Title: The Little Princess

Author: innocent choir girl (ff-dot-net), shannyfish (From Out of the Lab/Miami Heat/LJ)

Summary: New York is working a case in Miami; it brings Calleigh back to Horatio. But when Calleigh meets Isabel Caine, she knows that no matter what that she and Horatio can never be together. Sequel to "Smile".

Category: Crossover with CSI: NY

Genres: Angst,

Characters: Horatio Caine, Calleigh Duquesne, Mac Taylor, Danny Messer, Tim Speedle

Rating: PG-13

Chapter: 4 "Play Nicely Boys!"

Author's Notes: FYI, with November only a few days away, I must let everyone know that the story that I will be focusing on for the month of November is going to be "Storm" (the sequel to SDRR) since that is the project I will be working on for nanowrimo.

…………………

Calleigh was working on something she really she be. She'd noticed that Markham was taking his sweet time processing evidence and writing up reports, so she'd taken it upon herself to clear ballistics of cases that needed to be processed.

"A bit late for you to be here, isn't it?" Horatio asked from outside of ballistics. He had been surprised not to find Speed guarding her.

"You really need to replace Markham," Calleigh said not looking up from her scope.

"I need you back," Horatio said stepping into the lab.

She looked up from the microscope, "We know that's not goin' to happen, Horatio."

He gave her a smile when she finally looked up at him, "Hey Pal."

"Hi," Calleigh said with a smile.

"You're not working on the case, are you?" Horatio asked as he neared her. "There were no bullets in the case."

"So, why did you ask for me?" she asked.

"It's been a long time," Horatio told her. He knew it wasn't the answer she wanted to hear, but that was what he had. His basic selfish reason was because he wanted to see her.

Calleigh turned in the chair, so that she was facing him. "Almost five years."

"I've missed you."

"Me, too," Calleigh whispered.

Horatio looked down, "Isn't there someway we could work it out, so that you could come back to work here?"

"I wish I could," Calleigh whispered, "Markham makes my lab look horrible. He doesn't take the time to organize the lab and he doesn't seem to care about processin' the evidence."

Horatio looked back up at her with a smile, "He's no Calleigh Duquesne."

She smiled, "I thought I scared him into thinkin' I'd come back and take over the lab. Though, maybe he just doesn't care."

"You're working on his cases, aren't you?" Horatio asked.

"Maybe."

He smiled, "I'll take that as a yes," he said. "Why don't we work through it all together?"

"You're not wearin' a lab coat," she pointed out.

"I think that I can solve that problem," he told her with a smile.

"I'm alright, Horatio, really," Calleigh told him. "You're missin' dinner with your family if you stay."

"Eric's going to be there tonight," he told her. "Marisol and Isabel won't mind."

Calleigh looked to the microscope for a moment thinking about it all. "Are you sure?"

"I am."

She allowed him a smile, "Alright." Calleigh figured it could be nice to work in the lab with Horatio again. It'd been quite some time since she'd seen him in a lab coat.

………………………

Calleigh looked up and noticed the time. "Mac and Danny are probably gettin' worried. I should go."

"Let me drive you," Horatio offered.

"It's—"

"Please," Horatio said softly.

"Alright," she gave in, "I need to get my things from my locker," she explained as she left ballistics.

Horatio was waiting patiently outside of the locker room for Calleigh. He smiled when she walked out trying to straighten her jacket. "You're beautiful," he blurted out and found himself reaching out to untuck her hair from the jacket.

Blush filled her face and her gaze fell to the floor. She felt his hand brush her cheek. She allowed herself to enjoy the touch for just a moment. "Horatio—" she whispered and then turned her face away.

He just moved away and started to walk towards the elevator. He hadn't scared her off since she was walking along with him. They took the elevator down and headed out to the parking area in front of the lab. He led her to the Hummer that he used. "Calleigh, I don't want you to go back," he told her.

Calleigh sighed and turned to him, "Please, Horatio," she said. "You know I can't stay."

"I won't talk about Marisol," Horatio offered. "I'll ban her from the lab."

It was tempting, she did miss her friends there and her father, but she'd gotten used to the team in New York as well. They were her family, too. She was supposed to be moving on with her life and moving past her love for Horatio. She wasn't sure if she could do that seeing Horatio everyday. Of course, it would be the ultimate test; she just didn't think she could put herself through it. Or Tim.

"Please?" he asked again.

Calleigh gave him a small smile, "We'll see, alright? It depends…"

"Oh?"

"If I can handle being back," Calleigh told him honestly. "I sort of like New York," she told him before opening the door. She got in and watched the smile grown on his face as he shut the door. As he walked around, she watched him, "But I do miss Miami," she added quietly. She let out a sigh; she knew that it'd be hard to come back. Too hard.

……………………….

Tim Speedle had been waiting for Calleigh in the restaurant of the hotel for over two hours. He knew that she'd been wrapped up in evidence earlier that day, and she was one to not keep track of time when she got into her element.

Maybe she forgot.

That was Tim's main thought as he walked the hallway to the rooms that the New York CSIs were occupying. He got to Calleigh's and knocked. He waited a good five minutes before knocking on the other door. He wasn't greeted by the face he wanted to see. Though Danny Messer was a faithful ally. "Hey man, have you seen Cal?"

"I thought she was havin' dinner with you," Danny stated as he walked to the bathroom door. Mac was in the shower; he opened the door just a tad and then called inside. "Hey Mac! Do you know where Cal is?"

"Speed."

It was a short response, but enough to tell them that Mac thought the same thing, but Calleigh wasn't with Speedle. "Mac, Speed and I are gonna go look for Cal. She hasn't turned up yet!"

"Call her cell first."

"We will!" Danny said before picking up his wallet and cell phone and shoving them into their respective pockets. "Where should we start?" Danny asked as they exited the hotel room.

"I don't know," Speed admitted. "I've tried her cell several times. She hasn't picked up."

"She could just be takin' a while," Danny suggested. "She was gonna catch a taxi. Catchin' a taxi here can't be as easy as in New York."

"She could have called one of us," Speed pointed out.

Danny shook his head, "She likes to be independent."

"Still."

They made their way downstairs searching everywhere from the restaurant to the lobby. "Maybe we should try goin' to the lab," Danny suggested as they headed out.

"I called the lab before I headed upstairs. No one's seen Calleigh for at least twenty minutes," Speed said.

As they headed towards the parking lot area, Danny stopped, "Hey Tim, did'ya happen to bring the Hummer?"

"No," Tim answered looking back at Messer.

"I think I might have found her," Danny told him as he pointed out the champagne Hummer. The black seal on the door could be clearly seen from where they were standing.

………………………

Calleigh leaned back against the Hummer, "You seem happy," she told him quietly as she stared at him. It was good to see him in that state.

"I get to see an old friend again," he told her as he changed his stance, shifting his weight to his other foot.

A smile flashed across her face before she averted her gaze downward. "But I can't stay, Horatio," she whispered and felt tears welling up in her eyes.

"Why not, Sweetheart?" Horatio asked wanting to make it work. He wanted her back in Miami.

She looked back up at him, her tears running down her face. "I can't do this everyday again."

"Calleigh," he whispered as he closed the distance between them. He wiped her tears away with his thumb.

"Tim cares about me and I can't think of anyone in a romantic way until I can get over you," she told him. She sniffled and wiped her face to clear the fresh tears with the back of her hand. "I want to stay," she said in a small, quiet voice. "But I can't." Before she could respond, Horatio's lips were on hers and after a second of panic, she tried to relax. Though she found herself panicking immediately again. It felt right, but she knew it was wrong. It only reprised her tears.

"Get off her!"

It seemed to go by rapidly. Speed and Danny rushed in and pulled Horatio away from her. They pushed him in the opposite direction of the Hummer. She could hear them shouting, but didn't snap out of it until Mac's voice broke through the chaos and he started to pull Danny and Speed from their positions over Horatio. She pushed herself from the Hummer and moved towards Horatio's mildly beaten form. Turning, Calleigh's eyes widened, "What the hell did you two think you were doin'?" Tears continued to run down her face as she looked between Horatio on the ground and the guys off to the side.

"Protecting you!" Speed defended.

Calleigh wasn't sure WHAT to say, and she ended up just looking from Horatio to the guys.

"Speedle, Messer, and Duquesne to the hotel suites right now!" Mac barked.

"C'mon Mac—"

"Shut up, Danny! Get upstairs!"

Calleigh looked to Mac to try to explain, but knew that it wouldn't change things. "I'm sorry, Horatio," she told him before following the guys with her arms crossed. She stayed back and didn't talk to either even though they both tried.

Mac sighed and then reached down offering his hand, "You're gonna have a hell of a black eye tomorrow," he told him. He helped him up and cringed a bit, "You might even need stitches…"

Horatio held his eye, he knew it was bleeding, but he also knew he'd survive. "I'll live," he said with a slight smile.

"What are you going to tell the wife?" Mac asked curiously.

"I'm not sure," Horatio admitted. The truth wouldn't go over well, but he knew he could rationalize it in some way if he needed to. "Why do you ask?"

"Obviously whatever I get out of those three will be interesting," Mac commented.

"It's not like it seems—"

"It seems like you're trying to piss Danny and Speed off by trying to make Calleigh your mistress."

Horatio knew that Mac knew nothing about what was really going on right then. He let out a laugh, "Mac, I would never do that."

"Then stay away from my CSI."

"Your CSI?" Horatio asked looking up at Mac.

Mac looked directly at Horatio, "Right now I can see why she couldn't work here anymore. We're her family now, Caine."

"Mac—" Horatio started, his voice getting angry.

"We protect our own," Mac told him.

"I would never hurt her."

"Just do me a favor and remember that," Mac told him before heading back towards the hotel entrance. He had three CSIs to debrief and two of them then needed to have the fear of Mac put into them.

…………………..

TBC…