A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews. I'm glad you are enjoying my story. I wish all my American readers a safe and happy Thanksgiving and I hope all readers have a great week!

Change of Direction

Chapter 10

Calleigh reached up letting her hand slowly slide down the side of Horatio's face, tenderly touching the bruise under his eye as she fought the urge to break down in tears. I wish I could just stop everything that's happening; make it all go away. It has always been important for him to keep those around him safe from harm, but I want to do the same for him.

"I love you Horatio. Promise me you won't be a hero trying to bring Perez down."

He lifted up on an elbow, as he searched her eyes and then softly kissed the tip of her nose answering, "Rest assured I'm no hero Sweetheart. I'll be careful." Rolling over onto his back, he gently gathered her into his arms as they lay back against the pillows before he softly implored, "I want you to be careful, don't let your guard down…no matter what happens, you stay put in the safe house."

"Ok, but I still wish I could stay with you," she answered as she snuggled up closer against him, realizing just how much she would miss him. I've always thought of myself as a strong woman, able to take care of myself, but I'm finding lately that I need the security of his arms. I feel so safe when they're wrapped around me.

"I do too."

About an hour later, they were both up and dressed. Calleigh had gathered a few things for her bag, before they threw together a light dinner. They ate in silence; Calleigh's thoughts consisted mainly of worry for Horatio's safety, he's been through so much lately, now this. Horatio's mind was consumed with thoughts of making Perez pay for his crimes.

"Do you know the location of the safe house where I'll be?"

"Eric told me it was the 17th floor condo in the Towers."

Reaching out, covering his hand with hers in a small voice she asked, "Why do I have to go tonight? He's probably still in Mexico, couldn't I stay with you for a while longer?"

"I'm not going to risk it Sweetheart. You know as well as I do he could be right here in Miami, his calls could still be routed through the service in Mexico."

She hung her head, briefly closing her eyes halfway mumbling, "I sure hope he's not here."

"Me too Calleigh," he responded with tight lips, his voice echoing her concern as he turned his hand over to gently grasp hers. Focusing his eyes on their joined hands, he began rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb then looked up at her sad face that touched his heart.

They had just finished cleaning up the few dishes they had used when the doorbell rang. Calleigh instinctively placed her hand on the grip of her holstered gun as she walked toward the front door to look out the peep hole. It was Walter.

"Hey Calleigh, H, ready to go?"

"Give me a few minutes will you?"

"Sure, I'll wait outside," Walter nodded toward Horatio before turning and walking out the front door, pulling it closed behind him.

Calleigh turned and found herself suddenly wrapped Horatio's arms triggering her tears to begin to flow, no longer able to control them now as she squeezed him tight, her face pressed into his chest.

Horatio leaned back in her arms and tenderly began wiping the tears off her cheeks as he whispered, "Don't cry Sweetheart. All of this will be over and everything will get back to normal, I promise."

He leaned down and softly kissed her wet lips, moistened by her salty tears before turning the simple kiss into a deeper, passion-filled declaration of his feelings for her. Recovering her breath, very reluctant to leave his warm embrace, she stepped back and noticed the smile that dangled from the corner of his lips causing her to give him a sad smile in return before imparting,

"I love you Horatio Caine. Be safe."

"I love you Calleigh, always remember that Sweetheart," he replied as he searched her eyes brushing some of her loose hair back from her face. She leaned over and picked up her bag, but before opening the door, she turned and looked back toward Horatio one last time and gave him her radiant smile, mixed with uneasiness. He returned her smile then she was gone.

Horatio walked over to the sofa and sat down heavily, leaning his crutches on the edge before putting his elbows on his knees, placing his head in his hands. Staying that way for several minutes, he began thinking back to the phone conversation with Perez when he abruptly jerked his head up. Perez said 'amateurs', plural. There was another man involved besides Carlos. Why didn't I catch that sooner? Because you're slipping Caine, you shouldn't have missed that.

He leapt to his feet so quickly, dizziness overwhelmed him for a few seconds due to the fact that the blood pooled in his feet, causing him to totter as he reached for the crutches. Steadying himself, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Walter. After several rings, Walter answered, "Simmons."

"Walter, be aware there's more than just Carlos in Miami right now working for Perez. Are you staying the night at the safe house?"

"I am H; Ryan will take over at six in the morning."

"Good, stay alert."

"You too H. Tripp and Delko just radioed they are on their way to your house."

"Thanks."

Horatio's cell rang. Looking at the screen he saw it was Eric, "Eric, what evidence did you find in the car? "

"Two sets of prints and they were fresh because oil from the skin was still present. We ran them through IAFIS and came up with a match, of course Carlos Mendez being one set, but the other belonged to a Felix Rula. Both have convictions in Mexico, but none serious"

"Perez mentioned in his conversation about there being 'amateurs' involved. I didn't catch the fact until just now."

"I didn't either H. I put out a BOLO on Felix and just in case he's here, Perez."

"That's all we can do."

"H, Tripp and I are in position down the street from you. Try and get some sleep."

"I'll try, but…"

"Yeah, I understand."

After speaking with Walter and Eric, Horatio thought he might as well lie down and try to catch a little sleep; he felt drained. He had been in bed for a couple of hours, not sleeping. His thoughts focused on Calleigh and how much he missed her lying beside him. All of a sudden there was a loud noise from the other end of the house causing him to jump. He reached over and picked up his pistol, holding the grip tightly in his hand he as he lay still, listening intently for any more noises. Silence filled the house. Get a grip Caine. The noise was probably just the house popping with the cooling of the night air. Then his cell phone rang. Looking at the screen he saw it was Calleigh.

"Sweetheart, you can't sleep either?"

Whispering she said, "Horatio, someone opened the door and is walking through the house. I heard a slight scuffle in the living room, now it's silent."

Horatio bolted up in bed, "Calleigh, are you in the bedroom?"

"I've locked myself in the adjoining bath; I'm behind the shower curtain in the tub. I've got my gun and I've called 911."

She heard the footsteps coming closer. "Horatio, they're at the door. They're walking away, but I think they're checking for another entrance."

Horatio was scrambling, putting his phone on speaker as he hobbled to the door to the garage, grabbing his keys in the process. "Sweetheart, I'm coming. It will take me a few minutes, but I want you to stay on the line."

Horatio ignored the pain in his leg as he struggled getting into the car. As soon as the garage door was high enough, he backed out at record speed, driving like a demon down the street knowing Frank and Eric would follow.

Frank and Eric were confused and in shock. "Where in the hell is he going?" Frank asked as Eric answered an incoming call on his cell.

Quickly ending the call Eric started the car, "I think I have a good idea. A 911 call came in from the safe house.

"Oh crap," exclaimed Frank. Eric made a U-turn, turning on lights and siren, sped after Horatio, hoping to catch up with him.

"Calleigh, what's happening, you're quiet Sweetheart." A second later he heard the door give away as the men forced their way in.

Then Horatio heard men's voices speaking Spanish. He could make out enough of the conversation to realize they had captured Walter. He quit speaking, fearing his voice would be overheard giving Calleigh away, but he knew it was just a matter of seconds before they found her. Damn what has happened? I hope you have one in the chamber of that big .45 Sweetheart. Horatio was approaching intersections barely slowing down and driving through if no cars were approaching. This caught the attention of a patrol car that began pursuit. Horatio, not stopping for them, never checked up in his speed. C'mon guys, the more the merrier. Eric and Frank fell in behind the patrol car.

Suddenly he heard something that made his heart stop, the men found Calleigh and it sounded as if she willingly gave up. No Sweetheart! What are you doing? Then he heard her say,

"I'll go with you, just let him go."The call disconnected.

Oh Calleigh, delay them somehow. I'm getting close and I'm bringing the Calvary with me. Three minutes later, and three minutes after a grey van pulled away from the service entrance, Horatio slid to a stop in front of the building, throwing open his car door just as the officers came running toward Horatio's car shouting with guns drawn,

"OUT OF THE CAR, HANDS IN THE AIR, DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT, NOW!"

With his heart beating wildly in his chest so much so that it felt as if it would explode, Horatio struggled to get out of his car, immediately falling against the side, balancing on one foot as he desperately pleaded, "Officers, I'm Captain Horatio Caine, MDPD" pausing to catch his breath, "please check this building on the seventeenth floor, apartment 1710. There's a kidnapping taking place right now!"

Frank and Eric ran up to the scene verifying Horatio's statement and the officers apologized as they began running for the building's entrance with Eric and Frank. Horatio, using his crutches, was close behind them, adrenaline flowing making him oblivious to the pain in his leg.

Arriving on the seventeenth floor, the men silently made their way down the hall with guns drawn ready to shoot. They reached the apartment finding the door slightly open. Eric cautiously pushed the door open, crouched low as he stepped in, his eyes anxiously scanning the room and the doors leading into the rest of the apartment, seeing no one. Horatio followed Eric. Frank and the officers spread out and searched each room.

Frank suddenly bellowed, "Call a bus, I found Walter." Walter was lying face down in the bathroom. Horatio quickly made his way down the hall only to see Walter prone on the floor.

"Walter…" Horatio whispered, "Is he going to be ok?"

"I think so," Frank answered, "his breathing's normal. Seems as if he's been drugged…don't see any sign of physical injury."

Eric ran into the bathroom with them just as Horatio weaved and collapsed against the wall. "H," Eric grabbed Horatio's arm to help keep him on his feet, instead of sliding down the wall like he was about to do.

"She's gone. Calleigh's gone. Perez got her. This was a mistake…I could have protected her…." He bemoaned with his head back against the wall.

"H, you know she couldn't have stayed with you. You did everything you could to protect her. We'll find her, H. C'mon; let's get you somewhere so you can sit down." Eric managed to help Horatio out to a chair in the hallway where the redhead collapsed, overcome with grief. Eric was never privy to witness the devastation in Horatio after Marisol's death because the man secluded himself away from everyone, not willing to share his feelings. Now, there was no hiding from this horrible turn of events and Eric was greatly disturbed as he watched his friend in such profound agony, blaming himself for what happened.

TBC…