Title: Past and Present - Part 1

Author: Aeon Cole

Beta: posting this as I write it so no beta, all mistakes are my own

Rating: FRT (this chapter)

Warning: Slash

Fandom: CSI: Miami

Pairing: Horatio/Speed

Series: Friends and Family

Word Count: 1950

Summary: Horatio and Tim get ready to celebrate their second anniversary as they investigate a murder at Michael's apartment complex. But not everything turns out the way they hope when Michael becomes ill.

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.

ooo

Wednesday, July 16, 2003

Michael sat in the waiting room of the doctor's office. He knew that he hadn't been feeling too well lately but he'd attributed his illness to the chemo he was receiving. He'd been surprised and a little disturbed when he'd gotten the phone call from the doctor's office asking him to come in for a consultation. After waiting for twenty minutes, the nurse finally called him in but instead of bringing him to the exam room she took him directly to the doctor's office.

"Have a seat, Mr. Speedle. The doctor will be right with you," she said as she turned to leave.

He didn't have to wait long before his doctor opened the door and walked into the room.

"Morning, Michael. How are you feeling today?" he asked.

Michael smirked. "I have a feeling you're about to tell me, doc," Michael joked. The doctor smiled but waited for him to answer his question. "I've been tired lately, not feelin' too well over all."

"Any pain?"

Michael nodded. "A little," he answered. "Mostly in my legs."

The doctor picked up Michael's file. "We got your latest round of blood tests back. The treatments don't seem to be working as well as they were in the beginning. The cancer is starting to spread, slowly, but it is spreading."

Michael took a deep breath and asked, "How long?"

"It's really hard to say at this point. We'll have to monitor you for a while and see how things go. I want you to keep up with the chemo schedule though. It is helping to slow the spread."

Michael looked at him for a moment then said, "Do me a favor. Don't mention anything to my wife or the boys yet."

"Don't worry," the doctor said as he held out a hand. Michael shook it and stood up to leave. "Make an appointment to see me next week. I'll do some more blood work." Michael agreed and walked out of the room.

ooo

"You're being awfully quiet today," Howie said as he looked at the cards in his hand. He looked over at his friend and noticed that he looked tired. "You feelin' okay, Mike."

Michael nodded. "Saw the doc this morning," he said but didn't elaborate.

Howie put his cards face down on the table. "Anything you want to talk about?"

Michael shifted in his seat and put his cards down on the table. "Don't feel much like gin rummy today, Howie. I've been kinda tired lately. Doc says the chemo's not working like it should."

"You tell your family yet?" Michael shook his head. "What is it with you New York boys anyway?" he asked.

Michael sighed. "My son's anniversary is in a few days. I don't want to spoil the occasion for them. Ary's planning a big party. I'll talk to them after."

Howie shook his head and was about to say something when the phone rang. He got up to answer it.

"Hello," he said then he was silent.

After a few moments he hung up the phone without saying a word. When he turned around Michael though he looked pale, as pale as it was possible for a black man to look anyway.

"Everything ok, Howie?" Michael asked.

It took him a moment to answer. "Um, yeah, fine," he said. "Look, do you mind if we call it an afternoon. I don't much feel like playin' anymore."

Michael regarded him for a moment then said, "Sure, no problem. Gotta go home and feed Oscar anyway." He got up to leave then turned. "If you feel like talkin' 'bout anything you know where to find me." As he walked out the door he asked, "We still on for breakfast tomorrow."

Howie forced a smile. "Wouldn't miss it," he said.

Michael walked down the hallway to his apartment. When he walked in he was greeted by a black and white calico cat who rubbed up against his leg and meowed at him.

He smirked. "I guess you think it's dinner time, don't you Oscar?"

ooo

Thursday, July 17, 2003

Speed and Calleigh pulled up in front of the assisted living center early in the morning. When the call had come in, Tim jumped on it and grabbed Calleigh to come with him.

"Your father lives here, doesn't he?" Calleigh asked.

"Yeah and from what I can tell the victim lives on the same floor," Speed replied as he got out of the Hummer.

"I thought this place had tight security?" she asked.

"It does. You have to be buzzed through the front entrance then sign in. It's one of the reasons we chose it," Speed replied.

They grabbed their kits and headed inside. When they stepped out of the elevator on the third floor they saw police tape roping off one apartment near the middle of the hallway and a small crowd of the elderly residents at the far end of the hall. Frank Tripp was standing by the taped off doorway waiting for the two CSIs.

"Frank," Tim greeted him. "What do we have?"

"Speed, Calleigh. DB, elderly male. Looks like his throat was slashed," Frank answered.

"Alexx here?" Calleigh asked.

"Nope, not yet," Frank replied.

"Great, so we can't touch anything yet," Speed griped. He hated getting to a scene before the coroner. But maybe they could interview some witnesses while they waited.

"Who called it in?" he asked.

"Well, actually," Frank hedged then he stepped to the side.

Michael was leaning up against the wall behind Frank. "Dad!" Speed exclaimed.

Calleigh looked between the two men as Michael pushed himself off the wall. There was no doubt in her mind that the two were related. She looked at Michael and saw Tim in about forty years. Tim walked over to his father.

"Dad, what happened?" he asked laying a hand on his father's arm.

Michael was still shaken. "We, um, were supposed to have breakfast this morning. My turn to cook. When he didn't show up I went looking for him." Michael shook his head at the memory of seeing his friend dead on the floor in a pool of blood. "It's Howie, Tim."

Tim sighed. Howie was the only real friend his father had made since moving to Miami. "I'm sorry, Dad." Calleigh walked up to the two men and laid a hand on Tim's arm. Michael glanced at her. "Dad, this is Calleigh. She's going to be working this case with me."

Michael looked her up and down then held out his hand. "Nice to meet you young lady." Calleigh smiled and shook his hand.

"Likewise," she said. She didn't realize she was still staring at Michael until he raised an eyebrow. "Sorry," she said a little embarrassed. "I still can't believe how much you two look alike."

They both chuckled. "We get that a lot," Michael said and Tim concurred.

"So, Mr. Speedle, any idea who would want to hurt your friend?" Calleigh asked.

Michael shook his head. "All I know is that he got a phone call yesterday afternoon that shook him up. He wouldn't talk about it after. We were playing cards before the phone rang then after he said he wanted to be alone for a bit so I left."

"Do you remember what he said while he was on the phone?" Calleigh asked.

"After hello," Michael said. "He said nothing, just listened. When he hung up he looked shaken. I asked him if something was wrong and he just brushed me off. Said everything was fine."

Calleigh nodded. "I'm going to head inside and wait for Alexx."

"I'll be there in a minute," Tim said.

Once they were alone, Michael said, "Nice girl."

"Don't," Tim said. It was something in his father's tone.

Michael smirked. "All I said was she's a nice girl."

"It's not what you said, it's how you said it," Tim replied.

Michael shook his head. "Can't blame me for trying," he said then a wave of dizziness came over him and he rested his hand on the wall for support.

Tim reached out and grabbed his arm. "Dad, are you ok?" he asked, his voice suddenly filled with concern.

"Yeah, fine," Michael said. He shook it off and said, "Sorry. It's not every day you find your best friend with his throat slit." He didn't like lying to his son but now was not the time to discuss his health.

"Yeah, ok," Tim said not completely convinced. "Maybe you should go back to your apartment and sit down for a while. I'll stop by before I leave." Michael agreed and walked back to his room leaning heavily on his cane.

Tim watched him until he reached his door then turned toward the crime scene. He'd never had the chance to meet Howie but his father talked about him often. They'd become fast friends after Michael had moved in.

Calleigh was already at work when Tim began to scan the room. He pulled out his camera and carefully approached the body. He studied the area and the body; that of an elderly, black male with snow white hair. There was a cane lying next to him and some papers scattered on the floor. It didn't look like there had been too much of a struggle so Tim thought that maybe Howie knew his attacker and wasn't expecting it. That would also explain how the person got into the building.

ooo

Arya walked up to the front desk at the Miami-Dade Crime Lab and asked for Alexx Woods.

"Sorry, ma'am. She left on a call a while ago," Paula said. And before Arya could ask, Paula continued, "And Tim is out on the same call."

Arya chuckled. "My day, I guess. I don't suppose Horatio is here."

"Yes ma'am. He's up in his office. Would you like me to call him for you?"

"Yes, thanks."

After a few minutes Horatio appeared in the lobby. He smiled at Arya and she gave him a hug. "What can I do for you today?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Just thought I'd say hello, since I was here. I guess I missed Alexx and Tim." Horatio nodded and Arya got the feeling that he wasn't telling her something. "What aren't you telling me, Horatio?"

He ducked his head and smiled. "How do you do that?" he asked. She just raised an eyebrow. "There was a murder at the rest home where Michael lives." At the look he got from her he said quickly, "He's fine. It was a friend of his, Howard Little. Tim called a little while ago to tell me."

Arya's hand went to her mouth. "Poor Howie. What happened?"

"Don't know yet. That's what Tim and Calleigh are there to find out. But you might want to give Michael a call. He's the one who found the body."

Arya pulled her cell phone out of her purse and dialed as she walked over to the corner of the waiting room.

ooo

Michael picked up the phone on the third ring. "Hello."

"Michael, I just heard what happened?" Arya said. "I'm sorry."

"How did you hear? Did Tim call you?" he was a bit annoyed that his son would do that.

"No. I'm with Horatio. He just told me," she said. "Do you want me to come by?"

"I'm fine Ary," he said. "I don't need a babysitter." He really wasn't in the mood to deal with his wife's fussing right now.

Arya sighed. "All right, if you're sure. But call me later if you need anything," she said before she hung up. "Stubborn old man," she grumbled causing Horatio to chuckle.

TBC