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The usually bright and happy redhead, who loved to wake Mac up with a kiss, was anything but that while being pregnant. Mac was used to being pushed out of the bed in the mornings and then forced to make breakfast while his lover showered. Mac silently enjoyed it; he knew that if Horatio saw him smile about his antics he would be angry at him. Mac wasn't the only one who enjoyed Horatio and his pregnancy hormones; everyone did.
It was such a funny change from the otherwise calm, collected, happy, bright and loving redhead (well, at work he was calm, collected, tough and someone you simply didn't mess with). He wasn't evil though; he was just different. He could switch from happy to sad or angry in seconds.

So like all others mornings Mac was obediently making breakfast for himself and his lover. Horatio was already 19 weeks pregnant and showing off a nice baby bump. He and Mac had decided on a name for a girl; Caylee.
If the baby was a boy it stood between the names Noah and Kevin.

"Wipe that smile off your face." Horatio muttered when he joined his lover in the kitchen after his shower.

Mac grinned and shook his head. As always the grumpy redhead grabbed a sandwich right out of Mac's hand and sat down by the table. Mac just grabbed his own sandwich and joined his lover by the table; they sat across each other.

"I'm sorry." Horatio sighed.

"Horatio, you know that you have nothing to be sorry for. If you can't vent on your lover then who can you vent on?" Mac asked.

Horatio smiled and reached over the table to grab his lover's hand. He gave it a light squeeze and Mac switched his place so he sat next to the redhead instead. Horatio rested his head against Mac's shoulder and continued eating his breakfast. Mac gently put his hand over the baby bump and felt the baby kick. He had only been able to start feeling it a few days ago, but it was something he loved to do; just putting his hand over his lover's bump and feel their baby move.

Horatio said their baby moved less when Mac was around and that it was probably because Mac calmed him or her down. Horatio also loved to feel their child move; except when the baby kicked when he was trying to sleep.

"I am being a pain in the ass sometimes, aren't I?" Horatio asked.

"Only sometimes. But I love you anyway." Mac smiled and kissed his lover's head.

Horatio smiled and wrapped his arms around the younger man. Their friends used to say that there could be no love more true and strong than theirs. There was also a lot of talk about which of them would be soft parent and which one would be the "strict" one. Everyone agreed that although both men would be softies, Mac would probably be the one unable to say the word no. While Horatio would have less problem doing so and therefore be the "strict" parent.

"I have to go to work now." Horatio said and pulled away from the other man.

Mac's eyes were (as always) filled with concern and Horatio kissed his cheek before standing up and going to front door. Mac followed him and pulled Horatio in for a kiss. He then got down on one knee and put both his hands on the belly.

"You be nice to dad now." Mac grinned as he talked the baby.

He felt two kicks and took that as a yes. Horatio chuckled and grabbed Mac's hand to pull him to his feet. After one last kiss Horatio went out the front door and Mac watched as he got inside the hummer and drove away. He would always worry about Horatio while he was at work.

He decided to take a shower before doing some errands. He was going to buy some more baby clothes (this time for a boy) and set up a college account for the child at the bank.

-I-

Mac didn't have a hero complex, but he wasn't about to let someone innocent get hurt if he could prevent it. He had just gone to the bank to start an account for his and Horatio's child; a college account. He hadn't even been there two minutes before three men had rushed in with automatic guns in their hands, ski-masks over their faces and dressed all in black. Like everybody else Mac had been forced down on the floor. The security guard had managed to shot one of the robbers in the abdomen before getting shot in the chest by a second robber.

The injured robber was losing blood fast and it wasn't long before he wasn't conscious anymore. The other two robbers quickly took all the cash they could and were about to walk out the door when a woman's baby started to cry.

One of the robbers turned to the woman and aimed the gun at her head. He yelled at her to "shut the baby up"; the woman tried, but her child continued crying. Mac got the perfect idea. Well, it wasn't completely perfect because there was a risk that he would get hurt, but he had to try. When the man cocked the gun and warned the woman one more time, Mac jumped up on his feet and tackled him to the ground.

The man he tackled was too stunned to react and Mac only needed a few seconds to kick him in the ribs and take his gun. Unfortunately for Mac he wasn't hiding behind anything and it took only a few seconds for the other robber to pull the trigger of his gun.

Mac felt the pain as the bullet entered his body. Lucky for him the robber was a lousy shot; he could have hit his back or head, but he shot him in the left shoulder. Mac aimed the automatic gun he had taken, but he wasn't quick enough. The other man shot him again in the same shoulder. Mac gasped and dropped the gun he was holding.

He collapsed on the floor and felt blood run down his arm. The man he tackled stood up and took his gun back. The two robbers quickly ran out the door and disappeared. Mac lied on the floor and all he could think of was Horatio. His lover would be devastated to hear that he had gotten shot. And what about their baby?

He didn't notice as the other people at the bank tried to help him, he didn't notice that the paramedics arrived and loaded him into an ambulance. He just stared straight ahead and could only see his lover's face; smiling at him.

In the ambulance he lost consciousness.

-I-

Frank had been one of the cops that had arrived at the scene of the robbery. He had just missed Mac being loaded into the ambulance. It wasn't until one of the uniformed officers had told him that the only two people hurt were the security guard Jeremy Carlisle, whom had against all odds survived, and Mac Taylor. The only fatality was the dead robber that the security guard had shot.

With shaky hands he had called Calleigh and told her what had happened. Calleigh had been just as shocked as Frank. The Texan had driven to the lab and immidiately found his redheaded best friend in his office. Frank hadn't even been able to open his mouth before Alexx and the rest of the team showed up. They all worried about what the news of Mac's shooting would do to him, especially in his current condition. They had never seen their boss and friend so pale or so close to passing out as when they had told him that Mac had been shot.

Now Frank, Alexx and Horatio were sitting in the waiting area in the hospital; patiently waiting for any news about the New Yorker.
All they knew was that Mac had been shot twice in the same shoulder and that he had been taken to emergency surgery. Alexx was reading a magazine, Frank was looking around the waiting area and Horatio was pale as a ghost and just staring at the floor. He hadn't eaten in several hours and both Alexx and Frank knew that they'd soon have no choice but to force him to eat. If not for his own sake then for the baby's sake.

"Why is it taking so long?" Horatio asked.

He hadn't said a word since arriving at the hospital. Alexx and Frank glanced at each other. They knew what the redhead was thinking; no news was good news. Besides, Mac was still in surgery and would be for a few more hours. There was nothing anyone could do at the moment. But still, Horatio needed to know something.

"Sorry, I just… I need to know that he's okay." Horatio whispered.

They could see the tears in his eyes. Horatio rarely cried, especially not in front of anyone. But he was very close to tears now and understandably so. Frank put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Alexx grabbed Horatio's hand; he was sitting between his two friends.

Everybody jumped when Frank's phone rang. He answered it and the conversation was short. The team was busy working on the robbery scene, but was calling with updates as often as they could.

"That was Calleigh. They found blood that doesn't belong to Mac, the dead robber or the security guard, so possibly from the robber that Mac tackled." Frank said.

The surveillance cameras in the bank had caught the whole thing so the team and Horatio knew about all the details of the case. Horatio was proud of his lover for trying to take control over the situation and prevent a possible murder of a mother and child. However, he would still give him a tongue-lashing for scaring him so much.

"She also said that Danny Messer from New York is on his way down." Frank said, "He should be landing in a few hours."

"She called the New York team?" Horatio asked, "I completely forgot to do that."

"Nobody blames you. A Stella Bonasera sends her regards to you and wants us to tell you to not forget to eat something." Frank said.

Horatio shook his head. It seemed like everybody knew how he reacted when he was worried about someone as much as he was now; he didn't eat or sleep.

"I'll do that later." Horatio said.

"No sweetheart, you do that now." Alexx said firmly.

"No."

"Horatio, you might not feel like eating but trust me, your baby wants food." Alexx said and glanced down at Horatio's baby bump.

Horatio shook his head and stood up. They knew that pushing him too hard would make him angry, but not pushing him at all wasn't good either. Horatio looked around as if deciding where he should go.

"Horatio?" Frank asked.

"I need some air." He mumbled and started walking down the hallway.

Alexx and Frank shared a look and Alexx nodded for Frank to follow the redhead. She would wait and hope that the doctor would show up sooner rather than later.

Frank and Horatio took a walk outside the hospital. The redhead's stomach grumbled.

"Look, there's hotdog stand over there." Frank said and pointed further down the street, "Please, just have at least one hotdog for me."

Horatio didn't feel like eating. No matter how hungry his stomach was, his brain didn't agree. He sighed and Frank knew he had won. Without a word they bought a hotdog each. Frank devoured his in seconds, while Horatio only took tiny bites of his.

"Horatio, I know you don't feel hungry at all. But you need to eat." The Texan reminded.

"I know." Horatio sighed, "I just... I can't eat when Mac is… I don't even know if he's okay or not."

"No news-"

"Is good news, I know." Horatio said, "But I want to hear that he's okay. What if he gets permanent damage to his shoulder? What if he slips into a coma? People can be in comas for years, you know."

"Horatio, listen to me." Frank said and grabbed his friend by his shoulders to force him to look at him, "Mac will be okay. He is way too stubborn to do anything else and he loves you and your unborn child more than anything. He will not slip into a coma and he will recover. I am sure of it."

Horatio bit his lower lip. He wanted nothing more than to be as confident as Frank.

"Okay." He finally said.

He would force himself to be as optimistic as his friend.

-I-

Horatio had never seen Mac in a hospital bed before. Now he stood in a private room just staring at his lover. Mac had an oxygen mask covering his face and bandages covering his left shoulder where he had been shot. According to his doctor he would make full recovery, but he would be sore for some time and have to do some physical therapy once he had healed. The bullets hadn't caused any damage except blood loss and Mac would be feeling quite tired and weak for a while.

Frank and Alexx had been in for a quick visit and then left Horatio alone with his younger lover. They knew he needed it. After standing at the foot of the bed for almost forty minutes the redhead finally sat down on the chair next to the bed. He grabbed Mac's right hand and squeezed it softly. Then he pulled the hand to his belly. He knew how much Mac loved to feel their baby kick and hoped that it would make Mac wake up.

"We both miss you." Horatio whispered, "When you're feeling better I'm going to yell at you at little bit for scaring me and the baby though."

Horatio laid Mac's hand down on the bed again, but continued to hold it.

"But until you're better I'm going to be sweet like an angel and pamper you, just like you pamper me." He smiled, "I love you with all of my heart Mac and I wish you would wake up."

Horatio used his free hand to caress his lover's cheek. Mac looked pale; nothing weird with that since he had lost a lot of blood. Other than that he looked like he was just sleeping. Horatio wished they were both at home in bed and that Mac was really just sleeping. Not unconscious after having been shot.

"Please wake up, love." Horatio whispered.

There was a knock on the door and a familiar face peeked inside. Danny gave Horatio a smile and walked over to the older man. They shook hands and then Danny patted Horatio's shoulder to show support.

"How are you?" He asked, as he went around to the other side of the bed and sat down in a chair.

"I'll be better when Mac wakes up." Horatio said quietly.

"He will wake up." Danny said, "I heard that he tried to prevent one of the robbers from shooting a mother and child."

"Yeah, he did." Horatio smiled, "I'm proud of him."

"But you're still going to give him a tongue-lashing, right?" Danny grinned.

Horatio chuckled and nodded.

"Well, Stella is waiting for her turn to do so too." Danny said, "And probably Alexx, right?"

"Oh yes. And if I know you right you will have a few well chosen words to give Mac as well."

Danny shrugged and smirked. It wasn't because they were angry at Mac for being shot that they would give him a tongue-lashing, but because they cared and just wanted to warn him about scaring everyone. They knew Mac wouldn't be upset. If anything they would all probably laugh later. As long as Mac was alive and would be okay, then they were okay too.

"I'm going to stay down here for while. To help you and Mac." Danny said.

"What about work?" Horatio asked.

Danny smiled; typical Horatio to care about everybody else.

"I took some vacation time." Danny said, "Look, when Mac goes home he's going to need help with a lot of things and I don't doubt that you can help him. But you're pregnant so it's going to be harder for you and besides, you're going to need a break anyway."

Horatio nodded. Both men knew that Danny would have to fight him like crazy to make the redhead take a break once Mac got home. He would want to stay by Mac's side day and night. However, for his own sake he would have to take care of himself too. Even if it was just taking a nap or take a walk for thirty minutes to clear his head. The redhead would be too busy worrying and pampering Mac to realize that he would be doing too much.

"Do you know if they've caught the robbers?" Horatio asked, "I've been too busy keeping myself together to think about it."

"Yeah, they caught them an hour ago." Danny smiled, "The guy Mac tackled spit blood on the floor and he was in the system. Thanks to his DNA they could find out where he lived and there they found all the stolen money. When the bastard came home he was arrested and flipped on his partner in seconds."

Horatio just shook his head. He was glad that the robbers had been arrested.

"The asshole wasn't so tough when he was surrounded by cops." Danny said, "He was actually going to shot the mother and child. He said that he would do anything for peace and quiet while he was working, as he called it."

Both Danny and Horatio were disgusted by that. Shooting an innocent woman and a child just for peace and quiet. What an idiot. He deserved what was coming to him in jail.

"So when was the last time you ate?" Danny asked.

"I ate a hotdog a few hours ago."

"A hotdog?" Danny asked, "You like pizza, right?"

"Yeah. But Danny, I'm not-"

"Hungry. Yes, I know. Frank Tripp told me that you wouldn't want to eat." Danny smiled, "The problem is that I already called for a pizza delivery. It should actually be here any time now."

"You can do that at a hospital?"

"Yeah, if you flirt a little with the nurses." Danny smirked.

Horatio smiled. There was a knock on the door and Danny went to pay for the pizza. Horatio had to admit that once he caught the smell of the food he got really hungry. He ate as if he had never seen food before.

"I guess you weren't hungry, huh?" Danny teased.

Horatio just rolled his eyes and snatched a piece of Danny's pizza from him. Danny pretended to be shocked. Suddenly there was a cough and they both looked at Mac. The brunette stirred.

"Mac?" Horatio asked.

He grabbed his lover's hand and squeezed it gently; Mac squeezed back. After a few seconds Mac's eyes opened and Horatio grinned. He kissed the brunette's brow and ran his thumb over his cheek.

"Hi." Horatio smiled.

Danny pulled the oxygen mask away from Mac's mouth so he could speak.

"Hi there." Mac whispered, "That smells like pizza."

"It is pizza." Horatio said.

"Do you think the doctor would let me have some?" Mac grinned.

Horatio chuckled and gave his lover a kiss, while Danny pressed the nurse's button. A huge relief had been lifted of their shoulders now that Mac was awake.

Please review! And thanks for all the name suggestions so far!