Title: A Leaf on the Wind

Disclaimer: Violence, language, slash, angst, character death.

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Chapter Twenty-one: Greyhound Bus

Two Hummers, five cop cars, and a police helicopter that was sharing the air space with a news helicopter. They all watched one thing; a Greyhound bus. Speed sat on the couch in his living room watching the live action news report of the chase. On the bus was the man suspected of starting the war against the police. He didn't want to go out quietly and gracefully. No, instead he opted to kidnap an entire bus of people, holding the driver at gunpoint. Speed hated having to be home watching it when he knew that his friends were part of the pursuit. He wanted to be with them. He wanted to do his job. He had been out of the hospital for nearly three days now. The light sensitivity was gone. And he still got a minor headache now and then with some stiffness in his neck but the doctor assured him that it was normal. However, it was still going to be another week before he was cleared for work, and even then he'd only get to work in the lab. The doctor wanted him to take things easy. A month in the lab, then he could return to working in the field. He didn't even care that it would take forever to get into the field. He just wanted to be at work again. He wanted to feel useful.

Things had been progressing fast in the last few days regarding the case of the police attacks. The prison, tired of being kept away night and day by Feds and Horatio, had finally broken down and given up the others. Most of them were captured in a daring daytime raid that could have quickly gone bad. Only two officers, two SWAT members to be exact, received injuries in the raid. The leader escaped to live another day. And now he was running from the authorities on TV.

Speed watched as the Greyhound bus flew down the highway at an amazingly high speed. The entire state of Florida was helping in the chase. There wasn't any traffic in front of the bus as the highway and all the on-ramps had been shut down. Nobody wanted to see innocent lives destroyed. Even those chasing the bus were keeping a safe distance, not wanting to make the gunman inside feel agitated. The clock chimed. Pulling his eyes from the events on the TV he looked at the time. If he didn't get to the store things would never be done in time. Not that it looked as though it would matter. The chase was going to make them all late. He flipped off the TV and headed out the apartment to get to the store.

He was happy that he chose to walk instead of taking his motorcycle to the grocery store. The roads were all backed up with the highway being shut down. He whistled as he strolled down the sidewalk, his hands in his pockets. He felt the weight of his service revolver in the holster on his hip. Even though he wasn't allowed to work he refused to leave the house without it. The gun was as much a part of him as his job was. At the store he picked up the few items that he would need and paid for them. On his way out the door he told an old lady the time and picked up a toy dropped by a child in a stroll. The mother smiled at him.

To say that he was happy for the first time in months would have been an understatement. He had everything going for him. The pain and the headaches that had been plaguing him were finally gone. He still had full mobility of his body which meant he still had the job he loved so dearly. And best of all, the greatest love of his life was beginning to play out. Everything in his world was going in the right direction for once. He was even thinking about calling home as he stepped into the elevator of his apartment building.

Back in his place he began to make dinner. Tonight he was going to have a house full of people. It was a celebratory dinner for him, and if things went well with the chase, it would be a celebratory dinner for solving a treacherous case. He kept the radio on while cooking to listen to the reports coming through for the police chase. With dinner in the oven he slipped into the shower to freshen up. He rubbed on the slightest bit of cologne. Before fixing the table he checked to see how dinner was cooking. Then he went to set the table. He had invited everybody but had to remember who was able to show up. Of course Calleigh, Delko, Horatio, and Alexx would be there. Ryan was a possibility. He had accepted the invitation with some hesitation. If Calleigh came Hagen would more than likely come too. Alexx would be alone, her husband busy with work. Frank planned to be there. Valera had called to cancel earlier in the day. She still wasn't feeling good. He didn't blame her. He did a mental count. That meant seven people for dinner. He hoped they all fit at the table comfortably. If he planned to do this again he'd have to buy a bigger table.

As he returned to the kitchen to start the last half of dinner he heard the report come across the radio that the chase was over and that the suspect was in custody. He smiled with relief and shut the radio off. Once they finished up at work everyone would start showing up at his door and a night of relaxation would begin.

An hour later they all showed up at once. Kisses and hugs were dished out. The only person missing from the festive and happy group was Frank. When he inquired about the location of the missing detective the others told him that Frank had ended up stuck at work. Seemed the Feds had really taken a liking to him and wanted his help with more of the paperwork and other legal things. He had instructed them to give Speed his apologies.

The food was served and they all sat at the table to enjoy the meal when Ryan stood, his glass in his hands. "I purpose a toast, to solving the biggest case that Florida has seen in some years. To the health of Speed and his quick return to the lab. And to us, may our friendship last another year."

"I'll toast to that," Speed said with a smile.

They spent the next hour talking about all sorts of things. There was laughing and good cheer. Delko, who had sat next to Speed, placed his hand on Speed's thigh every now and then. Jokes were told, old cases retold, and gossip spread. They enjoyed one another's company the way friends should; with love and light hearts. Even after dinner was done and dessert passed they sat around the table well into the night. After everything that had gone on lately it was nice to be happy. It was something they all so desperately needed.

Horatio was the first to go home, saying something about needing to get some sleep now that things would settle down. After that, one by one, they all trickled out the door until Delko was the only one left. For the first time that night he was able to hold Speed close and kiss him.

"I wish we could have talked before dinner. Tonight would have been a time to tell the others about us," Delko said as he gathered up the dirty dishes on the table.

"I don't know. I'm not ready to tell them," Speed said in response as he flopped into the chair nearest him. "I like it being a secret. I like having this as something only you and I know about right now. It's still new. Can't it just be you and me for a little while?"

Delko smiled. "Whatever makes you happy."

"You make me happy," Speed said, realizing that it sounded kind of cheesy. "Being back at work with the people I care about most will make me even happier. I miss spending my days with you guys."

"We miss you too," Delko stated as he walked into the kitchen. The apartment was silent for a moment until he returned. "It's just not the same without that grumpy mood you've been stuck in since I met you."

"Hey," Speed objected, throwing a napkin at Delko, who laughed.