Happiness for H: Ghosts

March 27

"Horatio, believe you me, I want NOTHING to do with anything or anyone I don't know at your lab, no offense," she added quickly, seeing the frown on her husbands' face. "In fact I made a vow not to go near it – for all the good THAT did. It just gives me a bad case of the willies and I always seem to do something to make you angry with me when I've been there. So," she took a breath, "I'd just rather not go anywhere near your workplace if it's all the same to you."

"What's happened, Emily?" She sighed and squirmed under his piercing gaze.

"Nothing happened, Horatio." Any hope she had of him leaving it alone was quickly gone. Setting her against the pillows in the corner of the sofa, he stood up and walked over to the patio doors. Thinking this might be an opportunity to go outside, Ghost trotted over and nudged Horatio's hand. He rubbed the dog's ears, while staring out at the darkness. Emily saw the stiff set to his shoulders and knew he would not leave this alone.

"What do you want me to tell you, Horatio?" Getting up, but leaving the sofa between them, Emily began to pace, ticking her trips to the Lab off on her fingers. "Well, let's see, there was the first time – mega disaster, enough said." He turned away from the window, watching her with hooded eyes. "The second time was ok – but I was with your DNA expert learning about chemistry, so maybe that doesn't count. Third time – earlier this month. I stopped by to see you and offer some emotional support because I figured out it was the anniversary of your brother's death. YOU were off with Yelina and I got stopped by that Rick person, who seemed to act as if you and he were friends, sort of. Eric came to my rescue just in time and offered me a shoulder to cry on in the parking lot." The sound of Horatio sucking in his breath made her look at him. Her mouth was a bit ahead of her mind and she spoke her thoughts without thinking first.

"The person you are when you're in there and everyone you work with intimidate the h e double ll out of me, Horatio. Eric is the only one who I feel like I can talk to without being afraid he'll think I'm a dufus." Horatio's eyebrow rose at her last word.

"Fourth time – Grandma was having a field day in the Lab and I only wanted to be as far away from there as I could be. When I tried to escape, that Rick person appeared again. He seems to think you could be in trouble because of me and what happened when we were back home at Christmas. He told me I could explain it all to him in his office and he would relay it to his superiors." Emily stopped, watching in fascination as the red color rose in her husbands' face. "Fifth time – yesterday, once again a total disaster." If this was a cartoon, Emily thought to herself, Horatio would have steam coming out his ears and mouth. Uncertain if he was mad at her or that Rick person or life in general, Emily asked him,

"You aren't in any sort of trouble, are you Horatio? I mean, if it was something that threatened your career or job, you would at least let me know what was going on, so I don't turn on the news one day and find out you've been arrested or something?" she finished softly.

Horatio barely heard Emily at this point, his hands clenched into fists at his side. If Stetler had been anywhere nearby at this moment, Horatio would have slugged the guy. The IAB man had meddled in Horatio's life before, but this was a new low even for him. Ghost felt the tension in the red-haired man and walked over and sat down beside his mistress, bumping her hand for a pet, never taking his eyes off Horatio.

"It's ok, Ghost." Emily told him, taking comfort in the softness of his big ears.

"I need some air." Horatio ground out, turning on his heel and going out on the deck. She didn't move, just watched him, knuckles showing as he gripped the railing. After 5 minutes and he hadn't moved, Emily sighed. She must have miscalculated again. Instead of clearing the air, it only got foggier. "I'll never understand him," she muttered to the white dog. "I'm going to take a bath."

Horatio stared into the darkness, wondering how he could have been so blind as to not see how uneasy Emily had felt at the Lab. It would seem he missed several things, he thought bitterly. Though he had no doubt Eric was nothing but a gentleman with Emily, it bothered him that she would talk to his CSI about something she felt she couldn't share with her husband – and that Eric had been there to comfort her. If he hadn't been off with Yelina …

'Yelina again,' he thought with a sigh. 'What is she up to?' Twice today her name had been mentioned. As far as he knew, Yelina and Emily seemed to get along and he never sensed any bitterness or jealousy on his sister-in-law's part.

'Well, that's not saying much,' he argued with himself, 'considering Emily had been hating every moment she was in his workplace and he hadn't noticed that.'

He ran both his hands through his hair, forcing himself to take some deep breaths and try to think clearly. Tonight, he needed to reassure his wife that his job wasn't in jeopardy and she had his permission to run as fast as she possibly could away from Rick Stetler. Tomorrow he would deal with Yelina.

Emily was soaking in a hot bubble bath, the steam from the bath coating the mirror. She had a cup of coffee and the latest novel by John Sanford, a Minnesota author. It was nice to read about a place and people she could understand, she thought glumly. She breathed deep, hoping the lavender and chamomile would do it's magic and relax her. Her neck hurt from the tension and she sunk lower in the water, trying to let the heat work out the kinks. Emily closed her eyes.

Horatio found Ghost lying across the doorway before the closed master bath door. The big dog didn't lift his head up, but his eyes followed Horatio as he walked past the door into their bedroom. He changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt, then went back to the bathroom door, rapping on it softly with his knuckle. Still the dog did not move, but those large brown eyes watched him carefully.

"Emily?" When he got no response, he rapped again.

"Emily? Are you ok in there?" Still nothing.

"Emily! I'm coming in there." His voice was louder now, and he pushed open the door, peering inside the steamy bathroom. Ghost stood up and preceded him in, heading for the tub, where Emily was lying up to her neck in bubbles, eyes closed.

"Em?" She started, the cold air from the hall startling her more than her husband's voice. She opened her eyes to find two pairs of eyes staring at her.

TBC