Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine.
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Chapter 1
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She didn't want anyone to notice how Horatio made her light up. She glowed when he was in near proximity and this gave her away too much to her liking. She did watch him often, taking short glances, without him having the slightest idea he was being watched. She stayed silent, by his side. He was so darn attractive, always in control of his movements. So self- assured, lean and intense. In difficult situations, you could always count on him to make things right, to protect and shield his sunny city from evil. That is his job. He knows what the laws are for. But holding society together doesn't always prevent evil from seeping through. The kidnappers, the rapists, the murderers, the serial killers, the child molesters. They could run or hide but Horatio Caine made it his duty to seek them out, to catch them and make sure justice is served.
Horatio stood in the hall, watching Calleigh. He watched her often, from far, mesmerized. She was a beautiful woman and today, she looked like an angel in her white striped blouse. She had opted for black pants and he was surprised to realize she frequently wore black. He smiled silently to himself. She had left her hair loose, which always caught his attention. Something about the way it flowed and shined down her back as she walked off, leaving him helplessly drawn to its sleekness. Unmistakably, however, Horatio took notice that she wasn't her usual self. Did he know she was so in love it was hurting her?
He entered the lab, much in the same way he always did, slowly and casually, impelled to look in on her. His smooth gait permitted him to sneak up. Unaware of his presence, Calleigh kept working. Another day, another case. No time to lose.
His deep suave voice broke the silence, "Calleigh - "
She hadn't showed any surprise what so ever. She was the hardest one to surprise. Somehow she always knew when he was near. She replied in a gentle voice acknowledging his presence: "Horatio - " He knew she was smiling as she said his name. She raised an eyebrow as she glanced at him, anticipating a shy smile on his part but his look wasn't the amused boyish one she normally got from him after failing an unexpected and surprising visit. This time, he gazed at her, perusing her features.
"You okay?" he asked gently.
She turned to face him. "I'm fine. Why d'you ask?" she said blinking at the solicitous man.
He stood there daringly, head tipped to the side, looking into her olive green eyes. A single hand resting on his hip, fingers tapping his badge. My lord. He was wearing her favorite outfit she loved seeing on him; taupe suit over a cerulean blue shirt to match his eyes.
"You seem upset - Is something wrong?" he asked knowing precisely that something wasn't right.
No. He didn't see it. She was certain of this. He only had eyes for the tall gorgeous Latino woman in his life. His brother's widow a.k.a. the meaning to his whole existence. She saw how he looked at her, enthralled by her exotic beauty. His heart belonged to her because his love was clearly sprawled around her.
He waited patiently until her emotions and feelings ravaged her neutral, professional exterior.
"Life isn't so good these days," Calleigh said reluctantly. She wasn't going to tell him she broke up with John. Horatio knew from the start he wasn't good for her. Hagen doesn't have the same values or the same ethics Calleigh has. Horatio, himself, didn't see eye to eye with the big brawny man. When H had first noticed the glances and the shy smiles, he knew something was going on. His sweet Calleigh was dating the self-absorbed Hagen. Not wanting to interfere in any way, he let them sort out their problems. He assumed they had problems. He would have left them alone but when it came between Calleigh and her work, it was between Horatio and Hagen. Lieutenant versus detective. At work, Calleigh was under Horatio's wing not Hagen's seductive spell.
"Hagen?" Horatio asked in a low tone, knowing very well in his mind that for the past couple of months when Calleigh wasn't as chirpy as usual, it was Hagen's fault. He looked at her tenderly as she sighed.
Her eyes fell shut "Among other things," she muttered.
She wanted him to know, to guess or somehow manage to find out without any need for explanations, but he didn't have any way of knowing. Horatio didn't speak to Hagen unless it was absolutely necessary. He could only figure out what had happened through her. He watched the trembling of her eyelids. She was forcefully battling to keep her eyes closed and biting her lower lip not to burst out sobbing. Her feeble attempt was not unseen by the man standing before her. A single lone tear formed at the rim of her eyelid and trailed down her cheek. He watched speechless. She let her head fall forward and the tear made its way down her face. She quickly inadvertently wiped it away. With infinite care, Horatio moved in closer and embraced her. Her forehead rested on his chest as she started to cry.
"Let it out, Calleigh. Let go - " he whispered. He wanted to soothe away the sadness and pain.
She didn't want him to think it was about Hagen because it had nothing to do with Hagen. Horatio had become the father figure she needed at first when they met. This passionate, caring, generous man became her boss, a person she admired, a friend and undeniably a man who stole her heart. Unrequited love. Hagen had simply been a distraction; a break from the torment, a painkiller but Horatio was irreplaceable. It was about losing true love. Horatio Caine. Calleigh has always been the one to take care of her own dad. Losing Horatio made her world crumble to pieces. She felt like he would no longer care for her. She was losing balance. It was difficult for her to manage the fear she felt within. The only way was through cries.
Calleigh buried her face in his shirt and held his jacket's lapel tight in her small hand. She inhaled his manly cologne. He slowly rested his chin on the top of her head. Without intent, he inhaled the scent that wafted from her hair. Vanilla. His hands rubbed her back as his arms surrounded her. She was so small, so precious. He wanted to protect her from the world. He tilted his head and rested his cheek on the top of her head. He heard her soft sobs and felt her tears through his shirt. He held her, tracing his fingers over her back, he placed a hand behind her head. His other arm stayed wrapped around her for the longest time, holding her to him, assuring her if she'd lose strength, he'd catch her. He was sensitive about women crying. It always broke his heart. He swore he'd never make a woman cry. He gently stroked the small of her back with the tip of his fingers. She was seduced. Tempted to do something as intimate. To him it was surely just a sign of affection.
Their relationship is closely knitted. A bond of trust that nothing can come between. Though to Calleigh, his caresses played a different melody on her senses and she believed it was love. She wanted so badly for it to be. She knew it was. Certainty could not be clearer in her mind. She eschewed looking in his eyes. He stirred her out of her thoughts saying: "I think you should take the day off - "
She felt his breath on her forehead and wished for a kiss. The hand resting on the back of her head, stroked her long blond locks pulling them back to reveal her face. He waited for a response, searching her face.
She looked up and smiled bashfully. "I'll be alright, Horatio. I've never taken a sick day and I'm not about to - " Her southern accent was darling. The way she said his name "Ho-RATIO". It repeated in his head, but he quickly processed the statement she had made and concern rippled through him.
He knew she wasn't going to let him win and get her to take a day off. She was right; she did have all her sick days and plenty of reasons to go home and rest or take her mind off of things but she always refused. Her work carried more meaning than anything else. She thought if she went home she'd mope around, not able to sleep, wanting to be at work. Wanting to be near him.
Horatio reached for a handkerchief in his inner coat pocket and dabbed at the mascara mixed with moisture underneath her eyes. "Thank you," she said in a short breath. She breathed in deeply "I must've been a real sight with those racoon eyes - " she said softly.
He shook his head saying huskily: "No," as if he was hushing her words. He thought silently: Calleigh: Beautiful, always.
She glanced down and wanted to return the unuttered compliment he'd given her with a single word.
He felt the effect he had on her and said in a low voice: "If you need anything - I'm here," he told her before casually walking away. He said it with a look she could only describe as enticing. Yet there was no sexual connotation in his statement but it thrilled her nonetheless. He looked back at her as he reached the door to exit the lab. She smiled, bating her eyelashes. He knew the cheerful Calleigh had returned. He pushed the door and walked out. She watched him walk down the corridor. He'd been there for her. The chivalrous Lieutenant Horatio Caine.
TBC...