Summer In The City. CSI MIAMI FIC part 4

back then

He woke up at night, all sweat. Until he remembered that it's still Miami, he felt like being there again. In the small town in Virginia state. Maybe upcoming meeting with Allie reminded him all that, he wondered. He got up and sat at the balcony. Few sips of water cooled him down , but couldn't sleep until the morning. He didn't understand why this simple call made him so anxious. He left it all behind, like it never happened. Now he's got new life, the one he's even wanted...
"What's on your mind,Tim?"
Courtney's voice scared him. "Nothing Court. Just couldn't sleep. "
"Oh... Can I help you somehow?"
"No. I'm heading to the station. Horatio wants me to sign some papers."
"Want me to drive you?"
"No. Eric will pick me up."
He finished his coffee and got dressed.
"Hey, is he ready?" He heard Eric's voice from the hall.
"I'm ready. Coming. See you later".he kissed her goodbye.
They were driving in silence. "What's up Speed? Not talking too much today..."
"Eric... Allie called me yestarday."
"Allie? What for?"
"She's in Miami for one day and wanted to meet. For a coffee".
Eric looked closer at his friend.
"Will you come? "
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I? She helped me a lot, more than once.We used to be friends."
"Not only friends." Eric said
"Yeah, I know. "
"That's why you are so... bothered?"
"Yeah I guess. "
"And how's things at home?"
"Well... Quite well. I asked her to get back together. "
"Why?"
"We're gonna have a baby".
Eric stopped. "That's the only reason???"
"No, of course not. I want to be with her, like before."
"Do you- you know... Do it Again?"
"Don't be nosy Delko. But yes. We do. We did. Once. Yesterday".
"Once? Since 4 months? "
"19 weeks. To be exact."
"You haven't done it for 19 weeks Speed??? Really?!?"
"No. I was busy with work."
"Oh come on... Not even once?"
"I was doing SOME things, but not fully.. You know..  And I was close to it quite recently. "
"Wanna tell me?"
"No. At all. But yesterday... You know it's different..."
"After so long?"
"No. With a woman who's pregnant".
"Why? There's no danger to the faetus at that point. You know that."
"I do. And it was great. But...  something's changed. "
"For worse? "
"No. But I felt..stopped. Like I couldn't do some of the things we both used to like. If you know what I mean. And I don't know why I'm telling you that. "
"Cause I'm your friend. And you sometimes need to throw all your thoughts away."
"Have you ever had such ... Dilemmas?"
"When you were shot .... I got lost. i And really confused. I've never talked to anybody about that. I...had a series of one night stands. Until I lost my gun. That was the reason to stop that. And I had to deal with Wolfe, as my partner, judging me, you... I refused to accept him. Until the day he got nailed because I failed to come on time. That was the day I finally understood You won't be back. I started to get close to him as my colleague, still thinking I'm betraying you...
People make mistakes, Speed. They sometimes regret it. You and Courtney made some.
You and Allie made some . You yourself made some too. If you're asking me if meeting her is a mistake, I will tell you- I don't know. What I know is that I will always stand by you, Speed. I love Courtney. She's great and she made you happy. I also know you were happy with Allie, too. So- that's the thing you have to consider yourself. Maybe stop thinking it over? Meet, talk, drink some coffee..  Then come back home.That's it. And if you're not strong enough- that's what you're afraid?- call off the meeting. "
"No. I can't. I owe her a lot. She deserves to meet. "
"Ok. Let's get going."
"Thanks Delko."
"Always on your side. No matter what." They hugged and both went their own direction.
After filling a lot if papers, Speed went shopping and stopped by the jewellery window. He thought that maybe it's the right time to get inside and ask about the wedding rings.
"Can I help you ?"
"Well... I wanted... I wanted to see..."
"Yes?" The woman asked politely
"...Have you got a neklace with an onyx stone?" He finally said, sighing.
When he left the jeweller's, he felt terrible. He didn't buy anything. Just... Couldn't. Didn't know why actually.
Coming back home he bought some fruit for Courtney and entered the flat about 6p.m.
"God... Where have you been? I was worried."
"I bought some things." He left it on the table. Then went to the bathroom. Shaving in front of the mirror, he looked closely at himself. 'Speedle- get yourself together.' He left the bathroom and got dressed. Courtney was observing him and stopping from comments.
"When will you be back?"
"I don't know. I don't know what's the flight time, and I promised to walk her to the airport. "
"Ok. Let me know yeah?"
"I guess you shouldn't stay up too long. It can be quite late. "
He left at 6.30 to be on time. When he entered The Cube, he noticed her at once. Her hair was longer and fairer
"Hi. "
She turned around "oh my god! Tim! I wouldn't recognize you without long hair and beard! Hi!!!"  She hugged him tight and kissed his cheek.
"Your hair is different too" he smiled. That moment he relaxed a bit, but the tension between them still existed. He took her suitcase and they left. He kept silent all the way, and she kept talking. He liked that. Preferred that to talking about himself. "What time is your flight?"
"At 11.30."
"Weve got plenty of time then." When they sat, she finally asked the question he was afraid of.
"How are you? Tell me more about yourself please."
"Well... I'm back in CSI. I work at trace again"
"I'm not talking about that Tim"
"Well...my private life is good too.How's yours?"
"Martin is great. Lab worker. Around thirty. Very handsome, very smart. We are good together."
"You love him?" he asked
"Yes. I don't know. No." She said bowing her head. "Why?"
"Only asking".
"Do you? Love your girlfriend?" He looked at her, surprised.
"Let's say it's complicated. We had some... issues, that split us for few months. Now we got back together. "
"Oh. It's not an answer for my question" she took his hand and got serious.
"I know. I guess I don't wanna talk about it. We're gonna have a baby in few months."
"Oh". She let his hand go. "Congratulations."
"Thanks."
"You must be happy, yeah?"
"Yeah. I guess."
"You guess?"
"Let's have some wine, Allie. Shall we?"
"Can you drink?" she simply asked
"Yeah. I don't drink as much as before. "
"Oook.. So. Let's make a toast yeah?"
........................................................
Eric heard a knocking at the door. Looked at the watch. 2.30. Jesus... The knocking got louder.
He opened the door and saw Speed.
"Dude...what's up? Do you know what time it is?"
"No. And I don't care. He passed him and entered."
"Speed!!! I'm talking to ya! What's up?"
He turned around. Eric noticed how angry and how drunk he was.
"Let me sleep here tonight, yeah?"
"But..."
"Always by my side, remember??!?" Words were a bit too loud.
"Yeah.." Eric closed the door. "Did you tell Courtney you're here?"
"I lost my phone". Then he lay down on the coach and turned around. "Conversation's over" he shouted.
Eric was stunned. Went into the kitchen and found 3 missed calls. Courtney. He dialled.
"You called?"
"I'm looking for Tim...did you see him Eric? "
"Yeah. He's sleeping on the couch in my room. "
"Www..hy???!"
"I don't know. Maybe because it was late and didn't want to wake you. " Eric lied "oh- and he lost his phone. Let him sleep here Courtney, I will bring him in the morning."
He hung up and thought that something has just gone the wrong way.