Title: Misdemeanors
Disclaimer: Angst, violence, slash, and language.
POV: Speed
Chapter Two: Laugh at my Pain
I hang my lab coat on the hook in my locker. The day shift is finally over. In two hours the sun will be down and the crimes will start. Tomorrow my morning will start earlier than that of everyone else. I'll get a call which will rouse me from my delightful sleep. This is my work; this is how I live my life. I sit on the cracked wooden bench that runs between the lockers. Somehow I managed to get through the rest of the day without seeing Ryan. I believe that Horatio spent the day avoiding me.
Why does my oldest and dearest friend think that I need a babysitter? Yes, I know that I fucked up this morning. I got the evidence though, didn't I? That piece of evidence could break the case. Or at least help along those lines. No one was going to shoot me. Sure, that guy would have hit me with his car but I would have heard the car and moved. Wouldn't I have? I shake my head.
"Stop kidding yourself, Tim," I mumble. "That guy was going to hit you and turn you into a human speed bump."
"Do you talk to yourself often?" A voice calls out the shadows.
"Don't sneak up on me," I snap at Delko as he walks to his locker. "I don't want to have to tell Horatio you're trying to give me heart failure. He wouldn't be too happy to hear that."
Delko chuckles. "If you die because of me, who will I torture?"
"How about the new guy?" I say as I change my sneakers.
"What about him? His name is Ryan, right?" He looks at me. I nod. "I don't know him that well. Only talked to him when Horatio introduced us. He seems a bit young, but then again, we were all young at one time."
"Who you calling old?" Calleigh asks as she breezes into the locker room.
"Who else? Timmy," Delko jokes. Calleigh giggles as she pops her locker door open.
I stand up to fish through the stuff in my locker. There are two pairs of extra clothing in it. I learned a long time ago that you can never have too many outfits to change into at work. You can get covered in blood, mud, waste, and so many other things. The shirt I'm currently wearing could have been turned into evidence any time during the day. I pull a black button-down shirt from the metal box. The pain in my chest shoots through me like a bullet from a gun. I gasp in pain.
"You okay man?" Delko asks with concern in his voice.
"Just fine. I moved too fast, that's all. Probably stretched my arm the wrong way," I lie.
Calleigh peeks around the door to her locker. "Speaking of the new guy, I think we should get to know him better. If he's going to be part of this team we should include him in our little group outings."
I shake my head as I ran a hand through my hair before straightening my shirt. "You didn't invite him to the club tonight, did you?"
She shrugs. "I'm sorry, Speed, I thought it would be a nice gesture. Horatio would want us to make an effort in getting to know Ryan."
"She has a point," Delko chimes in. "Plus, we work like a well-oiled machine. If we don't get to know Ryan than there's a missing bolt in our little machine. I don't know about you but I want to know I can trust the guy."
"Fine, whatever," I mutter.
We finish changing into our off-duty clothes. The club we're going to tonight is called The Neon River. I never understood the reasoning behind giving clubs odd names. We usually end up at The Neon River. Probably because it's law enforcement friendly. Cops, detectives, criminalists and so on get a special rate; which includes getting in for free. No ten dollar cover charge for me. As we head to the elevator Calleigh starts talking about the music and how she wants to dance away her memories of the day. Each one of us has a way of dealing with the violence we experience at work. Calleigh goes dancing or out to the shooting range. Delko hangs out with his sister. As for me, I usually sit in the dark and brood over the deaths of innocent people. Occasionally I'll work on my motorcycle. Horatio has Madison and her mom to think about. Every victim becomes his responsibility. The poor guy never does anything fun. Calleigh still invites him to go clubbing with us even though she knows he'll say no.
The doors to the elevator are about to close when Ryan squeezes his way through them. He smiles at Calleigh and Delko. His eyes rest on me. I turn my gaze away. This guy will never replace me at the lab. He's too young and something in his eyes bothers me. Maybe it's the way he keeps looking at me.
"Have you ever been to the club we're going to tonight, Ryan?" Calleigh ask.
"No, I admit that I haven't really been to a lot of clubs," he replies. Finally he shifts his gaze off me.
Delko chuckles. "The girls are going to love you man. Nothing like fresh meat to make them excited."
The new recruit smiles. "That's interesting to hear. I'm not really looking into hooking up with anyone though. Kind of want to get situated first."
"Promise me you'll dance one dance with me?" Calleigh asks as she takes his arm.
"I'm not much of a dancer but I guess it won't be a problem."
Once we're outside I part ways from them to head for my bike. I promise to meet them at the club. They'll probably all ride in Delko's truck. Good for them, let them bond and get real close. I bought a motorcycle because I like being alone. I like feeling the wind as a cruise along the highway. It's almost like I'm free from the ties that bind.
I make it to the club first. The bouncer nods at me. I return the gesture with a wave. People standing in line in front of the building look toward me. Probably trying to figure out what's so special about me. Delko shows up next, Calleigh and Ryan close behind. Just like I speculated they took Delko's truck. As a group we approach the bouncer. Even though the guy knows us well we still have to flash our badges. He lets us pass. I can see the envy in the eyes of all the people standing in line. Calleigh drags Ryan off to the dance floor as soon as we're through the door.
"Poor sap," Delko says.
Together we seek out a table. Delko waves to Calleigh so that she knows where to find us. The waitress comes to take our orders. I order a soda while Delko gets a beer. I've never been into drinking. Not in my line of work. I've seen what happens to people who drink too much. When the song ends Calleigh and Ryan join us. They order drinks; some weird mixed drink for Calleigh and a soda for Ryan. I can't help but be a little paranoid that he's trying to be just like me. Trying to make it easier for everyone else when he takes my place.
We stay for hours while Calleigh dances. Like gentleman we each dance with her once, Delko dances with her more than anyone. This of course leaves me to sit with Ryan, alone. He tries to make conversation but I ignore him. I don't care if I'm acting childish. I feel like I'm being given the brush off. This really isn't fair.
When the latest song ends Delko and Calleigh return to the table, both winded and a little sweaty. "I'm going to take Calleigh home, you ready to leave Ryan?"
I notice how his gaze shifts to me for a second. "Nah, I'll take a cab. You guys go right on a head."
"Are you sure?" Calleigh asks.
"Yes," he nods. "It's been fun. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
The two of them disappear into the massive crowd. I throw some money on the table as a tip for the waitress and get up to leave. Instead of heading for the front door I opt to go out back. Less people bugging me about getting into the club. I hear Ryan following behind me. He really has some nerve. I step out into the lit alley and head for my motorcycle. Maybe I can get out of here before he bugs me.
"Hey, Speed, wait," he yells. Too late for me to get away.
I turn to him. "Only my friends have the right to call me Speed."
He comes to a stop in front of me. "Why can't I be your friend?"
"Because you're trying to replace me. That's what you were hired for, isn't it?" I place a hand to my forehead. The throbbing headache is back. The aspirin that Alexx loaned me is back in my locker.
"I'm not here to replace you," he states. "Horatio hired me so that you could keep your job."
"I don't know about you but I would be bugged if someone hired me for that reason." I turn around to continue heading for my ride. The last thing I want to do is listen to this guy.
"Tim, I'm sorry you feel this way," he calls after me.
I don't turn around. My headache is getting worse and I just want to get home and go to bed. As I reach for the keys in my pocket I realize that I've lost the feeling in my left hand again; and this time it's my whole hand, not just the fingertips. My vision blurs as a dizzy spell hits me. The last thing I really remember about the night is someone screaming for help. That, and someone's hand on my chest. I wanted to tell that person to move their hand, they were pressing on my old gunshot wound but the words never came…