Title: Time Dulls But Never Erases
By: Tiffany F
Pairing: Horatio/Jessie
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: SPOILERS FOR CSI MIAMI SEASON 8 BOTH EPISODES.
Summary: The new CSI at the lab has one or two secrets, or rather, fond memories of Miami. When he comes home he finds that he is not the only one.

Horatio felt his heart stop for a moment when he realized that Jesse was in the lab, a hostage to the unknown gunman. He fought back the need to close his eyes, to pray that the young man was okay, was going to live. He knew that Jesse was smart, that the younger man knew some tricks that would be able to save not only his own life, but the lives of the other hostages. Horatio had to believe it. He had to be able to focus on the important details to be able to get everyone out of the situation and home safely again. Then, just maybe, he would be able to breathe again.

****

The team slowly drifted away leaving Horatio and Jesse standing together at the railing looking out over the ocean. "How have you been, H?" Jesse asked breaking the silence between them.

"Um, fine," Horatio replied.

"H."

"I've lost a lot of people who meant a lot to me," Horatio said, amused in spite of himself. He'd forgotten not only how well he and Jesse worked together, but how well the younger man could read him. He hadn't forgotten some of the times they had spent together working late at the department.

"So does that mean you're totally off limits?"

"Jesse, like I told you at the lab, you don't have to ask," Horatio smiled. He glanced over at his newest, and yet oldest, CSI and saw that they were on the same page. He leaned in closer so that no one would be able to see between them. "Would you like to come over for a while?"

"Yeah, I'd like to see where you're living now," Jesse smiled. He took a chance and leaned in closer, letting his lips brush over the lieutenant's. "Or, at least where you're sleeping."
***************************************

Horatio made sure that the other members of his team would get home safely and led Jesse to the Hummer. The younger man whistled when he saw it. "A step up from where we were last time, huh?"

"These have their perks," Horatio replied with a smile.

"H, I gotta ask, what's up with the sunglasses?"

"Eric Delko found them for me back when he was still working salvage with the tow company," Horatio said. "He told me that I needed a pair of sunglasses if I was going to be working in Miami and I challenged him to find me a good pair. He brought them over almost immediately after you said good-bye. Now I find that I can't really work without them."

"They hide your eyes."

"Which is not always a bad thing," Horatio said. "There are a lot of people I don't want to see what I'm thinking."

"How's Eric doing?"

"He's out of the hospital and resting at his parent's house. This is his second shot to the head, Jesse, and I really thought I was going to lose him as well," Horatio said. "We still don't know when, or even if, he'll be able to come back to work."

"He always struck me as a survivor, H. I'm sure he'll be back before you know it. What about the others?"

"Honestly, I'm worried about Calleigh." Horatio paused for a moment and then sighed. "Eric started chasing her before you left and they only just got together this past year. Both of them were so happy and I was positive that there was going to be a wedding in the near future."

"So what changed?"

"Calleigh, Calleigh is the one that shot Eric in the head," Horatio said. "Eric doesn't remember much of what happened, only that he was helping his biological father, who was in trouble at the time, flee. I know Eric will forgive Calleigh easily."

"But she's going to be the problem. I guess she's matured a little since I saw her last," Jesse grinned.

"You could say that. She's treating it like she's done her job and is listening to IAB," Horatio said. "Stetler and the lawyers have told her to stay away from Eric until the investigation into the shooting and Eric's actions are closed."

Jesse reached over and rested a hand on Horatio's leg. "She's probably so eaten up with guilt that she doesn't know what to do and has just fallen back on what she does best," he said. "Her job. But, if you want, I can keep an eye on her for you."

"That would be a help," Horatio smiled. "You can explain it away as wanting to learn more about the job quickly." He pulled the Hummer to a stop. "This is home."

"You've moved up in the world, a beach house," Jesse grinned. He climbed out and started towards the beach. "Is this private back here or do you have to share with your neighbors?"

"It's semi-private," Horatio said as he followed the younger man. "With the hours I keep there's rarely, if ever, anyone out here when I am."

"Not to mention you try and avoid the sun like a vampire at times." Jesse turned and grabbed Horatio pulling him in for a kiss. Horatio wrapped an arm around his old, sometimes lover and tilted his head, allowing the kiss to deepen naturally. Jesse hummed and slipped his tongue into Horatio's mouth, teasing the other into action. Both men moaned as they turned to face each other more fully and their hardening erections brushed against each other. Horatio's free hand slipped up to Jesse's unshaven cheek and stayed there as they kissed, one flowing into the other as they relearned what ten years apart had dulled, but not erased.

Jesse's hands finally slipped inbetween them and started to undo the black leather belt that was only just hidden by the black fabric of the suit Horatio was wearing that day. Then he fumbled a little, but managed to get Horatio's fly open and his hand inside. Horatio's hips pushed forward at the first touch of his lover's hand and Jesse finally broke away from the kiss. "How long has it been, H?"

"Too long, Jesse," Horatio replied. He let his head drop onto his lover's shoulder as Jesse's hand worked up and down his erection. "I don't have anything we need out here."

"So I take care of this now and then we move inside for more," Jesse grinned. He found the touch that Horatio had loved so many years ago coming back to him easily as he slid his hand along his lover's hard cock.

"I'm not as young as I used to be," Horatio muttered.

"We'll see what happens." Jesse moved his head and reclaimed Horatio's mouth awkwardly. The red head moved so that the angle of the kiss was easier and found that his lover's body was already supporting most of his weight. He gave in and leaned against Jesse more as the hand turned more demanding. When a rough thumb slid over the head Horatio moaned and climaxed, sagging and almost taking both of them to the warm, soft sand.

"These are dry clean only," Horatio murmured resting his head on Jesse's shoulder again.

"I'll pay for it," Jesse grinned. "Come on, H; let's get you inside and into the bed. I think you need sleep more than you need sex."

"You gonna stay?"

"Sure am, for as long as possible."