Title: Reconciliation Part 6

Author: Aeon Cole

Rating: FRT

Warning: Slash

Fandom: CSI Miami

Pairing: Horatio/Speed

Prompt: #9 Comfort

Word Count: 1400

Summary: Tim gets a phone call that changes his outlook on life and gives him the chance to reconcile with his father.

Chapter Summary: Michael goes in for surgery.

Disclaimer: Arya and Michael Speedle belong to me. The rest do not.

Author's Note: For the 20 Established Relationships challenge on LiveJournal.

Hospital waiting rooms weren't very inviting places to have to spend long amounts of time, Arya thought as she looked around her stark surroundings. It seemed like she had been sitting there for hours though she knew that that was just a trick of her mind. She wasn't alone in the room. There were others waiting for news of their loved ones but no one felt much like talking. She felt as though Michael's surgery was taking an extraordinarily long amount of time, but she realized that she really had no idea of how long it was supposed to take. The doctor had said that it all depended upon how wide spread the cancer was, something that they wouldn't know for certain until they could see it.

She picked up a magazine from the table and began flipping through it, anything to distract herself from the ticking second hand of the clock on the wall. Time really did seem to pass more slowly when one was aware of it's passing, she thought. She placed the magazine back on the table and stood up. She decided to go for a walk, though she knew she wouldn't go very far, just pace up and down the hallway a few times for a change of scenery. When she got out into the hall she pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She thought about calling Tim again but she knew he was anxious enough as it was so instead she decided to call Alexx. Alexx was someone she could talk to woman to woman, wife to wife not mother to son and that was what she needed right now. Plus Alexx was a doctor and understood the procedure that Michael was going through. She had Alexx's number on speed dial, something that the other woman had insisted upon before she'd left for New York. She hit the button and waited.

Alexx was walking down the hallway of CSI on her way to Horatio's office with an autopsy report when she felt her cell phone vibrate. She pulled it out of the pocket of her scrubs and looked at the caller id. She didn't usually answer personal calls at work unless it was her husband or one of her kids but when she saw Arya's number on the screen she didn't hesitate.

She flipped the phone open and asked, "Arya, honey, any news yet?"

"Not yet. Alexx, I'm going stir crazy," Arya replied. "What's taking so long?"

Alexx turned on her most soothing mother voice and said, "Just try to relax. I know it's not easy but these things take time. You want the doctors to this right, not quickly."

Arya took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. "I know. But the waiting is just too much. Not knowing what's happening and all."

"I know it is, baby. And it probably doesn't help that everyone is worried about Michael and he's unconscious and unaware of everything that is happening. Right now you're the one suffering not him. How long has it been?"

"Two and a half hours Alexx. Should it be taking this long?"

Alexx knew that the time frame was off and was a bit worried but she wasn't going to express that to Arya at that particular moment. "Well every case is different. There's no real standard. Just try to keep your mind occupied and the time will pass more quickly." She reached Horatio's door just as she said, "And remember, the doctor will be out as soon as he possibly can to let you know what's going on."

Arya sighed. "I know. It just helps to have someone else to tell me that, you know."

Alexx smiled, though she knew Arya couldn't see. "Well, that's just fine. Look, I gotta get back to work but call me again if you need to talk," she said, then after a moment she hung up the phone.

Horatio shot her a questioning look. She replied with, "Tim's mother."

"Any news?" he asked expectantly.

Alexx shook her head. "The procedure's taking longer than it should. I'm a bit worried."

Horatio glanced down at Tim who was working in the Trace lab below.

888

Half an hour later Arya was again sitting in the waiting area when Michael's doctor came looking for her. She hadn't realized just how nervous she was until she tried to speak to ask the doctor how her husband was and nothing came out. Luckily the doctor had been in this situation many times before and did not take any notice. He simply began laying out what had happened. He told her that Michael had come through the surgery but that there were complications. The cancer had spread much further than they had originally thought and it had been necessary to remove his entire lung. She asked when she would be able to see him. The doctor informed her that he would need to stay in the intensive care unit for at least a few days. He was on a ventilator to assist with his breathing and due to that they would keep him sedated. She could see him but he would be sleeping.

She was somewhat relieved that he had survived but the doctor still had more to say. He told her that Michael's cancer had moved into his lymph nodes and that he had at most a year to live. He also told her that, in all likelihood, he would not be able to live on his own. He would need round the clock nursing care for the next few months and due to the fact that the surgery was more extensive than what had originally been planned and that physically he would be weak. Recovery time for this type of surgery usually takes longer than he was likely to live. She asked if he would ever be conscious and able to speak and the doctor said that yes he would. His mind was still fine but his body would be weak. He would need to be cared for. This was a possibility she was already aware of so she and Tim had already begun to formulate a plan. She thanked the doctor then pulled her cell phone out and dialed Tim.

888

Horatio had been standing at his window for the past fifteen minutes watching Tim down in the Trace lab. He was worried about what Alexx had told him, worried that Michael might not survive, worried about the affect that would have on Tim and Arya, his family. Tim was trying desperately to take his mind off of the whole situation but Horatio could tell, even from up in his office, that his partner was distracted. He'd been staring into the microscope for as long as Horatio had been watching. Nothing could be that interesting, he thought.

He startled when he saw Tim jump up and dig in his pocket. He pulled out his cell phone then fumble with it, almost dropping it. He managed to open the phone and put it to his ear. Horatio realized that his palms were sweating and he was holding his breath as he watched. Suddenly Tim looked up and caught Horatio's eye then a second later he was out the Trace lab door and heading up the stairs to Horatio's office.

Just as he reached the door he said into the phone, "I'm coming to New York." He looked over at Horatio who nodded and picked up his phone. "We'll be there tomorrow. I don't want you to worry. How long before he's awake?"

"I'm not sure right now. Probably a few days," Arya replied. "He's on a ventilator. They don't want him to develop pneumonia. That's the biggest concern right now."

"Okay," he said. He glanced over at Horatio who was just hanging up the phone and said, "Mom, let me call you back in few minutes. I'll let you know exactly when we'll be there," and he hung up.

As Horatio walked over to him he said, "We have a flight out tomorrow at seven in the morning. How is he?"

"Alive," Tim replied.

Horatio pulled him into a hug and Tim just held on. He would tell Horatio the whole story but for the moment he just wanted to feel safe in his lover's arms.

TBC