A/N: See intro for standard disclaimers. Afraid this is another short section. I seem to be stuck in short at the moment. Please R&R. Thanks.

It was late when Horatio parked his Hummer and headed for home. He had spent hours beyond his shift working on his backlogged paperwork, trying to get the look Annabel had given him out of his mind. He knew he had overstepped and wasn't quite sure how to fix it. Not a place he had been in very often.

Horatio rounded the corner and stopped when he saw Annabel sitting on the steps to his condo. She stood up, crossed her arms over her chest and waited for him to approach. Horatio walked up to her and looked up. The stairway light threw her face into shadow, making it hard to read.

"Hello. I'm a little surprised to see you here."

Annabel shrugged and ran her fingers through her hair. "I stomped around my apartment and raged for a bit, went for a ride and ended up here."

"You've been here a while then."

"Well past long enough for my butt to get numb sitting on the concrete. Long enough to know I overreacted."

Horatio looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry. For what I said. It was..."

"Stupid? No kidding. It's not like you to just react. You think things through even more than I do." Annabel stepped down and stood in front of Horatio. "There's something besides this mole thing bothering you."

Horatio shook his head. "It's just the mole. I don't like my people being singled out. They work hard. They do their job and they do it almost better than anyone. I don't like someone calling that into question."

Annabel frowned. She knew there was something else, but she didn't pursue it. "Okay. So, things are good. Between us I mean. No doubts?"

Horatio stroked Annabel's cheek. "I promise you, Bella. I really have no doubts about you. About us."

"If you're sure."

Horatio bent his head andtouched his lipsbriefly tohers. "Very sure. I am sorry I hurt you, Annabel."

"I'll forgive you. If you forgive me for eavesdropping."

"Mmm. That is what started this, isn't it? I already told you that you didn't have to be sorry about that."

"Yea. And then you proceeded to accuse me of being the mole."

"As you pointed out, stupidity on my side."

"Just so we are both clear on that," teased Annabel.

"Trouble," Horatio teased back.

"From the day I met you."

Horatio smiled and pulled Annabel into his arms. She slid her arms around his waist and looked up at him. "So, you biked over here," he stated.

"That I did."

"And now it's dark."

"That it is."

"And you don't have a light on your bike."

"No, I don't."

"How do you plan to get home?"

"That is a problem, isn't it?"

"I could drive you home."

"You could."

"What if I refused?"

"I'd have to call a cab."

"Would you?" Horatio cupped Annabel's chin in his hand.

"Would I what?"

"Call a cab."

"If I needed to go home."

Horatio kissed her. "If you needed to go home."

"Don't I?"

"Do you?"

"Do you have another idea?"

"We're standing in front of my home."

"You don't say." Annabel smiled at him her eyes sparkling.

Horatio closed his eyes. "Annabel, are you coming up or not?"

Annabel kissed Horatio soundly. "Good thing I biked over."

"Yes, it is." Horatio bent down, scooped up her helmet and gloves, took her hand and led her up the stairs.

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