So, I'm fixing some chapters. Mostly 1-14 because of grammer and the way I want the story to flow. Trying to weave this story into season seven, and since I began this story in '09 (we were still unsure of any forthcoming plots) I mostly did guess work. Which is why whoever favorited this story will be getting notifications sooner. Hopefully everything will work out, keeping my fingers crossed. So without further adu, chapter one rewrite.

The week had been long and tedious not only for Eric, but he noticed for most at CSI headquarters. Really, they were just going through the motions and hoping there would be a break in their case. He couldn't speak for the rest, but he had tried for the past half month to catch some sleep and rest his troubled mind. Which is how he currently found himself in the break room. Without enough REM hours his mind had become sluggish, and so he decided to remedy it with a steaming cup of joe.

As the earth toned liquid trickled into his cup, it's invigorating scent drifting into his nose, his taste buds salivated with anticipation. It was going to be such a welcomed bitter bite, but before he had chance to tear open his sugar packets, an abrupt scraping noise startled him. Attribute it to feeling like a zombie all week, but Eric hadn't noticed anyone was there. That's until they sprung from their chair and purposely strode towards the exit.

"Dad, I don't see why I have to go." Kyle said, his voice low.

Being there for one thing only, a coffee boost, Eric paid them no attention. Still, their conversation managed to weasel itself into his subconscious. No matter, once he was done he would be on his way.

"I do." Replied Horatio, quickly.

"Well, I don't" Kyle sighed in despair "Why couldn't you step away?"

Honestly, he tried to ignore them, and so far he had been succeeding. He was happily pouring sugar into his cup when "I love her, if that meant disappointing you..." came tumbling from Horatio's mouth, catching Eric off guard. Sounding not at all like the man he had come to respect, frankly astounded him. Thankfully, Horatio knew when to shut up and backtrack. "I'm sorry, son, I didn't- it didn't come out the way I thought."

At that, Kyle's pitch dropped. Eric had to further strain his hearing. "You meant it." Kyle said.

"Never." Said Horatio.

There wasn't a logical explanation to why Eric felt a fight was imminent, but he couldn't shake the feeling. If needed he would step between father and son without hesitation, but perceiving the time hadn't yet come, he robotically grabbed a stirring stick from the plastic utensil rack and listened. He wasn't someone who meddled in people's personal lives, especially his brothers-in-laws, but with Horatio acting out of character he couldn't help but be intrigued.

"Dad, I've tried to understand, I just can't. It's not only sometimes, it's always. I rarely see you anymore. What am I suppose to think? and then..."

"..I went and said that. But I didn't mean it. I'll make time for you, us." It was obvious even to Eric that was a lame attempt at an apology. Still, at least Horatio was trying.

"You said the same thing last week." Kyle pitifully told his dad, then broke into a perplexed chuckle. "Mom was right."

"Don't say that...I've always needed you." From the corner of his vision, Eric saw Horatio's head bowed in supplication, his shoulders hunched as he tried to keep eye contact with his son, but Kyle, faced away, refused to tear his sight from the ground.

"Dad, you've shown me you don't." Tears glistened Kyle's eyes, but he effectively held at them bay. "Am I suppose to just forget?" His fists clenched at his sides.

A deafening silence fell between them. Like two statues neither moved, Eric waited with bated breath for whatever was to follow. Too engrossed in the unfolding events, his cell's ringtone went unanswered.

"Son..." Horatio began, but unable to find the right words to say, assumed Eric, he fell quiet again.

If asked later precisely when everything had gone to hell, Eric would say when Horatio failed to properly comfort his son. Though he couldn't personally sympathize with either of them, he'd witnessed estranged parents and/or caregivers alienate their children plenty of times. Both Horatio and Kyle were from this stock. Maybe having a drunk distant father had stunted Horatio's ability to parent. Whatever the case, Eric saw Kyle's face gradually lose its dispirited look.

"You say she's nothing, yet you go behind my back and do it anyways." Kyle shook his head, his voice rising steadily. "Why do you lie to begin with? Why do you tell me things you don't mean?"

As he faced his dad head on, Kyle abruptly stopped. His eyes stared daggers at him. Still, Horatio didn't reply. Annoyed by his dad's indifference, Kyle huffed.

"Say something!" Kyle demanded. "Ah, defender of mankind bullshit! You fool your friends." Kyle's head jerked in Eric's direction, his brows becoming animated as he ranted on "that bitch into believing you're God. You're not God. You're a fake, a poseur!"

Horatio lowered his head, the tiny hope Eric had seen in his face gone. He simply stood and allowed his son to make a mockery of him for the time being.

"So you know what? I'm not going to fall for your fucking games anymore. Nah, go play your sob stories on someone else 'cause this fool ain't taking anymore of this...of this shit!" Kyle heaved, his rage finally spent he turned his back on is dad, about to walk away.

"Who... who do you think you are telling me how to live my life?" Kyle turned towards his dad, confusion and a hint of hope restored on his face as his dad started on his own angry rant." If I deemed it necessary to jump off a cliff I would do it in a heart beat! If I decided one day to run naked on the beach I would!" Horatio lowered his tone to that of speaking, his voice pitiful "Son, there's some things you can never know about me. Unfortunately, this is one of them." Horatio began taking strides in reaching his son "Kyle, I really want to tell you, but this is not the right time nor the right place to do so. I promise you'll know in due time."

"Who is she?" Kyle ventured again.

"You know who she is." Horatio replied, staring into his son's eyes from a cocked position.

Eric snapped his focus back to his cup, and took a sip, as Horatio glanced at him from his periphery. Embarrassment tinged his ears ruby red. He wanted the Earth to swallow him whole at that very moment, but he wasn't that lucky. So swallowing his pride, Eric shakingly busied himself preparing another cup.

Clearing his throat and massaging his temple, Horatio returned his attention back to his son.

"Like I said this isn't the time." Horatio forced a half-hearted grin " Will you come?"

"No, sorry, don't think I will." Said Kyle.

"I'm sorry too, son."

And with that Kyle strode out of the room and Horatio followed suit. Baffled by what he'd witnessed, he craved to tell someone. Anyone. To his delight, Calleigh happened to stroll in the very moment Horatio's back turned the corner. Rushing the opposite direction from his son.

"I'm not the type to report on other people's 'stuff', Cal." He said matter-of-factly "but you wouldn't know whats up with Horatio and his son?"

"No. Why?"

His brows bunched together, astonished. "Looks like the week is about to get a bit more interesting."

Equal parts confusion and intrigue, she said. "Honey, you know I can't have a good day without any news from Horatio. He's been hiding away in his office all day."

"And I may know why. Well, at least I think I do." Eric smiled " But first things first. How've you been holding up?"

"Still a bit groggy. Didn't get much sleep last night." Calleigh yawned, rubbing her cheek "Now, whats going on with Horatio?" She strolled to the table and flopped down on the chair.

Careful not to spill both cups, Eric carried the hot objects in hand and laid them down on the table. Pulling out a chair, he joined his girlfriend.

"Coffee?" Eric offered, sitting next to Cal.

"Yes, thank you."

Taking the mug from Eric's grip, he watched her put her lips to the hot rim and cautiously sip.

"Alright, so I was in here not long before you showed and."

"And what?" She eyed him from over the rim of her cup.

"Turns out our L.T has a girl problem."

"Huh?" A confused Calleigh muttered, her brows rose in curiosity.

"Horatio and Kyle were somewhat arguing about a woman."

Wholly intrigued now, she scooted in closer "A woman? Horatio has girl trouble?" She smiled, dropping her elbows on the table. "I didn't think he'd actually take my advice."