Horatio had given a lot of thought to what Alexx said about telling Calleigh who he was. He figured that dropping little hints may be the best way to go about it, so he dropped his first one the next night when they were talking.
Coppertop: "So where in FL do you live?"
MHBTHC121824: I live in Miami what about you?" Calleigh answered.
Coppertop: "So do I. How was your day?" Horatio asked changing the subject. Calleigh gasped, she was surprised to learn that her 'Horatio lived in Miami.
MHBTHC121824: "I had an okay day the heat was really unbearable today and I couldn't get comfortable. I was able to help solve a case by matching the bullets from a gun back to one of our suspects, though," Calleigh said.
Coppertop: "That's always nice when you can match something to a suspect. Wait a minute you said you match the bullets, so does that make you a ballistics expert?" Horatio asked cheekily, already knowing the answer.
MHBTHC121824: "Why yes it does. I guess that's pretty obvious from my last statement, lol."
Coppertop: "Lol, yes I suppose so. This may be a bit forward on my part, but I would very much like to meet you," Horatio admitted. Calleigh drew in a sharp breath. She was slightly taken aback. She'd thought about asking to meet him, but was afraid that she would slip up and call him 'Horatio and make a fool of herself. After thinking for another moment, she decided to give it a chance.
MHBTHC121824: "Okay, but it has to be in a public place," Calleigh said. Horatio smiled, he could understand her hesitation as a member of law enforcement he'd seen his share of first meetings from online discussions gone horribly wrong.
Coppertop: "I have no problems with a public place. How about the coffee house on Hunt and Cherry?" Horatio suggested.
MHBTHC121824: "Sure when do you want to meet?" Calleigh asked.
Coppertop: How about around 5:30 will that work for you, Beautiful?" Horatio asked slipping in his nickname for Calleigh. Calleigh blushed, no one called her "Beautiful" accept for Horatio. The blonde's eyes widened as a thought ran through her head. She scanned their conversations in her mind. A lot of his words and actions reminded her of Horatio and she learned today that he lived in Miami and she already knew he was in law enforcement. /Could it be? / she asked herself. She decided to drop a hint of her own. Horatio was concerned at Calleigh's delay in responding.
Coppertop: "Are you there Ca… m- er uh," Horatio stopped just before he called her Calleigh. That didn't go unnoticed by Calleigh though and she smiled, perhaps he thought of her as 'Calleigh just like she thought of him as 'Horatio.
MHBTHC121824: "Yes, sorry, I was distracted. Sure 5:30 at the coffee house works for me. Well I have something's to do. I'll see you tomorrow at the coffee shop, Handsome?" Calleigh asked, sending her reply. Horatio smiled at the use of the nickname; maybe she realizes who it is she's talking to?
Coppertop: "Sure that's fine, see you then, have a nice night." Coppertop has signed off at 8:22 PM. Calleigh let out a squeal of surprise and immediately clicked on Alexx's name on her contact list she was in desperate need of some advice.
88888888888888
"Hey Mom, someone just sent you a message," Brian called as he walked by the family's computer.
"Thanks, baby, I'll go look," Alexx called back. Alexx smiled when she saw Calleigh's name on the screen, but frowned at the message she saw.
Calleigh: "Alexx, help! I could really use some advice right about now," Calleigh begged.
Alexx: "Hi, honey, sure what's up?" Alexx asked even though she had a good idea of what was on her friends mind.
Calleigh: "I think my mystery friend is Horatio," Calleigh replied. Alexx chuckled maybe she was finally using those CSI skills.
Alex: "Oh what makes you say that?"
Calleigh: "Well… He's in law enforcement the way he speaks and acts reminds me of Horatio, and today I learned he's from Miami. Oh, and, he called me "Beautiful" and only Horatio does that," Calleigh explained. Alexx laughed she decided to have a bit of fun with Calleigh.
Alexx: "You mean to tell me that he's the only one who calls you beautiful?" Alexx wrote.
Calleigh: "No, you know what I mean," Calleigh wrote back.
Alexx: "Yes I do, so what are you going to do Sugar?" Alexx asked. She'd promised Horatio that she wouldn't reveal that she already knew who both members of the party were.
Calleigh: "We're meeting tomorrow at the coffee shop at Hunt and Cherry after work," Calleigh answered.
Alexx: "Did you drop any hints that would tell him who you think he is?" she wanted to know.
Calleigh: "Yes I called him Handsome," Calleigh told her. Alexx smiled she just hoped this would all work out as well as it was looking at the moment.
Alexx: "Well I guess all you can do is go to the coffee shop tomorrow and see if your suspicions are correct."
Calleigh: "Yeah I guess your right, thanks for the advice, Alexx."
Alexx: "Anytime, sweetie. You'll let me know how things go, won't you? I had better get a call telling me you made it home safely," Alexx demanded, she to, had seen more shares of first meetings between online friends go horribly wrong. She knew this one wouldn't, but Calleigh didn't need to know that yet just yet.
Calleigh: "Yes I will, well I'd better go I have to wash supper dishes and do some cleaning before bed. Good night, Alexx."
Alexx: "Good night, sleep well and 'lol see you tomorrow," Alexx said as she signed off. After signing off Calleigh washed the dishes before settling into bed with a book in hopes of distracting herself from all the random thoughts in her head. On the other side of town, Horatio was doing the same thing.
TBC?
A/n yes I know it's been way too long since my last update, so here's another chapter. Let me know what you think.
