Slightly Condoned

Disclaimer: Don't own anything…Lyrics by Vertical Horizon

Rating: R  

Pairing: Eric/OC, Speed/Calleigh

Summary: what goes up…must come down…

Spoiler: Tinder Box, Body Count

A/N: Oh…please don't kill me after you read this…but then those of you who are familiar with my work, and me, as well know that I am a hellish author…not to mention sadistic.

Dedication: To Tina, this chapter is for you…

***

Part 27- See, Speak, Kiss

Calleigh could tell that they'd stopped almost as soon as her beloved roadster hit the curb, and she jerked forward.

Turning her masked gaze toward Speed, she could only imagine how sheepish he looked as he apologized, " Oh, sorry, I know how much you love this car."

Calleigh could sense that he was genuine but decided to tease him anyway, " Yeah almost as much as you love 'Duke'."

" Hey, hey, don't rag on my bike." The driver said defensively, and Calleigh chuckled.

" Don't crash my car."

" A worthy compromise." Speedle's voice neared as Calleigh felt the buckle of the seat belt slide off her and although she was once again free, the breath on her neck restricted her from celebrating it.

He didn't retreat to his side of the car when his job was completed either; instead he slowly began to succumb to the sudden overpowering need within him.

" Tim I-…" But before Calleigh could form a single coherent thought out loud vicious familiar lips attacked her neck, and although Tim had told her to dress warm, she was glad the neckline of her angora sweater was low.

Proving access to those coveted lips that currently created a suction device pulling her skin sensually into the abyss also known as Tim Speedle.

Yet she had to stop this.

This would be no way to start a perfectly crafted date, keeping in mind that jumping each other in the car would only leave them questioning their relationship even more.

" I know what your thinking." The voice elicited from within those same lips that were just driving her insane with lust a few moments ago, was now the sole bane of her existence.

She wanted to curl up and die, not face this man, who was obviously going out of his way to apologize for something *she* had done, and she no longer wished to be forgiven.

" Okay, then you'll pull away right now." Calleigh tried to find a loophole, but at the same time perhaps her mask was her savior, so she wouldn't have to see his disappointed look.

" Or what?" Tim challenged.

" Or I'm gonna jump your bones right this instant. And I'm much too eager to see what you have in store for me to do that." Calleigh smirked, and then turned around, trying to feel her way to the door lock, and open it before she disobeyed her word.

Speed suddenly felt sorry for her, and clicked the door open, while getting out himself, murmuring that perhaps her suggestion wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Calleigh pretended she didn't hear him, as he helped her out of the passenger seat but when she reached behind herself to untie the scarf he cautioned her, " No."

" What? I had to endure the entire car ride to god knows where and now you wont even let me see where the fuck you brought me." Calleigh announced with irritancy.

Tim just chuckled in response and added, " You my dear are very impatient."

And Calleigh scoffed, " Oh like you didn't know that already."

Speed didn't respond because as far as he was concerned and aware the arguing match could go on forever.

They were both relentless in their speech.

He walked around the car, pulling out something out of the trunk, or so Calleigh assumed, but before she could voice her concern and far out curiosity she felt the warmth of his fingers graze her wrist and then she willing accepted his embrace.

" Just take my hand and follow me," he said to her in a voice just above a whisper but the seduction continued as he led her in a tight grasp through what she assumed for the parking lot.

They stopped shortly, when they came upon the end and what Calleigh once again could only guess was a door of some sort.

" Tim, I'm dying here." She hinted on her patience running thin but Tim did nothing but chuckle once more.

" I know you are, and trust me, it's killing me watching you suffer, believe me." He said, and although Calleigh was currently blind she could sense the heavy sarcasm in his voice already.

" I do not, so open this damn door, and let me in." Calleigh then used a different tactic, whining had always gotten her, her way, and this was no exception now.

Tim rolled his eyes, and unlocked the door, pushing her slightly inside.

" Oh c'mon don't complain, you'll enjoy it I promise." Speed told her honestly, as he led her threw the small corridor and then entered a far more chilling area.

Calleigh breathed in the cool area and shivered slightly, now she understood Tim when he said to dress warmly.

Although she was still unsure as to where in Miami you could breathe in such lip chapping air, in contrast to the heat of the night outside, this was a welcomed chill for about two minutes.

Then the cool settled in again, and Calleigh shivered involuntarily, " Told ya to dress warmly."

She heard a chuckle behind her and had the urge to give Tim a piece of her mind when she felt him place her down on the bench.

" Sit." He ordered.

" Feisty." Calleigh commented, somewhat intrigued by the whole ordeal, even more so now that she felt Tim's fingers slyly crawl up her leg, and reach the top zipper of her left boot and pull it down, revealing a stalking clad foot.

He rubbed it gently, almost absent-mindedly, but Calleigh knew better as she relaxed under his ministrations, only to be pulled away from the safe haven when she felt her foot enclose in another sort of boot.

This one was strangely uninviting but at the same time familiar but Calleigh couldn't quite place what the shoe was, Tim spent long moments tying it which meant this was a lace up.

" Speedle, tell me what the hell your putting on my feet before I kill you." Calleigh voiced her frustrations when he removed her left boot and proceeded with the same task as the first time, meanwhile chuckling incessantly.

" How, your blind remember." He informed her, almost condescendingly, and she pouted.

" You know what, I'm tired of this." Calleigh announced, pressing her lips together in frustration, and the oddity eating away at her was unbearable.

Speed sat back and suited himself up and said, " Well your timing's impeccable baby." He said as he walked behind her, and guided her by the elbow a few steps as Calleigh suddenly realized her shoes had a very thin sole.

She felt as if she were standing on…on…on ICE SKATES.

And it all made sense to Calleigh, dawned to her like a bucket of cold water on a hot day.

The air was exceptionally warm, and she could feel her cheeks perk up with natural rogue as she entered the building at first now Calleigh realized, and chided herself for not figuring it out earlier, that Tim had taken her to an ice ring.

Just as she thought this, the blindfold escaped and Calleigh was met by the bright lights of an ice ring stadium.

" Tim, what in the world-…" " I hope you like it, I thought we could do something different, something we haven't done in so long." He whispered in her ear, while his arms wandered around her mid section, finally settling on her waist.

" Of course I love it, I haven't ice skated in years." Calleigh smiled giddily and then without further prelude guided Tim to the translucent, plastic door of the ring.

Slipping inside she glided on the ice unsteadily at first, and at first instinct grabbed on to the edge of the sphere, instead she encountered Tim, crushed against his chest, she sheepishly looked up at him, behind hooded lashes.

" Sorry a little inexperienced need to stretch my legs without breaking my neck." Calleigh reached passed him for the railing but he grabbed her lingering arm and pulled her to him.

" It's okay, you wont fall I promise." He whispered against her ear, his breath tickling her skin enticingly, as she looked up and with a mischievous glare crossed her arms.

" Since when are you a pro figure skater?" She asked with slight disbelief and mockery.

Tim only shook his head at her unconvinced glare and ushered her to the middle of the ring.

" Did I never tell you how my mother forced me to take up a sport in high school because I read too much?" Speed said as he pushed off his skate, and ended up twirling Calleigh around.

She elicited something that resembled a 'whee' sound and giggled afterward as she crushed against his chest, and desperate not to get caught up in the emotional moment she continued their conversation.

" So you picked hockey?"

" I grew up in rural New York, not much else to do there, and it snows like hell." He explained, and once again proceeded to spin Calleigh around, this time in his arms, pulling her closer and closer, and the blonde felt her cheeks redden and this time not from the cold but from the excitement building up within her as she looked into Tim's eyes.

Those rich chocolate eyes she could get lost in forever, Calleigh thought, and then added, " So how'd you manage to get us in here?"

" Oh remember that case I worked on with Delko, the hockey player that O.Ded on steroids but ended up to be his hockey coach who pressured him, well, the guy who owns this place was eager on repaying us a favor, I called one in." Tim mused.

" Oh, well, I thank both him and you for being the sweet gentleman you are to do this for me, thanks." Then she rose on her slippery tiptoes and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

It was feather like just like the movements of his arms sweeping her up by her waist and caressing the bare skin underneath her sweater.

Calleigh felt the curious tongue of her boyfriend slide into her mouth without resistance but as much as she wished she could retaliate, Calleigh knew they'd easily get carried away, and they had the whole evening for that.

It wasn't every day that your boyfriend did such a terribly sweet thing and staked out an entire ice ring for you, and Calleigh promised herself to make the most of it.

That's why she pushed off his chest, steady on her feet, and glided swiftly to the other side of the ring, remembering the ease she used to feel when she'd step into a pair of ice skates.

At times, when she couldn't handle her father, and the baggage that came with him, she'd escape in the confines of manmade ice, and skate her troubles away…

***

I've got to be honest
I think you know
we're covered in lies and that's ok…

He watched her spin in all sorts of directions, if it were anyone else, he'd be on the floor, freezing his ass off, but laughing incessantly at the makeshift movements and non-choreographed dance.

Tim hadn't even realized that the radio got louder and louder until Calleigh called to him.

" Tim, I love this song." Her grin intensified as she glided through the middle of the ring, extending one foot out, barely touching the ice.

" I'm glad." He chimed back to her, genuinely pleased that he could put a smile on her face so blinding, he wasn't sure he could look directly at her without tearing up.

She was just so goddamn beautiful.

Flowing blond locks swaying through the chilled air as if they belonged there.

Sensual blue eyes, clear as the morning sky and deep as the ocean, that bore into his soul just as easily as they infatuated him to begin with.

Plush, smooth lips gentle when desired, and rough when needed, but always supple, and taunting. Like something he could never have, and constantly craved. 

There's somewhere beyond this I know
but I hope I can find the words to say

Speed felt himself being pulled into an abyss, an uncharted territory he visited frequently but never claimed. Because to him, Calleigh Duquesne was someone sought after, but never gotten, someone who stood her own but let go when she needed it.

And that was exactly how their relationship had begun-on comfort.

As Tim watched her draw lazy circles on the iced floor, he couldn't help but be captivated by her movements.

The way her hips swayed to the music, as she hummed herself, and to keep her balance spread her arms widely, picking up speed as she rounded the sphere like a pro, always keeping a smile on her face, and her eyes forever fixated on him, even though it didn't seem like she was dancing for him.

It seemed like he was merely a bystander, awed, and entranced accidentally, because the object of his affection was off limits.

Calleigh continued to slide through the ice, breathing in the chilly air, and thankful for the release it brought, and the tiny slice of freedom forever installed for her.

Like it had so many years back when she needed it most, when things got too much this would be her escape, and for someone to reopen that door for her, was more than a blessing.

It was fate.

Never again no
No never again

Humming to herself, the blonde drew out wild patterns on the ice with her blades, first twirling in the center, then pushing off the edge to corner Tim, and giggle at him when he couldn't catch her.

Through all this, they maintained eye contact and Speed couldn't get enough of the sight in front of him.

His breath came out in shallow puffs, creating a sense of anxiety around him, and an electrical surge of obvious yearn shook him violently.

And yet something held him back, something so much more powerful then the feeling Calleigh elicited on him, other emotions rolled through him like fright trains passing markers on to their destinations.

However in this case, he had no idea what that destination for his frenzied thoughts may be.

'Cause you're a god
and I am not
and I just thought
that you would know

Calleigh continued to sing, her voice slightly overpowering the mellow radio, and Tim found himself once again drawn to another attribute of her being.

Her voice.

Husky, and soft, sultry, and demanding, but luring at the same time, pushing all the right buttons, enchanting every fiber of his being as she continued to seduce him further, intentionally or not, Tim didn't know but he was sure as hell confident in the fact that it was working.

Then out of nowhere, the soft pair of lips, that Speed had mused about before, captured his, and he felt himself pressed against the plastic barrier of the skating ring.

The need with in her bubbling, Calleigh, once again, proved to both herself and Tim that she was not a patient person, as she arched herself into Speed's touch and continued to tease him with her tongue, revisiting old terrains and conquering new ones, as she felt him willingly accept her offer to stop skating for a while.

" Jesus Christ Cal, you've got to-…" Speed's crusty voice was once again overshadowed by Calleigh's actions as she continued to grind against him, completely ignoring his plea to end this.

Eventually, Calleigh won over Tim completely; his hands reached down, and slowly snuck up the expanse of creamy skin, as Calleigh pushed into him more, sliding her body into a perfected mold with his.

But I've been unable

To put you down

I'm still learning things

I ought to know by now

The closeness of her body, and the warmth of her lips, proved too much for the New Yorker as he slightly pushed her off himself, far enough that he couldn't taste her anymore, but not in a distance where he couldn't feel her heaving breaths on his neck.

" What?" Calleigh reached out to run her thumb over the stubble on his jaw line, " You didn't like that? You'd be lying, I know you liked it." She indicated that she had physical evidence that her ministrations upon him proved successful.

Tim cursed at himself as he realized what she so cryptically implied.

" Never thought ice skating would be so arousing eh?" Calleigh kidded, as she leaned in to kiss him, and then pushed off his chest, and glided through the ice with definite grace and momentum.

" Well, it's not the ice sweetheart." Tim's voice spoke volumes as he followed Calleigh's invisible trail through the icy plain.

Calleigh watched him tail her and like so many other times before she didn't think she was too keen on running away from him.

This time anyway.

It felt too damn good.

His lips, his tongue, his hands, just *him* and everything about him that drove her insane with need.

Calleigh realized she'd have to have him, and not like that morning, not in desperation, not in need, but in simple love, and the feeling that prospered from it.

" Tim." He inched closer and closer, as Calleigh slid backward, glad her legs hadn't given up on her yet.

" Yeah?"

" I'm ready to go home now."

" Okay." Tim nodded, and then leaned in to kiss her…

It's under the table so

I need something more to show somehow…

***

The car ride was silent.

Calleigh tried to draw her attention away from the hand on her thigh, but kept coming back to the electrifying feeling that was induced by that simple touch.

Tim remained as oblivious to his own subtle actions as Calleigh was enticed by them, keeping him at a reasonable distance was all but forgotten when he parked the roadster near his apartment building and shut off the ignition.

The stillness of the interior was now deafening, and Calleigh could only think of one way to ease her troubled mind.

" So how about that dessert?"

Tim chuckled at her, as he unclipped his seatbelt and walked around to open the door for Calleigh.

Taking his hand, she watched him place the black silk in the back seat, but stopped him.

He gave her a confused stare, so Calleigh leaned in and flicked her tongue slightly over the length of his earlobe, before she said, " I think it's *your* turn to be blind folded."

Calleigh chuckled as she slipped out of the car, and saw that Speed visibly tensed under her ministrations.

But that didn't stop him from grabbing her hand, and pulling her with remarkable pace to his apartment…

***

" But Tim, you didn't feed me I'm hungry." Calleigh mock whined as Speed attacked her neck when they entered the apartment.

The door slammed with miraculous force and simultaneously Calleigh felt a pair of coveted lips on her throat, working incessantly to get her blood boiling, and succeeding at it so far.

" Bed now. Food later." Speed murmured against her skin, as he planted feathery kisses down her neckline, where the two stretches of fabric joined, he dipped his tongue in, and felt soft fingers raking through his hair.

He was in heaven.

Thus, when he heard an intruding voice, persist into his mind, Tim Speedle realized that his rapture would be short lived.

" Oh…Timmy, I didn't know you were gonna bring company."

Time seemed to stop for the pair, as Calleigh let go of Tim's head, and pulled him up at eye contact.

" Please tell me I'm just hearing voices." She whispered to him, and he said nothing because the other person in the room interrupted.

" Well usually people ask you to tell them that they're *not* hearing voices." The woman countered and Calleigh pushed Tim completely off her.

The trace expert looked like a deer caught in headlights, through the entire evening he had forgotten completely that the other set of keys to his place now belonged to Megan.

The irony of the situation was that he could've prevented this, and now, judging by the look in Calleigh's eyes, he had ruined everything.

Calleigh sent Megan a confused stare, and then in a millisecond shoved Tim against the other wall.

" Calleigh what the-…" He was a little bemused and slightly bit more reluctant to see this new Calleigh spawrl out of control.

" What else are you fucking hiding back there?" She reached up and hit him upside the head, " The entire fucking DNA unit?"

" Huh?" Calleigh continued her badgering, until Megan cut in.

" Calleigh, honestly, it wasn't his fault, I didn't want anyone to know." Glad that someone had come to his rescue, Tim took the chance to try and explain himself.

" I, I didn't want her staying at the Agramonte after what happened with Gloria Taynan."

The look in Calleigh's eyes didn't simmer down, but instead glorified, " Just, just shut up Tim." Calleigh pressed her palm square on his chest, shoving him back against the wall.

" Umm okay?" Speed didn't know what else to say, for the fear of his own well-being.

" And you." Calleigh walked up to Megan, close enough to maintain eye contact and even reach out and poke the older woman in the shoulder.

Megan swallowed, desperately trying not to be fearful of someone about three inches shorter than her, however something she had learned about bullet girl the first time she'd met her, was that she never backed down.

And didn't allow her diminutive stature to prevent her from being just as affective in scaring the hell out of anyone, as any 6'1 man.

Through her musings, Megan hadn't seen Calleigh's stare soften, and only realized she was being pulled into a hug when it was already too late to get out of it.

And not like she wanted to either.

Something about knowing at least one of her friends had cared, and didn't despise her for leaving as abruptly as she had.

And yet Megan wasn't given any time to bask in the ease that now occupied her heart, when she stole a glance at her protégée leaning, slumped against the wall, rubbing his head tentatively.

Knowing she caused this pain, forced Megan out of her bliss.

" Calleigh, sweetie, he really had nothing to do with this." She whispered to her friend in the bear hug.

Calleigh then pulled back, and the look she gave Megan read absolutely everything that the DNA specialist didn't want to see, however that didn't stop the blonde's eyes from burning up with indecipherable anguish.

The other woman turned to look at Megan from apart, and gave her the saddest smile possible on that beautiful face, as she said, " We'll catch up soon okay?"

Megan did nothing but nod, feeling as helpless as never before, both for her friend and for herself.

Calleigh did a 180 in the hall, spiraling her attention toward the other person in the room.

" Cal, listen to me."

" No you listen to me." Calleigh said in a voice rose slightly above indoor speech, something both CSIs seldom heard come out of her mouth.

" I never want to see you again, I never want to speak to you again, and I certainly never want to do this again." She then leaned in and planted a rough kiss on his lips, before biting his lower lip with more venom then intended and then turned to leave.

The door slammed with persistence.

Tim touched his bottom lip and realized he was bleeding, " Well that went well…" 

He muttered to himself and brushed passed Megan into the bathroom looking for antiseptic…

" By the way Meg, welcome home."

Never again no

No never again…

TBC…