Title: innocent eyes
Author: shannyfish
Summary: Story Five in the "American Family Series". The serial killer who targets children is on the loose still and starts to hit closer to home. Horatio and Calleigh start to worry that they're targets…Emma and Madison in turn…
Category: CSI: Miami
Genres: Romance
Characters: Calleigh Duquesne, Horatio Caine, Eric Delko
Rating: PG-13

Chapter 4 ~ "Plans"

Author's Notes: I wrote this during the drive between Baker and Los Alamitos, so any mistakes I'm blaming on the intense sun (makes it a bit difficult to see my screen completely) and heat (130+ degrees is just wrong).

………………………………

Caine Residence

"What do you propose we do, Horatio?" Frank asked.

Horatio had convened a meeting at his and Calleigh's home over dinner. It was originally to discuss the case at hand, but then it had gotten off track – somehow they'd gone on to discussing what they seemed to all feel was more important. Horatio hadn't expected it to go off onto that path. Sure, he knew their feelings on the subject, but he didn't think that that's where the meeting would end up.

"I'm not proposing anything," Horatio said honestly.

"We're not going to allow Emma or Madison to end up the next ones to be taken," Eric said matter of factly. "They're family..."

"Eric's right," Alexx agreed. "There has to be something we can do." Alexx had wanted to bring it up earlier to Horatio in private, but hadn't gotten a chance without Calleigh nearby. She frowned and then looked up at him. Calleigh was in the kitchen with Sheryl and the girls getting dinner ready. "Horatio, there has to be somewhere safe we can move the girls and Calleigh to. Honestly, I don't think she'll be able to handle it if they were taken," Alexx said concerned.

He'd thought of that fact before too. Though he didn't think that he was going to be able to convince Calleigh to leave Miami. If she left, she'd have to do so with only the girls and Sheryl. He'd stay behind to try to wrap up the case. Calleigh would never agree to it. She'd want the family together. He didn't blame her, the idea of her and the girls being so far away would worry him.

"We could keep them all on guard if they stayed," Ryan pointed out.

"I really don't think that's healthy for Madison and Emma though," Natalia pointed out.

Natalia was right. Horatio didn't want to do any further mental harm to any of his girls. Madison had been through enough while in Suzie's care and trying to get her mother to understand that she was happy as a part of his family. Calleigh and Emma had suffered enough during their years imprisoned by a mad man. He wouldn't put them into any further psychological danger. It wouldn't be fair.

"The safest place I can think for the girls is in the lab," Horatio told them. "I'm also worried about Sheryl's safety as well."

"We could make arrangements for them to stay at the lab, Horatio," Alexx said. "The right amount of space would just need to be set aside."

Horatio nodded. "The important thing here is for no other child to be taken. I can't imagine life without Madison and Emma or even Sheryl, I can only imagine how difficult is has been for those who have lost their children at the hands of this serial killer so far. Right now, we need to focus on putting together safety measures."

"Miami-Dade P.D. is seriously considering putting out a memo to all law enforcement officials with children in the state of Florida to keep their children in a secure location," Frank spoke up.

"I wouldn't suggest that it be all in one place, though," Calleigh said as she entered the living room where the meeting had been taking place. She hadn't been worried about missing anything, she was sure that Horatio would update her after everyone left. "It would make it too easy for them to all be abducted or held hostage."

"You're right," Horatio told his wife as he stared at her. She still looked stressed and worried. Normally, he'd say she looked sick, but he was fairly sure it was the case that was vexing her so. He wished suddenly that he could convince her to leave, to go away to California maybe. He could see the girls thoroughly enjoying Disneyland and California Adventure with Calleigh and Sheryl. He doubted that the serial killer would go so far to pursue his family. Horatio knew, though, that Calleigh would never agree to it.

"Dinner's ready," Calleigh announced.

..................................

A few hours later...

Caine Residence

With the girls safe and fast asleep in bed and Sheryl asleep as well, Calleigh finally started to relax. She and Horatio had already gone through the house and made sure that all the doors and windows were securely locked down. "I know what you're thinking," Calleigh said as they sat on the edge of their bed. There'd been at least five minutes of silence between them.

"What am I thinking, Sweetheart?" Horatio asked after a moment and turned his head to look at her. He was exhausted. It had been too far long of a day and tomorrow wasn't going to be any better.

"I won't leave you," Calleigh told him quietly as she met his gaze. "I know you want to protect the girls, but I won't leave you here. I won't do it, Horatio."

Horatio smiled a bit, he had a feeling that it was a weak smile, but it was all he could muster at the moment. "I know," he told her quietly. "As much as I'd love to know that you were all on the other side of the U.S., I already knew well enough that you'd never agree to it."

"I'd worry about you," Calleigh told him.

"I would worry about all of you as well," Horatio confessed.

"When we got married, Horatio. I meant to be by your side for the rest of my life," Calleigh said. "I'm not going to run away and leave you here in the fire. You need help. Hell, sometimes you need someone to give you a swift kick in the ass."

Horatio laughed at that. "You know me too well."

"And you know me."

"So, then what are we going to do, Sweetheart?" he asked gently. They were both exhausted, worried, and concerned. They were partners after all, they needed to make the decisions together, not only when it came to their family, but when it came to the lab as well.

"We could send them with someone else," Calleigh said. She didn't like the idea, but it was still an idea.

"Where would we send them?"

Calleigh shrugged. "Some place we knew whoever is out there wouldn't go."

"I thought about California, our trip there before...to Disneyland."

"It could be a good idea, it's just a matter of who escorts them there."

"Sheryl."

"Of course," Calleigh agreed.

"We could send Eric and Natalia," Horatio suggested. "We'd be short a few, but we could more than make up for that shortage."

"Somehow I think that Stetler may hear about it and have something unkind to say about that decision," Calleigh said.

"Agreed, but it's what we have to do for our family," Horatio told her. "Our family comes first and everyone we work with knows that. We're all one big family. We've said it before and right now, our family's going to be tested in possibly the biggest way ever."

"You're right."

"It's a horrible decision to have to make," Horatio told her. He meant it as a dual meaning. It was going to be hard on their family because he knew that Calleigh would suffer greatly from the separation from the girls, especially Emma, but it was something that had to be done. He'd try to be there for her and to keep her as calm as possible, but Horatio also knew that seeing her in so much pain was going to be hard on him. It was also going to be hard for their friends, those they called family, that they worked with because quite possibly what they would be doing could put their jobs on the line. He hated to do that, but he already knew that they'd all do it in order to keep Emma, Madison, and Sheryl safe. "But it has to be done, Sweetheart."

"Then that's what we're going to have to do," Calleigh said sadly. She looked away from him and down to the floor. She hated the thought of having to be so separated from the girls, for them to be possibly put in danger.

Horatio reached out and placed an arm around her and pulled her close to him. He placed a kiss in her hair and pulled in a deep breath for himself. "I'll make the arrangements in the morning."

Calleigh nodded against him and just held onto him.

It felt like they were grieving...again...already... Horatio felt sick, but held onto Calleigh and prayed that everything would be over soon enough, that they'd be able to bring their girls home safely.

......................................

The Next Morning...

Miami-Dade Crime Lab

"Are you sure about this?" Natalia asked. She'd been given all of the travel documents including letters that detailed that she, Eric, and Sheryl were supposed to be transporting the Caine children back and forth between Florida and California. Horatio had made sure that they had several copies, all signed by both him and Calleigh. He'd also made sure that they had been printed on the Miami-Dade Crime Lab letterhead. It made it a bit more official.

Calleigh wanted to yell no, but she had to be okay with it. "Yes," she said quietly. She knew that it was the best way and it was the only way in which the girls wouldn't be afraid. They'd enjoy it and think it was a vacation...at least they would once they got there.

"Everything should be there," Horatio tried to assure her. "I've contacted the airlines and the hotel and they are aware of the situation. The letters are just in case," he said as he looked down. After a moment, he looked back up at them. "You're going to be escorted into the airport and onto the airplane. After that, there should be no problems."

"You'll keep us updated," Eric said, more as a statement than a request. He had Emma on his hip and her head was resting on his shoulder. They'd already switched the luggage into the vehicle that they'd be driven in the airport in. Frank was going to drive them.

"We will," Horatio told him. He looked down at his watch and then over to Calleigh. "It's time."

Calleigh hadn't been looking forward to this moment, she'd been dreading it. She'd hoped that somewhere the serial killer would be captured before she'd have to send her daughters away. She kept back the tears that threatened to fall and put on a smile for the girls. After all, the whole point to this was for them not to be scared or to worry about what was going on. They didn't want them to be living in a world of fear, they should have carefree days.

Bending down, she hugged Madison and kissed her cheek before kissing her forehead. "I love you. You be safe and have fun, okay?"

"Kay," Madison responded a bit quietly.

Calleigh went on to Emma, while Horatio said his goodbye to Madison. She took her from Eric's arms and held Emma tightly. This was going to be the hardest part. "Mommy loves you, Baby," she whispered into Emma's ear and tried to keep the tears back, it was so hard. She handed Emma to Horatio after a quick kiss to Emma's cheek. She sucked in deep breath before turning to Sheryl who had been silent the whole time. "You be safe and have fun, too, okay?" Calleigh said and hugged her.

"We'll keep them safe," Eric vowed.

"We promise," Natalia added.

And with that, they were leaving. Leaving the building and heading for the vehicle and the escort that would take them to the airport. Calleigh knew that she couldn't bear to see a plane actually leave, which was why they were doing things the way they were. This was hard enough.

Horatio's arm curled around Calleigh and pulled her close. He kissed her forehead and just held on. He knew that this was going to be heart breaking. He didn't realize how much he'd be affected alone by it; he could only imagine how Calleigh felt. "They're going to be home before you know it, Sweetheart."

"But will they be okay, Horatio?" she asked as the tears finally fell. She looked up at him, searching his eyes and face for answers. She saw love there and wondered if that would be enough to get them through this.

"They will be," he said sincerely.

................................

TBC....