Horatio awoke to the delectable smell of cinnamon.

He walked into the living room and saw Calleigh in the kitchen, making breakfast.

"Good morning, sleepy," she said as he rubbed his tired eyes. She adored his tousled red mane, bleary countenance and the way the wife beater shirt clung to his tight frame, but when she saw the silky black boxers, her heart once again beat faster as the butterflies ricocheted full speed in her stomach.

"Good morning," he said in a deep tone, which didn't help chase the butterflies away.

"I made my grandma's famous cinnamon rolls. I hope you don't mind."

"No no, not at all. In fact, the smell is what woke me up. It smells absolutely fantastic."

Calleigh blushed. I knew this would work!

"Sit down at the table and I'll bring them over."

She brought them to the table and held one up.

"You will love this, Horatio." She inched it closer to his mouth. He caught on quickly.

Not so subtle, but a sweet gesture, he said to himself as he took a bite.

"Wow," Horatio said between bites, "you...are amazing, Calleigh."

"Don't thank me," Calleigh said. "My grandma came up with the recipe."

"Yes, but you made them."

Calleigh smiled.

----------

Horatio and Calleigh both took it easy that day, but Calleigh was having the most fun taking care of her wounded and vulnerable houseguest. Horatio felt bad that she had to care for him, but he knew that she didn't mind and probably enjoyed doing it, so he put the thought aside.

"You look tense, Horatio," Calleigh said as they were watching a talk show. "Do you want a back rub?"

"No, it's okay, Calleigh," Horatio said with a smile. "You're doing more than enough for me already, which I hope you know I appreciate...greatly."

"Oh, I don't mind at all. Come on, let me give you one."

Horatio conceded as Calleigh slowly slid her hands to Horatio's shoulders and started to rub with a vigour quite characteristic of her work ethic.

"Wow, Calleigh, that...feels really good."

"See, you need it, Horatio. Your shoulder is all in knots."

"Ohhh...thank you so much, Calleigh."

Once she had loosened his shoulders up some, she started to slide her hands further down his back, much to his delight. She couldn't help but take in the delicate features of his body. She marveled at the tiny, sensitive-to-the-touch red hairs gracing the back of his neck, the slightly-protruding shoulders accented by the wife beater, and his beautifully-sculpted legs complimented by equally-beautiful red hair, not to mention a nice, firm ass. When she grabbed his sides, he jumped slightly and laughed.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Calleigh said with an obviously false innocence.

"Sure," Horatio replied with the same falseness.

"Sorry Horatio, but my hands hurt."

"Oh it's no problem. It felt great. Thank you very much."

He turned to face her and she dared not look below his face. She didn't want to be caught staring at the front side of his boxers.

"You're welcome," she said, her eyes staring deep into his. That, however, was also something she should not have done, as she was enveloped in the deep beauty of his eyes.

Oh my god, they're beautiful, she said to herself, getting further and further lost in the hypnotising orbs. They're like a clear blue ocean that I could sail in forever and never tire of it.

"Calleigh?"

"Huh?" Busted.

"Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine. I just...uh..."

"It's okay," Horatio said with a grin. "People tell me all the time that my eyes are gorgeous. Marisol once said that it was like they were...putting her under a spell."

Calleigh blushed. "She was right."

"My mother...had blue eyes just like mine."

"I bet she was beautiful."

"She was," Horatio said with a sad look on his face. "She was."

"I'm sorry," Calleigh said softly, putting an arm around her shoulder. I hope I didn't blow it.

"It's not your fault," Horatio said with a sad smile emerging. Calleigh felt her heart break. "Hey, it's okay, Calleigh. Really, it is."

"Okay," Calleigh said with an uncertain half-smile. The cheers and hollers from the studio audience on the talk show that played in the background broke the awkward silence.

"I had forgotten how much...daytime TV sucks," Horatio said.

Calleigh laughed. "I lived off of this stuff in college. I took a lot of afternoon and night classes. It's so bad you have to love it."

Horatio started to worry. I hope the comment I made about my mother still doesn't bother her. "Calleigh, are you sure you're okay?"

"I am if you are."

"We're fine." We...that sounds so nice...