Silence Is Golden

Continuing Saga of Andy and His Boys

2018-09-03T16:21:16Z

James happily handed off the bartender to the uniforms. He wanted to get away from that bar as fast as possible. He also wanted to take as many showers as he could stand to get the brunette's scent off of him.

"You do know that the cap is going to want us to try and get his supplier," Jake said breaking into James' thoughts.

"I know," James sighed. "Let's go lean on the asshole, and maybe send Vice in for my growth."

"Speaking of that..."

"Don't," James warned. "There has been enough drama of late. I really don't need anymore."

It's That Time of the Year Again!

2013-10-03T16:38:41Z

It's holiday swap time!

Come join us at h50_holidayswap.

Artwork for Times Are A Changing

2013-04-18T18:31:02Z

froggy_freek made us some wonderful artwork, but due to the fact that she is moving she is unable right now to post the artwork, so I'm posting it here for folks to see.

I and lasairfhiona want to thank her for all her hard work.

Link to fic: on AO3

Meme Time

2013-04-15T15:50:56Z

Nicked from kaige68 who stole it from tkeylasunset.

Post the 21 first lines from your last 21 fics.

1. Tony leaned in the doorway of the communal kitchen and watched Phil skillfully chopped vegetables.

2. “Why did you save me?” Tony inquired as he idly glanced over the contract Fury had slid across to him.

3. Clint walked beside his lover wanting nothing more than to hold his hand, but Steve was a very private person who shied away from any kind of physical contact while in public.

4. Danny watched Steve slam into the house and knew he had to do something to calm his lover down before Steve let his temper get the better of him.

5. Clint flipped up the hood of his parka as he stepped out of the cabin that was currently serving as his safe house.

6. Clint laid on his back with his hands curled around the iron rails of the headboard watching his lover wrap a leather strap around his cock and balls.

7. "Therapy is highly overrated," Tony grumbled, but allowed Phil to lead him into SHIELD's head therapist's office.

8. Tony silently stood over Edwin Jarvis' fresh grave with hot tears streaming down his face.

9. "You've got to be fucking kidding me," Clint grumbled as he looked up from the handful of forms Phil had just handed him.

10. “Let’s run away,” Tony suggested once he settled into one of the chairs in front of Phil's desk.

11. Dino strolled into the tiki style bar he owned with his partner only five minutes late for the interview Terry had arranged with The Rolling Stone weeks before.

12. Chin adjusted his back pack and softly sighed allowing all the pent up tension from the week escape in that one sound.

13. “Tony, why do you look like you went a few rounds with Natasha,” Phil inquired at the Tuesday morning meeting.

14. Tony had thought Clint insane for getting them up before the ass crack of dawn, but standing wrapped in his lover’s warm embrace watching the sun rise over snow covered pine trees made him revise his hasty judgment.

15. Phil was putting the finishing touches on his latest mission report when he felt that he was being watched.

16. “So how long before the Dynamic Dunces figure out that we know each other?”

17. Steve walked into the garden immediately feeling the peace he had been sorely lacking the last few months as his search for Shelbourne overwhelmed all aspects of his everyday life.

18. Peace.

19. Clint had always wondered in his darkest moments what it would be like to be confronted with his past mistakes, or at least his less lethal ones. Natasha wasn’t the only one who had red in her ledger.

20. “Hey, Tony,” Clint said as breezed into Tony’s office at SHEILD headquarters and held out a file to him.

21. “Chocolate covered strawberries?” Clint asked with a sarcastic note in his voice as he hovered in the doorway of the communal media room.

My fic either starts out with dialogue or just jumps in with action, and except for one fic my first lines are very wordy. I've also noticed that The Avengers have taken over my fic life and that Tony Stark is God....lol

Writing blurbs

2013-03-08T01:19:32Z

Blurbs for my works in progress.

Addictions...

Ryan Wolfe shivered as the cool night air blew back his unbuttoned dress shirt to caress overheated skin. He had stopped to take in his surroundings and realized by the way the waves kissed the beach that it was very late. He wished he had his suit jacket with him, but he had left that back in his car which was miles down the beach.

He found himself firmly stuck on the horns of a very painful dilemma. He had been walking for hours trying to work up the courage to go to his boss and tell Horatio about his gambling problem.

Calleigh was the only one at the lab who knew about it and she wasn’t going to tell anyone. She was solely keeping this secret to protect the integrity of the lab, but the tongue lashing she had given him had stung and still did hours later.

He could pinpoint when his gambling had turned from a fun pastime to an addiction. It was around the time that he had joined the lab as Tim Speedle’s replacement. The stress of trying to fit in and not screw up had been extreme and he turned to playing poker as a stress reliever, but in the end it added more stress to his life.

Ryan sighed and ran a hand through his short cropped hair. The time had come to confess all his secrets and accept whatever consequences came from the airing of them.

He looked up and saw that he wasn’t surprised to find himself standing near the stairs that led up to Horatio’s condo. While his mind wrestled with his problems, his feet had taken him to his solution.

The brunette was glad to see a light still burning in the kitchen even though it had to be well past midnight. He put on a brave face, made himself presentable and jogged up the stairs.

&/&/&

Horatio Caine was relaxing after a long day at work. With a little help from the Feds, the lab had managed to put an international counterfeiting ring out of business. He felt good about that, but he still grieved for Tyler Lamar.

Tyler’s situation had brought back a host of old memories that plagued had him through dinner with the team. And Alexx, the ever observant one, had quietly suggested once dinner was over that he should take a few days off and get things worked out in his own mind before he did something stupid.

He had given her his best “I’m-humoring-the-lab’s-mother-hen” smile and had come home to reflect on his life. As his reflections had turned to his childhood that was when the Scotch bottle had made its appearance and being a hollow-legged alcoholic he was more mellow than drunk.

He looked up from the highball glass that he held between his hands as if it were an anchor when he heard the steps leading up to his balcony creak under the weight of somebody’s footsteps. He squinted into the growing darkness and wasn’t too surprised to see Ryan Wolfe standing at the gate.

“Good evening, Ryan,” he greeted the younger man with deliberate care. He knew he didn’t appear to be drunk, but his speech would give it away in a second.

&/&/&

The moment Ryan heard his first name he knew there had to be something wrong with Horatio Caine. Horatio rarely used his first name unless it was to emphasize a point.

“Are you alright, H?” he asked concern evident in his voice.

“Wonderful,” Horatio answered with a slight drawl. “And you?”

Ryan studied his boss and his keen eye caught the highball glass the redhead had a death grip on. He realized that he wasn’t shocked to discover that Horatio was drunk. It made the man appear more human; more approachable.

“I’m doing okay, I guess,” he told the older man.

Horatio snorted in derision. He took a sip of Scotch. “That’s what everyone says to avoid telling themselves the truth.”

“H?”

“Humor an old man?”

“Sure,” Ryan hedged. He wasn’t certain which man he was more afraid of in that moment; the cold, hard ass police lieutenant or the maudlin drunk old man.

“Have a seat and keep me company until my lover decides that home is more important than work,” Horatio suggested as he gestured to the deck chair which sat catty-cornered from the porch swing he was perched on.

“Lover?” slipped out of Ryan’s mouth before he fully considered the implications of questioning his boss’ sexual orientation.

“That would be me, Mr. Wolfe,” announced the familiar voice of the man everyone in the lab-almost everyone-loved to hate.

Rick Stetler walked through the corridors of the crime lab trying not to look like he was stalking a certain redhead lieutenant. He had heard through the rumor mill that Horatio had paid Julia Winston a visit as she awaited trial for the murder of Kathleen Newberry.

He slammed into the locker room and caught Horatio changing his shirt. He paused at the sight of Horatio’s scarred back. Even though he had seen it many times since becoming Horatio’s lover, it still served as a clear reminder of the hell Horatio had been through in his life.

He ached to touch the man, but they had a firmly established rule. They would never reveal their relationship at work. They had between them too many enemies, and any hint of impropriety would have them on administrative leave so fast their heads would spin.

“God damnit, Horatio!” he growled. His frustration apparent in his tone. “When are you going to quit playing the noble knight?!”

Horatio turned and faced Rick. An eyebrow graced his hairline and a white linen shirt dangled from his hand. “Noble knight?” he softly inquired. “Where the hell did that come from?”

“Julia,” Rick muttered.

Horatio sighed. He slipped on his shirt. He stepped around the bench and cupped Rick’s face. “You have to get over your jealousy of her,” he reasoned. “It’s you that I love.”

Rick leaned into the touch. “It’s hard,” he admitted. “She tried to have you murdered.”

So much for this being a passing phase, the redhead thought to himself.

Horatio rested his forehead against Rick’s. “You know it was a matter of time before the Mala Noche filled that hit on me. Now, it’s over.”

Rick didn’t bother to hide the shudder that that thought caused. It had taken all his resolve not to follow his lover to Brazil, and Horatio not speaking about what happened there still bothered him.

Horatio pulled away. He walked over to the door and locked it. He returned to Rick’s side and pulled him into his arms. “I’m sorry,” he quietly apologized. “It wasn’t my intention to scare you, but to protect you.”

Rick pulled Horatio closer and whispered in his ear, “I know and don’t ever do it again.”

Horatio sighed and leaned back so he could look Rick in the eye. Fighting a smile, he teased, “What are you gonna do about it? Withhold sex?”

“I should,” Rick grumbled.

“I would like to see you try,” Horatio countered.

“Is that a challenge?”

“Yes, I believe it is.”

Rick didn’t let Horatio go right away. He backed his lover up against the lockers and leaned into him, grinding his hips against the redhead’s, he stole his breath with a hard kiss. “Remember this, so that when you are seeking relief with your hand that all you had to do was engage me in a serious conversation.”

Horatio rested against the lockers and watched Rick unlock the door and walk out of the room

Rick stood outside Interview Room Two studying the dark haired man who sat at the table. He was dressed in a garish blue and white Hawaiian shirt and dark slacks. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of what Rick presumed were knockoff designer sunglasses.

He appeared the epitome of cool, calm and collected.

Rick checked the file in his hand. It was for a Colin McGuire and he was a confidential informant who had been picked up in that night’s drug sting because his cover was about to be blown.

Narcotics believed him to be of some value, but all their officers were busy going through that night’s haul and had asked for help. Rick’s boss had jumped on the chance to show the department that Internal Affairs was more than the Rat Squad.

Rick pushed that thought out of his mind and walked into the room. He had an interrogation to perform before he went back to his sterile office to write up another meaningless report, and then go home to a cold and silent condo.

The man looked up from tracing the grain of the table with his index finger. The sunglasses had slid down his nose, but he pushed them back up before Rick could get a look at his eyes.

This annoyed Rick and he ordered the man to remove them.

“The light hurts my eyes,” the man softly replied.

“Life’s full of pain, so take them off,” Rick snapped.

The man shrugged. “Anything you say, chief,” he purred before lifting his cuffed hands and removing the glasses.

Rick watched him toss the glasses onto the table with a hint of casual indifference. It was something his ex-lover would do when annoyed, and it was a painful reminder of what Rick had lost.

It had been over a year since his ex-lover had disappeared during an undercover assignment. The department had written him off, but Rick hadn’t because he thought he knew Horatio Caine.

But crystal blue eyes boring into his brown ones, proved him wrong.

“Horatio?” Rick asked incredulous.

“I should be hurt that you didn’t recognize me,” Horatio calmly replied.

“You disappear for a year and you’re hurt?”

“I was doing my job.”

“You were running away.”

“From what exactly?”

“The lab, your team, Speed’s death, me,” Rick rattled off.

“I was recruited.”

“Bullshit.” Rick shook his head and frown. “You asked for the assignment, but what I want to know is why.”

“To protect you.”

“Breaking up what I assumed was a good relationship and disappearing to God alone knows where, is your idea of protecting me?!” Rick exclaimed.

“Now, Rick,” Horatio tried to raise his hands in a calming gesture, but the cuffs clinked and ruined the effect. “No need to get bent out of shape.”

Rick stepped back toward the table and leaned into Horatio’s face. “Be thankful there is an officer in here and another one at the door or I would show you bent out of shape.”

“You don’t have it in you,” Horatio countered.

“Things have changed, Horatio.” Rick walked away and leaned against the wall next to the two-way mirror. “I’ve changed.”

Wet and Pretty

2013-02-24T00:25:52Z

Inspiration for the weekend challenge over at 1_million_words.

Entry three of a 100 Random Things

2012-04-22T03:30:47Z

Random thoughts are random. Today was no different.

I'll be the first person to admit that I talk to myself, especially when I'm walking to work. Over the years, I have fleshed out many a fic this way.

So it came as no surprise when my plot bunny EB5 aka Five sprang this gem on me.

A triple crossover between CSI: Miami, Hawaii 5-0 and NCIS.

God help me!

Entry two of a 100 Random Things

2012-04-21T01:13:34Z

Since it's decided to storm today, I decided to vow y'all with a piece of useless trivia concerning one of my favorite musicals, "Singin' In The Rain".

To film the sequence where Gene Kelly is dancing and singing in the rain, the film makers had to add a little bit of powdered milk so that the rain would show up on the film.

Entry one of a 100 Random Things

2012-04-20T02:05:38Z

Today is a very important day in US history. In 1775, a group of poorly armed and trained farmers stood down a well trained company of British soldiers, and thus it became known as the first real skirmish in the Revolutionary War.

This event is overshadow by events such as Waco and Oklahoma City.

To remind folks of this pivotal event, I bring you....

Concord Hymn
by Ralph Waldo Emerson

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.

I know it's been quiet around here, so I thought I would do this....

2012-04-17T18:13:14Z

{Take the 100 Things challenge!}

Not sure what I'll blog about since I love to do random things, so come back daily and see what I come up with.

Difficulties In Loving A Redhead Part 8

2012-02-04T19:26:39Z

Title: Difficulties In Loving A Redhead Part 8
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Characters: Horatio/Rick
Word count: 716
Rating: FRM
Disclaimer: Don't own. Merely borrowing. Will return someday....maybe.
Author's Notes: for froggy_freek
Author's Notes 2: Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five Part Six Part Seven

Horatio pulled the Mustang into the parking lot of his favorite restaurant and had to hide a smirk when Rick let out a gasp in surprise.

“You like?” he asked as he parked and turned off the car slipping the keys into his jacket pocket.

“I love eating here,” Rick exclaimed as he turned to face Horatio. “But how did you know that?”

“I didn’t,” Horatio truthfully answered. “I enjoy eating here and thought it would be the perfect place for our ‘first date’.”

Rick soft chuckled.

“What?”

“Now, you know one more fact about me.”

“I guess I can scratch that question off my list,” Horatio quipped before getting out of the car. He walked around and opened Rick’s door for him.

“You came up with a list?” Rick allowed Horatio to help him from the car and held his hand as they walk to the restaurant entrance.

“I did have some time to kill,” Horatio said with a shrug before giving his name to the maitre d.

Rick stayed silent as they were led to a table on the balcony uncertain what to say to keep the conversation going. They were in foreign territory and it was kind of scary.

“What’s wrong?” Horatio inquired.

Rick took a deep breath and let it out as a sigh. “To be honest, I’m scared.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure how to keep a conversation going past ‘how was your day?’” Rick truthfully answered.

Horatio reached across the table and took one of Rick’s hands in his. He gave it a gentle squeeze. “It’s simple,” he said. “Ask me a question and I’ll ask you one in return.”

“Don’t laugh if I screw this up.”

“I won’t,” Horatio promised.

Rick opened his mouth to ask Horatio a question when the waiter returned with their wine order, so he closed it. He let Horatio order for both of them while he enjoyed a sip of wine hoping it would ease the sudden dryness in his mouth.

“So where were we?” Horatio asked once the waiter had left. He still held Rick's hand letting his thumb softly caress the back of it.

“With me trying to come up with an intelligent question to ask you,” Rick retorted with a wry grin trying to ignore the shiver of desire that slid down his spine with every caress of Horatio's thumb.

“Oh, I know you’ve got a few of those up your sleeve.”

“Have you always been so confident?”

“No.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Rick replied. “You’ve always seem to be so self-assured.”

“I mess as a teenager,” Horatio countered.

“Weren’t we all.”

“Granted,” Horatio softly chuckled, “but, I spent most of those years trying hold together a dysfunctional family.”

Rick placed his other hand on top of Horatio's to keep the redhead from pulling away. “I didn’t mean to dredge up bad memories.”

“It’s okay,” Horatio reassured the other man. He let Rick hold his hand not surprised that he found comfort in the gesture. “I’ve made peace with most of them.”

Rick nodded knowing for the most part Horatio was telling the truth. “Your turn.”

Horatio smiled. “When did you pick up photography as a hobby?”

“I was ten when my uncle gave me my first camera. He spent an afternoon showing me how to use it, and I was hooked,” Rick explained. “It was the best birthday present I ever received as a kid. So, what about you?”

“What about me?”

“What was the best birthday present you ever received?”

“As a kid or period?”

“Period.”

“The best present was when you refurbished my nana’s old cookbook,” Horatio answered around the sudden lump in his throat. He reached for his wine glass and took a large gulp.

Rick softly smiled when he saw how emotional Horatio got answering such a simple question. He knew the cookbook had been special to the redhead, but until now he didn’t realize how special it truly was. “You really did love her.”

Horatio ducked his head to hide the few tears that had gathered in his eyes when he thought of the woman who kept him sane all those years ago. “Yes,” he murmured. “And, one day I hope to give her cookbook to Kyle.”

Rick let go of Horatio's hand and slipped a finger under his chin. He made Horatio look up.

They locked eyes and communicated on a level where words weren’t necessary.

Tbc...

My Puppies

2010-07-12T03:05:39Z

I told nakeisha that I would post pics of my babies, Bonita and Daisy. So here they are...

Bonita and her favorite blanket.

Daisy had put herself to bed.

Daisy with a big smile and her bone.

Bonita chilling in her favorite hiding place.

help_haiti fic CSI: Miami Horatio/Rick (Love Me)

2010-02-22T03:54:58Z

Title: Love Me
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Horatio/Rick
Summary: Horatio's lack of self-preservation causes Rick to declare his feelings for the redhead.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters nor am I making any money off of this fic.
Author's Notes: I know the title is lame, but I suck at titles. Some of the dialogue between Horatio and Rick, and between Horatio and Damon Argento come from the S6 episode Cyberlebrity.
Author's Notes 2: help_haiti fic for murgy31 who asked for Horatio/Rick finally realizing they care for each other. I hope you like it.

“When did you become a masochist?” Rick Stetler asked his reflection as he straightened his tie while recalling the dream of Horatio Caine making love to him that his alarm clock had interrupted.

The tie was burgundy and for once it didn’t clash with his light pink dress shirt. He had Horatio to thank for it, and this thought caused him to grimace.

The redhead had unofficially nominated himself as Rick’s fashion coordinator after Rick had walked into the crime lab one day wearing a royal blue shirt and a garish orange tie he had picked up at the Goodwill.

Rick sighed. Horatio Caine had been a thorn in his side for years, but in recent months that had changed. He had started to spend time with the older man and thus getting to know him better. In doing so, he had fallen under the redhead’s spell.

His phone rang and pulled him out of his thoughts. He picked it off the foyer table and answered, “Stetler.” He listened carefully to the caller. “Yes, sir. I’m leaving for the crime lab now. Hopefully, I can catch Caine before he begins his day.”

He ended the call and slipped his phone into his jacket pocket. He scooped up his keys and headed into work.

&*&*&*&

“Horatio,” Rick called out as he saw the redhead standing near the AV lab checking his phone. He quickly joined the redhead.

Horatio put his phone into his lapel pocket and coolly replied, “Rick.”

“We may have a potential problem,” Rick began.

“We?”

Rick glared at Horatio. He hated it when the older man started playing word games, especially when he was trying to be serious.

“Go on,” Horatio urged silently enjoying pushing Rick’s buttons.

“Somebody has found and leaked the transcripts to the Argento grand jury.”

So?”

“So, now Argento knows you’re the one who put him away. He still has associates on the outside, Horatio. Somebody might wanna take a shot at you,” Rick explained fighting the urge to smack the redhead up side the head for being so dense.

“Yes, that’s the risk we take everyday, Rick.”

Rick sighed and stepped closer to the older man. “Now, this is beyond hero worship okay? With this information out there, you’re in danger and I would like to convince you to take a security detail of your own.”

“Do I detect a note of concern?” Horatio softly inquired. He had slipped his sunglasses from his pocket and was fiddling with them. He needed to get away from Rick before he acted on the feelings the brunette stirred up inside of him.

“The Department is feeling very exposed,” Rick answered. He wanted to tell Horatio how he felt and beg him to take the protection, so that they would have a chance at a future, but he wasn't into emotional blackmail.

“Oh,” Horatio snarked. “So were back to reality.”

“This is serious.”

“It always is.” Horatio turned and walked away from Rick leaving the other man fuming.

&*&*&*&

Rick spent the rest of the day with his ear to ground, and some of the things he heard had caused his heart to lodge in his throat a time or two.

He watched Horatio interview Damon Argento reviewing in his mind the state of Horatio’s Hummer when it was towed into the crime lab garage. He still couldn’t believe somebody had been crazy enough to not only break into it, but also vandalize it.

He shook his head when Horatio let the young man go with a mild warning. They had locked eyes before the redhead left the police station, but Rick hadn’t been able to read anything in Horatio’s expression.

The one thing that it did do was make Rick curious and concerned, so he shadowed the redhead for the rest of the day.

&*&*&*&

Things between Horatio and Damon Argento came to a head later in the day, and Rick was mentally cussing out the redhead as he made his way behind Damon.

If anyone is going to shoot Horatio Caine, it's going to be me, Rick vowed as he trained his gun on the back of the young man’s head.

&*&*&*&

“What, you just expect me to fill in all those years you took my dad away from me?” Damon Argento snarled the question. He had Horatio’s back up piece trained on the redhead.

“I know how you feel, Damon,” Horatio tried to empathized. His gun was drawn, but hung loosely at his side.

“How can you know, unless you’ve felt what I’ve felt?”

“I know, because I’ve lost family too.”

“I didn’t lose my dad. You took him from me!”

“Damon put the gun down,” Horatio softly ordered as he raised his. He had caught sight of Rick making his way up behind Damon with his gun drawn.

“No,” Damon growled. He pulled the trigger and nothing happened. He stared dumbfounded at Horatio.

Horatio walked up and removed the gun from Damon’s grip. “On your knees.”

Damon sank to his knees shooting daggers of hatred at Horatio.

“Rick, if you be kind enough,” Horatio said not looking at Rick.

“Damon Argento, you are under arrest for vandalism, arson and attempted murder,” Rick said taking out his handcuffs and hooking the young man up. He pulled Damon to his feet and led him out of the building reciting the Miranda warning.

Horatio reholstered his gun and walked out of the building.

&*&*&*&

Rick stopped Horatio as he was leaving the lab for the evening. “We need to talk,” he said.

“Not now, Rick,” Horatio replied the fatigue he was feeling evident in his deep voice. He wasn't in the mood to explain his actions toward Damon Argento. “It’s been a long day.”

“Come over to my place,” Rick suggested. He could see that Horatio was tired and probably wouldn't fix himself something to eat before passing out in front of the t.v. Besides, he didn’t want to air his secret in public. “I’ll fix dinner.”

“Don’t you mean order out?” Horatio immediately quipped.

“Can you refrain from being a pain in the ass for a few hours?”

Horatio held up his hands and said, “Mea culpa.”

Rick sighed, rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Alright. I’ll try to be good,” Horatio replied as he dropped his hands resting them on his hips. “Because this sounds serious.”

“Very serious,” Rick stipulated. “And you can bring dessert.”

&*&*&*&

Rick opened his front door and smiled. “You look nice,” he said and stepped aside to let Horatio into his condo.

The redhead had changed into a pair of brown loafers, faded jeans and a hunter green linen shirt. Such casual attire meant Rick was going to get to spend the evening with the real Horatio.

“So do you,” Horatio returned the compliment smiling at Rick's choice of attire; a black t-shirt advertising an old AC/DC tour and old jeans. He held up a brown bag. “I bought wine and dessert, so what’s for dinner?”

“Spaghetti and meatballs.”

“Sounds good.” Horatio handed Rick the bag and followed him into the kitchen silently admiring Rick’s ass in his holey jeans. “I’m starving.”

“You could have stopped for lunch,” Rick gently admonished knowing that Horatio was too much like a dog with a juicy bone. Once a case caught his interest, the redhead would work it into the ground forgetting to take care of himself until the case was solved.

Horatio shrugged as he leaned on the counter next to the fridge with his legs crossed at the ankles.

Rick rolled his eyes before removing the wine from the bag briefly noting that it was his favorite, a California chardonnay, and then took down two wine glasses. “You want a splash now or wait until dinner?”

“I’ll take a glass now.”

Rick poured them each a glass. “So what should we drink to?” he asked after handing Horatio a glass.

Horatio swirled the red liquid in his glass before looking up and saying, “Surviving another day in the maddening jungle that is Miami.”

Rick touched his glass against Horatio’s and softly said, “To survival.”

&*&*&*&*

“You’re an amazing cook, Rick,” Horatio complimented the brunette as he pushed back from the table to enjoy another glass of wine.

“You sound surprised.”

“I shouldn’t be. Yelina told me once that you managed a minor miracle by getting Ray, Jr. to eat vegetables.”

Rick chuckled. “It was only broccoli. Not much of a miracle since it was covered in Alfredo sauce.”

“My nana had to trick me the same way,” Horatio admitted with a wry grin. “Ray would eat anything that was put in front of him. Me, I’ve got somewhat of a discriminating palate.”

“I might have to argue with you on that one.”

“Oh?”

“I watched you mix together Mac n’ cheese, kidney beans and hot dogs, and then happily eat it.”

“Tuna fish and rice mixed together is fine cuisine?” Horatio countered.

“That was me being too tired to go grocery shopping and sick of take out,” Rick responded thinking that he and Horatio were starting to sound like they had been married for several decades.

Horatio softly laughed. “Do you realize what we sound like?”

“An old married couple bickering for no reason other than it’s fun and annoys the children.”

“Pretty much.”

“Just proves that we’ve grown comfortable with each other in the past few months,” Rick observed.

“Enough so that you can tell me what has been bothering you of late?” Horatio gently inquired.

Rick choked on the sip of wine he had taken.

“You alright?”

“Yeah,” Rick replied after clearing his throat. “I forget you have a tendency to knock people off guard.”

“So?” Horatio softened his haggard features with a smile and a quizzical eyebrow. He didn’t want Rick to think he was interrogating him.

“As crazy as this is going to sound, especially after everything that has happened today,” Rick mumbled biting the bullet. “I’m in love with you.”

&*&*&*&*

Horatio sat and stared at Rick trying to come to terms with Rick’s revelation and what it meant for their future not only as friends, but also as cops. “That’s not quite the answer I was expecting,” he said finally breaking his silence.

“It’s the truth,” Rick declared suddenly feeling defensive and not knowing why.

“No need to get defensive about it.”

“No need for you to be an unfeeling prick about it either,” Rick snapped. He stood up and stalked from the room needing to put some space between himself and the redhead.

Horatio sighed and followed Rick onto the balcony that over looked the beach. “I’m not an unfeeling prick. You took me by surprise,” he tried to explain.

“So I’ve got shitty timing,” Rick snarked not bothering to turn and face Horatio.

“Yeah…well, you’re talking to the king of shitty timing.”

Horatio leaned on the wrought iron railing next to Rick, but with enough space between them so that Rick didn’t feel threatened.

“Would you have taken the protection detail if I had confessed my feelings for you?” Rick eventually asked over the gentle swishing of the waves on the shore.

“No.”

“Good.”

“Oh?”

“I don’t use emotional blackmail.”

“What were you and Yelina then?”

“A mistake that almost cost me her friendship and your respect,” Rick ruefully admitted.

“I do care for you, Rick,” Horatio simply said. “I just don’t know if it’s love, and it would be unfair to you to say that it is.”

“This is one time I wish you would lie,” Rick sighed.

Horatio reached out and turned Rick to face him. He cupped the younger man’s face letting his thumb gently caress Rick’s cheek. “Wouldn’t be right to start out a relationship with a lie,” he calmly remarked.

“I know.” Rick couldn’t stop himself from leaning into the touch, and then turning his face to place a light kiss on Horatio’s palm causing the redhead to quietly moan. “I love you and will accept whatever you are willing to give me.”

Horatio stepped closer while sliding his hand behind Rick’s head and pulling him down into a cautious kiss.

Rick returned the kiss before pulling away to catch his breath. It wasn’t the first time he had kissed a man and assumed it was the same for Horatio. “Are you sure about this?”

“Are you?”

“Yes.”

“Then so am I.”

Rick dipped his head and captured Horatio’s soft lips again. With little licks of his tongue, he demanded entrance to Horatio’s mouth. Horatio opened his mouth sucking Rick’s tongue inside to duel with his.

&*&*&*&*

Horatio ran his fingers through Rick’s dark hair as the other man rested his head on Horatio’s shoulder. “We’re gonna have to do that again sometime,” he drawled his Queens accent making an unscheduled appearance.

“I’d like that,” Rick replied before raising his head and looking Horatio in the eye.

"Tomorrow then," Horatio suggested. "My place. I cook and you bring the dessert."

"It's a date," Rick agreed trying hard to hide the sense of dread the thought of the next day was producing in his body.

Horatio felt the sudden tension sweep through Rick’s body turning his new lover into a taunt spring waiting to snap. He slid his hand up and down Rick’s back trying to sooth him. “What?”

“What do we do about tomorrow?”

“We take it like we do every day,” Horatio cryptically answered.

“One day at a time.”

“Exactly.”

“I'm not sure I can, Horatio.”

“We go to work and do our jobs being discrete about this part of our lives,” Horatio murmured allowing his hand to slip down to caress Rick's ass.

“And, if we are forced out into the open?” Rick’s greatest fear was losing his job because of his sexuality even though the MDPD was fairly tolerant about gay and lesbian officers.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but know that I will never abandon you due to somebody’s narrow minded opinion about love.”

Rick smiled and leaned down to softly kiss the redhead. Horatio always found a way to make him feel better. “Got another bout in you?” he gently teased.

Horatio rolled them so that he was straddling Rick’s thighs. “I may be the older man in this relationship, but don’t count me out just yet,” he growled before taking Rick’s mouth in a hungry kiss.

The End

Offering a Helping Hand

2010-01-15T05:11:00Z

I joined the following comm help_haiti. I'm offering fic so please go bid on me, and along the way you may find other fellow writers and artists.

Difficulties In Loving A Redhead Part 7

2009-12-28T23:36:37Z

Title: Difficulties in Loving a Redhead Part 7
Author: sharpiesgal
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Horatio Caine/Rick Stetler
Genre: slash
Prompt: 10 Hope
Word Count: 612
Rating: FRM
Summary: Horatio and Rick on their first "official" date.
Author's Notes: For froggy_freek and her Ricky.
Author's Notes 2: Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five Part Six

Horatio pulled up in front of Rick’s condo with a few minutes to spare. He turned off the car and took one final look in the rearview mirror.

He straightened his tie not bothering to hide the grimace of dislike. He was wearing it because Rick had remarked one time that he thought Horatio looked very distinguished with one on.

He sighed. The things one does for love.

&/&/&

Rick saw Horatio pull up in his vintage Mustang and smiled. His lover was pulling out all the stops. He watched the redhead walk up to his front door wearing a dark charcoal suit with a light green dress shirt and a black tie.

It was the tie that truly impressed Rick, because he knew how much Horatio hated wearing one.

He opened the door before Horatio had a chance to knock. “Hello.”

&/&/&

“Anticipation?” Horatio inquired as he dropped his hand resisting the urge to rest it on his hip.

“Curiosity,” Rick countered. He quelled the urge to use Horatio’s tie to pull the redhead toward him and kiss him senseless. Instead, he stepped out onto the walkway before turning to close and lock the door behind him.

“You know that killed the cat, Garfield,” Horatio gently teased. He had seen the spark of desire in his lover’s eyes before Rick had turned away leaving behind a subtle hint of his aftershave.

“Is that gonna be your nickname for me, Red?”

“Is that gonna be yours for me?”

“It suits you,” Rick replied with a grin.

“Because I’m a redhead?”

“Maybe or maybe not.”

“Maybe, maybe not?” Horatio inquired, puzzled. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“It’s nothing earth shattering,” Rick countered with a wry grin. “I’ll tell you later, because now, I’m starving.”

Horatio chuckled. “I thought avoiding answering questions was my forte.”

“I’m a quick study.”

“I ever tell you that I love your sense of humor?”

“You do?”

“I do.” Horatio stepped closer and caressed Rick’s newly shaven cheek. “Wanna hold my hand?”

Rick blinked. Horatio rarely if ever, initiated any kind of physical contact in public, so he hid the hope that flared in his chest. “Horatio?”

“I’m turning over a new leaf.”

“In that case,” Rick murmured before taking Horatio’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “Why do you like my sense of humor?”

“Because you’re one of a handful of people who can keep up with me,” Horatio explained. He pulled Rick close and brushed a soft kiss on his cheek.

“I hate to burst your bubble, but you aren’t that hard to keep up with.”

Horatio laid a hand over his heart. “You wound me,” he dramatically sighed.

Rick laughed.

Horatio smiled. It had been some time since he had heard his lover laugh. It was a beautiful sound. “I love your laugh.”

Rick slightly blushed. He wasn’t use to praise. He tugged on Horatio’s hand. “Come on. I’m starving.”

“And, you accuse me of being a bottomless pit,” Horatio retorted as he helped Rick into the car.

“You are,” Rick countered once Horatio was in the car and pulling out into the evening traffic. “When you remember to eat, that is.”

“Mother hen.”

“Sue me.”

“I’d rather screw you,” Horatio countered with a knowing smirk.

“Such a romantic.”

“I try.”

Rick waited until they had stopped at a red light before reaching over to turn Horatio’s head and soundly kiss him.

Horatio broke the kiss when the car behind them honked its horn. “You’re incorrigible,” he muttered as put the car in gear and continued to their destination.

Rick sat back with a smirk. The evening was going to be very interesting indeed.

TBC…

CSI: Miami Horatio Caine and Rick Stetler Prompt: 3 Pleasure (Legs)

2009-11-13T20:09:53Z

Title: Legs
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Horatio/Rick
Word Count: 100
Summary: Horatio flips through a photo album and receives a surprise.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters nor am I making any money off of this story.
Author's Notes: For froggy_freek.

I sat in the living room waiting for Rick to get changed for the evening.

Spying a photo album on the coffee table, I picked it up and flipped through it stopping at a picture of our legs.

They were sticking out from under a white comforter. My freckled ones entwined with his dusky ones as pleasure coursed through our bodies.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” I heard Rick ask as he joined me.

“When did you take it?”

“I didn’t. It’s a screencap from the video we made for Calleigh.”

I looked up and smiled.

He leaned over and kissed me.

CSI: Miami Horatio Caine and Rick Stetler Prompt: 20 Memories (Memories Are Made of This)

2009-11-11T05:21:33Z

Title: Memories Are Made of This
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Horatio Caine/Rick Stetler
Prompt: 20 Memories
Word Count: 813
Summary: Bad memories put a strain on Horatio and Rick’s relationship.
Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters nor am I making any money off of this story.
Author’s Notes: Something to cheer up froggy_freek

Horatio woke with a start barely managing to choke off the scream that came with the nightmare. His heart beat an erratic symphony in his chest which was covered in a cold sweat.

He sat up and leaned against the headboard silently praying that he hadn’t disturbed his lover’s sleep. Rick was under enormous pressure at work and needed his rest.

The redhead tiredly rubbed his face acknowledging the fact that whatever terror woke him up wouldn’t allow him to go back to sleep. So, being considerate and desiring a bit of fresh air, Horatio left his once comfortable bed.

He grabbed a blanket and pillow from the hall closet before heading to the back deck. He had tried sleeping on the couch the night before, but he had spent half the day doing paperwork because he could hardly walk his back hurt him that much.

He made himself at home on the chaise lounge content to watch the stars move across the sky.

&/&/&

Rick slowly woke and stretched out an arm wanting to pull Horatio close and snuggle him, but he encountered cold, damp sheets instead.

He sighed. He was alone in their bed for the second night in a row.

This had to stop before it drove a spike in their relationship.

He sighed again and rolled out of bed. He slipped on and belted his robe before going in search of Horatio.

&/&/&

Horatio was half dozing when a sound from the house had him alert and reaching for a weapon. He let go of the bat he had stashed under the lounge when he saw Rick standing in the doorway leading into the house.

“What are you doing out here, Horatio?” Rick softly asked. He stood in the doorway allowing the light from the dinning room to surround him in a halo effect.

Horatio had to smile at the sight of Rick’s dark hair sticking up all over the place and the threadbare robe he wore over his sleep pants.

“Stargazing,” the redhead answered knowing it was a lame answer as soon as the words spilled from his mouth. “What are you doing up?”

“Wondering why my lover can’t spend an entire night in our bed,” Rick countered. He walked onto the deck and settled on the porch swing.

“I couldn’t sleep and didn’t want my tossing and turning to disturb you,” Horatio lied. “You need your rest.”

“So do you, Horatio.”

Horatio shrugged. “I can nap in my office.”

“That’s not the same as a good night’s sleep.”

“What’s that again?” Horatio lightly quipped.

“Horatio, we promised not to keep secrets from one another,” Rick reminded the older man. “What is bothering you so much that you can’t sleep a whole night through?”

“Nothing.”

“Try again,” Rick encouraged. He knew his lover was hiding something that was too painful for him to share for fear of bringing Rick’s bad childhood memories to the surface.

“I’m not hiding anything.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

Horatio sighed. He knew Rick was correct. They had agreed not to keep secrets from each other having seen first hand what effect that kind of behavior had on a loving relationship.

“Memories,” he said. “I’m hiding from some bad memories, which is silly because they follow me no matter where I go to get away from them.”

“What kind of memories?”

“Watching my parents arguing. I don’t know how many times they came to almost killing one another, and then hours later making up as if nothing had happened.” Horatio dropped his head in his hands as he tried to will the images of his violent childhood back into their box. “It was insane.”

Rick moved from the swing to the lounge and pulled Horatio into his arms. “Some people aren’t meant to be parents,” he said in a soothing voice.

“Am I?”

“Is this about the argument you and Julia got into the other day?”

“Yeah,” Horatio admitted.

“You were there for Kyle from your first meeting with him making up for the fact that everyone else had given up on him at that point. If that’s not being a good parent, then I don’t know what is.”

Horatio shook his head and softly laughed at himself. “Why do you keep me around?”

“You’re caring, kind, good in bed, considerate, honest, good in bed, diligent, intelligent, good in bed, a brilliant cook, ummm…...”

“Go on.”

“Did I mention good in bed?”

“A few times.”

Rick laughed. He stood up and held out his hand. “Let’s go back to bed and create some happy memories of our own.”

Horatio took Rick’s hand and let his lover pull him to his feet. “I like how you think.”

Rick led Horatio back into the house and down the hallway to their bedroom where he spent the rest of the night making love to Horatio.

The End

Unexpected Attraction

2009-09-30T15:13:31Z

Title: Unexpected Attraction
Fandom: CSI: NY/CSI: Miami
Characters: Mac Taylor/Horatio Caine
Word Count: 611
Summary: The events of Unexpected from Horatio's POV.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. I'm just borrowing them for a bit. I'm not making any money off of this fic.
Author's Notes: This is for D.R. Millennium.

I am known as loner, but I don’t like being alone, so I would go out.

I would join in celebrations, but not to celebrate. I never celebrated justice being served. I just wanted to belong for however long the party lasted.

I had developed the bad habit of drowning my sorrows in private, and I know that is something that deeply troubles my team.

I had been relaxing in my hotel room debating on getting room service or going out to eat when Stella had called and asked me to join her team for drinks. I think I quickly agreed to her proposal because I didn’t want to spend another night in New York alone.

I had seen Mac arrive at the bar while I was outside indulging in my one vice. He had regarded me with a raised eyebrow and I had shrugged my shoulders in return, but stayed outside to finish my cigar.

When I had returned inside, the only place at the bar was between Mac and Don Flack. I ignored my body’s growing attraction to Mac by enjoying several beers and regaling Don with stories from my old days in the NYPD.

I was as astonished as he was when Mac invited me back to his place after everyone had headed home. I was even secretly glad, because I hadn’t wanted the evening to end.

We had a few more drinks; me partaking of his bourbon and him enjoying a rare Scotch on the rocks. I had chuckled when he broke out his old vinyl collection, and we listened to it while we talked about everything and then some.

It was nice to just be with someone who understood the loneliness that comes with being a dedicated police officer; the sacrifice of a personal life in the pursuit of justice.

I wasn’t surprise to discover that he had been a lieutenant in the Marine Corps. His body language had screamed military from the moment I had laid eyes on him.

At some point, I caught him staring at me, his gray eyes locking with my blue ones, so I leaned into his personal space and kissed him. It was a brief kiss with my dry lips brushing against his soft ones mixing the tastes of bourbon and scotch together.

We had barely separated when I asked him if he wanted to take it further, and with a slight nod I was being led down the hallway to his bedroom.

I spared it a brief glance noting that it was uniquely his even with the slight feminine touches that remained from the time that Mac had shared the room with his wife. It was a sanctuary away from the world and all its troubles, and something that I didn’t have.

I laid him down on the bed with its navy blue comforter and slowly undressed Mac enjoying the sounds I drew from him as I worshiped his body as we made love.

Afterward, I held him and listened as he told me about his wife and the never ending pain of losing her in the Towers. I then let my guard down allowing Mac to see in my soul and finding in me someone who understood his loss.

I watched over him as he grieved and then fell into a sound sleep.

When he woke a few hours later, he smiled at me and I knew he had made peace with his past. I allowed him to pull me into a gentle kiss safe in the knowledge that I wasn’t going to become a one night stand.

That was six months ago.

We’ve been together ever since.

Unexpected

2009-09-12T02:41:21Z

Title: Unexpected
Author: sharpiesgal
Claim: Mac Taylor
Prompt: 10. Soul
Fandom: CSI: NY
Rating: FRAO
Word Count: 378
Summary: Mac finds a lover in an unexpected person.
Notes/Warnings: Slash m/m
Betas: mingsmommy and aeoncole Thank bunches. Any other mistakes are mine.

I wasn’t one for going out.

I rarely had anything that I wanted to celebrate and I preferred to drown my sorrows in private.

I still don’t know what made me give into Stella’s badgering and go to Sullivan’s, but as I sat at the bar with Horatio’s deep voice rumbling in my ear as he traded stories with Flack, I was glad I had.

I ended up inviting him back to my place.

We had a few more drinks and listened to some of my old vinyl records. It was nice to finally meet someone who had a similar taste in music.

We talked about everything under the sun. I learned that he had a varied career as a cop.

It was like having Clare back, but not.

As we talked, I caught myself gazing into his hypnotic blue eyes and falling under the spell he wove.

And, when he kissed me, tasting of bourbon, it felt so natural.

I kissed him back.

“Do you want this?” he asked. I could smell the spice of his aftershave and the hint of cigar smoke on his fine, linen shirt.

“Yes,” I had answered. I took his hand and led him down the hallway to my Spartan bedroom.

We made love.

It was the first time I had been with anyone since Clare’s death. I was always comparing anyone I met to her.

It wasn’t fair of me, but it was how it was.

Her death had left a huge hole where my heart had been and I never wanted to be hurt that way again.

Horatio understood. He lowered his guard and I was given a glimpse into his soul.

He held me as he encouraged me to let go and grieve for what I had lost.

He didn’t judge.

He didn’t ask, but I had told him anyway.

I fell asleep in his arms, safe in the knowledge that he would be there when I woke.

I had a dream of Clare.

She had been smiling. She had kissed me farewell and promised that we would meet again.

When I woke, I was filled with a sense of peace.

I turned in Horatio’s arms and gently kissed him.

That was six months ago.

We’ve been together ever since.

Puzzle Pieces

2009-06-27T15:46:35Z

Title: Puzzle Pieces
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Characters: Horatio/Rick
Prompt: pieces of a puzzle
Summary: Rick gives Horatio something to combat boredom.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters nor am I making any money off of this fic.
Author's Notes: Written for medjai_trowa's Gathering fic contest.

Horatio stopped at the Reception desk to check for his messages and was handed a vanilla envelope with his name scrawled across it in red Sharpie. He tucked it under his arm and thumbed through his messages as he made his way to the glass bowl that was his office.

He dropped the envelope on the desk before settling into his desk chair with a sigh. He tossed out the unimportant messages and smiled as they fluttered into the trashcan like pink snowflakes.

He turned his attention to the envelope. He opened it and pulled out the contents.

Pieces of a cut up photograph floated to the floor.

“Shit,” Horatio muttered. He bent down and picked them up. He tossed them onto the desk.

He unfolded the note and read:

Red,

Here is a puzzle to help kill the boredom while I’m away.

Love,

Garfield

Horatio snorted and began to sort out the cut up photograph pieces. He carefully arranged them in the correct order.

As he finished assembling the puzzle, he knew that he had to be at least three shades of crimson. He reached for his cell phone and dialed his lover’s number.

“Rick,” he quietly said when his lover answered.

“Yes, Horatio,” Rick replied.

“I got your puzzle and all I have to say is no sex for you.”

“But, but…”

“No, ifs, ands, or especially butts for you,” Horatio growled as he ended the call.

The End

Difficulties In Loving A Redhead Pt. 6

2009-02-18T04:59:38Z

Title: Difficulties In Loving A Redhead Pt. 6
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Horatio Caine/Rick Stetler
Prompt: 13 Questions
Rating: FRAO
Word Count: 348
Summary: Horatio and Rick plan their first "official" date.
Disclaimer: I don't own them nor am I making any money off of this.
Author's Notes: This should keep a certain Rick lover from poking me this week.
Author's Notes 2: Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five

Rick saw Horatio smile and felt his heart skip a beat. “You’re beautiful when you smile,” he complimented his lover.

Horatio ducked his head as he felt a slight blush color his cheeks. He had always found it hard to be on the receiving end of a compliment. “Thank you,” he mumbled.

Rick leaned back and sipped on his coffee. He watched Horatio eat ignoring the desire to tease the redhead about his blushing at the drop of a hat. “So what would you like to do on our first date?”

Horatio looked up and shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Rick found that Horatio’s answered surprised him. “Why?”

The redhead pushed his plate aside and set his elbows on the table. He folded his hands and rested his chin on them as he studied his lover. “I don’t know you,” he began. “I mean besides what your favorite color is, when your birthday is and what you take in your coffee.”

“I like Italian food,” Rick supplied. “My favorite dish is lasagna.”

“Then I know the perfect place to take you for dinner.”

“And that would be?”

“My little secret, Garfield,” Horatio quipped his lips twisting into a smirk.

“In that case,” Rick said as he finished his coffee. He stood up and placed his dishes in the sink. “I need to head home and get ready.”

“It’s going to take you seven hours to get ready?”

Rick patted Horatio’s cheek. “You’re cute,” he teased. “I need to run a few errands before you pick me up at seven.”

“And what do I do with all this free time?”

“Come up with some questions you can ask me, so that by the end of the date you will know more about me besides what my favorite sexual position is,” Rick suggested.

“That is?”

“For me to know and you to find out,” Rick retorted. He gave Horatio a brief peck on the lips. “I’ll see you at seven.”

Horatio turned in his seat and watched Rick leave. “This is gonna be fun,” he told himself.

TBC…

Part Seven

Difficulties In Loving A Redhead Pt. 5

2009-02-12T13:55:26Z

Title: Difficulties In Loving A Redhead Pt.5
Characters: Horatio Caine and Rick Stetler
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Prompt: 06 Pain
Word Count: 412
Rating: FRAO
Summary: Horatio tells Rick what he had concluded in the shower.
Disclaimer: I don't own nor am I making any money off of this story.
Author's Notes: For froggy_freek. An extra birthday goodie.
Author's Notes 2: Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four

“Don’t say it, if you don’t mean it, Horatio,” Rick softly replied.

Horatio reached up and grasped Rick’s wrist. He squeezed it. “I mean it, but I know it doesn’t fix the damage I’ve caused.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Rick closed his eyes as he fought the desire to reconnect with Horatio on a physical and intimate level.

Sensing that his lover’s resolve was about to crumble, Horatio let go off Rick’s wrist. He pulled back so that they weren’t touching. He had come to the painful conclusion in the shower that he used sex to soothe the many hurts he had caused with his irrational behavior.

Rick opened his eyes when he felt Horatio pull away. “Horatio?”

“You’re right,” the redhead conceded. “Sex is my way of trying to fix things between us, and it has brought us to this point.”

“Which is?”

“We need a cooling off period,” Horatio responded ignoring Rick’s question.

“A cooling off period?”

“No sex. I don’t want to fall back into old habits and end up pushing you away.”

“What made you come to this conclusion?”

“Last night was the first time we ever slept together without having sex first,” the redhead explained. “As I showered, I discovered that I liked being in your arms, being soothed and pampered at the same time. I would like to cultivate that part of our relationship.”

At the very least, Rick was surprised by this revelation. He seriously didn’t think Horatio had it in him to change, and he felt immediate remorse for such doubt that he apologized, “I’m sorry.”

Horatio nodded silently accepting the apology. “I can understand why you would doubt my sincerity. I’ve done nothing but cause you pain.”

Rick stepped back into Horatio’s personal space. He leaned down and gave the other man a soft kiss on the lips. “I love you,” he iterated. “And pain comes with the territory.”

Horatio reached up and caressed Rick’s face. “So when would you like to go on our first date?”

Rick chuckled. “Breakfast first and then I’ll let you know.”

“Alright,” Horatio agreed happy for the first time in weeks. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Rick retrieved the plates from the counter and placed one in front of the redhead before settling into the chair across from his lover. He smirked as Horatio dived in. “Hungry?”

“Starving.”

Rick chuckled.

Horatio realized he had missed that sound and he smiled.

TBC…

Part Six

Difficulties In Loving A Redhead Pt. 4

2009-01-27T01:54:12Z

Title: Difficulties In Loving A Redhead Pt. 4
Author: sharpiesgal
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Horatio Caine/Rick Stetler
Genre: Slash
Prompt: 11 Love
Word Count: 635
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Rick tells Horatio they need to talk.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters nor am I making any money off of this story.
Author's Notes: Part 1 can be found here Part 2 can be found here Part 3 can be found here
Author's Notes 2: This is for Sylum's House/froggy_freek. Thank you for my banner and my awesome new icon. *squishes*

Rick tried to stay awake to protect Horatio against the terrors that threatened to devour the redhead’s soul the moment he let his guard down, but a night spent on the couch in his office caught up with him.

He succumbed to sleep once again only to be jerked awake as his greatest fear played out in Technicolor in his tired mind.

He looked over at Horatio resting peacefully and briefly wondered if this moment of time would be all he had to sustain him in the long, cold and lonely nights to come.

&/&/&

Horatio slowly woke to the smell of fresh brewed coffee and the sound of somebody quietly cursing. He cautiously left his bed and padded toward the bathroom where he soon discovered the reason for the cursing.

He found his lover dressed in a white, cable knit sweater and faded jeans trying to repair the door to the medicine cabinet. He spotted the coffee cup sitting on the vanity and reached for it.

“Do you really want to do that?” Rick softly inquired giving Horatio a pointed look.

“There are worse reasons to die for,” Horatio countered as he picked up the cup and took a sip.

“Right now,” Rick drawled allowing his Southern accent off its leash. He took the cup back and took a sip before sitting back down on the vanity. “The only death I’m contemplating is this stupid medicine cabinet’s.”

Horatio bit back a dry chuckle. He walked over to the toilet and relieved himself before walking over and starting the shower. “Wouldn’t you rather join me in the shower instead?”

Rick was torn. He craved the physical connection he had with Horatio, but at the same time he didn’t want them falling back into their old routine. “I would,” he admitted. “But, we need to talk first.”

He gave Horatio a peck on the cheek before picking up the coffee cup and leaving the room.

&/&/&

Horatio was floored by Rick’s refusal of make-up sex. He watched his lover leave the bathroom unable to find the words that would cause him to stop and turn around.

He undressed and stepped into the shower and lost himself in thought as the water pounded down on his back.

&/&/&

Rick concentrated on making breakfast. He dumped from his mind images of Horatio in the shower as he tried to make scrambled eggs and French toast.

It was hard fighting against the desire to be next to his lover, but Rick did because he wanted to have Horatio in his life forever.

He was setting the table when Horatio entered the kitchen his red hair damp and slicked back from his forehead. He was dressed in dark jeans and a black t-shirt, which seemed to suit his melancholy mood.

“I don’t know how to talk, Rick,” Horatio began with brutal honesty. “Tell me what you want to hear and I’ll say it.”

“It doesn’t work that way, Horatio,” Rick replied before returning to the stove to dish out the food.

Horatio pulled out a chair and slumped into it. “Show me how to make this thing between us work, because I don’t know what to do. I just know I don’t want you to leave.”

&/&/&

Hearing Horatio admit that he didn’t want Rick to leave, proved to be Rick’s undoing. He left the plates on the counter and walked over to cup Horatio’s face forcing the redhead to look up. “I want this to work, Horatio. I don’t want to leave, but you have to open up and let me in. I need to know that you are committed to this relationship.”

Horatio looked into Rick’s dark eyes and said the three words he had only said to two other people and meant them. “I love you.”

TBC…

Part Four

Difficulties In Loving A Redhead Pt. 3

2009-01-17T20:54:33Z

Title: Difficulties In Loving A Redhead Pt. 3
Author: sharpiesgal
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Horatio Caine/Rick Stetler
Genre: Slash
Prompt: 9 Comfort
Word Count: 908
Rating: PG-13
Summary: A long day a work nursing a hangover has Horatio regretting his recent behavior toward his lover.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters nor am I making any money off of this story.
Author's Notes: Part 1 can be found here Part 2 can be found here
Author's Notes 2: This is for Sylum's House/froggy_freek. Get to feeling better soon, babe.

Horatio kept his sunglasses on and a tight grip on the Starbucks cup he held in his right hand as he gingerly walked the perimeter of the crime scene searching for evidence. He would have happily had anybody lob his head off his shoulders since it still hurt despite the aspirin he had taken earlier.

He had no one but himself to blame. Acknowledging this did not improve his already bad mood and people tiptoed around him as if he had the proverbial black cloud hanging over his aching head.

&/&/&

“Eric, please tell me you have good news,” Horatio commented as he entered the fingerprint lab hours later. He fiddled with his cell phone as he left another text message for Rick to call him.

“I pulled some juicy prints from the briefcase,” Eric softly replied. He knew all about working with a hangover, so he did his best not to aggravate Horatio. He just hoped that it wasn’t a sign that Horatio’s latest relationship was on the rocks. “I’m running them through AFIS right now.”

Horatio carefully nodded. His head wasn’t as painful as it had been at the crime scene, but he wasn’t certain that it was still attached to his neck. “Let me know when you get a hit.”

Eric reached out and placed a hand on Horatio’s sleeve keeping the man from leaving. “You want to talk about it?” he discreetly inquired.

Horatio glanced down at Eric’s hand and then back up. He gave his brother-in-law a brief smile of appreciation. “Thanks for the offer,” he said. “But the mess I got myself into requires a good deal of groveling.”

Eric dropped his hand. “Ouch,” he sympathized. He had been there a few hundred times himself. He was glad his lover was so understanding. “I’ll let you know when I get a match,” he said returning the subject back to the case at hand.

“Thanks,” Horatio replied. He walked out of the lab and down the hall to his office.

&/&/&

It was the wee hours of the morning before Horatio made it home and his hangover had turned into a stress-induced migraine. The case had morphed into two separate cases when AFIS came back with two known felons.

He walked into his living room and found his lover curled up on his couch sound asleep. He covered Rick with a blanket as he debated with himself if he should be surprised or relieved that Rick was there at all.

Deciding he was too tired and hurting too much to think about anything but stretching out on his bed, Horatio placed a soft kiss on Rick’s temple and headed down the hall to his bedroom. He stretched out on the bed not bothering to undress except to remove his jacket, shoes, gun, badge and id.

Horatio flung an arm over his eyes and tried to will the pain away. He was interrupted when Rick came in and settled on the edge of the bed. “Migraine?” he softly asked.

“Yes, and I thought you were asleep.”

“I woke up when I felt you covered me up,” Rick quietly explained. “Want me to get your medicine?”

“Please.”

Horatio felt the bed move as Rick got up and went into the bathroom. He heard the medicine cabinet squeak open and he told himself he had to fix it the next chance he got.

He eased himself up into a sitting position just as Rick turned off the light and walked back into the room with a glass of water and a bottle of pills. “You look as good as I feel,” he lightly quipped.

“Then we’re both screwed,” Rick countered as he shook two pills from the bottle. “Get these in you and you’ll start to feel a little better.”

Horatio took the pills knocking them back with a large sip of water. He set the glass on the night stand and reached out for Rick’s hand. “I’m sorry for being a self-center bastard of late,” he said apologizing for his recent behavior.

“I’m sorry too,” Rick apologized as well. “I should have been more understanding. I shouldn’t have pushed, especially after the crap Julia pulled on you.”

“I know we need to talk, but can we do it later today.” Horatio pulled Rick closer to him. “I really need to get some rest and I sleep better when you are beside me.”

Rick leaned down and gave Horatio a brief kiss. “Me too,” he said before stepping back and stripping down to his boxers. “Want me to help you undress?”

“I think I can manage,” Horatio replied as he cautiously stood up and stripped down to his t-shirt and boxers.

Rick turned down the bed and slipped in under the covers. He held out open arms in invitation and sighed when Horatio joined him in the bed.

Horatio snuggled into Rick’s arms resting his head on Rick’s shoulder soaking up the comfort that his lover unselfishly offered. “You’ll be here when I wake up?” he asked knowing he sounded like a little kid.

Rick brushed the hair from Horatio’s forehead and dropped a light kiss there. “Yes,” he answered. “I’m not planning on being anywhere else.”

“Good,” Horatio murmured, and then he fell asleep safe in the knowledge that Rick wouldn’t go back on his word.

Rick watched Horatio sleep on guard for the nightmares that destroyed what little rest his lover managed to get.

TBC…

Part Four

Another Claim for 50ficlets

2008-07-19T20:22:22Z

I dropped one challenge only to pick up another one.

I AM A GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT!!!!!!!!!

That said here is my second 50ficlets claim.

This time it's CSI:NY and Mac Taylor.

#01 - Abyss	#02 - Motion	#03 - Pain	#04 - Sight	#05 - Sound
#06 - Parts	#07 - Stranger	#08 - Proof	#09 - Heart	#10 - Soul
#11 - Heaven	#12 - Hell	#13 - Rain	#14 - Sun	#15 - Wind
#16 - Food	#17 - Pure	#18 - Break	#19 - Blood	#20 - Song
#21 - Friend	#22 - Lover	#23 - Secret	#24 - Drink	#25 - Telephone
#26 - Glass	#27 - Serve	#28 - Truth	#29 - Lie	#30 - Sugar
#31 - Words	#32 - Line	#33 - Anger	#34 - Cross	#35 - Speed
#36 - Help	#37 - Need	#38 - Lust	#39 - Passion	#40 - Universe
#41 - Paper	#42 - Gold	#43 - Silver	#44 - Play	#45 - Rough
#46 - Fire	#47 - Earth	#48 - Air	#49 - Water	#50 - Spirit