A/N: See the intro for the standard stuff. Please R & R. Has it truely been that long since I posted. Wow. Very, very sorry. Please just send H by with the handcuffs. Okay this is not as exciting as last night's epi, so you'll just have to bear with me. Next chapter is a little better.

RS: As always thank you, thank you. I hope things are going better for you. Mile: We're slowly heading uphill. Well, mostly. TenFour: Cheer for the ISP! No heart attack. Promise. Belegul: Hiya. I hope I didn't lose you in the hiatus.


Annabel listened to the dead air for several seconds. Not for the first time today she thought seriously about hopping a plane for Rio. She pulled her earpiece out and sat rubbing her temples. She heard someone sit down in the chair next to her desk. They waited silently until she was ready. Annabel looked up to meet Calleigh's concerned, emerald eyes.

"Frank's running with the case now," stated Annabel.

"I know." Calleigh tried giving her friend a small smile. She knew everything that had gone one in the past couple of days weighed heavily on Annabel and Horatio. "How's Horatio?"

Annabel quirked a small smile. "I should worry you know both of us so well. Good thing you don't harbor any ill will." Annabel sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Horatio says he's fine." Annabel looked back at Calleigh. "But we both know he has a tendency to gloss over some things."

"He doesn't want you to worry."

Annabel gave a short, barking laugh. "And that tactic works so well." Annabel raked her fingers through her hair. "I wasn't even going to call him, but a got a call from an acquaintance in Rio. Inspector Cabral is involved somehow. He said Horatio need me to call him. I don't know." Annabel trailed off.

Calleigh narrowed her eyes at Annabel. "Okay, now who's being evasive?"

Annabel ignored Calleigh's accusation. She bit her lip and twisted the rings on her finger. "He sounds tired, Cal." Annabel blinked a couple of times. "I've never heard him sound so tired."

"You've both had a lot to deal with."

"I know, but I'm really worried." Annabel looked at Calleigh. "He had to tell Yelina about the DNA. I'm guessing nothing changed when the samples were re-run."

Calleigh shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid not." Calleigh straightened in her chair. "I'm guessing Yelina didn't take the news too well."

"I have no idea. Horatio didn't say. But he didn't sound good." Annabel glanced out into space. "I should be so angry with him. He lied to me, Calleigh. Out and out lied. I don't know. Maybe it's that annoying way he tries to take on everyone else's burdens without sharing his own. Or maybe he felt he couldn't trust me."

"I would believe the former more than the latter."

"So would I, but the whole point is that I agreed to share everything with him. Not just the good stuff. And he held back. I should be mad at him, not wondering how much trouble I'd be in for flying down to Brazil and finding him. I keep alternating between wanting to hold him and wanting to shake him very hard." Calleigh laughed. Annabel flashed her a nasty look. "I don't think this is very funny."

"It isn't. Not really. I shouldn't laugh. It's just good to see someone care so much about Horatio."

"You've always cared about him."

"But not that way. Oh, I may have briefly toyed with the idea." Annabel frowned at her. "Sorry, Annabel. I'm not the only one." Calleigh shrugged.

Annabel shook her head. "That's reassuring."

Calleigh smiled. "You have nothing to worry about. I've never seen Horatio look at anyone the way he does you. You have him completely captivated."

"And yet he's not…" Annabel trailed off and looked down at the floor.

"He will be, Annie." Calleigh shook her head. "I've gotta go and see Frank. How about we go out for drinks later? We can get the guys to come along and maybe Alexx real quick." Annabel started to shake her head. "Now don't do that. You need to get out. Just for a little while. Then you can go back to moving and fretting about Horatio. Okay?"

Annabel gave a non-committal shrug. "We'll see."

"If you don't come out, we'll just track you down and hold out hostage wherever you are."

Annabel gave her a half-hearted smile. "You would do that, wouldn't you?"

"You'd better believe it. So just give in and come out for a little bit."

"Like I said we'll see."

Calleigh sighed and stood up. "You two are well-matched. Both stubborn as all get out."

Annabel smiled a little more and shook her head. "That would be the problem."

Calleigh grinned and nodded. "I'll see you later, Annie."

"Later, Cal." Calleigh headed off to track down Frank. Annabel toyed briefly with her rings and opened a file folder on her desk.

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Horatio leaned on the rail and took a deep breath of air. He looked out over the city and watched the waves crash on shore. He felt tense and at loose ends. After Inspector Cabral came back his interrogation was wrapped up quickly. He tried calling Yelina several times after leaving headquarters, but she wouldn't answer her phone. He considered just going to her house, but he couldn't wipe her completely broken look from his mind and didn't really want to see her unless he could do something to ease her pain. He reached in his pocket and fingered his phone. He wanted to talk to Annabel, desperately, but left the phone where it was. He wanted to do more than talk with her, he wanted to hold her, breathe in her scent, run his hands along her skin. Horatio closed his eyes. Everything was crumbling and nothing he did seemed to set things right. His chest tightened again and he worked to slow his breathing. He had never felt so trapped. He reached in his pocket again and took his phone out. He flipped it open and held down a number for speed dial. Horatio looked out into the distance while he waited for the call to connect.

"Horatio? Do you have some news?"

Horatio ducked his head. "No, Bella. I just…I wanted to hear your voice. Is this a bad time? Are you busy?"

"I should be running some things down."

"Then I shouldn't hold you up."

Annabel sighed. "I didn't say that. What's wrong?" There was a short pause. "Okay. Maybe that's not the right question. I'm not sure what the right question is, but that isn't it."

"I'm not sure either, Bella."

"Horatio, please don't do this. You're starting to scare me."

"I'm sorry. I…"

"No, I'm sorry. But I have to tell you the truth. I'm very worried about you." Annabel paused again. "And before you say you're sorry, please don't. I can't help but worry about you. It's what I do."

"Bella, I…" Horatio paused and looked out at the ocean again. "You should be here. The view is beautiful."

"You know I spend about every other minute thinking about hopping a plane. Are you trying to give me another reason?"

"Would you?"

"Are you asking me too, Horatio? Do you want me to come down there?"

Horatio shook his head. "I can't ask that of you."

"Yes, you can. You don't have to do this alone. All you have to do is say the word, I walk in my captain's office and I am on the next flight to Rio."

"Annabel…" Horatio closed his eyes. He knew she was completely serious. He also knew it was the last thing he could let her do. "I'll be home soon."

"You'd better be, if you want any say in how things are being arranged."

"Annabel, I…"

"Horatio, I've got to go. I meant it about the plane, Love."

"I know."

"And you won't ask."

"No."

"You aren't alone, Horatio."

Horatio felt a lump growing in his throat and his eyes started to prickle. "Thank you, Bella."

"You don't need to thank me. I'll talk to you soon."

"I'll talk to you soon," he agreed. Annabel clicked off and Horatio stood looking out at the ocean.

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