Title: One Chance
By: cassie_jamie
Pairing: Horatio/Speed
Rating: G
Warnings: character death
Summary: They’d talked once. She’d taken her chance. He never took his.

Calleigh watched Horatio clear the items from Tim's locker – a clean set of clothes, some CDs. Pictures and a half empty bottle of water beside a bag of candy, a few letters followed.

She stood guard as he touched each thing and she wondered what life would be like from then on: Calleigh had told the object of her affections of her love.

He would never get that chance.

She felt hands on her shoulders, but didn't need to turn to know who it was, "We have to go. The processional is getting ready to leave."

Calleigh nodded, "In a minute." And she continued her vigil, "We talked once." Puffy, reddened eyelids closed, "He'd finally figured it out, and I told him about you...and he told me he was happy that I'd let you know how I felt. He didn't think he was that brave."

Valera sighed.

"I told him he should tell Tim..." A tear fell down her cheek, for Speed and for H, "God. I feel like I've been crying for years."

"Think we all feel like that." The tech rubbed her girlfriend's back, "And I don't think that will stop any time soon."

Taking the final item from the locker, Horatio stood and placed his hand over the placard. He could feel the engraved letters of Tim's name against his palm, burning into his skin.

He could still feel it days later.