Title: What Were the Odds?
Author: Bj Jones
Rating: FRM
Summary: Eric goes back to work
Author’s Note: The last Alternate Perspective of Man Down – screamed sequel
***
Speed couldn’t help but watch his lover as they got ready for work. Eric had passed all his exams, the psych evaluation, and was cleared to go back to work. Though he knew Eric was ready to get back into the game, it didn’t stop him from being worried. His heart had stopped when he had heard that an officer was down. He was the one who was supposed to be in the jewelry store; instead Eric had taken his place at the last second. Something had come up weird on the Trace and Horatio had wanted Speed to take a closer look.
He had spent the next week by Eric’s side. He never left it, despite the glares he got from the Delkos. They still weren’t happy their baby boy had fallen in love with a man. When they had tried to overrule him with the doctors, they learned very quickly not to fuck with him. They didn’t mess with him after that, just kept the vigil with him.
Speed had been worried about Eric after he woke up rambling about a mole in the lab, some guy named Wolfe, Horatio marrying Marisol, and some chick named Boa Vista. One thing was for certain: if this Natalia Boa Vista showed her face in the lab, Speed was going to shoot her if she even looked at Eric. Though he had to laugh; he wasn’t sure who was more freaked over the news of Horatio marrying Marisol, his boss or Eric’s sister.
“Ready?” Eric leaned over and kissed him on the temple.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” Speed pulled him into his arms kissing him deeply. “You can take some more days…”
“I’m fine, ready to get back.” He held his lover close. “I need to get back.”
“I understand, I do,” Tim reluctantly let him go. “Besides I’m afraid to see what they did to my Trace Lab.”
“That’s how you got the past week off?” Eric eyed him.
“Yes and no,” he grabbed his gear. “More like Horatio pushing me out the door because I was screaming at the construction workers. Told me to spend some time with you, and come back when it was all completed.”
Eric leaned close, his hand sliding down his lover’s back cupping the round ass. “Remind me to thank him later. Best week of my life.”
Speed smirked. “We never left the house.”
“I know, though I’m never going to be able to keep a straight face when we have Calleigh over for dinner; the table got quite the work out.” He grinned.
Speed moaned. “I couldn’t walk the next day. And get that grin off your face!” he yelled as Eric headed for his Lexus, grinning broadly.
***
Speed stopped and stared at the new layout of the lab. He grimaced. “What, the County doesn’t have anything better to spend money on than making the lab look like some bad sci-fi movie set?”
“I take it you don’t like it?” Calleigh grinned at him. “It’s kinda …”
He looked at her. “Kinda???”
“Modern.” She grimaced. “Okay, it’s glass, steel and cold.”
“So not the way we do business.” Speed paused when he caught sight of Eric talking to a woman he didn’t know. “Not even back five minutes and is already flirting. I swear…”
“He loves you,” Calleigh patted his arm.
“I know that, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the fact all the woman and men in the building swoon when he smiles,” he grumbled as he stalked over to the pair.
Eric turned to see Speed and Calleigh. “Hey guys, I was just talking to….” He shook his head. “I’m sorry I didn’t get your name.”
She smiled brightly. “Natalia Boa Vista.”
Eric and Calleigh moved in tandem as they both grabbed Speed before he could reach for his gun. They didn’t know the odds of someone actually joining the lab with that name, but at the moment their main goal was to stop their co-worker from shooting her.
Speed growled as he was pulled back. “You heard her… mole – evil bitch… seduce my boyfriend!”
“Speed,” Eric pulled him into his arms. “It was just a dream, none of it happened, I love you. I would never sleep with anyone, besides she’s so not my type.”
Natalia blinked at him placing her hands on her hips. “Excuse me?”
“Look honey, unless you want him to shoot you I suggest you just shut up,” Calleigh rolled her eyes. “What do you do here anyway?”
“Grant work and DNA for cold cases…”
Eric pulled Speed’s gun out of his hands and tossed it to Calleigh. “Calm down, babe.”
Speed stopped and stared at his lover. “You did not just call me babe at work.”
“You’re ready to kill some poor girl, because….” He glanced at the woman and shrugged. “Okay, it’s an odd coincidence, but remember in my dreams you were gone. You’re here, and I’m not leaving. Besides, it can’t be some weird vision thing, no Ryan Wolfe.”
Horatio walked up to the small group. “Gentleman, welcome back.” He slipped off his sunglasses and studied the situation. “Care to explain what is going on?”
“Horatio, have you met Natalia Boa Vista?” Calleigh smiled at his raised eyebrow.
He glanced at Speed. “Speed…”
“Don’t Speed me,” he glared at Natalia. “Just protecting what’s mine.”
“Who’s he?” Eric nodded towards the young man behind Horatio.
“Ahhh,” Lieutenant Caine glanced at Eric then Calleigh hesitating slightly, which sent alarm bells off to the two CSIs. “You have his weapon?”
“Yes.” Calleigh lifted his 9mm stepping back from Speed. “Why?”
“Let me introduce you to our new team member,” Horatio watched Speed carefully. “Ryan Wolfe.”
The silence was deafening.
Timothy Speedle turned and stalked off, muttering under his breath about knowing where the sniper rifles and C4 was located.
“Was it something I said?” Natalia asked innocently.
“Oh shut up.” Calleigh followed Eric as he chased after his lover.
Horatio Caine looked at his two new employees and slipped his sunglasses back on. “Do yourself a favor, do not go near Speed.” They both nodded. “And if either of you even contemplates betraying my team….” He looked at them intently over his glasses before he turned and walked away.
They both looked at each other, and seriously contemplated transferring.