Title: Breathing
Author: Tygershark
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI Miami. The only things in the story that belong to me are the villain and a couple of small characters.
Rating: T to slight M, adult themes and some violence, neither are overly graphic and some language.
Pairing: Horatio/Calleigh
Summary: Tonight on CSI Miami
"What have we got Frank?" (Flash to Horatio pulling off sunglasses.)
"Two DB's one male, one female. Looks similar to the others." (Flash to Alexx examining a body.)
"I will NOT have any member of my team placed in jeopardy." (Flash to an angry Horatio.)
"Calleigh, will you dance with me?" (Flash to Horatio and Calleigh dancing.)
A serial rapist has escalated to murder and it's a race against time to stop him before he kills again. Horatio and Calleigh are forced to go undercover to stop him.
A/N I haven't been to Miami in a very long time so please forgive any geographical mistakes. Of course the specific places mentioned are completely fictional
Why does anyone do the things they do? It has been said that the two biggest motivators for most people are money and sex. From the dawn of time people have done things to get both or either. But what happens when one is motivated by neither? All his life this man had avoided the commonplace, the cliché but most importantly everything he did had to be worthy of his efforts.
So he did dreadful things, terrifying things but he did them motivated not by money, nor sex, nor any other reason except absolute impulse. He had no need for money or sex; put simply he did the things he did because he was compelled to.
He stepped out into the ink black night, his cassock-style coat hugging his frame like a lover. He'd been much occupied with business concerns and he could ill afford to allow his father's company pilot itself for any amount of time. Inattention could prove disastrous both financially and personally. It was that very business that not only provided for his lifestyle, but the care of his invalid brother. Not that he would ever acknowledge having such a brother, indeed he had not laid eyes on Simon for years.
XXXXXXXX
Lt. Horatio Caine strode purposefully towards the latest crime scene, followed closely by his partner on the case Calleigh Duquesne; he could never think of her as a subordinate. She was his equal in every way that mattered she was strong, astoundingly intelligent, and more than capable. Over the years he had come to rely on her instincts as much as his own. If this crime scene was as bad as those previous he was going to need those instincts.
Calleigh hadn't been with him on the last one; she had been tied up in the ballistics lab. This time out Eric was the one mired in work at the lab and Ryan was finishing the trace comparisons from the last two victims. When the call came in the two of them grabbed their gear and hurried to Horatio's Hummer.
He was grateful to have this intuitive woman at his side; there would be that much less pressure because there would be less of a need to communicate his thoughts to her. Early on in their working relationship they began communicating more by sight than speech. She was able to read him better than anyone he'd ever worked with before. Being able to anticipate the other's movements had saved them in more ways than one. Horatio had long since given up trying to analyze it now he just accepted it as the norm for them.
"What have we got Frank?" He said pulling off his ever-present sunglasses and placing them around his neck.
"Two DB's one male, one female, a jogger on the beach found the man and called it in. Alexx is already with the body, looks like they were out for a night on the town. Looks similar to the others."
"All except for the corpses, that's not like the others."
"I gotta bad feeling that this is the same guy sex crimes has been after. It might be that he's escalated but you'll be the one to tell us that."
"The evidence will tell us that." Horatio moved towards where Alexx was doing her initial exam of the male victim, as Tripp went to question the jogger further.
The high pitched hum and pop of Calleigh's flash lit up the early morning air throwing her grizzly subject into stark contrast.
"Where's the second victim Alexx?"
"Over there." She stabbed a finger towards a beach cabana some fifty yards away.
"Ok so what can you tell me?"
"Judging from the lividity he was killed right here, that with the body temp and the fact that rigor has started tells us the time of death was between 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Not a nice way to end your evening was it sugar?" Alexx tenderly pushed back the victim's dark curls from a battered and bloody face.
"Alexx did you find evidence of a gunshot or stabbing?"
"Not in a cursory exam, no strangulation or suffocation either. I'll know more after the post but if you want an educated guess I'd say this poor baby was beaten to death."
"Normally I'd say we don't guess but in this case I tend to agree with you."
"Took a lot of rage to do this kind of damage Horatio."
At this point Calleigh came up to the pair. "The witness didn't see or hear anything, this area is pretty deserted after midnight. Maybe our vics were looking for a little privacy."
Horatio nodded, "Along with our killer."
XXXXXXXX
"Frank I won't agree to this, and you can tell them it's not going to happen," growled Horatio, his normally calm, even tone rising. He hardly ever yelled but if the look in his eyes was any indication he was dangerously close to erupting.
"Horatio I understand your position on this…"
Horatio cut him off as he all but spat out the words. "I will NOT have any member of my team placed in jeopardy." His jaw snapped shut suddenly cutting off whatever else he might have said.
If Tripp noticed the abrupt stop he didn't show it. "Look the sex crimes division was after this perp for weeks. The media is all over this and now he's moved up to murder."
Horatio knew the suspect was dangerous and had escalated. The first four couples were in rough shape but physically they had survived the attack, not so with the latest victims. Although he was almost consumed with wanting to catch this guy what Tripp was suggesting terrified him to the core.
Before Horatio could make another objection Tripp launched a precision attack. "Listen Horatio I know what you're going to say but think a minute. Four young women brutally raped and four men just bashed on the head. Now couple five; the man beaten unrecognizable and left to die. The girl repeatedly raped, beaten and also left to die. You know this scum is just going to keep going unless we stop him."
Horatio didn't need to be told; the brutality of the attacks was emblazoned across his mind. Five couples assaulted; picked seemingly at random, the first were tourists from Cleveland, the second visiting from the panhandle, the next were Miami college students, and then a couple visiting from Chicago. The last were a local business owner and his fiancée. What they all had in common was that the women were similar in appearance; they were all attacked after a romantic night on the town, and they were all assaulted on the waterfront.
"Frank no one has worked harder than my team, they have given everything they have. What you're asking me to do is risk one of them and I don't feel it's necessary. I'm entitled to know why it has to be one of my people? There are other officers."
"Horatio sex crimes division tried to set this guy up, he didn't even nibble at the bait. She may be a CSI but she's had the same training that we all have, and she's just as qualified as anyone else I can think of, maybe better. The key is the women they have all been small, beautiful, and blonde."
As he said this, the door opened and Calleigh Duquesne, the unwitting object of their heated discussion, came into the room. "Beautiful and blonde? Now you boys wouldn't be talking about me would you?" She didn't wait for an answer. "You might try speaking up because I think there's a little old lady in Jacksonville that didn't hear you."
Tripp cocked his head toward Calleigh. "Why don't we ask the lady herself? Let her make the decision."
Horatio took a step placing himself between Tripp and Calleigh. "I run this department and this request has to get through me and that is not going to happen."
Calleigh sidestepped him giving him a warning glance. "If this has anything to do with me I think you should be including me in the discussion and since I didn't get an invitation maybe it's a good thing I crashed this party."
Horatio tried to regain control of the situation. "Calleigh the discussion is over…"
"No Horatio I think it's just starting. Frank tell me what this is all about."
Tripp hesitated for a moment. Now that he was face to face with her he wasn't as sure of himself as he had been a moment ago. But there was no way he could back down now even if it was to protect this little fireball. There was only one person she would allow that privilege. If she so much as suspected one of the men she worked with was holding back to try to protect her… Well Tripp wasn't sure what she might do but he knew it wouldn't be pretty.
"Look Calleigh we're up against the wall on this attacker. We've exhausted everything we can think of and the media is baying for blood; anyone's blood and now the guy has escalated I feel it's only a matter of time before there's another attack."
Horatio broke in with more objections, "Calleigh you don't have to do this." She just looked at him arching one eyebrow. He felt the look shoot straight to his gut making him twitch.
"Go on Frank," was all she said.
"We've tried sending in undercover officers but something about them this guy hasn't liked and didn't so much as take a nibble. I think you could be just the bait we need. If you'll help us we can get him before he hurts anyone else." Sensing that she was at least willing to listen he continued. "Now we'll take every precaution you won't have to worry, you just draw him out and we'll get him."
"What about back up?" She asked simply.
"Inside and outside of the club," said Tripp. "Another officer will be with you the whole time posing as your date."
Feeling that he had lost all control Horatio tried again in desperation. "Calleigh I cannot let you do this it's too dangerous." He was dangerously close to revealing way too much.
She turned to him and fixed another look on him and his stomach nearly jumped another summersault 'God Calleigh don't look at me like that,' his mind screamed.
She turned back to Tripp holding up a warning hand towards Horatio. "You were saying about back up?"
"Yeah we'll have two teams inside two outside and like I said I'll put my best man in with you."
Horatio cut him off. "That won't be necessary, I'll go with her."
Both Tripp and Calleigh turned to him in surprise. Well Tripp wasn't too surprised, he would have been shocked if sooner or later Horatio had not made that demand.
"That's the deal or there's no deal."
"Horatio you don't need protect me."
"I mean it Calleigh, if you go, then we go."
Instead of unleashing the tongue lashing he fully expected she just blasted him with one of her thousand watt smiles and said. "Why Horatio are you asking me out?"
Knocked totally off balance he could do nothing except blush furiously.
That was just too much for Tripp he moved to the door. "I'll just let you two hash that out, and I'll get my people ready. I'll be back to brief you once we're set"
As Tripp exited the room Horatio turned towards the strong willed young woman who once again had managed to leave him so completely floored. Neither said anything for a moment
"Calleigh I'm not comfortable with you going undercover."
"I know Horatio but Frank is right this attacker won't stop till we stop him."
"I just don't want something to go wrong." He said quietly
She smiled and shook her head slightly, "Don't worry you'll be there to make sure nothing goes wrong."
"And if I can't?" His unspoken fear of a repeat of what happened to Speed was not lost on Calleigh.
"You've never let me down before, I'll take my chances." When he gave her the little shy smile that was so endearing she knew his fears while not completely overcome were at least had somewhat abated.
"So are we ok?" She asked.
He smiled, "No matter what 'we' will always be ok." She smiled at the emphasis. If there was one person she could always count on it would always be Horatio Caine.
"What about Frank?" She asked placing a soothing hand on his arm when she saw his features tighten almost imperceptibly, only she would have ever noticed it. "He's doing what he thinks is right, what I think you'd do if you were in his position. Don't be angry with him Horatio."
"Calleigh I just…" He stopped himself and put the remainder of his sentence with all the other words he'd never say.
"Ya know someone I respect once told me that an emotional response creates a blind spot. I don't ever want to become a blind spot for you."
Sometimes it was frightening how well she knew him, rather than risk revealing anything more than he already had he chose to simply agree and assure her she would not become a liability.
Later in the day both Horatio and Calleigh met with Tripp to go over all the details of their upcoming undercover assignment.
"Ok so we know that all of the attacks have occurred on a Friday night/Saturday morning and there are three possibilities on the club. The first is Fire & Ice; this place is a favorite of the jet set crowd and is also the last place couple number three was seen. The others were last at Ipanema and Timeless. We've determined that our best bet is sending you to Timeless on Friday night."
"That's one of the things I love about being a cop, ya get into the best places without reservations."
"Not entirely true in this case. Only the owner knows; we have to pose you two as ordinary patrons," offered Tripp.
"So how do we get in? I hear they have a waiting list," she asked.
"That would be Horatio's department," said Tripp.
"I got you a good table," replied Horatio
"You really know how to make a girl feel special."
Tripp cleared his throat. "Ok so the two of you get to the restaurant around 8:00 I'll have a team inside watching the crowd and to provide back-up if necessary. Then around 9:00 you go upstairs to the club there's gonna be two more teams watching your backs but they're not to interact with you in any way." Tripp paused here as if expecting at least a comment from Horatio. When none was offered he continued. All you have to do is act like the romantic couple this guy is looking for."
"That doesn't sound too hard," quipped Calleigh.
Tripp continued giving details right down to the approximate time the two should leave the club, the route they would take to the waterfront and possible secluded spots to use to lure the perp out into the open.
After Calleigh left to finish her other cases for the day Horatio made to leave but Frank called him back. "You know Horatio all these couples were having a romantic evening before they were attacked. It's got to look believable or this is going to be a snipe hunt"
"Just say what's on your mind Frank."
"All I'm sayin' is the two of you are gonna have to get pretty hot and bothered. You think can do that?"
"Frank."
"Ok it's none of my business but I'm just going to come out with it. It's not hard to see this thing between you and her so I gotta ask, can you do this if you have to walk away at the end?" Frank was never one to have heart-to-heart discussions with people and this was about the most uncomfortable conversation he'd had in a long time, right behind the one with his doctor about colon health. But he valued these two as more than colleagues, they were his friends, and he'd seen Horatio go through a lot.
"Don't worry Frank whatever happens is going to happen. Let's just make sure we get this bastard and it will have been worth it." Horatio then turned and walked back to his own office. He needed time to still his turbulent thoughts. He knew what the detective had been hinting at but Horatio would never admit to anyone except himself his doubts about whether or not he'd be able to cross that line ever so briefly and then walk back over it like it never happened. He would be playing with fire and he knew it.
The rest of the week passed in a series of abrupt jumps until finally, Friday arrived. Horatio had been hiding in his office throughout the afternoon trying to prepare himself mentally for what the evening would bring. Alternately terrified and excited at the prospect of a romantic evening with Calleigh Duquesne. Before he knew it she was standing at his office door.
"Hey there partner." She said lighting up his office with her presence. "If you don't mind I'm gonna leave a little early to get ready."
He looked up at her and gave her a small but anxious smile. "Come in and close the door please."
Calleigh looked at him with concern but said nothing.
"It's ok please I just…" He needed to talk to her but somehow he couldn't get the words out.
Sensing his difficulty Calleigh shut his door and came to sit across from him. Before he spoke, feeling this just wasn't a conversation to be having across the desk he came around to sit on the edge of the couch. Leaning down he braced his elbows on his knees, Calleigh laid a cool hand over his clasped ones. He looked nervous, and his eyes wouldn't meet hers. "Horatio talk to me," was all she said.
Her touch steadied him, he tilted his head to the side. "Calleigh I'm not sure about tonight."
"I though we had gotten past this, we'll have back up and you'll…" she said misinterpreting the source of his unease.
"No that's not it."
"You know you can tell me anything."
He nodded; he had always been able to open up to her. One of the few people outside of his confessor he could talk to freely. "You know I'd never willingly let anyone hurt you. But tonight we're going to have to be pretty free with each other in a way we never have before. I just want to be sure you're ok with that." He looked down now afraid of what he might see in her eyes. He was sure this was a non-issue for her, he had himself convinced that she couldn't possibly feel as he did and that all the touches and playful banter was just natural for her. Besides she was young and beautiful and next to her he felt like an old man.
What he couldn't know was that she was having thoughts along the same line. How was she going to be able to go through with it? It was like a starving person being led to the banquet table and being told she could have as much as she wanted but at midnight the feast would be over. Once it was the only thing she'd have to look forward to would be a slow starvation made worse by the memory of that one perfect night. But she now felt a glimmer of hope in the knowledge that he was uneasy as well. But as soon as the impression came to her she squelched it, telling herself that he didn't want to interfere in their working relationship.
Without betraying the riot of feelings inside her she squeezed his hands. "There's no one I trust more than you, and there's no one else I'd rather be partnered with on this."
Horatio nodded accepting that as assurance enough for the time being. "So you're headed out?"
"Yeah I finished the analysis on the bullets we recovered on the Hyatt case. Confirmed what we already knew, the suspect used a homemade silencer. Ditched the weapon, keeping the silencer was mistake number one."
"What was mistake two?" He asked automatically.
"Lying to you." At that she got up and prepared to leave, but turned as he spoke again.
"I'll pick you up at 7:00."
"I'll be ready, don't forget Timeless has a dress code. I'll see you tonight."
XXXXXXXX
Promptly at 7:00 Horatio walked up the path to Calleigh's condo. He had bought her a bouquet of tulips but now he wished he hadn't. He looked for a place to get rid of them. It was just a spur of the moment thing he got hung up at a light and looked over and saw the flower shop, but now it felt awkward. Everything felt awkward; he had agonized over whether or not to wear a tie but decided it just made him feel old. Finally he settled on a charcoal suit and burgundy shirt. Driving his personal car made him feel out of place. In the riot of other thoughts he simply forgot to requisition another vehicle and knowing he couldn't possibly drive his police issue Hummer he had no choice but to drive his own.
Standing on the landing he took a breath, trying to steel himself, then hesitating just one more second he rang her doorbell.
XXXXXXXX
Calleigh had rushed home knowing that by the time she got there she'd have little more than an hour to get ready. Why had she waited so late to leave the lab? Hair, makeup and dress in an hour there was no way. In what had to be a record for her she made it to her condo by 5:30 and began the furious dash to get ready for the evening of a lifetime.
Vaguely she was aware that she should have been more concerned about apprehending the suspect than she was about what dress to wear. More concerned about her own safety and Horatio's than about how she should wear her hair. In the end she picked out her black sleeveless dress with the curved and plunging neckline, with a pattern embroidered in black across the dress. Her hair she decided to wear loose with a little body put in with a controlled tousled look. She was putting the finishing touches to her lips with a slightly darker shade than she normally wore when the doorbell rang.
Knowing it had to be Horatio but checking the peephole anyway, more to give herself the chance to see him before he saw her. What she saw made her pulse quicken, he was still the same man, red hair neatly combed back, immaculate suit; but somehow he was different. She opened the door just as he looked up, what he saw took his breath away. Yet he just stood there drinking her in like a man lost in the desert.
"Hello Handsome."
"Hello yourself I..." He stopped and ducked his head shyly.
"Please come in." She was rewarded with a smile from him like she had rarely seen him give. A full smile, showing a perfect row of teeth. Musing that he hardly smiled like that because he probably didn't have much to smile about. "What were you going to say just now?" She asked as she led him into the living room.
"I… uh, nothing um… I was just going to say you look nice." He stammered.
"Just nice." She said playfully.
"No, I meant you look beautiful." Not knowing what else to do he handed her the flowers "I uh, I got these for you. I hope you don't mind."
"Oh Horatio they're lovely, that was very sweet of you. You just make yourself comfortable while I put them in water." She moved away towards the kitchen. "Why would I mind that you got me flowers?"
"Not that you'd mind exactly, it's just I'm a little old for such obvious high school boy cliches." He sat on the couch but got up again and crossed the room to look at the pictures on a table by the window. He picked up one picture that showed a very happy Calleigh in the embrace of a man he hoped was her brother. His index finger brushed her features longingly before he put the picture back down. He turned to sit down when Calleigh came into the room with the flowers tastefully arranged in a vase.
"Come here. You're neither old nor a schoolboy. You sir, are a gentleman." She said as she held her hands out to him welcoming him to sit with her on the couch.
"Nervous?" She asked.
"Yes," he admitted grateful for her understanding.
"Good," she said, "You're not the only one. Everything will be fine once we get past this."
Horatio noticed she was still holding his hand, somehow that one gesture steadied him and eased the nervousness away. He reached up and caresses her cheek just as he had done her picture, pulling her gently to him; he tenderly kissed her cheek.
The scent of his cologne suddenly went straight to her head intoxicating her senses. A sharp, oriental, woody fragrance hazily reminding her of citrus, expensive tobacco and a background that she could only identify as Horatio. His own musk and the cologne seemed to conspire to turn her insides quivering.
"Feeling better," they both asked in unison and then burst out laughing. "It's good to see you laugh," she said. "We should work for more of that."
When Calleigh didn't say anything more Horatio asked, "Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Only if I get the first dance."
"You can have the whole dance card Handsome."
Taking her arm in his Horatio led her to his car, opening the door; and holding her hand as she slipped into the plush leather seat.
"Wow this is something, where did this come from?" She asked admiringly.
"It's mine I just don't get to use it that much." He said as he swung himself into the driver's seat.
"It fits you somehow."
"It makes me feel a little old."
"I don't see that, I think it's classy and it matches your suit."
"Well I guess I can't argue with that."
It was one of those unusual autumn nights that Miami infrequently received, the air had cooled as evening slowly stretched over the city. Although Miami traffic was typical for a Friday evening Horatio barely noticed the congestion as flashing taillights splashed across the rearview mirror. Again time seemed to do a strange hiccup and suddenly the waterfront lights were looming just ahead.
Horatio had not had a chance to try this restaurant yet but he had heard the glowing reviews praising everything from the service, the décor and especially the food. The Executive Chef was Italian and a native New Yorker to boot. Giving quite a few transplants an authentic taste of home. For Horatio Miami was home but it had been a long time since he'd eaten a meal that came close to good Italian fare that he missed. In spite of the circumstances he was looking forward to the first part of the evening at least. He very much wanted to give Calleigh a good time. They had never been together like this and if all they got was one night he was going to do his best to make it a night to remember.
A/N Looks like this story is getting quite a few hits but so far very few have posted feedback. However I want to thank those of you who have posted feedback. I really appreciate it. This is my first CSI Miami Fan Fic, but not my first foray into writing. I have really tried to get the characters down, and put a lot of effort into getting the dialog to sound right based on how I interpret these characters. I'd really appreciate it if you take the time to read the story to drop me a line of feedback. Studies have shown that leaving feedback may contribute to thicker hair, increased energy, feelings of euphoria, lower cholesterol, whiter socks, shinier floors, and a possible decrease in embarrassing personal problems. ;)