Genkai-chan: I am really sad with only three reviews so…if I keep getting low support I can just focus on other things. ^^; I do love this story and have plans for more of it but I want to know that people are reading it and I'll only know that if people review and encourage me. I keep saying this because it's true, I'd love more support out there! I'm happy with the two consistent people; you know who you are hehe. So please show me some love!

LA Cal: Thank you very much; I hope it wasn't too over the top.

CSIMiamiLuver: That isn't a bad idea, who knows. XD

Brokenandlonely: Thank you. I hope you like this one.

Disclaimer: Not mine….urgh.

Love and Demand

After the abrupt spat with Natalia, Cali wasn't sure what to think. She felt so distanced from everyone even though it might not really be that way. She was now sitting at home and curled up on her couch. She didn't feel like writing, she didn't feel like eating, she didn't feel like doing anything. She felt rather depressed and nothing was getting any better, and the thoughts buried deep inside of her head were not assisting in taking off internal pressure. She stayed in a light slumber until the next day came; she was awoken with a knock at her door. She got up and looked at her phone. It was about nine in the morning. Calleigh felt so out of sorts so she didn't bother to look at herself before opening the door.

She came face to face with Rick Stetler. "Rick? What are you doing here?" Cali asked him.

"I've come to ask you to return to the lab." He said and she bit her lip, very startled by his blunt request.

"Rick…I can't. I can't go back there." She said after a moment of puzzlement. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, he knew she would react this way but he couldn't afford to beat around the bush.

"Calleigh, please just listen to me." He said softly. He wasn't one to reach out to people unless it was really important. The lab wasn't running as smoothly since she left. It had been five months since her departure. It was early fall and Rick was in desperate need of someone who was competent with firearms. "The lab isn't functioning as it used to. Horatio will hardly talk to anyone, Boa Vista and Delko can't hold everything together. As for Wolfe, he's hardly around and new people can't do what you all once did as the team you used to be."

"As flattering as it is…" She started to say and folded her arms.

"It's not meant to be flattery Duqusene." He said. "It's the truth and I need you back nn the team."

"I have a new job now." She said firmly. 'Why should I drop everything just because the team needs me all of a sudden?' She thought.

"Well at least consider it. I'll give you a raise." He said. He could call in some favors if it would mean having the usual team out on the Miami streets again. How she was standing it seemed like she was set on declining his offer. "Have a nice day, call me anytime." He said and left for his car. Cal shut the door and sighed. Did she want to go back? She started to second guess herself and the motives behind why they wanted her back. She just decided to go and get something in her tummy and maybe try and write some more. It just might help her decision making. After a plate of toast and scrambled eggs, she was sitting at her desk, ready to try.

Chapter Nine

A lot of new information got piled on me within my last few months work at MDPD. Alexx left. She was like a mother to me. She was a mother to the whole team. She and I helped get Ryan acquainted with the team. She helped us with Speedle's death and she was so kind. She never lost her temper and she knew what was best for us. She was pretty much the mother I always wanted. But she left when her son got caught in a risky case. I didn't blame her for making the choice she made. I understood her concern as a mother. She is missed though and no one has been able to replace that.

On top of my stress, Julia and Kyle were in Horatio's life a lot more. And I was in it a lot less. I mean I felt like we were practical strangers now. What's up with that?

She looked up from her work and rubbed her head; she looked at her phone and picked it up. She then set it down. 'I'm not calling Rick.' She thought to herself and shook her head.

And I think the worst I ever felt was because of my job.

Suddenly there was a ring from her phone. She let out an angry sigh and picked it up, "What?" She snapped, at her wits end.

"Excuse me are you Calleigh Duquesne?"

"Yes, who's asking?"

"I'm doctor Rogers; your father is in the hospital."

"What?" She blinked and sat up, now fully interested.

"He's in surgery right now but you can come over and see him within an hour." He said to her.

"Yes thank you, I will." Cali said. Her heart was racing, she didn't know what happened but she would definitely go down. She then hung up after getting some other medical information. Cali got up and looked around, her mind already weak and frazzled. She clearly couldn't take much more. She got her keys and hurried to her car and started for Dade Memorial. 'This is how I felt…when he got shot.' She thought and rubbed her eye at a stop light.

Cali was a wreck and when she got to the hospital she was in a bit of a shock. A nurse helped her sit down and gave her an IV to relax. Cali breathed in deeply and closed her eyes. Over the past few months her life had been on a huge roller coaster. She couldn't lose her father too. Soon she woke up, not knowing she had dozed off. "Excuse me?" She asked a nurse. "Where is my father? Is he alright?"

"He is, you can see him now." She said and Cali got up and went into his room.

"Daddy?" She asked and slowly walked over to the man lying on the bed; she held her breath and saw he was sleeping. Cal just sat down in a chair and sighed deeply. She then took out some paper from her purse and started to write.

Being in the hospital makes me think of when Horatio got shot a while ago. I remember getting a call out with Eric. It was at a small airport. I head Horatio was trying to get Julia and Kyle somewhere safe and…and that Horatio had been shot. It didn't hit me, but I got to the scene and saw Ryan. And when he told me H was dead. I think my world ended.

Tears came to my eyes and Eric held me as it sunk in. Horatio couldn't die, he couldn't. There had been so much I wanted to say to him. So many things I wanted to do with him. I honestly felt ready to die right there. He was shot and his body was gone, I'm sure if I saw it, I wouldn't want to leave him alone.

She looked up once a hand touched her head affectionately. "Hm?"

"Lambchop?"

"Dad…how are you feeling?" She asked softly.

"I'm alright…I can't feel much to tell you the truth." He laughed. A doctor soon entered who she assumed was Rogers.

"He was in a car crash and he had some surgery done on his chest, he should rest here for a few days." He soon left them alone and Cali kissed her father's head.

"I'm so glad you're alright." She said and held his hand as she shut her eyes, holding back tears. The past had to stop hurting her future.

( Not much, but more to come next chapter, sorry for the long wait. Tell me what you think. )