CSI: Miami

Horatio/oc

Disclaimer: I own nothing of CSI: Miami, I do not know anyone connected with the show or with CBS and they do not know me, all of which is a shame.

Kiveli

At first, Horatio couldn't figure out why it seemed like he should know Kiveli. He knew she had only been in the states for a few weeks and yet he could swear he knew her from some place. Then, he realized that there was a resemblance to Detective Stella Bonasera, the crime scene investigator in New York, the same dark hair, the same high cheekbones, the same jaw line. Kiveli's lips were fuller, her hair wavy instead of curly, but the resemblance was sure. How he'd even remembered Bonasera's brief comments about her half-Greek roots, he couldn't say, but now that he did, the reason for Kiveli's familiarity was obvious.

His active mind, having solved one puzzle, was only left with the larger question now; why was he attracted to another 'young' woman? She was beautiful, sweet, intelligent, but she was twenty-eight years old! He could see the attraction to the similarly aged Marisol, which, in retrospect, was not, perhaps, the healthiest relationship he'd ever had. Other than age, however, there was nothing similar between Kiveli and Marisol. As frail as Marisol was, Kiveli was that robust. As quiet as Marisol had been, Kiveli was rambunctious and full of mischievous, loud fun. He was not, by nature, a lecherous old man, on the prowl for children, and yet, here he was again, smiling at every thought of the very lovely, and oh, so young, woman, nearly half his age!

Last year, a murder had been committed outside of the restaurant owned by Takis Pulos, who happened to be a cousin to Kiveli's mother. In the course of repeated visits to the crime scene, Horatio had found the joys of Greek food as well as a good friendship with Takis, who loved discussing a favorite topic, the psychological nuances of ancient Greek plays. Now, though the investigation was over, he continued to pay frequent visits to the café, which was how he'd met Kiveli. The Pulos' were hosting their cousin's daughter while she was pursuing a Master's degree in illustrative art, specializing in police work. By sheer coincidence, she was about to start a short stint as an apprentice Police Artist at the MDPD.

"When I go to work at home," she'd explained, "I will have to develop a whole ID program for the police department of Athens. They have one, but they need better. At your department, I'll hear what people say as they describe someone and see how the program your artists use works to make a picture. Then, I'll make one that works better!"

The defiant superiority in her eyes, as she described her future, made them flash sea-green highlights as if reflecting the dashes of green color of his blue eyes. He hoped she was flirting with him, using those flashes as signals, yet not daring to hope. But how, he wondered, would Takis take his interest in this treasure? True, she was of legal age anywhere in the world, should know her own mind, but he also knew the Greeks were very protective of family. He didn't want to cross boundaries, but…

He sighed, knowing he was daydreaming to put off the paperwork in front of him as much as wondering about a future that would probably never develop. In any case, her stay here was temporary, a student visa, so it was probably best not to even get started!

He was so involved in his thoughts, Detective Frank Tripp's voice calling his name actually startled him. "Yes, Frank?"

"This young lady says she knows you?" Frank found himself nearly overwhelmed by the eager girl as she squeezed past him. He was almost going to say, 'Well, excuse you!' but saw Horatio jump up to greet her and held his tongue.

"No one believes I know the famous Lieutenant! A silly little girl, a student from Greece, to know him? Ha! They all say." She threw a triumphant toss of her head at her escort.

Horatio found it hard to meet Frank's speculative stare, embarrassed at how happy he was to see Kiveli. Then, gathering himself, realizing why she was here, the discomfiture was replaced with his sense of command. "You showing her around, Frank? Good! They getting your paperwork in order, Kiveli? When do you start the apprenticeship?"

Frank reminded, "First they have to do a routine check. Maggie, in Personnel, told me everything should be ready by the beginning of the week. I'm just showing her the layout of the place so she doesn't end up in the morgue when I try to send her up here."

Horatio caught her questioning look. "Good thinking, Frank. After all, she's learning to interpret what people tell her about the bad guys, and in the morgue, dead men tell no tales." Seeing the question growing in her eyes, he knew he'd have to pay a visit to the restaurant, that evening, to explain. Now, at a loss for further words, very aware of her smile and Frank's observations, he was almost grateful that his cell went off. "Kiveli, I have to take this. It's been nice seeing you." He knew Frank would ask her a few questions while finishing the tour, and knew the news of the young lady would spread, be discussed, and would be fully analyzed before the afternoon was out. The department was the same as a school campus that way.

"So, file mou, when you gonna ask Kiveli out on a date?" A week after Kiveli had started her apprenticeship, Takis was slapping a salad plate on the table. "She's not gonna be here forever, you know. Maybe six months, tops, to get her degree, then she'll be gone and there you'll be scratching your…head, wondering how you missed the chance."

An hour later, after Kiveli had returned from doing some research on a project she was developing for her thesis, Horatio was asking her to go out with him. To his relief, she seemed to think it was about time. He was sure she was as aware as he was that they were being watched from the kitchen by two doting surrogate parents, that they were being chaperoned from a distance, as it were. She apparently didn't care.

Since taking her out to dinner would be a bit redundant, they agreed on a movie for a first date. While waiting for the movie to start, seeming to read his mind, she remarked, "You want to know why I said yes to go out with an older man? Other than you being famous, I mean?" Getting only a look from him, she continued. "Because, in Greece, age is not a question. If I like a boy in first year college, and he likes me, I would go out with him. I was just happy you like me." She twisted in her seat, rose up, and kissed him on the cheek. "Very happy." Her smile seemed to give a brilliant golden glow to the theater.

What most amazed him about this wonderful woman was her complete acceptance of his desire for discretion. As ebullient and desirous of touch as she was with him on dates, or even in the Pulos restaurant, she was that reserved and distant on the job. Only when she was sure no one was looking, would she show him a slow wink, a knowing glance and then smile hugely as his chin fell to his chest and a blush that matched the color of his hair crept past his shy grin. Otherwise, she was cool as a cucumber in his presence and from the bits of gossip he could pick up, was so close mouthed about how she knew him, the rumor of them being an item died completely. He never would have thought she could show so much tact, but that turned out to be only part of what he didn't suspect about her.

Somehow, one day, while they were barely into the 'cuddling' stage of the relationship, the question of how Greeks 'did it', versus how Americans 'did it', came up. They were in his living room, relaxing, trying to decide what to do with a free afternoon. "Oh, you don't know what love is until you have been Greeked."

Horatio glanced at her, wondering if she had any idea of what she'd just said. "I don't think that means the same thing to you as it means to me, sweetheart."

"I don't know what you think it means, joujouko mou, and I'm not good with English to explain." She jumped up from the couch. "How do you say? Nothing like the present, to show you what I mean. Come, this place is too narrow, small. I think you must have a fine American size bed. Take me, then I'll show you."

Half an hour later, she was poised, on her hands and knees over his naked body, avoiding his erection, behind her, looking very much in control. He already felt thoroughly kissed and wondered what else she had in mind. As she settled herself onto his midsection, he felt the warm dampness between her legs. 'Thank God for age!' A few years ago, knowing she was that ready, he'd have never lasted with her. Still, he wanted her now, very, very much but obviously, she wasn't done with this Greeking business.

As if hearing him, she said, "You know, some meals, in Greece, last for hours? We really know how to enjoy our food. And eating, in Greece, is considered second, in importance in life, to sex. We do that even more slowly." Putting a forefinger into her mouth, pulling it out glistening, she laid it on the center of his forehead and then slowly drew a line down, around his eyes, through his glowing red sideburns, under his cheekbones and to his mouth. First, she traced his lips before dropping the tip inside, touching his tongue. He immediately closed his lips around it as she played inside, using it as she had used her tongue, moments before. Exploring, touching his teeth, going under his tongue, the finger gently followed the line of his gums and back to his tongue.

When she withdrew it, he opened his eyes to see an incredibly beautiful look on her face, which he took as an invitation. He retrieved her hand, chose another finger, and put it into his mouth, laving it gently, moving it to his teeth, encouraging it to play as the other had done. Hearing a small, sighing moan, he knew he'd learned a new trick for his own repertoire of pleasures to give.

Releasing her finger from his mouth, he pulled it slowly down his neck, feeling the sensuously wet trail following behind. Lifting her hand slightly, he let the tips of her fingers drift across the very top of the hair on his chest, back and forth. Seeing the smile on her lips, as she accepted the enticement, he released her hand and closed his eyes to enjoy the sensations as she toyed with first the hair and then his nipples. Soon her other hand had joined in, caressing the tiny bits of erect flesh.

When she paused, he reached up, pulled her down into a hug, and rumbled throatily into her ear. "You say Greek meals can last for hours? And eating is considered secondary to sex? Let me introduce you to American Fast Food.