Still Monday December 20th, 18:15

Horatio sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. He leaned back in his chair. Eric had interviewed the entire cleaning crew and even the night shift CSI's. And now the team had two suspects. Maria Hanson and Carol Mann. Both women were a part of the cleaning crew. They had no alibis for last night and they both had criminal history. Only minor arrests though. Horatio had, for the last two hours, been trying to think about a motive for the women, money was the only motive he had so far. Horatio had checked old PD records of filed complaints to see if one of the women perhaps had a grudge against someone in the lab. So far, nothing. Horatio had basically run into a dead end, and unless money had something to do with the bomb, then he would have no more suspects. And the case would go cold.

Horatio looked at his lover through his glass walls. Something was bothering Eric, but Horatio knew that Eric wouldn't tell him what is was. Eric was much like Horatio that way. They both said nothing to keep other people from hurting. Yet when they confessed their love for each other two years ago, they also promised each other never to lie. And never to have secrets.

Eric was in his lab, thinking about Horatio, and how to prevent him from finding out about his secret. One night, one mistake. A mistake that could cost Eric his relationship with Horatio. Even if it was a year ago, it was still a betrayal towards Horatio. And the fact that it had been kept secret for a year, might make it all worse. Horatio had been hurt some many times in his life by others. Every time he allowed himself to love someone and to be loved it was taken away from him. At least that was what Horatio believed. The last two years had been proof to Horatio that he could love and be loved. That he could be happy for a long time. The last thing Eric wanted to do, was to destroy it. And their engagement had just started. Eric had wanted to marry Horatio for so long, and now it would happen in just a few months. Unless of course Raquel succeeded with her plan to separate Eric and Horatio.

"Ready to go home?" Horatio asked from the door.

Eric jumped and turned around. He saw the worry in the red head's eyes.

"Um, yeah sure." Eric said and started to put his things away.

He could feel Horatio's eyes on him all the time. When Eric was done, he and Horatio walked towards the parking lot in silence. Everyone who knew them could see that something was wrong. They always smiled at the end of the day. Everyday they came in smiling to the job and they left smiling. Everyone could see the love for each other in their eyes. But not today. Today there was only worry and fear.

Calleigh, Valera and Natalia watched from one of the labs. All three of them sighed as the couple entered the elevator and disappeared.

"I can't deny that I'm curious as to what is wrong." Natalia sighed, "But it's only because I want to help."

"I agree." Valera said, "Though we know both of them very well. They won't tell us what happened... at least not yet."

"Well, it must have something to do with Eric and his mother." Calleigh said, "He went to see her today."

"Why?" Nat asked.

"I don't really know. But they had fight." Calleigh said.

"Who told you about it?" A voice that belonged to Alexx asked from behind the girls.

"Tyler." Calleigh said, "Everybody knows."

"Well, I won't tell you why Eric went there or why they had a fight. But don't push them on this, guys. Let them sort this out." Alexx said.

The girls nodded. Of course they were now even more curious, but wouldn't disobey Alexx.

Alexx left the lab to go home to her husband and kids. Natalia had a secret date with a certain MDPD employee. Val went home to Jason and Calleigh went home to Ryan.

-I-

18:40

Natalia entered the big restaurant and looked around to spot her date. Two nights ago she had received a call from a man she'd known for almost two years. At first she thought he was drunk, but he had been very serious and very determined. He wanted to take her out on a date. Natalia, who had had had a secret love for the man for some time, had said yes. She saw her date, smiled and walked towards him. He stood up, pulled out her chair and gave her a big smile. A smile she had never seen before.

"Nice to see you, Frank." Natalia smiled.

"Nice to see you too, Natalia." Frank smiled back.

Yes, Natalia's date was Frank Tripp. He had been in love with Natalia for almost six months now, maybe even longer. But six months ago, he was able to admit it to himself. They only other person who knew about it, was his best friend, Horatio. Horatio had sworn not to mention a word of it to anyone, and the red head always kept his word. Natalia hadn't told anyone that she was in love with Frank. She didn't want anyone to know, because she hadn't been sure that it would ever become something serious. Natalia smiled as she thought back to the phone call two nights ago.

Flashback:

Saturday December 28th, 22:15

Natalia was just about to go to bed when her phone rang. She groaned and picked it up.

"Hello?" She said.

"Nat, it's Frank."

"Hi, what's up, Frank?"

"Well, um…I, um"

Natalia fought the urge to laugh. She had never heard Frank stutter before. His stuttering also told her that this was not a work call. He wouldn't have to be nervous because of something related to work.

"I've been thinking about something lately." Frank said, "I'd like to buy you dinner someday."

Natalia was stunned. Had she just heard that?

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Dinner. You and Me." Frank said nervously. Maybe it had been a bad idea to call Natalia. If she said no, he wouldn't be able to look her in the eyes ever again.

"Are you drunk, Frank?" Natalia asked.

She hoped that what he had said was true. That he hadn't lied. She wanted it to be true.

"No." Frank said, "I haven't been drinking for ages."

"And how long is that?"

Dammit! That couldn't have sounded good. This was not an interrogation, yet that question didn't sound like something from one friend to another.

"Eight months." Frank said.

Frank Tripp was not an alcoholic, but he did like to relax with a beer in his hand. Though he only chose to relax on Fridays or Saturdays.

"That's good. But, um… dinner, why?" Natalia asked.

She had to be sure that he really meant it. That he wanted it, for real.

"Because, well… I like you." Frank said. He blushed even though Natalia couldn't see it.

"Oh, um… well, I like you too Frank." Natalia chuckled.

"So it's a yes?"

"Um… I guess so… why so sudden?"

"Um, because…." Frank started saying, "I um, there comes a time when you just have to do what you want."

Natalia smiled widely. She wanted to scream of joy, but on the same time she didn't want to make Frank deaf.

"Well, that's right." Natalia said.

"So, dinner huh? How about in two days?" Frank asked, he sounded more relaxed now.

"Yeah, that would be great." Natalia said.

End of flashback

"This is very cute of you Frank." Natalia smiled and drank some of her soda.

She chuckled when the big Texan blushed, she had never seen Frank blush before.

"Well, thank you." Frank said, "Anything for my lady."

Natalia choked on her drink at Frank's choice of words. Frank hit himself in head with his hand.

Perfect choice of words you idiot, He thought to himself.

"I'm sorry, I…" Frank started saying, but was cut off by Natalia's finger on his lip.

Natalia grinned, leaned over the table and gave Frank a deep kiss. Frank was surprised, but pulled Natalia closer to him, forgetting all about the other guests at the restaurant.

Natalia's lips were so soft against him. They parted when the need for air became too big.

"Wow, that was certainly, refreshing." Frank chuckled.

"Did you mind it?" Natalia asked, smirking.

"Hell no." Frank grinned.

-I-

19:30

Horatio sighed as he sat down on a chair on the back porch. Eric was on the phone with his father and had ordered Horatio out on the porch. Horatio just became more and more concerned for every minute that passed. Eric acted weird. He didn't want to talk, he had a fight with his mother and then he made a secret phone call to Joseph.

"So much for having no secrets." Horatio muttered to himself.

Whatever the secret was that Eric kept from Horatio it was bad for their relationship. In fact, Eric's secrecy hurt Horatio. Eric obviously didn't trust Horatio, even though he had said that he trusted him with his life and heart. They were supposed to give each other safety and love. Right now, Horatio felt unsafe and unloved.

Eric was in the hallway, and glanced out to the back porch all the time.

"Dad, I want you to come here every morning until you find that letter." Eric said to his father on the phone.

"Eric, wouldn't it be easier to just tell him. I'm sure Horatio would understand."

"Dad, he's been hurt by almost everyone he knows, except the team and I. The last thing he needs is for me to hurt him too."

"You're not sounding like your usual self, don't you think he has noticed that too?"

"That's exactly why I need you to take the letter." Eric said, "Be here tomorrow, bright and early. Make sure that the postman doesn't let that letter inside the house."

Joseph sighed and agreed. Eric hung up, and prepared himself for Horatio's concerned questions as he walked out to the porch. He sat down across from his lover. Horatio didn't look at him, he was sad. Eric could see it in his eyes.

"H." Eric sighed, "I'm sorry for acting weird."

"Why won't you tell me what it's all about?" Horatio asked and looked into Eric's eyes. Eric could see all Horatio's emotions in his blue eyes. Anger, sadness, concern and love. Horatio wanted to help and he wanted to know what was bothering his lover. Yet Eric couldn't tell him.

"I'm just shook up after my fight with my mother and after that letter." Eric lied.

Horatio nodded and looked down at the ground. He knew Eric was lying. Two years together as lovers, and even longer as colleagues and Eric still thought he could lie to him.

"You're lying, Eric." Horatio said, "Why are you lying to me?"

Eric looked surprised at Horatio. He had wished that Horatio wouldn't see through his lie, but he should have known better.

"H, it's not a lie." Eric said.

Horatio became angry and stood up, he left the porch, walked into the bedroom and closed the door with a loud bang. It wasn't often that Horatio got angry, but when he did get angry, he preferred to be left alone for a while. Eric sighed and waited for his lover to calm down. Trying to talk to him now would be no use. Horatio would just shut him out and they could both end up saying things they didn't mean or wanted to say.

Why do I always screw things up?, Eric thought.

-I-

21:15

Natalia panted as she rolled of Frank. After a very nice dinner, Natalia had invited Frank to her apartment. They had barely made it inside the door, before kissing each other deeply and then moved towards the bedroom.

"That was amazing." Natalia panted.

"I agree." Frank panted.

He had had no intention of moving things so fast when he had asked Boa Vista out on a date, but he wasn't complaining.

"So where do we go from here?" Natalia asked.

She felt fear again. She loved Frank and wanted this to be serious, not just a one night stand.

"Well, I guess we continue." Frank said, "Let's have dinner again."

Natalia shrieked of joy and gave Frank a deep kiss. Frank pulled her into his arms and held on tight.

--

Ryan looked with an amused look at his sleeping wife. Calleigh was on the couch, she had been asleep for almost an hour, and her snoring was loud. Louder then ever before. Ryan had even videotaped her.

Every once and a while she would kick with her feet and mumble something incoherent. Ryan decided to have some fun with Calleigh, so he found a feather and started tickling her nose. Calleigh mumbled and ran her hand over her face. Ryan chuckled quietly and tickled her mouth with the feather. Calleigh mumbled again and licked her lips.

"Ryan." She muttered softly.

Ryan giggled and tickled her ear with the feather. Calleigh growled and kicked with her leg. Her leg got into contact with Ryan's body, just at the waist. Ryan didn't stop because of that, instead he tickled her lips again.

This time though, Calleigh's gave Ryan a hard kick on the family jewels. Ryan groaned and crouched down on the floor. Calleigh opened her eyes and grinned.

"Ouch!" Ryan groaned, "Holy shit!"

"Served you right." Calleigh giggled.

Ryan lifted his head up from the floor and looked at her.

"You were awake this whole time?" He asked.

"Yeah, the whole time." Calleigh said, "I wanted to see just how far you would go if I was asleep and you awake."

"Well, this was the first and only time I will do a prank on you." Ryan groaned.

Calleigh sat down on the floor next to her husband and wrapped her arms around him.

"If I had known I would kick your balls, I wouldn't have kicked at all." Calleigh said.

Ryan just chuckled.

TBC…

AN: Please Review! Any guesses of what Eric's secret might be?