COMING HOME

Chapter 4

It was Tuesday before Horatio felt prepared enough to call Calleigh. He timed it for about seven in the evening, Miami time. Late enough for her to have left work, early enough to catch her even if she was going out for the evening.

Her cell rang for quite a while before it was picked up, and a male voice said, "Hello?"

Horatio was completely taken aback. True, he'd never asked Eric if she was with anyone, but he'd have mentioned it… surely?

Surprise got the better of his manners, as he said curtly, "Who are you?"

There was silence, and he quickly apologised. "Sorry… That was rude… I wasn't expecting…"

The man chuckled. "It's okay. It's Austin. You wanted Calleigh?"

Austin? Austin? He thought of the curly-haired little boy, did a quick sum and realised he would be sixteen or seventeen. In any case, his voice had broken, and he sounded like an adult. Horatio cursed himself for starting this difficult call so badly. Pull yourself together, man!

"Yes, if she's there…"

"She's in the shower. Shall I take a message?"

Horatio hesitated, trying to think of a suitable message. Then, in the background, he heard Calleigh's unmistakable voice, calling, "Who is it, honey?"

"Who shall I say?" Austin asked him.

"Tell her it's Horatio. I'll call back…"

He heard Austin call, "Horatio – he says he'll call back…" Then he heard indistinct voices, and Austin came back on, laughing. "She says 'hold on, she's coming'."

Within seconds, he was talking to Calleigh. "Horatio… Is it really you?"

"It is. Sorry I interrupted your shower…"

"I'd just about finished. Hang on a minute – I'm just going to the bedroom…" He heard a door shut. "Oh Horatio… It's been so long…"

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Eric said he'd found you. Seven years, Horatio. Seven years! Where were you?"

"Oh, here and there. How are you, Cal?"

"I'm fine. You?"

"Good."

"Why didn't you keep in touch?"

"Oh, Cal…" He sighed. "I don't know. I was ashamed… I needed to be alone for a bit. Then I kept trying to come back, but… Somehow, I couldn't face you all again. Everything seemed so… wrong."

"I thought we were friends… We'd have looked after you."

"We were. We are… I hope. I don't know, Cal. I thought I was doing the right thing. At least, what I needed to do. And Eric didn't need his former boss hanging around."

"Eric missed you so much. So did I."

"I know I made a lot of wrong decisions. I can't undo it. Only apologise."

"Oh, sweetheart… You don't need to do that. Where are you? Still in New Orleans?"

"Yep."

"I love that city! But… are you… coming back?"

"It seems probable." He smiled. "It'll be next month… if I do."

"Oh, too long!" She sounded as if she was smiling too. "I so want to see you again."

"Good. I wasn't sure…"

"What? That I'd want to see you? Don't be crazy, Horatio! You were… well, everything… head of our family…"

Family. That word again.

When he didn't immediately reply, Calleigh added, "Keep talking."

"What do you want me to say?"

"Anything. It's just wonderful to hear you. Eric said you were going to call, but I didn't quite believe it, after all this time."

"I doubt I would have, if Eric hadn't found me. I thought… I thought I'd found a way to live… until he stirred me up. I mean, that's a good thing."

"Are you living alone?"

"I am."

"All the time? No one in your life?"

He chuckled. "Only a dog… for a few years."

"Eric said. Still, I'm kinda surprised some lady didn't snap you up."

"Come on, Calleigh, you know me better than that."

"Oh, sweetie, you must have been so lonely."

"I managed not to dwell on it." He hesitated. "This is so difficult, over the phone."

"I know. So come and see us."

"I will. I promise. When I can get my condo back." He explained briefly about the lease.

"You don't have to wait. I've got room. Eric's got room."

"I know… but I need… Oh god, Calleigh, I'm not sure what I need! I don't know why it feels so hard to come back!"

"Sweetheart, don't feel pressured. I understand… Really I do. Take your time – whenever you feel ready. We'll be here for you."

"I don't deserve you."

"Horatio, if we only got what we deserved, it'd be a pretty sad life… Don't you think?"

"You don't have a sad life, do you, Calleigh?"

"My life's very happy. Though not at all how I expected it to be."

Horatio chuckled. "Nor mine."

"I think yours hasn't been happy at all."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. It's had its moments." They were silent for a while, then Horatio added, "I can't do this over the phone… We need to be sitting quietly somewhere, with a glass of wine… Look, I will be back soon, I promise."

"Mind that you are, my dear. No having second thoughts…"

With some reluctance, they said goodbye.

Calleigh sat on the edge of her bed, numbly unwrapping her wet hair. Her throat felt tight, and tears stung her eyes. What are you crying for, you fool? Happiness? She wasn't sure what she was feeling. Maybe just shock at talking to him again. Maybe hearing the hints of how unhappy he'd been. Yet Eric had said how well he'd looked, how he'd seemed content… Well, she needed to see for herself. She blew her nose and set about drying her hair. She was conscious that Horatio had always been able rock her equilibrium, and he was still doing it.

"Horatio called me last night…"

"He said he would." Eric hesitated. "How did you think he sounded?"

"I don't know. Not particularly happy. He kept apologising for what he'd done."

"He did that with me too."

"I think he's finding it difficult to face us again…"

"Well, he doesn't have to, does he? It's not as if he's going to make some grand entrance into the lab. He's already spent time with me. Now he's talked to you. Anything else… it's up to him… I admit I'd like to show him the new place. I'd like him to meet the two Peters. And Steve."

"I don't think he should be pushed. He sounded… a little fragile…"

Eric chuckled. "I am not going to push him. As if anyone can push Horatio – he hasn't changed that much! I'm just glad he's coming back. Whether he stays – I think it depends how he feels when he's back in his condo. He did say he might sell it. He's afraid it won't feel like his anymore. I tried to convince him that tidying it up – restoring it, if you like – is nothing. I've promised to help."

"Has it changed round there? I mean, is there new building or anything?"

"The last time I was there – nothing noticeable. It still had its ocean view. And his favorite beach." Eric sighed. "But I haven't been that way in over a year. I'll drive past and have a look at it – from the outside, of course. It's still got tenants at the moment." He smiled suddenly.

"What?"

"I've still got a key to that place, you know."

"You wouldn't go in?"

"Not while it's occupied, Calleigh! But afterwards… I'm curious, I suppose. And if there are any horrible shocks, I'd like to see it before he does. I'll maybe talk to the letting agents." He looked at Calleigh's pensive expression. "What are you thinking?"

"That we're talking about him like… I don't know… like he can't take care of himself. Yet he's done just that, for seven years. I don't think I could do that. Seven years, alone."

"He always was one tough man. It's easy to forget." Eric chuckled. "And, as I said, physically he looks really good. Right, Cal, nothing we can do for now. At least we're in touch with him again. Now we'd better do some work."

TBC