This story is about to take a dark turn for a few chapters while Tim works a few things out. Please pay careful attention to the warnings.

Title: Club Descent: Problems

Author: Aeon Cole

Rating: FRAO

Genre: AU, angst, hurt/comfort, romance

Warning: Slash, abuse, non-con, rape

Fandom: CSI Miami

Pairing: Horatio/Speed

Challenge: Lover100

Table: table-c

Prompt: #71 Broken

Word Count: 2000

Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me and I am making no money from this.

Author's Note: This is NOT part of my H/Speed universe. This is my first AU. I have plans to turn this into a limited series.

Previous Chapters: The Meeting, Regrets, Choices, Let's Talk, Good News

Horatio pulled his cell phone out of his jacket pocket and dialed Tim's number. He felt bad about doing this but he'd just picked up a case that would keep him busy well into the night. He'd been very happy when Tim had called and asked him to come have a drink with him after work tonight. And after their little rendezvous the night before, he was looking forward to the chance to just sit and talk with him for a while.

Tim sat at the bar sipping his drink, a little bummed out that Horatio had had to cancel. He'd been looking forward to spending another evening with him, but at least they still had plans for the weekend and he was really looking forward to taking him for a ride on his bike. He had debated with himself as to whether or not to even go to the club tonight after Horatio's call, but it beat sitting at home alone and at least he could hang out with Max. He'd been sitting there for a couple of hours drinking, listening to the music, and watching the kids dance. Every so often one would approach him but each time he said he wasn't interested. After their date the night before, he really had no desire to dance with anyone but Horatio.

He was trying to be inconspicuous. He was wearing the same clothes he'd worn to work so he didn't look like a clubber. He'd even driven his car to the club instead of his motorcycle. Given his history at Club Descent, he was hoping to fly under the radar for a while. Unfortunately for Tim, someone else had other ideas. He didn't hear the man step up behind him until he leaned in close and spoke into his ear.

"Hey, Timmy. How's it goin'?" the man said somewhat menacingly.

The voice made the hairs at the back of Tim's neck stand up and he immediately stiffened. The man sat down on the stool next to him and laid his hands on the bar. Tim glanced to the side and saw the bruise circling his right wrist, left there by Horatio the night before.

"Simon," Tim said, trying to keep his voice steady.

He'd been surprised to see Simon at the club the night before. But he should have known better since Simon always seemed to show up at the worst possible time. It had been almost two months since he'd seen him and he was starting to feel like maybe this time he was free. But he was determined, this time, not to let Simon get the upper hand. He had no intentions of letting him jeopardize his burgeoning relationship with Horatio.

"So where's your new friend tonight, Timmy," Simon asked. Tim didn't answer. "You know, I really don't understand you sometimes. That guy's gotta be what, like, fifteen years older than you. I go away for a few weeks and you develop an interest in fossils."

Tim was getting pretty pissed off by this time. He knew he should just ignore Simon but somehow he couldn't. He could deal with him picking on him but not Horatio.

"Fuck you, Simon," he muttered into his drink.

A smile worked it's way across Simon's face. "Now, see, that's just what I was hoping for tonight." He leaned over close to Tim and said, "I knew you missed me, lover."

Tim tried to keep the shocked expression from his face. The last thing he wanted right now was Simon touching him anywhere. He was beginning to wonder just what it was he'd seen in Simon in the first place. He stared straight ahead, unable to look the other man in the face.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I meant to say, 'fuck off, Simon.'"

Simon's expression quickly darkened. He grabbed Tim's arm and spun him around on the stool, spilling his drink. "Since when do you talk to me like that," he practically yelled.

Tim was suddenly regretting his bravado. He knew how Simon could get when he was angry and he tried to hide his fear. But, out of nowhere, a large meaty hand landed on Simon's shoulder and pulled him back and away from Tim.

"I think it's time for you to leave now," Max said, his voice booming. Simon was no light weight but Max stood six foot four inches and weighed in at two hundred ninety pounds, most of it muscle. There was really no arguing with him. He dragged Simon to the front entrance and, with a warning to him not to return, he pushed him through the door.

He walked back to Tim, who still looked stunned, and said, "I don't know what you ever saw in that guy." He went around behind the bar and poured Tim another drink. It didn't get past him though that Tim's hands were shaking when he picked up the glass.

Two hours and several shots later, Tim decided that it was probably safe to go out to his car to go home. He tossed some cash onto the bar to cover his tab but when he stood up he swayed slightly.

Max looked at him and asked, "Where do you think yer goin'?"

"Home," Tim answered.

"You'll never make it home on that death machine of a motorcycle you drive. You can barely stand."

"Got my car tonight, Max," he said.

"Good," Max said. "Then I'm drivin' ya home."

"I'm perfectly fine," Tim tried to argued.

"No you're not," Max said. "Now gimme your keys."

Tim rolled his eyes but tossed his keys onto the bar. Max was a good friend and Tim knew he was just looking out for him.

"Gimme ten minutes," Max said.

"I'll meet you outside. I need some air," Tim replied as he headed for the door.

He stepped out of the club and into the cool night air. He stood by the entrance and stretched his tired muscles. His head was still spinning and he staggered back just a bit. Maybe driving himself home wasn't such a good idea, he thought. He took a few steps away from the entrance and was suddenly grabbed from behind. His left arm was pulled up behind his back and a hand clamped down over his mouth.

"You've been a bad boy, Timmy," Simon said into his ear as he pulled him around to the side of the building.

Tim tried to struggle out of Simon's grip but the other man was too strong for him and he was too drunk. Then next thing he knew he was pushed up against the side of the building and his head hit the wall. He winced in pain. Simon grabbed his other arm and pulled it up behind him, clamping both of Tim's wrists in one hand. He pressed himself up against Tim's body and Tim's eyes widened in shock as he felt Simon's erection through his jeans and realized what he was about to do. Again he struggled but that just seemed to get Simon more excited.

Max walked out of the front entrance with Tim's keys in his hand and looked around. He was a bit distressed not to see Tim anywhere. He knew that he'd come outside and he hadn't seen him go back in. He thought he heard voices around the side of the club so he went to investigate.

"I'm gonna teach you a lesson about who you belong to, Timmy," Simon said as he reached around for the button on Tim's pants.

But before he could do anything else, he was pulled away and thrown to the ground. Max reached down with one hand and pulled him to his feet while his fist connected with his jaw sending him staggering back.

"Get off the property before I call the cops," Max boomed.

Simon rubbed his jaw and glared at Max, then he turned and staggered off. Max ran over to Tim who was still leaning up against the wall. He placed a hand on his shoulder and he flinched.

"It's okay, Tim. It's me," Max said softly.

"Max?"

"Yeah, come on," he said as he pulled Tim away from the wall.

When Max turned him around he saw that he had a small cut on the side of his forehead and his eyes were a bit glazed over. He recognized that his friend was in shock and he knew that the bump on his head was not enough to cause that, but knowing what he'd just saved him from, he wasn't surprised.

"Let's get you home," he said and lead Tim over to his car.

Both men were quiet on the ride home. Tim sat staring out the side window. All he kept thinking was how glad he was that Horatio wasn't with him tonight. He didn't need him to know about his past relationship with Simon. He certainly didn't need him to know about the abuse. Only Max knew about that.

When they arrived at Tim's apartment, Max followed him inside. Tim turned to him and said sourly, "I'm fine. I don't need a babysitter."

Max ignored him and went into the bathroom returning with a first aid kit. "Should clean up that cut on yer head," he said. "Sit over on the couch."

Tim sighed and did as he was told. The alcohol stung worse than the hitting the wall had and he cursed. Max just smiled and finished cleaning his wound.

"Not too bad," he said. "Gonna have a good bump there though."

Tim pulled his head away and wouldn't meet his eyes. He placed a hand on Tim's shoulder. Max had known him for almost five years and unfortunately they'd been in this same position before, and more than once.

Max watched his friend for a few moments before he said, "Maybe you should get some sleep. I'll stay out here on the sofa."

Tim didn't say anything and didn't argue. He dragged himself into his bedroom and as he flopped down onto his bed his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it absently.

"Yeah," he said.

"Hey, did I wake you up?" Horatio said.

Tim was silent for a moment. "Uh, no… what's up?"

"You sure, because you sound like I woke you up."

Tim closed his eyes and tried hard to compose himself. "Maybe a little," he said finally.

"Sorry. I just called to apologize again for having to cancel tonight. And to say good night."

Tim smiled despite himself. "I'm glad you did," he said.

"I don't suppose I could make it up to you tomorrow?" Horatio asked.

"I, ah, I'm actually not feeling too well," Tim lied. "I think I'm just gonna stay home and rest tomorrow."

"Nothing serious, I hope," Horatio said in a concerned tone.

"No," Tim answered quickly. "Just a bit under the weather. It's been a long week. But we're still on for Saturday, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Horatio said. "Well, have a good sleep and rest up tomorrow."

"Will do," Tim said.

"Okay, well, feel better and I'll talk to you tomorrow night."

"Thanks," Tim said before he hung up.

He stared at the phone in his hand for a few moments before placing it on the night table. He quickly stripped out of his clothes then downed a couple of aspirin to try to ward off the headache he could feel coming on. He climbed into bed and hugged his pillow, wishing it was Horatio in his arms instead. He could still feel Simon's hands on him and he started shaking as he thought just how close he'd come to having something very unpleasant happen to him. He hugged his pillow tighter as the tears started to fall and he thought about how fucked up his life had become. He closed his eyes and tried to picture Horatio's face, feel Horatio's body pressed up against his, as he drifted off into a restless sleep.

TBC