Author note: The characters from CSI Miami (Horatio and Kyle (Harmon) Cain, Eric, Calleigh and in the future Frank Tripp, Yelina Caine and Julia Harmon) do not belong to me, the belong to CBS. Celesta, Christoff, Patric and Tigger are from my own imagination.
This is the sequel to my story Celesta Mahoney. I know it has been a while, but when I finished my first story I also finished my education at the university which opened up a whole new world of getting work and so on and so on, thus not allowing me to really write the sequel, but I picked it back up resently.
It would be advisable to read the first story (Celesta Mahoney) first, just to get introduced to Celesta Mahoney. This story will focus on the relationship between Celesta and Horatio and Kyle. I will most probably include a case later on in the story, but the main focus will not be on the case. I hope you will enjoy this first chapter (the chapters will most likely be longer than the chapters in my previous story).
Celesta, Horatio and Kyle
It had been three months since Celesta had left Horatio's home and returned to her apartment. Although her live continued without much excitement something did not feel right. Something was missing. Celesta sighed as she closed her door behind her. She double checked whether the door was really closed.
As she stepped on her bicycle she mentally shook her head. 'Stop thinking about that, you have to focus on the lessons now.' Celesta said to herself. Forcing herself to pay attention to the traffic, Celesta rode to the better part of Miami. While she waited for the traffic lights she remembered she would have a guest during the lesson. One of the trainers of the professional gymnastic troupes would come to look at one of her star pupils. Celesta did not like to lose her pupils, but she wanted them to improve to their best abilities even if that would not be with her.
Celesta carefully locked her bicycle and then opened the door to the gym hall. Before she stepped in she listened intently, but she could not discern any strange sounds. The gym hall was completely empty, Celesta turned the lights on and walked to the small table that stood in the equipment corner. She deposited her bag and coat on it. She was already wearing her training suit, all she had to do was change her shoes.
"Celesta Mahoney! My dear friend it is a delight to see you again." An old, graying man stepped into the hall and greeted Celesta with a deep Russian accent.
"Christoff. It has been a long time." Celesta quickly walked to the man.
"Ah, yes, it has been a while. But you contacted us to say you have a new star for us." Christoff clasped his hands about Celesta's outstretched hand.
"I have, but I did not expect to see you here. Where is Patric?"
"He had another appointment. He will start the training, so I have time to sit with both lessons."
"That is wonderful, today we will train on the balancing beam and the floor. Cara is very good on the beam, but you will see that soon." Celesta said. The clear blue eyes of Christoff twinkled in his slightly wrinkled face, under the almost white hair. But as he spoke next the twinkle died, being replaced by a more solemn eye: "How have you been Celesta? I heard of the unfortunate events in the Shackles."
"I am coping, it was a scare, but I have been helped wonderfully by the police." Celesta turned her head a little bit, so she would not have to look into those solemn eyes. "I have heard. I have also heard that you are continuing the lessons in the Shackles. Why?"
"Christoff, I have to. All those children want to come to my lessons. I have a good understanding with the gangs in that region. Half of the children whom I teach have close family ties in one of the gags. The youngsters of those gangs – they are in truth all youngsters – ensure our safety, they patrol the area. Besides there is a lot of talent buried in the Shackles and the Shambles." Celesta emphasized the 'and', then her eyes started to shine: "Without those lessons you would not have seen Silma."
"Touché, dear Celesta, touché." At that point Celesta's assistants came in and Celesta turned from Christoff to give the instructions for the coming lesson.
"Hé H. We have a crime scene to go to." Eric called as he saw Horatio walking through the hall of the lab. Horatio lifted his hand in acknowledgement, he continued to talk on the phone: "Kyle, it looks like I am going to be late today. I left food in the refrigerator. Try not to burn the house down, son." Eric saw Horatio nod to the reply. "Okay, bye son."
"How does being a father suit you H?" Eric asked, smiling. He and Calleigh and several lab rats had seen Horatio growing since the role of father was laid on his shoulders. "I like it Eric. Where is the crime scene?"
"Down by the harbor. I'll drive." Eric jingled the keys in front of Horatio's eyes. Horatio gave slight smile. Although Horatio enjoyed having his son with him, to Eric it seemed as if something was troubling Horatio. Like Calleigh Eric thought it was because Celesta, the woman who held Horatio's heart, had returned to her old apartment after spending a month with Horatio. Horatio never spoke of this change, but Calleigh and Celesta had spoken of it. Celesta had explained that she needed to return to her apartment for herself, not because of Horatio, not because she did not love him anymore. Still Erich could see that Horatio did not lie the situation that had risen.
As he drove to the harbor Eric decided to ask Horatio about Celesta: "How is everything between Celesta and you, H?" Eric could not take his eyes off the road, but he felt Horatio watching him. After a brief moment Horatio said: "We're fine, Eric." Eric could hear through Horatio's intonation, that Horatio did not wish to continue this conversation. The remainder of the ride as driven in silence.
Although Horatio had commented that his relationship with Celesta was fine, he had to admit to himself that not everything was all right. The situation with Celesta returning to her home and them continuing to date felt forced But it was not just the living arrangement that troubled Horatio. To him it seemed like Celesta had lost some of her sparkle. Horatio felt like that was the most important. He understood that Celesta needed to see that her independence had not been compromised by the Shackles affair. And the addition of his son Kyle, although much wished for, did not make Horatio's private life easier.
Kyle zapped through the television channels. There was nothing interesting on the television. With a last flick of his wrist he turned the television set off. Grabbing the steaming plate Kyle sat down on the dinner table. It was not the first time in the past three months that Kyle sat down alone. His father often had to work late. On two occasions he had dined with Celesta, she had come to dine with the two Caine men, but Horatio had called that he would be late.
Kyle knew his father loved him and was proud f him. He had welcomed his son with open arms in his house. Horatio had turned the guestroom into Kyle's room. It did not take much time for Kyle to get adjusted to living with his father. Together they had found a good high school for Kyle. Kyle had taken the given opportunity and his first grades were very good, Horatio had been very proud.
As he ate his dinner in silence Kyle got to thinking about the past months. He and Horatio had spent every spare moment together. They went to the Everglades, touring through the city and went to the sport school. ON the trips they started to talk and tell each other about their past lives. It hadn't been easy and on times either would feel unsure of what to say, but they gave each other the time they needed, not pushing for revelations or stories they were unwilling to share at that time.
Horatio was a warm, loving man, he was strict but also fair and always ready to listen. H was in his demeanor to Kyle in every way the man Kyle had gotten to know, while he was in prison and first learned of his connection with the man. But something was wrong. Something was troubling his father, Kyle felt that and sometimes he saw it when Horatio thought no one was around. Although Horatio had not really discussed his relationship with Celesta. Kyle knew that Celesta had briefly lived with his father and that she had moved out to give Horatio and himself some space to get to know each other. Kyle had like that, he liked Celesta for allowing Horatio some space, but now that space seemed to be getting to wide for Horatio.
Ring-ring-ring, Kyle sighed, put his fork down and got the phone: "Hello, the Caine residence."
"Hi Kyle, this is Celesta, is Horatio home?" Kyle heard the cheerful and hopeful voice of Celesta and regretted that he would have to give a negative answer: "No, he is still working. He had to get to a crime scene."
"Oh." Kyle could hear the deflation in Celesta and the disappointment. He did not know how to respond so he remained silent. After a brief pause Celesta continued in a forced cheerful voice: "Well, that is his job."
"Can I give him a message?" Kyle asked trying to sound helpful. He heard Celesta take a small breath, but then she said, sounding sad: "No, Kyle. Just say hi to him from me. Goodnight." Before Kyle could respond she had hung up.
Horatie was not the only one who wasn't happy about the current arrangement, Kyle thought. Kyle had only had brief encounters with Celesta. After their first meeting he had seen her only a couple of times, when she came to pick Horatio up for a rare date. And of course he had dined twice with her, those dinners – although enjoyable – felt unnatural, mostly because the expectation of the dinners were never accomplished: a dinner for three, rather than a dinner for two, but also because Kyle and Celesta didn't know each other that well. But Kyle liked Celesta, she didn't try to become a mother to him. Kyle knew he would never allow that, he already had a mother, one whom he loved, despite her flaws. In silence Kyle finished his supper, thinking about all kind of things.
Author note: I hope you liked this first chapter, I'm hoping to put the next chapter up quickly. Please review and tell me what you thought.
