Chapter Ten: Da Victorio Part Two

Yelina looked up at her brother-in-law, holding the hand of her ex-boyfriend. She remembered clearly when Rick had told her he was gay, but she had never before even considered it coming to this. She had told him exactly what she thought of his homosexuality, but she never thought that she would need to give the same speech to Horatio.

"Horatio?" she started, "I thought you were better than that".

Horatio and Rick exchanged a glance, before letting her continue.

"The Lord, our humble creator, knows that this unfruitful relationship is an abomination. For you to indulge in sins of the flesh without care of the possible ramifications… It's very unlike you, Horatio".

"Mom, just stop," Ray mumbled, dropping his face into his hands.

"Ray, when your father died and you disappeared I had nothing… nothing but my faith to keep me going. My faith in the one God, who has saved me from temptation, has helped me through the darkest moments in my life. I have taken it as my responsibility to preach his word and he has said that such homosexual offenses are wicked and that those who practice it shall not inherit the kingdom of God".

"Yelina," Rick said softly. Everyone turned to him, hearing him speak for the first time that evening, "I know you don't think highly of me… no one here does. But if you're going to sit there spewing nonsense at us, you can't expect me so stand here quietly as you call Horatio 'wicked'. You know that's not true. I know you know that's not true".

"'Nonsense'?" She stood up and glared at Rick, "How could anyone be so godless? I bet you made Horatio this way".

"He didn't," Horatio said sternly, "I've always been this way".

The three of them stared each other down until Yelina finally spoke.

"C'mon Ray. Let's go home".

"No".

She glared down at her son, "Don't fight with me. I have no patience for this. Let's go".

"You can't just expect me to leave Kyle like this after what you just said about his father!"

"Don't pull that with me. We're going home".

"I'm not a little kid anymore, I can do as I see fit and right".

"You may be an adult in the eyes of the law, but you are still my son and you are living under my roof. You know, not everyone is under his parent's support at the age of 19. I don't know why you are so ungrateful".

"Don't change the subject. You can go home if you want, but I won't".

Kyle looked away. As much as he knew he could put a stop to this argument, and as much as he hated seeing his aunt and cousin fight… he didn't want to interject. He had just found out that his dad was gay; he was trying to piece things together. He was already confused, he really didn't want to be alone. Ever since they met, Ray had always been so understanding and such a good friend; he was one of the few people Kyle could ever bring himself to trust.

"Fine," Yelina finally smirked, just ready to get out of there, "You're an 'adult'. You can find your own way home".

Ray watched as his mother walked out. Everyone else averted their eyes, trying not to pay attention as mother and son argued in front of them. Kyle looked up at his cousin, still sitting next to him despite what Yelina wanted.

"You didn't have to do that," he whispered to his dark eyed cousin.

"Yes I did," Ray sighed, hoping that the rest of the guests could move on from what just happened.

There was a pause. And for a fleeting moment, Rick dared to believe that nobody would have any more objections. He thought that things would turn around and start getting better now that the two seemingly major issues were out of the way. He thought that perhaps he could be accepted by the team. But that was until Eric broke the silence.

"You're gay?"

Horatio turned his attention to Delko, noticing that the question was directed at him.

"I'm bi".

"And you're going out with Stetler?"

"Yes, Rick and I have been dating for a while now".

"So didn't Marisol mean anything to you?"

The Cuban's brown eyes turned black in anger. Horatio bit at his lip, he knew that sooner or later someone was going to bring this up. But he never really thought through how to answer the question.

"Of course she did," the redhead sighed, his eyes pleading for understanding, "I loved her".

"No you didn't".

Horatio was taken aback. Eric knew how much Marisol meant to him. Eric went to Rio with him and the both were almost killed casting judgment on her murderer. If anyone knew how deeply and to what extent Horatio loved Marisol, it was Eric. But now… Horatio didn't know what to think. The words bit at a piece of his heart that he thought was finally able to heal, only to learn that it could still bleed.

"Because if you did," Eric continued after realizing that Horatio wasn't about to respond to that, "you wouldn't have replaced her with Stetler".

"Nobody has been 'replaced', Eric".

"You're insulting her memory by filling her place with slime like him!"

"Don't you dare talk about Rick like tha-"

Rick held up his hand, stopping Horatio from defending him. After all the years he spent digging into the lab, he knew what they all thought of him. At this time it was more important for Horatio to protect himself.

"What was she to you that he can't replace?" Eric growled, "The voice to say it loves you, the lips to press against you, the hand to hold, the body in bed next to you! It's all the same to you isn't it?"

Kyle cringed at the mention of his father's sex life. If there was anything he didn't need this meeting for it was to discuss that. Given, he didn't grow up with Horatio as a father figure, but it was still an unpleasant thought. He was sure it was just a slip, but if it happened again he would leave.

"I don't know what to do to convince you otherwise," Horatio said softly, pretty positive that Eric wasn't about to change his opinions… at least for the night.

"This," Eric said pointing at the two of them, "is just wrong".

Horatio glared at the man who used to be his brother in law. He didn't want to believe that this was Marisol's blood talking to him. He didn't want to believe that they would have anything close to the same opinion about this. She loved him, Horatio knew that. She would just want him to be happy. And Eric's ignorance of that basic fact angered Horatio more than he ever thought it could.

"Well you can't just expect me to stay alone and celibate for the rest of my life, can you?" He snapped suddenly, raising his voice for the first time.

With that, Kyle got up, ready to leave. And as much as Ray didn't want to give up the fight so early, he knew that he had to stay with his cousin.

"We'll talk later," Kyle said as he nodded goodbye to his father.

The table watched as the two teenagers walked out on the argument. Ray turned as they walked out the archway, giving both Horatio and Rick a sad and apologetic look.

"And now you're chased off your own son," Eric snarled, "Horatio, I don't know what's happened to you, but I know at Stetler's responsible. And you know what, you may not have realized that you've changed… but I want the old Horatio back".

Eric made the move to leave, but Calleigh grabbed onto his sleeve and pulled him back into his chair.

"Wait," she said softly, "let's not be too rash".

The redhead breathed a sigh of relief. Calleigh had stayed quiet for so long, something that he knew she wouldn't have done if she wasn't thinking very hard about the situation. Now was the time he knew that she would defend him for the rest of the table.

"I have a few questions".

Horatio bit at his lip. This wasn't starting out the way he thought it would. But he was still pretty sure that she would fight for him… maybe.

"Go ahead".

"First of all, when did you two start dating".

"About a year ago".

Everyone at the table exchanged glances. Frank gave Horatio a confused look.

"A year?"

"Approximately, yes".

"So what you're saying," Calleigh said slowly, "is that this has been going on for a year… and you're just telling us now?"

Rick gave Horatio's hand a squeeze for comfort as he felt the redhead's uneasiness grow more untamable. Horatio nodded his response to Calleigh's question.

"Why now?"

"I…" he stammered, "I just thought it was about time".

"Damn right it's about time!" Frank snapped. "I thought we were friends, why were you keeping this from us for so long?"

Horatio's strength started to waver and his breaths became short. He wanted to break down. He wanted to cry. But he knew that he had to see it though. It couldn't be long to go now.

"I didn't know how to tell you".

"Why?" Calleigh asked, the offence she took evident in her voice. "Don't you trust us?"

"I told you when my wife thought I was cheating," Frank added. "I trusted you. Why can't you offer me the same in return?"

Horatio was breathless as he whispered, "You don't know what it's like".

"No," Calleigh sighed, "No, Horatio, I guess we don't".

She, Eric, and Frank stood up and Horatio watched in horror as they left. He couldn't find the voice to cry "No!" to them as they walked past him. He thought that they were better than that. He thought that of all people they would understand. And in a brief moment of fear and panic, they were gone. And although he felt numb, Horatio raised his eyes to look at Valera. She was the only one left at the once full table.

The two men watched as she slowly stood, expecting her to leave as well, in her own silent way.

She reached down, picking up her wine glass and raised it high.

"To the happy couple!"

With that, she downed her drink and plopped back into her chair.

Rick and Horatio exchanged a look before they left the head of the table to join her near the wall.