Happiness For H: Ghosts

March 5, 2009

"I miss you Horatio. How much longer before I can come to Miami?" Emily wasn't quite successful in keeping the wistfulness out of her voice. He winced and ran his hand through his hair.

"Sweetheart, it won't be for much longer, I promise. Now, I'll see you tomorrow night. You're picking me up in Duluth?" His voice was quiet.

"Yes. Are we staying overnight or coming back to the lodge? I need to let Grandmother know." Emily managed to keep her voice level, swallowing back the lump that always seemed to be in her throat whenever she spoke to him on the phone like this. She was rubbing Ghost's ears as a distraction and she heard him whine softly. She pulled her hand away quickly, murmuring,

"I'm sorry, Ghost." The big dog licked her hand and put his head in her lap.

"Let's stay in Duluth tomorrow night, Emily. It's been a long week."

"Tell me about it," Emily muttered under her breath, absently giving Ghost an ear scritchie.

"You sound tired, Horatio. I should let you go, so you can get some rest." She heard him sigh.

"I love you, sweetheart." That single statement was enough to bring tears to her eyes once more.

"I love you too, Horatio. Goodnight." He heard the quiver in her voice and knew she would start to cry as soon as she got off the phone.

Horatio put his phone down quickly and walked out onto the deck, staring out into the darkness.

The 6-foot privacy fence surrounding the back yard would be complete by the middle of next week. The house alarm system had been upgraded and the locks changed. The spare bedroom had been turned into an office space for Emily to work on Braille projects. Everything was ready for Emily and Ghost's arrival in Miami. Except Horatio. Running his hand through his hair, he wondered if he would ever be able to feel that it was safe for her here, with him. Images of Marisol lying on a stretcher in the ambulance that fateful day rose up before him in the darkness. Until that picture had come in on his cell the day he and Emily were due to fly back to Miami, he had believed he had put Marisol and the events that led to her death behind him. Now it was all coming back too clearly. He had hoped that with the wedding in Minnesota, he could keep his marriage to Emily quiet and avoid any unwanted attention. Someone had been watching however, and they had let him know it. With a sigh, Horatio turned away and went inside. Another sleepless night of staring at the ceiling seemed inevitable.

For some moments, Emily just stared at her phone lying on the desk. It began to blur as the tears filled her eyes. Just as she did every time he hung up, she willed it to ring again. In her daydream, it was Horatio asking her to come home to him as soon as possible. But it had been just a little over a month since they married and he had gone back to Miami alone, asking her to stay with her grandmother in Minnesota.

"You'll be safer here, Emily." He had refused to meet her eyes, looking at some spot just over her head.

"What do you mean, safer?" she had asked, uneasily. "What's happened Horatio?" She had reached for his hands, needing the reassurance of his touch. Still, he had seemed reluctant to tell her what had brought about this change in plans. Horatio had stared at their hands, his fingers stroking the wedding band he had placed on her finger on their wedding day. Emily had watched him, unsure how far she should push for an explanation. In the end, he had told her, his blue eyes carefully watching her expression.

"So, you see, Em," he had finished, "this is the best solution, for the moment. It won't be for long, sweetheart. I want to keep you safe." She had seen the anguish in his eyes, and knew that the separation would be as difficult for him as it would be for her.

"Of course, Horatio," she had managed a tremulous smile.

"It will be ok, sweetheart," he had murmured, taking her in his arms. He had kissed away her tears, whispering he would try to come up on the weekends.

When Grandma Estin peeked inside the door to see if Emily wanted some fresh coffee, she saw her granddaughter hunched over the big dog, once more crying into his fur. She retreated and headed back to the kitchen, shaking her head.

'This is almost where we started four months ago', she thought sadly.

"I hope the Lieutenant knows what he is doing," she mused aloud to the empty kitchen, as she made up a tray to take in to try to cheer up her granddaughter.

TBC