Disclaimer: Song in this chapter is "Say Hello" by Nitin Sawhney.

000

Chapter 6

000

Wine bottle empty, main course plates gone, the desserts arrived not a moment too soon. Calleigh had sat back beside Horatio when Tony appeared.

"Playing musical chairs, are we?" he smiled at the couple.

"She's to blame, Tony. I have nothing to do with this." Horatio chuckled and Calleigh exhaled loudly saying, "That is so not true."

"I'm not taking any part in this," Tony laughed, handing them the two dessert plates. "Enjoy," he walked off smiling.

Horatio dipped his spoon in his chocolate mousse and said, "Here, you gotta try this."

Clearing the spoon, she hummed exuberantly.

"Did you know chocolate is an antidepressant?" Calleigh enquired.

"I didn't know that."

"Here, try my ice cream - " Calleigh brought the spoon to his mouth. "Good?"

"Good."

She leaned closer and kissed him, savoring the coolness the ice cream left in his mouth.

"Yum," she murmured and Horatio agreed, "Yeah."

They finished their desserts and Horatio paid for the meal, thanking Tony.

"Have a nice evening," Tony told them as they walked out of the restaurant.

Standing on the sidewalk, Horatio took Calleigh's hands and said, "I know a place where we could go dancing."

Calleigh gave him a lopsided grin, "You remembered."

"'Course I remembered. So, what do you say?"

"I've got a better idea."

"Oh," brows lifted he asked, "What's that?"

"You'll see. Take me home," she kissed his lips.

They walked over to the Hummer and he opened the door for her, offering her a hand to help her get in.

Getting into the driver's seat, Horatio looked at Calleigh, "I don't think I told you how beautiful you look tonight - "

"Your eyes spoke for you," she smiled.

He grinned and turned the key to start the engine.

000

When they got to Calleigh's condo, Calleigh took Horatio's hand and only let go when she asked him to sit on her couch. Horatio sat back, looking around, marveled at how her home took a different feel at night. The green light over her kitchen counter, under her cupboards, reminded him of the lights in the lab. Had she taken example on the lab to decorate? She certainly seemed to feel at home in the lab.

Horatio watched as Calleigh turned another lamp on near her stereo system. Leaning to turn the CD player on as well, Horatio couldn't help but stare at her softly defined calves.

She turned, shaking him from his fixation, and asked him to join her. He stood and walked over to her, near the stereo. Taking his hands, she placed them on her hips, "Horatio I want you to listen to this song."

He nodded, but with his hands dangerously south, he wasn't sure if he'd pay much attention to the song once she'd start moving with him. She pressed play and slipped her arms under his, to rest on his back.

The music flowed and a soft female voice sung,
I knew you needed a friend. I knew you needed some blue skies.

They swayed slowly.

You need some laughter again, 'Til magic returns to your blue eyes. You're lost in a circle of pain.

Horatio closed his eyes.

Where's it all going? Each day is the same, where are you going?

Calleigh felt Horatio's head fall forward on her shoulder so she caressed his back, hands stroking between his suit jacket and his shirt.

He stroked her long locks and draped them over her other shoulder, Say hello, say hello... you're never alone.

A tear formed at the rim of his eyelashes. She wouldn't have known it until it fell on her bare shoulder.

Say hello, say hello... you're never alone. Something inside of yourself when darkness approaches your silence. Freedom's forgotten her name. Nothing makes sense, you don't complain.
Everything's started to fall, where's it all going? Can't make any sense of it all, where am I going?

Horatio kissed the teardrop on her shoulder.

Say hello, say hello... you're never alone. Say hello, say hello... you're never alone. Say hello, say hello... you're never alone Calleigh rubbed cheeks with him and he lifted his head.

Say hello, say hello... you're never alone. Say hello, say hello... you're never alone. She kissed his jaw and his chin.

Say hello, say hello... you're never alone. Say hello, say hello... you're never alone. He couldn't believe how well she knew him, how well she knew his feelings.

Say hello, say hello... you're never alone. The song ended and the last of his loneliness disappeared.

He cupped her face and kissed her lips wanting nothing more than to touch her, to make love to her.

Wordlessly, they made their way to the bedroom. Lying over him on the bed, Calleigh kissed his forehead with gentleness, trailing kisses to his temple, over his eyebrows, down his nose. Arms surrounding her, he smiled when her breath tickled his nose and she kissed the dimples in his cheeks. Her lips lingered on his and passion rose. He reached down to remove her heels, grabbing hold of one and making her rest beside him in the process. She slipped the other shoe off and made Horatio sit up to remove his jacket. Calleigh suddenly tensed as Horatio held himself over her, kissing her.

Horatio immediately concerned, took distance and asked, "Calleigh, what's wrong?" Closing her eyes, she scared him, as if shutting off from him.

"Am I going too fast?" he asked and she opened her eyes to look over his worrisome chiseled features.

"No, no, it's not that... it's just... it's you, you and me... and I've dreamed about this for so long and now it's happening and soon it will be over."

"It doesn't have to be," he smiled. She knew he was going to take his time and be gentle and passionate because that's how she imagined it would be with him.

She nodded, "It's just that... I want to remember everything."

"Calleigh, as long as I live, I'll make sure you never forget." His clear blue eyes shone for her.

"Will you make that a promise?"

"I promise, I will." He dispelled her doubts.

"I love you," she pulled him near.

000

A loud buzzing noise made Horatio sit up squarely in bed. Calleigh reached beside him and hit the off button of her alarm clock.

"Please tell me we don't have to get up - " He wasn't sure if it was still the weekend or not.

"You can sleep a while longer, darling, I always get up this early." He had noticed that when at six thirty AM yesterday, she had asked him what he'd be doing if she hadn't been there. That's when she had decided they were going for a run.

"Morning person," he grumbled sinking his head back in the pillow.

"Yep. Been that way ever since I was a little girl. I can't stop now - " She said putting a snug camisole and shorts.

Feeling the bed move, he turned his head and opened an eye.

She made a move to get up, but Horatio caught her arm and held her back.

"I gotcha."

On all fours, she leaned into his ear, "If I don't get up now, Horatio, I never will - "

"So, what's the problem?" he asked suavely, grazing her arm.

She shook her head, "If you need me, I'll be in the kitchen making coffee." She left his grasp and walked off.

Coming up behind her in the kitchen and wrapping his arms around her waist, he said huskily, "I need you."
She loved when he needed her and spun around, smiling brightly as he ran his hands over her body, down her back and up again.

"You need me or you want me?"

"Both."

Smoothing her hair back, he languorously slid down her neck to her camisole buttons. Looking directly into her pretty green eyes, fiery passion in his own, he undid the two top buttons.

"Are you trying to turn me on, Horatio?"

"Yes." He dipped his head to kiss down her chest.

"It's not working," she breathed.

"You sure about that?" he mumbled moving up to kiss her neck.

She tilted her head stretching her neck to his touch, "Heavens, no," she panted.

He chuckled lightly and took her hands in his, lifting them up in surrender, palm against palm, interlocking his fingers with hers. Moving very slowly, he made her back up against the wall.

"Take me," she said sandwiched between the wall and him.

"What?" he asked surprised.

She laughed, "Back to the bed."

Grabbing her behind the knees, he lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Arms surrounding his neck, she whispered something in his ear.

Horatio groaned as he made his way to the bedroom, "Keep that up, honey, and we won't make it to the bed."

She laughed, "You light my fire and then expect me to behave?"

A throaty growl escaped his lips as he claimed hers.

TBC...