Work Text:
Rick tossed down the magazine he had been thumbing through when he heard Horatio's Hummer pull into his driveway. He was surprised to hear it since Horatio had said when they had met for lunch that he was probably going home and crashing once he was done for the day.
He yawned and stretched before walking over to his front window. He looked out and watched Horatio slowly exit the Hummer as if on auto pilot. He knew the redhead hadn't been sleeping well since he had found him that morning dozing over his first cup of coffee in the lab's break room.
Horatio had told him that his team had caught a homicide coupled with domestic violence, but they were close to solving it.
Such cases were cases most cops didn't like to deal with, but Horatio most of all. They brought back painful memories of his childhood. Memories Rick knew the redhead wished that he could permanently forget.
Rick could see the waves of exhaustion just roll off the redhead as Horatio shuffled up the sidewalk to his front door. He hoped his lover had solved his case and could take the next few days off to catch up on his sleep.
Pushing that thought aside, he sighed and went over to the door. He opened it just as Horatio reached up to knock.
"Hey," he said giving Horatio a soft peck on lips as he drew him inside. "I thought you were going to go home and crash."
"You promised me dinner," Horatio answered reminding Rick of the conversation they had had before Rick had left work for the day while letting his lover use him to close the front door.
"I believe I said something about heating up leftovers," Rick quietly remarked as slid Horatio's suit jacket off and laid it on the back of his recliner.
"So?" Horatio countered with a shrug thinking anything would beat the half a bottle Scotch he had waiting on him at his condo. "After this week, I'll take anything that I can get that I don't have to fix myself."
"You're impossible," Rick retorted as he relieved Horatio of his gun and badge before steering him toward the couch. "And sit down before you fall down."
Horatio flopped down on the couch with a tired groan. He was beat and was surprised he had made it through the day without falling asleep on his feet. "How was the rest of your day?" he asked trying to make small talk as he kicked off his shoes and stretched out on the couch.
"It was alright," Rick answered as he set Horatio's gun and badge next to his own on his credenza. "I managed to put a dent in the pile of paperwork that's been living on my desk."
"That's good," Horatio commented between yawns.
"Why don't you catch a nap and I'll wake you when dinner's ready?" Rick suggested noticing that Horatio was having a hard time trying to stay awake
"Okay," Horatio quietly agreed. He yawned one more time and let himself doze off.
Rick smiled at the sight. It wasn't often that he saw his lover so unguarded and relaxed. It was humbling to be that trusted, especially considering Horatio's past.
He had to chuckle when a soft snore came from the redhead since his lover firmly maintained that he did not snore.
He walked over to the couch and brushed a soft kiss against Horatio's forehead. "Love you," he murmured before heading into the kitchen to fix them dinner content that his lover was finally getting some of the rest he badly needed.