#67 - Snow 1/2 (CSI Miami: Timothy Speedle/Eric Delko)

[bjjones]

My Fanfic Chart

Prompt # 67
Word Count 30329

Title: White Christmas
Author: Bj Jones
Rating: FRM
Disclaimer: I think we all know I don't own them and the reasons why.  They are owned by various executives, producers, writers and studios that have more lawyers than I want to mess with.  I'm not making any money just borrowing them for a bit and promise to return them.
Summary: Speed wanted to show Eric a white Christmas
Beta: Kay
Author's Note: This started off as a nice Christmas Fic… yeah a little late but hey… then Bob 'the evil plot bunny' decided to travel… and in turned into angst back to sappy.  Eyes Bob… he's evil I tell you
Warning: Slash - if you don't like it - don't read it


~*~

“It’s cold.” Eric pulled his coat around him.

“We’re almost there,” Speed turned up the heater, trying not to suffocate from the heat.

“Why are we up here, in the snow?” Eric looked out at the snow covered ground. “Why couldn’t we just have stayed in Miami?”

Speed sighed. “I thought it would be nice to get away from Miami for a while.”

He looked over at the Cuban-Russian.  They had been together now for seven months.  The longest relationship he had since Sam.  He had wanted to take Eric to where he grew up, tell him about Sam - his past.  Have a white Christmas.  But the Miami native hadn’t stopped complaining since they left the airport, hell before that, when he sprung the trip on him.  It was starting to get on his nerves.

“To New York?” Eric griped.

Speed ignored him as he pulled up to the small cabin and turned off the engine. “We’re here.”

“Where’s here?” Eric looked out at the cabin. “This is it?”

“Yes.” Speed got out of the car and slammed the door.  He hoped the cold air would cool down his emotions.  He was very close to hitting his lover.  He found the hidden key under the welcome mat.

The cabin belonged to Jack and Pam, Speed’s adopted family.  They had taken care of him after Sam’s death, helping him cope and subsequent introducing him to forensics.  When he had suggested taking Eric up to Syracuse they offered their cabin.  They promised it would be stocked and ready for him.

After opening the door he went straight for the fireplace, sighing with relief that there was a pile of chopped wood.  He started a fire and then went to check the rest of the cabin.  By the time he got back from making sure the generator was fully charged and everything was up and running Eric had brought their luggage inside and was standing in front of the fireplace.

“I can start something for dinner,” Speed suggested.

Eric shrugged, not turning around, “Something warm.”

Speed counted to ten and just headed for the kitchen.  “Once we eat and warm up we can head out and find a tree …”

“You want me to go back out in the cold?” Eric asked appalled.

“It’s not that bad,” Speed turned and looked at his lover. “You know people actually live, work, and survive up here.”

“Why?” Eric shivered.

“We don’t have to go out today, tomorrow is supposed to warm up.” Speed walked back into the kitchen.

“You can go out, I’m staying in here.” Eric grabbed a blanket and curled up by the fireplace. “I’m not stepping foot outside until we go home where it’s warm.”

Speed looked out the kitchen window watching the snow fall.  He remembered as a kid playing in the snow, enjoying the first snow fall.  Then later, before the accident, he had fond memories of loving Sam by the fireplace.  Just before the accident they had spent Christmas up at a cabin, similar to this one.  Sam had asked him to marry him. Oh they knew they couldn’t legally marry, but they could be with each forever.  Two weeks later their dreams had been destroyed.

He had brought Eric up here to show him how beautiful the snow could be, make love to him by the fire, and ask him to marry him.  But it was obvious to Speed; Eric didn’t want to be here.  He sighed and finished up with the soup.

“Dinner,” Speed called out.

Eric walked in still wrapped in the blanket.  “Soup?”

“I have to go to the store for fresh supplies,” Speed said.  “I turned the heater on; it’s not that cold in here.”

“It’s freezing,” Eric sat down warming his hands from the steam.  “You know we could have just stayed home…”

Speed had it.  He tossed his spoon down and got up from the table. “I’m going out.”  Speed grabbed his coat, scarf and gloves and stormed out slamming the door behind him.

~*~

Speed came back an hour later, he leaned the small pine tree against the porch.  He stomped the snow off his boots and headed inside the cabin.  He hung up his scarf, gloves and coat by the door, and then walked into the living room.  Eric was reading by the fireplace.

“I got a tree,” Speed offered.

“That’s nice,” Eric didn’t look up.

Speed ran a hand through his fingers. “I'm surprised you're still here.  You hate it so much.”
Eric looked up at him. “The airports are closed.”

Speed stared at him. “You weren’t even going to give it a chance?”

“You didn’t ask if I wanted to come up here and freeze my ass off,” Eric pointed out.  “It would have been nice to be included in our vacation/holiday plans.  Now I’ll be missing Christmas Eve Mass with my family.”

Speed sighed. “Damn it Delko, do you even listen to me when I open up?  We’re in Syracuse, New York.”

“So?” Eric tossed the book to the side.

“Fuck you,” Speed walked past him and into the bedroom slamming the door shut.  He sure as hell was rethinking his plans.  He grabbed his bag and found the small box.  He looked at the ring nestled inside it.  It was a simple white gold band, with a Celtic eternity knot engraved along the band.  He closed it and put it back in his bag.  He was tired from the trip; maybe it will be better tomorrow.  He lay down on the bed and fell into a restless sleep.

~*~

Speed blinked at the morning light, he turned over to an empty bed.  Eric hadn’t even come in last night.  He groaned as he sat up.  He had to figure out what to do.  He grabbed a quick hot shower, got dressed and headed out to the living room.  He looked into the guest room, noticing the bed had been used.

He sighed and went looking for Eric.  He needed to apologize and maybe just tell him the plans for the week.  He stopped when he saw Eric’s bags by the door.  He walked into the kitchen and looked at Eric.

“Are you leaving?” Speed asked.

“Airport opened up,” Eric shrugged.  “I was able to get a flight home.”

“That’s it,” Speed looked at him. “You don’t like the cold so you decided to leave.  Never once asking why I wanted to come here?”

“My family is important,” Eric looked at Speed. “I decided I didn’t want to be away from them on Christmas.”

“And what about me?” Speed leaned against the wall.

“You don’t have to stay here,” Eric pointed out. “My taxi is waiting.”

“You were going to leave without telling me?” Speed blinked back fresh tears.  “Just walk out.”

“I’m sorry,” Eric grabbed his bag. “But this was a bad idea.”

“Yeah it was,” Speed whispered.  “I’ll see you after the New Year.”

“Come home Speed,” Eric laid a hand on his lovers arm.

He laughed harshly and looked at Eric. “I am home.”  He shook Eric’s hand off and walked back into the bedroom.  He held back the tears as he heard the front door close.

~ Miami ~

Eric sighed as he drove to his parents' home.  He didn’t understand why Speed was adamant about going to New York.  Not a place he wanted to vacation in, it was cold and, well, cold.  He hadn’t spent a Christmas away from his family in his entire life, and didn’t plan on doing that now.  If Speed didn’t understand that, then maybe it wasn’t meant for them to be together.

At least he knew his family would be happy to see him.  His mom had been upset when he told them he would be out of town for the holidays.  He pulled up in front of the house and parked his car.

As happy he was to be home, he couldn’t get Speed’s look and tone out of his head.  Speed had told him that he had found his home in Miami, and even more so with Eric and his family.  So why the comment, hell why even leave home in the first place.

He got out of the car and headed up to the house.  Opening the door he dropped his bags by the door, a little surprised to see bags already there.  Shrugging, he walked further into the house.

“Mom,” he called out.

Clorinda stared at her son in shock. “Eric?”

“Hey momma.” He kissed her cheek.

“Eric?” Marisol asked equally shocked.

“What are you doing here, son?” Pavel asked as surprised as the others.

“I couldn’t be away from my family on Christmas,” he smiled at them.

“Where’s Timothy?” Clorinda asked concerned.

"He decided to stay," Eric shrugged. "I told him that I didn't want to be away from my family."

"Tell me my son is not that stupid," Pavel looked at his wife.

Clorinda stared at her son. "You left your boyfriend behind in New York before Christmas? Alone?"

"Why are you mad at me?" Eric asked defensively.  "You were the ones upset I wasn't going to be here for Christmas and now you're upset because I decided to come home."

"Eric he took you home," Marisol blinked at him. "The man who opens up to no one took the man he loved…" Marisol stopped and looked at her brother. "Oh MY GOD!"

Clorinda and Pavel stared at their son. "You have no idea do you?"

"What?" Eric demanded. "He's the one that made plans without asking me and dragged me up to some out of the way cabin for Christmas.  Why the hell would I want to go to Syracuse?"

The slap echoed on the walls.  Marisol glared at her brother. "Man, you are fucking dense."

Eric looked at his sister in shock holding his cheek.  "What is your problem?"

"You selfish asshole," Marisol yelled. "All you've thought of is yourself.  I'm going to miss Christmas with MY family.  Speed is part of your family or have you forgotten?  He planned this for months, talking about it non-stop, couldn't wait to surprise you.  You are so wrapped up in woe is me that you didn't even give him a chance.  If you had you would have found out that Speed knows how much family means to you - he arranged for the family to show up on Christmas EVE!"

"And you abandoned him," Clorinda shook her head. "I thought I raised you better than that."

"He didn't tell me that," Eric looked down.

"It's called a surprise," Pavel sighed. "You were supposed to just be content to be with him.  A getaway to a romantic cabin, falling snow outside, with a warm fire inside, and you my son just screwed up the best relationship you ever had."

"Can we keep Speed?" Marisol asked seriously. "And get rid of him?" She pointed at Eric.

"The sad, truly sad, thing," Clorinda looked at her son. "You still don't know the importance of Syracuse."

Eric looked at his family in shock.

'What's this?' Eric held up a book.

Speed looked over at him. 'Oh God, I haven't seen that in years.' He picked it up. 'It's my yearbook.'

Eric glanced up at him 'Syracuse High School?'

Speed laughed. 'I'm not Miami born like you, I had to get used to humidity.'

"Lookie the light bulb just went off," Marisol eyed her brother with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"Oh Shit!" Eric paled.

"Yeah." Pavel sighed. "Now what are you going to do?"

Eric turned, grabbed his bag, and ran out of the house.  He made record time back to the airport, parked the car, and ran into the terminal.  'Shit Eric you fucked this up! My God he took you home… the home he never talks about…' He had the urge to slam his head into the counter.  'You'll be lucky if he speaks to you let alone take you back.'

"Sir, we have no flights…" The attendant said.

"NO!" Eric growled. "I have to get to Syracuse tonight. I don’t care how you get me there. I must be there tonight!"

"Sir the last flight leaves in ten minutes." The attendant smiled. "I can book you on the 9…"

"Get me on the flight," Eric demanded. "I don’t need luggage check in; just get me through security and onto that plane."

"I can't do that…"

"LOOK I need to be on that plane. I… I have to okay - I need to get back to…" Eric swallowed he was choking on his own words.

The attendant picked up the phone. "Sally, we have a late passenger hold till he gets there."

"Thank you," Eric smiled at her.

The attendant smiled, got him registered, and booked onto the flight.  She called to one of her co-workers to take over and ran him down to the loading gate.  "I hope she's worth it."

"He is." Eric ran down the gangway and into the plane.  He sighed as he sat down in his seat. Now all he had to do was win Speed back. He swore he heard Marisol's voice in his head. 'Grovel'

~ Syracuse ~

Eric arrived back at the cabin just after midnight.  He was exhausted.  The tree Speed had found was still leaning against the porch.  He searched for the key finding it under the welcome mat.  He entered the house, setting his bags by the door.  His heart broke.  Speed was sitting in the chair by the fireplace wrapped in the blanket Eric had used just a day before.

Eric knelt in front of the sleeping man. "Speed?"

"Eric?" Speed muttered as he began to wake.
Eric shook him slightly. "Speed, baby I need you to wake up."

Speed blinked then looked at Eric, confusion on his face. "What? Eric?"

"I'm a selfish asshole who doesn’t deserve your love let alone your forgiveness." Eric took Speed's hand in his own.

"I don't understand?" Speed tried to sit up. "What are you doing here?"

"Groveling, begging…" Eric whispered. "I'm hoping I didn't screw this up…"

"You left," Speed pulled his hand out of Eric's grip.

Eric looked down then back up, catching Speed's brown eyes.  He flinched at the hurt and pain he saw in them.  "I'm so sorry…I…God…" He stood up and began to pace. "I don't know what I was thinking.  At the time it seemed so righteous.  I was upset we weren't home, that I would miss Christmas with my family, and that was your fault."

"I know how important family is to you," Speed fidgeted with the blanket. "I arranged for them to come here."

Eric cringed at the pain in Speed's voice. "And I fucked it up beyond reason.  I didn’t connect Syracuse to you.  I just thought it was some place…"

"Even if it was, it shouldn't have mattered," Speed stood up angrily. "I wanted time with my lover, a romantic setting, a get-a-way from the world.  You left me alone."

Eric turned and looked at his lover, tears in his eyes.  "Is there anyway for me to make it up?"

Speed ran a hand through his hair, "Honestly.  I don't know.  You broke my heart, Eric.  All I wanted was to show you where I grew up, tell you about the only other person I loved and lost, make love to you by the fire…I can't deal with you right now."  He turned and went into the bedroom, the soft click louder than the slam the previous night.

Eric slumped into the seat Speed vacated.  "What the hell am I going to do?"

'Keep groveling.' Marisol's voice echoed in his head. 'Don't walk away, don't give up - beg, plead.  Show him you are the sorriest ass that doesn’t deserve him, but will promise to love him until his dying breath.'

Eric wasn't sure if he should be worried that his subconscious sounded like his sister or not.  He got up and grabbed his bag, setting it in the guest room, he knew he wasn't welcome in the Master Suite.  If he had just had got over his attitude he could be curled up with him now.  He dropped the bag on the bed and unpacked.  Figured at least that would show he was serious.  He paused when he opened the closet.  He set his clothes on the bed and began to go through the boxes.

They were Christmas ornaments, stockings, tinsel, garland, and an angel.  Eric grinned and pulled them out into the living room.