"You all right? You look a little… I don't know… scattered", Timothy 'Speed' Speedle of the Miami-Dade Crime lab said his eyes on his partner and temporary supervisor Horatio 'H' Caine.

"What? Yeah no, I'm fine", Horatio said standing up forcing his eyes away from the murder weapon he'd been staring at instead of collecting. He smiled at the snort. "I really am fine Speed"

"Lemme guess, the meeting with the chief this morning"

"You know", Horatio realised and he nodded

"Megan… um…" – he cleared his throat and continued quickly. "We grabbed dinner after shift Friday. She told me she was gonna take some time off and that she was gonna ask the chief to make your role permanent. C'mon H, you know you deserve this promotion. You're already a better cop than I could ever be"

"Yes, but you have seniority Speed", Horatio protested eyes averted

"In the lab sure. But outside of it… you've been a cop for a long time now. Probably since before I was born", he teased and Horatio glared. "Trust me H, I know we couldn't be in better hands. And 'sides I'm pretty sure I'd never want this job"

Horatio ignored the smirk. "Thank you", he said sincerely

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You know people usually celebrate when they move up in the world right?" A bleary-eyed Horatio glared at the annoying trace expert. The sheen from the role of being the head of the crime lab was already falling off and he'd been in the hot seat barely a week. He hadn't realised how much of the job was just paperwork or politics. No wonder Speed hadn't wanted it. "What the hell are you working on?", Speed asked flicking through the files on Horatio's desk uninvited. "Thought you already picked that kid Delko?", he asked realising Horatio was perusing personnel files.

"Yes well just like you the brass feels Eric might be too young for the job", Horatio said frustrated

Speed settled himself comfortably on the chair. "Unfortunately I agree with them just this once but… your gut's rarely wrong and you like this kid for this don't you"

"He's got a masters in chemistry, Speed. Plus we already know he can work a scene in the water. And on the case two weeks ago he was able to identify tire treads from a car faster than either me or Calleigh"

"Well I guess we could use someone in those areas… So what's the problem?"

"Ric wants to come back to days"

"Stetler?", Speed asked startled. "What the hell for?" He understood a second later. "He wants your job. You know if he comes back I'm out right? And I got the feeling I won't be the only one"

"I know. And the chief's suggestion to avoid that very situation is to hire someone with more… experience. Hence the files"

"So what're you gonna do?"

"I don't know", Horatio admitted then grinned at Speed's disbelieving snort. "Yes I want him here. And yes maybe… all right fine, I was planning on telling the chief I couldn't… find a suitable candidate"

"And if the chief insisted". Speed sounded curious more than worried.

"Well, then Megan is going to have to come back earlier than she planned"

Another snort. "C'mon", Speed said standing up. "Let's celebrate what might be the shortest promotion in history"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Detective"

"Eric if you don't start calling me Horatio or H again I'm sending you back to Underwater"

Eric 'Delko' Delektorsky, CSI's latest transfer from Underwater Recovery smirked at the annoyed glare. "C'mon H, you're my boss now"

"And I always outranked you", a frustrated Horatio grumbled. He sighed when Eric startled. "Remind me to shoot myself in the head the next time someone recommends my name for something"

Eric chuckled. "You got suckered into doing paperwork didn't you. C'mon H, you've heard Matt complain about this for a year now. Hell I've heard this a lot…"

"That's cos you were the reason for a lot of his paperwork", Horatio retorted an amused grin making its way onto his lips

"What do you mean reason for paperwork?", Speed who had come up behind them unnoticed asked. "Please tell me he's not as bad as you"

"Officer Speedle", Eric said barely holding back a laugh. "It's nice to see you again". Horatio removed his sunglasses a questioning look on his face, especially when Speed growled. "I didn't do anything", Eric said automatically

"He's actually telling the truth for once", Calleigh who had joined them as well said. "Heard you were joining us", she said giving Eric a hug

"See someone's giving me a proper welcome". Horatio's pager beeped then

"Homicide on Collins" – A second set of beeps this time from Speed

"Ok someone always knows to send me a Glades scene. Oh no you don't", Speed warned but knew Horatio wasn't going to listen. Calleigh was already headed for the Hummer

"Have fun boys. And oh please don't kill each other"

"Good luck Eric", Horatio added leaving two horrified investigators behind

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A couple of weeks later even Speed had to admit the only problem he had with Eric was the same one Calleigh seemed hell bent on inflicting on him; a cheery attitude. Two bloaters, a rape and a garden variety robbery-murder and Eric had taken it all in stride. Granted the kid was yet to offer an opinion on his own and seemed content to watch and learn at least for now – something Speed even if he never voiced it appreciated immensely considering how too many Detectives seemed to think they knew more than CSIs just cos as Frank Tripp the Texan from Robbery Homicide had once put it, 'We see more people than you. We know how to analyse real people, not some stupid mud or blood. So if my gut says he's my guy, then he is my guy'

Tripp was a good cop, this Speed knew but he had never realised that CSIs weren't there to sabotage his cases.

"What?", he grumbled when he felt the stare

"Nothing… I… I just…" – Speed straightened wondering why Eric was suddenly so hesitant.

"What?", he repeated tone softening

"I… I think… I just…"

"Spit it out kid", Speed snapped tired of the dilly-dallying

"I think you're wrong". Eric covered his mouth before he gave a resigned sigh. "You think it's the brother-in-law who raped our victim, I think you're wrong"

Speed tried to keep his face blank, not too difficult a task for him but right now the kid looked… adorable. He stifled a laugh. "And why the hell is that?", he prompted when Eric kept his mouth shut

"It's easier to show you", Eric said his manner becoming self-confident almost brash again

"Lead the way then"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So she's gonna go away?", Eric asked as Horatio and Tripp finally broke Jennifer Connors down

"Filing a false report's a crime kid, you know that", Speed said from beside him. He patted Eric's arm; a gesture quite unlike himself. "You did good"

Eric turned so fast Speed feared the kid would end up with a crick in his neck. "Thanks", he said blushing brightly. "I… thanks for… teaching me"

"You're welcome. But you do realise I've still got seniority and forever will and that just cos I was wrong now doesn't mean I'll stop making your life miserable right?"

Eric mock scowled. "This doesn't even get me a day?"

Speed seemed to reconsider. "An hour"

Eric grinned. "One whole hour, wow you're easy Speedle"

"Fuck off Delko", Speed said whacking the Cuban on the back of his head

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Whoa you gave me credit on the evidence from Connors' clothes?", Eric asked marching up to Speed in the trace lab without even an hello

"Nice to see you too kid, how the hell was your weekend?", Speed grumbled

"I went home, had my mom's empanadas, she makes the best. You gave me the entire credit on the evidence", he added without missing a beat

Speed looked confused. "Considering you found it. Yes?"

"But you found the trace, I just put it in context"

Speed was surprised when he realised Eric was genuinely upset. "Two bloaters didn't bother you but someone telling you, you did a good job does"

"But that's the point, you found the evidence, you and H taught me how to look at it and analyse… you're an asshole"

Speed chuckled again. "Look Eric, you should realise I never give credit without it being due and while you don't make me wanna kill you anymore and do all the dumpster dives without a word of complaint, I don't like you that well. You deserve the credit on this one, trust me ok"

"Oh… um", Eric blushed. "Sorry… um… I… thanks"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So he's fitting in well then", Horatio commented his eyes on Eric who seemed to be talking to - scratch that, flirting with - Lauren from DNA.

"He hasn't been too bad", Speed said then regretted it the minute a small hand snaked between Horatio and himself the palm firmly up.

"How much did you bet?", Horatio asked amused when Speed growled

"What?", Calleigh asked innocently. "You don't think Speed would do something as stupid as doubt your judgement and say Eric wouldn't stick around for more than five weeks do you?"

"Are you trying to get me fired?", Speed asked slapping a hundred bucks onto her palm. "Kid's green", he complained at the stare

"Calleigh's right Tim, I didn't think you would…"

"Horatio", Speed grumbled. He sighed resigned. "I really didn't mean to doubt your…"

"Hey, I was teasing", Calleigh said realising she'd upset her friend

"And while I don't approve of the bet", Horatio added. "You… you challenge everyone's opinion my friend and while that makes you annoying, it also makes you a best friend a guy could ask for"

"Kid really has fit in well", Speed gave in. "Well apart from all the flirting that is", he added when another lab tech waved and smiled brightly at Eric.

"Oh c'mon, I think it's cute"

"It's cute or he's cute?", Speed asked with a smirk and Calleigh slapped his arm

Horatio wisely kept his mouth firmly shut

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Oh c'mon. It's just a night out. You're acting as if I'm summoning you to your own execution", an annoyed Eric complained when Speed refused his invitation third night in a row

"Which part of I don't go out much do you not understand?", Speed grumbled as he tried to concentrate on the results Tyler had handed him ten minutes ago

"Gimme that", Eric said snatching the file and Speed threw his hands up. "Ok so the GPS can't be traced but this says… Hey", he protested when Speed took the file back

"I know what it says and the answer's still no"

"Speed c'mon please. I hate going out alone", Eric begged

"Then stay in for one night", Speed said mercilessly. "I gotta find H"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Eric"

"Hey, I was just…" – Eric trailed off and instinctively backed up a good two feet when Horatio approached him in the print lab looking serious – "Did I screw up?"

"No", Horatio said with a smile. "This isn't about a case"

"Speed", Eric realised. "Did he… um… am I in trouble. Cos I really didn't mean to…"

"No you aren't Eric. I promise. I was just… um…". Horatio normally felt protective of Speed and did not want his friend hurt

"I didn't mean to… to upset him H"

"You didn't. Speed doesn't know I came to you", Horatio admitted. "Just… just don't push him into a corner"

Eric blinked. Wait was Horatio telling him what he thought he was telling him. "'K", he said with a shrug. So as long as he didn't enrage Speed he had the redhead's blessing.

Horatio wondered if he hadn't made things worse for his friend at the smirk, Eric was doing a really bad job of hiding. He rationalised his betrayal by telling himself that Eric had a good heart and Speed could use someone in his life who was laid back

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You do realise he's your type, not mine right", Speed snapped entering Horatio's house when the redhead held the door open early on a Sunday

"Good morning Speed, please come in. Would you like some coffee?"

"You can't pull off sarcasm as well as me", Speed grumbled turning the pot on even as Horatio rubbed the sleep out of his eyes

"It's early Speed. Even for us", he complained getting the cups out of the cabinet

"I'll make you breakfast if you stop whining. Now can you please get the kid to back off"

"I presume we're talking about Eric", Horatio said suddenly amused

"Unless you gotta kid, I don't know about yes, we're talking about that idiot. He dragged me to a club on Collins yesterday and I mean literally dragged me at least to his car"

Horatio tried really hard to not laugh. "You don't look drunk"

Speed's hands went to his hips. "Yeah sure H, I was gonna get drunk and let the kid drive me back to my bike. I had to stay sober"

"And Eric?"

Speed glared and mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like, "Good company"

"Didn't catch that Speed"

"I said he was good company. Satisfied? Except he wants to do this next time we have a day-off. I'm not spending a whole day with him. He already drives me nuts at work"

Horatio lost the fight with his amusement. "What do you want me to do? This isn't lab business", he said innocently when he stopped laughing

"Yeah well, next time kid asks me to come with, you're joining us", Speed retorted already pulling items from Horatio's fridge. "Either Alexx's been here or you went shopping and since you hate shopping…"

"She was here yesterday", Horatio said with a long-suffering sigh. Alexx Woods their M.E. was also the resident mother hen. "She adores Eric by the way. Sang his praises. Here", he said pushing the sugar pot to Speed

"That's a threat dammit", Speed muttered. "I'll definitely sic him on you"

Horatio grinned. "Sorry Speed. But he's terrified of me"

"Calleigh isn't", Speed retorted and Horatio's face fell. "I'll just get her to ask you"

"Brat", Horatio grumbled annoyed

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Now aren't you glad you did this?", an amused Eric asked plopping down next to Speed on the barstool

It had officially been six months since he had joined the team and Calleigh deciding the event needed some sort of celebration had promised to buy the first round, "But only if you can convince Speed and Horatio to show up"

"Deal", Eric had said far too quickly and she had wondered if her friend would be successful. But a few hours later and here they all were. To her amazement Speed had even gone to the dance floor a couple of times

"Did you drug him?"

"Which one?", Eric had asked with an amused laugh and she had realised Horatio had loosened up as well. His pointed look had had her groaning

"It's never worked with me", she had admitted

"That's cos you don't know how to whine". He hadn't even cared he was embarrassing himself. He was far too proud he had managed to get two of his recalcitrant colleagues to relax even if it was just for one night.

"I will kill you in your sleep and make it look like an accident", Speed threatened and coming back to herself Calleigh laughed

"C'mon", Eric said with that pout he'd figured out actually worked on Speed. "It's just…"

"Not just tonight. You've dragged me out every weekend, these last couple of months. I didn't say it was a bad thing", he grumbled when Eric's pout deepened and he used those doe eyes to devastating effect. "Next water scene and I'm drowning you", he said when Eric looked close to laughing again

"Open your mouth and you're fired", Horatio said before Eric could even blink as he joined them at the bar and ordered another round for all of them. His eyes met Eric's and he smiled; something that had Eric's heart in all of a flutter and now was no exception. He blushed and looked away, glad everyone else, or at least Calleigh and Alexx thought he was just awed by his boss.

Horatio raised his glass and a surprised Eric did the same as did Speed and Calleigh. "To us", he said simply. Eric knew the toast was meant for all of them but as his glass clinked with Horatio, he wished for one rare selfish private moment between just them