Title: Revelations
Author: Aeon Cole
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: CSI Miami
Genre: Slash, Romance, Angst
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Summary: Horatio and Speed have to spend their first night apart when Horatio goes to a conference in Atlanta with Calliegh.
888
Tim stood at the front door and looked at his watch. He called up the stairs, "We really should get going. We still have to pick up Calliegh."
Horatio yelled down, "Okay, I'm coming." A few minutes later he appeared on the stairs with an overnight bag on his shoulder and his briefcase in his hand. He glanced back up the stairs and said, "I think I have everything."
He and Calliegh were heading to Atlanta for a conference. She would be presenting a paper on ballistics comparisons and he would be presenting one on techniques for finding bombing signatures. Normally he would be excited at the opportunity but this time Tim wasn't able to go with him. It would be their first time apart in over a year.
He reached the bottom of the stairs and dropped his stuff by the door then he pulled Tim into his arms. "I'm going to miss you," he said as he leaned in for a kiss.
"Me too," Tim replied as they pulled back. "But it's only going to be for two nights. You'll be back by the weekend and as I recall, neither of us are on call." He waggled his eyebrows causing Horatio to chuckle. "Now come. Calliegh's waiting."
The ride to Miami International Airport was taken mostly in silence. Horatio leaned against his door and stared out the window with a somber expression. Calliegh was in the back seat. At one point during the ride she glanced into the front seat and noticed that Tim was driving the car with only his left hand, his right was on the seat next to him with Horatio's fingers entwined with his. She smiled.
Calliegh had to admit that, although she had been happy for the two when she had found out about their relationship, she had her doubts as to how long it would last. They were such different people. And then there was the age difference. But despite her initial concerns, they seemed to be very happy together and she had noticed a definite positive change in Tim over the past few months.
Tim pulled the car up to the unloading area of the airport and put it in park. Horatio made no move to exit the car. Calliegh decided to get out and get the bags from the trunk in order to giver her two friends a moment of privacy. She opened the back door and said, "Tim, would you pop the trunk. I'll get the bags."
Once their view of Calliegh was blocked by the trunk lid, Horatio leaned over and pulled Tim into a kiss. They were so absorbed that they barely noticed when Calliegh closed the trunk and she suddenly had an unobstructed view of the two. She smiled again and turned away, not wanting to intrude. She walked over to the sidewalk in front of the terminal building and waited.
Tim pulled away first. He locked eyes with Horatio and said, "You'd better get going. I think Calliegh's already waiting."
Horatio glanced behind him and saw Calliegh standing by the terminal building trying to look inconspicuous. He ducked his head and waited for the blush to clear his cheeks. Tim chuckled. Horatio looked back up and said, "I'll miss you."
"Me too," Tim replied and Horatio stepped out of the car.
"I call you this evening," Horatio said as he leaned down to the open window. Tim nodded and Horatio tapped the roof of the car signaling for Tim to drive off. He stood for a moment and watched the car disappear into the maze of airport roads then he turned and made his way over to Calliegh.
She gave him a sympathetic smile and asked, "All ready?"
Horatio's voice failed him and all he could manage was a nod and, "Mmm."
Even with the time needed to get through airport security with their carry-on luggage, they still had to wait another forty-five minutes until they could board their flight. Calliegh looked over at Horatio and said, "You know what? I could really use another cup of coffee."
Horatio agreed so they found a coffee shop near their gate and sat down with two cups of coffee. Calliegh noticed that Horatio was doing more fiddling with his cup than drinking from it so she asked, "Is everything all right there, handsome?" Horatio smiled at the affectation but just shrugged and said nothing.
They sat in silence for awhile longer before Calliegh tried again. She reached across the small table and took his hand. "Come on," she said softly. "Talk to me." She was pretty sure she knew what was bothering him, judging by what she saw in the car earlier but she was hoping she would be able to get him to say it. Eventually she gave up and said, "You know, it's okay to miss him."
Horatio smiled at Calliegh's perceptiveness. He looked up and said, "It's the first night we've had to spend apart." He shook his head. "You know, I've spent my entire adult life alone. Never had a problem with it before." He chuckled lightly. "I think the last time I felt like this I was ten and my mother had gone away for a couple of days to visit her sister."
Calliegh looked down at their joined hand and asked, "You really love him that much?"
Horatio looked down and answered, "When he's not around, I feel like a part of myself is missing."
Calliegh released his hand and took another sip of her coffee. She realized she was glimpsing a side of her boss, her friend, that she never knew existed.
Tim pulled his car into the parking lot at the lab. He hadn't wanted to make Horatio feel any worse about leaving so he had put on his best act but now he was really starting to miss his partner. He idly wondered if he would get any sleep at all for the next two nights in that big, empty bed. He sighed and got out of the car. He walked into the building with his head down and made his way to the trace lab figuring he'd distract himself with some complicated chemical analyses.
TBC