The Return

The day had been a long one. Horatio stood stoically in the hallway of his glass enclosed lab thinking back over the evidence they'd collected from a gruesome crime scene that morning. The likes of which always disturbed him every time, regardless of the several times in his career that he'd worked similar cases. When an entire family is found slaughtered in the relative safety of their home, he believed it was a strong indicator of just how far society had slipped into the depths of depravity.

Calleigh approached, interrupting his sour disposition with a bright smile, a smile that usually lifted his spirits in spite of his wanting to continue wallowing in what, more times than not, would be considered self-imposed gloom.

"We've got a name. The DNA we collected in the kitchen belongs to," she opened the file in her hands, "an Alexey Lutrova. That's Russian, isn't it?"

"It is." Horatio turned away, puzzled. Then returning his attention to his second-in-command, a beautiful, petite, blonde who also possessed his heart, he reached out for the folder.

As he scanned the results, his cell phone chirped. Pulling it out of the breast pocket of his coat while handing the folder back to Calleigh, he answered sharply as he placed a hand firmly on his hip,

"Caine…"

"There is a man asking specifically for you at the reception desk Lieutenant. Says the matter he wants to speak to you about is important. Very important in fact, was how he put it."

"Did he give you his name and what he wishes to speak to me about?"

"No Sir. Just said he's not leaving until he talks to you."

Horatio looked at Calleigh's curious expression as he replied, "Thank you Lynn. I'll be right down."

"Good." Her voice dropping to a whisper she added, "He's obviously troubled about something."

Horatio ended the call and put the phone back in his pocket. "Sweetheart, put out a BOLO on Lutrova. He needs to explain to us why he was at the Johnson's."

"Done," Calleigh quickly answered. "Is there a problem in reception?"

Horatio smiled slightly as her question returned his attention to the present. "I hope not," he answered, his eyebrows raised. "See you later," he whispered as he in leaned close to her ear so no one else could hear.

Calleigh watched him walk toward the elevator with concern, wondering what he could be walking into. You've got an overactive imagination girl. Hopefully, it is someone who might have more information about our current case.

Horatio strode briskly from the elevator toward the reception desk, his curiosity peaking as he stopped in front of the desk where Lynn was taking a call. Glancing around while he waited, he noticed a tall, elderly man looking out the large glass panes in the alcove off the main reception area. There was something strangely familiar about the man, Horatio thought.

"Lieutenant," Lynn called out to him after ending her call. "The man is waiting over in that alcove for you," pointing him toward the same man who had caught his eye.

As Horatio walked toward the visitor, a strange feeling began to wash over him. Something feels extremely odd.

Stopping about five feet behind the man, Horatio nervously rested his hand on his gun as he inquired, "Sir, you asked for me?"

The man slowly turned around and when Horatio saw his face, a loud involuntary gasp escaped as his mouth dropped open in shock, while his body stiffened, completely rendering him unable to move. His mind began to spin with scenes from his childhood – disturbing scenes.

"Horatio… do you know who I am?"

Shock was quickly replaced with anger. Deep, radiating anger from his inner core as Horatio shook his head, attempting to recover from the mixture of strong emotions swirling within him.

Locking eyes with the man, Horatio found his voice and curtly responded, "You're a fake. Get out of this building… NOW – before I have you thrown out." As much as Horatio attempted to control his emotions, his body betrayed him. He could feel his body begin to shake, from both anger as well as disgust.

The elderly man understood the disbelief and shock that the younger man displayed. He had fully expected to encounter this response.

"I'm not a fake Horatio. Do you remember when you were a little boy, not much taller than my knees I called you, 'Poco Carota'? (Little carrot in Italian) A nickname I pegged you with from your mother's native language."

Horatio felt the room spin as his mouth suddenly turned dry. How can this man be him… he's dead!

"Horatio… hit me or say something, anything."

Regaining his composure, Horatio turned and almost ran out the front entrance of the building, leaving the elderly man standing, watching the younger man with grave concern. He knew his appearance would be a shock, but he had hoped they could work through it and get down to why he'd come.

Lynn had kept a close eye on the pair, not trusting that the visitor was there for anything good. She immediately called up to the lab to tell them that Lieutenant Caine needed help. Calleigh answered the phone.

"Duquesne…"

"Calleigh," Lynn began, "You or someone needs to come down to reception pronto. Lieutenant Caine just ran out the door! That man who came in asking for the Lieutenant must have greatly upset him."

Calleigh had already shed her lab coat and had tossed it on the table just before reaching for the door.

"On my way. Keep that man there. I want to find out what's going on."

Calleigh ran past Natalia, who called out, "Cal… where's the fire?"

Calleigh never turned around as she shouted back before hitting the stairway door, "Going down to reception."

Running down the three flights of stairs, Calleigh exited the door on the first floor and ran down the hallway to the reception desk, weaving through MPD officers and staff as she went.

Reaching the desk with labored breath, but still able to ask, "Where's the man, Lynn?"

Lynn pointed to an elderly man gathering his satchel and hat from a chair, preparing to leave.

Calleigh quickly and angrily strode toward him. As she passed the front doors, she saw Horatio's personal car speed out of the parking lot and enter the street. I know where he's headed and once I'm through with this man, I'll go find out what's going on with him.

Approaching the man she called out, "Sir, may I have a word with you?"

The man stopped and watched with intrigue as the beautiful, long-haired blonde quickly advanced toward him.

"What business did you have with Lieutenant Caine?" Her voice reflecting the anger she felt inside toward this stranger.

The older man smiled at her, hesitating a few moments before answering, "That - young lady is a matter between the Lieutenant and me. I'm sorry. Perhaps he'll tell you when you find him. And when you do find him, tell him I'm not going away. He needs to hear what I have to say."

Calleigh growled through gritted teeth, "It had better be important."

"Don't worry, it is." He paused briefly, "You might say, it's a matter of life and death."

She spun around and pulled her cell phone from the back pocket of her slacks and called Eric.

"Eric, I need to leave and take care of some personal business for a bit. Would you cover for me?"

"Sure Cal. Where's Horatio?"

Calleigh bit her lip as she truthfully answered, "I'm not sure." Not absolutely anyway. Eric looked perplexed on the other end. Horatio never just disappears. Something's not right.

Returning his attention to the conversation he added, "Hope it won't take long… we're pretty busy up here," he reminded her.

Feeling torn she answered, "I know. I'll be back as quick as I can."

Within twenty minutes, she was steering the Hummer down the narrow abandoned road that led to a deserted beach south of downtown. Years ago, Horatio had brought her here during a difficult case and allowed her to go with him to his private spot, a place where when difficulties began closing in around him, he could escape to an atmosphere of calming, lapping waves and swaying palm trees. In fact, he would often walk here from his condo, just a mile down the beach.

She stopped beside his parked car, exited the Hummer and walked down the narrow path through the tall shrubs and grass to the beach. As she entered the clearing, she saw Horatio sitting on the petrified, downed palm trunk in the shade, staring out across the ocean.

Walking up and sitting down next to him, she reached out and placed her hand on his leg, but remained silent for a few minutes. He had looked down at her hand, but returned to silently staring in the distance.

"Handsome…" Calleigh began after a few minutes had passed, "do you want to tell me about it?"

Horatio chuckled cynically and then answered, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Hell, I don't even believe it."

"Try me."

Horatio snapped his head around and Calleigh saw the confusion firmly registering in his hauntingly blue eyes. He held her gaze only for a brief few seconds before taking a deep breath and burying his face in his hands, shaking his head back and forth in disbelief.

"Horatio, please, I can't stand to see you this upset. I just want to help."

Lifting his head from his hands, he straightened to his full sitting height, swallowing heavily before he began.

"Calleigh… the man…" His body slumped, he hung his head as his hand rubbed his forehead finding it difficult to vocalize the words. Just thinking about it caused his body to begin shaking.

She watched in confusion and concern as she observed how, whatever the problem, it was having a devastating effect on the man before her.

Raising his head while almost spitting his words out, Horatio started again, "The man… is my father."

Calleigh couldn't stop keep from exclaiming, "What?!" drawing in a sharp breath as her hand flew to cover her mouth.

Then she managed to ask, "I thought… I thought both of your parents were dead?"

Horatio winced as he looked into her eyes while answering, "So did I… so did I Sweetheart." I thought I killed the bastard years ago. How in the name of heaven did he show up at my lab?

TBC…