Title: Confessions

Author: innocent choir girl (ff-dot-net), shannyfish (From Out of the Lab/Miami Heat/LJ)

Summary: Horatio and Calleigh both end up shot and alone. They confess what they know they should have done long ago…

Category: Ship Ahoy! Calleigh/Horatio

Genres: Angst, Character Study, Drama, Friendship, Pre-Relationship, Suspense

Characters: Horatio Caine, Calleigh Duquesne, Frank Tripp (Other), Alexx Woods

Warnings: none

Rating: PG-13

Chapter: 2 "The Blame Game"

Author's Notes: none

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"Mr. Duquesne?" Alexx asked as she entered Calleigh's private room at the hospital. She had felt odd knocking, not wanting to disturb Calleigh knowing that she was resting… Though she wasn't even sure if her friend was conscious. She saw Calleigh's father sitting in a chair to one side of Calleigh holding her hand. She noticed that he briefly looked up at her, but then looked back down at Calleigh. "I know you told the nurses you didn't want anyone else to see her…but I was wondering if you'd allow it? I'm Alexx Woods; I'm the ME with the Crime Lab. Detective Tripp and Lieutenant Caine would like to see her also, if you'd allow us."

He looked over at the woman again, "You want me to let the man who is responsible for my daughter being in the hospital and possibly will never walk again see her?!" Kenwall shouted getting up and taking a couple steps towards the woman.

Alexx frowned and wondered if anyone had told Calleigh's father that they had the guy. If not, she certainly was going to inform him right away. "Mr. Duquesne, they got the guy. He came out of surgery and he's cuffed to the bed and he's being guarded by two officers."

"Horatio Caine is responsible for her being shot!" he spat. "I don't want him anywhere near my daughter!" He huffed and went back to his seat.

Shock at what she'd just heard kept her quiet for a minute before she spoke up again, "Horatio Caine was not responsible for Calleigh being shot. They didn't know that the guy they were after had a partner… Horatio was down when Calleigh was shot and he's the one that shot him. He was protecting her."

Kenwall huffed, "The man is dangerous!"

Calleigh could hear shouting and let out a groan as pain shot up her body. She quickly started to recognize the voices in the room. Alexx and her father… She let out a whimper as she slowly opened her eyes just a bit. "Stop yelling," she mumbled softly.

"Lambchop," Kenwall said softly and reached up and brushed hair away from her face. "Hey Darlin'…"

"Not…not –ratio's…fault…" she managed to mostly get out. She could hear her own voice, it was quiet and her voice was faltering. Calleigh let out another whimper and tears wet her eyes.

"You rest," Alexx told Calleigh walking up to the other side of her friend's bed, knowing that she didn't need to be arguing in her condition. "They removed the bullet… You're going to need to rest in the hospital for at least a couple days though…" She smiled down at her friend and tried to be reassuring. "It's going to be a while until you're 100, but it's gonna be alright, Honey." She didn't want to bring up the possibility of paralysis…it wasn't her place and she would rather be hopeful even if she was the doctor in charge.

"-ratio…?" she fought to get out.

"He's resting across the hall. I told him that I'd come and check on you and then tell him how you were doing."

Kenwall frowned; he didn't understand why his daughter was so concerned about the other man. As far as he was concerned Horatio Caine might as well have pulled the trigger himself. He was the cause of it all, and he knew that they hadn't waited for back up. "You should sleep," he finally spoke up again, quietly this time.

Alexx nodded in agreement and brushed hair away from Calleigh's face and cupped her friend's cheek, "You get some rest… I'll go tell Horatio that you're doing better. Maybe tomorrow you'll be up to having him over?" she suggested knowing that since Calleigh was awake, she could make her own decisions. They were no longer bond by her father's, though she knew he wasn't going to like it. She looked up to see Calleigh's father glaring, but ignored him. "I'll see you tomorrow."

The walk across the hall seemed like a long one, and Alexx wondered just how things would go with Calleigh having to stay in the hospital and her father not being too receptive to members of the Crime Lab. She entered Horatio's room and saw that Frank was still in the chair on one side and Horatio was back to staring at the ceiling. The two men apparently couldn't be social. "She just woke up," Alexx reported, which got both men's attention. "Her father, though…upset her…"

"What?" Frank asked. "Duke should know better…she's his daughter after all."

Alexx sighed and took a seat on the other side of Horatio.

"She's alright?" Horatio asked.

She shrugged, "She's awake…she moved her head…we'll have to see how much movement she'll regain. Her words were slurred, but I think that's from the medication they have her on." Alexx smiled over at Horatio, "She was worried about you."

Horatio gave Alexx a nod. He was worried about her, too, but they all already knew that.

"Why was Duke upset?" Frank finally asked.

"He-he blames Horatio for Calleigh being shot," Alexx told him. She knew that it wasn't true, but they'd find out eventually. It was better than a yelling match.

"What?! That's insane! It could have easily been anyone shot out there!"

Horatio sighed and closed his eyes. The last thing he needed was for Calleigh's father to hate him. He wanted to see her…he needed to see her. He needed to tell her what she had missed. "Is he staying the night?" he asked quietly wondering if he'd be able to manage convincing someone to let him go across the hall to see Calleigh.

"I dunno, Honey. Tomorrow, I told Calleigh we'd all go over and visit…" Alexx told him. She patted his arm, "Tomorrow…"

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TBC…