He drove her to her home in silence, and didn't speak still when she got back in the car, changed back into clean clothes for work. Frankie was anxious, terrified that she had ruined the fragile understanding that they had begun to develop. But she wouldn't have undone last night, or this morning, she thought with an internal shiver, remembering Horatio in the shower. Someone had to say something though, or this would get really awkward. It looked as though that someone would have to be her.
"Horatio? We, um, we don't have to mention this to anyone." She wasn't sure what response she wanted – perhaps an open declaration of love and the intention of shouting it from the rooftops – but a heartfelt sigh of relief was not high on her list.
"I think that's probably for the best," Horatio replied, his shoulders relaxing with the release of tension. Frankie couldn't help but be a little insulted, but tried to reassure herself that it was for the best. Sleeping with the boss and then telling everyone probably wasn't going to be a good plan. Still, he didn't have to agree so quickly. He said a swift goodbye, and then headed off to his office, abandoning her by the front desk. With a fake smile for Paula, Frankie decided there was only one course of action possible.
"Is Calleigh in yet? How about Alexx?" Desperate times call for reinforcements. In no time, she had assembled her team, down in the ballistics lab for maximum privacy.
"Frankie? Is this to do with what we were talking about the other day?" Calleigh's smile told her friends that she was desperate to talk about Eric, but she was willing to put that off while her advice was needed.
Alexx raised an eyebrow as Frankie nodded. "I think I might have made a big mistake. I slept with him last night."
Alexx held up a hand. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. First, what's going on?"
Calleigh spoke before Frankie could. "Frankie's got a new guy, who she won't talk about much, and he's being awful to her."
"He's not!"
"Yes he is," Calleigh said, reminding Frankie once again that the Southern belle was a lot tougher than she looked. "He's not letting you get close to him, but he still wants you to be there for him. That's not fair. So tell us, how did you end up in bed with him?"
Frankie hung her head, and decided that an edited version of the truth would be best. "I went to see him, to talk to him, at his work, and we ended up kissing. Then we went back to his place."
"He was okay with you staying the night?" Frankie nodded, not wanting to talk too much about Horatio naked, even if she wasn't saying his name. "Well, that's always a good sign," Alexx said, putting her arm around her friend.
"Still, if he's not prepared to share his feelings with you, you have to be very careful Frankie," Calleigh warned. Then she giggled self-consciously. "Look at me, one month into a relationship and I'm suddenly an expert!" The three women laughed.
"There's only one question that matters," Alexx said. "Is he worth all the effort? If the answer's yes, then you have no choice but to stick it out, at least for a while. If he doesn't change, then you have a problem, but you have to give him a chance first."
"Is he worth it?" Calleigh asked softly. Frankie was ashamed to find she was crying as she nodded. Alexx hugged her tighter, and Calleigh joined in for a three-cornered hug. "Then go get the stupid idiot! I can't believe he wouldn't want you in his life, Frankie, you just have to convince him of that."
Refreshed and re-energised by her friends, Frankie held her head high through the rest of the day, and refused to show Horatio how unsure she was around him. He seemed distracted, but at least he had stopped avoiding her. It was enough to drive her crazy, though, being that close to him, and not being able to touch him. Her heart seemed to go into overdrive every time they were in the same room, although they never seemed to be alone. Eric was following Frankie around all day, and she was concerned to see he didn't seem as happy as Calleigh. Putting aside her own problems, she pulled him into the trace lab and sat him down.
"What's wrong?"
Eric hesitated and looked away, reminding her painfully of Horatio. "I'm scared, Frankie. I've never felt like this. The first thing I think of in the morning is Calleigh, and she's the last thing I think about at night. Every time someone tells me a joke, I try to remember it to tell her later. I can't get her out of my head. I've never felt like this," he finished, hanging his head.
"Eric, what's to be scared about? I don't understand."
"It's just that, I don't know Frankie, I've just always been able to walk away from a relationship, and it would kill me if I lost Calleigh."
"So don't lose her," she said softly. "Eric, tell her how you feel, although I'd edit out the scared part. She cares just as much about you as you do about her. How was everything at your parents' last night?"
The change in subject made him look up. "Great, sort of. Calleigh was Calleigh: bright, bubbly and everyone's favourite person. Mom took me aside and told me I should marry her quick, before she gets away."
Frankie rolled her eyes. That was what this was all about. "Eric, you don't have to do what your mother says. Calleigh is blissfully happy with how everything is now, so tell her how you feel. You two need to take things at your own pace, not at your mother's!"
Eric gave her a quick hug. "Thanks Frankie. She's my best friend and my girlfriend. How did I get so lucky?" He kissed her forehead, an affectionate, fraternal gesture. "So how about your love life? Any major gossip I should know about?"
Frankie looked uncomfortable. "Nothing I'm currently comfortable with sharing, Eric. Please," she added at his expression, "don't push me on this."
"Okay, but you let me know if I need to beat this guy up. No one upsets my friends," Eric said jokingly. Neither had noticed Horatio enter the room, and both were surprised when he spoke.
"Who's upset you Frankie?" Frankie had a feeling that answering 'you' wouldn't be the best plan, so just blushed and kept quiet.
Eric had no such scruples. "Some jerk she's been seeing." Apparently he didn't notice the shadow pass over Horatio's face, but Frankie did. He looked haunted for a moment, and she longed to comfort him, to reassure him that everything was all right. Eric shrugged and turned back to his work. "Like I said, babe, you let me know if I have to go see him. You're like a sister to me."
"Thanks Eric," she replied, touched by his concern. She didn't dare look at Horatio though, and left the room as quickly as she could.
