It's the Little Things

[morgynleri]

*does a happy dance* Chapter 2 is finally done! Full text below... and at some point, I'll remember to put it up on a website, or on an archive. If I find a better one than ff.net, anyway.

Prologue, chapter 1, and interlude 1

Commentary: Any.


Chapter 2: Need the Weekend Off
Miami, Florida

"Hey, Eric, tell me something, will you?" Speed looked over at Eric as they pulled out of the parking lot at the lab, heading for the crime scene. "What's with this Jennifer Morgan? She called me last night, something about a friend of hers and a kid?"

"Jenn's friend Susan was shot two days ago. She said there was a secret Susan had been keeping that she didn't feel comfortable hiding anymore. Susan's son, Jeremy."

"And you gave her my number?"

"Yeah. She said she wanted to get the call in before she got sidetracked. Look, I said I'd go up for the funeral this weekend. I'll talk to Jenn. We can figure out something, find out if Susan was right about the baby."

"You really think she's telling the truth?" Speed had a doubtful expression on his face.

"It's not like Jenn to lie. Not about something important like this, anyway." Eric shook his head to emphasize his point. "She's got this brutal honesty that's kinda scary sometimes."

"Great." Speed grimaced, looking out the window for a long moment. "What do you think she'll do if she's right, and that kid is mine?"

"I don't know. Jenn always said she'd never have kids, doesn't do well with them." Eric shrugged, a troubled look on his face. "She's got a break between morning and afternoon classes today, when she's got time to talk."

"You got a phone number for her? She said something about calling her back, since it was late."

"Yeah. Just a moment." Eric stopped for a red light, taking the moment to pull his cell phone out of his pocket, handing it to Speed. "She gets out of class about one o'clock our time."

"Thanks."

~ ~~ ~

"Jennifer Morgan, Seattle University, English Department. How can I help you?"

Speed rubbed the back of his head a moment, taking a deep breath. "Tim Speedle. You called me last night, about a friend of yours, and a kid you think is mine."

"I'm fairly certain Jeremy is your son, but if you'd rather have proof, a paternity test could always be done. I can authorize it, as Jeremy's legal guardian."

"Yeah. And if Jeremy's my son, what then?"

"Then, I don't know. Susan always said that if something happened to her, she wouldn't trust anyone more than me to take care of Jeremy. And I really don't do well with children unless they're old enough to hold an intelligent conversation." Jennifer sighed, and Speed heard the rustle of papers in the background. "And I don't know how well you'd be able to take care of a ten-month-old child."

"I don't know." Speed grimaced, hoping she wouldn't decide to hand Jeremy over, and wash her hands of the mess. "I've never had to deal with the possibility."

"I shouldn't have had to deal with the risk. But now, I do, and somehow, this has to be figured out. One way or another." Jennifer paused. "Why don't you come up with Eric for the funeral, and we can get the paternity test out of the way?"

Speed looked up at the sky a moment, squinting, tempted to just send up a genetic profile for the comparison. He didn't remember Susan very well, just an impression of a good time from the summer, and a pretty face. Not enough reason to go up for her funeral, unless Jeremy was his son... He sighed, shaking his head.

"I'll be there. Let me go talk to my supervisor, make sure I can get the weekend off."

"Mmm-hmm. Either you or Eric give me a call when you guys have your travel arrangements made, so I know when to expect you up here."

"Yeah, sure. You have a good day, Miss Morgan."

"You too, Mr. Speedle." A click came over the phone as Jennifer hung up, and Speed closed his phone, going to find Horatio.

~ ~~ ~

"You got a moment, H?"

Horatio looked up from his messages as Speed stepped out of the elevator, raising an eyebrow in question at the troubled expression on the younger man's face. "Yes, Speed, what is it?"

"I need the weekend off." Speed rubbed the back of his neck, grimacing. "I've got something I need to take care of, personal business."

Horatio turned to face Speed, frowning slightly. He'd already told Eric he could take the weekend, to visit a friend and attend a funeral. What had Speed wanting to take off for the same weekend?

"Could you be more specific?"

"Um.." Speed glanced at the young officer behind the desk, and Horatio stepped off to one side with him, out of earshot of the front desk. "I got a call last night from a friend of Eric's, because her friend has a kid she thinks is mine. Jeremy. Eric trusts her to be honest, so I'm going to go up, and get a DNA test. I don't know what's going to happen if that kid is mine." He sighed, shaking his head. "Worst case, she'll bring the kid down here and wash her hands of him if he's mine."

"I see." Horatio stepped back, looking down at his hands a moment before looking back up, scanning the hall without looking over at Speed until he spoke again. "I'll see you back here on Monday, then."

"Thanks."

Horatio watched the younger man walk away, a slight frown on his face. He made a mental note to keep tabs on the child Speed had mentioned, especially if he proved to be Speed's son. Just in case.

Chapter 3, Interlude 2

Comments

[hhhellcat.livejournal.com]

That was TOTALLY Horatio. :)