000

Chapter 2

000

It had been an awfully long draining day and Horatio had but a single idea in mind: flee home. He glanced at his watch and read 8:07 pm.

He left his office and casually walked past the analysis lab. There, behind the glass window, stood Calleigh Duquesne. He stopped and watched her silently. It had only been a few hours since he approached her last, offering a cup of coffee, without a word. No matter how often he tried to stay away, he was always enthralled by her gleeful ways when around him. So, he decided he would check up on her.

Horatio slowly pushed the door and calmly ambled towards Calleigh. She was facing the printer, back turned to him seemingly absorbed in her work. She was stubborn, not unlike him but it annoyed him for her to be that way. She had refused to go home and rest earlier and now she was staying late?

Tilting his head, he caught her massaging her left temple then placing a hand on her neck as she rolled her neck stretching the tense muscles. She looked tired and the way her hand was resting on the side of the printer, Horatio knew she was holding on, desperately trying to stay focused. Her fatigue was slowly winning over her exuberant dedication to crime solving. As the results were expelled from the machine in front of her, her head lolled back and she sighed.

"Hey," Horatio said in a low husky voice standing beside her.

Calleigh was taken slightly by surprise but happily greeted her boss: "Hi! I didn't think anyone was still here - "

She faced him, giving him her full attention. Her smile was as bright as ever as her beautiful pearly whites glimmered between her thin pink lips.

Her smile faded slowly as she grabbed the paper and silently read the results. Usually, he would ask about the case but he smiled faintly instead and said: "Someone," he paused weighing his words "someone is making you work way too hard - "

Her smile returned and she shrugged saying: "I love my job."

"Mmhmm. I can see that, " he murmured "You should go home and get some rest, Calleigh - will you do that for me?" This time she wouldn't be able to brush off his concern; she had been in the lab since this morning against her boss' recommendations. This gave him a little more authority over his CSI, the second time around.

Nonchalantly she replied: "Yeah, I'm almost finished."

He had planned for a brief hesitation, maybe even a confrontation but was pleased she surrendered.

"Okay. Good. Let me wish you a good night, then."

"Thanks," her eyes locked with his, "you too."

"Will I see you tomorrow?"

Damn, she thought, not those pretty boy eyes. The expectation was distinguishable in his cobalt blues.

"Sure will."

And with that promise, Horatio left.

000

One week earlier…

"Cali?" a man's voice yelled out.

Detective Hagen took big long steps heading down the hall of the crime lab. He spotted Calleigh sitting in the fingerprint lab and briskly entered.

"Hey John." She smiled faintly.

"Calleigh, do you even know what time it is?"

"Let me stop you right there, John, I know I've been here for a while but I don't want to argue with you right now - "

"Sorry. I was just wondering where - "

She cut him off, "Don't worry about me."

She knew he wasn't wondering. He was worried, as always. John Hagen, trying to protect what he valued most: his girlfriend.

Then she pondered on why he was wondering where she was. "I've been here the whole time," she said a little irritated.

Not that he needed to know that. She liked the concern in his eyes but didn't appreciate a jealous man. Ever since their argument that was abruptly interrupted by Horatio Caine, clearing his throat, Hagen has been trying to figure out what H was so mad about. The explanation for the confrontation between the two men had gone undealt with. He tried to do a recap on his feelings as he waited for Calleigh. Was he powerless when he faced Caine's assertive mannerism? Did he feel threatened by Calleigh's relationship with Horatio? Did Horatio keep a grudge on him for having worked Narcs with his bro Ray who was killed on the job? Was it because he put in for a transfer a week before Raymond was killed? Was Horatio mad because he had no business aggravating miss Duquesne during her work hours, disturbing her while she processed H's case? John didn't worry about the fact that Horatio had clearly reduced his manliness to pieces in front of Calleigh but he felt disgusted with himself for insulting her father. He knew that still stung in the back of her mind and she couldn't believe his total disregard for her feelings over his case.

"Are you goin' home?" he finally asked her.

"Yes. Why?"

"I'll drive you - "

"No," she answered softly, "you know what, Hagen - " Ouch. It hurt him to hear her coldly use his last name to refer to him. After a pause to find the right words, she continued: "I'm gonna take some time alone if that's alright - "

"Yeah," he nodded "sure," he bit his lip, "okay."

"Good."

She turned away from him, rearranging her workplace before hanging up her lab coat and leaving for the locker room to head straight home after that.

"Cali?" John asked as he headed for the door, thinking it was best to just go.

"Yeah -" she responded without looking at him.

"Are we okay?" he asked baffled.

"Uh huh."

"Calleigh, look at me - " He stood in the doorway. She hung her lab coat and went towards him to exit the lab. Her eyes caught his as he grabbed hold of her.

"Huh, Gorgeous?" he wanted a straightforward answer.

"Everything's fine, John. Really. I need some time that's all. Just give me some space."

He kissed her forehead and gently tucked a strand of her hair that fell out of place behind her ear.

"Okay. I'm gone. Good night, then?"

She smiled and lightly kissed him before running off to the locker room. He turned and watched her enter before leaving himself.

TBC...