Authors Note: Hey! This is my first fic so any feedback is welcomed. Constructive criticism, praises, flames, whatever.
Spoilers: This story basically is a spoiler for the episode 'Lost Son'.
It was a cool night. A light breeze was blowing in from the ocean and over the city. Horatio didn't feel the breeze or see the sun setting over the bay, turning the sky various shades of red. Red. Like the blood that had trickled out of his mouth as he tried to speak. To apologize. Like the blood that had pooled underneath him, spreading out to stain the floor. Like the blood that had dripped onto the sleeve of his jacket as he held him. As he died. No amount of scrubbing had gotten the blood out and, aside from using scissors, he couldn't do anything about it. So he had left it. As a reminder of what could happen. What had happened.
"You Ok?" came a worried voice from behind him. He turned to see Calleigh standing there, Eric beside her.
"I'm fine. Just thinking," he replied slowly. The blonde CSI reached out and squeezed his shoulder.
"We all are," was all she said, before turning and walking away. Horatio followed her progress with his eyes. She walked over to where the coffin lay, surrounded with various objects. Flowers, pictures, the like. She knelt down and placed a single red rose next to a large, black and white photograph. She touched her fingers to her lips and then pressed them to the lips of the face in the frame. Getting up slowly, she turned to stare out across the water, lost in memories.
"Don't worry H. She'll be fine." Startled, he jumped. He had forgotten the young man standing so quietly beside him, lost, as he was, in his own thoughts.
"I know." He sighed and stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"Will you be?" came the question he had been dreading. Eric had spoken so softly, he could almost have pretended that he didn't hear. He continued to stare at the ocean, the sunset, Calleigh, anything except for Eric.
"H?" He waited a bit longer before finally answering.
"I'm doing as well as the rest of us," came the well thought out reply. "It's just, hard, you know?" He turned to face Eric.
"Yeah. I know." Horatio doubted that he did. He hadn't been there. Hadn't heard the gun shots. Hadn't watched, helpless, as his friend slowly fell to the floor. He means well, thought Horatio sadly. He only wants to help.
"Thanks," he started to walk away. A hand on his arm stopped him. He looked back.
"For what?" asked the other man.
"For being here." was his reply. "For being my friend. His friend." Eric nodded. He let go of his arm and headed towards Calleigh, who was sitting in the grass, her face buried in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. Horatio felt his heart breaking as he knew Calleigh and Eric's were. As he knew everyone's at the funeral was. He took one last look at the picture propped up beside Calleigh's rose. The familiar grin shone up at him and he couldn't help smiling too. As much as they were all going to miss him, no one would ever forget Tim Speedle.
Authors Note: I hope you enjoyed it! As always, feedback is welcomed.