Rating T

Warning: This story is slash. If you don't like that then don't read it

Paring: Horatio/Speed

Disclaimer: DOA - Don't Own Anything

888888888888

Calliegh Duquesne strode purposefully down the hallway of the Miami-Dade crime lab with a smile on her face. She had just matched a bullet from a shooting victim to a gun found outside a potential suspects home. An IBIS hit on the bullet confirmed that the gun had been used in another unsolved homicide six months earlier. She was looking for Horatio to give him the good news.

She spotted him at the end of the hallway, by the windows, leaning up against the wall and talking on his cell phone. He had a smile on his face and seemed oblivious to everything around him. As she approached, she became aware that the phone call had nothing to do with work. Not wanting to intrude on a private moment, she slowed her pace, but her curiosity got the better of her. Listening to what he was saying, her smile widened.

"Yeah," Horatio said softly, "I miss you too." He listened for a moment and Calliegh swore she saw him blush, his smile turning into a soft chuckle. "So, what do you want to do for dinner tonight?" Again he listened. "Sounds great. By the way, if you stop at the store, I finished the orange juice this morning, and we need more milk." After a pause. "Okay, yeah, I should get back to work too. Love you," he said finally before flipping his phone shut.

Calliegh moved closer and cleared her throat, startling him slightly. He turned to face her, still smiling. "Ma'am," he said, still looking at his phone.

Calliegh couldn't wipe the smile off her face. "New lady friend?" she drawled.

He gave her a shy smile and ducked his head, neither confirming nor denying. "What have you got?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Oh, yeah, we got a match on the gun. And an IBIS hit on the bullet. It matches an unsolved from about six months ago, in Miami Beach."

"Good work, Calliegh. Let's go see if trace or prints can put the gun in our suspects hand." He and Calliegh headed off together.

Over in the trace lab, Tim Speedle sat with his cell phone to his ear, having the other end of the same conversation. He and Horatio had discovered that they could have these intimate little moments at work simply by going to opposite ends of the building and talking on their cell phones.

Eric walked into the lab just as Speed was saying, "Love you too." His snort of laughter caused Speed to startle and he turned to face him, closing his phone.

Shaking his head, Eric said, "You got it bad, man. Hope she's worth it."

Speed pursed his lips. "You got a reason for being here," he said, mildly annoyed he'd let himself be heard, especially by Eric.

"Yeah, our suspects prints on the gun we found," Eric said smugly. He handed the file over to Speed.

A few moments later Calliegh and Horatio walked in. A glance passed between Horatio and Speed that went unnoticed by the other two CSI's.

"We got a match on the bullet," Calliegh said somewhat pleased with herself.

"Great," Eric replied. "I got our guy's prints on the gun."

"All right people," Horatio said rubbing his hands together. "There was an IBIS hit on the bullet from an unsolved six months ago. Let's see if we can tie these two together." He looked over at Calliegh. "Pull the file on the Miami Beach case and get to the morgue. See if there are any similarities between the victims. Eric, compare any print evidence between the two cases." Turning to Tim he said, "Speed, compare any trace. Let's nail this guy."

As Eric and Calliegh left, Horatio stepped close to Speed, entering his personal space, and whispered with a smirk, "Almost got caught just now. I think Calliegh heard my end of our conversation."

Speed laughed quietly, "Yeah, Eric caught the tail end of it from me too. We should really be more careful." Horatio smiled and rolled his eyes.

Calliegh stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the lower level. As she headed to the morgue, she was thinking about Horatio. Some things were beginning to make sense to her now. He'd been moody. It seemed to start about four months ago and she had wondered why. Now she was pretty sure it was due to this new relationship of his. Teething problems, maybe. All of a sudden, last month, he seemed to perk up and become the old Horatio again. She suspected that it was then that he had probably turned some corner with this woman. It sounded like they were living together. She was happy for him.

She walked through the swinging door to the autopsy room where Alexx Woods was, with the body of their shooting victim. She must have still had the smile on her face as she entered because Alexx took one look at her and said, "Alright girl, spill it."

Calliegh tried to look innocent. Laying her southern accent on extra thick, she replied, "Why Alexx, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Alexx just stood there with her hands on her hips, waiting.

Calliegh shook her head. "Okay, fine." She move closer and lowered her voice. "I think Horatio has a new lady friend. And I think they're living together."

"And what makes you say that?" the other woman queried.

"Well, I overheard a phone conversation, if you must know," Calliegh said looking away, a bit embarrassed.

Shaking her head slowly, Alexx turned back to the body on her table. "Spying on Horatio. I don't believe you."

"Hey," Calliegh said defensively, "it was an accident. I swear."

Alexx just laughed at that and they began discussing the case. About fifteen minutes later Eric came into the room. "No print evidence from the Miami Beach case, I'm afraid. The body was found on the beach. And, sand is not a surface you can print," he said somewhat frustrated. "You got anything?"

Calliegh shook her head. "Not at present."

Eric sighed, "Let's go see Speed. Maybe he's found something."

As the two CSI's left the morgue, Alexx called after Calliegh. "No more spying, honey."

Calliegh rolled her eyes and Eric asked her, "What was that about?"

"Oh, nothing. I just overheard Horatio on the phone before. I think he has a new girlfriend."

Eric smiled. "Must be something in the air today. I caught Speed being all kissy-face on his cell earlier." They both shared a laugh. "I think he's been seeing her for the past few months but he refuses to tell me anything about her."

As Eric and Calliegh stepped into an elevator and the doors closed, Tim Speedle stepped out of another and walked to the autopsy room. He saw Alexx working on a body.

"Hey, Alexx. Have you seen Eric or Calliegh? I thought they'd be here."

"Sorry Timmy, they just left. Went looking for you, actually." Tim groaned. Alexx looked at him for a moment. "So tell me something, since we're alone," she asked quietly, "how are things going with this new guy of yours?"

Tim couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face. "He moved in with me a couple of weeks ago."

Alexx raised an eyebrow. "So soon? You really that serious about him?"

Tim nodded. "We're happy, Alexx."

"Okay, honey. I just don't want to see you rushing into anything and getting hurt is all," she said with concern showing in her eyes. She recalled what he had been like in the months following David's death and couldn't stand the thought of him hurting like that ever again. She just hoped that this new guy wasn't taking advantage of him, moving in after only a few months.

"I'm a big boy, Alexx. Don't worry about me," he replied with a lopsided grin.

She smiled knowing that was an impossible request. "So when do I get to meet this wonderful guy who has you so happy?"

Tim shook his head. "I don't know, Alexx. He's really shy about things like that."

"I know, I know. You told me. He's a cop and he's afraid of what will happen if anyone else finds out. Tell me this, Timmy, do I know him?" Tim nodded. "Does he know me?" Again he nodded. Alexx studied him for a moment. "Then he should know that he can trust me."

Tim sighed. "Let me talk to him. I haven't actually brought it up to him yet." He smiled at her. "I gotta go find Calliegh and Eric. Talk to you later, Alexx."