CHAPTER 12

The two of them stood there and stared at Horatio, not knowing what to do. Horatio continued to glare at the both of them. Then he focused his glare at Ryan. Ryan looked down at the floor to avoid his eyes. Ryan didn't know what Horatio was going to do to him. It was bad enough that he didn't get the report up to Horatio when he was supposed to, but the fact that Horatio himself came down and saw Ryan kissing a coworker romantically. Horatio cleared his throat. "Detective Wolfe, I would appreciate it if you give me the file right now." "Uh, it's right over here." Ryan replied nervously as he walked over to the chair where he threw it down with his jacket. As Ryan went to grab the file, Calleigh looked at Horatio. What Ryan didn't see was Horatio giving Calleigh a wink. She immediately knew that he was bluffing about being angry and wanted to pull a fast one over Ryan. She let out a breath and relaxed her body. Noticing that Ryan was now turning to face him, Horatio quickly went back to a stone face. "Here you go, sir." Ryan said as he handed Horatio the file. Calleigh quickly stifled a laugh over Ryan trying to be all serious and addressing Horatio as 'sir'. Horatio looked at Ryan, then down to the file and back up at Ryan again. "Detective Wolfe…" "Yes?" Horatio took a step towards Ryan and looked him right in the eyes. Ryan wanted to jump out of his body. He didn't know what Horatio was going to say to him. He tensed up expecting the worst. "Thank you." Ryan wasn't quite sure if he heard Horatio right. "What?" "I said, thank you." Horatio answered. Then Horatio let a slight smirk form on his face as he backed away from Ryan. "Goodnight, you two." Horatio turned and left Calleigh's office. Ryan stood there, not quite absorbing what just happened. It wasn't until he turned back to Calleigh and she had her hand over her mouth, trying her hardest not to laugh at Ryan that he remembered that Horatio just smirked at him. "Oh, God!" Ryan gasped out as he realized that Horatio wasn't mad to begin with and was just messing with him. He slumped his shoulders as he let out a nervous sigh.

Calleigh walked over to Ryan and put her arms around him. "I thought he was going to fire me." Ryan managed to get the words out. "Why? Over a file?" Calleigh asked as she tucked her head under his chin. "No, for kissing you." Calleigh pulled her head away from Ryan's neck and looked up at him. "He wouldn't have fire you. He knows." "He knows what?" Calleigh reached up to touch his hair again. "What I feel about you. He's probably too happy for me to be angry at you." Ryan got nervous again. "How does he know how you feel about me?" "I talked to him a while ago about you," Calleigh answered as she noticed the nervous tone of Ryan's voice. "It's ok. He gave me my blessing, so to speak." "I need to sit down." Ryan walked over to the chair where the file was and sat down, moving his jacket to one of the armrests. Calleigh followed him. "Are you ok?" "I'm sorry, Cal. It's just a lot to absorb at once. Admitting to you my feelings when you told me yours. Then Horatio catching us while he knew the whole time that you had feelings for me. It-" "Shh." Calleigh said as she placed a finger on Ryan's lips. "It's ok. You don't need to worry about anything." Ryan looked up, somewhat relieved. "Anybody else know?" Calleigh walked over to her desk to grab a chair so she could sit in front of Ryan. "I told Alexx yesterday when she came over for breakfast." Calleigh felt uncomfortable remembering the situation that led her to tell Alexx. Ryan buried his face in his hands. "What's wrong?" Calleigh leaned forward and placed her hand on Ryan's knee. "When Eric finds out, he's going to give me so much crap." Ryan spoke as his hands still covered his face. He lowered his hands onto Calleigh's hand. Calleigh looked Ryan in the eyes. "Tell Eric to keep his opinions to himself, or he'll have to answer to me." Ryan laughed at Calleigh's reply. He picked up her hand and kissed it. Calleigh blushed. She leaned forward again to kiss Ryan. "I don't think I'm going to get tired of this." Ryan whispered. "Me neither." Calleigh whispered into Ryan's ear.

Suddenly, Calleigh's pager went off. Calleigh let out a groan as she got up and went to her desk. She frowned as she read the message. "What's wrong?" Ryan got up and came over to the desk. "Looks like my shift's not done yet," replied Calleigh as she picked up the phone and dialed the number on the pager. "Duquesne." Calleigh listened on the phone as Ryan walked back over to the chair to pick up his jacket. "Ok, I'll be over in a few minutes." Calleigh placed the phone back on the receiver. "The night shift needs my help on a case, Ryan. I have to go." Ryan walked back over to the desk. "Are you doing anything tomorrow night after work?" "You have something in mind?" Calleigh's eyes brightened in anticipation. "Yes," Ryan paused, then continued. "I was wondering if I can take you out on a date." "A real date?" Asked Calleigh. "The kind of date where I put on my favorite black dress and high heels and wear my hair in the style that drives men crazy?" "Well, if you're going to put it that way, YES!" Ryan answered enthusiastically. "Well then, Mr. Wolfe, I accept." Ryan leaned down to kiss her again. "Do you have anywhere in particular you would like to go?" "Hmm," Calleigh thought for a second before leaning forward for another kiss. "How about somewhere with a bay window that serves Italian?" "Calleigh, I could read you like a book." Ryan said as he knew exactly where she wanted to go for their first 'real' dinner together. "Well, I'm probably a better read than Einstein." They both laughed at Calleigh's remark. Calleigh lowered her arms down. "Ryan, I have to go. They're waiting for me." Ryan put his jacket on. "See you tomorrow, Cal." Ryan reached out and touched her face with his hand. He then left so Calleigh could get ready for the night shift. What he didn't see as he walked out was Calleigh grinning from ear to ear as she packed.

Calleigh didn't come in until 10 the next morning due to working late with the night shift. She was hoping to see Ryan when she got in, only to find that he was on assignment all day with Eric and would be away from the lab. Horatio was also away on assignment, so obviously she wouldn't be able to speak to him either. Calleigh was having a break with Alexx and telling her the details about last night when Ryan called. He told Calleigh that the reservation at Lombardi's was at 8 and he would pick her up at her apartment around 7. It was now 5:30 in the evening and Calleigh was heading for home. Calleigh pulled into the parking lot and hurried upstairs. She showered quickly and put on her makeup. She parted her hair on the right side, then pulled it back into a ponytail. She slid into her dress and stood in front of the body-length mirror in her bedroom. "Perfect." She said to herself. She was putting her high heels on when she heard a knock at her front door. Calleigh stood up, running her hands down her dress to flatten out the wrinkles. She walked over to the door, opened it and let out a gasp. Ryan was standing there in a dark blue 3-piece suit, holding a bouquet of flowers. His hair was slicked straight back, instead of the usual combover style everybody was used to seeing him wear. In all the months she had seen him at work, she had never seen him in a tie, let alone a full suit. "Wow, Ryan…you look amazing." Calleigh looked Ryan up and down. "I could same the same thing about you." Ryan said as he took a long look at Calleigh in her dress. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have a woman like her who wanted him. "These are for you." Ryan handed Calleigh the bouquet. "Oh, thank you. Let me put these in water before we leave. Please come in." Ryan followed Calleigh inside as she went to the kitchen to place the flowers in a vase. He had never been over to her apartment. He stood in the living room and looked around. Calleigh walked up to him. "Shall we go?" "You bet," answered Ryan as he followed Calleigh out of her apartment.

to be continued…