Title: Unknown

Chapter 8

Author's Notes: I am so dreading the season opener.

-----

As I round the corner into the break room, Calleigh and Alexx are standing face to face, deep in conversation.

"Well," Calleigh says seriously, her arms folded tightly across her chest, "This certainly explains his secretiveness."

I lean casually against the door frame, but I don't say anything.

"I'd say it does," Alexx says, "The poor thing."

Calleigh nods. "At least know we know what's going—"

Fighting a grin, I clear my throat.

Startled, Calleigh looks up. "Oh, hi, Tim," she says a little too brightly, "How long have you been standing there?"

"Hi, baby," Alexx says quickly. She walks over and puts a hand on my upper arm. "So when do I meet this Mark character?"

"Wow," I say, scowling at Calleigh, "News travel fast."

"Well," Calleigh says defensively, "I'm prone to gossip. You know that."

Alexx reaches up and straightens my collar. "Timmy, what kind of man is Mark?"

About that time, Tyler walks in holding a bottle of lemonade. "Who's Mark?"

I raise my eyebrows at Calleigh. "You mean you didn't have time to get the news to the AV lab? Maybe you should've tried a memo."

"Are you really mad?" Calleigh asks sheepishly.

I shake my head. "No, I'm not mad." Turning to Tyler, I say, "Mark is my significant other."

Tyler takes a sip of lemonade. "Cool," he says, "So, am I the last to know?"

"No," Calleigh says, twirling her hair innocently around her fingers, "I didn't get a chance to tell Carrie yet."

Tyler grins at me, "Can I tell her?"

Shaking my head, I smile, "Knock yourself out."

"Cool," he says happily. As he starts for the door, he turns to me and points. "Oh, I forgot. H wants to see you in his office."

I feel my stomach start to churn. Damn. I thought I was off the hook.

"Did he seem mad?" I ask, trying to hide the anxiety in my voice.

Tyler pauses to consider. Finally, he answers, "He seemed pensive."

H seems pensive a lot, so that could be bad or good. Sighing, I turn to Alexx and Calleigh. "Well, it looks like I've been called to the principal's office."

Steeling myself for the inevitable dressing down, I dutifully trudge into the hall.

"Hey," Calleigh says, hurrying to catch up to me, "I'll walk with you."

As we plod toward H's office, I turn to Calleigh. "So, you're all right with this?"

She frowns. "Why wouldn't I be?"

I shrug. "I didn't know what to expect." Letting out a breath, I add, "Listen, Mark wants to have you, Eric, and H over tomorrow night. At my place."

"Your place," Calleigh gasps for effect, "That would be a first."

I roll my eyes. "It's not that impressive, Cal. It's mostly wall to wall books."

"That would impress a girl like me," she says sweetly.

-----

I swallow fiercely when we finally reach H's office. "Well," I say, "This is where I get off."

Calleigh squeezes my arm for support. "Well, call me," she says. "Let me know what time."

I nod, and then poke my head hesitantly into Horatio's inner sanctum. "Hey H," I say, "You wanted to see me?"

H looks up. "Yeah, Speed," he says amiably, "Come in."

I inch my way into the office. The last time I was here, I was getting yelled at for my . . . attitude toward a suspect's son. It was the first time I'd ever been bawled out by H. Or any boss. Megan used to lecture me, but she never really yelled.

"Sit down," H says, leaning nonchalantly against his desk. He tugs at his bottom lip, gazing at me for a moment while I lower myself into a chair. Finally, he says, "So, how long have you been seeing Mark?"

I lean back uncomfortably. "A few months."

He nods. "Okay. How are things going?"

"Good," I say.

H regards me for a few seconds. "So, the fight in the bar," he says conversationally.

"Yeah?"

"Did that have anything to do with you and Mark being together?"

It takes me a minute to process what H is asking. "No," I say, a little stunned, "No. We usually don't get hassled. I mean, once in a while, some idiot will mouth off. But Mark's a big guy, y'know?"

"Okay," H nods, "Okay. Listen, Speed. If you are hassled at all, verbally or physically, I want to know about it at once. All right?"

"Yeah," I say, straightening my body, "Everybody's been pretty cool so far."

"Okay." H stands up and walks around his desk, snatching up a manila file. "I checked with DNA. It turns out that the scrapings under Brendan's nails are female, but not a match to our black hair." He puts his hands on his hips. "What does that tell us?"

I lean forward, the tension in my shoulders finally beginning to fade. "It tells us that three people were in contact with our vic. One male. Two females."

"That's right," H says, "Three possible suspects."

I nod, licking my bottom lip. "Three possible witnesses."

-----

In the quiet of the locker room, I lean my body against cold metal. Slowly, my breathing starts to return to normal.

I'm not suspended. I haven't been written up or yelled at. H and Calleigh are coming over for dinner. Mark and I are getting along. Finally, finally, life is okay again.

I'm so lost in thought that I don't hear Eric walk up. "Hey," he mumbles.

I jump, startled. "Hey."

He points. "You're leaning on my locker."

"Sorry," I say, moving quickly to one side. "So, Delko," I say, "Are you okay with this?"

"Okay with what?"

I frown. I hate it when Eric plays dumb. He's too smart for that.

"Are you okay with me dating a man?" I ask.

Eric shrugs. "I'm cool."

"No," I say, "You're freaking."

"I am not," he says, slamming his locker a little too loudly.

"You're freaking," I repeat.

Glaring, Eric starts to pace. "Maybe a little," he says after several seconds, "Give me a break."

"I'm the same guy, Eric," I say.

Eric shakes his head. "No, man. No you're not. This morning, you were my straight, single friend. My wingman. Now you're . . . what? Are you gay?"

"Yeah," I say.

"Okay, so you're gay. And you're in a relationship." Eric spits the last part out with a fair dose of venom.

"I can still be your wingman."

"Can you?" Eric says emphatically, moving close enough that he's nearly in my face. "I had to prod you to get you to go out to dinner. And you had to run home in the middle of that." He throws his hands up. "Everything's changed, Speed."

"No it hasn't," I say ardently, "Things will be better now. You'll see. Mark wants to spend time with you. He wants you to come over for dinner tomorrow. H and Calleigh are coming."

Eric narrows his eyes. "This guy living with you?"

I let out a breath. "He has his own place. But yeah, he usually stays over."

"So this is serious?"

"Yeah, Eric. It's serious." We stare at each other for a minute. I knew there was a chance someone would act this way. I just hoped it wouldn't be Eric. Finally, I ask, "Delko, you gonna be okay with this?"

Eric rocks back on his heels. "You gotta give me time to process this, man. I mean, we're okay. I just need to get used to all this."

"Okay, fair enough. I can live with that." Leaning one shoulder against my locker, I ask, "So, will you come to dinner tomorrow?"

"Yeah," he says without hesitation, "I'll be there."