Title: Bad Day

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

Summary: After a lab accident, Calleigh relies on help from her father, but could it be the last thing she does?

Category: Ship Ahoy! Calleigh/Horatio

Genres: Angst, Drama, Friendship, Hurt Comfort, Pre-Relationship, Suspense

Characters: Calleigh Duquesne, Horatio Caine

Warnings: none

Rating: PG

Chapter: 6 "Trust Me"

Author's Notes: I also wanted to just let all know that I do appreciate the comments, but I have had to change the settings for my stories so that I no longer accept anonymous commenting after someone blantingly flamed a story with no real reason (because they thought something happened that didn't) and didn't even give me the chance to reply to it. Fanfiction(dot)net only allows authors to only respond to signed comments.

The 27th is my last day of work…we should all celebrate… This will also mean that I'll have more time to write and update! I'm going to open a CSI RPG; I was wondering if anyone would be interested, you can go to the message board I've set up.

http://csitacoma (dot) proboards54 (dot) com/

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Horatio had gone on his errand, and picked up the things that he knew needed to be picked up. Pulling the duffel bag from the Hummer, he slung it over his shoulder and headed into the hospital. He was sure Calleigh had time for herself and time to think things over. He knew the way, and made it up to Calleigh's section quickly nodding to the nurses who just smiled in response. He entered Calleigh's room and saw that she was still on her side. He sat on the side she was facing, and set the bag down on the other side of the bed. "Hey," he greeted quietly with a kind smile.

"Hi," she responded just as quietly and sniffled a bit. "What did you do about my dad?" she asked as she shut her eyes tightly waiting for the horrible answer she felt was coming. Her father had been drunk when the crash had happened and it had been his fault, it wasn't hard to come to a conclusion of what would happen. She'd been protecting him for so long…and now she was going to completely lose him.

"I don't want you to worry about that right now," he told her as he pushed her hair out of her face. He watched confusion cloud her face, he knew that she was worried about her father, but he didn't think that she needed that at the moment. "You need to concentrate on healing…"

"Horatio-"

He smiled, "I brought you clothes from you're apartment and a couple things. I borrowed your keys earlier when I was here. I don't know if they've told you when you're going home…" He reached to her face and pushed the tears that had fallen off of her face. "Calleigh, right now…the only thing that matters is you getting better."

"I need to know," Calleigh pressed.

Sighing, Horatio leaned back a bit and folded his hands in front of him. "Calleigh, trust me that things are being taken care of…"

"I don't know if he can handle going to prison, Horatio," she admitted sadly and tears escaped again. She felt herself being moved, being sat up, Horatio's arms around her, and his lips against her forehead. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face against his chest. She knew it wasn't his fault, but she still didn't like it. Fresh tears stained his shirt, and Calleigh wondered how she would explain things to her family. His hand stroking her hair was soothing, and she found herself slowly calming down.

"Trust me, Calleigh," he whispered. "Right now, it doesn't have to come to that…" Horatio knew that her father needed something, but throwing him in jail wasn't going to do that. He needed someplace to get clean…and then he needed to stay that way…if not for himself, for Calleigh. She deserved to be happy, and worry-free. Horatio could remember all the times she had left work to run an 'errand' and it had been Calleigh picking up her father from a bar and taking him home.

She looked up at him, "You said that…when I was in the car…" she whispered surprised by her own revelation. The words, she was sure, was what had triggered the memory…

"That's right, Sweetheart," he told her and kissed her forehead. He wasn't sure if her remembering would be good for her, but at the moment it was just remembrance of that phrase. "Let me take care of things, Calleigh…"

"I want to see him," Calleigh told Horatio. She looked directly into his eyes and could see the worry and concern there. She had always been the one who had protected her father, but now…Horatio was risking his career for her and her father…to protect them both. "I just…I need to see him."

Horatio pulled her head back to his chest, his hand in her hair, "The doctor hasn't released you yet…" He took a moment before adding, "I told your father you were in critical condition…" He wasn't sure how Calleigh would take it, but she needed to know…

Calleigh pulled back and looked at him, and she understood. She understood exactly why Horatio had said what he had. "You were punishin' him." She could see that it was the only thing Horatio could do…without putting her father under arrest.

"We could have lost you," Horatio told her. He let his hand run through her blonde locks and then rest on her cheek afterwards. "I couldn't bear to lose you…" he whispered staring at her. She had been the one person he had trusted most…she had risked her career for him…and had always been there when he needed without asking questions when he needed her not to.

She let her head rest against his chest as she just thought. "I don't remember most of that day," she randomly admitted. There were parts earlier that day that she didn't remember…she remembered being in ballistics and then being outside… She didn't remember the blast or where it came from… She didn't remember the crash…and she didn't remember most of when Horatio had been with her when they had gotten her out… She didn't remember the ambulance ride to the hospital…

He pressed a smile forward, "I think that might be for the best… We all have bad days, and I think that's one that we can all agree that we'd rather forget." His hand ran through her hair again and he tilted her face upward, "Don't worry about remembering, Calleigh…"

A knock at the door pulled Calleigh quickly away from Horatio's hold, she looked over and saw a doctor and nurse entering. She looked back at Horatio, who had moved back away from her. She was thankful though, that it didn't look wrong when they had entered. They'd probably never see the people again, but it was still something she appreciated.

"We're going to have to ask you to wait outside while we examine, Miss Duquesne," the doctor said looking over at the man.

Horatio looked over at Calleigh and then back to the doctor and nodded. He picked up his sunglasses, which he had set by the table by the door and headed out. At least once they were done he could know what they had to say about Calleigh and her injuries. He waited impatiently pacing right outside the door. He stopped when he heard the door open, and saw the nurse standing there.

"She's asking that you come in," the nurse said with a kind smile.

"Thank you," Horatio responded. Following her in, he set his sunglasses down once again and then saw that Calleigh was repositioned, sitting up straighter than when he had left her and obviously moved farther up the bed. So, he assumed the doctor had finished his examination. "So, are they letting you out?" he asked Calleigh with a smile.

"There are conditions," Calleigh replied with a small smile. She wanted to be able to leave, it meant that she'd be able to try and convince Horatio to let her see her dad… Plus, the helpless factor she felt would be lessened.

"I need someone to be able to check up on her, and she won't be able to work for at least a couple of days…but I would say a far bit longer given her job."

Horatio nodded, "I understand." He placed his hands on his hips and looked from Calleigh to the doctor and bowed his head a bit, "I'll be able to check up on her and I can assure you that I'll make sure that she rests and that there's modifications to her work schedule if she comes back to work before the cast is off."

The doctor nodded and wrote out a prescription and handed it to Horatio, "Pain medication, just in case. She'll also need a pair of crutches; I'll have them get them ready before she checks out."

"Thank you, Doctor," Horatio said as the doctor and nurse left before turning back to Calleigh. "It looks like you're on desk duty for awhile, Ma'am."

Calleigh sighed, "You know I'll be just fine as soon as I master the crutches…"

Horatio smirked and then shook his head, "I'm not going to have you falling in one of the labs, especially not ballistics… It can be taken care of for a bit until you're back to a hundred percent."

"Really, Horatio—"

He ignored her arguing and pushed the duffel bag towards her. "I brought you clothes and a shoe. I think I brought the right shoe."

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Once Calleigh had been finalized that she was clear to leave, they made the long journey down out of the hospital to the Hummer waiting outside and Horatio got her into the front passenger seat before thanking the nurse and watching her leave with the wheelchair. He stowed the crutches in the backseat for the time being along with the duffel bag before making his way around to the other side. Getting in, he pulled the heavy door shut and found Calleigh just looking over at him. "You alright?"

She smiled, "You said 'trust me'."

"Yes."

"Don't you know that I've always trusted you, Horatio?" she asked wondering if he knew that or if it had just been a tactic at the time to remind her of that trust. "I trust you with my life…" Calleigh smiled at him, "And I'm trustin'…" she added deviously, "That you'll take my wishes to see my father into consideration…"

Horatio smiled, "Funny thing…trust."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" she wondered aloud as he pulled out of the parking lot. Calleigh was starting to wonder whether he'd take her to her apartment or if he'd actually do as she had requested. She knew he was trying to protect her, but she needed to see him…

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TBC…