A/N: I should be working on my CSI:NY fic, but my dear, darling muse wouldn't let this go. So here I start another story with Horatio and Annabel. I don't know how fast I will update. Because I should be working on my CSI: NY fic! Sorry. Trying to shake some sense into my muse.

I don't own anyone from CSI: Miami. They belong to group of talented, if somewhat frustrating, people I've never met. I don't make any money off of this, so please don't sue me. I promise to return them none too worse for wear. Besides borrowing the characters and using them as I see fit, I'll feel free to do the same with other bits from the show. That's your warning. I won't always remember to give another one. I am running parallel to the series in S5 right now.

This is AU (if you hadn't figured it out) and it does prominently feature an OC. It's the 6th in my nameless series. All the titles, with the exception of one, are lines from Edgar Allan Poe poems. In order, the series runs: By the Sounding Sea, Yon Drear and Rigid Bier, On a Blue Burst of Lake (from a Carl Sandburg poem), Through Darkened Glasses and To a Discordant Melody. If you're new, you might want to go back and catch up. Otherwise, this probably won't make much sense.

And away we go…Hang on.

Sunlight barely lit the room as Horatio stirred in the bed. He reached out to find Annabel's side empty. Again. Must be out biking. Again. Horatio rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. They slept in the same bed every night and every morning she was gone. What did you expect? You asked her not to hate you only for that night. Horatio rolled to his side again. He ran his hand over Annabel's pillow and along the sheets, closing his eyes. He could almost feel her warm skin under his hand. Usually one or the other was asleep first in the bed and she was always gone in the morning before he woke. In our sleep we cling to each other. In the light we walk alone. Horatio pushed himself up and out of the bed. He showered, dressed and left before Annabel returned. As he walked to carport, he briefly took off his sunglasses and squinted in the pale sunrise. Horatio looked for her. No sign. He slid his sunglasses back on and opened the door. She had left him again. But you didn't wait either. But she left first. The voices argued in his mind. And that makes you any better how? mocked the louder voice as he started his Hummer. There was no winner, he thought sadly.

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Annabel strode into the office and straight to her desk. She stopped dead as she spotted the cup in the middle of her desk. Folders had been moved to make space. Right in the middle, the same as every morning. Next to the cup sat a bagel. Everything with garlic cream cheese. Annabel's heart tightened a bit as she remembered how much Horatio teased her the first time she ordered that in front of him. Then he proceeded to kiss you soundly to prove a little garlic breath wasn't enough to scare him off. She left the bagel where it was and reached for the cup of coffee. Frank ambled by as she picked it up.

"It's probably stone cold. It was there when I came in over an hour ago."

Annabel frowned at him. "Mind your own business, Frank."

Frank stopped and took a good look at Annabel. Her eyes were distant with dark circles under them. Her cheeks were starting to look hollow. Her skin, while tanned, looked sallow. On top of not sleeping, she wasn't eating much either. He bet if he came by her desk later the bagel would still be sitting there. Or in the trash. He shook his head, a little anger at both of his friends welling up. "I'd prefer to take you both out back and horsewhip ya." Annabel ignored him and took a sip of the coffee. She grimaced. Frank was right. Stone cold. She took another sip anyway. All the better to get the caffeine down. "How long you two gonna keep bein' stupid?"

Annabel frowned. "Don't."

Frank shook his head. "Jus' sayin', Annie," he growled.

"Noted. Catch you later, Frank." Annabel held onto the cup, picked up a file and headed off. Frank watched her go shaking his head. Their stubbornness is part of what makes them both good cops, he thought. But right now it's killing both of them.

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Annabel headed into Hialeah to check on a robbery that had turned deadly. The call came over the radio on an officer down, Hummer run off the road and into a canal. Panic engulfed her. She tapped her earpiece, said his name and prayed for him to answer.

"Bella." Annabel released her breath slowly. "It's Calleigh. I'm on my way to the scene. She..she got out."

"Thank God for that."

"Yes. Everything else is compromised, but she's going to be alright. I will talk to you later."

"Ok. Later," confirmed Annabel. Horatio hung up. Annabel pulled into a parking lot and laid her forehead against the steering wheel. Her eyes prickled. She took deep breaths, trying to calm herself. She lifted her head and rubbed her eyes. So close. Is it worth it? No matter how justified you feel, is it worth the risk? Annabel took a few more cleansing breaths and continued on to her scene. I don't know.

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Calleigh was sitting on the bench in the locker room still shivering even though her clothes had started to dry. She heard the door open and close, but made no move. Annabel spotted her, came over and sat down beside her. Calleigh stared at her hands.

"I thought you got sent home."

"Horatio told me to take the rest of the day off, but I can't."

"No one's gonna think badly of you."

Calleigh's chin shot up. "That's not why I'm staying. I wanta figure out who the hell decided to send me swimmin' today." Her anger thickened her Louisiana drawl. Annabel's lips twitched. A mad Calleigh wasn't one to step in front of.

"As long as you're OK."

Calleigh closed her eyes and shook her head. "I'm fine. Shaken." She looked over at Annabel. "But more pissed off than anything. Everything got ruined. We've got nothing." Calleigh clenched her fists. Annabel almost thought she was going to punch a locker. No, would be more like you, not Calleigh.

Annabel shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe there's something salvageable. They've brought your Hummer back and Ryan's got the evidence bags in layout. Maybe there's still something there."

Calleigh nodded her head slightly. "Maybe." She looked over at Annabel again. She watched her for a bit and decided to take advantage of no one else being around. "How come if I was the one who got dunked, you're the one who looks like she was fished out of the swamp?"

Annabel rolled her eyes. "Not you too. Frank already tried to lecture me this morning."

"Maybe we'll all stop if you two will wise up. What if…"

Annabel shook her head hard. "Please. Do not go there. I've been there and it wasn't pretty."

"Well then?"

Annabel frowned at Calleigh. "Oh, you're a fine one to talk."

"What exactly do you mean by that?" Calleigh was confused by the sudden change in subject.

"Eric."

Calleigh looked away. "We're…"

"Only friends? Come on, Calleigh. I've played that game too."

"And I see where it got you." Calleigh glared at Annabel. Annabel stood up and took a couple of steps away. She turned back and looked sadly back at Calleigh.

"Don't use Horatio and me as an example. It's complicated."

Calleigh raised her eyebrows. "And you don't think Eric and I wouldn't be complicated? You've got him right there, Annabel. Don't be so proud you throw it all away."

"Again, you're a fine one to talk."

Calleigh sighed in frustration. "This is going nowhere."

"Truce then?" Annabel held out her hand. Calleigh shook it. "I'm glad you're okay."

Calleigh gave her a shaky smile. "I am." She pushed herself up off the bench. "But I gotta shower and change. I'm starting to itch. And I got work to do."

Annabel nodded. "I need to do some work too." She started to walk off.

"Hey, Annie!" Annabel turned back. "After shift why don't we try and get everybody together and go out for drinks? We haven't done that in forever and I feel the need to let loose a little."

Annabel gave a non-committal little nod. "Sounds good." She headed back to her office.

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