"Love, Loyalty & Friendship (Forever)" (CSI: Miami, Horatio/Calleigh.)
CSI: Miami, Horatio/Calleigh. 774 words, rated U.
writers_choice #34. Love, Loyalty & Friendship (Forever).
Challenge used as the title, minus the (Forever) bit. One-shot ficlet.
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There are only three things Calleigh wants from Horatio.
Four, technically, but the last one comes after the first three, and without the first three, the last one really doesn't mean anything at all. To most people they probably sound like simple requirements but if they're as simple as people claim, then she's been extraordinarily unlucky so far, because she's never managed to find all three of these qualities in someone she's cared about.
With one exception.
She's been loyal to Horatio from the day she first started working for him, when he gave her a gentle smile and said her name in that Horatio-way he has, and she fell instantly in lust. It took her time to get to know him and time to become the person he turned to when he needed someone, but now it's as natural as breathing. Her loyalty to him has never needed to be questioned, and she knows with absolute certainty that he's loyal to her in the same way. The two of them are a team -- partners -- and, while they work well alone, they're unbeatable together.
Calleigh knows that if she ever needs his help, professionally or personally, he'll give it without hesitation. She knows that if she ever swears him to secrecy, no matter what the secret is, he'll take it to his grave. She knows what it feels like to share the burden of responsibility with him -- because whatever happens to him and 'his' lab happens to her as well -- and what it feels like to be the sole focus of his intense gaze. She knows what it feels like when he hugs her, holding her close, and she knows how his lips feel against hers; both during kisses stolen in a quiet moment at work, and leisurely explorations when they're home alone together.
He's the best friend she's never really had until now, the one person she can tell anything to without fear of rejection, or fear of how it'll make her look. He's there when she needs someone to talk to, and he's there when she needs comforting. When they're at crime scenes, he'll find reasons to walk past her so he can touch her, or he'll place his hand on her back to guide her. Or he'll simply be there, silently letting her know that he's just within reach in case she needs anything from him.
She loves the little ways he conveys his affection, the little things he does without thinking when it comes to her, nearly as much as she loves the man himself. She loves knowing that she can look up, can meet his eyes across a room full of death and crime scene techs, and be reassured by the warmth and love that lingers there whenever he looks at her.
He doesn't often tell her that he loves her; she can count the number of times he's said the words on two hands, with fingers to spare, but she never doubts that it's true. He tells her that she's the one who keeps him sane, when he reaches his breaking point and everyone else is looking to him for guidance, and she tells him that, if she does that, she's only able to do so because he makes her feel like she can handle anything.
They've celebrated together, proud of their team's accomplishments, and they've cried together over losing one of their own. Horatio shares almost everything with her, and what he keeps to himself he keeps because it affects more than just him, and because he can't bring himself to talk about it yet, not even with her. When that happens she lets him be, knowing that -- given time -- he will tell her, because they share everything and what affects him, affects her.
They built their friendship from the ground up, ensuring that it had foundations strong enough to weather anything that's thrown their way, and it's held fast for years. She wanted his love, his loyalty and his friendship and he offered all three without her having to ask. He may not say the words, but Horatio has never needed words to talk to her.
The only thing she wants now, is to have the things she has forever; for the rest of her life. She can't imagine not loving Horatio, can't imagine a life where she doesn't have Horatio, and she can't imagine waking up alone, not anymore.
She doesn't want to and, more importantly, she doesn't need to. Horatio's already promised her forever, and even though he hasn't said the words, she never doubts that it's true.
writers_choice #34. Love, Loyalty & Friendship (Forever).
Challenge used as the title, minus the (Forever) bit. One-shot ficlet.
---
There are only three things Calleigh wants from Horatio.
Four, technically, but the last one comes after the first three, and without the first three, the last one really doesn't mean anything at all. To most people they probably sound like simple requirements but if they're as simple as people claim, then she's been extraordinarily unlucky so far, because she's never managed to find all three of these qualities in someone she's cared about.
With one exception.
She's been loyal to Horatio from the day she first started working for him, when he gave her a gentle smile and said her name in that Horatio-way he has, and she fell instantly in lust. It took her time to get to know him and time to become the person he turned to when he needed someone, but now it's as natural as breathing. Her loyalty to him has never needed to be questioned, and she knows with absolute certainty that he's loyal to her in the same way. The two of them are a team -- partners -- and, while they work well alone, they're unbeatable together.
Calleigh knows that if she ever needs his help, professionally or personally, he'll give it without hesitation. She knows that if she ever swears him to secrecy, no matter what the secret is, he'll take it to his grave. She knows what it feels like to share the burden of responsibility with him -- because whatever happens to him and 'his' lab happens to her as well -- and what it feels like to be the sole focus of his intense gaze. She knows what it feels like when he hugs her, holding her close, and she knows how his lips feel against hers; both during kisses stolen in a quiet moment at work, and leisurely explorations when they're home alone together.
He's the best friend she's never really had until now, the one person she can tell anything to without fear of rejection, or fear of how it'll make her look. He's there when she needs someone to talk to, and he's there when she needs comforting. When they're at crime scenes, he'll find reasons to walk past her so he can touch her, or he'll place his hand on her back to guide her. Or he'll simply be there, silently letting her know that he's just within reach in case she needs anything from him.
She loves the little ways he conveys his affection, the little things he does without thinking when it comes to her, nearly as much as she loves the man himself. She loves knowing that she can look up, can meet his eyes across a room full of death and crime scene techs, and be reassured by the warmth and love that lingers there whenever he looks at her.
He doesn't often tell her that he loves her; she can count the number of times he's said the words on two hands, with fingers to spare, but she never doubts that it's true. He tells her that she's the one who keeps him sane, when he reaches his breaking point and everyone else is looking to him for guidance, and she tells him that, if she does that, she's only able to do so because he makes her feel like she can handle anything.
They've celebrated together, proud of their team's accomplishments, and they've cried together over losing one of their own. Horatio shares almost everything with her, and what he keeps to himself he keeps because it affects more than just him, and because he can't bring himself to talk about it yet, not even with her. When that happens she lets him be, knowing that -- given time -- he will tell her, because they share everything and what affects him, affects her.
They built their friendship from the ground up, ensuring that it had foundations strong enough to weather anything that's thrown their way, and it's held fast for years. She wanted his love, his loyalty and his friendship and he offered all three without her having to ask. He may not say the words, but Horatio has never needed words to talk to her.
The only thing she wants now, is to have the things she has forever; for the rest of her life. She can't imagine not loving Horatio, can't imagine a life where she doesn't have Horatio, and she can't imagine waking up alone, not anymore.
She doesn't want to and, more importantly, she doesn't need to. Horatio's already promised her forever, and even though he hasn't said the words, she never doubts that it's true.