ginndaddy | Missing Mommy 2/?

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Title: Missing Mommy 2/?
Author: Ashling Darcy
Email: predictable3105@...
Fandom(s): CSI: Miami
Genre (general, hetero or slash): Gen for now, will be slash
Pairing/Characters: Horatio/Speed eventually, strong team friendship
Rating: will probably hit R
Summary: What if Susie had started using again? What if it all went bad
before Horatio could help? What if Horatio ended up with custody of a five
year old Madison? Warnings: Ummmm, slash? Is that still a warning at this
point? There is some swearing and they may even be smut…I make no promises.
*evil grin*
Notes: I wasn't really sure about this chapter. Still ain't actually…it does
have a point as far as plot goes, but it fills kinda…filler-y…Oh well...I
guess I'll just have to do better next chapter and hey look…Concerned!Speed
and Grateful!Horatio...*runs away while readers are distracted*
Acknowledgments: thanks to Dru for the beta as always. Whatever would I do
without you, my darling friend? *smooches*

Horatio covered a yawn on his way to his office. He knew he probably should
have put off coming in to work another day after the nightmares Madison had
had all last night but he didn't feel right leaving his team that long. He'd
met and had a nice long chat with the sitter Alexx had recommended and was
satisfied Madison would be fine with her.

He knew he needed to look into getting her into school this coming year, but
he found himself putting it off not wanting to contemplate giving her up
even that much. He'd become very attached to his niece and wanted only the
best for her. He knew she was still adjusting but he also knew she was
becoming equally attached to him. The unconditional love and support she was
getting living with him was both very much needed and extremely scary to
her, having only received the first from her mother and the latter never in
her short life-span. He was startled out of his thoughts by bumping into
someone.

"H! Good to see you back, hope everything's okay with the family?" Eric
asked, not able to keep the curiosity out of his tone.

"Everything's fine now Eric. There was…an unexpected death." Horatio fought
another yawn and rubbed his eyes tiredly.

Eric, looking contrite for his nosiness, apologized and went on his way to
see the AV tech, to see if his evidence had turned up anything. Horatio
finally made it to his office and closed the door and the blinds. He slumped
in his chair behind his desk and looked at the paperwork piled there. He
knew he'd have to bring some home and wasn't exactly thrilled by the idea,
already calculating how to make sure Maddie didn't see any evidence photos
that might upset her. His door was opened with a slight bang and he found
the angry words of reproach dying as he took in the handsome sight of
Timothy Speedle standing there grinning from ear to ear at him.

"H!" He said warmly. "You made it back I see. I was starting to think your
new roommate wasn't going to let you out of the house." He finished gently
and Horatio was grateful the younger man had been thoughtful enough to speak
in code when he saw Stetler hulking past his office door. Speed turned and
gently closed the door, locking it as well before turning back and studying
Horatio. "You look like you haven't been sleeping well, H. Is everything
okay? Under the circumstances?"

Horatio found himself extremely glad to have shared what had happened with
Speed. He hadn't even given the entire story to Alexx, but Speed was
different. Since he'd met the man he found himself confiding more and more
personal things. He knew if he wasn't careful he'd be confiding his love for
the younger man as well and he wasn't sure, especially now, that that was a
good idea. He turned away from those thoughts and answered Speed's question.

"Madison had nightmares last night. And this morning wasn't the best. She's
not quite convinced that I won't just leave as well. Her father walked out
on her and her mother two years ago. And now that Susie's gone…Maddie
doesn't get it completely. She just thinks she's been abandoned. And since
Susie died in the fire that burnt down their apartment complex I have
nothing from before to give to her…no pictures of her mother, none of her
toys." He said in a slight rush, thankful to have someone to 'vent' to. "I'm
sorry. I didn't mean to dump all of that on you, Speed." He gave a weak
smile and leaned back, rubbing his temples.

"It's not a big deal, Horatio. We're friends, remember? That's what I'm here
for." Speed smiled to take the bite out of his usually snarky tone. "Do you
need anything, H? Anything at all. I'm a phone call away."

"Thank you." Horatio said, meaning it. They smiled at each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Horatio growled in frustration as he stepped into the hallway ignoring his
suspect's smug grin. "Tell me we have the DNA match," he demanded of
Calleigh as she approached his left side.

"We do." She held up the folder in her hands and smirked at him. "We also
have the bullet from the crime scene. It matches the 9 mil. in his
possession and his partner didn't quite get all the blood out of his car
like he seems to think. It's a match to our vic. We've got him, H. We've got
them both so tightly there's no chance of a deal."

Horatio turned and gave the suspect a shark's grin and watched in
satisfaction as he paled. "Good," he said firmly. He let Calleigh finish up
the case and walked back towards his office, answering his ringing cell as
he went.

"Caine." He listened for a few seconds. "Where are you now? Here? Meet me in
reception. I'm done for the day I'll take her home with me." He sighed and
changed directions not noticing the concerned frown on a certain trace
experts face.

~~~~~~~~~~