"You know, I spent twenty-three years living near this city and I've never been to Manny's." Samantha commented to Horatio, Grissom, and Sara as the hostess seated them at the critically acclaimed Manny's Steakhouse in Minneapolis. Samantha turned her gaze to Sara, an anxious expression etched into her face. "You're sure you don't mind coming to a steakhouse Sara?"
Sara smiled and nodded. "Really it's ok. Just because I chose to not to eat meat doesn't mean I expect everyone else to live the same way."
"Thank goodness." Grissom remarked dryly earning a glare from Sara.
Sara pulled out her menu and glanced down. "And just as I suspected, they have vegetarian options along with the steaks. No worries, Samantha really."
Samantha relaxed a bit but she still looked slightly guilty at suggesting the four of them come to Manny's following the performance of Phantom.
Horatio smiled softly having noticed the apprehension coming from Samantha. He discretely placed a comforting hand on her knee and squeezed gently. Looking sheepish, Samantha smiled softy. "Thank you again for inviting us tonight. It's been a truly enjoyable evening." Horatio said, hearing Samantha chuckle softly under her breath.
"I'll say." Samantha remarked cryptically, unable to keep a half smirk from forming on her lips. A flash of excitement tore through Horatio's body at the undercurrent of her words, but his face remained impassive. Only Grissom seemed to notice. He arched a dark brow at Horatio. Horatio arched a red brow back. Grissom bit his lip to keep from laughing.
"Did you enjoy the performance, Samantha?" Sara asked. "Horatio told me you've seen it eight times. So tell me, was the ninth as enjoyable?"
Feeling Horatio's thumb absently moving across her knee where his hand still rested, Samantha smiled softly. "It was the most enjoyable yet." Horatio's hopeful eyes met Samantha's for a moment and he smiled softly. Sara sighed loudly causing Horatio, Samantha, and Grissom to turn their eyes to her.
Sara blushed and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. But you two are just about the cutest thing I've ever seen."
Both Horatio and Samantha bowed their heads in an attempt to hide their respective blushes. The waiter arriving to take their orders interrupted the embarrassing moment.
"Oh look! Karaoke!" Sara remarked later following the couple's dinners.
Samantha frowned. "Karaoke? At a steakhouse? That's umm… weird."
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention for just a moment please." A young man stood behind a microphone at the center of the small stage at the front of the restaurant. Sure enough, the stool and TV monitor behind him indicated this was in fact meant to be a place to sing Karaoke. "Manny's Steakhouse is trying something a bit new tonight as you may have noticed. Our in house band is unfortunately held up out of state and not able to perform this evening. And wouldn't you know it, our back up band is also unavailable. But no worries. We've decided to let you, our esteemed guests, be the entertainment for the evening." Some of the guests laughed nervously. "It's all right folks, singing is not a requirement. But we'd love to hear some of you try your hand at the microphone this evening. So without further ado, do we have any volunteers?"
Three sets of eyes turned to Samantha. She laughed and shook her head, holding up her hands. "No way!"
Sara pressed on. "Come on! You have a music degree on top of all the forensic goodies, don't you?"
Samantha turned a sideways glare in Horatio's direction. He managed to look innocent as he carefully avoided her gaze. "Yes, I do. But honestly, I haven't sung in years. I'm out of practice."
"Please?" The single soft-spoken word from Horatio effectively melted Samantha's resolve. Not to mention her heart.
Samantha sighed softly. "Ok." Rising from the table, she walked towards the stage at the front of the dining area. The young man who'd made the announcement earlier noticed her approaching the stage and his eyes lit up with excitement.
He shook Samantha's hand while holding the microphone in the other. "Thank you for volunteering. Very brave of you." He smiled at her. Horatio frowned slightly when she smiled back. "What's your name, Miss?"
"Samantha." She responded, her smile still in place though Horatio noticed it was a bit strained. As well as she concealed it, Horatio knew she was nervous and suddenly felt slightly guilty for coercing her to sing. He couldn't help it. Horatio wanted to hear his Samantha sing.
"Samantha. And what do you do Samantha?" The MC continued.
"Umm… I'm a firearms specialist at the Miami-Dade Crime Lab."
"Firearms? Watch out gentlemen, this woman might be packing heat!" The crowed laughed quietly at the MC's humor. Horatio, Grissom, and Sara rolled their eyes. "And what will you be singing for us this evening?"
Samantha chewed her lip a moment, stepping over to the booklet of songs sitting on the stools. On a whim, she looked up a particular title. Surprised they had it she showed the title to the MC who nodded and moved over to the machine to cue up the music.
Samantha's heart felt like it would beat out of her chest when the first strains of music began. Before she opened her mouth to sing, she wondered what he would think.
Only Love – by Frank Wildhorn
Original Artist: Linda Eder
I see you try to
turn away
I hear the words you want to say
I feel how much you
need to hide
what's happening inside you tonight?
Come
meet my eyes one moment more
our eyes are different then
before
this night so beautiful and strange
this night begins to
change who we are
Don't turn away its only love
quietly
coming to you
whispering through you
take my hand its only
love
let it come through you slowly
don't be afraid its only
love
We touch the dark begins to stir
we can't go back to
where we were
don't be afraid to make it real
don't be
afraid to feel tonight
Don't turn away its only love
only
a touch that frees you
let it release you
take my hand its only
love
let it come through you slowly
don't be afraid its only
love
Don't close your eyes
don't hold it in
reach
out to me
let it all begin
Don't be afraid its only
love
only a touch that frees you
let it release you
take my
hand its only love
let it come through you slowly
open your
heart and show me
don't be afraid its only love
As Samantha's voice faded to nothing, there was a moment when the audience was deathly silent. Then the applause started, and the restaurant's guests cheered wildly as they jumped to their feet. Samantha's responding smile was radiant as she blushed softly and accepted a handshake from the MC. Making her way back to her table amongst cheers and compliments from guests, Samantha's smile faded when she arrived at her table. Horatio's seat was empty. Looking around briefly, she realized he was nowhere in sight.
Sara and Grissom smiled at Samantha, both of them praising her lovely singing voice. Samantha didn't hear a word of it. "Where's Horatio?"
Sara and Grissom looked uncomfortable at the question. It was Grissom who spoke. "He left just as your song finished. He was mumbling something under his breath but I couldn't make it out. I'm sorry, Samantha."
Samantha nodded and left the restaurant without another word.
As she left the restaurant and the cool breeze hit her face, Samantha realized it was quite rude of her to have left Grissom and Sara so abruptly. She also found she didn't much care at the moment.
Samantha shrieked with surprise as a pair of strong arms grabbed her from behind, spinning her around and pressing her into the brick wall of the building. Samantha looked up, eyes wide with shock, into the frantic eyes of Horatio Caine. She opened her mouth to ask Horatio what was going on but was silenced by his lips crashing down upon hers.
Instinctively, Samantha's hands wrapped around Horatio's neck, her fingers brushing against the base his soft red hair as he continued his assault on her lips. Moaning, Samantha felt the familiar stirrings of desire burning in her belly.
Finally breaking the kiss due to lack of oxygen, Horatio buried his face in Samantha's neck. Her eyes fluttered closed as she clutched him to her, sighing when he feathered kisses along the smooth white skin of her neck. As much as she loved the feel of him in her arms, she was confused. She pushed him away from her.
Samantha's eyes scanned Horatio's face. "Horatio?" He looks so… vulnerable Samantha thought. She'd never seen Horatio look so lost as he stood there with his hands shoved deeply into his pockets. Come to think of it, Samantha was fairly certain she'd never seen Horatio stand with his hands in his pocket either. "Horatio?" She repeated taking his face gently in her hands. She said nothing more, waiting for some sort of explanation.
"Is it too soon to say I'm falling in love with you?" He asked softly, his eyes coming up to hesitantly connect with hers.
Samantha's heart stopped beating. She couldn't possibly have heard him right. "What did you say?" She whispered softly.
He let out a long shuddering sigh. "I'm falling in love with you."
Samantha let a small sob escape her lips, stepping forward and turning her face up to seal her lips against Horatio's. Loosing himself for a moment in Samantha's kiss, Horatio pulled back, eyes searching hers for some inkling of what was going on in her mind. She smiled up at him, kissing him briefly on the lips. "I'm falling in love with you too." She bit her lip a moment, her expression thoughtful. "No. I'm not falling in love with you." She smiled. "I already did."
Shoulders slumping with relief, Horatio smiled widely at Samantha, scarcely able to believe this beautiful young woman could love someone like him. He still didn't feel like he deserved her. He probably never would. But to hell if that was going to stop him from having her. "Come on." He slipped his hand in hers and led her to one of the waiting cabs.
"Where are we going?" Samantha asked as Horatio opened the door to the backseat.
"Back to the hotel." Horatio responded, stepping forward and whispering in Samantha's ear. "So I can make love to you properly."