A/N: Those you know belong to those you know. The rest belong to me, including the dead bodies. No profits in this for me. This is AU, but I will use what I want from Season 4 or earlier. Be warned. Please R&R.
Thanks for the reviews. This is just a short bit.
Alexx knocked on Horatio's office door. Horatio smiled as she came in.
"Hello, Alexx."
"I just stopped by to drop off the Reyes autopsy report. You said you needed it and then you didn't come down."
"I'm sorry, Alexx. I got a little tied up." Horatio waved his hand at his desk.
"Not a big problem, Horatio. I needed to take a little walk anyway." Alexx shook her head at the paperwork spread over his desk. "You know, Honey, if you'd just work on that as it came you wouldn't always end up neck deep in it." She shook her head again. "Too bad. I know someone who's celebrating a birthday tonight that's gonna be mighty sad that Cinderella can't come to the ball."
Horatio looked back down at what he was doing.
"She doesn't date, Alexx. Especially not cops."
"Oh, you two just keep on believing that. And we'll all keep ignoring the signs you two have been flashing at each other for weeks now. I'll give Annabel your regrets. Unless you think you might be surfacing from that heap tonight?"
Horatio shook his head. "Not a chance."
"Then you'd better be glad she isn't dating, or someone might just scoop her up right out from under your nose, Horatio."
"I'll keep that in mind, Alexx."
"You do that, Sugar."
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Horatio stopped by Annabel's desk early the next morning. He wasn't really surprised to find Annabel already there, reading over some case notes. Horatio cleared his throat. Annabel jumped slightly, turned, saw Horatio and then went back to what she was doing.
"Happy belated birthday, Annabel."
She stayed facing her desk. She tilted her head to the side and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You didn't make it last night."
Horatio sighed. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I had some things I needed to wrap up here. I wanted to be there."
"Oh."
"I thought I would get here before you. You're here early."
"I wasn't sleeping." Annabel shrugged. She stared at her desk. "Might as well be here."
"Mmm. Are you pouting, Annabel?"
"I am 36 years old, Horatio. I don't pout." Horatio lightly touched Annabel on the shoulder. She jumped, but his hand remained where it was. Annabel dropped her hands in her lap. Horatio's hand was warm through the back of her shirt. Annabel finally turned and caught sight of the single, deep red rose Horatio held in his free hand. She looked up at Horatio. Her mouth just opened and closed. She looked back down at her lap. Horatio took his hand off her shoulder and picked up one of Annabel's. He crouched down next to Annabel and set the rose on the edge of her desk.
"Annabel." Annabel just sat there staring at their hands. "Annabel," he repeated, a little more firmly. Annabel looked at Horatio. Stormy seas met clear blue skies.
"How come you can just say someone's name and it calms them? It's not just me. I've watched you do it to other people."
Horatio smiled slightly. "Call it a gift."
Annabel looked at their hands still linked together. She turned her hand over so that they now lay palm to palm. "I wasn't looking for this, Horatio. Whatever this is."
Horatio squeezed her hand slightly. "We rarely look for this. Whatever this is." He looked at the rose. "That is just a rose." He stood up and let Annabel's fingers trail out of his. "The note is an invitation to dinner. Not a date. A 'Sorry I missed your birthday.'"
Annabel smiled a little. "Because I don't date."
"Because you especially don't date cops."
Annabel nodded her head. "Exactly."
"I'll talk to you later, Annabel."
"Later, Horatio." Horatio started to walk away. He turned back, tilted his head and looked at Annabel through his lashes.
"Annabel?"
"Mmm?"
He just smiled. "Never mind. I'll see you later."
