Title: Angry Words

Author: wolfsong98/Amy

Fandom: CSI: Miami

Rating: T (Just to be safe)

Word Count: 1119

Summary: Horatio's normally bright, blue eyes were now dull and lifeless. When he noticed that, he closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths before opening them again.

Warnings: AU. Slash (If you don't like, please don't read. Flames will be ignored). May include spoilers for my Skin Universe, the main story of which has yet to be completed and/or posted.

Notes: I just wanted to say that this is part of my Skin AU and this story in particular, though, is set for after the events of the main story.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the recognizable characters nor am I making any money from them. I'm simply borrowing them and promise to return them unharmed when I'm done.

Beta(s): Beck. All other mistakes are mine.

Horatio stumbled into his bathroom as he slowly advanced on the tiled floor towards his goal. Once he had reached the sink, the redhead groggily reached for the faucet but missed it completely due to the fact that he could hardly hold his eyes open. He successfully managed to turn on the cold water on his second attempt.

Horatio braced himself against the counter as he stood there for a few moments, head bowed, as he not only waited for the temperature of the water to drop, but also to gather what little of the energy he had. H needed to wake up and cold water was by far the fastest way to accomplish that goal especially after having one of those rare nights where he could not fall asleep no matter what he tried.

After liberally splashing his face with the icy water, the redhead decided to give in and risk a glance at his reflection. The first thing that he noticed was that the mirror needed a good cleaning. There were smudges and handprints all over the smooth surface. Once he looked past that, H groaned. It was a fact, Horatio had to admit even to himself, that he looked worse than he felt. The older man hadn't gotten much sleep, if any, last night and it showed.

Horatio's normally bright, blue eyes were now dull and lifeless. When he noticed that, he closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths before opening them again. Additionally, he had dark bags under his eyes.

"Looks like I'm going to be keeping my sunglasses on." He muttered to himself.

H snorted, slightly amused by the fact that it wouldn't be all that out of place for him. At least, it would keep his team from asking him questions about what was going on and why he wasn't getting more sleep. If they found out the answers to that particular question, the redhead wasn't sure who they would go after first Stetler or Horatio himself. Then there was also the possibility that his team would divide and conquer going after both of them.

The redhead had gotten so used to sleeping with someone that now he had trouble sleeping alone. Whenever the two men got into a fight, it was always the same. At a certain point, which was usually when they were starting to get loud, Rick would just stop and take a couple of deep breaths. The younger man would then turn and walk out the door without looking back.

Much later, when they had both had time to calm down, Rick would usually return. After which the two of them would then try and work out whatever had caused their disagreement in the first place.

The argument last night had been worse than usual. Horatio winced as he recalled the events in question. He was definitely going to have to have a talk with Yelina.

* * *

Horatio knew that he could be stubborn as a mule when he wanted to be but that tendency also tended to flare up when he was upset. The redhead had refused to admit that Rick might actually have a point when he had said that Yelina wanted to be more to him than simply a sister-in-law.

"You're just jealous." Horatio had shot back before he could reign in his tongue.

Rick had taken a couple steps back as if he had been physically hit. "No, I'm not jealous. You know for someone that is usually so observant you really are blind sometimes."

"Just what is that supposed to mean?"

Stetler opened his mouth to respond, then realizing that it was better if he said nothing, snapped it shut. He glared at his lover, before he took an especially deep breath, turned on his heels and stormed out of the living room. A few minutes later, the redhead flinched as he heard the door slam shut followed by the roar of Rick's Ford Focus springing to life.

* * *

The younger man's exit and the fact that he hadn't returned that night had given Horatio some much needed time to think. H hadn't realized how upset Rick was until he had tried to call him and gotten his voice mail.

The older man glared at his reflection as if that would make things better. He risked a glance at the clock that he kept on the counter and the red numbers which read 4:44 AM mocked him.

He hadn't noticed it until Rick had mentioned it, but Yelina had been asking him over to help with Ray Jr. more than she usually did. While he enjoyed spending time with his nephew, getting called over to their house three or four times a week was beginning to get frustrating, especially when Ray was not getting into any trouble.

As he thought about Yelina, his mind unconsciously drifted back to that November day last year right before the tsunami hit. The black eye that she was sporting was nagging at him.

At the time he had assumed that Stetler had done it. Yelina was acting like the classic abused woman. She claimed that she had accidentally bumped her face and Rick had said the exact same thing. The redhead hung his head, remembering the words he had said to Stetler at the bank.

Now, however, he was beginning to doubt his initial assumption. Despite their numerous arguments, Rick had never once raised a hand at him during their time together.

Additionally the only time that the younger man ever said critical things about him or his team was when they were at work and had to keep their charade up. Rick made it a point to never say anything that could be hurtful in anger. The one time Horatio had asked him about it, he could see the pain in the younger man's eyes.

"Let's just say that there are times when one says hurtful things that can't be taken back and its more often than not when that person is upset." After that, there was nothing more that the redhead could say or do that would coax more information out of his lover.

Another glance at the clock showed that it was now five A.M. Horatio shook his head as he contemplated his best course of action. First, he would smarten up and drive out to Rick's place. If he was let in, H hoped that he and Rick would be able to work things out. Then, he would do his best to figure out what had really happened between his lover and Yelina. Only then would he sit down and have a serious discussion with his sister-in-law.