"Cynthia, I'm not seeing 'some bimbo'. Do you really think I wasn't loyal to you?" Horatio's voice became startlingly rigid.
"Then what IS this about Horatio!? What are you trying to tell me!?"
"Why did you bring this down here? This couldn't wait 'til I'm off work?" The question broke it. Up until now the conversation had been as civil as a marital argument could be, but now this was no longer an argument in an office. This was bordering on a cage match.
"And WHEN would that BE!? When was the last time you were OFF work? You spend all your time at this damn office!"
Scraping his papers from off the floor in the hall, Tim was sure half the office had heard that, but pretended as though he hadn't. He cursed himself for having forgotten it. He'd so easily assumed they were separated, for a few days in the least. Tim had no words. He didn't know if he was angry, or sad, or if this changed any of what had occurred last night. It meant something to Tim, not just the sex of course, but the promises H had made him. He said he would help him, that things were going to change. No one had ever made Tim such lofty promises, but their worth began to fade as Speed tried to narrow down exactly what point in this he had become the 'other man' of an affair.
"Calm down. Calm down and I'll explain everything." Caine's voice made Tim, again aware of the conversation behind the door. "There are some things about me, you really don't know." With that his voice fell low, far to low for Tim to hear without actually being in the room. Reorganizing his collection of papers he debated hanging around to see this to its end, when the office commotion seemed to spring to life again.
"Oh my god!" Rang from the shrill from the office, the door flew open, Cynthia marched herself right past Speed and out of the building.
Tim froze in the hallway, praying he was alone there. Checking over his shoulder he sighed of relief, and carefully leaned through the doorway. Horatio sat motionless. His sunglasses hung from the finger tips of one hand, while the other hand covered his eyes, supporting his head. H had never looked so exhausted.
"Horatio." The meek voice was enough to make Horatio jump, and looking up at the young man in the doorway H realized Tim had doubtlessly heard that conversation.
"I'm sorry you had to hear--"
"Horatio. How long had it been?" Speedle's voice was soft, with a frightened disbelief.
"Tim--"
"Just tell me exactly, how long had it been between the time you left her, and the time you came to me?" Tim was prepared to wait patiently. Horatio sighed and looked up into Speed's eyes.
"Hours." He wasn't going to lie, even if this was putting head in a noose. He couldn't to lie to Tim. Speedle's jaw clenched and he swallowed roughly. With a stiff nod he dropped the folder of paper work on Horatio's desk.
"Your paperwork, Lieutenant." And walked out.
"Then what IS this about Horatio!? What are you trying to tell me!?"
"Why did you bring this down here? This couldn't wait 'til I'm off work?" The question broke it. Up until now the conversation had been as civil as a marital argument could be, but now this was no longer an argument in an office. This was bordering on a cage match.
"And WHEN would that BE!? When was the last time you were OFF work? You spend all your time at this damn office!"
Scraping his papers from off the floor in the hall, Tim was sure half the office had heard that, but pretended as though he hadn't. He cursed himself for having forgotten it. He'd so easily assumed they were separated, for a few days in the least. Tim had no words. He didn't know if he was angry, or sad, or if this changed any of what had occurred last night. It meant something to Tim, not just the sex of course, but the promises H had made him. He said he would help him, that things were going to change. No one had ever made Tim such lofty promises, but their worth began to fade as Speed tried to narrow down exactly what point in this he had become the 'other man' of an affair.
"Calm down. Calm down and I'll explain everything." Caine's voice made Tim, again aware of the conversation behind the door. "There are some things about me, you really don't know." With that his voice fell low, far to low for Tim to hear without actually being in the room. Reorganizing his collection of papers he debated hanging around to see this to its end, when the office commotion seemed to spring to life again.
"Oh my god!" Rang from the shrill from the office, the door flew open, Cynthia marched herself right past Speed and out of the building.
Tim froze in the hallway, praying he was alone there. Checking over his shoulder he sighed of relief, and carefully leaned through the doorway. Horatio sat motionless. His sunglasses hung from the finger tips of one hand, while the other hand covered his eyes, supporting his head. H had never looked so exhausted.
"Horatio." The meek voice was enough to make Horatio jump, and looking up at the young man in the doorway H realized Tim had doubtlessly heard that conversation.
"I'm sorry you had to hear--"
"Horatio. How long had it been?" Speedle's voice was soft, with a frightened disbelief.
"Tim--"
"Just tell me exactly, how long had it been between the time you left her, and the time you came to me?" Tim was prepared to wait patiently. Horatio sighed and looked up into Speed's eyes.
"Hours." He wasn't going to lie, even if this was putting head in a noose. He couldn't to lie to Tim. Speedle's jaw clenched and he swallowed roughly. With a stiff nod he dropped the folder of paper work on Horatio's desk.
"Your paperwork, Lieutenant." And walked out.