In light of my recent absence from this section of FFN, I am bringing you all a one-shot. Please accept my sincerest apologies for not updating a thing on here.
Nope. Still don't own it.
Friendship's Voice of Reason
He can't sit in one spot for very long. It's not in his blood to be at a desk. He's supposed to be finding criminals, swabbing evidence, anything- just not sitting and filling out paperwork for the department. He ran his fingers through his hair and looked out the window, the sun beating down on the ground below. People were probably conspiring to commit murders right now, but he didn't know whom or when they would strike.
He bent his neck back a little, hearing a crack, and winced.
His eyes settled on a woman in the doorway, who looked at her boss patiently. "Why are you in here?" she asked, looking confused.
"Natalia," he acknowledged, his face cracking a smile. He gestured to the papers with one hand, the other reaching into the drawer beside him. "I've just got to finish a few things for the chief. It's nothing big- just a pain to do, mostly."
She crossed her arms. "You look as if Stetler's giving you a talk about a therapy session or something."
A groan escaped his lips. "Don't remind me."
Natalia chuckled and gestured to the chair in front of Horatio's desk. He nodded, and she sat down, glancing out the window. She noted the distant look on his face and leaned back in her chair, eyeing him worriedly. "What's on your mind? You look… I don't know. Just out of it."
Horatio shook his head. "It's nothing, Natalia. I'm thinking about some things."
She knew what was going to come out next, so she simply put up a hand and looked down at the floor slightly. "You need to get out of this office. Horatio, you don't belong in this sort of place. You're not the type of person who can do paperwork behind a desk for nine hours a day." She leaned forward a bit. "You like to do the field work."
He chuckled wearily. "You seem to know me very well, Miss Boa Vista. Am I that easy to read?"
She shook her head. "No. You're harder to read than anyone in the whole lab. I just know that right now, you are not enjoying yourself at all in that chair. And even if it is leather, I can note that you're not taking in its comfort." Natalia cocked her head. "Why don't you go on a walk or something? Do something outside that allows you to clear your head of everything?"
"Is it really as easy as that?" he asked.
"Only if you want it to be," she replied quietly.
Silence came out of this comment. Horatio didn't move from his seat, merely keeping his elbows on the desk and eyeing Natalia with his piercing blue eyes. She didn't back down, merely keeping a steady gaze on her boss and mentor. Her friend.
Finally, he turned away and stood up, fingering his pair of sunglasses and gave a smile towards the woman in the room. It sent a sort of shiver down her spine as she gave a slight nod and pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "I'm in need of some fresh air," he admitted, looking around. "Do you care to come with me on a walk?"
The female CSI stood up. "Are you sure?"
"Natalia," Horatio replied gently, walking out from behind the desk and opening the door for her, "there is no one else I would rather walk with right now than you."
I needed to get my Miami juices flowing again for Recapitulation, and one of the scenes has H and Nat in it. I figured this would help a bit in the process. Thanks for reading, guys. Sorry about being late with everything.