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Post by NV Oracle on Jul 20, 2009 21:01:11 GMT -10
I'm glad you ladies liked the chapter.
Sorry for the delay in posting this next one, but I wasn't sure whether to keep typing, or where to break it up at, so I decided to not make it an exceedingly long chapter, and break it where I did. Hopefully it doesn't ruin the flow of the story. I don't think it does, but, hey, that's just me. LOL
Anyway, here is your next chapter, and yes it's a DuCaine chapter, well, most of it is, but the start is H and Frank driving back to the Lab.
Please enjoy. Here we go.
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Chapter 92
As they drove back to the lab, Horatio asked. “What did you think, Frank?”
Frank thought on that for a minute. “Well, I’m not quite sure what to think, H. It appears that he’s telling the truth, at least the part about Miller not pulling the strings on Stevie’s care. Nothing has come up to indicate that he’s in on it. I just don’t think we can get him, even on a conspiracy charge.”
Horatio nodded, after a minute. “I tend to agree, although I wish we could, but the evidence just doesn’t back it up. Do me a favor, though, when you come back from court, tomorrow, and get a warrant for our good doctor‘s phone records. Cell, home, and office phones, please Frank. I‘m going to trust him for now, but I definitely want to verify it.”
“I’ll get on it for you, H. You don’t think it’s ’just’ a coincidence, do you?” Frank asked.
When Horatio looked over at him, confused, Frank explained. “How all the names on the list are related to somebody in our little mystery?”
Horatio shook his head. “I don’t believe in coincidences, but definitely not in this one. Every time we turn around, Miller’s name is being mentioned, and with two of his relatives in amongst the players, there‘s absolutely no question that he’s involved, I just don’t know how, yet.”
Frank reached over and put his hand on the red head’s back. “You’ll figure it out, H. You always do.” He patted Horatio’s back. As he withdrew his hand, he asked. “Have you had your Rabies shot yet this year, H?”
When Horatio looked over at him, confused. Frank chuckled. “I’m glad it wasn’t me that you growled at like that. I thought he was going to have an accident.”
At that, Horatio chuckled as well. “My vet says I have to have one about once a month, Frank, and, to answer your question, yes, I‘ve had mine.”
The two men shared a laugh over it just as they pulled in to the lab’s parking lot.
Horatio turned off the engine. “Good luck in court tomorrow, Francis.”
“Thanks a lot, H. I’ll catch up with you guys some time during the day.” Frank told him, as he got out of the Hummer.
Horatio also got out. “We’ll be here.” He made his way inside the building, and went into the break room.
Calleigh was sitting at one of the tables, reading a magazine.
“Ok, Sweetheart. You ready to go home for the night?” He asked.
She closed her magazine. “More than, Handsome. More than.” She followed him to the elevator, down to the first floor, and out the front door, to the Hummer. When he opened the passenger door for her, she smiled up at him.
“Thank you, Handsome.” Calleigh settled into the passenger’s seat, as he closed the door.
Horatio got into the driver’s seat, and started the engine.
Calleigh let him drive in silence for a moment, then, knowing he was driving toward his own home first, she put her hand on his back, as she asked.
“What did Dr Fitzgerald have to say?”
Horatio stopped at a light, and looked over at her. Calleigh could see his eyebrows climbing into his hair. She very quickly gave him a return look that plainly said ‘don’t’.
“Ryan said that all of the names, but one, was related to someone in our little mystery, and I saw Fitzgerald’s name on the list.. You called him ‘our favorite doctor’, and I know you were being sarcastic, so spill. What did he say?”
There was a hint of that shy grin, as Horatio nodded. “He said that Brian was his brother, and that the robbery had been foiled, and that Brian had gotten a 5 to 10 year sentence, for his role in it. He did deny that Stan Miller had said anything to him about trying to undermine Stevie’s treatment, though.”
She nodded. “You don’t believe him, though.”
He reluctantly shook his head. “Unfortunately, the lack of evidence says that he’s telling the truth, so I’m forced to believe him, whether I want to or not. For the record, though, no, I don’t want to. I have asked Frank to check the good doctor‘s phone records.”
“That’s better.” She teased as she moved her hand across his back, trying to help him relax. When she moved it up to his neck, she could feel how tense he was, and offered. “You know, when we get home, maybe I could talk you in to letting me give you a back rub. You‘re awfully tense. Are you sure you’re ok.”
He smiled at her. “Yes, Sweetheart, I’m fine. I don’t think you’re going to have to talk very hard, though. I was actually going to ask you if you’d mind giving me one.”
Calleigh laughed. “All you have to do, is ask, Handsome.”
He pulled in to his driveway. He turned off the Hummer’s engine, and climbed out of the driver’s seat. He closed the door, and walked around to the passenger’s seat. He held open the door, and Calleigh slid out, to stand in front of him.
“This is me asking then.” Horatio smiled at her. He walked with her to the door, and unlocked it.
Calleigh walked in first.
Horatio followed her in, and closed the door behind himself. “Can I get you anything?”
Calleigh shook her head. “I didn’t think we’d be here that long, Handsome.”
Horatio chuckled. “Ok. To use your words, chill out here, and I’ll be back as quick as I can.”
Horatio very quickly went upstairs, and gathered everything he would need, not only for tonight, but tomorrow as well, he put them into his duffle bag, and his suit carrier, and brought them downstairs. As Horatio walked over to his guitar, and picked it up, he asked, hesitantly. “Do you …. Do you mind, if I bring this?”
Calleigh chuckled softly, as she shook her head. “I was actually going to as if you’d bring it.”
Horatio smiled that shy smile, as he put the guitar in it’s case, and closed the lid.
“So, are we ready, Handsome?” Calleigh asked.
Horatio nodded. “I believe so, Beautiful. Do we need to stop for anything to eat, or a snack, or something?”
Calleigh shook her head. “I’ve got the stuff at home, for a snack, so we don’t have to stop anywhere else.” She picked up his duffle bag.
“After you, Ma’am.” Horatio replied, after he picked up his suit carrier.
They walked towards the door, and once they made sure that everything electronic was off, they walked out the door, locking it behind them. They put everything in the back of the Hummer, and Horatio drove them to Calleigh’s place.
They pulled into the parking lot, and parked. Horatio walked around the Hummer, as Calleigh opened her door. She slid out of the Hummer, and landed at his feet. He caught her, and wrapped his arms around her.
“You ok, Beautiful?”
She nodded. “I’m fine, Handsome. Thanks for the assist.” She hugged him.
Horatio leaned back, ever so slightly, as he softly told her. “My pleasure.” He moved to lean in for a kiss. Just as he was almost there, though, something bumped into him, and behind him, they heard a dog bark, twice.
Now that the mood is broken, Horatio took a slight step back, as Calleigh looked behind him.
“Cookie, what are you doing out here?” She asked the darker Golden Retriever that stood there.
The dog’s eyes lit up, and her tail continued to wag. She barked twice more, then hopped up, to stand on her two back legs. Her front paws draped over the humans’ arms, and the dog was almost as tall as Calleigh.
A teenage girl came running up. “Cookie, stop that.” She called out to the dog. She grabbed the dog’s collar, and pulled her off the two adults. “I’m sorry, Calleigh. She ran for you, before I had the chance to stop her.”
Calleigh chuckled. “She’s ok, Jenny. We just weren’t expecting her, that’s all.”
An older woman, about Calleigh’s age, walked up to the group.
Horatio noticed that the girl, and the woman looked similar enough to be mother and daughter. Both had lighter brown hair, but the mother’s was short, whereas the daughter’s was longer. Both also had fair skin, but where the mother had brown eyes, the daughter’s eyes were more hazel.
[What did she do, Jenny?] The mother asked.
[Nothing, Mom. She just interrupted Calleigh, and her boyfriend.] Jenny told her Mom.
[She’s ok, Dana. No harm was done, trust me.] Calleigh told her.
The mother looked over at her. [Are you sure, Calleigh?]
Calleigh chuckled. [Yes, I’m positive.]
The mother pointed over to Horatio as she asked. [Jenny called him your ‘boyfriend’.] When Calleigh nodded, she continued. [Would this be the man you’ve told me about, Horatio Caine?]
Calleigh nodded again. [Yes, Dana, it is.] She continued to sign her words, as she turned to Horatio and told him. “Horatio, this is Dana Thomas, my next door neighbor, her daughter, Jenny, and her assistance dog, Cookie.”
Calleigh signed his words, as Horatio held out his hand, and told them.
“It’s my pleasure to meet you ladies.”
After he shook their hands, Horatio knelt down to Cookie’s level, as he petted her on the head. “It’s my pleasure to meet you, too, Cookie. You’re a good girl.”
The dog’s tail continued to wag, as she looked up at him and licked his face.
Horatio quickly closed his eyes, then, when he sensed that she had stopped, he opened them again, and looked up at the women, with a grin. He looked back at the dog, and wrapped his arms around her neck, as he buried his face in her neck. “Thank you, Pretty Girl.” He let her go, just for a moment, then looked into her eyes. “I love you, too.” He kissed her muzzle, and stood back up.
Calleigh’s eyebrow climbed into her hair. “Even four legged women, too, Horatio?” She asked as she signed.
He shrugged. “Apparently so, Calleigh.”
Calleigh grinned as she shook her head. “You mean, you and your magnetic personality, don’t you?”
Horatio grinned as well. “I thought you loved my magnetic personality?”
Calleigh laughed as she wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, I do, Handsome, trust me. I do.”
Dana traded a quick look at her daughter, then put her hand on Calleigh‘s arm. [We’re going to let you to go inside, Calleigh. We’ll talk to you later.] She turned to Horatio. [It was nice meeting you, Lt. We’ll be seeing you around.]
Calleigh translated.
He nodded, as he hugged Calleigh back. “Yes, you will. Take care ladies.” He looked down at Cookie. “You too, Cookie. Take care, sweet girl.”
The Golden Retriever barked once more, then followed her humans back to their house.
Calleigh and Horatio laughed, as Cookie walked away, her tail wagging like crazy.
“That dog is such a character.” Calleigh shook her head in fond exasperation.
“No, Calleigh. She’s a good dog. She’s just trying to make sure that you’re ok with me.” Horatio told her.
Calleigh chuckled. “I know.” She stepped back for a moment. “C’mon, let’s get you inside.”
They grabbed everything from the back of the Hummer, and with Calleigh leading the way, they went into her apartment. She took the duffle and his suit carrier back into her bedroom, then retraced her steps back into the living room.
Calleigh stepped up to him and held out her hands. When Horatio looked at her, confused, she tilted her head at him, just as he did occasionally, and grinned up at him. “Do you honestly think you‘re going to lounge around my house in a suit coat?” She motioned for him to take it off. “Come on, Handsome. Off with it.”
Horatio chuckled, and nodded, as he removed his coat, and handed it to her. “Yes, ma’am.” He watched as she walked away, to disappear for a couple of minutes, down the hall.
When she came back, Calleigh held out his cell phone, with a grin. “I almost forgot, your cell, sir.”
Horatio chuckled as he took it from her outstretched hand. “Thank you, ma’am.” He opened it, to check it for messages, then closed it, and put the device in his shirt pocket.
Calleigh wrapped her arms around him, and pulled him closer, so that she could lay her ear over his heart. Suddenly, his stomach growled. Calleigh looked up at him incredulously.
“You can not be hungry again. Not after what you ate at lunch.“
Horatio looked down at the floor for a moment, then looked up at her, with a bashful grin. “I’ve always had a fast metabolism, Calleigh, and we’ve had a busy day.”
Calleigh though about it for a moment, then agreed. “That’s true, we have had a busy day, and you’re going to have a busy day tomorrow too. You don’t want another full meal, not this late, do you?”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t, but did I hear you say something about a snack?”
Calleigh nodded. “Yes, I did.” She stepped away from him, and headed toward the kitchen. “Let‘s see. I have the ingredients for strawberry shortcakes, or I have some ice cream. Which would you prefer?”
Horatio thought about it for a moment, then replied. “Either one would work for me. I‘ll take some of whatever you‘re having.”
Calleigh smiled. “I’ll make us up something, if you’ll play for a little bit.”
That bashful smile came out again. “You drive a hard bargain, ma’am, but I’ll see what I can do.“ Horatio opened the guitar case, and picked up the guitar. He sat on the arm of the couch, and propped the instrument on his thigh. He watched Calleigh work in the kitchen for just a moment, then turned back to his guitar. Slowly, he picked out a melody, and, after a fashion, the music wrapped around them both, and drew them in.
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Ok, please let me know what you think, ladies.
Your friend
NV Oracle
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