Another month had past and Calleigh had continued talking to Coppertop on a regular basis. She had started calling him 'Horatio' in her mind. Calleigh smiled as she thought back on their most recent conversation. They had been talking about what they liked most about the ones they were in love with.
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Coppertop: "Hi how are you?"
MHBTHC121824: "Hi I'm doing good you?"
Coppertop: "I'm okay I'm having a bit of a hard time, though I have to confess."
MHBTHC121824: "Oh and why is that?"
Coppertop: "Because the more time goes by the harder I'm falling for my coworker."
MHBTHC121824: "Hmm, that's a tough one, but if it makes you feel any better I'm having the same dilemma."
Coppertop: "Yes it does, thank you."
MHBTHC:121824: "Hey no problem, glad to help."
MHBTHC: "Well I hate to run like this, but I'm meeting my dad for dinner."
Coppertop: "Okay, talk to you soon."
MHBTHC121824: "Okay, bye."
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Just as Horatio clicked to close the window another one popped up, indicating a message. He smiled when he saw it was Alexx.
Alexx: Hey how are you sugar?"
Coppertop: "Hi I'm good Alexx. How are Denis and the kids?"
Alexx: "They're doing good. So have you talked to your new friend lately?" Alexx knew about her because Horatio had told her.
Coppertop: "Yes actually I just got done talking to her. We had an interesting conversation would you like to see part of it?"
Alexx: "Sure if you want to show me, honey."
Coppertop: "Okay, give me a sec." Horatio thought back on the conversation and wrote down what he could remember.
Coppertop: "Hi how are you?"
MHBTHC121824: "Hi I'm doing good you?"
Coppertop: "I'm okay I'm having a bit of a hard time, though I have to confess."
MHBTHC121824: "Oh and why is that?"
Coppertop: "Because the more time goes by the harder I'm falling for my coworker."
MHBTHC121824: "Hmm, that's a tough one, but if it makes you feel any better I'm having the same dilemma."
Coppertop: "Yes it does, thank you."
MHBTHC:121824: "Hey no problem, glad to help." Alexx stared at the instant messages in bewilderment. The other screen name looked familiar, but she couldn't place it. She went to her MSN contact list and scrolled down. Her mouth dropped open when she got to the contact listet as Calleigh. She had put each of her coworkers on and placed their names so that was what she would see when they signed online. MHBTHC121824 was Calleigh. Alexx was willing to bet anything that neither realized they were talking to each other. She laughed, but decided not to tell Horatio who his friend really was.
Alexx: "Well your definitely right that was an interesting conversation at least the part I saw."
Coppertop: "Indeed it is."
Alexx: "Maybe you should take her advice, and see if she feels the same way."
Coppertop: "Yes maybe I should."
Alexx: "Well good luck I'm being called to help rescue a project. See you tomorrow, sugar."
Coppertop: "Good night Alexx." Horatio signed off and headed to fix himself some dinner with thoughts swirling around in his head. Not the least of which was why does love have to be so complicated?
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"Hey do you have that ballistics report for me, Calleigh?" Horatio asked as they walked down the hall.
"Yeah it's done, but I've gotta meet Frank to pick up a suspect, just print a copy off from my computer," Calleigh answered.
"Okay, will do, I'll let you know if I have any questions," Horatio replied. Calleigh just nodded, not remembering that she had her email up, and had the fire arms digest up on the screen. She had also forgotten that she was rereading one of her conversations with coppertop. Horatio took off for Calleigh's office intent on printing the report. He had the report in his hands and was about to leave when Horatio caught sight of something that was minimized on the screen. Curiosity got the better of Horatio, and he clicked on it, making it bigger. When he saw that it was just an IM conversation he was about to minimize it again, when he took a closer look at the screen names. Horatio's eyes went wide when he saw that one of them was his, and the other was his mystery friend, who was apparently Calleigh. /Oh my MHBTHC121824 is Calleigh!/ Horatio thought to himself shocked at his realization. As if that wasn't shocking enough he had just realized that the boss who she was in love with and was talking about was him. Horatio jumped at the sound of a knock on the door to Calleigh's office. He quickly turned from the computer, doing his best to block it from view.
"Horatio is something the matter?" Alexx asked as she looked worriedly at her friend.
"I just figured out who my mystery friend is," Horatio admitted looking stunned.
"Calleigh?" Alexx asked with a knowing smile.
"But… how…?" Horatio stuttered.
"Process of elimination, sweetie. I thought the screen name of your friend looked familiar, so I looked through my contacts, and discovered it was Calleigh," Alexx explained.
"Do you think she knows it's me?" Horatio wondered.
"No, I don't," Alexx said. Horatio blew out a sigh. Alexx frowned in sympathy the look on his face was a cross between relieved and confused.
"What should I do?" Horatio wanted to know.
"Well maybe you should drop hints that you know who she is, but most important, you need to tell her how you feel, Horatio. She deserves to know," Alexx argued.
"Yeah I know," Horatio answered. As if he suddenly realized that Alexx had sought him out he turned to her to find out what she needed.
"Did you need something, Alexx?"
"Yes I have the autopsy report. The COD was blunt force trauma to the head. The bullet wound was after death. Tox hasn't come back yet."
"Thank you Alexx, keep me posted, please."
"Of course I will. You keep me posted too?" the medical examiner emplores with a smile.
"Yes I will," Horatio answered as he minimized the conversation and got up from Calleigh's computer.
"Well good luck and let me know how it goes," Alexx called as they walked off in directions. Horatio indicated he had her with a wave before heading for his office. The last few minutes had given him a great deal to think about, and no doubt he would.
TBC?
A/n sorry for the insanely long delay. Stupid writers block. Well consider this my Christmas present to all of you.
