A/N: Sorry I haven't updated for a while, but the Document Manager has been playing up. Hopefully everything is sorted now, and we can get back to the story.
Alexx noted the change in attitude instantly. Frankie was a lot more protective of Horatio than she had been, and Alexx was intrigued. Over coffee and muffins, she interrogated her friend.
"Come on, what's happened?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Yes you do! One minute you dismiss him as boring, and the next you're best friends. Something happened, and I want to know what."
Frankie sighed. "I just discovered there was more to our Horatio than you might think. And, no, I'm not going to explain that any further."
"Our Horatio?" Alexx remarked, one eyebrow arched.
"He is my friend, Lex, and I've just grown to appreciate him more."
"Ooh, do I spy romance on the horizon?"
"No, we're just good friends. I think he's still a bit serious for me, even if I do understand him better."
"Just good friends!" Alexx scoffed. "Yeah, that's what they all say."
"If 'they' include Cal and Eric, I agree. What's happening with those two?" Frankie smiled as they changed the subject to a more agreeable one. Neither woman was entirely sure what was happening, so a happy twenty minutes could be spent on conjecture.
Calleigh came in then, much to their relief. "Sit down, girl! We need answers, so spill!" Alexx cried, and Frankie giggled at Calleigh's hunted expression.
"What about?"
"Eric."
Calleigh blushed and giggled, always a good sign, Frankie thought. "Don't you know? A Southern lady never kisses and tells!"
"So you kissed him then?"
Southern decorum or not, Calleigh couldn't hold in her happiness anymore and nodded, suddenly shy. "We're seeing each other again tonight." A joint squeal of delight from Frankie and Alexx caused several people to turn and stare. All three collapsed in giggles as they congratulated Calleigh on finally getting her man.
"He's not mine yet," she warned them.
Frankie and Alexx exchanged disbelieving looks. "Oh, honey, I think he is," Alexx smiled.
Horatio, although initially worried that Frankie wouldn't keep her word, was actually rather relieved to have told someone the truth about his father. He was even more pleased that it seemed to make him and Frankie better friends. She also made a conscious effort to include him all the time in her social plans, although he suspected this was mainly to replace Eric, whose time seemed to be entirely taken up by Calleigh. He smiled when he thought of those two.
They were trying desperately to be subtle, probably unsure whether he would approve of an in-house relationship, but they were so obviously happy together it was difficult to pretend he didn't know. A few weeks into their relationship, and Calleigh positively glowed with happiness, while Eric seemed a lot more settled than he ever had. They were clearly a good influence on each other. He was in the AV lab, watching them joking around across the hall with a fatherly smile on his face when Frankie joined him.
"So you guessed."
He glanced over at her and grinned. "It's kind of hard not to."
"Calleigh's worried you won't approve."
"I know. I'll let them think that a while longer I think." Frankie snorted with laughter in a very unladylike manner.
"They're a cute couple." He nodded, agreeing with her wholeheartedly. She paused for a moment, as if undecided about what to say. "Eric's let me down again. We were meant to be going to a new jazz club tonight, but he's dropped for me Calleigh. Not that I mind, but I have two tickets to the opening night, and I was wondering if you'd care to join me. I know you like Sinatra, and their opening night is a Rat Pack tribute band."
Horatio looked away, remembering their dance to Strangers in the Night. He hadn't realised until then how slim Frankie was, but she had felt tiny and infinitely fragile in his arms. "That would be great, thanks Frankie." After all, he thought, it's not as though he had any other plans for the evening.
"Okay, I'll pick you up at 8.30." Frankie grinned as she turned to leave.
"Hey," he called, making her turn back to him, "I'll pick you up." She laughed and waved goodbye, heading back to her office.
