Broken Body, Lively Soul (Closed)

[pjt7611]

He smiled at Maggie as she reached out and took his hand. He let her lead him into the room as they weaved between all the tables looking for the prime spot for him to sit so he could clearly see her and the stage.

"Thank you for the compliment Maggie. I feel I look the same as I do every day but you look incredible tonight if you don't mind me saying so. Whoever you manage to land on your arm looking like that will sure be a lucky guy."

They finally found a table perfect for him and he finally dropped her hand and walked around the table to take his seat. "I'm sure this evening will not only be different but wonderful as well. I have actually been looking forward to it."

He watched her as she tried to calm herself down before taking the stage. "You won't need luck Maggie. You've got the gift. Just use it. And I will be right here cheering you on."

[Mayu]

Maggie was really happy about this moment and though nervous she heard what he said about who ever would be with her. Looking at Horatio she smiled some "Yeah well I doubt that will happen ever. Since one man already has my heart" She said hinting that it was Horatio and squeezed his shoulder. Then she went up on stage and sighed a bit, unsure what she was doing to much. A woman gave her a sky blue guitar and she put the strap on over her shoulder. And was thinking about what to say.

"Tonight I have a very special guest with me tonight who has meant the world to me, god knows he has kept me out of trouble. I dedicate this song to my friend Horatio, for we have been there for each other." She smiled and nodded for the guy at the keyboard to begin. Hearing the piano she looked down and looking back up she began to sing, enjoying the melody and hopefully this song would get Horatio to see some things without saying them, and then she started up the guitar enjoying herself.

"I waited for you today
But you didn't show
No no no
I needed You today
So where did You go?
You told me to call
Said You'd be there
And though I haven't seen You
Are You still there?

[Chorus:]
I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel You by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I"m never alone

And though I cannot see You
And I can't explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You've placed in my life

We cannot separate
'Cause You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen"

She was the music, her smile never fading as she saw the crowed eating it up which was rather nice. And when she stroke the final string of her electric guitar she made it so the note was heard for a few moments before finally dying off. And then the whole crowed went crazy for her.

Never Alone By Barlowgirls

[pjt7611]

He watched her turn and walk off as he thought about the comment she made about one man already having her heart. He stood there for a moment watching her walk up on stage and finally turned and took his seat. He heard the whole place quiet down as she walked up to the microphone.

He already knew she was dedicating a song to him but he listened intently as she began speaking and although he was one to never really show emotion, a smile crept over his face as she began speaking about him and how they were there for each other. Then the music from the piano started and he watched her begin playing and take the lead of the song with the piano accompanying her now. He hung on the words of the song while she sang.

The song ended and as everyone else stood up screaming and clapping, so did he, still smiling up at her standing at the edge of the stage.

[Mayu]

Maggie was rather happy it all turned out very good, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes and she walked off the stage looking at Horatio and enjoyed the way he looked at her she could tell he was happy. The band went on playing something else and she sat back at there table and looked at him, it took her not very long to write that song. About three months, looking at Horatio she wondered what he would say to her. Tucking her hand under her chin as she had a loving smile for only him.

"Well guess you liked it huh? Took me about two - three months to get it all done. Amazing where inspiration can come from" She said rather happy and still could not believe they were there together. Maggie had a good head on her shoulders and she never let anyone tell her she could not do something, she had to be strong to go through what she did and yet smile at the end of everything. And it felt really nice about it to, tilting her head a bit her free hand on the table and chuckled a bit.

[pjt7611]

Horatio had really enjoyed the song and he was smiling at he as he watched her come down off the stage and make her way towards him. The words of the song kept playing through his head as she came and sat down at the table and smiled at him.

"Wow Maggie. That song was amazing. I really liked it and I'm glad that you felt that I inspired you to write something like that."

He watched her as she kept smiling at laughed a little.

"What's funny?"

[Mayu]

Maggie looked at Horatio and placed her hand on his "Just never thought I would see you in a club, then again I get a feeling you would move a mountain for me if it was humanly possible. I know someone here asked if we were dating, I told him it was a very nice idea but we were friends. If I was a bit older I would have asked you out on a real date, but been trying to figure out how you view about dating a young woman like myself." She looked down blushing and felt like a complete Moran in that moment.

[pjt7611]

He watched as her small hand barely covered his and listened to what she said about the conversation she had in the club while he smiled inside to himself.

"Maggie, I told you before that I would do anything I could for you. If you needed a mountain moved, I would find a way to do it. And my answer about dating a younger woman is the same that I told you over lunch today. It would all depend on the situation. I would never rule it out though."

He finally showed her his smile when he said the last statement and he saw her blushing.

[Mayu]

She saw that smile of his and sighed some "Yeah I know Horatio, but would you still say that if I was the one that was very interested in you. Which I am. Part of the reason why I have never dated because I suck around guys, say the wrong thing. I have been interested in you for a while, and not just on a friend level either Horatio. Just something about our pasts that make me think there is something there. Or maybe I am just thinking to much, the man who has my heart is you. It has been that way a couple months now"

[pjt7611]

"Oh. Well Maggie, umm I didn't know you felt that strong about me. It's a shock to me really. I mean, yes we're friends and I feel not only that I have helped you through a very difficult time over the past year but you have helped me as well. You have been a nice escape for me to be able to get away from all that comes along with my job. But I have your heart? Really?"

He ran his hand through his hair thinking about all she had said and wondering if it could actually be possible. There was a big age difference between them and he hadn't really allowed himself to feel anything since his wife was gunned down. But then he realized how lonely he had been lately. He looked back at Maggie and smiled slightly.

"Well Maggie, as I said, it's kind of a shock that you're feelings are so strong for me but I think we can try and see what could come of it."

[Mayu]

Maggie did not know how this would work out and was not worried about anything, she smiled at him and placed her hand on his and smiled. He looked nervous and thought they would be perfect together, because they knew what true pain was. He was a gentle man yet his temper was calm and collected. She giggled a little bit "Looks like I have made you nervous H and I did not even mean to do that" She said softly stroking his hand with her thumb. "I guess we will see what happens then"

She said happily more then willing to try this out, she would be patient since that was what he needed. A woman who would wait fifty years to be with the person. But all in all this would be worth it. "I hope your having a good time here, you need a chance to relax since you have been working so hard for so long. I am surprised you haven't cracked, but takes a special kind of person to handle your job. And of course you are that kind of person" Maggie said relaxing in her chair looking at him.

[pjt7611]

He looked down at her hand as she kept stroking his hand and fingers back and forth. It had been a long time...too long some might say....since he had opened himself up to anybody. He had the fear inside him that anyone he let himself open up to or show any kind of feelings towards would end up with something bad happening to them. But Maggie was different. Deep down he wanted to see what could happen between the two of them. He smiled at her "It's not really you that made me nervous Maggie. It's more just all of my thoughts running around in my head."

He turned his head from side to side looking around the club. "I really am having a good time. It's been too long since I was able to just sit back and relax. It's a nice change of pace for me. And it makes it even better being in your company. As far as not cracking, my team has helped me there. They help take some of the weight off me at least for a little while."

[Mayu]

She heard what he said and squeezed his hand in a loving way, she knew he had been through so much and knew he needed someone who understood. She knew all to well he was fifty two and she was as she was, well over twenty years age difference. But it wasn't his looks or even how he held himself that attracted him to her. It was the spirit inside of him that was drying, reaching out to each broken heart. Looking into his eyes she smiled, glad he was having fun that was the point of tonight.

"H I know you have been through a lot, every day you risk your life for your job. Every day I could get a telephone call telling me you were killed in the line of duty, but every day I have here alive with you makes things worth living. But not everyone is going to die in front of your eyes, I promise that I am going to be here for a long time. I am always careful with everything and anything that I do now. Not allowing myself to put my guard down, unless we are together. Enjoying ourselves. "

[pjt7611]

He listened to her and dropped his head looking at the table sitting silent for a long while just holding on to her hand. Finally he raised his face and looked at her.

"Maggie, I wish that was as easy as it was to keep the danger away. Whether your guard is down or not there is always the possibility that someone is watching that you may not see. That's the danger that I live with everyday. Anytime we go out to catch someone we run the risk that someone, somewhere is watching us that we have no idea about. Everything could be taken away in an instant. And that has been proven more times than not. But when I am able to walk away at the end of the day, as well as my team, that is when we can breathe a little easier knowing we have gotten just one more off the streets.

I am grateful, however, that you are around so that I can enjoy moments like this and am able to see the good that is around even after all the bad we deal with."

[Mayu]

Maggie smiled listing to H and watched how he was, but when he spoke looking into her eyes. She saw something there, her hand moved off from his hand and reached up to his face since they were side by side. Stroking his cheek she looked into his eyes, she knew it was not that easy and never meant it to be. Silently sounding everything just seemed to stop, and the music seemed to blur and then vanish completely. She smiled a little more as she was figuring out what to say to him, and she silently sighed.

"I know its not that easy H I didn't mean it for that, all I meant is that you can't be afraid to love someone. I know every day we both run the risk of dying, that is the human condition we are not immortal. I want to respect your wives memory but what I know about her from what Eric told me, is that she had a very big heart that she would want you to move on. Course that just made me sound worse" She shook her head, nothing she was saying was making anything better it was probably hurting him.

"But why don't we see where this takes us, and even if it doesn't work we will always be close. I care for you a great deal H, I sense the pain and even feel it in every fiber of my being. I just want you happy, to have a small time where nothing had to be worried about. Like here, I feel safe here for you. But no matter what happens I will always be here to help in what ever I can, I know I may not have the brains for science but I can be a watchful eye over you, without getting into dangerous situations"

[pjt7611]

He looked at her and smiled as she moved next to him.

"I'm sorry Maggie. I know that's not what you meant. Maybe I took that a little too far and no, don't worry about what you said. It didn't make you sound bad at all. It showed how caring you are is all."

He paused slightly

"You're right Maggie. If nothing works out then at least we can still remain close friends as we are now. No worries. A safe feeling. And seeing your smiling face after all the hell is over with."

He reached up and brushed his hand over her cheek.

[Mayu]

Maggie looked deeply into his eyes, god how sad they were. They were beautiful but so much sadness behind them, she grew lost in them. And she was happy he said what he did, she would never mean to hurt him. And she would never want to try and take his wife's place, since when it came to people. You could never replace them, She was happy he approved of what she said. It actually meant a lot to her. The two wounded souls united after a long time of never knowing what would happen.

But then he did the one thing she thought she would never feel from him, his hand brushing over her cheek. She wanted to say the three magic words, the words that were never said enough. But she bit that down and would not say it, she nuzzled his hand a little bit. Placing her hand over his that was on her cheek. She was content in this moment, everything just seemed so nice. She wanted a chance to be with him. And he was giving her that chance, and knew she would never screw it up.

[pjt7611]

Horatio watched as Maggie reached up and cupped her hand over his against her face. It had actually caught him off guard as well that he had put that extra show of emotion out there. It was so unlike him. He made it a point to carry himself in such a reserved state. It was the best way to become detached from everything and over the time of him working all the cases he had worked it was best to keep those cases from affecting him.

But no matter how detached he tried to be when he was around Maggie, there was just something about her that caused him to feel more open and vulnerable. He worried about that same thing though because then that could open him up to other outside dangers but he would never tell Maggie that. Given that information, it may push her to close up entirely and she had come such a long way over the past year from her parents being murdered. He would take the chance she was looking for because it could be good for her as well as him both. They both could learn to open up a bit more at certain times.

[Mayu]

Maggie could see the shock in his face with her doing that with his hand, H was special and that was part of the things that she loved most about him. But perhaps things were meant to be this way, she always thought everyone was made for certain people. All in all everything just seemed to pass forever them. She did not even heard the music any more, she was so wrapped up in him that it was almost hard to breath. But she cared for H and knew that he cared for her, though she honestly did not know how things would turn out.

But she hoped they did, because really it was something she wanted more then anything. All in all it was a nice moment to have with him, sighing a little as she enjoyed herself. Stroking his cheek with her thumb. Unsure exactly how things would turn out, but right now it did not seem to matter to her. Her smile never died and was not to sure what was on his mind, but she was glad they were doing this. It was good to get away from people, just to be herself and no one else. Sighing softly.

[pjt7611]

Horatio sat there with so many thoughts going through his head. He felt Maggie running her fingers over his face. He so much didn't want to open himself up to anyone again but then again he did so he could feel what he once had. Could it really work out with Maggie? Of course it would be strange at the beginning from their age difference. The looks. The comments. But that would be easy to get through. The hardest part would be keeping her safe from anything happening to her. He looked at her enjoying her smile.

Then as he was just looking at her, his cell rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked. It was from his office at the station. He hit the button and held it up to his ear "Hello. Lt Caine" Maggie could hear talking through the phone but couldn't understand what was saying. H turned and looked at her as the voice kept talking and finally hung up.

"Maggie I have to go. We have a break on the case. We are going after them tonight. It's all about to be over with. Stay here and be safe or go home and be safe. Either is up to you. I will call you soon."

He stood up from the table and turned to walk away. The he turned back and leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.

[Mayu]

Maggie enjoyed the way he looked at her, it was rather sweet that he looked at her the way he did, she was just rather happy to be with him. She was rather happy and was having a nice night with him, she was glad she dedicated that song for him. He made her want to be open and free, that was the kind of person she was. But she knew things would be in the way, she knew all to well what people would say given the 30 some years age difference. But she honestly did not care, she would just tell people to mind there business.

It was nice to be able to she knew all to well something was about to happen, she could feel it all over. She just hoped none of his people or Horatio got hurt, if they had she would never get over it. Amazing how people can be, how they act and everything not that they owed anyone an explanation. She would work hard to be good for him, but she also would not stuff it down his throat. She enjoyed the tilt of his head and could not help but smile at it a bit, but then she heard his phone.

Hearing what he said she knew he would have to go, when he said what he did she nodded. Standing up she placed her hand on his shoulder and kissed his cheek. "Be safe Horatio" She said and bid him goodnight she ended up going home right after and and she went to bed right when she got home. She was really worried and it showed in her dreams, seeing Horatio dead waiting to be identified. It hurt to think such things but she had to keep it real. Getting up the next morning she got ready for the day.

[pjt7611]

H ran to his car and jumped in and sped to the station and ran inside to his office. Everyone was there and was gathering together to head out and take down the killer. H jumped on the phone fighting through all the red tape from the higher ups of being able to move in finally after all this time. What was supposed to happen so quickly turned into an all night process of getting everyone and everything together and squared away.

Finally morning broke and they headed out of the station and starting driving across town to the outskirts of the city. They drive out to what looks to be an old abandoned warehouse but everything matches the address and pics in the file they hand received. H is the first to pull his car into the gate and he sits waiting as everyone else files in. He looks around and realizes they are only about a block from Maggie's apartment.

He picks up his cell and dials Maggie's number. "Maggie, it's Horatio. Just informing you we are on site and are about to move in. I'm getting out of the car now." She hears the thump as the door of his car closes then two pops in succession and the sound of a body hitting the ground and a cell scraping across the pavement.

[Mayu]

Maggie had taken a shower first thing in the morning and just finished eating and getting dressed. She thought a lot about last night and was rather happy. She was so light on her feet it was not funny, but then she heard her cell go off. And answered it, she smiled hearing Horatio on the other end. But she did not get a chance to say anything, she heard shots and some sound she could not tell what it is. Everything in her went crazy, and she quickly grabbed her wallet and key. She knew where they were.

She ran very quick as her sneakers let her high tail it and she saw H's car , and all of a sudden her face went white as a ghost. Everything turned upside down, and the man hovering over H ready to finish him off. "Get away from him you son of a bitch!" She charged the man, seeing a gun pointed but he pulled the trigger and nothing came out. Dumb bastard was out of ammo, and she pounced on him causing her to fly off his back a little bit. She crawled over to Horatio and took out her cell.

"This is Maggie Phoenix Lieutenant Caine has been shot we are in the corner of main street and parks. Send an ambulance now!" She shouted and hung up. Grabbing hand cuffs that H had she did not realize he was breathing, grabbing H's gun as she had a very bad look on her face. She shot one round in the leg just wounding the man, putting her foot down on his wounded leg he screamed out in pain. She cuffed his hands behind his back as the anger boiled even more and shook her head.

"You have the right to remain silent, anything you say will be held against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney if you cannot afford one. One will be provided to you, do you understand these rights?" The man just grunted and she slugged the man hard in the face. Winching from the pain she no longer gave a shit. And kept hitting the man over and over again, as tears streamed down her face. She took the gun and placed it right on his forehead and growled. "You took the only people that loved me from this world, why should I not kill you!" She screamed.

[pjt7611]

As the sirens got closer, Horatio began to stir as he laid on the pavement. The slightest movements he tried to make told him from the pain shooting through his body that he had been hit twice. Once in the shoulder and another through his arm. He hurt like hell but he would live.

As he laid there, he tried to reach for his cell and gun with his good arm and when he realized his gun was missing a slight panic began to settle in. 'Whoever had shot him had came up and took his gun. Were they still close? Were they standing right behind him waiting for him to make a slight move to see if his was still alive so they could finish him with his own weapon?' Then Maggie popped in his head and he thought that he had let her down on the promise he made to always look after her.

He cut his eyes out towards the road as he saw an ambulance pull through the driveway. The he heard a girl's voice and it sounded very similar to Maggie's, but there was no way she would have ever involved herself in something like this. He turned his head away from the ambulance and look around behind him and saw Maggie holding a gun to someone's head while she screamed at him.

'What the hell is she doing?' He thought then he knew he had to stop here before she pulled the trigger. He screamed out at her. "MAGGIE. DON'T!!!"

[Mayu]

Maggie grew lost in her rage, but H's voice rang into her head. And stopped her dead in her tracks, she had not even checked to see where H had been hit. And she slowly got off, but she heard the sound of sirens in the background. She rushed to his side and saw all the blood, her eyes noticed where it was coming from. She reached down taking off Horatio's belt and looped it over the wound, and pulled it tight. She worked it like a tourniquet and stopped the blood, since the bullet had gone through a major blood vessel.

She had tears in her eyes as she looked at him, in that moment she knew just how much in love she was with him. And the love was easy to see in her arms, she brushed his cheek with her hand that did not have blood on it. "Thank god your okay, I saw you down and not moving I thought you...." She shook her head and looked up seeing the ambulance pulling in and some of H's people. Sighing softly she knew this was going to be different, but she knew he would be okay and sighed.

She saw some police cars rolling up and taking the man away, who had some cuts on his face but nothing to major. She moved away so they could get him on a stretcher and she smiled at him. She knew that it was a good thing she did not work with him, in a second she turned into a monster and almost killed the man. Everything around her just seemed to stop, and right now nothing mattered to her but him. She wanted to go with him, but did not know if he wanted her with him.

"Sir do you want her to come with you?" The paramedic said as she pushed his stretcher into the ambulance. She was handed a towel and she wiped off the blood on his hands.

[pjt7611]

After H screamed out at Maggie his head collapsed back down to the ground. He was alive but he was weak. He thought to himself 'how could I have been so stupid to jump out of the car unguarded?' Then he felt Maggie's hands on him. Her touch brought a feeling of calming solace to him but it still wasn't enough to drown on them pain from his wounds.

He felt Maggie looping his belt around his arm and cinching it tight. "Aagh dammit" The pain shot through his whole body but he knew that the blood flow had to be stopped. He didn't know how much he had lost already. Then the ambulance pulled up and he felt himself being loaded up onto the stretcher and he was able to put a small smile on his face towards Maggie as they loaded him into the ambulance.

He raised his good arm up slightly and held it out to her as they asked about her coming along. "Yes please let her ride along if you can"