Summary: Horatio's past comes back to haunt him, when the case of his parents death is re-opened, and he also finds out that he is very sick. The team tries to solve the murder of Judge Ratner. Calleigh and Ryan have some problems with their baby. Frank tries to forget his birthday, and doesn't want a birthday party.--
AN: This story will probably be quite long. Because there are many things happening with the team members and it's a long process.
-I-
Sunday, 23rd June. 2008. 09:30
The triplets were now 13 weeks old. They were able to lie on their stomach and hold their head up. Callum had already found out how to roll over on his back. Valera also didn't have to feed them as much as before. The triplets were also starting to concentrate on things they hadn't noticed before. They could spend several minutes looking at a microwave, oven or something else. Valera was still on maternity leave, and would be for another six months. Then the triplets would stay at a day-care center for babies. Jason was back in the morgue with Alexx, and he was becoming a good ME. Who wouldn't be if they had Alexx to teach them?
Valera spent her days playing with the babies, and when they slept she caught up on some household chores or relaxing. All the triplets had Valera's brown hair and Jason's blue eyes. According to the team, they all looked just a little bit more like Jason. But they were sure that their personality would be just like Valera's.
Valera was trying to give Caleb and Jan a bath. Something they didn't like. Jan screamed as high as she could, while Caleb whined and kicked with his arms and legs. Callum was already dry and lay on a blanket, looking at his siblings.
"Please." Valera begged, "Just three minutes."
As an answer, Caleb started crying. Valera sighed and picked him up. That's when Jan stopped screaming. Valera looked down at her daughter. Jan looked right back.
"Oh I get it! You want to be alone huh?" Valera asked smiling, "Alright."
She put Caleb down next to Callum and started bathing Jan. Jan seemed perfectly happy and when she was done, she put Jan down and picked Caleb up. Caleb didn't make a sound as he was in the bathtub and six minutes later. They were all clean and happy. After a while, they got hungry. And after that, they slept. Just as Valera was about to relax on the couch. The front door opened and Jason announced that he was home.
"I finally figured out why they had taking a bath." Valera said as Jason sat down next to her.
"And?" Jason smiled and kissed her.
He had been working for a few hours at the morgue with Alexx, to try to catch up on the things he had missed while he had been on a short paternity leave with Valera the first two weeks after the triplets were born.
"They want to be alone in the tub." Valera said, "I can't take all three of them on the same times, so I took Callum first. Then I tried to wash Caleb and Jan. They cried and screamed. So when I picked Caleb out, Jan stopped. Suddenly it was fun to take a bath. Then I switched and Caleb was happy to be alone too."
"Huh, good. Now we know what to do." Jason smiled.
"How was work?" Valera asked.
"Fun. Alexx and I boiled a head today." Jason grinned.
Valera looked at him with wide eyes. Although she worked with all sorts of cases all day, all she had to do was to test DNA. She never had to watch the actual body or the autopsy.
"You boiled a head?" She asked.
"Yes, it was good. That way the team could figure out what kind of murder weapon the man had been killed with." Jason grinned.
"I always thought they were joking when they said that Alexx likes to boil heads." Valera said, "And then what?"
"Then we cut him open." Jason shrugged, "I suddenly feel liked eating Kebab."
"Crazy man." Valera sighed, "Frank's birthday is coming up."
"Yeah, the 27th June." Jason said, "He doesn't want a birthday party."
"What?!" Valera exclaimed, "Come on! It's not everyday that you become 50!"
"That's exactly what Horatio told him."
"Ah I get it! He doesn't want people to know that he's 50." Valera chuckled, "Poor man."
"Maybe a baby would make him feel better." Jason suggested.
Natalia had had a miscarriage about three months ago. Nobody had known about the baby, but it had still been hard to deal with. Natalia and Frank hadn't discussed having a baby after that. However, things were still perfect between them.
"Nat wants to wait." Valera said, "So that won't happen."
"Alright, so how about a big party then? With lots of gifts." Jason smiled, "We have to celebrate him."
"It has to be a surprise party then." Valera smirked evilly, "At the PD… He won't know what hit him."
-I-
11:15
Eric tried not to laugh as he dragged the mattress towards the swimming pool that he and Horatio had just got in their backyard. They had hired a company to make a pool, and they had finished four days ago. Now it was filled with fresh water and ready for someone to swim in it. It wasn't very big, but big enough to swim around in. Horatio was sleeping on the mattress that Eric was dragging. Eric resisted the urge to jump on, since he was only lying there in his underwear. Eric stopped by the poolside and started pushing the mattress instead. As quietly as he could. Horatio didn't stir as the mattress went down in the water and started floating around. Eric smirked and went to the back porch to just wait. He had a beer and a comfortable chair; he could wait for a long time.
And he did have to wait for a long time. It took two hours for Horatio to finally roll over and fall into the water. As soon as he came in contact with the water, he woke up and swam for the surface.
"Jesus Christ!" He exclaimed and started swimming for the poolside.
Eric was laughing like a maniac. Tears ran down his cheeks. When he saw that Horatio was on his way out of the pool, he ran towards him and jumped in. Then he pulled Horatio back down in the pool.
"Good Morning." Eric grinned and tried to swim away from Horatio.
"I'm going to show you a good morning." Horatio warned playfully and started chasing Eric in the pool.
Eric stuck his tongue out and swam towards one of the corners. Just as Horatio was about to grab him, he dove under him and swum away.
"So you want to play huh?" Horatio asked.
Eric nodded and grinned. He dove under Horatio again, but this time Horatio managed to grab his hand and pull him to the surface. He then wrapped his legs around his waist and dragged Eric towards him.
"What are you going to do now?" He asked, grinning.
Eric thought for a second and then kissed Horatio deeply. Horatio didn't loose focus though, so once they parted. Eric was still trapped.
"I'm not fooled that easily, Eric." Horatio smirked.
"Oh please mister, let me go." Eric chuckled, "I will do anything for you if you let me go."
"Is that a promise?" Horatio winked.
Eric chuckled and nodded. Horatio let him go, but was quick to follow as Eric got out of the pool. As soon as they were on the porch. Eric took off and ran towards the front door. Horatio ran the same way on the outside of the house. When he reached the front door, he couldn't find Eric. "Eric? Come out come out, wherever you are." Horatio smirked.
He heard someone giggle and saw Eric standing in the kitchen. Horatio opened the door and ran inside; he almost caught Eric as Eric ran towards the porch again. This time though, Eric didn't have time to hide, since Horatio was to close behind. They ran three laps around the house, until Horatio suddenly stopped. Eric stopped when he noticed that Horatio was not behind him. He started walking back and expected Horatio to jump up in front of him.
"I got you!" Horatio yelled from behind as he wrapped his arms around Eric and they fell down on the grass.
"What did you do?" Eric asked.
"I just went the other way." Horatio shrugged and kissed Eric deeply.
"Let's move this to the bedroom." Eric smirked.
Before Horatio could respond, Waldo and Rascall, their two Grand Danois decided to join the game and started licking their faces. Waldo and Rascall had just become one-year-old on the 20th June.
-I-
13:45
"Cooper!" Ryan yelled.
Cooper ignored him and continued fighting for the stick with Ryan and Calleigh's dog. Ryan and Calleigh were having lunch at their house with Cooper. It had been a long time since Cooper had been with just the two of them. Two weeks ago, Ryan and Calleigh had bought a Bull Mastiff. A female dog, her name was Kendra and she was eight months old. The previous owner had had a hard time selling Kendra, because most people wanted an eight-week old puppy instead. But not Calleigh and Ryan, they were happy to have a dog that already knew that it wasn't okay to pee inside the house.
"Ryan, you know Cooper is never going to give up." Calleigh chuckled and rubbed her belly.
She was 33 weeks pregnant and showing quite a lot. Riley, the baby girl in her belly, was a kicker. She kicked all the time. But Calleigh thought it was fun, except when she wanted to sleep.
"Not until he either wins or loose." Ryan chuckled and sat down next to his wife. Calleigh grabbed his hand and squeezed it softly. Ryan smiled at her and they kissed softly.
"Hey, no kissing while I'm here." Cooper said as he joined them on the porch.
"Did you win?" Calleigh asked.
"Nah, Kendra is too strong for me." Cooper shrugged, "So are you guys exited? It's only seven weeks left."
Cooper grinned widely. They knew that he was exited. Calleigh and Ryan thought a long time about whom they wanted as the godmother and godfather to their child. They had decided to choose Frank and Natalia. First, they had picked Horatio and Alexx, then changed and then changed again. Now they had finally decided. Therefore, even though Cooper wouldn't be the child's godfather he was exited to be called Uncle Dan or Uncle Cooper. Ryan and Cooper had become very good friends during the last year and therefore Cooper would be like an uncle to the child.
"Of course we're exited." Ryan smiled, "Diapers, puke and no sleep. Doesn't that sound like heaven?"
"Sure!" Cooper laughed, "But think about the angel you will have instead of the diapers, puke and no sleep."
"We are." Calleigh smiled.
In just a few weeks, Cooper had started to think of becoming a father himself. Though he knew that he wasn't ready yet. But someday he would want to have a child. And he would want to get married. But until he found the right girl, he was satisfied by hanging out with his friends and their children.
"So Cooper, how about you and I give Kendra a bath?" Ryan asked.
Cooper looked at Kendra who was sitting by Calleigh's side.
"I don't think she will like that." Cooper said.
"Of course she will. Dogs love to be washed." Ryan said confidently.
Calleigh snorted. She had told Ryan that some dogs wouldn't like being washed, and even if they did. Once they thought they were finished they would shake their whole body and throw water at everyone else. However, Ryan was determined to give Kendra a bath. Calleigh didn't believe for one second that it would work.
"Okay, let's wash her." Cooper shrugged.
Ryan smiled and brought Kendra to the bathroom. He managed to get her down in the tub and then started the water. Cooper joined him, while Calleigh watched from the door.
"Okay, what do we do first?" Cooper asked.
"First we just pour water over her." Ryan said.
Kendra stayed still while Ryan poured water over her. However, as soon as he was done, she jumped out of the bath and shook her body. Ryan and Cooper covered their faces.
"Told ya!" Calleigh laughed from the doorway.
Ryan was determined to get Kendra completely clean though, so he managed to get her down in the tub again and start shampooing her. Kendra stood still. Then Cooper washed the shampoo away and Ryan got ready to dry her with a towel. However as soon as Cooper stopped, Kendra shook her body again. Only this time she made sure she got all the water off her. Ryan and Cooper yelped and tried to get Kendra to stop. Three minutes later, she was completely dry, while Cooper and Ryan were completely soaked.
Kendra jumped out of the tub and walked towards Calleigh. Calleigh laughed and went to the living room. While Cooper and Ryan started cleaning the bathroom.
"At least walls don't shake." Cooper sighed and started drying the walls.
Ryan sighed and joined him. He should have listened to Calleigh.
-I-
16:00
Frank and Natalia had invited Eric and Horatio over to their house for dinner. The kids were out of the house, so the grown-ups could talk about everything and even drink a little bit.
"So Frank, your 50-years-old in just four days." Horatio smirked, "Exited?"
"Horatio, in one year you will join me." Frank smirked back.
Horatio chuckled and said no more. He didn't like to be reminded of his age either.
"Men." Natalia sighed and rolled her eyes.
"What's wrong with men?" Eric asked.
"You are all stupid." Natalia teased, "Well not stupid, it's just that women are smarter."
Eric chuckled, "Not all the time."
"Oh please, don't start giving me a lecture about all the big scientists throughout the history have been men. That's simply because a woman never got the chance to prove that she could also make a phone or a radio, you know all those stuff."
"Did a woman ever try?" Eric asked.
"You did not just say that a woman never even tried?" Natalia gasped, "Eric Delko, are you doing this on purpose?"
"Yes!" Eric laughed.
If there was one thing you shouldn't argue about with Natalia, then it was the difference between men and women. She only joked when she claimed that women were smarted. What she wanted was a society where they were all treated fairly. Who didn't?
"Can you kids please calm down?" Frank said, "No matter what happens in the world. I will always be the best."
Everybody laughed, even Frank.
"Seriously though Frank. What do you want for your birthday?" Horatio asked.
"A vacation." Frank said, "You don't have to give me anything Horatio."
Horatio wanted to give his best friend something though. And he wouldn't stop asking Frank what he wanted until he got an answer.
"You can keep on asking me for days… I won't tell you." Frank smirked.
Horatio shrugged and gave up for the moment. Then Natalia and Eric decided it was time to look at baby pictures of themselves. They moved into the living room. Apparently Natalia and Eric had brought pictures of Frank and Horatio and of course themselves as babies. Frank and Horatio gaped when they saw the pictures of them as babies.
"Aw, look t that cute little baby." Natalia smiled as she saw a picture of Horatio as a newborn lying in his mother's arms.
"Who would have known he would grow up to be a tough cop?" Eric grinned, "Is that Frank?"
Natalia nodded and gave Eric a photo of a crying Frank Tripp, at the age of 1.
"He had tripped on something once again apparently." Natalia said, remembering when Frank had told her about the photo.
Frank sighed and hid his head in his hands.
"Tripp tripped!" Eric laughed, "Can I keep it?"
"No!" Frank exclaimed and snatched the photo from him, "I'm going to burn this."
Eric laughed along with Natalia. Then Natalia showed a picture of herself as a six months old baby, held by her father.
"Aww, already with that beautiful hair." Horatio smiled.
"Thank you. I thought you didn't like looking at baby pictures." Natalia said.
"I don't like looking at pictures of me." Horatio said, "Oh look! Eric has high heels!"
Eric blushed and tried to hide the photo of him as a three year old. However, Natalia grabbed it before he could.
"Aww, that is so cute!" She grinned.
"I was bored one day and found my mom's closet." Eric explained, "I was just a boy."
"And already dressing in women's clothes." Frank teased.
Eric shrugged. Then he showed a photo of Horatio as a two year old. Horatio was riding a bicycle for the first time.
"Look at all those freckles!" Natalia smiled, "Have they all disappeared now?"
"No, he still has some of them." Eric said.
Horatio blushed and joined Frank in trying to hide his face in his hands.
-I-
22:15
Eric collapsed on the couch and started snoring before Horatio even entered the living room. Both Eric and Horatio were tired, and they needed to get some sleep, since they had to work tomorrow. Horatio carried Eric to the bedroom and undressed him before lying down next to him. He sighed, as he knew that he wouldn't be getting much sleep. It seemed as if his old sleeping problems were coming back. He hadn't had difficulty sleeping for over three months, but not it seemed as if he was slipping back to old habits again. Eric rolled over and wrapped his arms around Horatio's waist. Horatio snuggled against him and closed his eyes. However two hours later, he woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. He climbed out of the bed and went to watch some TV. All he saw was the same news repeatedly, for over two hours. Then he tried to get some sleep again. But his body and mind just wouldn't let him. For the rest of the night he stayed awake, just listening to Eric snoring.
TBC…
AN: Please review!