Author's note: The writers making light of Calleigh's brush with death this season has bugged me to no end and has prompted this fic. I've inserted months between the end of Backfire and Meltdown, since there should have been time mentioned before Calleigh came back to work. Face it, her heart stopped. At the end of Backfire, Eric did say that she needed to be back in the hospital, so I'm guessing he took her back. This is my take on a few months down the road. Tell me if you want me to continue beyond this.
Recuperating
Eric put his arm around Calleigh and pulled her closer as she snuggled up against him. They were watching a culinary show showing off the beauties of Puerto Rico. He looked down at her; her half-closed eyes telling him that she was beginning to get sleepy again. The newest round of her medication beginning to make her drowsy.
"Why don't you lay down and take a nap, babe?" he murmured into her ear.
She shook her head. "I'm not that sleepy. Puerto Rico is beautiful."
He grinned, knowing her old stubbornness was really returning after her two month convalescence after nearly dying from smoke inhalation. "It is. I really wanted to bring you with me last fall. I missed you every day I was gone, but I knew you couldn't take off after all your sick leave last year."
"I would love to go sometime," she sighed, stifling a yawn.
"And I would take you in a heartbeat."
"H, hold up a minute!" Eric called down the hallway after his boss.
Horatio stopped, half turning back to face a rapidly approaching Eric. "What do you need?"
"A favor. I know I haven't been back here too long, but I really need a weekend off sometime soon."
"Any reason?" Horatio asked, his curiosity piqued.
Eric cleared his throat. He was suddenly nervous. "You know Calleigh and I are involved. We've been in a relationship for almost a year and a half now. Depending what her doctor says at her next appointment, I'd like to take her for a weekend away for our 18 month anniversary."
Horatio smiled, blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "Where do you want to take her?"
"Puerto Rico. See,we were watching this show the other night and-"
"Eric, take the time," Horatio said, cutting his brother in law off. "By the way, how's Calleigh doing?"
"She's struggling. The doctor is finally letting her heart rate increase and she's begun rehab for her lungs. She's much better than she was when she got out of the hospital, but she has a way to go yet. Some days she makes incredible strides and other days she can barely get out of bed. The meds she's on give her a hard time. They make her nauseous and sleepy. She has no appetite. She eats because she knows she has to. This has been so hard on her that I just want to take her away, you know. Maybe getting her out of the house and Miami would be good for her. Make her feel a little normal again."
"You give her my best and let me know what her doctor says. Tell her I'll be by to see her in a couple of days," Horatio said warmly. He hadn't been aware that Calleigh struggled so much with this recovery. A sneaky and wonderful idea started forming and his smile grew until he was grinning like the Cheshire cat.
"What's that smile for?" Eric asked, but only received a chuckle as an answer.
"So, you have news for me?" Horatio asked a smiling Eric.
"I do. I can take Calleigh on that trip. I'm going to book a flight tonight for this weekend, if that's alright," Eric told him.
"That's, that's wonderful, Eric. Does Calleigh know you're doing this for her?"
"No idea at all."
"Good. I'll drop by tonight after shift and bring some take-out and visit with her. Now that I know she's getting better, I feel better," Horatio said. He had visited her in the hospital and came away each time shocked at how weak and small she seemed. Once she had been released, he visited less often, not wanting to disturb her or stress her out. He was looking forward to seeing her that evening.
Horatio doled out the Chinese take out containers as they sat at Calleigh's dining room table. He took time to look around and noticed quite a few of Eric's things around the house. Had Eric moved in? Or was it a temporary move while she was recovering? "So, I hear that congratulations are in order. Eric told me that you're improving and could be back to work by the beginning of September. We'll all be glad to have you back."
"Yeah, it is good news. I'm actually beginning to look forward to coming back to the lab. I know I'll be on desk duty for a while, but I'm sure there'll be plenty to keep me busy," Calleigh said, while digging into her shrimp lo mein.
Eric eyed his boss suspiciously. What did he have planned?
They ate with good conversation and some laughter, Horatio keeping a wary eye on Calleigh. She seemed to be in good spirits and even weathered a small coughing fit well, her breathing becoming regular quicker than he had thought. He helped Eric clean up before taking a seat next to Calleigh on the couch.
Eric sat on her other side and she automatically laid her head on his shoulder. "Cal, remember last week when we were watching that show on the travel channel about Puerto Rico?" Well, I asked H for this weekend off to take you. Your doctor said it was alright as long as we kept you on your schedule with your meds and that you got plenty of rest and watched your heart rate."
Calleigh's eye got wide and a look of delight dawned across her features. "Puerto Rico; this weekend?" She squeaked.
"Yep."
"Eric!" she cried, throwing her arms around him and kissing him passionately.
Horatio smiled at the unaffected display. He cleared his throat and they broke apart with guilty grins. "I think this is my cue to get going." He rose and went over to Calleigh, leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "Enjoy this weekend."
I will, Horatio," she replied.
"I'll walk you out," Eric said, following Horatio to the door.
"Step outside with me for a moment," Horatio said. He waited for Eric to semi-shut the door behind him. "Eric, you and Calleigh have had a terrible year with your shooting and crash and now this with Calleigh. If there were any two people that deserve a vacation to a beautiful tropical island to rest, relax and forget everything, it's you two. I know you haven't made any calls yet because I was right behind you. This weekend is on me. Everything; the flight, hotel, meals; everything."
"H, I can't accept that. It's too much," Eric protested.
"No, actually, it's not enough. You and Calleigh are all I have left from the original team and are two of my oldest friends. We've all been through far too much together for me not to want to do this for the both of you,." Horatio reached into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope and handed it to Eric. "This is everything you'll need. Your flight leaves from Miami International tomorrow at 7p.m. I want you to enjoy yourselves. You deserve it."
Eric took the envelope, touched beyond words. He started to shake Horatio's hand, but pulled him into a brief hug. Thank you, H. Thank you from the both of us."
Horatio pat him on the shoulder. You just have a good time."
Eric returned to the bench after checking their luggage in. "All we have to do is wait for our flight number to be called," he said, sitting back down next to Calleigh.
She yawned. "I can't believe that Horatio is picking up the bill for all of this. It's the most generous thing I've seen him do in a while."
"I think the both of us have given him enough scares in the last year that he's just glad we're both still alive," Eric commented as he gazed in his girlfriend's tired emerald eyes. "We have about an hour before they'll be calling our flight number, so why don't you take a short nap?"
"Here, in the airport?" she asked incredulously. "I couldn't."
"I'm right here. Lay down on the bench and doze off for a while. I don't want you to exhaust yourself before we get to San Juan," Eric reasoned as she tried to stifle another yawn.
"But what if someone needs to sit down?" she objected. She was getting drowsier by the second and it was getting harder to fight the urge to close her eyes and sleep. She wasn't going to be able to resist much longer.
"There are other places; lay down," Eric said softly.
Sleepiness won. She nodded and laid down on the bench, using Eric's lap as a pillow. It wasn't long before she was out cold. Eric gazed down at her and gave thanks for the millionth time that she was able to be revived and he was still blessed to have her in his life. He had vowed, as she lay in ICU after waking up, that he'd do his utmost to make certain that he did nothing but make her happy for the rest of his life. He'd been doing his best since then.
"Is that your wife?" a senior lady asked him. She was in a yellow and orange pantsuit and her hair was still blonde. She had blue eyes that crinkled at the corners as she smiled at him.
"No," he answered softly, absently stroking Calleigh's silky hair to lull her into a deeper state of sleep. "She's my girlfriend."
"You have it for her bad, then. My husband used to look at me that way. She's a lucky lady," the woman said. "I'm Aileen."
"Eric, and I'm luckier to have her. You said "used to". What happened to your husband?" he asked kindly.
"He was killed four years ago. He was attacked-I'd rather not talk about it. So, Eric, how did you and your lady meet?" Aileen asked, settling in for the story.
Eric let a little smile cross his lips as the memory surfaced. "We've been co-workers for a good ten years. Then, almost four years ago, I had a work related accident and was critically injured. The only time she left my side was to go to work because there was no way she would have gotten leave time to sit with me. We were just co-workers and friends. It took a lot of therapy to get me fit for work again. She was right there with me whenever work would allow. I realized that I was beginning to have very strong feelings for her, well, that I had been having them for about a couple of years, anyway. I didn't think she felt the same way and so I didn't say anything until about eighteen months ago. Actually, it's exactly eighteen months ago this Monday. Calleigh was critically injured and I had to face the fact that I might lose her, so I told her how I felt. It turned out that she had been feeling the same way for a while and we decided to give it a go. I'm taking her Puerto Rico for our anniversary. How about you? Where are you headed?"
Aileen sighed. "Germany to visit family. I do a lot of traveling since I retired."
Eric liked this kind lady. "What did you used to do before you retired?"
"I used to teach sixth grade history in Chicago. I taught for 34 years, most of that time in the same school. As much as I'm loving my retirement, I miss the kids. They kept me so young. Sometimes they were so funny and creative and kind. Some were, well, difficult. The good ones were the best of the best and their papers and projects just helped me find their potential," Aileen gushed. "Some days I want to go back to teaching."
"I wish I had a teacher like you. You must have cared for every student you taught," Eric said.
"I did."
"Flight 73 bound for San Juan now boarding at Gate 5."
"That's us. It's been nice talking to you, Aileen. Have a great trip," Eric said as he gently shook Calleigh's shoulder. "C'mon, babe, we have to get on the plane now."
Calleigh opened her eyes and stretched. "Already? Who's your friend?"
"Cal, this is Aileen; Aileen, this is my girlfriend, Calleigh," Eric introduced as he gathered their carry-ons.
"Nice to meet you," Calleigh said, extending her hand.
Aileen took it, shaking it firmly. "Likewise. Have a great anniversary."
"Thanks. You have a good trip, too," Calleigh said as Eric lead her away. "She was a nice lady."
"Yeah, she was. Now, are we getting on the plane or not?" Eric asked playfully.
