Blast from the Past

Chapter 1

It was Thursday morning and both Zoe and Horatio were woken by the sound of the screeching alarm. Zoe rolled over and slammed the button on the alarm and rolled back over to Horatio who pulled her in to him and held her tightly.

"Do we have to go in?" Zoë mumbled sleepily as she placed her head on his shoulder as he lifted the side of her shirt slightly and swept his fingers across the soft skin of her waist.

"I'm afraid so" Horatio said with a smile as he kissed the top of her head as he carried on stroking her waist.

"But I want you all to myself today" she said as she moved her head to look up at him with a tired half smile.

"You can have me all to yourself later" he said with a wide grin. She wrapped her leg around his as she placed her hand on his chest.

"Anyway, good morning, beautiful" he said with a smile as he placed his hand over hers on his chest.

"Good morning handsome" she said with a grin as she delicately kissed him. They kissed a few times, small pecks.

"What if I refuse to get up?" She said looking at him, curious.

"Then I'll have to drag you out of the bed myself."

"In that case I think I'll refuse more often" she said with a cheeky smile as she bit her bottom lip gently.

"Mmm" Horatio moaned in agreement, also wanting to stay there himself.

She relaxed back down and placed her head on his shoulder as she delicately began to run her fingers over his strong chest.

She found herself falling back to sleep as did Horatio. He took a deep breath to wake himself up.

"Come on, we have to get up this time" Horatio said with a smile as he shifted and went to get up.

"Mmmm" Zoe moaned and let him get out of the bed easily as she shuffled over to his side and took in his scent as she pulled the duvet up and snuggled in a ball. 'He smells so perfect' she thought to herself.

"Zoe, come on sweetheart." Horatio called from the bathroom.

"Another minute" she said with a smile as she kept her eyes closed.

"You know that minute will turn into an hour, you need to get up" Horatio said walking back through into the bedroom, doing his teeth.

She opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"Am I going to have to carry you to the shower or drag you? Your choice" Horatio said with a smile as he turned back around to walk into the bathroom and spat the tooth paste out, rinsing his mouth out with mouthwash.

"Mmm you decide" she said with a smile as he walked back in with a smile.

He pulled the duvet back and a rush of cold air hit her.

"Why did you do that?" She asked looking at him and then rubbed her eyes with a cheeky grin.

"Because you need to get up, or you're going to be late for work." Horatio said softly.

"Then you'll have to punish me, and that could work out in my favour." She said with a cheeky grin. A wide grin appeared across Horatio's face as he looked down, trying not to give her the reaction she wanted but unable to hide his amusement. He exhaled a small laugh and looked back up at her, trying to hide the grin.

"If you're not up in 5 seconds I'm going to carry you into that bathroom." Horatio said with a grin, still amused by her comment about him punishing her.

"Come back to bed, I'll give you something that's far better than work." She said with a grin.

"Why don't you join me in the shower in that case?" Horatio asked with a grin. He saw her facial expression change a little, he could clearly see she wasn't entirely comfortable with that thought.

"Do you think either of us would get into work on time if that happened?" Zoë asked, looking up at Horatio.

"No, but it would be an experience…" He said with a grin, trying to figure out her reasons for not wanting to share a shower with him. She gave him a smile. 'Oh God, I hope he doesn't take it personally.' She thought to herself.

"5…4…3…2–" Horatio began to count down with a smirk.

"Okay, okay, I'm up" she said as she sat up and looked at him with a brilliant smile herself.

"You're going to pay for this later." She said with a cheeky smile.

"I look forward to it" Horatio grinned. She giggled slightly as she got up and walked into the bathroom after giving his chest a swipe with her hand.

She did her teeth and then closed the door too as she got in the shower. Horatio walked round to her main bathroom and had a shower in there and then put a clean pair of boxers on before walking back into her room. She walked out in a bright pink shirt and underwear, pulling a cream/white suit from the closet. She got dressed with Horatio and did her hair. Horatio had gone downstairs and made the coffee when she came down.

"Thank you handsome" she said with a smile as he handed her the mug. He gave her a smile and they sat at the island counter, drinking their coffee, talking. Horatio then had to shoot off. Zoe went upstairs and got some washing out of the washing bin and put a light load on. She then went off to work.

As soon as the team got in they had a call out to a young woman who was found dead in her home, on the sofa. It looked like suicide to start off with but seemed suspicious. Eric called Horatio over to the side of the living room.

"Look who's in her contact list under boyfriend" Eric said as he showed Horatio the phone. Horatio exhaled and ran a hand through his hair.

"Eric, if you want to sit this one out, I don't mind." Horatio said.

"No H, it's okay." Eric said softly. They processed the scene and Eric began having flashbacks.

"Eric honey, are you okay?" Zoe asked seeing him frozen, looking down at the note on the coffee table.

"Er… yeah, I'm fine Calleigh" Eric said glancing back at Zoe.

"Calleigh?" Zoe asked as Horatio turned around.

"Err, sorry Zoe… Yes, I'm fine." Eric said looking over at her.

"Eric, I think you should go outside for a moment" Horatio said softly.

"Yeah, sorry H" Eric said as he quickly walked outside and got some air, calming himself down.

"Who's Calleigh?" Zoe asked, moving over to Horatio.

"She worked with us before you joined, she… she seemed to have committed suicide and her boyfriend of the time, is now the boyfriend of this young woman. We were convinced that Calleigh wouldn't have done this to herself, but the evidence told us it was suicide." Horatio exhaled a few times.

"She and Eric were close and at one point I think they were in a relationship." Horatio added softly.

"Aw, I'm really sorry to hear that." Zoe said softly as she then looked around the place.

"Who's the boyfriend?"

"A man named Jay" Horatio said looking over at her with a sigh.

They processed the house and pulled off a partial print off the gun which seemed out of place. Alexx got the body back to the autopsy and began the examination as they all worked in the lab.

Ryan pulled the print off the gun and it was a match to Jay, Calleigh's old boyfriend. Ryan brought him in with the help of Frank, whilst Zoe and Eric continued to work in the lab and Horatio walked down to autopsy.

"Alexx, have we got anything?" Horatio asked as he stood by the body.

"There's and entrance and exit wound - entrance through the back of her mouth and the exit out the back of her skull. I found metal scrapings on her teeth where it looks like she bit down on something metal, it looks like it could be from the gun when it was in her mouth." Horatio moved closer to get a look. Alexx then handed him a pot with some of the scrapings in.

"Now why would she bite the gun if she was the one pulling the trigger?" Horatio questioned.

"I don't know honey, that's your department." Alexx said with a caring look.

"Thank you Alexx, anything else?" Horatio asked.

"No honey, I'll let you know if I do find something else though." She said with a smile. Horatio gave her a nod and then left with the pot in his hand. He handed it to Zoe to compare to the marks on the gun and to run a comparison to find if it was the same metal. It was a match and Zoe handed Horatio the results.

"We've got him this time." Horatio said as he placed the paper on the side and Zoe filed it, looking up at Eric.

"Honey, are you sure you're okay?" She asked as she moved closer to him.

"Yes, I'm really okay, thank you Zoe." Eric said with a smile.

"Okay, I'm here if you want to talk" she said with a sweet smile. He gave her a nod and she carried on with her work.

Ryan and Frank dragged him in and sat him in the interrogation room as both Ryan and Horatio grilled him.

Eric walked past and stared at Jay, Jay gave him a smirk and Eric had to walk past otherwise he knew he'd lose it if he went in.

Once Ryan and Horatio had put the evidence in front of him, he confessed but claimed insanity.

"I don't think that is going to work" Horatio said raising his eyebrows, picking the pictures right up.

Horatio and Ryan left him in the room and knew that he was responsible for Calleigh's death too, they just had to prove it.

Zoe found Horatio in his office.

"Horatio, I'd like to ask you something."

"Sure, go ahead." Horatio said, sitting back in his chair.

"You're not going to like it, but I think it could work." Zoe said as she sat down.

"Okay, go ahead" Horatio said as he leant forward and clasped his hands together, already knowing that he was going to hate what came out of her mouth.

"I think I can get this guy to confess. I know his type" Zoe said looking to Horatio. "I think if I pose as a suspect on a different case and I'm put in the same room with him, I think I could get him to confess whilst wearing a wire." Zoe said looking to him.

"Zoe, that's not even an option, I'm not letting you near him, especially on your own." Horatio said, looking deep into her eyes.

"Horatio, there's patrolmen everywhere; you can even be close, just out of sight. Just let me try, it's the least I can do, I owe you all so much." she pleaded with him. Horatio exhaled, thinking.

"You don't owe me, or anyone anything, Zoë." Horatio said, as he exhaled. 'Do I let her try this? He could quite easily hurt her. I can't let her do this, but she could help us. He doesn't know she's a police officer. She'd definitely get his attention. I can't believe I'm thinking this!' He thought to himself.

"Well, what are you going to say to him?" Horatio asked.

"I don't know, I'm going to judge his character first, but at a guess, I reckon he's into women and is easily turned on." She said looking to him.

"No" Horatio said bluntly, knowing what she was getting at.

"All it is is words, all I will say is that I like dangerous men" she said looking at him.

"Horatio, if it's the only way we can get him for Calleigh's murder as well, then I'd like to at least try." She said looking at him, with raised eyebrows. Horatio thought about it and exhaled.

"Okay, but I'm pulling you straight out of there if he comes any closer than 2 meters to you." Horatio said leaning forward.

"Thank you, but it's got to be believable, I need to be cuffed, and look slightly messy." She said with a smile, happy she could be of help.

"Zoe…" Horatio stopped her.

"If I'm not cuffed then he's going to know that something's up." Zoe said looking at him sincerely.

Horatio exhaled again. "Okay, but if you want to come out of there you just say, okay?" Horatio said, looking back at her sincerely.

"Yes, okay. Let's do this" she said with a smile as she stood up.

"You shouldn't be so happy about putting yourself in danger, Zoë." Horatio commented.

"I'm not putting myself in danger, we're surrounded by police, Horatio. I'm happy because you're letting me try and help put this vile bastard away." She said, slightly snappy, slightly softly. She fitted a wire and messed up her hair a little and took her badge, ID, gun and gun holster off, putting them in Horatio's draws. She took her hand cuffs and they walked down, grabbing Jessop on the way and telling him the drill. Ryan and Eric looked up and watched the 3 of them discuss and then watched Horatio put cuffs on Zoe.

"Are they too tight?" Horatio asked softly.

"No, they're fine" she said with a smile.

"Okay, take it easy, remember you can come out when you want." Horatio said softly, already worrying about her. Ryan and Eric came out and walked over to her.

"What's going on?" Ryan asked, looking at Zoe. Horatio had placed himself subtly between Ryan and Zoë, Ryan hadn't realised.

"Don't worry, it's a part of a plan" she said as she gave Jessop the nod. As she turned she gave Horatio's jacket a quick tug to warn him off Ryan as she saw him getting protective. Ryan and Eric looked to Horatio as Zoe and Jessop began to walk away. Horatio softened his stance, gave them a reassuring look and then followed. They both caught on to what she was doing and rushed over.

"Boys, stay here" she said as they got into the lift, both Ryan and Eric stayed there. Horatio and Jessop walked her over to the holding cell and Jessop lightly pushed her in there with Horatio out of the sight of Jay.

Zoe huffed and then sat down, glaring at Jessop. Jay looked over at her as she struggled with the cuffs, looking very believable.

"What are you in for?" Jay piped up, seeing this pretty woman sat in front of him a few benches up.

"What are you in for?" She returned, slightly snappy. Giving him a glare as she flicked her hair out of her face.

Jay looked her up and down and smiled, liking her instantly because she was challenging him.

"Murder" he smirked.

"Murder?" She asked, looking over to him, with her expression softening.

"Yeah" he chuckled, she gave him a slight smile.

"You like that?" He asked, seeing the small smile as she looked up at him. He smiled at her, checking her out more and Horatio's skin was already crawling.

"Let's just say… I like a dangerous man" she said seductively, looking up at him.

"You do huh?" He asked, grinning at her as he stood up. He had Horatio on edge and Horatio was ready to go in and take her straight out.

"Oh yeah, my ex… oh my ex was the most exhilarating man I've ever known. I don't get the thrill with normal men. He was dangerous and that is the way I like it." She said, biting her bottom lip, looking over at him, slightly seductively. Jay let out a small groan, her ways were already working him over.

"Oh yeah, what did he do and where is he now if he was so exhilarating?" Jay asked as he took a few steps closer to her and sat on the bench in front. Horatio was ready to pull her out, but held on, knowing that she was getting somewhere.

"A couple counts of murder, a few assaults and grand-theft, he's in jail now and won't be out for some time, so I've got to keep myself entertained." She said giving him a grin.

Jay looked at her and smiled, giving her a nod, feeling slightly jealous. Jay looked her up and down again, licking his bottom lip slightly. Horatio's heart pounded, seeing the same look in his eyes as he did in Ratner's when he looked her up and down.

'What a complete moron' Zoe thought to herself.

"You say a couple counts huh?" Jay asked, edging closer to her.

"Mm-hmm" she said with a grin. "It turns me on just thinking about it" she said biting her lip and flicking her hair back again. She exhaled deeply and looked up at him with a grin, she edged closer to him.

"What if I told you that I've killed a cop and gotten away with it?" He whispered, a grin appeared across her face.

"You got away with it? My, I have to say, that beats anything my ex did." Zoe teased as she edged closer. Horatio was ready to pull her out, seeing them get closer together.

"Yeah, these morons don't even know it, I killed one of their CSI's and I liked it." Zoe bit her lip more at him, he was turned on every time she did it. "I made it look like suicide, that bitch didn't know what hit her. Calleigh, such a pretty name, shame she had to go really." Jay teased, looking Zoe up and down and biting his own lip, as his loins began to stir.

"You really killed a cop?" Zoe asked, grinning at him seductively.

"Oh yeah" He said looking at her.

"How about we meet up sometime?" Jay asked as he stood up and then sat next to her. It was all Horatio could take and he was in there like a shot as Zoe immediately stood up and walked over to Horatio.

Horatio quickly undone her cuffs. "Are you okay?" Horatio asked placing his hand on her arm as she rubbed her wrists.

"What? You're a cop?" Jay asked as he stood up.

"Yes, and now you're going down for two murders." Zoe said with a smile as she sorted her hair out. She put her hand up her shirt and pulled the wire that was stuck to her stomach.

"All on tape, thank you Jay." Zoe said as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"You bitch" Jay said as he began to walk towards her. Zoe smirked at him and Horatio immediately stood in front of her as Jay got closer.

"Jay, I'd back down or you'll be going away for longer." Horatio warned. Jay snarled at Zoe.

"I'll get you, you bitch." Jay said as he turned around and sat down.

"Come on" Horatio said as he placed his hand on her lower back and walked out with her.

"That was successful…" She said with a smile as she handed Horatio the tape.

"It was, but you let him get too close Zoe." Horatio said softly.

"Yes, but it worked" said with a smile as they went back to the lab. They walked out of the lift and Ryan and Eric immediately walked over to them.

"We got him" Zoë said with a wide smile, Horatio stood close to Zoë, making sure Ryan didn't step too close to her. He went to step forwards, to ward him off even more but Zoë discreetly grabbed the back of his jacket, holding him where he was.

Both of them smiled. "Thank you Zoë, thank you so much." Eric said with a relieved smile as he exhaled. It was time to go, Eric feeling at ease that finally Calleigh's case has been properly solved, but still being haunted by the visions of the scene. Zoë walked over to Horatio's office and knocked.

"Come in." Horatio said as he picked up his keys and looked towards the door to see who had knocked and he saw Zoë walk in.

"Is everything okay, Zoë?" Horatio questioned, seeing a slight unease and displeased look in her eyes.

"Not really, Horatio." She said with a hint of bitter in her tone. Horatio stood straight, 'what have I done? Did I forget something?'He thought to himself.

"What's the problem sweetheart?" Horatio asked, cautiously.

"You, Horatio. Do you realise how you were acting today towards Ryan?" She questioned, looking up at him.

"I thought we were over this, Horatio?" She questioned, her eyes narrowing on him. Horatio's mouth fell open a little.

"He's not a criminal, Horatio. Stop treating him like one, please. He's our friend." She said, trying to lighten her tone, not wanting an argument.

"I'm sorry Zoë, I didn't realise I had done anything different towards him." Horatio said softly, genuinely unaware of his protective actions.

"You didn't realise that you practically stood in front of me when I was speaking with him, or that you'd glare at him?" She said, with the same bitterness.

"I… I er… I'm sorry sweetheart, but he doesn't exactly have my complete trust." Horatio said apologetically.

"Does that mean I don't have your trust? Do you not trust me to be around him? Do you not trust me to say no if anything like that ever happened again?" She growled, trying to keep a lid on her emotions but they were beginning to surface.

"Of course I trust you sweetheart, I trust you 100%." Horatio replied quickly and firmly.

"Then what's the problem?" She asked.

"I don't know, I just… I don't want you getting hurt, Zoë." He said as he swallowed.

"I'm not going to get hurt. He's a good friend of mine, Horatio. You can't stop me from being friends with him. You know he's like a brother to me." Zoë said, softening her tone.

"I know sweetheart, but he's lost some of my trust and respect, Zoë. That's something I can't help, that is through his doing. No matter what you say to me he did take advantage of you. That's not something I take lightly or can just forget." Horatio said warmly, trying his best to keep the situation under control, knowing that Zoë's emotions could still be quite temperamental at times.

"We're back to this again, Horatio. He didn't take advantage. Just let it go, please." She begged as she ran a hand through her hair. She looked up at him and he couldn't argue with her any longer. He exhaled and nodded his head. 'I cannot argue with her, just make her happy. She doesn't need stress, she doesn't need me making her life hell.' Horatio thought to himself.

"Thank you Horatio." She said as she stepped up to him and looked warmly into his eyes. He gave her a small warm smile and pulled her in for a gentle hug.

"I'm sorry sweetheart." Horatio whispered into her ear and then gave her temple a quick kiss.

"Just please stop treating him like a criminal, that's all I ask." She mumbled into his collar.

"Of course sweetheart" Horatio said softly as he rubbed her back.

"I'm really sorry handsome, I didn't mean to get ratty." She swallowed and then took a deep breath.

"Don't worry about it beautiful, I understand." Horatio said softly. 'I do need to call Nathan about her emotions, should I talk to her about it first though? Are they going to get better? Is she going to have the control over them that she used to have?' Horatio thought to himself.

"It's not okay, I can't keep getting so worked up about trivial things." She murmured.

"Perhaps we should give Nathan a call if you're worried?" Horatio asked softly.

"They might sort themselves out, we'll give it sometime. Is that okay?" She asked.

"Of course sweetheart" Horatio said very softly as he continued to rub her back warmly. She looked up at him and gave him a quick kiss on the lips and a small smile.

"Anyway, I think we should probably get going." Zoë said softly as they broke from the hug and Horatio gave her a nod.

Horatio and Zoë were at Horatio's having dinner, Horatio had cooked for the both of them.

"Horatio, where did you learn to cook like this?" Zoë joked with him as he placed a beautiful dish in front of her.

"I don't know, I guess it's just practice" Horatio said with a smile as he sat down opposite her.

"You're going to have to teach me one day, pasta is about the only thing I can cook!" She said with a smile. He smiled back at her and they both ate, having a casual conversation.

Horatio cleared the plates away and told Zoë to remain in her seat and then brought out two large wine glasses filled with Eton Mess.

"Horatio… that is my favourite dessert! You spoil me you know!" She said with a grin as he placed it down in front of her.

"I'm glad you like it" Horatio said as he sat down again, with a wide smile plastered across his face.

They both enjoyed it and Horatio cleared it away as Zoë helped him. They went through to the living room and relaxed on the sofa while Zoë leaned against Horatio, Horatio had threaded his hand in her hair and began to play with her hair. She relaxed more and began to fall asleep on him.

"You know, you have to stop that unless you want me asleep" she said with a smile as she continued to relax on his shoulder. Horatio exhaled a laugh and continued to play with her hair.

"I love having my hair played with, it's so relaxing" Zoë said with a smile as she exhaled steadily.

"When you were in the hospital, it was the only thing I could do to keep you from getting stressed or upset." Horatio said softly, remembering playing with her hair when she was really unwell.

Zoë looked up at him with a smile, she looked at him with an exceptionally caring facial expression then dropped her head again as she exhaled, stroking his hand with hers.

"It's what my mother used to do to get me to relax" she said softly, letting Horatio in to some of her closely guarded secrets.

"It was the only thing that got me to sleep, or relaxed me when I was in hospital or scared." Zoë said, letting him in further as she looked down at his hand in hers as she gently played with his hand.

'She's letting me in, she trusts me enough to be telling me these things.' Horatio thought to himself.

"Scared of what?" Horatio asked casually, trying not to make a massive deal out of it.