Slightly Condoned
Disclaimer: Don't own anything…
Rating: R (later)
Pairing: Eric/OC, Speed/Calleigh
Summary: After the death of Janet Medrano (Body Count) Elisabeth Kaytlin is hired as the new ADA. Under the condoned guide of Horatio Caine's ex-wife, Mia Dayton, who also happens to be the DA for Miami, as her first assignment Kaytlin is forced to reopen a cold case, which also happens to be Eric Delko's first case with the Miami-Dade crime Lab.
Spoiler: Tinder Box, Body Count
A/N: I *need* to take a break from Cardboard Copy…and perhaps this is a feeble attempt for your entertainment, but I just need to write an Eric fic…he's so lovable…hope you like it. Note: direct mentions from episodes will be featured later.
***
Part 10 – You
Calleigh switched off the radio and turned off the ignition as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
Sitting in her car, she leaned back against a seat to momentarily regroup and gather her thoughts before approaching Mia.
She knew that as much of a bitch as the District Attorney was to everyone, her and Janet had shared a lot in their three years of courtship and none of it was hatred induced.
The same could be said for Calleigh's relationship with the DA, no one in the CSI department liked the persecutor except Calleigh, and she really didn't understand why.
Although, there was the whole 'our boss's ex-wife' thing, but yet that wouldn't have stopped her coworkers from associating themselves with any one, so why was Mia being treated like this?
Collateral damage from a messy divorce?
Calleigh mused silently as she made her way up the stairs to enter City Hall and proceed to the elevators that led her to the familiar offices of Dayton & Medrano.
Now changed to Dayton & Kaytlin, and although Elisabeth was a sweetheart, but she could never replace Janet, and that was something Calleigh thought Mia and her could relate on immensely.
This was possibly why Calleigh found herself to be the only CSI on Horatio's team that was civil to his ex wife, and actually acknowledged her hard work.
Sometimes Calleigh wondered if her boss held that much power over his team, and although Horatio was known to be neutral Calleigh didn't like the fact that neither Delko, nor Speed ever set their foot in this office willingly.
Calleigh rode up the elevator silently, tapping her heel against the ground every once in a while, thinking about the past events and how they'd changed her for the better or worse.
The last time she'd been in this office, had been before Janet's death and the fact that this little detail sort of escaped her when she decided to talk to Mia, troubled the ballistics expert.
Was she truly ready to face the empty space that Janet left behind? Now replaced by some one else, would she be ready to encounter the emotions that came along with the memories of her past and friendship?
For a second Calleigh contemplated pressing the stop button on the elevator, but somehow her hand fell limp against her side, unable to make the short trip to the wall of the moving box, as it came to a halt.
Calleigh took a deep breath before stepping out of the separated doors, and stood in the foyer long enough for them to close behind her and take off from the floor.
She turned to her left, and began following the maze of corridors until she came upon a dead end. Staring at the freshly painted green door, Calleigh took another breath of slightly stuffy air in and twisted the knob.
Hearing soft Jazz playing behind the door, Calleigh smiled when she realized she'd caught the lawyer at a good time.
For Mia, the fact that she was listening to any sort of music usually meant she was in the middle of a trial that was headed in a verdict in her favor, and this meant both good news for her, and Calleigh, in this case anyway.
Calleigh stepped into the room, an instant grin on her face as she spotted her friend not sitting behind her desk and filling out deposition requests, like a good little lawyer, but instead prancing around the room to what Calleigh soon realized was B.B. King coming from the stereo.
Her blazer hung loosely on the neck of her chair, and her shoes were discarded somewhere outside Calleigh's eyesight, as Mia swung to the music in places, and then turned quite a few times in front of her desk, turning the volume up on the stereo as her favorite part of the song came on.
Calleigh couldn't contain herself and stifled a laugh, causing her to make her presence known.
Mia looked a little disoriented when she sensed another person in the room, and interrupted her dance.
She straightened her skirt, and blouse then gave Calleigh a wide somewhat nervous smile.
Calleigh figured she was thinking the same thing.
Calleigh hadn't been here since Janet passed away. However, that bit of feeling hadn't left a void in the conversation department, where Mia was concerned.
At the first sight of Calleigh, the lawyer ran over to her, and embraced her in a short, tight hug.
Pulling back she smiled at the younger woman, and bullet girl visibly relaxed having been welcomed so generously into the long lost office.
Calleigh returned the hug and then looked at Mia as she sauntered over to her desk and muted the stereo with the remote control, before adjusting her hair and smiling at Calleigh.
" I hope I didn't interrupt anything." The CSI teased as she eased herself in a chair in front of Mia, as the woman sat on the edge of her desk.
Mia rolled her eyes, and let out a chuckle, " I see your sarcasm has improved since the last time I saw you. How is everything?" she asked, walking around and sinking into her chair.
Calleigh took a deep breath and sighed, " You've got some spare time on your hands?" She asked vulnerably.
Mia detected some sorrow and uneasiness in the tone that the younger investigator used with her, and it didn't really appeal to her because she didn't know what was going on.
However she was set on figuring out.
Starting with why Calleigh was nearly on the verge of tears.
" Oh honey, for you I've got nothing *but* time, have you eaten today at all?" Mia asked in a motherly tone as she stood up, deciding that her paper work could wait another hour or two.
Calleigh nodded, " In the morning, but I could use a cup of coffee."
" And I could use a shot of JD, c'mon, I know a place." Mia urged her as she reached for the blazer at the back of her chair.
" Okay, but I thought there was no drinking on the job?" Calleigh raised her eyebrow teasingly and Mia rolled her eyes slightly.
" Darling, I'm my own boss, and I should sympathize you, since yours is probably a pain in the ass."
Mia added, referring to her ex husband.
" Oh I love Horatio, and so did you evidently, since you married him." Calleigh countered, and Mia reached for her purse, deciding on how best to dodge the subject of her and Horatio's short-term courtship.
Even if she so stupidly brought it up in the first place.
" There is room for mistakes in life honey." Mia explained reaching for the doorknob, as Calleigh followed her.
" Yeah, and Horatio is sure as hell not one of them." The blonde commented and they left the offices of Dayton & Kaytlin.
***
Meanwhile back at CSI, Eric made his way down the corridor very slowly, and in full-fledged exhaustion.
All he wanted was his bed and maybe a nice little blonde named Andie making him pop tarts and coffee, however, as soon as his mind traveled back to the morning before last, Andie was quickly replaced by someone else.
Some one Delko just didn't want to think about and got quite mad at himself when he did, because truthfully he had no idea why these emotions were forcing themselves into his head when he just met Elisabeth two days ago.
It scared the hell out of him obviously, but also somewhat excited him, made him eager to know that his life really didn't result to screwing random chicks and partying.
That amidst all the chaos and missing casualties, Eric Delko still had some space in his heart, open for that special someone, even if she came in the form of an ADA.
Each time Eric found himself wondering, he came to the conclusion that every time he thought of her, his perception of the future and his own feelings became more lucid, clearer to the mind.
He couldn't stop the emotions from rolling in, and he'd tried to control them before, but nothing had ever worked, and he wasn't about to result to pitying himself.
So sucking up his pride Delko decided to take Speed's earlier advice, and talking to Elisabeth.
And who knew, maybe it would shed some light on their situation…
If Eric had walked another few steps, trapped in his thoughts, he would have encountered Elisabeth and John walking his way.
Stopping for a second to regroup and take in the pairing, Delko decided that he wouldn't let them get the satisfaction of knowing he had witnessed their so called *innocent* foreplay and ducked into the nearest Lab.
It also turned out to be the Horatio's office.
***
Horatio had just finished signing off the post mortem reports that Alexx passed down to him after she concluded her autopsy, of the 11 year old girl strangled by her older brother, when he received surprised company.
Eric hadn't even realized where he ended up until he heard his boss clear his throat, silently seeking for an explanation, which Delko concluded would be very lame. And probably result in him spilling everything to Horatio about his situation.
As much as Delko treasured his boss's helpful ear once in a while, he didn't think that the best thing for him right now would be to confine in anyone.
He just didn't want damn advice.
" Oh, H, hey." Eric gathered himself and turned away from the door, watching as Elisabeth and John trotted down the hallway, completely oblivious about Delko's stalking.
" Eric." Horatio stated his CSI's name in a manner that didn't leave much up to the imagination where his attitude was concerned.
It was bluntly obvious that Horatio had his suspicions about Delko's behavior and as to how he ended up in his office.
After seeing Janet's replacement walking with John Hagen, openly affectionate with the Homicide Detective, the redhead could only guess where his friend's frustration and estranged behavior was coming from.
Reminded Horatio of how Mia and him began their courtship, he'd been so blindingly in love with her, that he spied on her and watched her every chance he got, memorizing everything about her, worshiping her with his eyes.
And then Horatio remembered how that ended, and he hoped that it wouldn't dawn on Eric too late that this wouldn't be the best idea in the world.
" You know staring at her isn't going to make it go away." Horatio said cryptically, and Delko bit back an insult.
There were two ways this could play out.
He could tell Horatio, he didn't need his help, or any one else's for that matter and leave his office, or he could let his boss tell him what's best, and the hope for everything to be okay.
Eric still hadn't decided what he wanted to do when he answered, " I wasn't staring at her."
He moved from the door hesitantly, and leaned against the wall, right beside it, reluctant to come any closer to Horatio.
" Okay then, I heard John is taken so you might want to reconsider." Horatio smirked causing Delko to look straight at him, boring holes in his face.
" If looks could kill." The redhead mumbled and then returned to his files, hoping that Eric would either leave him or explain his presence.
" You would be dead." Eric countered and then Horatio gave him a hint of a smile.
Well, as much of a smile as Eric was going to get out of him.
" So what brings you by?" Horatio tried a different approach hoping that his symbolism would figure for something.
" I think you know." Eric smirked at his boss's feeble attempt at masking his obvious clairvoyance.
Horatio took in a breath, and then reached for the cup of coffee sitting dangerously close to the edge of his table.
" Like I said, it's not gonna get you anywhere." Horatio repeated, and Delko tried very hard to ignore the bluntness of his speech.
Of course it was going to get him nowhere, but at least he wouldn't get hurt.
Hopefully.
" So what makes you think I want go somewhere?" Eric cleared his throat and gave Horatio a tiny bit of attitude, just because he could and it was much easier than admitting that his boss might be right.
" Oh just a hunch, otherwise, you wouldn't be staring out the window like a lost puppy, trying to read lips." Horatio explained, and Eric felt himself flush with natural rouge.
How was it that Horatio had such a keen ability to know exactly what you were thinking?
Taking a last look at Elisabeth and Hagen talking in the room across the hall, Delko walked up to Horatio's desk, and lowered himself in a chair across from his boss.
" I'm attempting that for future purposes, thank you very much." Eric supplied lamely, and caused Horatio to snort.
" You really need to get your conscience checked, you're flat out lying to me here." Horatio pointed out good naturedly, hoping not to scare his CSI by being so blunt with him.
Instead he hoped to achieve common ground and find out what was troubling the drug expert so.
" Guilty as charged." Delko held his hands up in defense and Horatio smiled.
" So what's up?"
Eric let out a chuckle.
" What?" Horatio asked.
" It's just funny, this is the second time in two days that you are confronting me with this and I don't think you'll get a straight answer this time either." Eric admitted genuinely, and for some reason Horatio figured it wouldn't be on purpose.
" Third time's a charm, I'm willing to try again." Horatio countered, and watched Eric visibly soften and relax.
" I don't know H, it's weird." Delko began ambiguously but Horatio remained unrushed, giving his CSI enough time to speak honestly.
" What's weird?" Horatio asked steadily, and Eric looked him in the eye.
" Love." He replied bluntly, obviously catching his boss a little off guard, because surprise flashed across Horatio's face, but then understanding soon followed.
" Really?" Horatio asked, trying very hard to comprehend the situation.
" Yeah, I mean maybe, I mean I don't know." Eric stuttered and Horatio found it endearing.
" Eric, are you sure?" he questioned delicately, sensing this was probably a sensitive subject matter for Delko.
" No."
" Oh."
" Does that surprise you?" Eric said with heavy sarcasm.
" No, should it?"
" I thought it would."
" Why?"
" Because every one thinks I'm a loose cannon who beds every thing in a skirt, I just figured so would you?" Delko stated, with slight self-pity and Horatio let out a sympathetic grunt.
" I am ashamed."
" Why?"
" Because I never figured that you'd think of me so lowly, I mean god, I work with you, you'd think you'd have more respect for me."
Eric seemed alerted but remained quite, " Horatio, you misunderstand, I have the outmost respect for you, and I treasure your advice, yet I know what people stereotype me as and I don't expect you not to be one of those people."
" Oh, I get it. You think I should be judgmental as well, join the band wagon?" Horatio asked curtly, folding his arms over his torso.
" Couldn't hurt."
" You're an idiot Eric."
" Thanks."
" No I mean it. Christ, I'd think with the way you're headed you'd have reverence for yourself above all. You have no freaking idea how many people in this building respect you and think your one hell of a guy."
" Really? Give me their names, I'd like to know why I haven't met them before." Eric replied dryly.
" Your just in denial, but I refuse to be one of those nonexistent people who you claim don't respect you, and tell you your nothing, because let me tell you something Eric. Elisabeth would be the one we won't respect if she doesn't realize what's right under her nose." Horatio pointed out.
" And what might that be?" Eric asked sarcastically, and a little pigheadedly, making Horatio's last statement all the more significant.
" You."
TBC…
Disclaimer: Don't own anything…
Rating: R (later)
Pairing: Eric/OC, Speed/Calleigh
Summary: After the death of Janet Medrano (Body Count) Elisabeth Kaytlin is hired as the new ADA. Under the condoned guide of Horatio Caine's ex-wife, Mia Dayton, who also happens to be the DA for Miami, as her first assignment Kaytlin is forced to reopen a cold case, which also happens to be Eric Delko's first case with the Miami-Dade crime Lab.
Spoiler: Tinder Box, Body Count
A/N: I *need* to take a break from Cardboard Copy…and perhaps this is a feeble attempt for your entertainment, but I just need to write an Eric fic…he's so lovable…hope you like it. Note: direct mentions from episodes will be featured later.
***
Part 10 – You
Calleigh switched off the radio and turned off the ignition as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
Sitting in her car, she leaned back against a seat to momentarily regroup and gather her thoughts before approaching Mia.
She knew that as much of a bitch as the District Attorney was to everyone, her and Janet had shared a lot in their three years of courtship and none of it was hatred induced.
The same could be said for Calleigh's relationship with the DA, no one in the CSI department liked the persecutor except Calleigh, and she really didn't understand why.
Although, there was the whole 'our boss's ex-wife' thing, but yet that wouldn't have stopped her coworkers from associating themselves with any one, so why was Mia being treated like this?
Collateral damage from a messy divorce?
Calleigh mused silently as she made her way up the stairs to enter City Hall and proceed to the elevators that led her to the familiar offices of Dayton & Medrano.
Now changed to Dayton & Kaytlin, and although Elisabeth was a sweetheart, but she could never replace Janet, and that was something Calleigh thought Mia and her could relate on immensely.
This was possibly why Calleigh found herself to be the only CSI on Horatio's team that was civil to his ex wife, and actually acknowledged her hard work.
Sometimes Calleigh wondered if her boss held that much power over his team, and although Horatio was known to be neutral Calleigh didn't like the fact that neither Delko, nor Speed ever set their foot in this office willingly.
Calleigh rode up the elevator silently, tapping her heel against the ground every once in a while, thinking about the past events and how they'd changed her for the better or worse.
The last time she'd been in this office, had been before Janet's death and the fact that this little detail sort of escaped her when she decided to talk to Mia, troubled the ballistics expert.
Was she truly ready to face the empty space that Janet left behind? Now replaced by some one else, would she be ready to encounter the emotions that came along with the memories of her past and friendship?
For a second Calleigh contemplated pressing the stop button on the elevator, but somehow her hand fell limp against her side, unable to make the short trip to the wall of the moving box, as it came to a halt.
Calleigh took a deep breath before stepping out of the separated doors, and stood in the foyer long enough for them to close behind her and take off from the floor.
She turned to her left, and began following the maze of corridors until she came upon a dead end. Staring at the freshly painted green door, Calleigh took another breath of slightly stuffy air in and twisted the knob.
Hearing soft Jazz playing behind the door, Calleigh smiled when she realized she'd caught the lawyer at a good time.
For Mia, the fact that she was listening to any sort of music usually meant she was in the middle of a trial that was headed in a verdict in her favor, and this meant both good news for her, and Calleigh, in this case anyway.
Calleigh stepped into the room, an instant grin on her face as she spotted her friend not sitting behind her desk and filling out deposition requests, like a good little lawyer, but instead prancing around the room to what Calleigh soon realized was B.B. King coming from the stereo.
Her blazer hung loosely on the neck of her chair, and her shoes were discarded somewhere outside Calleigh's eyesight, as Mia swung to the music in places, and then turned quite a few times in front of her desk, turning the volume up on the stereo as her favorite part of the song came on.
Calleigh couldn't contain herself and stifled a laugh, causing her to make her presence known.
Mia looked a little disoriented when she sensed another person in the room, and interrupted her dance.
She straightened her skirt, and blouse then gave Calleigh a wide somewhat nervous smile.
Calleigh figured she was thinking the same thing.
Calleigh hadn't been here since Janet passed away. However, that bit of feeling hadn't left a void in the conversation department, where Mia was concerned.
At the first sight of Calleigh, the lawyer ran over to her, and embraced her in a short, tight hug.
Pulling back she smiled at the younger woman, and bullet girl visibly relaxed having been welcomed so generously into the long lost office.
Calleigh returned the hug and then looked at Mia as she sauntered over to her desk and muted the stereo with the remote control, before adjusting her hair and smiling at Calleigh.
" I hope I didn't interrupt anything." The CSI teased as she eased herself in a chair in front of Mia, as the woman sat on the edge of her desk.
Mia rolled her eyes, and let out a chuckle, " I see your sarcasm has improved since the last time I saw you. How is everything?" she asked, walking around and sinking into her chair.
Calleigh took a deep breath and sighed, " You've got some spare time on your hands?" She asked vulnerably.
Mia detected some sorrow and uneasiness in the tone that the younger investigator used with her, and it didn't really appeal to her because she didn't know what was going on.
However she was set on figuring out.
Starting with why Calleigh was nearly on the verge of tears.
" Oh honey, for you I've got nothing *but* time, have you eaten today at all?" Mia asked in a motherly tone as she stood up, deciding that her paper work could wait another hour or two.
Calleigh nodded, " In the morning, but I could use a cup of coffee."
" And I could use a shot of JD, c'mon, I know a place." Mia urged her as she reached for the blazer at the back of her chair.
" Okay, but I thought there was no drinking on the job?" Calleigh raised her eyebrow teasingly and Mia rolled her eyes slightly.
" Darling, I'm my own boss, and I should sympathize you, since yours is probably a pain in the ass."
Mia added, referring to her ex husband.
" Oh I love Horatio, and so did you evidently, since you married him." Calleigh countered, and Mia reached for her purse, deciding on how best to dodge the subject of her and Horatio's short-term courtship.
Even if she so stupidly brought it up in the first place.
" There is room for mistakes in life honey." Mia explained reaching for the doorknob, as Calleigh followed her.
" Yeah, and Horatio is sure as hell not one of them." The blonde commented and they left the offices of Dayton & Kaytlin.
***
Meanwhile back at CSI, Eric made his way down the corridor very slowly, and in full-fledged exhaustion.
All he wanted was his bed and maybe a nice little blonde named Andie making him pop tarts and coffee, however, as soon as his mind traveled back to the morning before last, Andie was quickly replaced by someone else.
Some one Delko just didn't want to think about and got quite mad at himself when he did, because truthfully he had no idea why these emotions were forcing themselves into his head when he just met Elisabeth two days ago.
It scared the hell out of him obviously, but also somewhat excited him, made him eager to know that his life really didn't result to screwing random chicks and partying.
That amidst all the chaos and missing casualties, Eric Delko still had some space in his heart, open for that special someone, even if she came in the form of an ADA.
Each time Eric found himself wondering, he came to the conclusion that every time he thought of her, his perception of the future and his own feelings became more lucid, clearer to the mind.
He couldn't stop the emotions from rolling in, and he'd tried to control them before, but nothing had ever worked, and he wasn't about to result to pitying himself.
So sucking up his pride Delko decided to take Speed's earlier advice, and talking to Elisabeth.
And who knew, maybe it would shed some light on their situation…
If Eric had walked another few steps, trapped in his thoughts, he would have encountered Elisabeth and John walking his way.
Stopping for a second to regroup and take in the pairing, Delko decided that he wouldn't let them get the satisfaction of knowing he had witnessed their so called *innocent* foreplay and ducked into the nearest Lab.
It also turned out to be the Horatio's office.
***
Horatio had just finished signing off the post mortem reports that Alexx passed down to him after she concluded her autopsy, of the 11 year old girl strangled by her older brother, when he received surprised company.
Eric hadn't even realized where he ended up until he heard his boss clear his throat, silently seeking for an explanation, which Delko concluded would be very lame. And probably result in him spilling everything to Horatio about his situation.
As much as Delko treasured his boss's helpful ear once in a while, he didn't think that the best thing for him right now would be to confine in anyone.
He just didn't want damn advice.
" Oh, H, hey." Eric gathered himself and turned away from the door, watching as Elisabeth and John trotted down the hallway, completely oblivious about Delko's stalking.
" Eric." Horatio stated his CSI's name in a manner that didn't leave much up to the imagination where his attitude was concerned.
It was bluntly obvious that Horatio had his suspicions about Delko's behavior and as to how he ended up in his office.
After seeing Janet's replacement walking with John Hagen, openly affectionate with the Homicide Detective, the redhead could only guess where his friend's frustration and estranged behavior was coming from.
Reminded Horatio of how Mia and him began their courtship, he'd been so blindingly in love with her, that he spied on her and watched her every chance he got, memorizing everything about her, worshiping her with his eyes.
And then Horatio remembered how that ended, and he hoped that it wouldn't dawn on Eric too late that this wouldn't be the best idea in the world.
" You know staring at her isn't going to make it go away." Horatio said cryptically, and Delko bit back an insult.
There were two ways this could play out.
He could tell Horatio, he didn't need his help, or any one else's for that matter and leave his office, or he could let his boss tell him what's best, and the hope for everything to be okay.
Eric still hadn't decided what he wanted to do when he answered, " I wasn't staring at her."
He moved from the door hesitantly, and leaned against the wall, right beside it, reluctant to come any closer to Horatio.
" Okay then, I heard John is taken so you might want to reconsider." Horatio smirked causing Delko to look straight at him, boring holes in his face.
" If looks could kill." The redhead mumbled and then returned to his files, hoping that Eric would either leave him or explain his presence.
" You would be dead." Eric countered and then Horatio gave him a hint of a smile.
Well, as much of a smile as Eric was going to get out of him.
" So what brings you by?" Horatio tried a different approach hoping that his symbolism would figure for something.
" I think you know." Eric smirked at his boss's feeble attempt at masking his obvious clairvoyance.
Horatio took in a breath, and then reached for the cup of coffee sitting dangerously close to the edge of his table.
" Like I said, it's not gonna get you anywhere." Horatio repeated, and Delko tried very hard to ignore the bluntness of his speech.
Of course it was going to get him nowhere, but at least he wouldn't get hurt.
Hopefully.
" So what makes you think I want go somewhere?" Eric cleared his throat and gave Horatio a tiny bit of attitude, just because he could and it was much easier than admitting that his boss might be right.
" Oh just a hunch, otherwise, you wouldn't be staring out the window like a lost puppy, trying to read lips." Horatio explained, and Eric felt himself flush with natural rouge.
How was it that Horatio had such a keen ability to know exactly what you were thinking?
Taking a last look at Elisabeth and Hagen talking in the room across the hall, Delko walked up to Horatio's desk, and lowered himself in a chair across from his boss.
" I'm attempting that for future purposes, thank you very much." Eric supplied lamely, and caused Horatio to snort.
" You really need to get your conscience checked, you're flat out lying to me here." Horatio pointed out good naturedly, hoping not to scare his CSI by being so blunt with him.
Instead he hoped to achieve common ground and find out what was troubling the drug expert so.
" Guilty as charged." Delko held his hands up in defense and Horatio smiled.
" So what's up?"
Eric let out a chuckle.
" What?" Horatio asked.
" It's just funny, this is the second time in two days that you are confronting me with this and I don't think you'll get a straight answer this time either." Eric admitted genuinely, and for some reason Horatio figured it wouldn't be on purpose.
" Third time's a charm, I'm willing to try again." Horatio countered, and watched Eric visibly soften and relax.
" I don't know H, it's weird." Delko began ambiguously but Horatio remained unrushed, giving his CSI enough time to speak honestly.
" What's weird?" Horatio asked steadily, and Eric looked him in the eye.
" Love." He replied bluntly, obviously catching his boss a little off guard, because surprise flashed across Horatio's face, but then understanding soon followed.
" Really?" Horatio asked, trying very hard to comprehend the situation.
" Yeah, I mean maybe, I mean I don't know." Eric stuttered and Horatio found it endearing.
" Eric, are you sure?" he questioned delicately, sensing this was probably a sensitive subject matter for Delko.
" No."
" Oh."
" Does that surprise you?" Eric said with heavy sarcasm.
" No, should it?"
" I thought it would."
" Why?"
" Because every one thinks I'm a loose cannon who beds every thing in a skirt, I just figured so would you?" Delko stated, with slight self-pity and Horatio let out a sympathetic grunt.
" I am ashamed."
" Why?"
" Because I never figured that you'd think of me so lowly, I mean god, I work with you, you'd think you'd have more respect for me."
Eric seemed alerted but remained quite, " Horatio, you misunderstand, I have the outmost respect for you, and I treasure your advice, yet I know what people stereotype me as and I don't expect you not to be one of those people."
" Oh, I get it. You think I should be judgmental as well, join the band wagon?" Horatio asked curtly, folding his arms over his torso.
" Couldn't hurt."
" You're an idiot Eric."
" Thanks."
" No I mean it. Christ, I'd think with the way you're headed you'd have reverence for yourself above all. You have no freaking idea how many people in this building respect you and think your one hell of a guy."
" Really? Give me their names, I'd like to know why I haven't met them before." Eric replied dryly.
" Your just in denial, but I refuse to be one of those nonexistent people who you claim don't respect you, and tell you your nothing, because let me tell you something Eric. Elisabeth would be the one we won't respect if she doesn't realize what's right under her nose." Horatio pointed out.
" And what might that be?" Eric asked sarcastically, and a little pigheadedly, making Horatio's last statement all the more significant.
" You."
TBC…