Horatio

I don't subscribe to the paper, but the next morning there is a copy of The Sentinel at my front door. There's the picture, right on the front page with the headlines: Is Miami's Finest of the Finest too Distracted to Protect and Serve? The caption under the picture reads Lieutenant Horatio Caine, pictured with a member of his team CSI Ryan Wolfe on a beach in Coral Gables.

My phone rings. "Yeah."

"Horatio." It's Rick.

"Rick. Can I help you with-"

"Cut the bullshit Caine! You and your boyfriend be here in thirty minutes."

"Why don't you call Ryan yourself and tell him?"

"Oh, so now he's Ryan and not Mr. Wolfe? Why don't you tell him over breakfast? I know he's there."

My anger flares. "What makes you so sure?"

"You should really be more careful if you're trying to be discreet. It wasn't hard to figure out. His car is there right now, parked in your garage. May I suggest you take separate cars to work this morning?"

"Goodbye Rick."I hang up the phone. Ryan enters the living room with nothing but a towel on. I block the sudden wave of lust that washes over me and hand him the paper.

"Who was that on the phone?" he asks as he takes the paper. He frowns when he sees the headlines. "Well at least they got one part right. You are the 'finest of the finest'," he smirks at me.

"Thank you," I say, smiling at him. "And that was Rick." I get a text message. It's from Eric. Headed to talk to Stetler. What should I say?

I text back. Everything that you know. And tell the others to do the same thing. And erase this message.

Got you.

Ryan's phone starts to ring. He curses when he sees who it is. "It's Erica."

"Don't answer it," I advise.

"Okay."

"Come into the room with me. I want to give you something."

Ryan

His voice has that soft tone again. I follow him into the room.

"Ryan," he says seriously. "Our lives are about to get a whole lot more difficult; at work and at home. I would like to apologize now for putting you through this."

"Horatio, it's not your-"

"Shhh Ryan, let me finish. I want you to know that I am always here for you. And," he leans in and captures my lips in a soft kiss. "I love you."

I am stunned. My heart stops. Did I just hear him right? "Horatio, I…" I trail off. My mouth suddenly goes dry. I have been waiting for this moment. "… I love you too."

His eyes soften; and I can see them water ever so slightly. He gets up and retrieves a small box from the dresser. "I want you to wear this."

I open the box. Inside there is a Miami-Dade police department detective's pin.

"This," Horatio says as he takes the pin out of the box. "Is my detective's pin."

"I've never seen you wear it," I say.

"I stopped wearing it once I was promoted to Lieutenant. I have a Lieutenant's pin too but I don't wear it because I don't want to lose it. I want you to wear my pin."

"Are-are you sure? I don't want to lose it, H."

"You won't. Wear it under your jacket, close to your heart."

"I will."

"Good. Now how about a little treat to start our day? I know how you like it in the morning."

I giggle. "We already did it this morning."

"What's your point?" he asks nonchalantly as he removes my towel.

"My point is that you're insatiable." I finish in a laugh as he attacks my neck.

"It's your fault, you're so goddamn sexy, and your sweet ass is calling my name."

"I've created a monster."

One hour later

"CSI Wolfe! CSI Wolfe! Do you care to make a statement?" Erica pushes her way through the crowd of press and shoves a microphone in my face. I don't even bother to say 'no comment'. It's not like she will listen. As I ascend the stairs to the building, I swear they've added at least thirty of them. I hear other questions.

"Is it true that you and Lt. Caine are in a relationship?"

"Do you know where the pictures came from?"

"Does this have anything to do with your past association with Julian Summers?"

I make my way inside. "Good Morning Officer Wolfe," the receptionists says. Her tone is ice cold with a thin layer of politeness on top. "Mr. Stetler would like to speak to you in the conference room." Her face is twisted with disdain.

"Thanks," I say. As I get off the elevator, I wave to several uniforms that I see talking. Only one waves back. Outside of the conference room I see Eric, Calleigh, Frank, and Walter sitting on a bench like naughty children waiting for a punishment.

"We've already been in," Frank says. "He's out for blood today."

The door opens and Horatio steps out. He gives me a quick nod before walking down the hall to his office. Rick pops his head out of the conference room.

"I'm not done with you yet Caine," Rick calls after Horatio. Horatio keeps walking like he doesn't even hear him.

Rick turns to me. "You. In here. Now."

Horatio

"Asshole," I mutter to myself. But I knew this would happen. And I should have known that he would drag my entire team into this.

Flashback

Rick: "Care to explain this?" Rick asks as he plops the paper down in front of me. He has his little sidekick with him.

Me:"What's to explain?"

Rick:"You and Wolfe getting cuddly on the beach! Don't you know that fraternization amongst employees is against departmental policy? And what's worse is that you're his superior!

Me: This picture has been photo shopped.

Sidekick: So you're saying it's not you?

Me: I didn't say that.

Rick: Cut the games Caine! Is it you two or not? And don't lie, because I already know that it is.

Me: Then why are you asking?

Rick: I want to hear you say it.

Me: Yes Rick, the photograph is of Ryan and me.

Sidekick: So you and Wolfe are romantically involved?

Me: Yes we are.

Rick: Ryan, I suspected. Especially after that little incident with Summers a few weeks ago. I heard the rumors about Summers. But you? Come on, Horatio. When did you start playing for the other team?

Me: That is none of your business.

Rick: Let me rephrase: How long have you and Ryan been…in a relationship? (I can tell that he wants to say something vulgar)

Me: That is none of your business.

Sidekick: I'm afraid it is. We are in charge of investigating violations of MDPD policy and this is clearly a violation-

Me: The fact that we are in a relationship may be. But a timeline is not pertinent to this investigation.

Rick: It is if it involves you threatening Summers to protect your boyfriend.

Me: Excuse me?

Rick: You heard what I said, Caine. A complaint was filed against you this morning.

Me: By whom? Summers?

Rick: No, his wife. She says you've been following him and threatened both Summers and her. Witnesses corroborate that they saw you arguing with both of them at the Frio a few weeks ago.

Me: Is that right?

Rick: Yes, I'm afraid it is. And you and your whole crew are on desk duty until we get to the bottom of this.

Me: (Standing up and getting in Rick's face.) Do what you want to me but leave my team out of this. They are not involved.

Rick: I will determine whether they are involved or not. And until then you're all on desk duty until I say otherwise.

Me: Goodbye Rick. (I leave)

Rick: I didn't give you permission to leave.

I walk out anyway. Ryan is on his way in. I give him a silent nod of encouragement. I walk down the hall, Rick calls after me. After he closes the door, I signal for the rest of my team to join me in my office.