Title: Green-Eyed Monster (4/4)
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!
Feedback: Please.this one needs it!
Disclaimer: Me no profit, you no sue.
*****
Calleigh sensed his presence outside her apartment long before she heard his knock. It was as if her entire being was attuned to his frequency. When she left the lab earlier today, she had hoped to avoid the confrontation that was now mere seconds away. But it was not to be so. Taking a deep breath and stretching her spine to attain her full five-foot- three-inches, Calleigh steeled herself one last time and opened the door only slightly.
Horatio stood, centered in the doorframe, staring off into any abyss only he could see.
"I know you said you needed to get away, Calleigh, but I can't let you go without saying some things first. Can we talk?" Horatio asked tentatively.
Calleigh opened the door wider then and ushered him in with a flourish of her arm.
Never one to forego her Southern upbringing she inquired, "Can I get you anything-beer, soda?"
"No, Calleigh. Could we just sit?" Horatio wondered as he took the initiative and seated himself on the end of her couch farthest inside the room.
Calleigh cautiously lowered herself onto the opposite end of the couch, being careful to sit facing forward and not letting any part of her body anywhere close to his. She kept her posture stiff and formal.
"I'm in the middle of packing, Horatio. What did you want to talk about?" Calleigh fabricated an excuse to move the conversation along.
Horatio wouldn't, couldn't look her in the eye. Instead, he rose and started walking around her living room, gently touching each piece of furniture as he came to it. After a near eternity, he turned to face her and, knowing that it was now or never, Horatio began to speak so softly that Calleigh had to strain to hear him.
"Calleigh, I met with John Hagen this afternoon. Confronted him, actually. I had only your best interest at heart, honestly. I just wanted to warm him not to hurt you."
Horatio couldn't help but notice the shock as it registered on her face, but he forged ahead, afraid not to keep talking.
"Oh, God," her only response.
Calleigh sprang up from the couch, intending to put even more distance between herself and Horatio. His lightening-fast reflexes kicked in just in time to take hold of her elbow as she attempted to pass him.
"Calleigh, wait," he begged.
Still holding her elbow with one hand, he tenderly stroked her flushed cheek wit the back of the other. Her automatic response was to lean into his hand, prolonging the caress. She could no more stop herself than she could stop the tides. Helpless to fight her primal instincts, she surrendered to the moment. From head to toe, she became boneless, weightless. Her resolve became as liquid, flowing out of her being in ripples.
"Horatio." she rasped.
He stopped her with a finger to her lips.
"Shh.I understand now," he whispered and lowered his face achingly close to hers, stopping just before he would allow their lips to meet.
"I understand why you feel you need to run away from me. That you're scared of your feelings and you're afraid that I don't feel the same as you. But, Calleigh, God, I do. So much. I've been just as scared to say it as you've been. I've hated seeing you with Hagen. I wanted you with me. I thought it would be selfish of me to think that you might feel the same. Hagen set me straight."
Exhausted from his confession, Horatio sighed deeply and stepped back to watch Calleigh's reaction.
"Really, Horatio? Do you really feel the same way? Because I think I'm in love with you. So, don't say it if you don't mean it, truly." Calleigh sniffled and lowered her eyes to the floor.
Horatio gently lifted her chin, bringing her eyes back to his.
"Oh, Calleigh. My beautiful Calleigh. I do. I love you, too. Can you forgive me for being such a fool?"
With a lilting giggle, Calleigh brushed her lips to his ever so delicately, saying, "We can both be fools for love, as long as we're together."
He took her in his arms then, and all else was forgotten. The two became one. Souls melded and spirits danced.
Hours later, sated and spent, they lay intertwined, lazily drawing patterns on the other's skin.
With a smile and a kiss, Calleigh laughed, "Thank you, John Hagen, wherever you are."
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!
Feedback: Please.this one needs it!
Disclaimer: Me no profit, you no sue.
*****
Calleigh sensed his presence outside her apartment long before she heard his knock. It was as if her entire being was attuned to his frequency. When she left the lab earlier today, she had hoped to avoid the confrontation that was now mere seconds away. But it was not to be so. Taking a deep breath and stretching her spine to attain her full five-foot- three-inches, Calleigh steeled herself one last time and opened the door only slightly.
Horatio stood, centered in the doorframe, staring off into any abyss only he could see.
"I know you said you needed to get away, Calleigh, but I can't let you go without saying some things first. Can we talk?" Horatio asked tentatively.
Calleigh opened the door wider then and ushered him in with a flourish of her arm.
Never one to forego her Southern upbringing she inquired, "Can I get you anything-beer, soda?"
"No, Calleigh. Could we just sit?" Horatio wondered as he took the initiative and seated himself on the end of her couch farthest inside the room.
Calleigh cautiously lowered herself onto the opposite end of the couch, being careful to sit facing forward and not letting any part of her body anywhere close to his. She kept her posture stiff and formal.
"I'm in the middle of packing, Horatio. What did you want to talk about?" Calleigh fabricated an excuse to move the conversation along.
Horatio wouldn't, couldn't look her in the eye. Instead, he rose and started walking around her living room, gently touching each piece of furniture as he came to it. After a near eternity, he turned to face her and, knowing that it was now or never, Horatio began to speak so softly that Calleigh had to strain to hear him.
"Calleigh, I met with John Hagen this afternoon. Confronted him, actually. I had only your best interest at heart, honestly. I just wanted to warm him not to hurt you."
Horatio couldn't help but notice the shock as it registered on her face, but he forged ahead, afraid not to keep talking.
"Oh, God," her only response.
Calleigh sprang up from the couch, intending to put even more distance between herself and Horatio. His lightening-fast reflexes kicked in just in time to take hold of her elbow as she attempted to pass him.
"Calleigh, wait," he begged.
Still holding her elbow with one hand, he tenderly stroked her flushed cheek wit the back of the other. Her automatic response was to lean into his hand, prolonging the caress. She could no more stop herself than she could stop the tides. Helpless to fight her primal instincts, she surrendered to the moment. From head to toe, she became boneless, weightless. Her resolve became as liquid, flowing out of her being in ripples.
"Horatio." she rasped.
He stopped her with a finger to her lips.
"Shh.I understand now," he whispered and lowered his face achingly close to hers, stopping just before he would allow their lips to meet.
"I understand why you feel you need to run away from me. That you're scared of your feelings and you're afraid that I don't feel the same as you. But, Calleigh, God, I do. So much. I've been just as scared to say it as you've been. I've hated seeing you with Hagen. I wanted you with me. I thought it would be selfish of me to think that you might feel the same. Hagen set me straight."
Exhausted from his confession, Horatio sighed deeply and stepped back to watch Calleigh's reaction.
"Really, Horatio? Do you really feel the same way? Because I think I'm in love with you. So, don't say it if you don't mean it, truly." Calleigh sniffled and lowered her eyes to the floor.
Horatio gently lifted her chin, bringing her eyes back to his.
"Oh, Calleigh. My beautiful Calleigh. I do. I love you, too. Can you forgive me for being such a fool?"
With a lilting giggle, Calleigh brushed her lips to his ever so delicately, saying, "We can both be fools for love, as long as we're together."
He took her in his arms then, and all else was forgotten. The two became one. Souls melded and spirits danced.
Hours later, sated and spent, they lay intertwined, lazily drawing patterns on the other's skin.
With a smile and a kiss, Calleigh laughed, "Thank you, John Hagen, wherever you are."