Title: Vendetta

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

Summary: Clavo Cruz escapes from prison and goes after those Horatio holds dear in order to really get back at him. Clavo sees that there's more between Horatio and one of his co-workers, and takes Calleigh... (takes place before current season - I swear this was thought up before "Man Down")

Category: Ship Ahoy! Calleigh/Horatio

Genres: Angst, Drama, Episode Related, Established Relationship, Friendship, Hurt Comfort, Suspense

Characters: Calleigh Duquesne, Eric Delko

Warnings: none

Rating: PG-13

Chapter: 10 "Defiant"

Author's Notes: I'm still trying to figure out if the laptop has been repaired…

………………….

A sighting of Clavo Cruz had Calleigh behind the wheel of a department issued vehicle. It wasn't a sure thing, she knew that. There was a chance that the person sighted just matched the description that had been broadcasted. Her eyes were fixed on the road in front of her. They were icy blue, though her eyes were normally a beautiful blue-green shade. She was determined to find Horatio.

Frank had given her a list of properties that were in anyway linked to the Cruzs of Baracus. Horatio had found her and had gotten her to safety. She was going to do the same. She was approaching the car that had claimed to have Cruz. But as she approached the car, her gut told her it was a waste of time. It wasn't Cruz.

Parking the Hummer behind the patrol car, she stepped out and approached the officer. "Any suspicious activity?"

"No, Ma'am. He just says he's not Clavo Cruz," the patrol officer reported.

"Does he say who he is?" Calleigh asked as she looked past the officer to the back window of the vehicle.

"No, Ma'am."

She let out a sigh, "Well, he's right about one thing…he's not Cruz."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am—"

But Calleigh didn't hear the rest of the apology as she slid her sunglasses over her eyes and strode back to her vehicle. It was another dead end. They weren't getting any nearer to finding Horatio.

What if Horatio was already dead?

Calleigh knew that there was bad blood between Clavo and Horatio. She also knew that killing didn't bother him. She knew that Horatio being a police officer wouldn't make Clavo bat an eyelash. He didn't care. Horatio had not only put his brother and him in jail, but only put his brother and him in jail, but had also exposed him as not biologically the son of General Cruz. Horatio had taken away Clavo's family and diplomatic immunity.

He'd make more of a spectacle of it, she told herself as she headed towards one of the Cruz properties. She hated to think of the things that Cruz could be doing or have planned for Horatio, but she also knew she needed to prepare herself. She pushed back tears as she thought about the last couple of weeks she'd spent with Horatio.

She and Horatio had worked together for at least a decade, and she didn't know anyone who knew her better. They had started dating, but had decided on taking baby steps and keeping it quiet. Horatio respected her one hundred percent and that was new for Calleigh to experience in a relationship. They'd had lunches together, he'd walk her to her car, his touch would make her feel on fire, and his lips left her wanting more. The tears she had been keeping back rolled down her cheeks at the release of memories flooding her mind.

……………………….

Turning off the Hummer, Calleigh stared out the windshield at the warehouse in front of her. Was Horatio inside? Was it abandoned? She knew that protocol would call for back up to be called in, but she really didn't want to deal with people. They didn't seem too productive to her today. She'd be fine. Stepping out of the vehicle, she closed the door softly and pulled out her gun. She started to head for the opening to the warehouse when two voices broke her stealthy silence. Calleigh whirled around with her gun at the ready.

"You owe me twenty, Delko," Frank told the CSI holding out his hand to collect.

"Don't shoot, Calleigh," Eric told her as he plunged his hand down into his pocket to retrieve his wallet. "We're your back up." He handed a twenty dollar bill to the older detective.

"I didn't call for back up," Calleigh told them.

Frank waved around his new twenty, "That's why I get this."

"Horatio's life could be in danger," Calleigh spat angrily as she lowered her gun. Her grip tightened as anger coursed through her body.

"We know, Calleigh," Frank said calmly. "But we've gotta stay sane someway."

Eric nodded, "We both know the stakes. That's why we're here. To back you up in case you need it."

……………………

The warehouse was a bust. It was more than disappointing… Calleigh headed back to the vehicle she had arrived in. "I guess I really didn't need back up," Calleigh said turning back to the guys.

"You shouldn't be working alone," Frank pointed out.

"I'm fine."

"Everyone needs back up," Eric told her. His voice softened, "Cal, we'll find him."

Calleigh knew they were right. She needed help and support. "Where's Natalia?" she asked noticing they were missing someone.

"Back at the lab," Eric told her. "I think you've scared her out of the field for a while…" He shook his head, "Maybe she just needs to be told that it's not her fault," Eric nudged.

Calleigh nodded slowly. She knew that she'd been hard on Natalia, but she hadn't been apart of the team for that long. Calleigh doubted she felt like any of them were family. She, Frank, and Eric shared a bond. But she knew that she owed Natalia an apology. Well, she'd think about it at least. Calleigh wasn't sure how to explain it to Natalia…even if she could…would she understand?

…………………

TBC…