Because of how short this little epilogue is, I decided to post it alongside chapter 21. I didn't think you'd mind. Don't forget to read my notes at the end.
Also don't forget to vote in the poll.
I do not own or claim to own CSI: Miami characters. I do not own or claim to own CSI: NY characters. This is fanmade and I make absolutely no profit off of this. I do this for my own amusement.
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Chapter Twenty-Two: Epilogue
Ryan Wolfe watched quietly from a secluded corner as Horatio stormed though the brightly lit corridors of the lab, Rick Stetler right on his heels.
"Just listen to me, H," Rick whined.
"Don't call me that".
"Okay, fine. Horatio: listen…I'm just saying that Calleigh working a case that so involves her father could maybe possibly kinda really be seen as a conflict of interests".
"You talk like my team is incompetent, when have we ever proved you correct in that assumption?"
"Quite a few times, actually".
Horatio spun around and glared at Rick, who sheepishly backed up a step or two.
"That came out wrong," Stetler started up again, making Horatio turn his heel and continue on his route to his office, "what I meant to say is that your team has proved itself to be flawed".
"So have you".
"Yes, but I'm not the one collecting evidence and running ballistics on my father's gun…"
Ryan watched as the two rounded the corner and turned into Horatio's office. He rolled his eyes and continued on his own route to the break room.
Horatio and Rick entered the redhead's glass office, where Horatio faced Rick again. He sighed heavily before he spoke.
"I'll talk to her about it," Horatio agreed quietly.
"Thank you".
"But she won't like it".
"Understandably so. But you know she'll listen to you before she listens to me".
"I know".
Rick shifted uneasily as he looked into Horatio's crystal blue eyes.
"So…" Rick stuttered, "We're still on for dinner on Tuesday?"
"Yes, I managed to get a private room, actually. Pakongac owes me".
"I like the sound of that".
"I figured you would".
"…Oh God, I want to kiss you".
"Don't. Glass office".
"I know, I know".
Rick gave Horatio a sweet little smile, Horatio quickly winked at him before stalking over to his desk, pretending to be offended.
"Watch out for Calleigh on your way out".
"Thanks, I'll take the back stairs".
"Love you".
"I love you too, Horatio".
FIN
Author's notes: There are so many things I want to say about this work. After all, it is my baby.
:::
It all started when I decided to listen to the commentary for CSI: Miami's "Push".
"This is the introduction of, it's only introduced in this episode, that Rick has sort of a thing for Horatio," Says the writer, "He just wants to make sure he slams him for something".
"He has a 'thing for him'?" The director asks, "…like…?"
"Well, I don't want to go too much into it, that's season 12," the writer jests, "but… erm… for now they're just friends".
I admit it, I too laughed at the idea. But after a few days of the thought wandering in and out of my head, I decided that perhaps it was time for me to bring them to life. Sure, there were other Horatio/Rick fanfictions out there, but not enough for my taste. And, as far as I could see at the time, there were no authors who wrote mostly or exclusively for them. So I sat down at my laptop and started typing, not quite sure of what I was doing.
I cranked out a few chapters before I brought my idea up in the CSI: Miami FanWiki slash thread. I was shot down… fast. As much as I tried to argue my point, nobody wanted to pursue conversation with me. So I just figured that they had no logical reason for being completely against the idea. And although I was no longer sure that I would get many readers, I kept typing.
The final product was finished by mid July. Yeah, this was all already written and thought out, how the hell else did you expect me to update twice a week? I waited until my good friend, who had posted many writings on the internet before, to come over from out of state. She was there, calming me down and telling me not to worry as I created my account and posted the first chapter. I don't know if I would have been bold enough to do it without her. So, Molly, if you're reading this (probably not, and that's okay. You don't really watch the show), thank you so much.
Several months later, with 13 Story alerts, 18 Favorite story additions, and nearly 100 reviews (as of right now); I would consider it a success. I love all my readers, but I love those who review more :P
"Some With Arrows, Some With Traps" has been a launching pad for my seasonal ficlets and all the short stories I'm currently working on.
For those of you who are wondering, there shall be a SWASWT II. Just give me a week or so before I start posting it. Midterms have me busy.
A few more thank yous are in order… I would like to thank Jessi84 for being so open and supportive of me from day 1. That's not to neglect everyone else who has been giving me support though their reviews and watchlists, of course. I would like to thank the creators and moderators of HandS for giving me hope when I had my moments of doubt. I would like to thank my friends Jim and Bryan for being such an inspiration to me. And I would like to thank my cousin Drew (who is a real writer, not an amateur like me) for listening to me bitch about my writer's block.
And… erm… that's it.
Tune in later this month for "Some With Arrows, Some With Traps II"!
…….
Horatio&Rick