Title: Misdemeanors

Disclaimer: Violence, language, angst, slash.

POV: Speed

Chapter Fifteen: Fresh Beginnings

I sit in my apartment flipping through the channels. Nothing good is ever on TV during the afternoon. How I can't wait to return to work next week. By then I should be healed enough to at least work in the lab. It'll probably be another month before H lets me out in the field. And when he does, I have a feeling I'm going to have him as my babysitter. I can't really complain though, things could have ended much worse. That car accident could have actually killed me, instead of me just dreaming that it did. It had taken me a week to sort everything out with my friends. Delko did give me quite the lecture and afterwards we went out with Calleigh to a bowling alley. Why we went bowling when both of them knew full-well that I couldn't pick-up a bowling ball was beyond me.

That left me one person to sort things out with and he's been avoiding me like I'm the black plague. How do I fix problems that don't even begin to make sense to me? I loathed Ryan when I first met him. However, there has always been some sort of attraction to him. And from the way he's been kissing me I would guess that the feelings are mutual. We did sleep together that one time. My feelings about that night have always been mixed. Part of me felt like I'd won the lottery, while the other half crawled into a dark hole.

Giving up on the TV I throw the remote onto the coffee table. Boredom is going to drive me insane. I'm a scientist and I need stimulation. I climb off the couch like a slug and plod over to the bookshelf. There has to be some hidden treasure here that I've over-looked so many times before. I shuffle through the stack of Forensic Journals that lay on the floor. The subscription to the magazine cost me an arm and a leg but was well worth it. Too bad I've already read all the magazines in my possession. None of the books look interesting either. I could always try a movie but than I would want popcorn and I just don't feel like eating. Finally, I return to the couch and stare at the black screen of the turned-off TV.

I must doze off because the next thing I know someone is banging on my door. I jump off the couch, eager to have something to do.

I open the door to find a surprise. "Ryan? What are you doing here?"

He brushes into the apartment, not even waiting for me to invite him in. "I came to see you. I've noticed that things between you, Calleigh, and Delko have been fixed. But you left me out. Again."

I close the door before eyeing him. "Are you kidding me? You're the one avoiding me."

"I didn't want to bother you," he shrugs.

I remember the promise I made myself in the hospital. Since Horatio had been so nice to let me keep my job I promised to at least make an effort to be nicer to Ryan. Right now that's looking pretty easy. My heart feels like jumping through my chest and I fight back the urge to smile. Never look too eager.

"Sorry, Ryan, for everything I've said and done since you joined the team. I've been dealing with a lot of shit lately and I was wrong to take it out on you," I come right out and say. "You didn't deserve any of it. You're a nice guy and probably an okay CSI," I joke.

He smiles, easing the tension from the room. "I'm a damn fine CSI, Tim Speedle. I haven't exactly been the best person. I only made matters worse. Probably shouldn't have kissed you those few times but I kept getting confused. Are our signals getting mixed?"

I sat back down on the couch. "Yes, I believe they are getting crossed. Don't get me wrong, Ryan, I like you but I think we should just be friends for now."

He sat down beside me. "That's completely doable. Friendships can turn into more, though. Would you be fine if that happened?"

Now the answer to this question took some considering. Love rarely came into my life, unless it was the love of friends and family. I have a very supportive family and close friends. I have an amazing, fulfilling job. All that's really missing is that special person to love. Personally, I always thought I would fall in love with a girl, get married and have a few kids. The perfect picture, just leave out the little house with the white picket fence, that's not my style. No one ever takes into count what their heart wants when they think of the perfect marriage. If I listen to my heart and it says that Ryan is the one for me, then that's where I'll go.

"You know," I say slowly, "yes, I think I could live with that, let's see what happens before we make decisions."

"Than it's agreed no more competition or jokes at the lab," Ryan states.

I laugh. "Oh no, I'm still going to ride your ass at work, Wolfe. We may be on the way to being friends but I'm still your superior and I will make sure that you're doing your job right."

He smiles and chuckles. "And here I thought I'd have to watch out for Horatio. Guess I'm finally going to get to see the great Timothy Speedle everyone talks about."

"Only Horatio calls me Timothy," I remark, punching him in the shoulder.

We let the conversation die down. Ryan mutters something about the crap they show on TV during the afternoons. Taking a stab in the dark I ask him if he wants to maybe go to the beach. It's our day off and we really should enjoy the time. Much to my surprise he thinks it's a great idea. But as we're heading out the door my pager goes off and his sounds the alarm just seconds later. So much for the free day. Crime never stops in Miami. Not even when you're in the process of making your life right.

Fin