A/N: This is probably the fluffiest fic I will ever write. lol
It started out as a simple joke. Just something to keep her entertained for a day. When Paula the receptionist hung mistletoe in front of her desk she didn't really expect for the people she worked with to actually kiss each other. But they did. Some people had gone as far as kissing their hands and patting the other person on the face. The most memorable kiss however came from the two people Paula had least expected.
He was just getting his messages. Absolutely not out of the ordinary at all. Paula smiled at him as he stepped away from her desk. She didn't know he was going to stop right under the mistletoe to read through all his messages. For a moment she panicked, but it was replaced with curiosity once a certain detective exited the elevator.
If anyone had a front row seat to the ridiculous relationship (or lack thereof) between Lt. Horatio Caine and Detective Yelina Salas, it was Paula. She didn't have enough fingers to count the number of times their drama played out in front of her. The looks, the small arguments, the whispered words, the shared concern for Ray Caine Jr. (who had a knack for getting into stupid amounts of trouble); Paula had seen it all. And from her desk no less.
She watched them speak in low tones to each other, heads close and bowed. The grin on her face spread…until Horatio's eyes flashed in her direction. Paula tried to make it seem like she was doing something other than staring at the duo in front of her.
She failed. Even though she had been caught Paula couldn't help but watch. At one point Yelina had even glanced in her direction. Paula only smiled back. No reason to try and hide that she was indeed staring. They were bound to question her about it once they were done so why pretend?
Horatio and Yelina stood up straighter, marking the end of their conversation. Before either could ask, Paula pointed over their heads. Yelina looked up, bit her bottom lip and stared down at the floor. Horatio also looked up. Instead of looking at the floor, he gave Paula a tight lipped smile.
The panic came back. She was going to get in trouble. She knew it. Paula watched with dread as the two traded words of departure, Yelina heading towards the elevator, Horatio still rooted to the spot.
"Horatio." Yelina had spun around and was making her way back towards the lieutenant.
Maybe with him distracted Paula could slip away and try to avoid him for…the rest of her life. Just as Paula was beginning to think that was a good idea, Yelina reached up and pulled Horatio's head down for a kiss.
Paula inwardly gasped. Her jaw dropped shortly after when the lieutenant kissed Yelina back. This was crazy. This was scandalous. This was…the greatest piece of gossip Paula had ever come across. Calleigh's tattoo and Speedle's naked baby pictures didn't even come close.
Yelina released him and Horatio gave her a look of blissful confusion.
The Colombian woman shrugged; a hint of a smile in her eyes. "It's tradition." She said simply, and left him standing there.
Paula collected herself quickly, shuffling papers around like that was supposed to mean she was being productive. In the back of her mind, Paula was sure that this would fuel the rumor mill for a least a week.