A/N: Here is the new chapter, a bit quicker this time. Thank you all for your reviews. I know you're all wondering on which side Horatio is on, and I promise you, you will find out sooner or later.

Chapter 4

Horatio pushed up his sunglasses when he saw the other car approaching. It certainly seemed like Frank had gotten his message and this eased his mind, for now. He still wasn't sure how he would winkle out the plans, but he was confident that he and Frank could work something out. Without looking, he reached for the cups of coffee and got out of his car.

"There you are Francis," he greeted the other man with a small smile, when their paths met.

"Julian," Frank only nodded in response. He still felt ridiculous for calling his friend by another name, but he had to live with it. He had to admit that he didn't like it though. "Where are your two monkeys?" he asked when he saw that the car was empty.

Horatio just shrugged. "Thought you'd enjoy a meeting without them."

"You did, did you?" Frank involuntary reached for his still black eye, which was now rather in a nice shape of purple.

"Mhm," Horatio hid his smile. "Coffee?" he hold out one of the cups, while taking a sip of the other one.

"No, I don't think so…"

"Think I laced it with drugs?" Horatio laughed.

"I wouldn't put it past you," Frank murmured, which made Horatio laugh even harder.

"It's good to be suspicious," Horatio approved. "Here," he took a sip of Frank's coffee and swallowed visibly. "See? Still standing," he grinned after a while and held it out again. "Take it as a peace offering, Frank…"

"I'd rather have another steak," Frank grumbled, but took the coffee nevertheless. The fact that Horatio had used his name made him believe that Horatio hadn't had anything sinister in mind. Not that he actually believed that Horatio would hurt him, but to be honest, it was better safe than sorry. "So what's the occasion?"

"You mean except of the fact that I wanted to meet an old friend?" Horatio drawled.

"Yeah, apart from that…"

"Well I need to call in a favor." There was no need to beat around the bush. He knew what he wanted and Frank liked straightforwardness.

"Ah..," Frank just commented and enjoyed his coffee; Horatio, the sly dog, still knew his favorite. Damn him.

"Yes. As you know, you've got something what belongs to us and we'd like to have it back."

"Are we back to riddles again? Please spare me, they only make my head hurt."

"Okay, in other words: we want our drugs back."

Frank almost choked on his coffee. "What? The drugs?"

"Yes," H nodded. "We want it back. And that's where you come into play."

"Me?" he asked incredulously. "I don't have your stupid drugs and I don't see why you should get it back. It's better with us than in your hands."

"You don't have the drugs, I know," Horatio rolled his eyes and ignored Frank's little outburst. "But you know when they will leave the lab," he grinned, his eyes glinting dangerously.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing," Frank exclaimed. "No way!"

"Come one, Francis…we both know that this is only fair."

"Fair? Are out of your mind? You do remember that you're on the wrong side of the law and that we have every right to confiscate drugs? It was you who gave us the tip!"

"Be that as it may, my Boss isn't happy about it and we need them back."

"Stop saying 'we'!" Frank hissed. "You're not one of them!"

"Damn it Frank, you know as well as I do that I am," he yanked at his sleeve and showed him the snake tattoo. "See this? This is who I am at the moment and now get your head out of your ass and help me. I helped you with the drugs, so you could get all the evidence you need. Once this is over, the drugs will be destroyed anyway, so what's the matter?"

"Except of the fact that you will sell it on the streets and people might die?" Frank replied sarcastically. "Oh I don't know…"

"Tell me the dates, Frank. I need to know. Gonzalvez is waiting for answers and if I don't get them, there will be dire consequences, I can tell you."

"I told you from the beginning that it was a bad idea to go undercover," Frank pointed out and it was the truth. He hadn't liked the idea at all and still didn't.

"Fu*k you Frank, I need to give him answers to be in good graces with him. He has another pet project, a revolutionary project," he spat the words, "and he won't tell me what it is about. It's a big one, Frank… a really big one."

Frank just shook his head. "I can't Horatio, really, you know that this is top secret."

Horatio just snorted. "You know as well as I do that it isn't. Remember years back when we were ambushed and Speed almost died? Screw top secret. It's either you telling me or some other guy will find out because he offers one of the drivers a nice trip."

"So why the hubbub? If you're so sure that someone else will find out anyway?"

"Easy. If it's me who finds out, I'm the one who is going to select the people and give them their orders. If someone else finds out, it will be Gonzalvez and this won't be pretty. Believe it or not, but I don't want to see anyone hurt; neither on your side nor on my side. The guys don't care for the police, they just want the drugs. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone as well."

"So you're saying that we should just give them the drugs? Maybe even wrapped up nicely with a bow?"

"I didn't say that. I just said that people don't have to die because someone wants to play the hero. Let them all wear vests and order them to think of themselves and not the drugs."

Frank just snorted. "You make it sound so easy."

"It's not, I know. But I also know that Gonzalvez will find out anyway, but he's giving me the chance to prove myself and this will strengthen my position."

"God, this all sounds like some strategic game."

"Yeah," Horatio laughed merciless. "One bloody game where losing is equivalent to dying." Horatio took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Be a friend, Frank. I know it's a lot to ask, but I have the feeling that whatever Gonzalvez is plotting, is so much bigger than those drugs. He's always giddy about new types, but this time it's different. I fear it's really revolutionary, but not in a good way."

Everything that Horatio said did make sense and Frank also knew that Horatio was seldom wrong in his assumptions, but this was big. "I can't decide this on my own, H. We need to involve the Chief."

"This makes it even more complicated," Horatio exclaimed annoyed.

"Maybe so, but we're planning an ambush here and people might die. I'm certainly not making a decision without consulting the Chief."

Horatio knew that Frank was right. It was easier for him to lose some criminals than good cops. "You know I can't go with you."

"I know and that's okay. I will tell the Chief everything you told me and then I will get back to you. It's a good thing that he has a soft spot for you and was the one who talked you into the madness in the first place."

"Yeah…let's hope he won't forget that…," Horatio sighed. Just thinking about it made him queasy. The Chief wasn't always known for seeing the greater Good or the big picture in general. He could only count on Frank and hope that his friend would convince the Chief of the necessity.

"I'll do my best," Frank tried to reassure him and decided to change the subject. "They miss you, you know?"

Horatio had only listened with half an ear. "Who?"

"The team. You know those people in the lab? Your friends? Surrogate family?"

"Ah…yes," Horatio nodded, not really interested.

Frank had certainly expected a bit more interest. "And they hate Julian Evans with passion," he smirked.

"Well then everything is going according to plan."

"Is that all you have to say about this? 'Ah yes' and "according to plan'?" Frank asked confused.

"What else should I say?" Horatio asked back and shrugged. "Anyway," he had a quick look at his watch, "I need to get going. I'm waiting for your answer and do make it quick."

"But-"

Horatio had already turned around was walking to his car. Without turning back, he lifted his hand and waved. "See you soon, old friend," he said goodbye, leaving a nonplussed Frank behind.

"Old friend..," the other murmured. "Friend…sometimes I wonder if you still are…"

It was much later the same day, almost middle of the night, when Horatio was standing in front of his patio doors and looked at the beautiful gardens outside. "They miss you," he mimicked Frank's last words and couldn't help but snort. "What did he expect me to say? That I miss them as well? That I miss my family and friends? Miss being around people I can trust?" he snarled and reached for a whisky tumbler.

"Yes, it would certainly look great if Julian Evans would come back to his quarters with red eyes," he snorted and took a large sip. "What is he even thinking? That I'm on holiday or something? That I enjoy what I'm doing?"

Looking around in his spacious quarters, he couldn't help himself but shiver at the realization that he indeed liked what he was doing, or at least parts of it. "It's certainly an easy way to make money." And money he had.

Enough.

Enough money to drink whisky like it was mere water. Whisky of the kind that cost a few thousand dollars per bottle.

Enough money to have his personal tailor.

Enough money to buy nice cars or houses.

And hell he would buy those if it weren't for the fact that all the money was illegal and once his job was over, they would confiscate everything.

"Damn it all," he cursed and helped himself a cigarette. "And now I'm a chain smoker as well." In the past he had enjoyed a good cigar every once in a while, but never cigarettes. Now he could hardly function without them.

"It's just the stress H, nothing to worry about. It's not like they could find out about you any minute and kill you. No… And he asks me if I'm missing them," he huffed.

"Ask me the next time when I had more than four hours of sleep, Frank, maybe then you will get an answer to that one." Annoyed about his thoughts, he threw the glass into the empty fireplace. "He better get some answers soon or he won't have to worry about my well-being any longer, because then I'm swimming with the fish."

tbc