Broken
Summary: 'So it's up to you, Horatio. Who's it going to be, me or her?' Horatio's made his decision. But can he live with his choice or will he have second thoughts?
A/N: Okay, I know this first chapter sucks, but please, stick with me on this one, I promise it's going to get better.
'Lord if the fall don't kill you, the heartbreak will.'-Travis Tritt, If the Fall Don't Kill You
'So it's up to you, Horatio. Who's it going to be, me or her?'
'Calleigh, please don't make me choose.'
'There's no other way. You can't have us both!'
'…I'm sorry, Cal…'
"Cal, are you okay?" Calleigh wiped a tear off her cheek as Sam glanced over at her in the passenger seat. It had been a month since the night of the accident that had taken her fiancé and her ability to walk and she was finally going home from the hospital.
"I'm fine." She muttered as she leaned her head against the car window. This last month had been a living hell. Not only had she lost John to some drunk driver, but she had also lost Horatio, the man who truly had her heart and always will, to woman who didn't know how lucky she was to have him. It wasn't fair, she told herself, but it was just.
"We're home." Sam announced as he pulled into the driveway. Calleigh let out a shaky breath. The space in the driveway where John's Taurus used to be was now just an empty void. She closed her eyes. This was going to be a whole lot harder than she thought.
Sam now appeared at her side with her wheelchair. Reluctantly, Calleigh maneuvered herself into the damn thing. She hated it with every bone in her body. She felt clumsy and cumbersome in the wheelchair. Not to mention slow and noticeable. The thing she hated most about the whole situation though, was her sudden dependence on others for everything. For most of her life, she had prided herself on the fact that she was totally self reliant and needed no one. Now she couldn't even get from one place to another without some type of assistance.
"I have a surprise for you." Sam teased as he pushed her up the driveway towards the house.
"I hate surprises." She grumbled. He shrugged and rolled his eyes.
"I know. But you'll like this one." He smirked as he opened the door. Calleigh's eyes went wide as he wheeled her through the door. Alexx, Eric, Ryan and even Tripp were all standing in her living room with a big 'Welcome home banner' and balloons.
"Welcome home, honey. We're all so happy to see you looking so much better." Alexx rushed forward and wrapped her up in a hug as best she could. Calleigh smiled weakly but didn't really know what her friend was talking about.
Sure, bruises and cuts were finally starting to fade and she wasn't so deathly pale anymore, but she was a far cry from the bombshell she had been only a little over a month ago. The dark circles and bags under her eyes along with the deep worry lines on her forehead made her look years older and worse for the wear. Still, she knew that Alexx was only trying to help, so she put on her best face and went along with the lie. At least for now.
"We've missed you, Cal. Things just haven't been the same without you." Eric informed her as he gave her a one armed hug. Ryan and Tripp followed with their well wishes and the group hung around until the boys got called away on a case. Sam left with the excuse of grocery shopping leaving the girls to themselves.
"Horatio sends his love. He wanted to be here but crime interfered as usual." Alexx explained as she sat down in the chair across from Calleigh. Calleigh smiled sadly.
"I think its better that he didn't come, for both of us." Alexx gave her the raised eyebrow look.
"Care to explain?" Calleigh sighed deeply.
"Horatio and I aren't exactly on the best of terms right now. With all that's happened lately, things just aren't the same between us anymore." She shrugged but Alexx wasn't quite buying it. For now she would leave it alone but it definitely confirmed her suspicions. She patted the other woman's knee and rose.
"Well, I'm glad to see you're starting to feel better. Before you know it, you'll be back at the range." The two women smiled and Calleigh watched as the older woman started to walk away. "Oh, I almost forgot. Horatio gave this to me to give to you. He said it was important." Alexx pulled a card shaped envelope out of her purse and handed it to Calleigh. She took it hesitantly and waited until she was alone to open it. Inside was a simple white card with two words printed in bold black ink.
Forgive me.
