I'm so sorry it has taken this long for Chapter 2 but I'm a perfectionist, not so much with spelling or grammar (I'm really bad in that area) but more with the flow and direction. Good news though I've already started chapter 3 and my goal is to have it up by the end of the week.

I have no Beta yet I have been sending my work to HCrazy but I can't keep doing that as I'd be taking up her time for writing her stories and I know how much we all love those. If anyone has the time let me know and we'll talk.

So I don't own them if I did they would so be married with babies and their own spin off show.

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"Oh Alexx what do I do!" Said the blonde has she turned her eyes to her dear friend.

Alexx had to chuckle at her, when she was met with a mock frown she laughed even harder.

"Hey now honey you had to know this was going to happen, I'm so happy I can't stop smiling I've been waiting for years!"

The waitress came over and picked up their breakfast plates and the two friends were left with their half cups of warm coffee. Calleigh had woken in the morning and panic had set in…again. What if in the morning at work things were not normal? Well of course they wouldn't be normal because you kissed your boss last night and he had his hand on your leg and you swear a second longer and you never would have been able to look at your couch the same way again.

Calleigh had phoned Alexx and arranged a breakfast in between were she now worked at the hospital and CSI. Alexx was just ending her night shift and looked forward to catching up with her dear friend. Calleigh had not given away much on the phone. Even at the café she had been hesitant they had hugged and kissed. Ordered off the menu and has soon has the waitress had left Calleigh had blurted out 'I kissed Horatio last night'.

After that Alexx had begged for every detail and for nothing to be missed. Calleigh had let it all come out just like that caught up in her friend's enthusiasm.

"You have never mentioned this before!" surprise was all over calleigh's face at that sentence.

"Well I wanted you both to find your own way there….and of course that takes time!" sarcasm was evident in the older women's voice.

"Hey now!"

"Oh who cares? You've opened the flood gates on this one now sweetie. I have to say though I'm surprised you made the first move." Lifting an eye brow in Calleigh's direction and smirked when she noted a blush on the blondes face.

"Well someone had too!" with false bravado Calleigh replied though Alexx could tell something was not right.

Alexx put a comforting hand on calleighs arm and turned serious.

"Honey what's really bothering you? You think he might change his mind when you see him today?" Calleigh didn't need to answer her face told Alexx the answer.

Shaking her head Calleigh said. "I'm ..." stuck for words she looked into her coffee cup and tried again.

"Last night one minute I'm angry with him, the next I'm unsure, then I kiss him then doubt myself again".

"Well that's totally normal; you know you don't have to be so in control all the time!" Alexx chastised friendly.

"Yes but this is slightly more complicated then your average relationship we not only work together. Horatio is technically my boss and we have years of friendship..." Alexx interrupted her there.

"You know and I know Horatio…well you know him better now but..." This had the effect Alexx was looking for when they both cracked up laughing.

"Jokes aside though we both know what Horatio is like. You said so yourself, he kissed you back, he said you both need to talk he would never have done that last night if he didn't feel the same or he didn't think this was right. He's one of a kind, a real man he would never play with your emotions. You know all this it's just past relationships that have you in doubt."

Alexx took a sip of her coffee and carried on "If it's the work and relationship side of things well I wouldn't worry about that at all".

Alexx was right; I mean her track record with men sucked. She has either been with ones who wanted to take too much control (John). Then there had been Peter Secret Service guy who had flirted with her and had even asked her out on a date only to find out he was engaged!. She did not even want to think about Jake these men had nothing on Horatio when she thought about it.

After a little more talking, Calleigh had hugged her friend goodbye. Alexx had insisted she pay as this was the best news she had, had in forever. Celleigh had rolled her eyes and Alexx had made her promise to come over for a B.B.Q soon.

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Arriving back at CSI Calleigh was glad not to see Horatio's Hummer anywhere in the car park or in the underground parking either. Grabbing her messages from Paula and walking through the halls to her gun lab she hoped she didn't have 'I made out with Horatio' on her forehead. She figured she had at least an hour to get her self together before running into Horatio.

Horatio walked in not long after Calleigh and also headed to Paula's desk.

"Good Morning Lieutenant"

"Morning Paula" he flashed a small smile "Stack of messages I imagine" referring to yesterdays events. She laughed in response nodding her head and passing him a handful of call back notes and messages.

"Yes sir! By the way I'm glad your ok sir, we all are".

Tucking the notes in his breast pocket of his suit jacket he looked up and smiled at her again.

"Thanks Paula". He said then turned and headed for his office to sign some much needed paper work and think about what he was going to say when he saw a certain blonde.

Relaxing in the sanctuary of his office he was glad his once like fish bowl of a room now had shutters all around with the exception of the view of the city and beaches. Closing all the blinds he was in need of some privacy with his thoughts. He shrugged his jacket off and hung in on the back of his chair and relaxed into it with a tired groan. Facing his chair out to the view his head was invaded with her. He could still remember the smell of coconuts from her damp hair. God she was a beautiful women there was no doubt about that. She had been the very first day he had meet her. Spending years along side her and being good friends he also knew her to be just as beautiful on the inside.

Last night had been something he had thought about many times before if he were honest with himself.

He needed to talk with her desperately he wanted to be sure this was something she wanted to explore.

The heavy knock at the door pulled him away from his thoughts, never one to be unapproachable he invited them in.

"Horatio?" Frank pocked his head around the door.

"Yeah Frank, come in."

"Back from the dead, so to speak." Joked Frank

Horatio smirked at his old friend and hummed in agreement. He looked out the window again and then back to Frank who was staring at him with a thoughtful look. Horatio raised his eye brow in an unspoken question.

"Is something wrong?" Frank may look gruff but they had been friends for years and he while he was not one for deep and meaningful. "You know apart from people trying to kill you that is." He was always to the point, something Horatio admired.

Horatio responded in a dry tone "It would be pretty hard to top that."

"Yeah well you do have a way with criminals" Frank sat himself on the chair in front of Horatio's desk. "So..?" Frank asked again.

Horatio new he could blow him off and Frank wouldn't push but it wouldn't hurt to have a sounding board either. No names mentioned of course and Frank knew Horatio Caine never gave away much.

"It's a woman." Horatio saw a flicker of shock cross Frank's face. Horatio wasn't sure if it was because he had opened up without a fight and so quick or because it was very personal information indeed.

Ryan chose that time to walk in the door.

"Ah yes a woman" replied Frank shaking his head.

"I didn't know you were knowledgeable in that area Frank!" Ryan smirked at Frank as he whipped his head around to the door.

Horatio could see that from the look on Ryan's face Frank had given him a stare normally reserved for trouble makers. To stop from laughing and save Ryan from Frank he spoke up.

"You need me to sign something Wolfe?"

"Um I'll come back later"

"Yeah you do that" retorted Frank and just like that Ryan gave a high pitched 'bye' and the door was shut again "So a woman you say".

Horatio blew out a breath "I'm going to ask you something personal and you don't have to answer. If you do you don't need to tell me names I'm just curious."

"Fire away"

"After your divorce did you ever date anyone from here, you know who worked in the department".

"It's someone here!"

"Frank!"

"Y'all just surprised me."

"You think it's a bad idea then?" Not that this would stop him.

"I never said that I'm just surprised".

Silence filled the office with the men staring at each other.

"So who is it?"

"Frank!" growled Horatio.

"I'm just stirring you up!" Frank turned serious and took a deep breath. "Hey people fall in love at the work place all the time, it happens".

"Her working career could be called in to question. This woman as more to loose then I do I would never want to damage her career."

"Well she's a grown women let her decide I'm sure she's thought of that."

Horatio thought it was hard to beat that comment. He knew Calleigh was a strong woman and would make the choice that made her happy. He knew he could think this over till he was blue in the face but the best thing to do was go see Calleigh.

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He leaned in the door frame watching her he'd been quiet as not to alert her to his presence. He wanted an opportunity to admire her like he had done a time or two before. She was wearing black pants with heels and a soft blue silky v neck. She was a fantastic detective but she was still all women and liked to dress like one despite the demands of the job. Her hair was down in soft natural waves just how he loved it and she had minimal natural make up.

"You coming in or are you just going to stare?" She continued to fill out her report on the latest case but he could see her slight smile. This was a good sign in his book this was there usual cheeky humor with each other.

"I can do both." He pushed himself off the walk and turned around to see who was around before closing the door. Her gun lab was secluded but you could never be too careful in this place. It was like high school sometimes.

The butterflies in her stomach had started dancing again. When she heard him close the door a shudder of excitement ran up her spin. He walked closer; she tried to distract her self with the report in front and kept writing. He never pushed in her personal space but close enough she could smell his cologne the same one from last night. Flashes went off in her head of them kissing at her house. He leaned on the bench with his hip, his body facing her.

"Hey." He said softly causing her to meet his eyes. "Are we ok about last night?" he cleared his throat "I'm happy just so you know but if you're uncomfortable we can talk about that too we've been friends forever that shouldn't stop." He needed to let her know how he felt straight up so there was no confusion. No guts no glory.

Relief washed over her has he admitted his feelings first. He was such a gentleman too; He was giving her an easy out if she wanted it. No way in hell was she taking it though, god she was lucky she wanted this. She put the pen down and turned to face him with a soft smile.

"Last night was wonderful no regrets my end. I do worry though I would never want to ruin our friendship or work relationship if for some reason..." She couldn't finish that sentence shaking her head.

"Hey, I'll never let that happen ok!" He stepped closer to her and slowly embraced her.

She was grateful for the contact and with it came a sense of relief. She welcomed his embrace and has one of his arms slide along her lower back and the other across her shoulders she slider her arms into the inside of his suit jacket and around his mid section.

This was bad anyone could walk in at any moment. He could get use to this though she wanted this he wanted this after all these years she was here in his arms and he could kiss her if he wanted too. She felt good against his chest she fit like she belonged there; he rested his chin on her hair and smelt that coconut smell again. Her hands rubbing along his back were sending message to the lower half of his body and he had to push her away before she noticed.

She felt him pull away and gave her an apologetic look. "Not here, dinner tonight we'll talk some more?"

"Where you taking me?" She gave him a flirty smile and looked him up and down just to stir him up.

He chuckled at her and replied in his smooth smoky voice. "Any where you want."

"Somewhere quiet." That voice of his was going to undo her maybe somewhere busy was better then again not if they wanted to keep this quiet.

"I know just the place I'll pick you up at 8."

"I'm looking forward to it." With one last lingering look in her direction he walked out. Watching him walk away she bit her lower lip smiling thinking about what she was going to wear.