Title: Club Descent: Help

Author: Aeon Cole

Rating: FRAO

Genre: AU, angst, hurt/comfort, romance

Warning: Slash, abuse

Fandom: CSI Miami

Pairing: Horatio/Speed

Challenge: Lover100

Table: table-c

Prompt: #57 Pain

Word Count: 1700

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, Problems, Saturday

Horatio walked into his house and tossed his keys onto the side table then headed for his bedroom. He needed to shower and change into his work clothes before heading out to the crime scene. He showered quickly then got dressed. He clipped his badge and weapon to his belt then reached over to the night table for his cell phone. It wasn't there. He looked all around the table thinking it may have fallen off. Suddenly he froze. In his minds eye he saw himself toss the phone on Tim's night table after the call from dispatch, but he didn't see himself pick it up again. He muttered a curse. He couldn't go to a scene without his phone.

He walked out into the hallway, picked up the house phone and dialed Eric Delko's number. When Eric picked up he said, "Eric, I need a favor. There's a scene over in West Miami that needs processing. Is there any way you can take it?"

"Sure H. Give me the info," he replied. Horatio read off the address and the other information that dispatch had given him. Then Eric asked, "Is everything all right?"

Horatio sighed. "I stayed at a friend's last night and I left my cell phone there this morning. I need to go back and get it," he replied, a bit embarrassed.

"No problem, H. I got you covered," Eric told him with a slight chuckle. "Hope she was worth it," he added just before he hung up. Horatio rolled his eyes.

He picked up the phone again and dialed Tim's number but it went straight to voice mail. Again he muttered a curse. Tim had turned his phone off last night and probably hadn't turned it on again. He'd just have to go back there and hope that he was still awake.

As he parked his car in Tim's driveway, he looked at his watch. An hour had passed and he was afraid that Tim might have gone back to sleep. But as he made his way up the path, he noticed that the front door was slightly ajar and all of his instincts as a police officer kicked in. Something was wrong, he could feel it.

He drew his weapon and approached the door, pushing it open slowly and checking the front room before stepping inside. He could hear what sounded like a scuffle coming from the back of the apartment, in the bedroom. As he made his way down the hall he heard a male voice say, "You've been a bad boy, Timmy." Then he heard a thud and Tim cry out.

He kicked the bedroom door open and yelled, "Miami-Dade police. Freeze," just as Simon landed another kick to Tim's back. "Step away from him. Now!"

Simon raised his hands in the air and took a step back. He looked down at Tim and said, "Lover boy's a cop?"

Horatio approached slowly with his weapon pointed directly at Simon's head. But he made a fatal mistake when he got close enough to see Tim lying on the floor. He took his eyes off Simon for just a second but it was enough time for him to push Horatio back and flee the room. Horatio had a split second decision to make, give chase or stay and help Tim. He stayed.

Tim was lying on the floor curled into a fetal position. Horatio knelt down next to him and placed a hand on his arm. Tim violently pulled away from him.

He started whimpering. "No. I'm sorry Simon. I'll be good." He pulled his legs in tighter to his body.

Horatio tried to touch him again but he flinched. "Tim, it's Horatio. Please let me help you." He reached out again and this time Tim didn't pull away. He sat on the floor and pulled Tim into his arms.

It was Horatio's scent that finally convinced Tim that he wasn't hallucinating. "Horatio?" he muttered.

Horatio held him close. "Yes, it's me," he said trying to keep himself calm, for Tim's sake.

Tim grabbed a fist full of Horatio's shirt in each hand and laid his head on Horatio's chest. "I thought I'd never see you again," he mumbled. He started to shiver. "I'm cold," he said.

Horatio was worried that he might be going into shock. "Can you stand up?" he asked.

Tim nodded and Horatio helped him up then sat him down on the bed. Tim wrapped his arms around his chest. Horatio picked up the jeans that had been discarded the night before. "Here, put these on. I need to make a phone call."

Tim was still dazed but he managed to get his pants on while Horatio dialed his cell phone. Holding the phone between his ear and shoulder, he wrapped a blanket around Tim then sat on the bed and pulled him into his arms. Tim curled into Horatio's embrace.

After a few rings, a sleepy voice answered. "Hello."

"Calliegh, it's Horatio. I need your help."

Half an hour later Tim sat huddled on his sofa with his knees pulled up to his chest leaning up against Horatio. Horatio had left the front door ajar but kept his gun at the ready incase Simon returned.

He heard a sound on the front porch and looked up to see Calliegh standing in the doorway staring at him. He felt Tim stiffen. "It's okay," he said. "She's a friend. She's going to process the house, and us, for evidence." He went to stand up but Tim tightened his hold on his shirt. "I'll be right back. I promise. I need to talk to her for a minute."

Tim nodded and Horatio walked up to Calliegh. He glanced back at Tim for a moment before addressing his CSI. "Someone broke in this morning." He glanced back at Tim again. "He was beaten pretty badly. I, ah, I came in and scared the guy away."

Calliegh nodded her understanding. "Where do you want me to start?"

"Bedroom, back there," he said gesturing down the hallway. "That's where I found them."

Calliegh glanced over at the man on the sofa, taking in his dazed expression and defensive posture. "Horatio," she said. "I have to ask you this. Do you think he was sexually assaulted?"

She saw a shudder run through him and he closed his eyes for a moment but he quickly brought himself back under control. "I, ah, I don't know. He's not really talking much yet."

"I'll process for biologicals as well as trace," she said.

"Calliegh, there's something else you should know." He paused for a moment. "I was here last night." Glancing back at the sofa he said, "He and I are, well, I mean to say, he's my…"

"What your trying to say is that some of those biologicals are yours?" she asked, trying to hide her surprise. Horatio nodded "Did you use a condom?" Again he nodded. "So, then, any loose biologicals could belong to our suspect," she posited.

"I've also probably contaminated the scene," he added.

"Okay. I'll have to process both of you then," she said.

He gave her a weak smile. "Thanks."

Calliegh glanced back at the man on the sofa again, this time with the understanding that he was Horatio's lover. She placed a comforting hand on his arm. "What's his name?" she asked.

"Tim," he answered. "Tim Speedle. He's a professor at the university."

She could see the pain in his eyes, though he did his best to hide it. "I'm sorry," she said.

She couldn't think of anything worse happening to Horatio than to have someone he loved hurt like this. She watched for a moment while Horatio went back to the sofa and gathered Tim up, wrapping his arms around him protectively.

A short while later Frank Tripp appeared at the door. He stood there watching Horatio for a few moments before clearing his throat. Horatio sat up a bit but didn't loosen his hold on Tim.

"Horatio, what's goin' on?" Frank asked.

"Calliegh's in the back room. She's the lead on this," he said. "I'm part of the scene."

Tripp nodded. "Okay. Where do you want the uniforms?"

"This guy might come back, Frank. Position them around the building."

"Gonna need a description," Frank said. Horatio nodded. "I'll, ah, go check with Calliegh."

Frank walked to the back of the apartment, still wanting to ask Horatio exactly what was going on, just as several uniformed officers stepped through the front door.

"Lieutenant?" one of them questioned. They were all staring at him.

"Take a perimeter around the building. Don't let anyone near who doesn't have police ID," he said. The three officers exchanged glances. "Go," Horatio ordered.

He felt Tim begin to relax in his arms and, as he unfolded his legs, he winced in pain. Horatio loosened his hold a bit to allow him to shift his position and sit up a bit. He rested his head on Horatio's shoulder.

"Felling any better?" Horatio asked.

Tim shrugged. "Everything hurts," Tim said quietly. The shock was wearing off and he was beginning to feel his bruised body again.

"We should get you checked out. I can call for paramedics," he offered.

Tim shook his head. "No need." Horatio looked over at him obviously not convinced. "It's not the first time," was all Tim said. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Tim said, "Sorry."

"For what?" Horatio ask confused.

Tim pulled back enough to look Horatio in the eyes. "I saw the way they were looking at you. You weren't out, were you?"

Horatio looked down and shook his head. "No. But I guess I am now."

"Is that going to be a problem for you?"

Horatio sighed. "Well, there's no law against being a gay cop," he said. "I don't want you to worry about that, okay?"

Tim nodded. "If you say so," he said and laid his head back down.

"I do," Horatio said. "Tim?" Tim looked up at him. "I recognized that guy from the club the other night. He's the one I scared off, isn't he?"

Tim nodded. Then after a moment he said, "Simon." He didn't explain any further.

TBC