Horatio Caine, dressed casually in khakis and a light shirt, opened his front door and found Tim Speedle shuffling his feet nervously, twisting a motorcycle helmet between his hands. Speed looked even more rumpled than usual, if such a thing were even possible. He was wearing a combination of old faded jeans and t-shirt; he hadn't bothered to shave at all over the weekend. Despite his own casual attire, Horatio still looked well presented next to Speed.

"Hi," Speed little more than mumbled, lifting his head only slightly to glance at Horatio.

Without saying a word in reply, Horatio simply stepped back from the doorway allowing Speed to enter the house. Speed walked the familiar path to the living room, depositing his helmet on an empty table top, with Horatio trailing behind him.

"You want something to drink?" Horatio asked, attempting to alleviate some of the awkwardness which had settled between the two.

"No, thanks, I'm fine." Speed was not really paying attention to Horatio as he stood in the middle of his living room. Instead, he was staring fixedly at the half empty bottle of whisky which still remained on the coffee table.

Horatio followed Speed's gaze as he asked, "Did you drink that?"

"No," Horatio found himself slightly annoyed by Speed's quick assumption. Crossing the room, Horatio lifted the bottle and returned it to its rightful home.

"H, you know-"

"Yes, Speed, I know that the answers to my problems don't lie at the bottom of a bottle," Horatio defended himself quickly, wanting to move past this point.

Speed nodded.

Neither man spoke. The pair maintained an uncomfortable silence, standing on opposite sides of the room.

Finally, Speed dropped heavily on to the couch.

"We need to talk about what happened last night," he stated firmly.

Horatio made a sound of agreement, "Mmm hmm," as he too sat down.

"That wasn't the conversation I thought we were going to have, Horatio," Speed admitted uncertainly, still not sure what he really wanted to say.

"It was, the conversation we needed to have," Horatio countered, locking eyes with Speed.

Speed was unable to hold Horatio's intense gaze, he didn't want the other man to be able to easily read his uncertainty.

Speed decided to take a different approach to opening up this conversation, "I wanted to apologise for running out on you last night."

Horatio nodded, "It's alright. I know I took you by surprise, kissing you."

"Yeah," Speed agreed. Abruptly, Speed rose to his feet and began pacing around the room. "God, H! This is exactly the reason why we agreed to let this go. Everything is too complicated." Speed paused, taking a deep breath, "I fucked up on dispo day. But you came to me that night; you came to make sure I was ok. That night we started down a path that we wouldn't have been able to come back from."

"Nothing has changed," Horatio interrupted quietly. "We started down that path and right now we, are in exactly the same place. We can't, I can't, keep pretending we are nothing more than friends." Horatio rose to his feet and walked slowly over to Speed. "Tim, can you honestly say your feelings have changed, that you don't want this?"

"I don't know what I want," Speed admitted, looking desperately into Horatio's eyes.

Horatio nodded. They were both silent now, standing close in each others personal space. Despite the internal conflict both were feeling, they found themselves slowly edging closer to each other. Their lips met softly, delicately, at first. Speed snaked a hand out, wrapping it around the back of Horatio's neck, drawing him closer. Horatio in turn wrapped his arms around Speed's waist, bringing their bodies together. Under continued pressure, both men opened their mouths. Their tongues came together in heat and passion, duelling for control. This kiss was more intense and passionate than the one they had shared the night before. Speed a more willing participant, but no less confused than he had been then.

After what could have been an eternity, but in reality was nowhere close, they pulled apart. Gasping for air they sucked in several deep breaths. Regaining their composure, Horatio and Speed took a step back from each other, but remained close.

"I need time, H," Speed asked, hoping that Horatio would understand: he couldn't do this all at once.

Horatio nodded, uncertain as to whether or not Speed was giving him the complete brush off.

Sensing Horatio's uncertainty, Speed continued, "I just need time H, to figure all this out." Speed hesitated slightly before adding, "I need space too, H." His words were not meant to hurt or reject Horatio, Speed simply wanted him to understand that he needed time to figure all this out for himself.

"Ok," Horatio took a few steps further back from Speed, opening up the gap between them.

Speed quickly grabbed hold of Horatio's arm, preventing him from moving too far away. "Wait," he pleaded, "I need you to understand that I'm not just trying to push you away. I need some time to adjust to all of this. Less than a week ago, you were as close to an emotional wreck as I have ever seen. And now, now you've laid this on me and I need some time. I'm not pushing you away. I don't want to push you away," Speed paused, weighing up what to say. "H, I don't want to push you away. I've never wanted that."

Horatio smiled slightly, satisfied that Speed was not rejecting the possibility of developing their relationship out of hand.

"We good?" Speed asked hopefully.

"We're good," Horatio answered, "I'll give you as much time and space as you need. I will be here when you are ready."

"Thank you," Speed hesitated for a moment, "I'd better go. I'll see you in the morning."

"Bright and early." Horatio followed Speed back towards the front door, watching as he picked up his helmet.

Speed glanced briefly at Horatio before closing the door behind himself, leaving the older man alone once more.