Disclaimer: Still not mine.
A/N: Simply couldn't resist...
Their next case did require Frankie's expertise, and she was searching fruitlessly for Horatio around the lab with her latest results. Eric, looking harassed, bumped into her in a corridor.
"Seen Horatio anywhere?"
"I know him and Ryan had a severe case of decomp this morning, so I guess they're both having showers in the locker room. See you later babe."
"Eric? Have you asked Cal out yet?" The Cuban muttered something about waiting for the perfect moment before hurrying away. Frankie shook her head affectionately. The day those two got together wouldn't be a day too soon. She made her way down to the locker room. Horatio always wanted to know results the second someone had them, and she had learned never to delay that, ever.
She opened the door a crack, intending to see whether those inside were decently dressed. What she saw froze her in position. Horatio had a towel wrapped around his narrow hips, and was vigorously drying his head with another towel. The dark towel accentuated his pale skin, and she tried to breathe quietly as she stared. For some reason, she had never imagined that he would look like that. It should be a crime to look that good. In profile, she could see his toned, muscled chest, and a narrow line of dark red hair starting just above the towel, echoed by a similar shade of red hair sprinkled across his chest.
Hastily averting her eyes, she stared at the broad shoulders and suddenly frowned. The light was obviously just right at that angle, and she saw criss-crossed scars across his back. They were white with age, but undeniably scars of some sort. She wondered where he had got them. Aware that she had been standing there staring for some time, she softly let the door close and retreated to the trace lab to wait for him to emerge. That would give her time to regain control of her breathing, which had been severely compromised by seeing her boss half naked and drop dead gorgeous.
Horatio wandered in only ten short minutes later and was slightly surprised by the vacant expression on Frankie's face. She stared dazedly at him, before blushing furiously. "Is everything all right?" he asked, instantly concerned. Frankie was mainly things, but never dazed and confused.
She blinked a few times, trying to reconcile the immaculate, professional Horatio Caine in front of her with the picture of male perfection she had seen a few minutes earlier. Now she looked closer, she could see his hair wasn't perfectly dry, and was curling slightly under his ears. She took a deep breath and tried to focus. "Uh, yeah, sure, everything's fine boss. I have some good news about our guy. I found three similar crimes committed a year ago in Georgia, which would tie in with our timeline."
Horatio's eyes switched from concerned friend to his usual, brilliant gaze, focused on some point that no one else could see. She watched with admiration as he took her information and instantly saw how that fitted in to their investigation. A light went off somewhere in his brain and he smiled at her suddenly, that triumphant, victorious grin of one who knows he has won. Frankie caught her breath again. Did the man have to do that to her today of all days?
"Good work, Frankie. Call Tripp for me, please, tell him to meet me at the marina. He'll know where."
"The marina?" she asked weakly. "I thought our suspect lived in Coral Gables?"
Horatio was already halfway out of the door as he answered. "Yes, but I know where he's going now. See you later." Frankie made the call he asked, and sat there, utterly lost.
Alexx laughed as she walked past. "You look like most of us did when Horatio first took over the lab. It's impossible to keep up isn't it?"
"You'd think after four months I'd be used to it. I wish I understood how his mind works." Frankie hated not understanding people, especially when that made her feel slow and stupid. It wasn't a conscious effort on Horatio's part; it was that he simply saw things differently to everyone else.
"Don't we all honey!"
