Disclaimer: Still not mine.

Frankie made it into work the next day, although it was a close run thing. Alexx laughed when she saw the colour of Frankie's face, before grimacing herself as the sound jarred her ownfragile head. Frankie eases herself on the couch in the break room, wincing at every movement.

"Feeling bad?"

"Yeah, but it was worth it, wasn't it? It was a great night!" Frankie said, smiling. Except she had a feeling that not everyone had enjoyed it. She remembered Rick trying to kiss her, Horatio doing his knight in shining armour act, and then she had a feeling she yelled at Horatio. Why, she wasn't sure, nor could remember what she said. "Is Horatio in his office?" She had some apologising to do.

She knocked on his door, and went in. He was at his desk, working through a small mountain of paperwork. She thought she caught a flash of something in his eyes – surely not pain? What had she said?

"How are you feeling this morning?" Horatio, having stayed sober, wouldn't be suffering like the rest of them, she thought. Abstinence did have something going for it after all.

"Fairly awful, I have to admit. Look, I wanted to apologise. I can't remember all the details of last night, but I know I yelled at you when I should have thanked you for intervening with Rick for me." She winced, and rubbed her aching head. "So, as I didn't say it last night, thanks. And I can only assume, as a supposed professional, that I redirected my anger on to you, however grossly unfair that was. So, thanks and sorry." She tried to smile winningly, but had to fight the urge to throw up.

"You don't remember what you said?" This point seemed important to Horatio. Oh God, what had she said?

"No, but I'm sure, whatever it was, I didn't mean it. Can we put it behind us and be friends again?"

"Of course: there's nothing to forgive anyway." Frankie managed to smile without feeling nauseous that time. "Look, why don't you take the day off? You look awful," he added with a small smile. "I'll call you if we need you."

She walked around his desk and gave him a hug, releasing him immediately as it brought back memories of their dance, and she had to remind herself that she did not find him attractive anymore. "Thank you so much. You're a saint Horatio." Her hangover was so severe that she failed to notice the way Horatio winced at this choice of words.