Disclaimer: Still not mine, except for Frankie.
Eric made sure he danced almost every other dance with Frankie, always asking her opinion on how he should ask Calleigh. In the end, Frankie got so annoyed with his cowardice, that she took hold of his hand and dragged him forcibly over to the pretty blonde.
"Calleigh, do me a favour, will you? Please dance with this idiot! He's driving me mad!" Tequila, now mixed with copious amounts of vodka, had a tendency to make Frankie blunter than usual. Eric was glowing red with embarrassment, but Calleigh smiled and led him back to the dance-floor. Alexx, from across the room, saluted her with a drink, and they shared a smile.
"Frankie? Dance with me," Rick said, appearing at her elbow. She readily agreed, and was soon swaying to a slow number with Rick's arm around her waist. Swaying was perhaps the best way of describing it, and Frankie suspected she should probably call it a night soon. Tiredness and alcohol were beginning to take their toll. The tension that had been present between her and Horatio was noticeably absent with Rick, and she thought nothing of it when he suggested they get some air. She was feeling slightly over-heated herself.
In the cool night air outside the club, Frankie took a couple of deep breaths and felt immediately better. Rick was standing very close to her, and leaned in. "How about a birthday kiss?"
"Umm, sure." Frankie gave him a quick peck on the cheek. After all, one night of reasonable behaviour was hardly enough to make up for four months of snide comments about all of her friends.
"That wasn't what I meant," Rick said, and seized her arm, pulling her closer. She turned her head away, but he tried again.
"Rick! Please!" she cried.
"Oh come on, Frankie, we're all good friends here," Rick said, his voice slightly slurred with drink. She struggled again, with less effect.
"Rick. I think the lady asked you to let her go." Horatio's voice was deadly calm, with that icy tone of forced politeness he used when he was truly angry. Rick turned to the other man with an expression of disgust.
"No one asked your opinion Caine!"
Horatio stepped in a little closer, and gave the taller man a look that would have curdled milk. "Do not do this Rick." Despite having a good three inches on the older man, Rick visibly recoiled from the anger in Horatio's eyes, and spun on his heel, muttering something inaudible under his breath as he left. Horatio turned back to Frankie, who was shivering. "Are you all right?"
The alcohol made her speak before she could think through her response. "Who the hell do you think you are? Did I ask for your help? Why do you always act as though you're a bloody saint?" Horatio, stunned, said nothing. Frankie continued anyway, "God, Horatio, really! Do you think I'm about to fall into your arms now? Why on earth would I do that? At least Rick is interesting. You're so bloody dull! Probably never had fun in your entire life! Just leave me alone!" Frankie stalked off, tears threatening to fall. She leapt into the nearest cab and drove off, leaving Horatio standing still, rooted to the spot by her words.
Was he dull? He stared out to the ocean, mulling over her words. Was that why she never flirted with him, because she thought he was boring? He knew he was more serious than her, more serious than the others on his team, but did that make him dull? God knows, his job was sometimes all he had to hold on to, but thinking about it, he didn't have much of a life outside the lab. There just never seemed to be enough time.
In a sudden flash of memory, he remembered Melissa, his ex-wife, saying much the same thing to him at the time of their divorce. In far less polite terms than Frankie had used, sure, and with a fair few other insults thrown in, but the basic sentiment was the same. Sighing, Horatio stuck his hands in his pockets. Perhaps it was time to try to change Frankie's opinion of him. Maybe he should try to focus less on the job. Then again, maybe it was too late.
