Happiness for H: Ghosts

March 27 (conversations after work)

Horatio didn't start the car immediately, seemingly content to look at her. Emily felt her cheeks grow warm under his gaze.

"Horatio, I …" she stopped as he put a finger to her lips.

"Not now Em." He smiled tiredly. "Let's go home and get comfortable. There will be plenty of time for talking then." She nodded, not taking her eyes off him.

"Good." He leaned over and kissed her, his lips lingering on hers.

Ghost met them at the back door when they got home.

"What smells so good?" Emily asked, sniffing the air in much the same way her pet did when he caught scent of a deer. "It smells like Grandma's macaroni, tomato soup hotdish." She opened the oven and peaked inside. "It is! I didn't think there was one in the freezer." She turned to see her husband leaning against the counter, arms crossed as he watched her, an indulgent smile on his face.

"Hotdish?"

"You say casserole, I say hotdish. Same thing, just depends what part of the country you're from. But really when did … Oh, Horatio, how sweet!" Their dining room table was set for two, candles ready to be lit and a bowl of fresh flowers between them. She hadn't heard him come up behind her until she felt his hands on her shoulders.

"I spoke to your grandmother this afternoon. She called me because she was worried about you. Since we were both having a long day, she offered to stop by and let Ghost out and make us dinner. I didn't expect all this. And before you ask, Lena's grandson drove her over and dropped her off, then picked her up when she was done." His hands were rubbing her shoulders and Emily leaned against him, eyes closed.

"Oh, that feels good, Horatio." After another minute or so, she reluctantly pushed away from him.

"I better let Ghost out," she murmured, disappointed that he let her go so easily.

Two hours later, Emily found herself snuggled in Horatio's arms on the sofa.

"Oh, that was yummy," she sighed contentedly. "Comfort food at it's best."

"I agree," Horatio said, turning her in his arms so he could see her face. "Unfortunately, we have to talk about yesterday, Emily." His blue eyes were serious. "I need you to tell me what you know about Willow." His voice took on some of the hardness from yesterday.

Sighing, Emily muttered, "Why do I feel like I just ate my last meal?" She felt his fingers beneath her chin.

"I don't mean to interrogate you, Emily. Habit, I guess." Horatio shrugged his shoulders and took a deep breath. "Just relax and talk to me."

"Horatio, I don't know what you want me to say. I've already told you. I don't remember meeting her at the NBA conference, but I must have. I tried to say hello to her on the beach one morning and she practically ran away. I didn't see her again until she appeared in the bookstore. We had lunch a couple times and talked about Braille. I was as surprised as you were to see her at the park yesterday." Emily stopped and took a deep breath.

"I got the impression she knows you Horatio. I'm not sure how to tell you the next part." She shrugged her shoulders and looked away. He began to stroke her hair, telling himself to be patient and his wife would eventually get out what she needed to say.

"Do you know her, Horatio? An old girlfriend maybe?" When he shook his head no, Emily let out the breath she had been holding. This was it, she felt she had to tell him – at least some of it. For some reason, she felt protective of Willow. Emily wanted to avoid trouble for the other woman if she possibly could.

"I … I ummm saw her with Yelina at a café that day Grandma and I were out shopping." Emily peeped up at him from beneath her lashes. Horatio's hand stilled in her hair and his mouth became a grim line. Assuming he was angry with her, Emily sat up, rubbing her arms.

"I wasn't close enough to hear anything or see anything. Just that Yelina showed her something on the laptop and Willow looked like she started to cry. I asked her about that today and she got so upset, she practically jumped off the bus. I haven't seen her since." Emily hesitated, then thought, 'I'm in this far, I might as well go all the way.'

"Willow said something about promising Yelina to stay away from you. I guess I assumed that meant she was an old girlfriend. But if she's not, why do you suppose she wanted to see you?"

"I don't know, Emily," he said tightly, "but I expect I shall find out soon." It was all he could do not to dump Emily from his lap and call Yelina and chew her out for not telling him about this woman. Sensing his displeasure, but assuming it was with her, Emily said quickly,

"Willow said she didn't want to hurt you or anything like that Horatio. I … She just seems sad and kind of anxious about something. I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away or find out more about her." He had felt Emily tense up in his arms and now he realized that she had perhaps misread his frustration. Gathering her close to his chest once more, he told her,

"Em, it's ok. How were you to know? You're not a suspicious soul by nature. I don't expect you to look for motives in everyday friendly gestures. Willow is NOT an old girlfriend, by the way. But I will be having a chat with Yelina." Emily shivered as his voice dripped icicles on that last sentence and she hid her face in his chest. His hands began to stroke her hair and eventually she relaxed again. She stifled a yawn.

"Hmmm … sounds like someone is about ready for bed." Emily was relieved to hear the teasing in his voice.

"I missed you last night, Horatio," she said, looking up into his bright eyes. One hand slid down to stroke her cheek.

"It was late when I got home and I had every intention of joining you in our bed, but…"

"But, what?" she asked as he hesitated. With a sheepish smile, Horatio admitted,

"Ghost wouldn't let me in. He was stretched out beside you and when I tried to shoo him off, he growled. Then I thought I could slip in beside you and he growled again. I figured you had given him the job of keeping me out of our bed for the night, so I napped on the sofa."

"REALLY?" Emily smiled as she stroked the side of his face. "Ghost is pretty protective,"

"which is why I didn't want to get on his bad side," Horatio finished, his lips nuzzling her neck.

Unthinkingly, Emily murmured,

"He does take a dislike to some people. That man at your lab sure seems to get him riled up. I hope he wasn't too much trouble yesterday?"

"No, but Emily," Horatio didn't want to bring up the subject of Rick, but since Emily mentioned it, he went on, his voice quiet and serious, "stay away from Rick Stetler." He saw her bristle at his tone and added, "Please." Feeling her relax, Horatio went on, "He's usually intent on causing trouble and I don't want you caught in the middle."

TBC