Diamond in the Rough

Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: The original inspiration for this fic was the song, "Why, Why, Why," as sung by Billy Currington, but this tale is not a song fic. A heartfelt thanks to all who R&R'd the prequel to this fic, and my apologies for the delay with this second part. The good news is that this story is completely finished, so there will be no delay with updates. This story should be seven or eight parts. The Diamond in the Rough series will probably be about four fics total.

Summary: Speed's current girlfriend is trying to change everything about him. Calleigh is there to support him as a friend, but when things change and long-suppressed feelings are revealed, will she still be there? Part Two of the Diamond in the Rough series, follows Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend. SpeedxOFC, undertones of SC. No spoilers.

Special thanks to randomwriting for the support and encouragement. Hope this lives up to your expectations.

"Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without" – Chinese proverb

"Timothy, I really think it'd look better if you wore this shirt instead."

Tim Speedle suppressed a sigh and raked his hands through his hair instead. "Kate, we really need to get going. I've already changed shirts for you twice. I'm wearing this one, and that's final."

Tim heard Kate huff behind him and stalk out of the room. He allowed himself to sigh then, knowing that he'd be spending the rest of the evening apologizing if he didn't change. Resigned to his fate, he ripped off the shirt he was wearing and quickly slipped on the one that Kate had thrown on the bed. He wasn't sure what the big deal was, because as far as he could tell, the shirts were identical. But if wearing it made Kate happy and aborted another knock-down drag-out fight, it would be worth his agony.

Tim paused in the doorway, wondering how things with him and Kate had gone sour so quickly. He knew he wasn't the easiest person to deal with, prone as he was to brooding and disappearing into himself for days at a time. Still, Kate had handled it all marvelously until recently, when she'd suddenly decided that Tim needed a complete overhaul. Since then, she had done nothing but pick at Tim, pestering him about everything that she found to be wrong with him, and changing what she could – without consulting him first.

Tim wasn't sure what had precipitated this radical change in Kate, but he hoped it was a passing phase. Normally, he would have walked out on such a situation by now, but he was held back by the memories of how good it had been when he and Kate had first started dating…

"I was wondering whose bike that was."

The soft voice caused Tim's head to jerk up, where he was greeted by the sight of a petite brunette with pale blue eyes and lightly freckled skin, who was staring not at him but at his bike. He vaguely recognized her as someone who worked in the building, but as she wasn't directly connected to the Police Department or the Crime Lab, he had no idea who she was.

She continued talking, seemingly unaware that he was staring and unable to speak. "You ever give people rides on that beauty, or do you keep her all to yourself?"

Tim smirked, barely managing to suppress a wry smile. He'd found that while most girls were attracted to the idea of a guy on a motorcycle, they were too scared to actually climb on. He'd ended more than one relationship when the girl had told him that his bike was too dangerous and that she'd "feel better" knowing that he wasn't riding it. Of course the bike was dangerous! But it was also fast, and it could carry Tim away from everything when life at the Crime Lab got to be too much. The bike came with Tim, no exceptions. So far, there'd only been one other girl who'd shown any unsolicited interest in riding his bike, but he tried not to think about that day anymore. Seeing her daily, watching her green eyes sparkle and her blonde hair shine, haunted him enough without recalling their one ride together on his bike many months ago.

"Occasionally," he finally grumbled, still wary.

"Is right now occasionally?" Her grin widened, and Tim found himself smiling back at her.

"Have you ever ridden on a bike before?" he asked. The girl took his question as a sign that she'd won and walked over to Tim.

"Yeah," she said, a hint of seduction in her voice. "But usually I'm the one driving."

Tim threw her his helmet and smirked. "Don't push it, sweetheart."

Kate had been thrilled when he'd taken the bike out of the city limits and tore down a stretch of flat roadway along the coast. Her grip around his waist had tightened, naturally, but she'd also yelled faster into his ear. After that day, they'd fallen into an easy relationship. Kate was incredibly laid-back, not demanding inordinate amounts of Tim's time and refreshingly understanding when his job required late hours. She also respected Tim's need for alone time, something that Tim appreciated far more than he let on. His need for space, privacy and quiet had stalled more than one potentially serious relationship. In fact, she was so laid-back that it was Tim who invited her to stay over at his place late one night, something that he'd never asked a girl to do before.

Kate had laughed and kissed him on the nose. "Sorry, Timothy. Maybe later?" He'd watched her walk away then, wondering exactly how to define their relationship, another first for him. Usually it was the girl who insisted on a commitment, demanding seriousness before Tim was ready or able to give it.

Kate's attitude surprised Tim so much that he found himself pushing her for more. It had taken not a small amount of convincing on his behalf to convince Kate that she could actually stay at his place overnight.

"You know, Timothy," she began that night, "I make it a policy of mine not to stay over at a guy's place unless things are really serious. I don't want this to turn into a quasi-state of living together before you or I are ready for that type of commitment just because it's easier to spend the night than drive home."

Tim's arm, already draped across Kate's waist, tightened its hold. "I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't, Kate. I think you are well aware of how much I value my privacy."

"My point exactly," Kate interrupted. "I'm not about to have you blaming me for invading your space."

"But I'm ready for you to invade my space," Tim protested. When Kate raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow and regarded him dubiously, he continued, "At least, occasionally. Kate, I enjoy the time we spend together, and I do care about you. I don't like sleeping alone after you've gone and waking up to an empty bed."

"I don't know," Kate said, not convinced. "I just don't think I'm ready to take that step yet."

"Kate, it's just one night I'm asking for here. You don't even have to bring over your toothbrush. But just once I'd like to wake up with you in my arms." Tim snuggled up closer to Kate, who absently ran her fingers through his dark curls as she considered his argument.

"Okay," she finally relented. "But just for tonight."

A week later, Kate was still there, and two weeks later Tim officially invited her to move in with him. He'd expected another protest on her part, and had all his arguments prepared, but Kate had willingly agreed to the arrangement.

Now six months into living together, Tim found himself questioning everything he thought he'd known about Kate. At first it was little things, like a new lamp in the living room or a different picture on the wall. Kate then moved onto his closet, adding clothes that she'd bought for Tim while putting away those that she didn't care for. It was as though once she knew that Tim was smitten with her she had the power to rearrange his entire life. And it was true, to some extent. Kate had played cat-and-mouse with Tim for so long that he felt like he'd really accomplished something by having her move in with him. But now…it was like Tim didn't even recognize his own life anymore. Kate had taken it over, so slowly and so stealthily that Tim hadn't even realized that he'd been beaten until it was too late.

Tim shook his head and headed out into the den where Kate was waiting. There was no sense in brooding over it now. They had a dinner date with two of Kate's friends, and turning her down this late in the game would only create a ruckus he wasn't ready to deal with. Still, Tim couldn't believe what he was wearing, pressed khakis and a golf polo – tucked in – with a sleek brown leather belt that matched his new shoes. Tim couldn't remember the last time he'd worn such a horrendous get-up. But this was the look that Kate liked on him, and Tim couldn't bring himself to say no.

TBC…