A/N: Thank you for your reviews and adding this story to your favorite story list. This means a lot to me. So the team got some explanations considering Horatio's true nature, even though there are still some things left unsaid. Let's see how they'll cope with all the information.

Chapter 6

Obviously bored and a bit annoyed, Speed was leaning against the bar and watched his friend Eric, who tried to get into conversation with two women. He should have known better than to say yes, when Eric had asked him to visit a club tonight and his mood was getting worse and worse.

Actually he had just agreed to it, because he knew that Delko wouldn't leave him alone until he'd say yes and now the fat was in the fire. With a sigh he looked at his watch and rolled his eyes when he saw that it was not even 11 p.m. which meant that this was going to be a very long night. Sure, he didn't mind meeting nice women, but these ones weren't his types. They were…too young, too immature and too pretty actually. He liked real women, down to earth, who had more in their minds than the newest fashion trend. Sure, these ones here were nice to look at, but that was all.

The girlish giggle alone unnerved him big time and when Delko came back with a wide grin, he knew that he had to do something or this night would end in a disaster.

"Yo, Speed," Eric grinned and positioned himself next to his friend. "The girls," he continued and pointed his chin into the direction where the girls were standing, "wouldn't mind having a drink with us. What do you think? Sandy thinks that your beard gives you something dangerous," he smirked and was in his element. He loved going out, flirting with women and taking the one or other home with him.

"Yeah? Well then she should probably hook up with Santa," Speed murmured and already had enough. "I guess I'd better get going then," he shrugged and took the last sip of his drink.

"What? Why? They're nice girls," Eric exclaimed and couldn't believe his ears.

"Yeah, nice to look at, but that's all. No thanks, Delko. Not my type."

Eric let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Why don't you at least have a try?"

"Delko, these girls are barely of legal age, haven't you noticed? Most of the customers here are younger than 25. To be honest I believe a lot of them aren't even 21," he pointed out and could only shake his head at Eric. "It's like robbing the cradle, don't you think?"

"Well I just said something about a drink, not taking them home," Eric argued back and didn't want Speed to believe that he would do something illegal.

"I know, but still I don't want to," Speed nodded. "So if you want to have a drink with them, it's okay. But then I'll be heading home. That's not my scene here."

Being torn between leaving his friend and having a nice time with the ladies or leaving the club with his friend, Eric turned his head towards the girls and cringed when he saw them talking with some boys that seemed to be in a similar age. "Maybe, you're right about that," he sighed and then looked at Speed again. "Okay, so let's get going."

"Best idea I've heard so far," Speed grinned and grabbed Eric by the arm. "Come on, Delko. I'm gonna show you a real bar, with real girls... not these Barbie Dolls."

"Since when do you know good clubs?" Eric asked while they made their way to the exit.

Speed just snorted at that. "Do you believe that I'm only going out with you?"

"Uhm, yeah?"

"Well then you're wrong; because every time you drag me into some club, something happens."

"Like what?" Eric challenged and had no idea what his friend was talking about.

"Oh please, Delko. You're going to tell me that you forgot the night where we had to pull out our badges, because the girls you tried to hook us with, asked us if want some LSD?" Speed asked incredulously.

"Uh..oh yeah…Kim and Betty," Eric nodded.

"I'm amazed that you still know their names," Speed replied sarcastically and then continued with his list. "Or the club that burst into flames? This was definitely the icing on the cake."

"Now that wasn't my fault," Eric said and stumbled out into the cooler night air. "And it's not fair that you mention it." There were still some nights when he dreamed about this catastrophe and saw Connie's dead body on Alexx' table.

Turning around, Speed hung his head and nodded. "I know, I'm sorry. This was inappropriate. But still, every time we go out together, something happens. I don't know why and how…but it happens."

Eric couldn't argue with that, so he just nodded and looked at Speed expectantly. "Okay, so where is this bar?"

"Oh just a few blocks away, we can actually walk there," Speed answered. "Maybe a small walk will sober you up again," he added with an evil smirk.

"I'm not drunk," Eric huffed and followed his friend.

"Sure, Delko, my mistake," Speed chuckled and enjoyed it to tease his friend. Maybe this night wasn't that bad at all.

Two blocks later, they still hadn't reached the promised bar and Eric started to think that Speed had either fooled him, or his friend was drunk himself and so they didn't find the bar. "Are you sure, that this is the right way?" he asked carefully, because normally it was Speed who knew the streets of Miami in and out.

"Why Delko? Are you already tired?" Speed grinned at him and knew that they were on the right way. Two more blocks, or oh well, maybe three and they would arrive at the club. "I thought you're fitter than that."

"I am fitter than that, but I don't feel like walking along the whole strip," Eric shot back. "A cab can't be that expensive…"

"Some sight seeing is always nice," Speed laughed and stopped in his tracks when a young couple was stumbling into their way. Well the night seemed to be over for these two. Looking around, he tilted his head and wrinkled his brows when he noticed the name of the club, where the couple seemed to have spent their evening. "Silent Sinners," he read out loud and then called Eric, who had continued walking again. "Delko!"

"What?" the other man turned around and walked back with an annoyed sigh. "Have you suddenly realized that this is not the way to your club?"

"No," Speed put him off. "But look at this one, it's called Silent Sinners," he pointed at the neon sign.

"So?" Eric asked confused.

Speed just rolled his eyes. "Isn't that the club from our killer case? The girls had a stamp on their bodies from this club," he explained.

It had been a coincidence that they had actually found the stamps, because they were only visible under UV light. But since they hadn't found any trace on the bodies, Horatio and Alexx had had a try and much to their relief it had been a success.

"True…yeah you're right. I'm sure that it was this symbol," Eric confirmed. "What do you think? Should we go in and have a look? Maybe we can put the drinks on the lab...you know.. undercover work," he laughed.

"Sure, if you're the one who tells our vampire boss," Speed shrugged. "I'm sure that H will find it highly amusing... maybe he will only nibble your neck, instead of biting you."

"Oh…well yeah, maybe we shouldn't put the drinks on the lab then," Eric quickly backpedaled.

"I thought so," Speed commented dryly and made his way to the entry. It had been three months ago that they had found out about Horatio and they all had a difficult time to come to terms with the knowledge that their boss was technically a dead man, but it had improved steadily. Sometimes they were still a bit unsure around him, but most of the time, it was like nothing had changed.

"Do you really think he would do that?" Eric followed him and looked around because he'd never been to this particular club before. But maybe they could find something out. It had been quite some time since the last body had been found, who was related to this serial killer and maybe they were lucky and he was on the hunt tonight.

"How should I know?" Speed just shrugged. "You should ask him, not me." Speed was pretty sure that Horatio wouldn't do that, but it was far too funny to scare Delko like that.

"Ah probably better not," Eric replied and together they made their way to the bar, oblivious to the fact that they were being watched by a pair of eyes.

"So what do you want to drink?" Speed asked and leaned casually against the bar with his back to the crowd.

"I take a beer," Eric said and waited until the bartender had taken their orders. "Have you ever thought of the fact that maybe some girls that we've met weren't... I mean... alive?" he asked.

"Mhm…actually no," Speed said honestly. "But who knows? I mean.. we didn't know about H, so who knows if we've met a vampire before."

"Yeah," Eric agreed and took a sip of his beer. "Maybe some of the perps we've arrested were also vampires," he though out loud and didn't notice that someone was approaching them.

"Sure, why not?" Speed shrugged.

"You know what? Even though.. they're creepy and dangerous, I would really like to see one," he admitted. He wanted to know if they looked the same as Horatio, or if they somehow differed. Horatio had told them that they only could go out at night, so maybe they were ashen-faced like in the horror movies.

"Well it's night already, maybe you're lucky," Speed said quietly, because something just didn't feel right here. He had no intention of meeting such a vampire. He knew what it felt like to be pushed around by one, and Horatio hadn't even used his whole strength he was sure.

"You're right, maybe we will meet some," Eric chuckled and felt his blood suddenly run cold when he heard a dark voice behind them.

"Some wishes... should be left unsaid."

In an instant their bodies stiffened, not able to turn their heads to see the other person and they practically jumped out of their skin when they felt two strong hands on both of their shoulders. Their hearts were beating so fast that it felt like they were going to burst out of their chests any second. Damn Delko and his wishes!

"So gentlemen, what are you doing in this particular club?" the person asked and smirked when Eric and Speed ever so slowly turned their heads towards him. He could literally see the moment when it dawned to them that they wouldn't end on the menu of a blood thirsty vampire.

"Jeez, H!" Speed exclaimed. "Don't ever do that again!"

"What?" Horatio asked innocently and pointed to the bartender that he wanted something to drink.

"You know perfectly well what I mean. Don't ever scare us like this again, or you might have to search for another team, because we'd be dead then."

"Welcome to the club," Horatio chuckled and accepted his drink. "My question still stands, what are you doing here? I've never seen you going to this club before?" he asked curiously.

"We…uhm..," Eric stammered because he still needed to process that their boss had fooled them great time. "We thought that we might have a look if our guy is here tonight," he then said and took a sip of his beer in order to get some color in his face again.

"Ah," Horatio nodded. "Well he isn't." There was no way that he wouldn't recognize this guy, especially since it was easy for him to spot a vampire anyway.

"Okay, uhm…so for how long have you been here?" Speed asked.

"Tonight? For about two hours," Horatio replied. "But I've been here quite frequently since the case started." He had hoped to find him, but to no avail. "I have a table right there," he pointed towards a seemingly quiet area, "I don't think that here's the perfect place to talk about it, right?"

"Right," the boys agreed and followed him.

"So H, do you put the drinks onto the lab's bill?" Eric couldn't help but ask.

Horatio just turned around and furrowed his brows. "No, why should I?"

"Oh uhm.. because you'd probably call it undercover work?" Eric tried to explain.

Horatio gave him an incredulous look. "What have you been drinking?"

"Uh…nothing…I don't know," Eric stammered quickly and noticed Speed's look. "What? It was a worth a try," he told him in a whisper, which Horatio tried to overhear.

"Just remember what I told you about the biting," Speed snickered and sat down at the small round table. "So," he looked at H and wanted to change the subject, before Eric would literally risk his neck with more careless talk. "I guess the case doesn't let you go?"

"Not really," Horatio shook his head. "There's nothing worse than a serial killer, who is clever enough in not leaving any evidence behind," he sighed. The fact that it was a vampire too and that Horatio knew him, made it even worse. Not that his team knew about this little fact, because he still didn't want to tell them. He was afraid that they got even more scared about this whole vampire thing, if they realized that vampires could get really dangerous. He knew that they still were a bit cautious around him from time to time and he was afraid that this would get worse when they found out. He would tell them though, if there wasn't any other way, he had promised Alexx that.

"True," Speed agreed. "But he probably left town, I mean it's been almost three months since the last murder."

"Yes, you never know…" Though Horatio seriously doubted that. His gut feeling was telling him that he was still here in Miami, somewhere, waiting for something special. Horatio just didn't know what this was.

As much as Eric loved his work, this was their free time and work didn't belong here. Plus, the fact that they had found Horatio in a club practically begged to be examined. "So, H.. do you often go to clubs?" he asked with a smile and sipped on his beer. Now was interrogation time.

Horatio suppressed to roll his eyes and took a deep breath. "Yes, Eric. I do go out. Why shouldn't I?" Though he normally visited vampire clubs and not a normal one.

"Don't know," the other man shrugged. "You just don't seem to be the typical clubber."

"Like you?" Speed chimed in and had no idea where this was going.

Horatio just chuckled at that. Speed had hit the nail on the head.

Eric just shrugged nonchalantly. It was no secret that he liked going out and have a good time. He painted the town red almost every weekend and sometimes even within the week, but then he needed to watch out for his blood alcohol level. There had been one time, when he'd still been a bit tipsy and not feeling well after a particular long night and he had never forgot the autopsy and the long way to the restrooms. No need to say that this was the first and last time when he'd come to work like this. The teasing of his colleagues hadn't stopped for weeks after that.

"Sure, like me," he just said and licked his lips in anticipation of his next question. "So, are you always alone?"

Horatio raised his brows and tilted his head. "Why?" he asked cautiously.

"Better think about what you're saying H, or he will drag you into every club he knows," Speed warned his friend. He knew after all what he was talking about.

"Haha, no I'm just asking, because I'm sure that his girlfriend doesn't like the idea of staying at home while her man is clubbing."

"What?" Horatio brought out and almost choke on his drink. "What are you talking about?"

Speed was as surprised as his boss and eyed Delko, who seemed to be very pleased with himself. "Wanna let us in, Delko?" Horatio had a girlfriend? Now that was something new for him. Not that he was always up to date when it came to rumors but this was BIG.

Eric just smiled broadly. "Oh come on, H. Don't act like that, it's so obvious that you and Paula are a couple."

"Paula?" the two others shouted in unison. "You mean Paula like in our Paula from the registration desk in the lab?"

"Uh-huh," the Cuban nodded.

"I've never heard such nonsense in a long time," Speed commented and wondered what Delko had been drinking tonight.

"My foot! Have you never noticed that H stays a bit longer to talk to her?" he pointed out.

"Oh my god…yeah you're right," Speed said sarcastically. "That's what people call good manners, Delko. If you continue this line of thoughts you'd have a fling with almost every female staff member that…oh wait... you had a fling with almost every female staff member in the lab."

Eric just grinned and saw his theory as proven. "See?"

"Did you hit your head or something?" Speed asked. "So what other…logical…reasons are there according to you?"

"Oh that's easy," Eric sat up, full in his element. "She's always watching him when he's leaving the desk and she always wants to give him his messages personally." Well if this wasn't obvious, he didn't know.

"She is his secretary, of course she wants to give him his messages personally, she's supposed to do just that," Speed exclaimed and threw his hands up in horror. "How did you pass your CSI test?"

"I used my charm of course," Eric laughed. "Don't tell me that you didn't see the glances between them? The fact that he always leans to her when they're talking."

The two were so engaged in their conversation, that they didn't even notice that Horatio became smaller and smaller in his seat.

"Yeah, your charm… that's the only reason," Speed said and continued talking so Eric wouldn't interrupt him. "H, how could you hire Mr. CSI here?" he looked at his boss and began to wonder when Horatio just sat there and didn't say anything.

"See," Eric said and interpreted Horatio's behavior as a confirmation. "I told you that there's something going on," he laughed.

Confused Speed looked between the two men. "No, there's nothing going on between Horatio and Paula, you're seeing things. He's not in love with her…," he then grinned and had his own suspicions.

"Really? There's no reason why he shouldn't be."

"Well yeah, he is in love, but not with her," Speed pointed out and noticed that Horatio wriggled about on his chair.

Now he had Eric's attention. "Yeah? So Mr. Holmes then tell us your theory..," he grinned and had the time of his life. It had been a good decision to leave the other club.

"No, why should I? You're a CSI yourself," Speed teased him and knew that he was on the right track, when Horatio looked like he wanted to hide somewhere.

"Spoilsport," Eric snorted. "You seriously want to tell me that he has something going with one of the girls in the lab and it's not Paula? So who is it then? Calleigh?" he laughed loudly, but it died the second Speed answered him.

"Yes."

"Are you serious?" Eric asked surprised.

"Yeah," Speed nodded and together they eyed their boss. "Why don't we ask someone who can answer this question?"

While Eric's idea about Paula had been weird but nevertheless funny, Speed's idea about Calleigh wasn't funny at all. "We aren't together," he said seriously. "I don't have a girlfriend…neither in the lab, nor somewhere else."

"Mhm…sure..," the boys just smiled at each other. They had hit a spot here apparently.

Horatio just shook his head. "Calleigh and I are good friends, nothing more, nothing less." He had no idea what made them even think that they were a couple, because they most definitely weren't.

"I think we need another round, before we continue this discussion," Eric grinned and waved the servant. Maybe Horatio would become a bit more talkative when he had some alcohol in his blood, but then again, he wasn't sure if alcohol had any effect on a vampire at all.

"I'll second that, Delko," Speed smiled and was really looking forward to this conversation, even though he felt a bit bad for Horatio. But the chance to grill their boss was too good to waste it. He could only hope that he wouldn't bite them in public, but then again, life was a risk anyway and this was too good to be true.

Tbc?