Horatio offered her his arm as the Matre'di directed them to their table.
"My god Horatio, this place is magnificent."
He smiled at her enjoyment as he sat down opposite her, taking her hand in his as he did so. "We're supposed to be having a romantic
evening," he said quietly at slight look of surprise.
"I had almost forgotten about the case."
"Well then let's just enjoy each other's company."
"I like the sound of that," she said as their waiter came toward them.
They talked while they looked over the menu and waited for their drinks. "Everything looks fantastic Horatio I don't know if I can decide."
"Well in that case do you trust me?" He asked, fixing a soft gaze on her.
"You know I do."
"I know you trust me with your life but what about your stomach?"
Calleigh put the menu down and regarded him with a sly glint in her eye. "Go for it Handsome."
Horatio turned to the waiter. "We'll start with the lobster cakes, the lady will have the panzanella, for the salad course and salmon lasagna with grilled vegetables."
"Excellent choice Sir, and for yourself?"
"The porcini mushroom salad, piccata de pollo and roman artichokes."
"That sounds adventurous." She said
"Still trust me?"
"Absolutely."
The Wine Steward came next, presenting Horatio with a cork and sample glass of wine. Horatio nodded his approval and directed the steward to decant it and send it out with their meal. In confusion Calleigh asked, "how did he know what to bring if you didn't order?"
Horatio smiled, "I ordered it when I made the reservation. Enjoying Italian cuisine is a serious thing, they need time to chill it properly and it needs to breathe for a few minutes."
Amazed at his forethought but still not completely buying his explanation she continued. "How did you pick the wine without knowing what we would eat?"
"Why else would I order for you? Besides I know you prefer white wine."
Unable to deny his logic Calleigh gave in, "ok so what are we drinking with dinner."
"Arnaldo Caprai Grecante '04."
"Which is?"
"A white dinner wine from the Umbria region of Italy."
"From the name I'd guess there's more to it than that, enlighten me."
He tilted his head smiling once again. "During the Renascence many wines were made using Grecante or Grechetto grapes. Montefalco's Grecante was one of the most prized. It is said that during the period, the head of the Village of Montefalco used to send the wine as a gift to princes and important clergymen."
"It sounds special," she observed.
"It is but I think the Vigneron might have felt more honored for his wine to be presented to you than to any Cardinal."
At this, all Calleigh could manage was to blink away the sudden mist in her eyes. "Horatio, you overwhelm me, you have to stop that before I ruin my make up." She suddenly fanned her eyes, and beamed at him with the most beautiful smile he had ever received.
"Ok so no more overwhelming truths." Horatio reached across the table and once more took Calleigh's hand in his. "I'm afraid I wasn't exactly honest with you earlier."
"I don't follow."
"At your place when I told you that you looked nice."
"You didn't think I look nice?" She gave him a sly smile.
"No you look beautiful. I was going to tell you that everything else aside I've been looking forward to this, to being with you like this."
"We always could you know, we can do this again," she said tentatively. "That is if you want to…"
"Do you?" He asked, almost in a whisper.
"I asked first."
He smiled. "Don't you want to wait to find out how this one goes? I might be a lousy date."
Calleigh laughed "I'll risk it, you've been a pretty good date so far."
The nervousness had long since faded into the background for both of them, replaced by a feeling of contentment. They fell into easy conversation, talking about everything except work. Horatio was totally captivated by her as she pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She was deep in the story of the first time she fired a shotgun and the kick was enough to knock her to the ground. Suddenly unbidden the thought flashed across his mind, 'God what would it be like, the feel of those lips?' It was just a flicker of a lapse but knowing him as well as she did Calleigh noticed, she also noticed the look in his eyes, a look she couldn't quite define. She reached across the table and touched his cheek.
"Hey you still with me?"
He hesitated not answering at first, just relishing the cool touch of her hand for the briefest of moments before turning furiously red. Then spoke in a thick voice that sounded like scotch-soaked granite, "I'm right here Beautiful."
Whatever Calleigh was going to say died in her throat at the look in Horatio's bottomless eyes. Oh to fall into those depths she thought hazily.
They talked through the rest of the meal trading stories back and fourth, each story punctuated by long looks and one reaching out for the other's hand. By the time the desert course came around they had all but forgotten they were working a case.
"So you ready for desert?" He asked, really smiling again.
"No absolutely not, I couldn't eat another bite."
Horatio motioned the waiter to their table. "We'd like one Creme Brulee with two spoons please and two glasses of Mondavi Moscato d'Oro '02 if you have it. " He gave her a mischievous grin.
XXXXXXXX
"What do you think? Anyone seem to stand out to you?" She asked.
"Too soon to tell. Listen I want you to do something."
"Whatever did you have in mind?"
"I want to turn up the fire on the guy."
Calleigh arched an eyebrow.
"Not exactly what I was thinking but if you have a better idea I'm all yours." Laughing he continued, "Ok I would like you to just ignore everyone but me, I don't want you to even look at anyone else."
"That shouldn't be too hard," she said coyly, "why? Not that I need a reason."
Horatio said nothing for the eternity of a heartbeat. "You know what our profile suggests, if your attention is solely on me that will make whoever might be watching angry. He'll want you to notice him and that will keep his attention on us."
"What if he doesn't notice me?"
Horatio glanced around. "Sweetheart there isn't a man in this place who'll be able to keep his eyes off you. That's what's going to make this guy mad, the most beautiful woman in the room and you're going to be with me."
"You're sweet." Her cheeks crimsoned like a peach in the sun as she looked down.
"If I was any other man here that would really piss me off."
XXXXXXXX
The back beat pulsed in time with the blood surging within him. Cloaked in a suit the deepest shade of chocolate Anton surveyed the room before him. His brown-black eyes missing nothing. Tonight he told himself it had to be tonight, anticipation building, seeping through every part of him. In some diabolic way he knew she would come tonight.
XXXXXXXX
After dinner Horatio led Calleigh upstairs to the club. She gave out an almost audible gasp as he placed a warm, solid hand at the small of her back. That one touch, the meaning it seemed to convey, this woman is mine, ignited a fire that shot up her spine engulfing her and blocking out any other thought.
The music was not as loud as Horatio had expected, just right for dancing but not so loud it overpowered conversation. Then he understood why, directional speakers focused much of the sound onto the dance floor while smaller wall speakers served the rest of club. Scanning the room he made his way forward, leading Calleigh through the tangle of patrons. A bright techno pop song began to build, swirling over the dance floor. Over the song the DJ's voice rang out.
"Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to open music night at Timeless."
"You ready?" Horatio asked, enfolding her hand in his.
"Absolutely." Calleigh gave his hand a reassuring squeeze knowing he had really been asking if she wanted to call it off. She was determined that if nothing else she'd get to dance with him at least once.
"Ok." He nodded, "Calleigh, will you dance with me?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
The moment they reached the edge of the floor any remaining hesitation on his part vanished as he took her into his arms, confidently gliding her across the floor in a variation of an east cost swing. Never before had she been in the hands of such an expert dancer. His timing, unlike most of the men she'd ever danced with was perfect, as if the music flowed through him. He was obviously perfectly confident in leading, something most people had trouble with. She didn't even have to think all she had to do was follow.
Calleigh watched his eyes; he never took them off her as he twirled her fluidly, never out of step. She glanced down at their feet.
"Look at me Beautiful, not your feet," he said almost breathlessly.
She turned her eyes back to him, only to lose sight of him as he turned her again. He brought her arm behind his head at the end of the spin letting go of her hand to let her fingers slide down his shoulder before claiming her hand again.
Anton noticed her almost immediately; some abomination of a sixth sense drew his attention to her. A look like acid dripped from his eyes when he noticed the man she was with. His lip curled with his inner rage as he watched the tall redhead lead her to the dance floor. Fury like a monster bubbled slowly from his stomach and threatened to choke his breathing. This was the one he had waited for all this long time, now he knew why none of the others had ever satisfied. This night would be his magnum opus.
After the second dance Calleigh pulled him back to a table. "My God Horatio I had no idea you were such an incredible dancer."
He chuckled, "you're pretty amazing yourself." This time he didn't resist the urge to tuck the stray lock of her hair behind her ear.
They never took their eyes off each other when the waitress came up to take their drink order, nor when she came back with two club sodas.
Anton circled the room like a bird of prey passing through and around the other people like a vapor of smoke. Eyes never straying from his quarry, watching her every move, every nuance of her being. He wanted her to turn and notice him, like the prey sensing the wolf that stalks her. He willed her to turn and look at him, but she refused to look at anyone other than the man opposite her. It was unfathomable that she should ignore him.
"How 'bout another dance, Handsome?"
"Finish your drink first, Beautiful" He motioned the waitress back and deposited the empties on her tray. Then with an arm possessively draped across her waist, led her back to the dance floor. He paused a moment, appearing to watch the other dancers. Standing just behind her with his arms around her waist, moving slightly to the beat. "How about a little salsa dancing?" He breathed in her ear. "Don't think, don't look at anything but me and most importantly, don't move unless you feel it." His warm breath on her neck sent fresh shivers down her spine.
The hypnotic Latin beat crawled into Calleigh's skin as she moved in perfect unison to Horatio. She couldn't exactly identify the dance he was leading her on, some mixture of salsa and maybe swing or jive. It didn't matter as her world shrunk to pure feeling of this man's hands on her body. Moving Calleigh around the floor Horatio was surprised at how easily they had slipped into the role of a couple. Well he wasn't surprised at his own attitude, how often had he thought about being with Calleigh like this. Maybe the wine had let down some of his inhibitions, yesterday he would never have had the balls to say most of the things he'd said tonight but somehow it was so easy.
The next song began, this time the obligatory slow dance. Horatio pulled her closer to him, at any other time he might have scurried off the dance floor but then this wasn't any ordinary time. They swayed in time to the music wafting over them. Suddenly all thought of the part they were supposed to be playing was lost to him. The events that led them to this moment in each other's arms washed away and they were left with only the truth of the matter. They were nothing more than a man and a woman alone in a crowd on a dance floor, two people lost in the moment. Tentatively reaching through the mist for the other.
Horatio's heartbeat was pounding in his ears. Looking into the endless depths of her eyes he felt his entire being laid open to her gaze, as they slowly glided in time with the haunting melody. His mouth suddenly went dry, he knew there was some purpose to them being here like this but all he could register was the feel of this angel in his arms. His lips tentatively brushed her forehead, before he searched her eyes once again seeking reassurance, as always he found everything he needed in her eyes. Unable to resist the pull he bent his head and oh so slowly kissed her, first at the corner of her mouth then his lips, feather soft captured hers. At that small touch he was suddenly drunk with the feel of her, without conscious thought the kiss deepened with barely controlled desire. The need for oxygen was all but forgotten, overridden by a much more powerful need.
Calleigh returned his kiss with equal passion. At long last she knew what his lips felt like against hers and that feeling surpassed even her most vivid fantasies. He brought one hand up and buried it into her soft hair as her own hands slid from his shoulders down his chest. The feel of her soft touch inflamed his skin making the hair on his chest jump to attention and other portions of his anatomy quiver.
Still Anton watched them, never leaving the shadows but his malevolent gaze inexorably following their movements across the floor. Smoke released from tiny jets in the floor blurred their silhouette but it could not shield their kisses from his angry stare. He seethed inwardly completely focused on the couple, watching their intimate embrace. Every kiss they shared was a stinging slap to his face; he felt every caress as if they were so many cuts from a burning razor.
She was toying with him; he understood that now. She knew he was there in the in the shadows but she refused to acknowledge him as her divine destiny. Shortsighted females could never fathom the deeper dimensions rippling just below the surface. As she wished it, ultimately her childish games would change nothing, she like all the others would eventually enter into his world and his fire would consume her just as it had all the others. Till that moment came he would allow her this adulterous diversion but at the appointed time he would be there to claim his rightful property from the usurper.
Too focused on the sensations of the moment, neither Horatio nor Calleigh noticed that the second song had ended and another, much faster one was starting. When the sound finally made the remote journey to his brain it was still some moments before comprehension dawned on Horatio. With an almost painful effort he tore his lips from hers and released her from his embrace. Grateful for the so-called mood lighting she started to hide her face against his chest. Looking down he brought two long fingers to caress her cheek.
"Hey Beautiful, you're not ashamed to be seen with me already are you?" Deep red spots flared on her cheeks as she noticed several heads turned in their direction. Not waiting for an answer, he pulled her back into his arms and murmured against her hair, "I'm sorry Sweetheart I didn't mean to embarrass you. I'm sorry."
Something near her heart quivered at his words, she breathed in his scent and reached up to kiss the corner of his mouth. "My Mama didn't raise a fool, I'd never be ashamed to be seen with you anywhere."
Laughing he led her back to their table but still he did not release her hand.
"You're gonna have to let me go for a few minutes at least." When he didn't respond she continued. "I'll be right back, Handsome." She picked up her tiny black evening bag as he nodded, finally understanding.
"Yeah sure." He said rising to his feet with her.
She squeezed his hand. "It's ok Horatio I'll be fine." She started to move away from their table but his voice caused her to turn back to him.
"Calleigh…"
"Yes?"
"I'll um.. I'll be right here." The words sounded idiotic even to him. But she didn't seem to care; she bathed him in the warm light of another smile before heading away. All it took was a few steps for the semi-darkness to claim her and half of those few steps for him to miss her.
XXXXXXXX
Horatio led Calleigh through the door where the parking attendant asked if they'd like their car brought up. Still looking at Calleigh Horatio answered, "I think we're going to take a walk." He took her hand entwining his long fingers with hers. They crossed the street heading for the beach.
As they exited the building Frank Tripp told his team to look sharp. "Let's keep our eyes open we don't want to move too quick and scare this creep off."
Even as the darkness swallowed Horatio and Calleigh Frank's team suddenly became engulfed by drenched patrons pouring out of the club as if a dam had burst. Frank couldn't move for the press of bodies all around. He managed to grab one of the employees. "What the hell happened?" Frank bellowed.
"I don't know! She shrieked, "The sprinklers just went off!"
Frank barked over his two-way, "Has anybody got a visual on our subjects?" All was confusion and crowds none of his people could see anything and they were desperately trying to break out of the throng.
XXXXXXXX
Anton watched them exit the club from the shadows, waves of anticipation surged through him. He made his way down to the back door. Turning back his instincts told him he was now being watched. He scanned the room looking for some sign. No one seemed to be looking in his direction, he had been very cautious about avoiding detection. He could not allow his excitement to cloud his judgement, not when he was so close to his goal. As he slipped out the door he pulled the lever activating the sprinklers, knowing that there would be little chance for detection in the chaos.
Turning down a side street away from the club he made his way to the waterfront. He scanned the area, he had no way of knowing which way the object of his desire had gone. Anger bubbling afresh within him, those few seconds of hesitation in the club may have cost him his quarry. No, she was near he could almost taste it. There below him a shadow moved, there was someone on the beach. Noiseless as snake he ventured closer, staying in the shadows.
XXXXXXXX
The moon slipped behind a cloud as Horatio and Calleigh walked across the smooth sand, the surf pounding the ground just beyond. Her shoes dangling from one hand, her other in Horatio's. Cool breezes washed over them, Calleigh shivered slightly.
"Are you cold Sweetheart?" Horatio asked even as he was already slipping his coat from his shoulders and wrapping it around hers.
"Maybe a little, I can't believe it's this cool out."
"Come on let's try to get out of the wind." Leading her back up the beach to one of the picnic tables. Wiping some of the sand away with his handkerchief he sat on the table and pulled her up to sit between his long legs. She leaned back against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. Horatio's head turned back towards the street.
"What is it?"
"I thought I heard something."
Now Calleigh scanned in all directions, she had long ago learned to trust Horatio's instincts almost more than her own. Seeing nothing Horatio turned his attention back to the angel in his arms.
"This feels nice," his thoughts coming from her mouth.
Horatio chuckled, "It feels very nice. Are you still cold?"
"No not anymore."
Horatio pressed a kiss into her hair, breathing her in like a drowning man. When he sat them down he had every intention to merely sit and hold her. Their instructions had been to play the part of a couple making out on the beach and let the back up watch for the suspect. Easy enough to say but Horatio was not about to let his guard down and trust Calleigh's safety to anyone else. Making out with her would be a distraction in the extreme. In the face of such a distraction a bomb could go off and he doubted he would even notice.
Calleigh, feeling bolder now reached a hand up to caress the side of his face. At the touch of her hand all his good intentions dissolved. His own hand found its way to her cheek of its own accord as his head dipped and his lips captured hers. His kiss was sweet and slow, savoring the texture of her velvet lips. Very softly his tongue traced the outline of her bottom lip before starting to kiss his way back to her cheek. She reached up and threaded her fingers through his hair, and dragged his mouth back down to hers, deepening the kiss. His tongue entered, sliding erotically into her mouth, hot and probing, enticing hers to dance seductively around it. Calleigh wondered for a second how he got so good at this, before all higher thought ceased. Fluidly he eased her onto his lap giving himself better access to the lips that were intoxicating him.
Without a sound Anton swooped out of the darkness grabbing the usurper, forcing his head back and pressing a straight razor to his jugular.
"Make a sound, move the slightest hairsbreadth and you will watch as he dies." As if to emphasize his point he moved the razor just below his adam's apple pressing it in just enough to draw a line of blood. Reaching under his coat Anton retrieved a mini police baton and brought it savagely down on the back of the usurper's head. When he collapsed on the table Anton flipped him on his back zip-tying his hands then his feet, all the while the razor never strayed from his neck nor Anton's eye from his harlot.
If there had been more warning Calleigh would have pulled the .380 Heckler & Koch pistol she knew Horatio was wearing in the holster beneath the cuff of his trouser leg. But while Horatio's life hung by less than a hair she didn't dare make a move She knew their attacker's full attention would turn to her any second, her heart raced. Where the hell were Frank and his team? How had this monster gotten them out of the way? She refused to even consider the possibility that she might soon suffer the same fate of the other female victims. As soon as she could be reasonably confident of Horatio's safety she knew she had to put this maniac down.
Anton secured the usurper and once he finished with her; the man would pay very dearly and very slowly. Lashing out with the speed of a striking viper he caught hold of the harlot and dragged her off giving her no time to get to her feet. She tried to struggle out of his grasp and he viciously connected with a blow to her jaw that caused her ears to ring and her mouth to fill with blood. She felt herself sliding, nearly falling down but she forced herself to struggle to her feet. This bastard was not going to get her without a fight.
XXXXXXXX
Frank finally broke through the scurrying club goers, shouting orders to the teams telling them to spread out. "We've got three possible places to check. Rodriguez and Baker you come with me the rest of you fan out to the other sites. Come on find them NOW!" No one stopped to ask questions they all knew what was at stake every second wasted could mean an officer's life.
Frank and his partners thundered down to the beach looking frantically in each direction. Frank's mind screaming 'I got them into this, please God if you're listening let us find them in time.' "Shit! See anything?"
"No wait. What is that!?"
Frank looked in the direction that Rodriguez was pointing, his eyes straining to see. The three of them took off running toward the picnic tables, toward what looked like some kind of figure in the sand. As they got closer Frank's heart jumped into his throat he could clearly see a flash of red in the dim light of the moon. "Oh God where's Calleigh," he croaked. Baker was already shouting over the two-way calling for paramedics. Frank yelled at Baker to stay with Horatio as he and Rodriguez didn't slow for a second looking frantically for any sign of Calleigh. He had to find her; he didn't want to think about what Horatio would do if anything happened to her. If they didn't find her alive he might save Horatio the trouble.
Rodriguez put out an arm stopping the detective, he had seen movement in the darkness ahead of them. They took off running again; as they were approaching the beach cabanas they could see one of the other teams coming towards them. Shouts could now be heard over the pounding of blood in Frank's ears. All of them skidded to a stop, each ready to pummel their suspect.
"Calleigh!" Frank yelled. He blinked as his brain tried to interpret what his eyes were seeing. When it finally registered he was struck motionless, gaping at the figures on the ground at his feet. Calleigh was kneeling on a man's back holding a spike heel to his temple and what looked to be a straight razor to his throat. She looked over her shoulder at the group of dumbstruck officers. Rodriguez had lost control of his jaw, it was hanging open like the door of a barn.
"You boys waiting for an invitation?" She asked in a mixture of mirth and irritation.
Frank elbowed Rodriguez in the ribs and he sprang into action. Frank helped Calleigh up as the other officers roughly cuffed the suspect and dragged him to his feet. Frank could hear one of them reciting Miranda rights, he started to lead Calleigh away but she turned back and stopped to pick up a dark garment on the sand. The suspect was spitting obscenities at the officers trying to drag him away. "Hey get that piece of shit outta my sight," growled Frank. "Come on Calleigh."
She tried to run back toward the tables, stumbling in the loose sand. "Horatio! Frank is he ok!?"
"I don't know I left Baker with him but I don't see anyone at the tables. The paramedics must've gotten him already."
Calleigh tried to move faster but her legs were protesting painfully.
They turned towards the lights and came up to the street that was now ablaze with fire trucks and teeming with spectators. Frank called to the uniforms telling them to get the people back. Calleigh left Frank and pushed her way through the crowd mentally cursing them for keeping her from getting to Horatio. She could see the ambulance lights now, and in two more steps saw the doors were wide open but she couldn't see inside. Just then a firefighter reached out and stopped her in her tracks. "Ma'am you can't be here you're going to have to get behind the tape."
Fire flashed from her eyes. "I'm CSI Duquesne, I'm looking for my L.T. now if you don't want to end up like the last guy who put a hand on me I suggest you get out of my way." His jaw dropped almost as fast as his hands. He heard her mutter "jackass," as she pushed past him.
Now she could hear Horatio's voice rising over the din. "Just give me the gauze and let me go find my partner!"
"Lieutenant you're bleeding let me patch you up first."
Horatio cut him off "Son if you don't get out of my way you're going to have bigger problems."
Calleigh ran towards the ambulance but stumbled to a halt as she caught sight of him. The paramedic was holding a large gauze pad to his neck that already looked like it was soaked through. The moment she came into his view she saw him physically change, the fury seemed to drop instantly. He closed his eyes for a second and she saw his lips whisper 'thank God.' Calleigh couldn't seem to walk the last few feet between them, she felt her eyes fill with hot tears.
Horatio looked back at the paramedic who had by now noticed her approach. "Can you please give us a minute?" His tone had dropped to a polite whisper. The young man said nothing; he just walked away in search of a more cooperative patient, like a charging elephant.
Horatio got up off the bumper and enveloped her in his arms, rubbing her back, murmuring softly to her. When finally he pulled back he looked down at her face, his own eyes watered seeing at last the abrasion and the blood that had crusted on her chin.
"Sweetheart come here." He helped her up into the back of the ambulance and sat her on the bench while he squatted down in front of her. He grabbed the gauze and antiseptic that the paramedic had been trying to use on him. He could've tried to get the young man back to take care of her but for whatever reason he was determined that no other hands but his would tend to her injuries.
"This might sting." When she flinched slightly he blew a slow cool breath to soothe her. "I'm sorry Sweetheart." He finished cleaning the abrasion and was about to reach for another gauze pad and some tape to cover it but Calleigh pulled him into another hug.
"I'm so sorry Calleigh I should have done more to protect you."
Calleigh leaned back and looked him in the eyes. "No, no more guilt. If you had done something he would've killed you, and I don't think I could've lived with that. If either of us had done anything differently it might have ended much worse. I'm just glad we're both ok."
Horatio looked down hating himself for what he so badly wanted to ask her, not knowing if he wanted to hear the answer. "Calleigh Sweetheart, did he… did he hurt you anywhere else." That was as close as he could get to the question.
"No Horatio, he didn't and I think he now has a very profound respect for a woman with high heels."
Horatio couldn't help the laugh that escaped his throat envisioning all the ways his tough-as-nails bullet girl could maim a man two
times her size with her shoe.