Sorry it took me so long to update, I've swamped with various pieces of work and suchlike

Sorry it took me so long to update, I've swamped with various pieces of work and suchlike. Anyway, thanks to my reviewers night-star-93, daxy, horatios1fan, spongedork789. Love and cookies to you all.

This story is dedicated to my best friend Courtney. She has put up with my half-cocked fanfics for over two months, helping me find my niche in writing, and reviewed every single chapter of every single story. Love you Courtney!

Also, I know I'm plugging, but could people read my new fic, 'Paw prints in the snow'? It's just started off and needs as many followers as possible. It's a CSI: NY story, but it will have Miami in it very soon. So please, read, review and vote on which TV show you'd like to see next. Thanks.

Also, I'd like to apologize for the song, but I really couldn't think of anything better. Please don't come over and beat me with crowbars.

Usual disclaimer, blah, blah, blah gift wrapped blah, blah, now on with the story!

--

They climbed out of the Hummer, heading towards McCauley Jewellers. Speed's eye was caught by an ostentatious silver Rolls Royce parked by the sidewalk. He snorted. 'I bet that Rolls belongs to the owner. Cars are such a bad investment.' Horatio raised an eyebrow, and Speed noticed, before hastily adding 'I'm just happy I've got my bike.'

'Some day, you might need something with doors.' Horatio replied.

'Well, I got plenty of time for that.' Speed chuckled and entered the store with Horatio, walking up to a tall man with short brown hair. Horatio removed his sunglasses, using the visual distraction to take a good look around the small store.

'We're here to see Mr. McCauley please.' Horatio said, fixing the man with a steely glare. Speed grinned inwardly; he loved it when he did that. It made potential suspects blab their secrets willingly, just to get him to stop staring at them.

But this man wasn't fazed, or if he was, he wasn't showing it, and coolly extended a hand and began to talk in an Eastern European accent, smiling. 'Oh, Mr. McCauley is the previous owner. I'm the new owner. Rudolph Koehler, call me Rudy.' He broke off, glancing over his shoulder. Speed followed his gaze and started moving around the store, watching Rudy warily. He kept his hand near his gun just in case. Rudy continued, not even acknowledging Speed's movement. 'But maybe I can help you with something, officer, I'd be more than happy to help the police.'

Speed came to a counter top where two pretty, expensively dressed ladies were standing. He could hear Horatio in the background, questioning Rudy. 'Yes, I've recently been speaking with your customer, Mrs. Tawny Williams.'

Speed glanced under the counter, and noticed a man crouching there, hiding.

'Yes, I just heard the news about her husband.'

Speed reached for his gun, while Rudy kept talking, seemingly oblivious to what was happening behind him. 'It's tragic; she's such a nice lady.'

'Excuse me.' interrupted Horatio, looking at Speed. 'Speed? Stay put.' he ordered Rudy, before joining Speed, who now had his gun out. Rudy was still talking; even the guns hadn't shut him up. 'She and her husband were very good customers.'

A door opened in the back, and Speed tensed, ready. An armed man came out and Horatio's gum was suddenly in his hand. 'Speed!' he shouted.

The man fired, and the two women dropped to the floor, screaming. Horatio shot at him. Speed's gun clicked uselessly and he cursed, looking at it. He was suddenly flung backwards, a hole appearing in his chest. His shirt turned red.

Rudy tried to escape, running for the door. Horatio shot Speed's shooter, but another man came out of the door, also armed. He shot at Horatio, but he dropped to the floor and rolled, jumping up again. He missed and the men ran, heading for the door.

Horatio ran to Speed, shouting his name. He knelt next to him, grabbing his cell phone and dialling EMS. Speed was choking on blood, and Horatio fought to remain calm. EMS picked after what seemed like an eternity and Horatio yelled down the phone. 'This is CSI Caine. We have a priority here! I got a man down, shots fired!'

EMS responded and Horatio turned his attention back to Speed. 'You're going to be OK, Speed; you're going to be OK. You'll be fine.'

Blood flowed out of Speed's mouth, dribbling down his cheek. 'I-I can't feel anything.' He stuttered, panicking

Horatio wiped the blood away, reassuring him. 'Hang in there.'

Speed started shaking. He was having a heart attack. 'Speed. Speed, keep breathing. Speed.'

He gasped for breath. 'I can't feel anything.'

'I know, I know. I understand. Just hang in, partner.' Horatio fought back tears. He had to stay strong, for Speed.

Speed coughed and blood spattered the front of Horatio's shirt. His eyes dimmed.

'Speed?' Horatio pressed his ear against Speed's chest, listening for a heartbeat, but it was no good. There was nothing he could do. Speed was dead. Blood spread across the floor, soaking Horatio's knees, but he stayed where he was. By Speed's side, where he should have been from the start.

Horatio lay in bed, his cobalt blue eyes swimming with emotion. It was a week since Speed was shot. Tomorrow he had to post another letter to Sarah. He twisted his head round to see the cardboard box, lurking at the bottom of his open wardrobe. It had twenty or thirty letters in, all numbered in Speed's messy writing. He was- had constantly berated him for that, the lab techs had enough to do without trying to decipher his handwriting.

A knock on the door jolted him out of wallowing in the past. He had a job to do, and a life to live. He could almost hear Speed's voice telling him to get his ass back to work, and he allowed himself a rare smile as he went to answer the door. It was Sarah. She had purple bags under her eyes, like she hadn't slept, but then, so did he, and he hadn't slept in a week. She was holding a letter in her hand, but he couldn't see who it was for. 'Sarah, please come in. How are you doing?' He showed her into the sitting room, into the same seat Speed had sat in over a year ago.

'I'll survive.' She said, smiling weakly. She held out the envelope to Horatio, and he could see her hands shaking. 'This is for you. It's- it's from T-T-Tim.' Her voice cracked and a single solitary tear rolled down her cheek.

He took the letter, looking at it. It was thicker than a normal letter, and there was something solid in there.

She must have noticed him scrutinising it because she said 'It might be a CD. Mine had a CD in. It had our song on. Maybe it has a song he associated you with on.' She looked at her watch, wrinkling her nose 'I've got to go. I'm taking Tim's parents to the airport. Goodbye Horatio.' They embraced warmly, tears spilling out of her eyes, soaking his shoulder. When she left, Horatio took the letter out of his pocket, where he had stowed it during the embrace. It said simply "Horatio." on it.

He turned it over and slit it open. A CD slid out, like Sarah said, and a letter, folded up tightly. He unfolded it and began to read.

Dear H,

If your reading this, then I must be dead, or so far gone it doesn't matter either way. I know you must be killing yourself over this, but no matter what happened, I want you to know that it wasn't your fault. I probably did something stupid, like going into an uncleared crime scene by myself. Or I forgot to clean my gun and it wouldn't fire like last time. I know I gave you a scare then and I'm sorry, and I'm sorry this time.

Well, I wrote this letter a while ago, on the 17th of June 2003, I don't know if I'll even get it to you.

I remember meeting you, almost seven years ago now. You were looking for members for your new team, and I was a scared little kid from New York, fresh out of university, looking for a job. You took me under your wing, helped me get to know the city and the criminals in it. I remember cracking my first case, and you took the whole team out to celebrate. I remember Delko telling me that you didn't do that when he cracked his first case, and he sulked all night, well, for about six and a half seconds, until you bought us all drinks. That cheered him up.

I remember you getting shot, I remember your brother, I remember the look on your face when you unravelled the suspect's lies, sending them to where they belonged.

I remember every detail of seven years of friendship. You saved my life more times than I care to remember, sometimes offering your life instead. You are a true hero, the protector of Miami, and everyone in it.

This CD contains one song only. I want you to listen to it and remember that you can't save us all, that sometimes even the best of us make a mistake. Listen and remember that I am with you every step of the way, even if you can't see me.

Goodbye H, I'm gonna miss you. I'll say hello to Ray for you.

Speed.

Horatio booted up his laptop and inserted the CD. The song filled the room, and tears filled Horatio's eyes.

The time has come to say goodbye
The sun is setting in the sky
The truth's turned out to be a lie
It's over, over
Hum yourself a lullaby
This is the end but baby don't you cry

So take away the melody
And all that's left of memories
Of lovers, friends and enemies
They're all fading
You may not remember me
I haven't got the strength to carry on

If this is the last song I'll ever sing
Then I'm giving it everything
I'm giving it all

If this is the last song that I'll ever play
Then I guess it's time to take
My curtain call
I'm dying to thank you all
I'm dying to thank you all
I'm dying to thank you all
Thank you all

So here's to all the lonely hearts
Cause mine's been ripped and torn apart
I'm colder now, it's getting dark
But I'll be OK
Bury me with my guitar
And all the way to hell I'll play

If this is the last song I'll ever sing
Then I'm giving it everything
I'm giving it all

If this is the last song that I'll ever play
Then I guess it's time to take
My curtain call
I'm dying to thank you all
I'm dying to thank you all
I'm dying to thank you all
Thank you all, yeah

One more song before I've got to go
I'm singing
From the very bottom of my soul
And hear it
Every single word and every note
I'm pleading
Let me hear you sing it all once more with feeling

One more song before I've got to go
I'm singing
From the very bottom of my soul
And hear it
Every single word and every note
I'm pleading
Let me hear you sing it all once more with feeling

If this is the last song I'll ever sing
I'm giving it everything
I'm giving it all

If this is the last song I'll ever play
Then I guess it's time to take
My curtain call

If this is the last song I'll ever sing
Then I'm giving it everything
I'm giving it all

If this is the last song I'll ever play
Then I guess it's time to say
We thank you all

He recognized the song; his nephew played it a lot. He let it play through, and waited for the silence that filled his house.

He bowed his head, letting tears drip onto his expensive wooden floor.

'Goodbye Speed.' he whispered brokenly.

--

I'd like to apologize once again for the song, my sister insists on playing the album over and over again, and I thought it was kinda appropriate. Also, I know the song wasn't released at the time of this but I'm taking a bit of artistic licence with this.

As always, cookies for reviewers.

I hope people are still reading, I don't want to be updating with no chapters if no-one's going to read them.