Part Three - Precaution
"No." Calleigh answered Natalia. The icy question would've hurt her, but the blonde knew she deserved it. "Horatio had to leave. He asked me to stay here with you."
"I appreciate it, but it's not necessary." Natalia commented and put her head down slightly to avoid Calleigh's eyes. "I'm sure babysitting isn't part of your job description."
"I'm not here because I have to be." Calleigh said and took a step closer to the bed. As Natalia looked up with a confused expression the door behind Calleigh opened. Natalia wondered what the blonde meant, but her concentration shifted to the doctor as he walked in the room.
"Hello, Miss Boa Vista, I'm Doctor Bennett." The man introduced himself and lowered his eyes to one of the cuts on the patient's arm. "I read on your chart you were in a car accident. What happened after the impact?"
"The airbag came out and the seat belt tightened to hold me in place." Natalia explained as the doctor turned her arm over to examine another cut. "That's all I remember. It all happened so fast."
"Did your head lunge forward or backward?" The doctor asked and sat on the stool next to the bed. "Is your neck sore?"
"I don't know if my head moved." Natalia answered and lifted one of her hands to the back of her neck. "It's a little sore and my head hurts, but not bad. I've had worst headaches than this."
"Head and neck injuries are common in car accidents." The doctor said as he opened her chart and wrote something in it. "I'm going to ask a nurse to take you down the hall for a scan of your head and neck. It'll show if you have a concussion, whiplash and any other injuries."
A few feet away from the doctor Calleigh frowned and hoped the test didn't find anything serious. On the bed Natalia appeared equally grim. When the doctor left the room both women were silent for several seconds. Calleigh walked over to the stool next the bed and sat down then put her hand over Natalia's hand.
"The scan is just a precaution." The blonde said and wished Natalia would look at her, but the brunette kept her eyes forward. "Everything will be okay."
"I think so too." Natalia agreed and finally turned her head to look at Calleigh. "I don't want to be here. I'd rather be at home in bed."
"I'd rather be there too." Calleigh replied and winked at the brunette. The smile that slowly showed on Natalia's face followed by a short laugh literally took Calleigh's breath away. She wanted to lean forward and kiss Natalia, but instead she caressed the brunette's hand with her fingers.
"Time for your scan, Miss Boa Vista." A nurse announced moments later. Natalia's smile went away when she looked at the empty wheel chair the nurse pushed in the room. To her surprise Calleigh didn't let go of her hand as she got off the bed and sat on the wheel chair.
"See you later." The blonde smiled and squeezed Natalia's hand before letting it go. As the nurse took the patient out of the room Calleigh took a deep breath and felt like she needed a scan to get her head examined because she was acting like a love sick teenager.
The care and concern Calleigh expressed surprised Natalia. As she was taken down a long hall in the hospital the brunette's hand still felt warm from the blonde holding it moments earlier. The physical contact Calleigh seemed reluctant to break reminded Natalia of the last time they were together.
The lovers were in Natalia's bed, both breathing hard after satisfying each other. Calleigh took Natalia's hand and moved on top of her. As always their mouths pressed together for a long passionate kiss that made Natalia wish she could freeze time and stay that close to Calleigh forever. The blonde lightened the force of the kiss, but didn't pull her mouth away. After a pause to take a breath she lowered her mouth on Natalia's again for several light kisses that made the brunette feel cherished.
The slow light kisses continued and Natalia felt herself falling more in love with Calleigh. Lost in the moment she let go of Calleigh's hand, but the blonde quickly reclaimed her hand with her own and locked their fingers together. "Natalia." Calleigh whispered after another slow lingering kiss. The brunette opened her eyes and stared up at her lover. The eye contact they made was only brief, but it felt as strong as their kisses. Calleigh looked like she was deep in thought, but she didn't say anything more. She pinned Natalia's hand down on her pillow and kissed her again.
Instead of waiting for Natalia in the small exam room Calleigh walked outside. The heat from the day was still in the air although the sky was dark. The blonde walked down a sidewalk that lead to a row of benches in front of several tall palm trees. She sat on one of the benches and pondered her feelings for Natalia. Despite her intention to avoid being in a relationship she felt connected to the brunette. She didn't know if she could handle a real relationship and didn't know if Natalia wanted more than what they had. Both things terrified her.
"Hey Cal." Eric greeted and approached her. The blonde was surprised to see him.
"Hi." She said. "What are you doing here? I thought you and Horatio were checking on a lead."
"It turned out to be a dead end." Eric answered and pointed behind him at the entrance to the hospital. "H went inside. He said you can leave if you want."
On the bench Calleigh considered her options, stay there for Natalia, which would lead to her dealing with more of her feelings or leave, which would allow her to continue hiding how she felt. It wasn't an easy choice for her to make.
