Title: Meant To Be

Author: jessi84

Rating: PG 13

Spoiler: none

Pairing: H+C

Disclaimer: the characters are not mine, I just borrowed them

Notes: a big THANK YOU to my fabulous beta melles; we're are a great team, aren't

we? Hope you enjoy reading this story. Please R&R

Chapter 1

Horatio Caine was sitting on his chair in his office. It was a normal Wednesday like every week, but somehow this Wednesday was different then all the others before. Absorbed in thought he looked outside the window. Outside, it was raining and dark, even though it was in broad day. Maybe this rainy weather would turn into a thunderstorm. A thunderstorm like his feelings inside of his stomach.

He tried hard to stay focused on the present case, but somehow his thoughts always went to one person. "It is not possible", he thought, "it is forbidden". But there was no way to stifle his feelings. He loved her, he had to confess that. Only yesterday on the crime scene he recognized again, what this woman means to him. Her long blond hair, her beautiful green eyes and her fabulous body. For him she was one of a kind, especially when she wore black. "Black", he smiled when he thought about that. "Doesn't she wear that colour more often since I told her, that I like that colour?" Horatio thought. "Nonsense, it has nothing to do with your statement", Horatio said to himself. But what could he do? He had no idea. He wasn't sure if she had the same feelings for him. Of course, they were flirting sometimes, but this was fun, wasn't it? They were friends, good friends. Don't friends do something like that sometimes?

He was scared. For the first time in his life, the great Horatio Caine was scared and anything but self-confident. He almost felt like a teenager.

"I have to tell her", he thought, "but what happens if she doesn't reciprocate my feelings? Never mind, I have to talk to her, there is no other way", Horatio decided.

He stood up.

What Horatio didn't notice was that he was observed by Speed. Actually Speed wanted to talk about the case and his results, but when he noticed that Horatio was in another world, he changed his mind.

He observed Horatio for minutes, sitting on his chair and looking outside the window. He knew Horatio for many years now, but he has never seen him like that before. "There is something wrong with him, but what? Calleigh behaves the same way like him, is there something I missed?" He shrugged his shoulders. He could also talk to Horatio later.

The same time, Speed was observing Horatio, Alexx was observing Calleigh.

"What the hell? Oh no, not again" said Calleigh petulantly. "Why is everything going wrong today?" For more than the first time she has tried to fill in her results in her report, but every time she made mistakes. She wasn't concentrated, she knew that. And she also knew the reason for that.

"Calleigh", she said to herself, "don't act like a teenager. You are much too old for this kind of behaviour."

Again she got a new paper and started to fill in her results, but this time she was interrupted by Alexx, who stood grinning in the door. "Hey Sugar, what are you doing here?" Alexx asked.

"I'm trying to fill in my results" said Calleigh peeved.

"Well it doesn't look like that. For me it looks like waste of paper", Alexx smiled.

"Do you think so?" Calleigh asked.

"Yep. So what's wrong with you, Sugar?"

"Nothing is wrong, Alexx."

"Well, these rumpled papers tell me something different. Come on tell me, or I will razz you until you tell me the truth."

Calleigh knew that Alexx meant this serious, so she gave in. "It's about a man."

"Oh there you are." Now Alexx was really curious. "A man? Which man? Do I know him?", she asked.

"Well, hm, maybe."

"Hey Sugar this no real answer. Yes or no?"

"Yes."

"Now that's interesting."

Basically Alexx could imagine which man Calleigh had in mind. There was only one man who was able to confuse her bullet girl in this way. The man with the red hair, Horatio Caine. "Let me guess, it is, hm, Horatio?"

"How do you know?", asked Calleigh pretty shocked.

"You don't have to be a clairvoyant to see this", Alexx smiled. "I've noticed the way you look at him."

"Oh my god, who else?" Calleigh asked almost hysterical.

"Calm down Calleigh. I don't believe that anybody has noticed that, expect of me, inclusive Horatio. You know men aren't that sensible", she laughed. "So tell me your problem."

"Well, he is the problem or better I am the problem."

"Explain."

"I can't explain that, Alexx. I like him."

"You like him?" Alexx asked.

"Well yes, he is my friend."

"He is my friend too Calleigh, but I don't drop everything when he is nearby", Alexx laughed.

"I don't do this either, you know that."

"Yes, just kidding." There was something more behind that, Alexx was sure. "But how can I manage that she tells me the truth?" she thought. "So Calleigh you wear black?" "Yes I do."

"Didn't you tell me this is not your favourite colour?"

"I didn't say that."

"Oh, ok." "Damned", Alexx thought. "Ok, Calleigh stop playing with me. I know Horatio likes this colour. I know you like him. And please correct me, but I think you like him more than a friend. I see your eyes glinting when you talk about him, I see you touching him, when you believe nobody sees it. I'm your friend Cal, your best friend. Don't I deserve honesty?", Alexx was sad.

Calleigh saw the sadness in her eyes. Yes Alexx was her best friend. She knew that everything what she tells her was kept in silence. She had to tell it and as a load full down from her shoulders she said "I love him Alexx, by heart", she looked down on the floor, not sure how Alexx will react.

"That's wonderful Sugar."

"No it's not, Alexx", Calleigh replied angrily.

"So I don't see your problem", said Alexx astonished by Calleighs' reaction.

"Didn't you listen? I love him, but it's forbidden."

"Oh come on Calleigh since when do we play under the rules?"

"He is my boss, Alexx, and in addition I don't know his feelings about me", Calleigh almost cried.

"Oh sugar, give me a hug. You know there is only one way to find out, don't you?"

"I can't Alexx I can't."

"Of course you can. Either you talk to him or the lab has to order much more paper" Alexx laughed.

Calleigh smiled. "Yes you're right."

Alexx gave her a handkerchief.

"But, how can I tell him?"

"Hm, let's think about that."