A/N: This is of course pretty much AU. It takes place in the timeframe of Season 4 (this is your spoiler warning), but only including what I want.

Thank you forthereviews. You all are sweet.

The people you know belong to the people you know. I own the rest including the dead bodies. Please R&R. Thanks.


Horatio stepped into the dimly lit bar and took off his sunglasses. He blinked a couple of times to adjust his vision. Horatio scanned the room and stopped on a group of faces he recognized in the corner watching a heated game of darts. A groan went up from lab crew when Annabel threw her dart and the machine declared her the winner. Horatio made his way over. Eric greeted him warmly.

"Hey, H! 'Bout time. You've got to hold up the honor of the lab. Annabel is wiping the floor with us!"

Horatio looked over at Annabel, who sat sipping her drink with a slight smile playing about her lips and then back at Eric. "I hear you've given up trying to beat Detective McGinty."

"A guy can only take so much abuse, H. She's ruthless." Horatio glanced over at Annabel. She was giving him a falsely innocent look as she twirled the ice around her glass.

Annabel set her glass down, rested her chin in her hand and batted her eyelashes at Eric. "I'm not ruthless, Eric. Competitive I will definitely give you," she teased sweetly. "But ruthless? Come on." She looked back at Horatio. "So...Lieutenant, are you picking up that gauntlet?" Horatio looked from the glass Annabel was sipping at to the matching one empty on the table in front of her. Annabel grinned and picked up her glass. She took a sip and shook it slightly, rattling the ice cubes. "Plain old Diet Coke. I don't drink. Often," she amended. Horatio looked at the scattered glasses and bottles on the table.

"Gentlemen, I believe I have identified your first problem." Horatio turned back to Annabel. Annabel looked up at him, smiling, eyes flashing.

"You just got here, Lieutenant. Do you need a little time to warm up?" Horatio picked up a set of darts.

"What game are we playing, Detective? Lady's choice."

Annabel shrugged. "Does it really matter?" Annabel thought for a moment. "I like Cricket. Takes both skill and point nabbing ability. Killer is fun, but you need more than two people. You can just go for high score, but that doesn't have any finesse. How about 501? You can start out just blasting the board, but in the end it comes down to very good aim." Horatio nodded, but said nothing. He lined himself up with the board and let his dart fly. It sunk dead center. A cheer went up from several of the lab people.

"You are so going down, McGinty!" whooped Eric.

Horatio met Annabel's eyes and gave her a small smile. "I believe I'll do fine, Detective."

Annabel laughed. "I think you will, Lieutenant." She restrained the urge to rub her hands together. "This is going to be fun." Annabel set down her glass and picked up her darts. Horatio rest the board and stepped out of her way.

"Ladies first."

Annabel flashed him a wicked smile. "Who ever told you I was a lady?"

The game went quickly. Soon it was down to a final turn for each of them. Annabel carefully lined up her shot. Cat calls came from the tables. Annabel tuned them out. She shifted her eyes slightly and caught Horatio watching her carefully. She smiled slightly and let her first dart fly. Her score dropped from 20 to 19. She took aim again and let fly. Her score dropped to 12. Annabel paused. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and rolled her head around twice. She opened her eyes, focused on the dart board and threw her final dart. Her shoulders slumped as her score flashed 3. Annabel sunk into her chair as Horatio stepped up to take his turn.

"Finish her off, H!" came the call. Horatio glanced over at Annabel. She looked him squarely in the eye and nodded at the board.

"Don't even think about it, Lieutenant. Just do it."

"You heard her, H. Just do it." Annabel turned and whacked Eric not so playfully in the shoulder. Eric rubbed where she had hit him. "Then again, H…" Annabel moved to hit him again. Eric grabbed her fist and held onto it. "You stop that."

Annabel flashed him a grin. "You just remember who your ride home is, Delko." Annabel pulled her hand out of Eric's. She turned back to Horatio. "Come on. You've won. Just finish the game." Horatio nodded and sent his three darts into the board. His score hit zero and the board erupted in bells and whistles. Annabel stood up and held her hand out to Horatio. "Well met, Horatio."

Horatio shook her hand. "I would say the same to you, Annabel." Eric joined them and squeezed Annabel's shoulders.

"Well, Annie, now you know how I feel."

Annabel grinned up at Eric. "Oh, I don't think so, Delko. I'd need to be knocked down a few more times to know how you feel."

Eric mock staggered back a step. "Annie, that hurts."

Annabel laughed. She planted her hands on her hips. "And yet you keep coming back for more. I'm beginning to think you like the abuse, Eric."

Eric gave her an easy smile. "Only from you, McGinty. Only from you." He turned to Horatio. I owe you a drink, H. What are you havin'?" Horatio slid into the crowd accepting their accolades. He turned to see Annabel pick the darts out of the board, line herself up and throw 1, 7 and 12 in quick succession. He smiled to himself and shook his head.

Horatio didn't think he would get a chance to follow up what he had seen. He finally caught up with Annabel as things were breaking up. Eric had just climbed into the passenger side of the blaze red, Crossfire roadster and Annabel was opening the other door. Horatio called out.

"Detective McGinty..."

Annabel stopped had turned toward him. "Lieutenant Caine?"

Horatio stopped in front of her. "About the darts." Annabel leaned against her car and crossed her arms over her chest. She looked up at Horatio her head tilted and waited for him to continue. "After..."

Annabel shook her head. "I always play to win, Lieutenant. You simply beat me. Anything else you think you saw..." Annabel shrugged.

Horatio nodded. "Just so that's clear."

Annabel straightened up. "I'd offer you a rematch right now, but I really am your CSI's designated driver and it's time for him to go home." Annabel leaned in and whispered conspiratorially. "You keep Eric out too late and he turns into a troll. It's really quite sad." Horatio chuckled. Annabel smiled. "Besides, he has to be into work in the morning and I hear his boss can be pretty tough."

Horatio gave her a slight smile. "I've heard that too. Another time then."

"You can count on that, Lieutenant."

"Horatio."

Annabel sighed. "Good night, Horatio." Annabel turned. Horatio reached past her and opened the door. Annabel climbed in.

"Night, Eric," he called.

"Night, H."

"Eric." Horatio glanced over at Annabel and then back at Eric. "You treat this lady right."

Annabel made an annoyed noise. Horatio looked over at her. "For a third time tonight, Lieutenant, you make the assumption that I am a lady. I promise you I can take care of myself. Thank you very much. See you, Horatio."

"Annabel." Horatio stepped away and Annabel closed her door. Horatio watched them as they drove off.