A/N: Thank you all for your reviews. I know... again a along delay.. RL had been a bit busy, but I promise to update the next ones more regularly, if you want me to. :D

Chapter 12

Nervously and unsure of what was to come, Horatio rang the bell and waited for someone to open the door. Last night hadn't been a restful one. Sleep hadn't come easy and when he fell asleep, he had had nightmares. Either the dreams had ended with Marisol in the delivery room, screaming in pain and suddenly there was the flatline beeping being heard, or he was standing at her grave and suddenly she was standing next to him, telling him that he had betrayed her memory and that she hated him. It was needless to say, that his conscience hadn't improved but gone worse. Sighing he began to fiddle with his sunglasses and got more and more anxious because no one was answering the door.

Calleigh was about to dry her hair, when she heard the bell rang. Surprised she looked up and wondered who her visitor could be. She had just stepped out of the shower a few moments ago, even though it was almost noon. Normally she was an early riser but today had been different. She'd been awake early, but instead of getting up, she had let her mind wander to the preceding night, especially the minutes in front of her door. Even though several hours had passed since their kiss, she had still felt the tingle on her lips. She had always suspected that Horatio would be a good kisser, but she had never expected it like this.

Sighing, Calleigh shook her head to clear her mind and grabbed her gown, since she was only wearing her underwear. Quickly she put her hair into a messy bun and left her bathroom. In the hallway she heard the bell rang a second time, so she called that she was on the way. Whoever her surprise visit was seemed to be either impatient or very keen on seeing her.

When she reached the door, she checked her appearance and hoped for the sake of the other that he wasn't a salesman. There were only a few things Calleigh Duquesne really hated and being interrupted while her beauty care was definitely one of them. Standing on her tiptoes she looked through the peephole and was surprised and excited the same time. "Horatio?" she opened the door and could already tell that something wasn't right. "I thought we will see us on Monday?" she joked and opened the door for him to enter.

His mouth and throat had suddenly gone dry. He had expected her in some loose clothes, but not that loose. Seeing her in just a gown with wet hair was…his worst nightmare. Quickly he shut his eyes, trying to get certain images out of his head. Images, that weren't his to have, especially not about a friend, a co-worker. But yet they were there and he could feel the panic rise again. "I uh...," he stammered and entered the room. He needed to get himself under control. Badly. "Uh..you got a minute?"

"For you always, Handsome. Would you like something to drink?" she asked and closed the door behind them.

"Ah, no. I was just on my way to the Delkos," was his short reply which made Calleigh not only stop in her way to the kitchen but also wondering why he was here then.

"Ooookay, but I'm sure you'd like to sit down?" she asked hesitantly, because his demeanor didn't make any sense to her.

In actual fact he rather wanted to stand, but when he looked at her he decided to sit down on the couch. "Thank you," he said sincerely and folded his hands in his lap.

"You're very welcome," she grinned at his behavior even when she didn't feel like it. Sitting down on her chair, she crossed her legs and looked at him expectantly. "So? What are you doing here, Handsome?" she asked him gently, fearing that one wrong word or tone could scare him away.

"I..," he took a deep breath and looked at her. "I came here to apologize," he said matter of factly.

"Apologize…," she quietly repeated his words and was obviously confused.

"Yes, I came here to apologize for my behavior last night. I had no right to treat you like I did. I'm very sorry, that things got out of hand. You have to believe me that I didn't plan it like this. I don't even know how this could happen, but please forgive me Calleigh. I had no right to kiss you. I wrong-footed you and took advantage of the fact that you were drunk. I don't know if and how I can ever make this up to you again, but please believe me that I feel incredible sorry for that."

All Calleigh was capable of was blinking. His flood of words had struck her and she was literally speechless. Everything she could draw out of his little speech was the fact that he seemed to be very upset about the ending of their night out and he wanted her forgiveness. But how could she forgive him, when there was nothing to forgive? "Horatio I-," she started but was immediately interrupted by him.

"Calleigh, I know what you want to say…," he said, but Calleigh highly doubted that. "I know you're angry with me. I'm angry with me myself, believe me. I just..," he struggled for the right words, but couldn't find them. He had made a big mistake and now he was paying a high price for it.

Calleigh felt like she had entered the famous Twilight Zone. Nothing, really nothing of what Horatio was saying made any sense to her. "Horatio…I don't know what to say", she said quietly and tried to gather her thoughts but gave him, unintentionally, a clue.

"I know…and…and that's why I should better get going," he said and stood up quickly. The panic was rising again when he noticed a single drop of water running down her delicate neck and suddenly he had a lot of inappropriate thoughts. "I really need to go", he said and almost fled out of her apartment.

Calleigh flinched when she heard the door shut behind him and sat in her chair in utter disbelief. Horatio had been like a whirlwind. The one moment he had been sitting across her and the next moment he had fled out of her home, with profuse apologies and hadn't given her any chance to show him her point of view. She felt run over, literally. And when she thought about his words, the fact that he was sorry about their kiss even though he had sounded so different last night hurt her deeply. She had been so sure that he reciprocated her feelings, or at least felt more for her like a friend, because his kiss had told her so. His kiss had been gentle yet aggressive, the perfect mixture. And to hear now that he was sorry about it and claimed that he had taken advantage of her, felt like a stab in her chest. She felt betrayed by him. He had made her the victim though she wasn't and he had taken matters in his own hands and decided for her that it was all a big mistake. Without asking her about her opinion, without thinking about her feelings. Just like that. Like it had meant nothing and probably it hadn't – for him.

Crestfallen she let her shoulders slump and bit back a sob, this has definitely not been what she had been hoping for.

Outside of her condo was Horatio already sitting in his car and rested his forehead against the steering wheel. His heart was racing, the adrenaline pumping in his veins. He had seen the hurt in her face, no, the anger he thought and he had been the reason for it. She would have probably told him the same tomorrow, so it was good that he broke the first ground. He was sure this had been the one and only right way to stop this. Though there wasn't a 'this' anyway. At least not in his mind. No, definitely not. Calleigh would find someone else and why was he even thinking about it? He was a married man…well a widower but this didn't change anything. He had no right to fall in love again, not that he had, but nevertheless. He had done the right thing. Yes.

With a nod to himself he straightened himself up and started the engine. But why did he feel so sick now?

tbc