Trouble with Friends
Chapter 2
From somewhere deep inside, Horatio heard a voice of warning, what do you think you're doing Caine…. As suddenly as they had started their intense exchange of kisses, Horatio abruptly stopped. Calleigh was confused, especially when his arms slowly dropped from around her and he stared into her eyes before walking away, headed toward the balcony.
"Horatio…what's wrong?"
Scanning the city's lights down below, he exhaled loudly, hung his head and relaxed his stance. Finally answering, but without turning toward her, he softly apologized, "I'm sorry, I can't do this." He kept his head down as he continued, "I…I overstepped my bounds with you Calleigh." With that statement he turned and looked at her standing close behind him, her face still full of confusion, mixed with love.
His face still reflected the longing he had for her; the deep love, all of the feelings he had suppressed for years, which were now on the verge of exploding like a volcano.
Lifting his hand, he lovingly began caressing her cheek before softly continuing, "Sweetheart, I want you so much. I've loved you from a distance for years…but you don't want to be a part of my life. I love you too much…to allow you…" stopping mid-sentence as her fingers pressed against his lips.
"I do want to be a part of your life Horatio. I've suppressed my feelings for you ever since you made me a part of your team. At first it was a crush, I'll have to admit, but through the years my feelings grew into a deep love for you. As we worked together, I saw the man behind the sunglasses, and the stern 'all business' face you wear while on duty. What I have witnessed is a man with a loving heart, full of compassion for those hurting. A strong man who strives to eradicate the evils and injustices inflicted upon the innocent. I found a man that I could love deeply…and I do love you."
Horatio looked away, very touched by her words about him, but he turned back to her and looked deep into her emerald eyes as he explained, "Calleigh, you don't know everything about me and when you do, I'm afraid…ah," stopping for a moment, finding it hard to fathom the possibilities, "I'm afraid you'll change your mind, ending the close friendship we've enjoyed for so long. I…I wouldn't be able to handle that. It would break my heart." His eyes stayed locked on hers, searching for any indication of doubt after explaining why he was having second thoughts.
Calleigh smiled as she responded, "I wouldn't let this happen if I wasn't sure how I feel about you Horatio. I won't run away. I wouldn't do that to you. I want us to always be the best of friends because that is the foundation of true love. Besides, you don't know everything about me!" Her sweet smile changed into a large grin after that last statement. Then she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Now where were we?"
Horatio smiled, shaking his head at her admission, it's simply amazing how she makes me feel…. Then he leaned down and kissed her so passionately that there was no doubt as to his change of mind; she had helped him feel more comfortable with this new aspect of their relationship.
Early the next morning, Calleigh rolled over and felt Horatio's warm body close beside her own. Gradually opening her eyes, she immediately noticed his beautiful azure eyes, smiling warmly; watching her as she slowly awakened.
Horatio was propped on one elbow next to her smiling, loving the fact that he could be there to see her first thing in the morning, something he'd ached to do for such a long time. "Good morning my love," he softly greeted as he leaned down and tenderly kissed her cheek before returning his head to his arm.
"Hmmm…" she sighed before responding, "Good morning Handsome." Smiling she added, "I can't think of a better way to wake up…lying next to the most wonderful man, whom I love very much!"
Smiling as a light blush threatened to bloom across his face he replied, "Thank you Sweetheart, but this man has to go so he can get ready for work." Reluctantly, he forced himself to roll out of the bed and begin dressing in the clothes he had on last night.
Calleigh watched with interest, relishing the opportunity to observe his muscular torso that he always kept well hidden under his suits.
"I wish you didn't have to go. I could make you some breakfast."
"I wish I didn't either Calleigh, but I won't have time to eat."
She got out of the bed, wearing her oversized football jersey and wrapped her arms around his neck after he was dressed. "I'll see you later then."
He wrapped his arms around her tightly as he whispered, "You know we're going to have to be careful about not revealing the change in our relationship to those around us at work. Does that bother you?"
Relaxing her embrace, Calleigh answered, "I know we will and no, it doesn't. Nothing will change…I will be professional, but it will be hard being so close to you and not show you love."
Horatio was in the break room, arriving before any of the others. As the coffee made, he sat on the couch with his head resting against the back, his eyes closed, thinking about the wonderful night with Calleigh when a loud voice shook him from his thoughts.
"Morning Horatio," Frank bellowed as he walked toward the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. Horatio opened his eyes and sat up, propping his elbows on his knees as he wiped his face with both hands, attempting to change his thoughts to work.
Frank turned asking, "Pour you a cup?"
"Yes, thanks."
As they drank their coffee, Frank looked curiously at the red head before asking, "Hard night?"
Horatio turned toward his friend, "Not really, just stayed up too late thinking about things."
Frank, assuming Horatio meant their current case responded, "Yeah, I'd like to rid Miami of arrogant trash like Miller. He's sitting so smug in his big building, surrounded by employees willing to protect him." Taking another draw from his cup before continuing, "I wonder if they'll stand by him when we tie him and those involved, to illegal drug smuggling."
Horatio smiled slightly as he thought, I wasn't really thinking about Miller my friend, but heplayed along,
"I imagine they'll jump ship real quick, hopefully a few of them will even cooperate with us."
Then both men's heads turned toward the door when they heard the unmistakable sweet Southern voice that belonged only to Calleigh Duquesne.
"Morning y'all," she greeted the two men, smiling sweetly while walking to the coffee pot.
"Morning Cal," Frank replied.
"Calleigh," Horatio greeted, smiling as his eyes followed her across the room, unaware that Frank was watching.
Seems H has an extra twinkle in his eye this morning for his ballistic expert, Frank thought as he filed the scene in his memory.
"H, I heard from the chief before I left last night, that due to budget reductions, you and I are going to have to drive to Atlanta to that blasted conference, instead of flying. Means two additional days tacked on just for getting there and back. Doesn't that just make your day?"
Calleigh joined them, sitting down across the table from Frank. "Wow, that's what, over 600 miles?" She remarked as she looked over at Horatio, trying to keep her expression normal.
"About that Sweetheart," Horatio answered as he stood and joined them at the table, smiling as his eyes locked with hers for a second. Turning to face Frank Horatio offered, "I'll see what I can do Frank, maybe I can convince them to look harder for some travel funds."
"That'd be great H. I don't particularly relish a road trip."
Soon, they were joined by the rest of the team and they changed into work mode discussing the Pelican case while enjoying coffee, going over what evidence had been recovered so far. Eventually, each team member went to their respective labs to pick up where they'd stopped the evening before.
Later that morning, Horatio, ensconced in his office, his full attention focused on the computer screen in front of him, jumped slightly when there was a knock on his open door.
Calleigh entered, "I have the completed ballistics report on the bullets from the hanger shooting yesterday," she announced as she approached his desk, "and something interesting showed up," sitting down in a chair in front of his desk.
Horatio accepted the folder from her hand and opened it as he glanced at the results of her report. "And what would that be?"
Her smile faded as her expression grew serious, "There is a gun, therefore a shooter, unaccounted for. I found bullets and casings from a Russian made Kalashnikov automatic rifle, an AK-200 to be exact. It boasts a 60 round capacity magazine. It's one of the latest, just produced in 2011."
Horatio looked up from the report and remarked, "So, one of the shooters escaped. No doubt he made a b-line for Miller to give him a heads up." Horatio remained quiet as he continued reading.
Closing the folder, Horatio quietly asked, as he gazed lovingly toward her, "How are you this morning, Sweetheart?"
Smiling radiantly at him, Calleigh answered, "Better than I've felt in a long time." Horatio grinned sheepishly at her.
"How about…you come to dinner at my place tonight? Grilled steaks sound good?"
"Sounds scrumptious! Should I assume that…," hesitating, looking behind her at the open door and then turning back to him, as she lowered her voice, "I might need an overnight bag?"
Smiling amorously, he answered, "I think that would be a correct assumption."
Horatio had no sooner answered her question before Frank knocked on the office door and walked in. Noticing Calleigh he began, "Sorry H, don't mean to intrude, but after digging into Miller's construction business, I've found out some interesting information that I thought you'd like to know."
The detective sat down in the chair next to Calleigh and started telling them, "Pelican Construction came close to filing for bankruptcy two years ago, but then suddenly made a turn around and became lucrative in a few short months."
"That is interesting," Horatio remarked.
"Also, I checked the flight log of those jets of his and found out both planes have flown just recently, and a few times Miller himself has been aboard. Care to guess where one of the destinations has been?"
Calleigh spoke up, "Don't tell us - Haiti?"
"Bingo, twice last month even."
Horatio sat quietly absorbing the information. Giving Horatio time to digest the findings, Frank asked, "What are you thinking H?"
Straightening up in his chair, Horatio looked at both Calleigh and Frank and replied, "I don't want to get him on a petty thing like obstruction, with his lawyers he'd get out of it. I want to catch him dead to rights with his hand in the drug trade. I want to get Murphy, in A/V, to prepare an Internet ready camera that can be placed outside of Pelican's building. I'll assign someone to monitor it for visiting known drug dealers."
"Ryan would be a good person to place it and monitor," Calleigh suggested.
"I agree. Calleigh, would you tell Ryan of the plan and talk to Murphy about what we need?"
"Sure. I'll go down to A/V right now and get everything started. See ya later." Stopping at the door, she turned and gave Horatio a wink since Frank's back was to her. Horatio smiled in return.
Frank watched Horatio and piped up, "You sure seem damn happy lately. Mind telling me what's changed with you? - 'cause I sure need some of it, whatever it is!"
Horatio's smile suddenly disappeared and he began to stammer; quickly looking down at the ballistics file, he began flipping through the report, "Uh…don't know what you're talking about my friend."
"Huh," Frank grunted skeptically as he stood. "I'll go help my favorite dust monkey get set up."
"Oh and Frank…talk to your people out on the streets, see if someone around town is using the latest Russian made assault rifle, an AK-200 to be exact. It seems the user of one got out of the hanger yesterday, undetected."
"Sure H. Bet he gave Miller an earful before we got to him."
"Oh, I'm sure," Horatio replied with raised eyebrows.
The big man walked out and Horatio closed the folder and sighed, leaning back into his chair he thought, it's going to be difficult keeping our relationship from Frank. He'll keep picking until he finds out what's going on. He's as curious as a damn cat.
Every night, Horatio and Calleigh were together, either at his house or at hers. Then all too soon it was the evening before he and Frank were to leave for Atlanta. He'd not had any more success than Frank in convincing the department to fly them to the conference and so, it was going to be a road trip. Calleigh had parked her car in the garage, so when Frank came in the morning, he wouldn't see it and start asking questions.
After dinner, Horatio and Calleigh took their usual evening walk down the beach from his house. The tide was coming in; causing the waves to break onto the shore with some force, creating the most relaxing sound as far as Horatio was concerned. The moon was full and the cool breeze blowing off the ocean was refreshing.
Horatio could feel her press closer into his side as they walked causing him to ask, "Sweetheart, are you cold?"
"A little bit, but I can just keep hugging you and I'll be alright." Horatio smiled as he saw, with help from the moonlight, the most loving expression on her face when she looked up at him. He pulled her closer with his arm which was wrapped around her shoulders, then leaned down and gave her a quick kiss while they kept strolling.
The next morning, Horatio was up a little before five getting his shower and a shave. He didn't disturb Calleigh for a while, letting her sleep a little longer before she had to get up and go to the lab. Frank was picking him up at six and they would then be on the road to Atlanta. Having finished getting ready and with everything packed in his suitcase, he sat down on the bed beside Calleigh and smiled as he watched her sleeping. She's sleeping so well, I hate to wake her up.
"Sweetheart, time to wake up," he softly called as he gently rubbed her arm.
Opening her eyes she noticed him already dressed, and quickly sat up asking, "What time is it?"
"A quarter before six. Frank will be here in a minute and I wanted to make sure you were awake before I left."
Throwing back the cover, she yawned and sleepily said, "Thank you for waking me Handsome. I wanted to see you off. Good morning!"
"Good morning Calleigh," They stood and Horatio took her in his arms, giving her a warm hug as he softly said, "You know, I'm missing you already." Leaning back and tenderly brushing her hair away from her face he resumed, "How am I going to stand being away from you for five days?"
"I feel the same way Horatio, but we can stay in touch by phone."
"I'll call you everyday Sweetheart and I want you to call me anytime you need me."
"Hmm, that might pose a problem," she teased, smiling, "because I need you all the time."
Horatio quickly leaned down, boldly capturing her lips in a searing, deeply passionate kiss and after they broke apart, he whispered, "I love you Calleigh," before kissing her again.
Her voice weak from the strong display of passion, she replied when they stopped for the final time, "I love you Horatio. Please...be careful."
He smiled, "We will."
The doorbell rang and he picked up his bag. "Bye Sweetheart, I'll call you tonight when we get there, if not before."
He stopped at the door, turning back to her with a smile, "Coffee's hot and waiting in the kitchen." And with that, he walked out of the bedroom. Calleigh sat back down on the bed as she heard the front door close already feeling the loneliness of his absence.
TBC…