DISCLAIMER: I don't own CSI:M nor its characters. If only…

SUMMARY: Set between season 7 and 8. Calleigh and Eric are a couple, but what happens when accident strikes at a crime scene? Will Eric be able to help Calleigh recover? And why is she acting so strange? Will Eric accept the new Calleigh, or will she have to confide to Horatio?

Here we go, hope you'll like it. The first chapter here is nothing more than a introduction (and contains TINY SPOILERS from ep. 8x14, but that stops right here, promise!), hope you'll like it anyway. R&R!

CHAPTER 1: DAMN HORATIO CAINE

Calleigh tiptoed back to the bedroom, a bottle of booze in her right hand. She swayed slightly, what with the terrible hangover she had woken up to and a bit of stomach ache. She forgot all about that, however, as soon as she spotted Eric's naked calves. She grinned. He had great toned calves, but she more interested in… other parts of his body.

She was clad only in her panties and his enormous white shirt… well, it looked enormous on her petite slender form, but if fitted him just right…

She jumped on the mattress, straddling his hips, bottle still in her hand. She took a long sip before speaking.

-Good morning, honey. -, she whispered, voice low and seductive.

Eric reacted immediately, taking her girlfriend by the hips and raising her body slightly so that he was able to unbutton the shirt she was wearing. She beat him to that, for she started lifting his black vest before he had a chance to start on her buttons. He began caressing her hips slowly, slipping his hands under the white shirt to feel the silky texture of her creamy skin under his fingertips.

She pushed him back on the mattress playfully, her long blonde hair surrounding her face and pooling all over the young Cuban. She passed a hand through her locks, shifting them as to be able to better look at his face. She grinned saucily, shaking her hips languishingly and sensually.

-Cal…-, Eric whispered. He didn't get any further, for Calleigh's phone started ringing. They both groaned; the blonde rolled away from her boyfriend, reaching with a small hand for the offending device on the nightstand.

-Yeah?-, she answered irritably, not caring if the call was work related and therefore the caller one of her colleagues.

-Calleigh? Sorry to disturb you, I know you're not due to come to the Lab until two o'clock, but we really need your help. –

Calleigh groaned again, passing a hand over her eyes. She sighed in frustration.

-Is it really that important, Horatio? I was… occupied. -, she hissed, trying not to give away what exactly she was occupied with.

-I'm sorry, Calleigh, normally I wouldn't disturb you, but…-, her boss sighed at the other end of the line. –It's really a mess here, we need all the help we can get, but if you can't, I'll understand. –

Upon hearing Eric's cell starting to vibrate on his nightstand, Calleigh realized their morning in bed was ruined. She sighed again, more loudly this time, messing with her hair. She gave up. –Okay, okay, I'm coming. But it's better be an emergency! And don't make a habit out of it. Text me the place. -, she barked, irritated with her boss. She ended the call as Horatio's grave: -It is. -, filled her ears. His tone gave her the creeps, normally he was so damn cool and collected, nothing seemed to upset the great Horatio Caine… she almost felt remorseful for her stinging words. Almost.

-Yeah, Wolfe, I'm awake. Well, sorry if my phone was off, I was trying to sleep!-, Eric was shouting on his own phone. –Yeah, dammit, I'm on my way!-, he flipped the evil device shut, hitting his back against the pillow.

-I'm gonna go make some coffee. -, Calleigh whispered, lowering her head on Eric's for a thorough kiss, then slipping away from his embrace.

In the kitchen, Calleigh realized her headache had only intensified with all those shouts. Her only hope was to pop some aspirin in her mouth and drink at least a liter of coffee, or else she would be able to do nothing on that damn crime scene.

Bad idea to get drunk if the day after you're on call…, she mused gloomily. But then again, it was worth it, her brain added as an afterthought. Images of her night with Eric filled her head…

Yeah, it was definitely worth it. Damn Horatio, damn his stupid crime scene, damn Horatio for not having a life and get lost, damn killers, damn Horatio for not being able to keep a woman for more than a month…

Damn Horatio Caine.