COMING HOME
Chapter 7
They left the wine bar shortly afterwards. Horatio had some misgivings about having revealed so much of himself.
Before they parted, he put his hands on her shoulders. "Calleigh… What I said…"
She understood him immediately. "I won't repeat any of it."
"Thank you."
"One thing, sweetheart," she said seriously. "If you ever get near your 'rock bottom' again, just remember you've got people around who love you. Come and talk to us."
"It won't happen again. I don't think I'm the suicide type."
"I'm glad to hear it. And, please, let your guilt go."
"Ah…"
"I mean it. You've paid your dues."
He was silent as he slid his arms round her. He hugged her. "May I kiss you?"
It wasn't a romantic kiss, but neither was it quite a peck on the cheek, and Calleigh realised she never had kissed him before. Their former relationship as boss and employee had precluded it. Now she felt soft lips pressed gently against the corner of her mouth.
He stepped back, and murmured, "Thank you for tonight."
Eric finally got round to Horatio's condo on the Sunday. It looked different - tidier. All bags except two had vanished. There were even a few books – presumably acquired on his travels – on the shelves.
Eric sat down. "How are you doing?"
"Good." He indicated the remaining bags. "Those are 'thrift store' and 'trash'. I want your opinion on something…" He went into the bedroom, came out with a suit on a hanger, and held it up.
"Mmm… Well…"
"Out-of-date?"
"Well, the pants are a bit wide. As are the lapels…"
"Trash, then. And there are about five more in the storage unit."
"They could be altered."
"When will I need suits like this again? No, they're trash."
"Whoa, just a minute. There's a charity that gets them altered and loans them to unemployed people going to job interviews."
"How do you know that?"
"There's a notice in the thrift store. I took some stuff in a few weeks back." He indicated the suit. "What is that? Armani?"
"That or Hugo Boss." He checked the label. "Armani. I had expensive tastes."
"You don't say. Still, that might help someone get a job."
"I'm getting together a list of stuff I need to replace. The TV's well out-of-date as well. I feel as if I've been in a time warp."
"I suppose you have, in a way. But TVs seem to change every year anyway."
"I've been onto the agents about those missing drapes…"
"And?"
"Big argument, but they're going to reimburse me." He grinned.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Eric said.
"Some of it. Having a purpose again, I suppose, if only to restore an apartment."
Eric followed Horatio into the kitchen while he made coffee. "How did you get on with Calleigh?"
"Very well. She's a good listener. I don't think she's changed very much… She was telling me about her kids, and how you're their father figure."
"I wouldn't say that, but yes, they're good kids. Austin went through a bad patch, but… I suppose a lot of teens do. We managed to keep him out of Juvie."
"She didn't tell me that."
"She was embarrassed about it. That she couldn't handle a difficult adopted teenage boy. Anyway, he and I had a bit of a man-to-man talk, which basically included me scaring him shitless about where he'd end up. I took him round the seedier parts of the city, and on a visit to the county jail."
Horatio chuckled. "Needs doing sometimes."
"I agree. He seems all straight now. You must come and meet them."
They went back and sat down. Eric sipped his coffee. "So what are the plans for today?"
"Next is the storage unit, and I'm dreading that. I just threw everything in there when I left. No idea what state it's going to be in." He pulled a face. "Hell, I don't want to do it today!"
Eric shrugged. "Then don't. Do you still do any running?"
"Man, I'm sixty-six!"
"Gentle jogging then?"
"A bit, though not for a few weeks." Horatio admitted. "You?"
"I haven't, since I did my hip. But I should start. Fancy a run on the beach? Two old wrecks together?" He did briefly wonder if Horatio would object to being called an old wreck, but all he got was raised eyebrows.
"Could be embarrassing."
"Then we'll walk."
They walked together over the rough ground to the beach. It was a fine day, hot, but with a slight breeze.
"You sure your hip's up for this?" Horatio asked.
"God, yes. It's been ages. They keep telling me to exercise. Come on, let's try…"
They set off at a slow jog, and gradually speeded up. Eric could feel the residual stiffness of his injuries, but he knew he needed to work on it. He also knew he was a little heavier than he should be. He glanced at Horatio and noticed he seemed to have no difficulty keeping up. He wasn't even breathing hard.
"You're fit…"
"Try to be. How's it feel?"
"Okay." Eric wasn't going to admit to being less able than a man so many years his senior.
They jogged for about twenty minutes, then slowed down to walk back.
"Wow, I feel better for that!" Horatio murmured.
"So do I. I think…"
"You all right?"
"Yes. It's just been a long time."
Back at the condo, they sat and talked into the evening, till Horatio said, "Can I cook you supper? I've stocked up…"
"Sure. Thank you."
"You wouldn't believe the rubbish they've left behind – odd glasses, plates… Damaged pots…"
"More for your list? Or are you going to argue with the agents again?"
"No, not worth it. I'll replace it."
Eric leant on the counter, watching Horatio cook, then sat with him on the balcony while they ate, and watched the sun go down.
"That was good, thank you. Do you want my help this week?"
"Only if you've got the time… As I said, I'm dreading the next bit, but I can certainly manage."
"I'm happy to help. I just wondered if you… I don't know… wanted some space."
"Help me empty the storage unit… Otherwise I shall just sit there, staring at the past…" He looked down at his hands. "I'm sorry, that sounds pathetic. If you're too busy…"
"That's not what I meant. I just wondered if you'd rather do it alone."
"No – I'm going to need a push to do it at all. There's something depressing about seeing your life in boxes."
Eric chuckled. "I know. I felt that when I moved house, even though it was something I wanted to do. Hell, I even felt it a bit when the lab moved! How stupid is that?"
"Not stupid. It marks time passing. It also says it's the end of a phase, and you can't go back." He laughed. "Sentimental pair, aren't we?"
TBC