Title: Storm

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

Summary: Sequel to "Sex, Drugs, & Rock n Roll", and takes place six months after that story. Calleigh is still deciding on what to do with her unborn child and is having a hard time with being away from work. How will the decisions she make change her life?

Category: Ship Ahoy! Calleigh/Horatio

Genres: Drama, Hurt/Comfort

Characters: Horatio Caine, Calleigh Duquesne

Rating: R

Chapter: 10 "Worry"

Author's Notes: Any (double carrot) sections are flashbacks that are taken from SDRR. Thanks be to Opal for keeping me motivated for nanowrimo!

So, this is the story that will be the November story, since I'm doing nanowrimo… Keeping with the writer's strike, I have been withholding the completed chapters of "Storm", but still updating my word count on nanowrimo. Though, a writer can never stop writing…it's something you have to get out or it haunts you…I can keep it from being published until I am ready to do so. Sorry all!!! I'm sure most understand! Just think of it this way ;) You get a bulk update!

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Calleigh stared out the window. No one would let her leave the break room except to use the bathroom. She understood the reasons, but she also didn't want to stay cooped up. She could see that the storm was bearing down on the crime lab, but with the weather protection in place, they'd be fine. She sighed and closed her eyes as she thought about Jake and how she felt about him.

"No," Calleigh said quietly and pushed Jake against the door before picking up the gun herself. With Jake bent over on the floor, Calleigh held the gun to his head. "Don't move," she whispered.

Jake laughed, but put his hands up in defense, "Calleigh, you're not going to shoot me." He shifted, but found the gun pressed against his temple. "C'mon, Cal… We all know you can't do it…"

"You don't think that I could make a case in court and get off Scott-free sayin' that it was self-defense?" Calleigh challenged and pressed the gun so she was sure that his skull could feel the barrel of Horatio's gun.

Horatio got up from where he had fallen, and then been fallen upon, "Calleigh…don't do this…" He pulled out handcuffs and walked up along side of her, "Jail will get him," Horatio told her.

"You think I'll spend a day in jail?!" Jake let out laughing, but then stopped when he saw Calleigh's finger at the trigger.

"Calleigh, he can't hurt you anymore," Horatio said as he bent down and handcuffed Jake's wrists behind his back. He leaned forward to his ear, "Don't you dare move or I'll let her shoot you," Horatio threatened as he straightened back up to Calleigh. He held out his hand below hers, "Let me have the gun now," Horatio said. When he heard them getting ready to break down the door, which must have been locked sometime in the tussle, he yelled out, "We've got him, Frank!" He turned his attention back to Calleigh, who had moved her finger from the trigger and carefully set it in his hand.

He couldn't hurt her anymore…

She reached up and wiped the tears falling down her cheeks. Horatio hadn't even come in to see if she was alright. She hadn't seen him since he'd entered the holding cell and had Eric take her out. He had been right, if only she'd listened…but she still knew that if she hadn't talked to him then she would regret it. Though, she still regretted it just the same.

Turning around, she noticed Natalia and Eric sitting together on the couch. She was happy that she wasn't the only one who'd found someone to care for. "Do you guys know when Horatio's comin' back?" Calleigh asked. It was the first time she'd spoken up since she'd finished reassuring people that she was okay.

"I'm not sure," Eric spoke up. "Want me to go and find him for you?"

"It's alright," she said a bit disappointed and sat in the chair at the table. She noticed Eric get up immediately and she put up a hand in response, "I'm fine, Eric. I'm gonna eat a snack…" She fished through the box on the table until she found something she felt like eating. Calleigh felt a bit sick, but she was sure that was over guilt for upsetting Horatio so much.

Natalia nudged Eric, "Go find him," she whispered.

Eric nodded and gave Natalia a small smile. The women always won when it came to getting their way. Or so it seemed. He got up and headed out, he knew that Calleigh was close to Horatio and probably was worrying.

…………………………….

Horatio followed Eric back to the break room. He hadn't wanted to at first, but also knew that if Calleigh wanted to talk to him, then it was probably a good idea to talk to her. He knew that he couldn't hold it against her. Calleigh was a curious person, and he was sure that if she hadn't have talked to Jake now that she would have eventually… Though, he was sure that the result would have been the same. He stopped in the doorway and then looked to Eric, "Do you think you and Natalia can go for a walk?" Horatio requested quietly.

"Talia, let's go check on Alexx," Eric said popping his head into the room.

"Huh?" she mumbled and looked up, "But Calleigh—" When Natalia saw Horatio, she just mumbled, "Oh." Getting up she quickly exited the room with Eric leaving the two alone to talk.

"How are you feeling, Sweetheart?" Horatio asked gently as he eased into the room and walked over to table and sat across from her.

Calleigh pushed a packet of crackers across the table, "I'm feelin'…okay considerin' the baby's gettin' ready to come out," Calleigh told him with a smile. "I thought I'd be freaked out…but I'm alright right now."

"That's good," Horatio told her matching her smile.

"You should eat something."

"You should," Horatio countered.

"I ate two packets of crackers," Calleigh told him showing him the empty wrappers as proof.

Horatio gave in and started to open the crackers. The crinkling of the plastic echoed through the quiet room. "I was worried…"

"I was worried," Calleigh said looking up at him, "I was worried…that you would hate me…for going against you…talkin' to Jake…"

"I can't hate you for wanting to know, Calleigh," Horatio assured. "I guess…I was just trying to protect you…and I forgot that you really don't need my protecting…"

Calleigh smiled and reached across the table to take his hand into hers, "I do need protectin', but sometimes…sometimes I think I can handle big things on my own… Today wasn't a good idea…"

"No, it wasn't," Horatio agreed. "But I'm glad that you and the baby are okay…"

"I'm glad, too," she whispered with a smile.

"Alexx said that you might end up giving birth here…"

Calleigh tilted her head a bit, "I'm not goin' lie…I'm not so thrilled about that idea… Though, at least you and Alexx and everyone are here…so it'll work…right?"

Horatio gave her a warm smile, "Don't worry, Sweetheart. We're going to make sure that you deliver that baby just fine… Everything will be fine. I promise."

"C'mere," Calleigh said motioning with her finger for him to come to her.

"What? Is the baby kicking?" he asked as he moved to the other side of the table.

Calleigh smiled at his concern and without a word weaved her fingers through his red hair pulling him to her for a kiss. She let it linger for a moment before finally breaking away. She smiled against his lips before pulling farther back, "Thank you…for taking such wonderful care of me…"

"That is no problem, Ma'am," Horatio told her with a bright smile.

"You're not goin' go too far when you walk to make sure things are alright in buildin', right?" Calleigh asked.

"I'll be here when you need me, Sweetheart. Don't worry about that," Horatio told her. He was happy to see that she was thinking and seemingly looking forward to having the baby, even if she might be having it in the crime lab during a storm. It was a good sign, especially after she'd talked to Jake. It gave him hope that Calleigh was healing even with her earlier stress episodes.

"I can't help it," Calleigh told him. "I blame bein' pregnant."

He smiled more and pulled her towards him. Horatio kissed her cheek before whispering, "Don't worry…"

………………..

TBC…