Notes: Set during 'Hard Time', no actual spoiler content though.
Horatio POV
I'm getting too old for this.
I've been sitting outside this prison for over an hour, sipping at a cup of coffee, hoping it will keep me focused.
Unfortunately, it's only half working. I'm focused, but not on what I should be.
My mind keeps wandering, although not to an unpleasant topic.
Maxine Valera. The new DNA tech. The woman I had a one night stand with just before she started working at the lab.
I was surprised to see her standing in my office that morning. We didn't exactly exchange names during our first encounter, so when I was sent her file the name didn't ring a bell. Perhaps if I hadn't been so slammed with paperwork, I might have actually looked in her file and recognised the photo. I've had many years of practice at schooling my reactions, so I don't think my shock visibly registered; at least I hope it didn't. I certainly hadn't been expecting to find her standing in my office that morning.
I don't often pick up women I meet at bars, but sometimes things just happen. And happen they did that night.
She sat down next to me at the counter, already kind of tipsy. I'd knocked back a few by that stage as well. I had the freedom of not being on call the next morning and wanted to unwind from a crappy day. She ordered a martini, told the bartender she was out celebrating getting a new job. Impulsively, I paid for her drink, ordering another for myself, telling her she shouldn't have to pay for her own celebration.
The smile she offered in return lit up her whole face and I couldn't help but be mesmerised by it. We stayed talking after that. Not about anything in particular really, just flirting mostly. I'm pretty sure she ditched the friends she came with to sit with me. At the point where I felt her hand working its way up my inner thigh, I decided to seize the moment, leaning over to whisper an invitation in her ear. An invitation she quickly accepted.
What happened next was… amazing. We were all over each other in the cab on the way to my condo, gave the driver quite a show I'm sure. The rest of the night carried on like that. I enjoyed losing myself in her for a few hours.
My personal life is decidedly complicated at the moment; it was good to just forget for a while. Even if it was just for that one night.
I tried to remain professional throughout our second meeting in my office, not wanting to give any indication of my inner thoughts. My only slip came as we walked out of my office. My fingers brushed against the small of her back. That slight touch reminded me of what we had shared. I pulled away my hand quickly, uncertain as to whether my touch would be welcome.
After that initial awkwardness in my office, we managed to work things out. She seemed nervous in my office that first morning, having immediately recognised me, neither of us acknowledging our previous encounter. But, later in the day we spoke again. I visited her in the DNA lab, feeling it was best not to ignore what had occurred between us. Better to get things out in the open. As we spoke her words raised a blush on my face, she was still having an effect on me. In the end we agreed to start fresh, move on from what had happened between us.
This agreement hasn't stopped us from being slightly awkward around each other. She is quite nervous whenever we are in the lab alone together, I'm not sure if this is because of the night we spent with each other or simply a natural quirk. As a result I find myself quite hesitant around her. I don't want to make her uncomfortable.
I've looked in her file now. I was curious about her. Something about her made me want to look deeper.
I admit I've been, reluctant, to forget about our night together completely. Something about her keeps drawing me in. I've checked out her file, which I should do anyway as her boss, nothing inappropriate about that. She is a Florida native, although she grew up in Tampa Bay not Miami. She attended Miami U, where she got a BA in Biology and an MA in Genetics. She worked in a private lab, briefly, before this. She's twenty-nine, so it's something of an ego boost to think that she wanted to spend the night with me.
The object of my professional scrutiny appears, breaking into my reverie. Time to refocus my mind.
Stiffly, I move to get out of the Hummer. I'm getting too old for this.
