings: Slash
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairings: Horatio/Stetler, Horatio/Speed
Word Count: 1320
Summary: Rick had many regrets and in another life maybe things could have been different.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: This bunny was given to me by D.R. Millennium. I've always wanted to write a Rick Stetler story so thanks a bunch for putting this into my head. There will be more.
Rick Stetler pulled his car into the parking lot of the small bar on the edge of town. It looked like a dive and there were very few cars in the lot. He didn't understand the allure of this place for the man he was looking for other than it was just the sort of place one would not expect to find him. Rick got out of his car and glanced around. It didn't take very much effort for him to spot the car, a bright red Mustang convertible sitting a few spaces away. It was the car he drove when he didn't want to be Lieutenant Horatio Caine and Rick had to smile. He'd had that car since New York and he would hazard to guess that no one at the lab new about it, other than himself.
He looked around before walking over to it. The top was down and he ran his hand over the leather seat back. His mind drifted back to New York many years ago. It was another life and he was another man back then; they both were. A breeze kicked up ruffling his hair and suddenly in his mind he was speeding down the Westside Highway in that car, top down, wind whipping. He sighed and opened his eyes. He was still in Miami, but for a brief moment…
He turned toward the bar wondering why he did this to himself. They were different people now. Too much had passed between them, but he still had the memories, for better or worse. He closed his eyes again and shook his head. One beer, he promised himself, and then he would leave. No need torturing himself too much.
He walked into the small bar and looked around. The inside just confirmed his initial impression of the place; dimly lit, smelling of tobacco and beer. The jukebox was playing and he had to laugh. A cliché really, he thought as he heard Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man. He took a seat at the corner of the bar and signaled for the bartender to bring him a beer. As he sipped at his drink he glanced over to the pool table because he knew that's where he'd be. Horatio had never disappointed him in that respect.
He wondered how many people at the lab knew that the very respectable Horatio Caine was pool shark. His best guess was none. He stayed hidden in the corner of the bar as he watched his former lover shoot his game. He was playing alone, which told Rick that he'd probably been here before and that everyone already knew not to challenge the redhead. Not unless they wanted to lose their money that is.
He fixed his eyes on the man he'd come to see. He'd gotten so used to seeing Horatio in his trademark suits that the image of him in faded blue jeans was somewhat incongruous. But no more, he supposed, than seeing him shoot pool in some run down dive of a bar. Horatio bent over the table to reach for a shot and Rick ran his eyes up and down his body. He'd kept in shape, he thought. His jeans hung low on his hips and his shirt rode up just a bit as he reached across the table revealing the pale white skin of his lower back. Rick ached to run his hand over that spot but he picked up his beer and took a swig instead.
At the pool table Horatio could feel a pair of eyes on him. He knew Stetler was there, watching him. He always knew. He was sure the other man thought he was being stealthy but Horatio always knew. He knew every time he walked into a bar and racked up at the table that a few minutes later someone would walk in, sit at the bar and watch. He always knew that that person was Rick. He knew that the other man still had feelings for him and he knew that that was one of the things that caused friction between them. He also knew how to push his buttons so he wiggled his ass just a bit before he took his shot.
Rick closed his eyes and swallowed a moan then promptly ordered another beer, so much for his promise. He knew he couldn't walk away. He'd be there for as long as Horatio played. Then something caught his attention at the other side of the bar. A figure moved out of the shadows and made his way over to the pool table. He couldn't believe that someone would be fool enough to challenge the redhead. But he froze as he realized that he recognized the figure and that he wasn't going over to challenge Horatio. He was going over for another reason entirely.
Speed walked up to Horatio and waited for a moment while he took his shot then he laid a hand at the small of the redhead's back, that same spot where Rick's hand ached to be. He leaned in close and said, "You know you're being watched."
"Mmm hmm," was Horatio's only reply as he surveyed the table for his next move.
He walked to the end of the table, his back to Rick, and measured out a shot. He let his hips sway just a little and Speed said, "You're enjoying this."
Horatio smirked but didn't look up as he drew back his cue before pushing it home. The clack of the balls sounded as he hit his mark and watched as the seven-ball hit a sweet spot on the table then ricocheted into the corner pocket. Speed just shook his head.
"Not that I don't enjoy seeing the guy squirm, but why do you always have to torture him like this?" Speed asked.
Horatio remained silent. Speed didn't exactly expect an answer. He'd asked about Horatio's past with Rick Stetler many times and the only answer he'd ever gotten was, "That was another life," then the subject was immediately dropped. He knew it was a sore spot.
Horatio looked up at him. "Wanna play?" he asked.
"Sure," Speed replied. "Whadya wanna play for this time?"
Horatio shrugged. "Dinner?"
Speed smiled. "Kay," he replied and walked over to grab a cue while Horatio racked up the balls.
Rick watched as the two men moved around the table. He knew that Speed didn't have a chance of beating Horatio and he wondered what the bet was. And even though he knew Speed would lose he envied him at that moment. To have such a relaxed relationship with Horatio was rare and he could tell by their body language that they were lovers. He knew that in another life that could have been him.
When they were younger, back in New York, it had been him. They had been friends back then, and more than friends, for a while anyway. Horatio had just gotten his shield, a rookie detective in Manhattan. Rick hadn't passed the test that year, missed by just two points. But that didn't matter so much. There wasn't a competition between them yet and he'd been happy for his friend. They'd gone out to celebrate and several drinks later they'd ended up at Horatio's apartment. He'd never been with a man before that night.
It hadn't lasted long, less than a year before he'd fucked everything up. One night, too much alcohol, a pretty face at the bar and his whole life had turned upside down. Horatio had tossed him out when he'd found out and that's when it all started to go down hill. Somehow they had both ended up in Miami, both in line for lieutenant. As usual Horatio had won out and Rick ended up with IAB. But in another life, he thought as he watched the two men shoot pool. In another life…
TBC
