000

Chapter 2

000

They walked up to his condo together and they couldn't help but smile at one another on the ride up in the elevator.

"Make yourself at home," Horatio told his guest as he stepped out of his shoes and deposited the plastic bags for a minute to slip out of his suit jacket.

Calleigh unzipped her leather boots and left her purse beside them. Walking in the kitchen after Horatio, she felt surprisingly comfortable in his home. She helped him empty the contents of the bags except her bags that had unneeded articles. Looking around, she remembered she had been here before and had mentioned that she loved the décor.

Horatio followed her with his eyes as she made her way over to the floor to ceiling patio door.

"Shall I fix you a Cosmopolitan?" he asked.

She didn't turn, but said "please." Stepping out onto the balcony, she could see the calm waves of an endless sea before her. To her left and right, many buildings illuminating the night. She sighed happily at the peacefulness.

Horatio came and joined her holding out her cocktail adorned with a lemon wedge.

She smiled, "Just how I like it."

A tiny smile curved his lips.

Lifting her glass she exclaimed, "Cheers!"

"Cheers." He repeated automatically ducking to take a sip of his light brown drink.

Both leaning on the rail, facing the sea, Calleigh gently turned to him and enquired, "So, how was your day?"

"You first."

She narrowed her eyes and then accepted his request. "Alright. Well, I got a case for my dad."

"Ana?"

She was shocked he knew her first name, but, then again, she couldn't think any less of Horatio.

"Yes," she told him gleefully, "I called him about two hours ago. He said he'd be happy to take it."

"That's great." He said sincerely.

"Your turn. What are you celebrating?"

"Uh. It doesn't matter."

"Of course it does. What is it?" she paused, silently analyzing his features. "Horatio?" she asked worriedly waiting for him to talk.
Surrendering after a moment's silence, she told him. "S'ok. You don't have to say anything."

Out of the blue, he slowly wrapped an arm around her and drew her near.

She rested her head against his firm body and murmured, "I want you to stop hurting, Horatio."

"I do too," he whispered, "I do too."

A few hours had passed and Horatio and Calleigh were comfortably lounging on Horatio's couch. She had rested her head on his shoulder, encouraging him to open up as she listened intently.

"It's been eating away at me." His eyes fell to his hands in his lap holding his fourth drink. "Everyone's in search of happiness and I think I've been looking too hard or maybe even in the wrong place. I don't really know how to explain how I feel..." He wasn't making any sense and he knew it. Taking a deep breath, he tried to explain, "I just love being around you and I'm happy I ran into you at the grocery store. My evening wouldn't have ended the same way-" He peered down at her for a reaction but didn't get any. He realized Calleigh's eyes were closed and her breathing was deeper.

She'd fallen asleep listening to him.

"I'll tell you tomorrow," he straightened a bit preparing to take her in his arms. Struggling lightly, mostly because of the alcohol level in his blood, he lifted her into his arms. She stirred a bit as he carried her into the bedroom and tucked her in. He laid down beside her on the bed covering himself with a blanket.

A few minutes later, Calleigh reached for him, so he pulled her close. She snuggled with him as he stroked her hair until sleep invaded his own tired body.

000

"So, say I wasn't here, what did you have planned this morning?" Calleigh asked stretching.

He turned his head towards her. She'd gotten his attention with that question. "Well, I was supposed to go out jogging," he answered, voice still a little hoarse from sleep.

"Okay. I'm up for it." She said rolling out of bed.

He didn't have time to take hold of her arm, so he asked sitting up, "Are you sure? You had a lot to drink last night-"

"So did you," she pointed out and he lifted his eyebrows, giving her a look.
She grinned. "I'll sober up."

000

"Am I—going—too fast?" he asked breathing loudly.

It had been fifteen minutes since they left Horatio's condo and Horatio had no problem running at the same pace for a long period of time. He loved the release, the pumping of his veins under his skin, the effort he put into every stride.

"Don't mind me." Calleigh breathed heavily, "I'll keep up."

A drop of sweat trickled down the groove of her neck as others beaded on her forehead.

Feet rising behind her, arms moving from front to back, ponytail from side to side, she felt more alive than ever as she ran faster trying to catch up to Horatio. Catching his waistband, she brushed over his buttocks. He slowed down generously and glanced back at her, catching her hand and smiled, "I'm going-- too fast."

"I like running -- after that -- cute little tushie -- of yours. Keeps me -- motivated."

"You sure -- you're sobering up?" Horatio held back a grin and she giggled.

000

On his way back up to his condo with Calleigh, Horatio picked up the daily newspaper.

While she showered, he silently read the Miami Herald. Until, suddenly leaving his paper, he found himself smiling. He couldn't help but smile when he thought of her. He was happy she hadn't grabbed her things and left last night when she woke up in the middle of the night, surprised to be in his arms.

She interrupted his daydreaming by calling out to him: "Horatio - I'm done with the shower."

He folded the newspaper on the table and made his way towards the bathroom. He arrived to catch Calleigh pulling on her hair with his comb for the second time today. He'd never look at her gorgeous blonde mane the same way after this.

She knew he wanted to shower and said, "I'll be finished in a minute if you want to wait." Wincing, she pulled on her hair. Horatio had only one mirror in his home; the bathroom mirror and she obviously needed it.

"No need."

He started to undress and wrapped a towel around his naked mid-section.

She was actually shyer than him as he displayed no embarrassment what so ever with undressing with her in the same room. Tugging at a knot, she smiled as she heard him whistling in the shower. The humming, she was used to, but the whistling- not so much though she enjoyed it very much. It definitely tickled her senses.

000

Both clothed and clean, they entered the kitchen and Horatio went for the fridge asking, "Care for some watermelon?"

"Don't mind if I do." She hoisted herself up on a stool behind the counter.

As he handed her the plate containing watermelon slices, his cell phone rang.

He shimmied to the front door where he had hung his suit jacket and reached inside for the ringing device.

"Horatio," he said, flipping it open.

"Hi. I'm really sorry to bother you like this - " Horatio replaced the voice and knew it was Susie.

"It's no bother, what's up?" he asked narrowing his eyes in concentration.

"It's Madison - "

"Is she okay?" He asked immediately.

"No, yeah, well, she's fine - it's just that she wants to see you."

He nodded, holding the phone to his ear, "Alright."

"Do you think you could come see her later on today? She says you told her she could call you up. Apparently, she has something very important to tell you - "

"Ah... Susie - " Horatio locked eyes with Calleigh who was finishing a bite of melon.

"I understand if you can't - " Susie said nervously, hearing him stop in mid-sentence.

"No, no. That's not the problem... I've got someone with me - "

Calleigh stepped in, "Horatio, it's fine. I just remembered I promised Eric I'd go diving with him this afternoon."

Horatio covered the receptor with his finger, "Are you sure?"

Calleigh smiled. "Yes." It would start snowing in Miami before Horatio would need to ask her for something again, she promised herself, licking the melon juice off her fingers. It wasn't her place to decide for him.

He placed the phone on his ear again, "Susie, how 'bout I come by this afternoon?"

"That would be great." He heard the smile in her voice.

"So, I'll see you then."

"Yeah."

Horatio almost hung up when he heard her speak again.

"Say hi to Calleigh for me. Next time, bring her along, okay?"

Then the line broke off.

TBC...