AN: Inspired from the review by Roots4Miami. (From chapter 4)
-I-
The team hadn't asked Horatio any more questions about Jessica other than how things were going for them. Two weeks had gone by and Horatio and Jessica was officially a couple. Horatio was beginning to get nervous though, because he would join Jessica and her family for dinner in Orlando in four days. Horatio was currently resting in his office, leaning back in the chair with his feet on the desk. The day had been slow and he was day dreaming about his beautiful blond girlfriend.
"If you can do that then I should be able to as well." Jesse smiled from the doorway.
Horatio sat up right and cleared his throat, "Is there a reason you came here to check on me?"
"Besides to remind you that you've been day dreaming for thirty minutes? Yes, there's a body at Miami Ice Arena." Jesse said.
This got Horatio's attention and Jesse smirked as he noticed it.
"That's where Jessica works." Horatio said.
"She's the one who called it in." Jesse said, "She's a bit shook up. Probably missing her boyfriend."
Horatio rolled his eyes at Jesse. Even if the team didn't push him to tell them more about Jessica or even to met her, it didn't mean that they didn't tease him every now and then.
"Let's go then." Horatio said.
He, Jesse and Ryan went to the arena and walked towards Frank who had been the first one on the scene.
"Hi guys, Ms. Stanley over there called it in." Frank said, "The victim is Bob Carter, he's a coach for a figure skating team."
Horatio looked over at Jessica and gave her a small smile.
"What else?" He asked.
"Nobody saw or heard anything. Ms. Stanley was coaching her team for a coming competition in a few months. Alexx isn't here yet." Frank said, "And Ms. Stanley asked for you, H."
Horatio nodded and walked over to Jessica. She sighed as he took her in to his arms and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. Jesse and Ryan started processing the scene and smirked at each other when Horatio kissed Jessica softly again.
"I'm sorry you had to see his body." He whispered, "It's not a nice sight."
"I don't think I will ever understand how you can do it." Jessica sighed, "I'm going to be okay."
"Ryan Wolfe over there, is going to take your prints so we can rule you out." Horatio said, "Is this Mr. Carter's office?"
"Both of ours." Jessica said, "My prints will be all over this place."
"Which is why we have to take them." Horatio said and called for Ryan to come, "I can't question you or take your prints because it will be a conflict of interest."
"It's okay, I trust your team." Jessica smiled and shook hands with Ryan.
Horatio left while Ryan took Jessica's prints. It was harder than he had thought it would be to stand by the side and not be allowed to do anything. When Ryan was done, Jessica had to give her statement to an officer again.
"Anything Jesse?" Horatio asked.
"I think he knew his killer." Jesse said, "There is sign of a struggle, but the door hasn't been forced open."
"Ms. Stanley." Horatio called, being professional, "What was Bob like?"
"Um, stubborn. He hated to be proven wrong. Not many people liked him." Jessica said, "I knew him better thoug, he was a nice man sometimes. He just hated the seasons when he had to coach extra hard for coming competitions."
"Thank you." Horatio said.
He watched Jessica leave and Alexx arrive. Alexx gave Jessica a small smile as they passed each other and then knelt down next to the body.
"He's got strangulation marks around his neck." She said, "Are you okay Horatio?"
"I'm fine."
Alexx nodded, "COD is less than an hour ago."
"H, there are no surveillance cameras inside the office, but it is in the hallway." Ryan said.
"Let's take a look at the tapes." Horatio said.
Horatio managed to focus on the case, but it was a struggle.
-I-
Horatio was standing in front of the man responsible for the murder of Bob Carter. Horatio had faced many murderers in his career, but this one shook him up. The man named Clay Harris had confessed to his crime. And it was a sad crime. Bob had walked in on a robbery and tried to tackle Clay, instead he had been strangled to death. But what really made Horatio feel uneasy was the fact that Clay also had a previous conviction for attempted rape. The victim? A young blonde woman, not much younger than Jessica.
On the surveillance tapes, Horatio had watched how Jessica had passed the office just seconds after Clay had entered it. Jessica had been about to open the door, when her team had called her name. It scared Horatio to think about how close he had come to losing the woman that he loved. The woman he had opened his heart too and who had opened her heart to him. Poor Bob had just taken a quick tour to the bathroom and forgotten to lock the door to the office. And when he came back he was murdered.
Bob had been a big and strong man and even he had no chance against Clay. Jessica would have been even more powerless. Horatio shook his head as Clay started crying. He nodded for an officer to take him away. He had come so close to being alone again.
"H, what are you still doing here?" Calleigh asked as she found her boss in his office.
"The shift is not over until another hour." Horatio sighed.
"Today was a tough day for you and Jessica. I think you should be with her." Calleigh said.
She had been with Horatio during the interrogation with Clay and seen the look in his eyes when the truth had come out. Horatio deserved to be happy. Since Marisol's death, everyone had kind of taken Horatio under their wings and silently looked out for him. They wouldn't let him be unhappy again.
"You're right. I should be with Jessica." Horatio nodded and stood up to leave.
"Are you okay?" Calleigh asked.
"I will be." Horatio smiled.
Horatio said goodbye and left. It felt strange to leave work early. He wasn't used to it. Horatio drove the hummer to Jessica's apartment and opened with a key she had given him. Jessica also had a key to his house.
"Jessica?" He asked.
Horatio went further inside the apartment and smiled when he reached the living room and saw Jessica asleep on the couch. He gently knelt down by her head and kissed her cheek.
"Hi." Jessica smiled and she opened her eyes, "Did you catch the killer?"
"We did." Horatio nodded and told Jessica about Clay Harris.
Her eyes widened as she realized how close she had come to dying. She was happy to be alive, but it felt awful that Bob had lost his life. Jessica hugged Horatio when she saw the fear in his eyes. She knew he found it difficult to talk about his feelings, but he did a good job at opening up to her. Horatio, knew that he could trust her with his feelings. He loved that he could give his heart to her and know that she wouldn't crush it.
"It's okay now. You and your team got him." Jessica said.
"But it's hard to think about how close I came to losing you."
"I know." Jessica said, "But I'm still here and you still have me."
Horatio smiled and gave her a deep kiss. Jessica hugged him for a long time.
"I'm sorry I abandoned you at the scene. I should have come here earlier." Horatio sighed.
"You have a job to do Horatio. I wanted you to be there when Bob's killer was caught." Jessica said, "And truthfully, I needed some time alone to think. Without any officers asking questions or friends and family making sure I wasn't about to have a nervous breakdown."
"You sure?"
"Absolutely. And while I was thinking, I came to a conclusion." Jessica blushed.
"And what is that?" Horatio asked.
"I want you to make love to me tonight."
Horatio looked at her. They hadn't taken any step beyond making out yet and Horatio wanted to make sure that Jessica was ready for the next step.
"Jessica, we don't have to do that."
"Horatio, I love you. I knew I did from the moment I saw you." Jessica grinned, "I want this. I want to take that step."
Horatio nodded and gave her a soft kiss, "Are you hungry?"
"Starving."
"Want pizza?"
"That would be great! Oh and by the way, my mom is wondering if you have ever eaten French food." Jessica smiled.
"I don't think I have."
"She's making it for dinner when we're there. My mom is crazy about France." Jessica chuckled, "She even speaks French fluently."
"Your mother seems to be a very interesting woman." Horatio smiled.
"She is. She is also very curious. So don't be surprised if she asks all sorts of questions or tells you about stories from my childhood." Jessica said.
"I have a feeling that you will be blushing a lot on Saturday." Horatio teased.
"You have no idea." Jessica giggled.
Horatio ordered pizza and the two of them ate it while watching a movie. After the movie, they snuggled on the couch.
"So what team was Bob coaching?" Horatio asked.
"One like mine, one girl and one boy. But they were younger than mine." Jessica said, "My team or rather couple, is 15-years-old. His is 12."
"What happens to them now?"
"I will coach them until we can find a new one." Jessica shrugged, "Bob was a great coach. Even though he was disliked for having a short fuse and always sounding angry, he knew what he was doing and his team was great. You should see what they can do on the ice."
"I can imagine it's hard too."
"Absolutely."
"Can I come to a competition and watch someday?" Horatio asked.
"You really want that?"
"Yeah, why not?" Horatio smiled.
"Well, there is a competition in Miami in two months." Jessica grinned.
"I will be there." Horatio smiled.
Jessica yawned and Horatio carried her to her bed. She giggled when he placed her on the bed and pulled him down for a kiss.
"Are you really sure you want to do it tonight?" Horatio asked.
"Yeah, I am." Jessica grinned.
Horatio smiled and kissed her hard.
-I-
"Is Jessica alright?" Frank asked the next day.
Horatio nodded and took a sip from his coffee. Last night had been long. He and Jessica had stayed up late, then made love for the first time and then talked for two more hours. Horatio had only got about four hours of sleep, but it was worth it. He would do anything for his blonde woman, even losing some sleep.
"You look like you just woke up." Frank grinned.
"You have no idea how right you are." Horatio yawned, "I'll be fine though."
"Rough night?"
"Not really."
"Good night?"
"Yeah." Horatio said, eyeing Frank suspiciously.
Frank smirked and patted Horatio on the back.
"You do realize that you got a hickey just at the collar of your shirt, right?" Frank asked and laughed when Horatio choked on his coffee.
"Thank you for telling me." Horatio blushed.
"Anytime. If I were you, I would ask one of the girls for a little makeup to cover it up. Wouldn't want people to know what you did last night now would ya?" Frank teased.
"Francis… please leave." Horatio said and Frank left with a big smirk.
Horatio went to the men's room and looked at his neck. He sighed heavily. Everyone would see the hickey. With a blush, Horatio went to the morgue and asked Alexx if she knew how to hide marks that he didn't want to be visible.
"What kind of mark?" Alexx asked.
"Um…" Horatio blushed.
"Oh! That kind of a mark." Alexx laughed, "I'll help you honey."
Across town Jessica had no idea that she was also walking around with a hickey. She was currently in the ladies room, when her friend and colleague Jill entered and smirked.
"What?" Jessica asked.
"I see you were well taken care of last night." Jill grinned.
"Um, yeah, how do you know that?"
Jill pointed at the neck and Jessica gasped as she took a closer look in the mirror.
"Oh my god!" She exclaimed, "I've walked around with this through the hallways!"
"Well, at least it shows all the guys that you're not single anymore." Jill laughed.
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