AN: Thanks for the review, here is the next chapter.
Chapter 5: Going Undercover
August 8, 1990
Shift was almost over, and as Derek was at his desk across from Horatio doing paperwork, Horatio gets a phone call from his desk phone, so he answers it. "Caine."
His captain was on the other end. "Mr. Caine, can I see you in my office for a few minutes?"
"Sure boss."
They hang up and Horatio gets up, tells his partner he'll be right back before heading towards their captain's office.
Once he got there, he knocked on the closed door, and Captain Jennings spoke a second later. "Come in."
Horatio opened the door a second later and walked in, and after closing the door after his captain told him to, he walked towards the chair that was in front of his desk and sat down before speaking. "What can I do for you, sir?"
After a moment's pause, his captain grabbed a case file from his desk and handed it over to him, then he explained that a friend of his, who was a captain in Pensacola, Florida, needed an undercover cop with his specific description.
The captain barely had time to finish his explanation before Horaito looked up from the file and nodded his head. "I'm in."
Knowing how dangerous this could be, he asked. "You sure? Because we can find..."
Horatio cuts him off in a more determined tone. "There is a reason you came to me, and I'm willing to do everything I can to solve this. There isn't a place in this world where I won't fight for justice."
Captain Jennings nodded with a smile as he held out his hand. "Alright, they'll be expecting you on the 11th, and while I do expect you tell a few people on what you're doing, don't tell too many details."
Horatio nodded as he shook his captain's hand. "I understand, thank you for this opportunity. I won't let you down."
"Just be careful out there, I hate to lose one of my best detectives."
After another nod, Horatio and the captain release hands before Horatio turned and walked out of the office, and after arriving at his desk, Derek looked up from his paperwork and asked. "Everything ok?"
Horaito nodded as he sat down, then leaned forward in his chair and spoke softly. "But I need to talk to you later."
Derek smirked. "Oh, that sounds serious, I hope you're not breaking up with me."
Not really known for smiling, it did make Horatio smile a little. "No, I'm not 'breaking' up with you."
Derek chuckled with a nod. "That's good to hear." Then he got more serious when he asked. "But it is something serious, isn't it?"
"Later."
Derek nodded again before they went back to their paperwork.
When shift was done, and once Horatio made sure he had his new file, him and his partner went to their respective vehicles before driving to the nearest bar, meeting at their usual table in the back, when they do come here that is, which was mostly after one of their worse cases.
They take a sip of their drinks before Horatio, while not telling him the details, told him that he'll be out of town for a bit for an undercover job.
As much as Derek wanted to know the details, he knew Horatio couldn't share them, so he just said as he held out his hand. "Just be careful, man."
Horatio nodded as he shook his partner's hand. "I will."
They release hands a second later before Derek smirked. "Good, because I would hate to break-in a new partner."
There was a little chuckle between them before they enjoyed their two drinks with a little small talk before Horatio went home, looked over the file and packed so he could go down to Miami to visit his brother before he started his new assignment.
August 9, 1990
A few hours after Horatio made it to Miami, he was at his brother and Yelina's apartment, and while the small family was sitting down at the kitchen table, Raymond asked with a smile. "So, what brings you to Miami? Not that I am not happy to see you."
Horatio grabbed his glass of wine, took a sip before speaking. "I wanted to inform you that after the 11th, it will be harder to nearly impossible to get a hold of me for awhile."
Both Yelina and Raymond looked at him with curiosity before Raymond spoke again. "Why?"
Horatio took a breath before replying. "I can't give you any details, but I'm going undercover."
Now they looked worried, and Raymond spoke again. "Wait, what? No, Horatio..."
Whatever he was going to say Horatio cuts his younger brother off. "It's happening, everything is set in motion, so I couldn't get out of it even if I wanted to."
Raymond was about to speak again, but Yelina placed her hand on her husband's arm and spoke softly. "Ray, you know your brother, he's going to get justice any way that he can, and when there is a case he can do just that, he will. You can plead all you want but it won't do you any good."
Ray nodded after taking a breath, then looked at his brother again. "I know that. I'm just worried is all, you're my older brother, and I'm not ready to lose you. Hell, I'll never be ready for that."
Horatio shook his head, feeling confident. "And you won't, I'll be back."
Knowing there isn't much more he could say about it, Ray nodded but then smirked. "You better, or I'll have to kill you myself."
Once the rest of dinner and dessert was gone, Horatio decided to take his leave, even though they told him he could sleep here tonight, but he already had a room reserved, so he hugged his brother, who told him to be careful, then Yelina and him got into a hug and she whispered. "Please be careful Horatio."
He ran a friendly hand up and down her back as he replied softly in return. "I will. You take care of Raymond for me."
She nodded with a smile. "I will."
After they pulled back, they stepped back from one another, and while Raymond wrapped his arm around Yelina's shoulders, they said goodbye to one another before Horatio turned and walked out of the apartment then building, making a stop at the beach soon after before heading for his motel room to study his undercover assignment one more time so there won't be any mistakes and that he could keep his word on being safe and coming home.
August 11, 1990
When he made it to his destination, he got in contact with the captain and a few members of his team to go over his mission before he received keys to an apartment he'll be staying in for how ever long it will take.
Once he was in his 'new' apartment, he unpacked what little he brought along with him since he knew he would have everything he needed at the apartment, then he left the apartment, used a payphone to make two phone calls, Derek and Raymond, to let them know he made it to his destination safely while also telling them he'll try and find ways to let them know he was ok as long as the mission was active. And after he finished his phone calls, he went to the bar to get a drink and to scan one of the top locations his undercover job will mostly take place at.
He was there for about 10 minutes when a blond haired, brown eyed,5'10, slim build woman came into the bar, and while Horatio wouldn't call it love at first sight, there was definitely a connection he had felt towards her. He was also a little hesitant on making any move because he couldn't be himself and knew this job could be dangerous, but the stronger part of him couldn't help it, so he took one last sip, placed his empty glass on the counter and walked the short distance to her before clearing his throat and speaking. "Hi, I'm John Walden."
The blond-haired woman looked at him, and those beautiful blue eyes got to her immediately, and while a part of her was hesitant as well, she also gave in, smiling at him as she replied. "Nice to meet you John, I'm Julia Eberly."
"Nice to meet you. Can I buy you a drink?"
After she nodded with a smile, he did just that before they sat down and started talking, getting to know one another, or at least on Horatio's side, 'John's' version of who he was.
AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. Hope you are all safe out there.