...Horatio...Horatio...Horatio...

Sitting up in bed, Horatio woke to the sound of his name being called. When he looked around his bedroom he noticed he was alone, and realized it was just another one of his dreams. Shaking his head to rid himself of the feelings the dream brought on, he felt his body was wet. Looking down he saw that he was covered in sweat, and started walking toward the bathroom to take a shower.

He came out about fifteen minutes later with a towel around his waist and water still dripping down his chest. Glancing at his alarm clock he saw that it was 5:00 in the morning and knew he should probably take his morning run. He decided against it since he just took a shower and would be sweaty again if he ran. Turning toward his closet he picked out a black suit with an orange striped black button down shirt.

Just as he was finished making his coffee, the silence of his house was interrupted by the sound of his cell phone ringing. Not bothering to see who it was he answered and was greeted with the sound of Frank Tripp's voice.

"Horatio, it's Frank."

Seeing as it was 5:45 in the morning, Horatio answered, "Frank. It's a little early isn't it?"

"Uh yeah. I'm sorry if I woke you, but I found something out late last night and was wondering if you wanted to grab some breakfast before our shifts start. Whaddya say?"

He was a little surprised hearing the tone of his voice, but Horatio knew that if Frank needed someone to listen, he certainly was not going to let him down.

Placing his badge and ID on his belt and picking up his keys, he headed toward the door saying, "Sure thing. Where would you like to meet?" Hearing the place where Frank wanted to have breakfast, he froze after shutting the door.

His throat going dry he asked, "Could you repeat that please?"

After parking in front of the meeting place, Horatio got out of the Hummer and looked around for the detective. In the midst of searching for Frank, he looked at the building he was standing in front of. Why had Frank asked to meet him here?

Hearing the sound of feet against gravel, Horatio turned around and looked as Frank approached him from his car. Shocked, Horatio then realized that Frank's car was parked beside the Hummer. How had he not noticed the sedan when he parked? Was this location getting to him that much?

Frank looked up and saw the look of surprise in Horatio's eyes. He realized that Horatio didn't know that the sedan was already parked when he pulled in. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, he told himself. They should've just went to the diner like he originally planned the day before. But when he discovered the news last night, he knew that he had to get Horatio away from familiar surroundings.

Walking toward Frank, Horatio put on his sunglasses as the sun was finally shining brightly. He was still trying to figure out what made him choose this building when Frank suddenly stopped walking and just stared at Horatio.

"Alright Frank. You want to tell me what's going on?"

Looking down at his feet, he began to talk. "Horatio, I found out something yesterday and they thought it best if I was the one to talk to you about it."

"Who's 'they' Frank?"

"Ummm. Well... 'they' as in Internal Affairs." He couldn't bring himself to look at Horatio's reaction. He just stood there looking at his feet scuffing against the ground. It wasn't until he heard Horatio take a deep breath that he finally looked up and saw that he had removed his sunglasses and was moving them back and forth between his hands.

"Internal Affairs, huh? That's interesting." He turned his back to Frank now in order to process what he was just told. Internal Affairs had something on him, his team or both; and they had Frank be the one to tell him. What was going on? And why did he have to come to this building of all places?

He figured he might as well hear what was to be said and get it over with. Turning and forcing Frank to look him in the eyes he said, "Alright Frank. What is it? Stetler finally find something to stick?"

Taking a deep breath, Frank thought it was best to just tell him straight out.

"Horatio, it's about Yelina."

Back at the lab Tim Speedle was looking through a microscope at the fibers he pulled off a dead body about an hour earlier. It was supposed to be his day off, but Calleigh had called him and said that Horatio was out in the field already with Frank working on another assignment. Eric was already on a case, so she needed Tim to come in and help them out.

The victim was a teenage girl who was struck with what was found to be a brick. Calleigh was in the midst of processing it, gathering all the DNA and evidence she could.

Looking up from his work, he saw that Calleigh was heading toward him with a file. As she walked into the room, he heard her say something about a confession.

He must've zoned out because he needed her to repeat what she just said.

Calleigh sighed. "Tim, what is wrong with you today? I just said that the girl's boyfriend just called the police and confessed to killing our girl. They just brought him in and he has her blood all over him. He also has scratches that must be from the brick he used to hit her with." She noticed he was looking over her shoulder at nothing and snapped her fingers in front of his face.

"Earth to Tim? Hello in there?"

Snapping out of it, Tim shook his head and apologized. "I'm sorry, Calleigh. I don't fell well today. Um. That's great about the confession. Do you want me to handle the interrogation and get his statement?"

"No, that's okay. I can do it. Why don't you go to the break room and get some coffee and maybe even lie down for awhile. I'm pretty sure he did it, so I can deal with the paperwork for you."

"I can't let you do my work for me. I'll just go grab a soda and start in on my paperwork. Okay?"

Trying to read the expression in his eyes, Calleigh finally said, "Okay, Tim. I'll come and let you know what I find out."

With that, she turned and walked out of the room toward interrogation.

Tim turned his attention back to the fibers. Even though it now seemed as though the case was going to be open and shut, he still needed to finish analyzing the evidence so that the case would be stronger and held up in court.

Two hours later and the case was finished. The boyfriend knew every detail of the murder and the evidence backed his story. Calleigh just finished getting his statement and was on her way over to tell Tim.

"Hey Tim! He did it! That scumbag told me everything and he doesn't even regret it. Can you believe how horrible people can be to one another?"

Taking his lab coat off and heading toward the locker room, he turned his head and said, "That's great, Calleigh. Good job."

Confused at Tim's response, Calleigh stood there watching as he slowly made his way to the locker room. What is wrong with him today?

Horatio stared at Frank in disbelief. Yelina? How the hell is she involved in anything? She's been gone for over a year, and now she's involved with IAB?

Trying to remain calm Horatio asked, "What about Yelina, Frank?"

Avoiding Horatio's intent gaze, Frank turned and looked at the building they were standing in front of. How could he be so stupid as to bring him here? This was the building where that damn tweaker Darwin was murdered by Chaz. It was also the beginning of a stressful time where Horatio learned more about his dead brother than he maybe had wanted to.

Horatio saw that Frank was trying to stall the conversation by looking at the building. He found he didn't care where they were anymore. After hearing Yelina's name for the first time in awhile, Horatio just wanted to know what the hell was going on.

"Frank, I know what you're trying to do here. Stop stalling, alright? I don't care where we are. Now, I am willing to listen to everything you have to say. What does Yelina have to do with IAB?"

Turning toward him, Frank tried to determine how best to tell him. Taking a deep breath Frank said, "Alright, Horatio. No more bullshit, 'kay? I'll tell you the whole story."

Frank proceeded to tell Horatio everything. He only hoped that after he was done, Horatio would not think he had betrayed him; though he knew if it was the other way around, he might not be able to be forgiving.

Slamming the locker shut, Tim headed for the showers. He felt dirty and wanted to feel the hot water relax his muscles.

Letting the water run down his body, he stood there surrounded by the steam which had started to form about an hour earlier. His brain was going haywire with all his thoughts running around. There was nothing he could do to ease his mind, and because of that he felt helpless.

As the water turned cold, he sighed and stepped from the shower, grabbing a towel and securing it loosely around his waist. What he saw as he headed toward his locker stopped him in his tracks.

After his "meeting" with Frank, Horatio saw that it was time to head to work. He walked into his office and was met with a picture of Yelina and Ray, Jr..

Shaking his head, trying to rid himself of the things Frank had just finished telling him, Horatio needed to be alone. He was never alone in his office because the walls are all made of glass. He decided to head toward the locker room and maybe take another shower. No one should be there now since it was time that his team should already have begun their shifts.

Making his way down the halls, Calleigh walked by and said good morning. Barely glancing up, he nodded and continued down the hallway.

Great, she thought to herself. First Tim is acting strange, and now Horatio? Is it a full moon? Shrugging her shoulders she turned and headed toward her ballistics lab.

Once Horatio entered the locker room, he realized he was too tired to even get undressed in order to take his shower. He sat down on the nearest bench and put his head in his hands, thinking about the events of that morning.

He didn't even notice the presence of someone staring at him in his vulnerable state.

Is that Horatio? What's wrong with him? And why is he in the locker room?

Tim was asking himself all these questions and didn't even notice that he was walking toward the huddled figure on the bench.

Once beside him, Tim placed his hand gently on Horatio's left shoulder, and began rubbing comforting circles with his thumb.

He knew he must've surprised him because Horatio's entire body tensed and jerked with the touch, although he didn't pull away. Instead he looked up into Tim's eyes with a questioning expression.

Tim tried to suppress his gasp when he saw the tears in the older man's eyes.

TBC...