Title: Green-Eyed Monster (3/4)
Author: Andrea (abc3969)
Rating: R (adult language, themes)
Pairing: Hagen/Calleigh, Horatio/Calleigh
Spoilers: None, really, as long as you know who Hagen is.
Author's Notes: My first serial fic! I had an idea going into Part 1, but it was slow to evolve. Now, suddenly, inspiration has struck and it's taking me in a whole new direction, apparently! Part 4 up soon.
Feedback: Please.this one needs it!
Disclaimer: Me no profit, you no sue.
*****
Twenty minutes later, Horatio swung the Hummer into the beachside parking lot at The Happy Clam Grill and strode purposefully in the door to find Hagen already in a booth, munching on corn chips.
"Horatio, what the hell's going on? You sounded pretty messed up on the phone," Hagen inquired.
"Look, I'll make this quick. Neither one of us wants to be here, me most of all, but there are some things we need to get clean on, alright?" Horatio could barely hold his emotions in check.
"OK, man, what is it? Is something wrong with Yelena or Little Ray? You know I'd do anything for them. Ray was my best friend and the best damn partner I could ask for, except maybe Calleigh," Hagen said worriedly.
Horatio fought to maintain some decorum. He slowly removed his sunglasses, the better to look Hagen in the eye.
"No, Yelena and Ray Junior are fine. It's Calleigh I'm concerned about," he explains.
"Oh. She came to see you today, didn't she? She mentioned last night that she was planning to talk to you."
"Hagen. Listen up and listen well. This is how it is. Calleigh's NOT your partner. She's on MY team. And I'll thank you very much not to fill her head with ideas about burnout. She's nowhere near burnt out.she's angry and frustrated, but those things just make her a more astute CSI. She can't leave. I need her."
Horatio, stunned by his own admission, forced air into his lungs and diverted his eyes to the shoreline, preparing himself for Hagen's reaction to his tirade.
"Oh, man, you don't get it, do you?" Hagen laughed coarsely.
"I GET IT just fine, Hagen. You have a lot of influence over Calleigh. It doesn't take a genius to see that you two are involved. I don't want her hurt; and no matter how long we've known each other and how good a friend you've been to my family, so help me God, if you do hurt her, you'll pay in ways you never knew were possible. Clear?" Horatio spat tersely.
Hagen laughed mirthlessly. He couldn't believe how dense Horatio was. He really DIDN'T see the writing on the wall.
"Buddy, I hate to tell you this, but you've got it ALL wrong. I'm not the one making Calleigh hurt. You are."
Horatio could digest Hagen's words. Just the thought that he was causing Calleigh pain made Horatio's heart twist in his chest.
"Calleigh and I aren't involved. Not like I think you mean. We're friends, best friends even. We understand each other and can talk about things with each other that outsiders just don't get. Sure, Calleigh has girlfriends, but she can't easily bring up GSR and splatter patterns in conversations with them. She can't 'talk shop' with them like she can with me. We've gotten each other through some pretty rough places lately. But that's it. Her heart is already spoken for.she made that crystal clear from the beginning. Sure, I made a play for her. Who wouldn't? But she set me straight. I'm just freakin' amazed that you can't see it," Hagen says, incredulously.
"Can't see what? You're talking in riddles, Hagen. Just say it," Horatio barks.
"Why do you think Calleigh works so hard and so much? She does it for you, you clueless, lucky bastard. She's doing anything and everything to get your attention and respect. She's the best ballistics person in the state. Awards and commendations are hers for the taking, but she'd forfeit all of that for a chance with you. All you'd have to do is say the word, and she's yours. She's not burnt out. She's torn up inside. She wants to be the best at her job, but she thinks she's falling for you and she can't deal with that. I probably shouldn't have said anything to you about this, but there it is. She's in love with you and she's scared to death to admit it."
Horatio's anger deflated like an old balloon. He really did have it all wrong. Hagen wasn't his competition after all. But, oh, God, what now?
Horatio chuckled deep in his chest and genuinely smiled.
"You ever heard of a 'Mexican Stand-off? That's what we've got here. I feel the same way about her. I just don't know how to tell her," Horatio laughed. "Listen, John. I'm sorry for jumping down your throat just now. I assumed you two were a couple and I was so jealous I couldn't deal. "
"Caine, as bad as she's got it for you, I'd think there was only one thing to do."
"I'm leaving right now," Horatio called over his shoulder as he headed for the Hummer.
End, Part 3 TBC.(one more chapter, I think.)
Author: Andrea (abc3969)
Rating: R (adult language, themes)
Pairing: Hagen/Calleigh, Horatio/Calleigh
Spoilers: None, really, as long as you know who Hagen is.
Author's Notes: My first serial fic! I had an idea going into Part 1, but it was slow to evolve. Now, suddenly, inspiration has struck and it's taking me in a whole new direction, apparently! Part 4 up soon.
Feedback: Please.this one needs it!
Disclaimer: Me no profit, you no sue.
*****
Twenty minutes later, Horatio swung the Hummer into the beachside parking lot at The Happy Clam Grill and strode purposefully in the door to find Hagen already in a booth, munching on corn chips.
"Horatio, what the hell's going on? You sounded pretty messed up on the phone," Hagen inquired.
"Look, I'll make this quick. Neither one of us wants to be here, me most of all, but there are some things we need to get clean on, alright?" Horatio could barely hold his emotions in check.
"OK, man, what is it? Is something wrong with Yelena or Little Ray? You know I'd do anything for them. Ray was my best friend and the best damn partner I could ask for, except maybe Calleigh," Hagen said worriedly.
Horatio fought to maintain some decorum. He slowly removed his sunglasses, the better to look Hagen in the eye.
"No, Yelena and Ray Junior are fine. It's Calleigh I'm concerned about," he explains.
"Oh. She came to see you today, didn't she? She mentioned last night that she was planning to talk to you."
"Hagen. Listen up and listen well. This is how it is. Calleigh's NOT your partner. She's on MY team. And I'll thank you very much not to fill her head with ideas about burnout. She's nowhere near burnt out.she's angry and frustrated, but those things just make her a more astute CSI. She can't leave. I need her."
Horatio, stunned by his own admission, forced air into his lungs and diverted his eyes to the shoreline, preparing himself for Hagen's reaction to his tirade.
"Oh, man, you don't get it, do you?" Hagen laughed coarsely.
"I GET IT just fine, Hagen. You have a lot of influence over Calleigh. It doesn't take a genius to see that you two are involved. I don't want her hurt; and no matter how long we've known each other and how good a friend you've been to my family, so help me God, if you do hurt her, you'll pay in ways you never knew were possible. Clear?" Horatio spat tersely.
Hagen laughed mirthlessly. He couldn't believe how dense Horatio was. He really DIDN'T see the writing on the wall.
"Buddy, I hate to tell you this, but you've got it ALL wrong. I'm not the one making Calleigh hurt. You are."
Horatio could digest Hagen's words. Just the thought that he was causing Calleigh pain made Horatio's heart twist in his chest.
"Calleigh and I aren't involved. Not like I think you mean. We're friends, best friends even. We understand each other and can talk about things with each other that outsiders just don't get. Sure, Calleigh has girlfriends, but she can't easily bring up GSR and splatter patterns in conversations with them. She can't 'talk shop' with them like she can with me. We've gotten each other through some pretty rough places lately. But that's it. Her heart is already spoken for.she made that crystal clear from the beginning. Sure, I made a play for her. Who wouldn't? But she set me straight. I'm just freakin' amazed that you can't see it," Hagen says, incredulously.
"Can't see what? You're talking in riddles, Hagen. Just say it," Horatio barks.
"Why do you think Calleigh works so hard and so much? She does it for you, you clueless, lucky bastard. She's doing anything and everything to get your attention and respect. She's the best ballistics person in the state. Awards and commendations are hers for the taking, but she'd forfeit all of that for a chance with you. All you'd have to do is say the word, and she's yours. She's not burnt out. She's torn up inside. She wants to be the best at her job, but she thinks she's falling for you and she can't deal with that. I probably shouldn't have said anything to you about this, but there it is. She's in love with you and she's scared to death to admit it."
Horatio's anger deflated like an old balloon. He really did have it all wrong. Hagen wasn't his competition after all. But, oh, God, what now?
Horatio chuckled deep in his chest and genuinely smiled.
"You ever heard of a 'Mexican Stand-off? That's what we've got here. I feel the same way about her. I just don't know how to tell her," Horatio laughed. "Listen, John. I'm sorry for jumping down your throat just now. I assumed you two were a couple and I was so jealous I couldn't deal. "
"Caine, as bad as she's got it for you, I'd think there was only one thing to do."
"I'm leaving right now," Horatio called over his shoulder as he headed for the Hummer.
End, Part 3 TBC.(one more chapter, I think.)