Trouble with Friends

Chapter 14

Calleigh was in the kitchen pouring some coffee in her travel mug when the doorbell rang. She walked to the door, looked through the security hole and saw Frank standing there talking with one of the officers. Opening the door, with a booming voice he greeted,

"Morning Calleigh," Frank offered after turning toward her from giving the MPD officer on duty some instructions

Walking into the house past Calleigh, he turned back to her after a few steps and asked,

"How's Horatio this morning?"

Calleigh smiled, "He's good Frank. He had a restful night and I know he'll enjoy your company today."

Behind them came the unmistakable smooth voice, "Frank. Sorry you've…pulled babysitting...duty."

"Hey H, I don't mind; hell, beats sitting at my place all day alone."

Horatio stopped at Calleigh and gave her a warm hug, "You…have…a good day. Be careful." He leaned down and kissed her forehead lightly and softly said, "I love you."

Calleigh's eyes sparkled as she looked up into his and answered, "And I love you. Y'all have fun today," she replied before stretching up as she gave him a quick kiss on his lips and then reminded him, "I'll call you later."

Frank stood to the side, feeling uncomfortable as the couple said their goodbyes in front of him and busied himself looking out the glass doors at the beach. They've got it bad, but, they're good for each other. Lord knows Horatio needs her…he's been alone too long.

As Calleigh drove through the security gate, she waved at Joe, the gate security guard, very glad he was on day shift since he's a retired MPD police officer. At least Horatio's house is not situated on a public street where it would be a lot easier to approach. But, however, I'm not naïve to the fact that it's not impossible for someone to get to him here, just makes it slightly harder.

Horatio looked over at Frank and asked,

"Like some coffee and a sweet roll?"

"Sure, don't mind if I do." The two men took their coffee and rolls out to the table on the patio. Horatio carried an extra on a tray for the officer assigned to the back of the house, after reading Calleigh's note that said she'd given the officer in front his morning snack.

At first Horatio and Frank sat in silence enjoying their coffee in the shady setting under the swaying palms. Horatio was struggling with his feelings of embarrassment and humiliation that someone had to be with him.

The deep, booming voice shook him from his thoughts when Frank asked, "What's the latest on Miller?"

Horatio leaned toward the table and placed his empty cup down. Pausing as he scanned the blue-green water through his sunglasses he answered, "Seems to be…slippery. No success…yet finding him. Calleigh and the team…plan to go back…to Pelican offices. Maybe…overlooked something."

After a week from the start of recuperating at home, Horatio actually found himself enjoying Frank's company. Today, they discussed past cases and the people involved and even reminisced about the day when Horatio first came to MDPD as a homicide detective. For the first time, Frank admitted to his friend that at the time, he'd had his doubts about the redheaded detective when he first arrived, but after partnering with him for only a couple of weeks, he said he had to concede that Horatio was the smartest police officer he'd ever met.

Horatio hung his head and chuckled as he felt the blush radiate across his face.

"I don't know about that my friend…some days I wonder."

Horatio pushed himself up out of the recliner, tired of watching TV, he asked, "Care to walk to the water?" Horatio glanced at his watch, "I have an hour before the speech pathologist comes and Alexx is not due to come until after lunch."

"Sure. Hey, when will you be able to cut ties with that speech therapist? Your speech is almost normal again." Frank asked as he pushed up off the sofa.

Horatio smiled slightly as he gazed out the glass doors leading to the patio and replied, "Almost is the key word. I still have trouble with some words. The confusion though is the worst. It's frustrating."

As they walked next to the waves Frank asked, "Calleigh and the guys still sifting through the papers from Pelican?"

"They are; very tiring process. Calleigh's under a lot of stress about me and…finding Miller. I hate that she has to deal with everything."

Frank wondered if he should bring up what was on his mind, but decided to go for it. Hell, H has been mad at me before.

"Uh, speaking of Calleigh," Frank looked down the beach for a moment, and then returned his attention to Horatio, "you plan to make your relationship with her permanent?"

Horatio's head snapped around towards Frank as he came to an abrupt stop. Horatio scowled at his friend for a few seconds, but then his facial expression eased into a smile.

"I've thought of getting her a ring, but it'll be a few weeks before I can, since I can't drive. But, it might be for the best to wait anyway."

"I can drive you."

Horatio chuckled, "You want me to hurry up with it, don't you."

Frank laughed and looked out at the water before turning back to Horatio responding, "Just thought you'd want to make an honest woman out of her. Besides, the department can't stop you now since you put in for retirement."

Horatio's face suddenly reflected a twinge of sorrow. He turned his head and looked out over the water before sucking in a breath, mindful of his still sore ribs and then commented,

"That's true. But, I'm still not back at a hundred percent. She might decide she's tired of fooling with a damaged, unemployed man."

Frank immediately bellowed, "Fat chance of that happening." Then his expression turned serious, "You didn't see her in that hospital waiting room, awaiting news of whether you were still alive or not. She was with you…when," he sucked in a deep breath to steady his voice, "when you died after they got you to the hospital. I don't want to think about how she would've been if you hadn't made it."

Horatio nodded, then hung his head and swallowed hard.

"Do you love her?"

Horatio looked up at Frank and answered, "With my entire being. She means everything to me."

Frank shook his head and offered, "Just don't wait too long. Life's short."

Calleigh and Ryan returned to Pelican for the second time this week and were searching Miller's office for what seemed like the hundredth time since their investigation started when she saw two men in suits walk through the door and into the office.

"Are you with the Miami-Dade Police?" One man asked as he looked at Calleigh and Ryan smugly. "Would Lieutenant Caine be here?"

Calleigh replied warily, "I'm Lieutenant Caine's second in command, CSI Duquesne. Who are you?"

The man reached inside his coat breast pocket and produced a FBI ID and presented it to Calleigh. "I'm Special Agent Dawson and this is Special Agent Moss. I must ask you and your partner to leave these premises immediately."

Shocked, Calleigh asked, "On whose orders?"

"I'm not at liberty to say, but let me make it clear; our orders came from Washington, D.C. to remove local authorities from these offices."

Calleigh looked at Ryan who stood beside her in just as much confusion as her.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to see those orders in writing," Calleigh shot back as she stood facing the men with her hands firmly positioned on her hips, similar to Horatio's stance.

"Not a problem." The tall man replied before he reached inside his coat once again and produced an official looking document, holding the papers out for Calleigh to take.

She quickly snatched them from the agent's hand and began rapidly scanning the printed words while she made no attempt to hide her anger as she realized the document was legitimate.

"I guess we have no choice," Calleigh snapped as she shoved the papers at the agent, "but make a note to your superiors that we are leaving under protest." Calleigh pushed past the men and Ryan followed.

Once out in the hall, Ryan stopped and turned to Calleigh, "What was that about?"

"I'm not sure, but we need to find out. Let's head back to the lab. I need to pay a visit to the chief."

Ryan held out a thumb drive and grinned, "And we'll take this back to the lab with us." Calleigh smiled.

Within the hour, Calleigh stepped into the chief's office,

"CSI Duquesne, please have a seat," Chief Thompson motioned to the chair in front of his desk.

"How is Horatio doing?"

"He's improving every day, thanks."

"I realize he has put in paperwork for retirement. I was very upset when Nause brought the request to me."

Calleigh nervously looked down at her shoes, "I'm to blame for that. Horatio went to Captain Nause and explained that we were seeing each other and one thing led to another and I understand Horatio made his decision to retire on the spot."

The chief frowned, "Well, I'm holding the papers…they're right here in my desk drawer until I can talk to him. He's still got some years left yet and as far as I'm concerned, if the two of you, don't allow your relationship to affect your job performance, I won't have a problem with it. I heard the report about the shoot-out the other day and about your actions so, I think I can assume you won't at least."

Calleigh smiled, "Thank you Chief Thompson, I can assure you; our work relationship will not change." Changing the subject she began, "There's another matter I need to speak with you about." Calleigh began explaining the case and about the sudden appearance of the FBI. After an hour and a promise from the chief that he would make some calls, Calleigh walked out of the lab for the evening.

When Calleigh finally made it to Horatio's, she noticed that Frank had already left. Walking into the foyer, she took off her badge and placed it on the small table, just inside the front door and then unclipped her service weapon and slipped it into the drawer, next to Horatio's.

"Horatio…" she called as she walked to the opening between the foyer and the living room.

Stopping suddenly, when she noticed him sitting on the couch with the TV on, and the sound muted. His facial expression told her he was deep in thought, so much so, he didn't respond to her presence immediately.

Calleigh eased down beside him on the couch and he then turned and smiled finally acknowledging her presence.

"Hi Beautiful, did you have a good day?" He asked as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.

As Calleigh snuggled up against him she answered, "Could have been better. The Feds showed up at Pelican with papers saying we had to stop our investigation of the Pelican offices."

Horatio's head turned sharply toward her before he asked, "Who were the agents?"

"One was a Dawson. He was real smug about it all. The other one was Moss."

Horatio's jaw clenched as he stared across the room.

"You know them?" Calleigh asked as she noticed Horatio's anger when she told him the names.

"I've dealt with Dawson before. I can't remember on what case, but I remember his arrogance. Were the orders from the local FBI office?"

"No, they were straight from Washington."

Horatio's brow wrinkled as he wondered why the orders were not from the local FBI office.

As if talking to himself he asked,

"Why did the orders not come from the local office?" His tone of voice now serious, he said, "Calleigh, tomorrow call Adam Westcock in the local FBI office and ask if he can trace who is responsible for those orders. He's always been helpful anytime I've ever needed anything and I hope he will be on this."

"I'll do that, first thing. When did Frank leave?"

Knowing Frank's absence would be noticed, Horatio answered, "I sent him home a couple of hours ago. Calleigh, I'm fine. There are two officers posted at the house at all times…why does Frank need to stay with me?"

Calleigh frowned realizing Horatio was becoming impatient about his condition.

Sitting up straight at the question, she answered, "Because, I almost lost you to Miller one time…I'm not going to let it happen again."

He lightly touched her cheek and smiled, "Sweetheart, I'll be alright by myself."

"Horatio, you may not think of yourself as wounded, but you are. You've come a long way, but I'll worry less about you if Frank is here with you until I get home."

He sighed and looked deep into her green eyes and then said, "I don't want you distracted while on duty. It would be dangerous for you. I guess more time with Frank won't hurt me," he conceded before slowly leaning in and taking her lips in a passionate kiss.

After what seemed like minutes, he barely broke contact with her lips so they could both capture a needed breath and whispered, "By the way, welcome home Sweetheart." Calleigh smiled radiantly then initiated another loving kiss as she slowly pushed him backward toward the seat cushions.

TBC…