Below the Radar
Chapter 11
It was a stormy Sunday morning. A low pressure was slowly moving inland off of the Atlantic, promising to make the next few days soggy and messy. Calleigh had been awake for a while, stirred from sleep by a loud clap of thunder and then afterward, unable to fall back into a restful sleep again, her thoughts centered on the fact that she'd start back to work in one more day.
Her mind shifted gears and she began thinking of things that still needed changing so Horatio could function alone at home. We've figured out how to make most things usable for a sightless person, but there's still more that can be addressed. How can I make his cell phone easier for him to use – to call me or 911? That will be most important… he has to be able to call for help if he needs to.
The sky was still dark at this early hour, their bedroom flooded with instantaneous light only when large bolts of lightning flashed through the floor to ceiling windows from the tempestuous sky outside. She was amazed how Horatio seemed to be unfazed by the raucous weather. His body is still recovering from his many injuries no doubt. Rest is the best healer. And on top of that, our love-making session last night, I'm sure, contributed to his exhaustion as well. She smiled warmly considering how it was always his top priority to satisfy her before himself, making their unions so deeply loving and wonderful. He's such a gentleman.
Suddenly, her attention was drawn to her husband as he began murmuring incoherently beside her. Calleigh turned toward him and watched as his head began turning from side to side and his voice changed to a more desperate tone… resembling pleading. In the moments that the lightning flashed, she noticed sweat had beaded on his forehead and she grew alarmed with the possibility that he could be feverish. Propping up on an elbow, she placed her hand on his forehead, relieved that it didn't feel hot in the short few seconds she had before he jerked his head away from under her hand.
"Handsome… shhh… you're having a bad dream," she softly called as she gently caressed the side of his face.
About a second after placing her hand on his chest, Horatio jerked straight up into a sitting position as swiftly as a toy jack-in-the-box and screamed, "CALLEIGH… NO!"
Horatio's eyes were open wide as his lungs heaved trying to suck in as much air as they could manage.
He then desperately pleaded softer, "Don't…" he barely murmured, "hurt…"
Startled, Calleigh was immediately on her knees beside him,
"Horatio… Handsome," she softly called so as not to alarm him more, she reached out and began pushing the damp hair back from his face. "You're safe… I'm here… I'm right here."
Gently she pulled him close to her and he turned and laid his damp head flat against her chest and clung to her as his ragged breathing began to slow while she rocked them both from side to side.
"Handsome… you just had a bad dream."
Finally able to control his emotions after several minutes he asked roughly,
"You're… ok?"
"I'm ok Horatio… we're in our bed. C'mon, let's lay back down."
By this time, Calleigh was wiping tears from her cheeks with trembling fingers. The pain that emanated from his voice touched her deeply. Reaching back for the box of tissues after getting him settled back on the bed, she tenderly began wiping the sweat from his face.
He exhaled loudly before speaking. "I'm sorry I woke you Sweetheart."
"I was already awake… the storm and all. Care to talk about your bad dream?"
"I'd rather just forget it... thanks."
Cleaning up the kitchen after preparing a big breakfast, Calleigh heard something fall in the living room and Horatio's agitated response. Walking into the dining area which gave her a clear view of the living room, the sight of Horatio down on one knee, his hand skimming over the carpet searching as he cursed under his breath caused her to abruptly stop.
The lamp on the end table by the sofa was on the floor just beyond his reach.
Rushing over to him, Calleigh called out, "It's alright Handsome I've got it."
She stooped and picked up the lamp and placed it back on the table then turned back toward Horatio who was beginning to push up off the floor.
Calleigh noticed his face had turned red as he thanked her in a low voice for the help.
After hesitating for a moment he added, "Calleigh… I appreciate everything you do to help, but… I NEED to do things for myself. Do you understand?"
Taken aback by his angry tone momentarily, she sighed before responding,
"I know you do and you have been, it's just that I was here and…"
He cut her explanation off, "But, you won't always be here. I have to learn to do for myself."
In his mind, he could picture the sullen look that had to be on her face now so, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him.
"Sweetheart, I know you want to help me… and you have, more than you know. I don't mean to get angry it's just… I get frustrated. Life has dealt us a low blow and I'm sure this is harder on you than it is on me and for that, I'm sorry."
Horatio slowly turned his head and placed a soft kiss on the side of her face as his good hand found its way into her long golden hair, his fingers gently brushing through it as he whispered,
"I love you with all my heart Calleigh… believe that. I couldn't have made it this far without you."
Calleigh looked into his blank, staring blue eyes and replied, "You can do anything you set your mind to Handsome… you've come through so many difficult situations and you'll come through this one, I know you will. I'll always be here for you whether you have eyesight or not because I love you."
They stayed wrapped in each other's arms for some time before Horatio said he needed to get off his feet. He walked toward the couch and sat down without Calleigh's help. She watched as he felt the coffee table in front of him and then placed his leg with the cast on the table and leaned back into the sofa.
Another wave of thunderstorms were pushing through and as she stopped on her way back to the kitchen, she stood and looked back at Horatio, his head resting on the back of the sofa, his eyes closed. The sight reminded her of when only months ago, she found him in his office on that stormy evening much as he is now – only then, he was mourning the loss of an innocent child. Suddenly, she inhaled a sharp breath when it dawned on her that perhaps he was once again.
Horatio's cell phone rang, causing her to jump. Reaching for his phone next to him on the sofa, he picked it up and his finger found the soft rubber that Calleigh had glued to the button, telling him it was the call button.
"Caine," Horatio answered.
"Sure Eric. I figured you and Ryan would still be on your way back from Atlanta. Ok," Horatio hesitated and frowned, "we'll talk when you get here."
Twenty minutes later the doorbell rang. Calleigh made sure it was Eric before she moved to open the door.
"Hey Cal," Eric greeted as he walked in.
Closing the door behind him, she answered, "Hey Eric, what's up? I thought you'd be late getting back to Miami."
"If you want to join us," looking over her head noticing Horatio sitting on the couch, "I'll explain."
"Eric," Horatio acknowledged, "have a seat." Horatio sat up straighter as Calleigh sat down beside him and he placed his arm around her shoulders, while Eric sat on an ottoman beside the coffee table.
"H, how are you feeling?"
"Good Eric." Horatio wanting to find out the nature of the CSI's visit asked, "Always glad to have you, but what's going on?"
As Eric's lips tightened with anger, he struggled to keep his emotions in check before answering.
"Brian didn't get to go to Morehouse this weekend."
Shocked, Horatio responded, "Why couldn't he… he's alright isn't he?" alarm registering in his voice.
"Yeah H he's depressed, but physically ok. One of the two things I want to ask your help with is maybe you could talk to Judge Thorndike. He refused to allow Brian to leave Miami until his involvement with Ricardo is cleared up."
Horatio pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled loudly.
"WHAT," Calleigh interjected sharply. "Why is he doing this?"
Horatio spoke up, answering her question.
"Because he's a prick, Sweetheart; I'll call him this afternoon Eric and try to get this straightened out." Horatio's tone was angry.
"Thanks. Um," Eric hesitated a moment before he sighed, "Another matter involves Ricardo. It's like he's disappeared off the face of the earth H, living below the radar. We're not getting anything off the street about where he is… patrol hasn't laid eyes on the scum in any part of the city. I… I just don't have the knack of getting into perps heads like you do."
Horatio dipped his head and nodded. Taking a few minutes to think, Horatio's silence was putting Eric on edge. I hope like hell H hasn't lost that attribute of his that is truly uncanny… it's what's made him so successful in countering criminals.
"Eric, you've always heard me say that you can't always expect killers to act logically. If they're crazy enough to kill someone, they don't think like the rest of us. Still, maybe he's somewhere you haven't looked yet. Tell you what; I have a snitch that only talks to me. Rarely, does anyone hide in this city that he doesn't know something about. I'll give him a call."
Horatio chuckled, "It will have to be later, he's usually not conscious until after seven in the evening."
A little more relieved Eric began talking about the weather and Calleigh got up to go fix them all a glass of sweet tea.
Later, after Eric had gone, Calleigh could hear Horatio arguing with Judge Thorndike on the phone in the kitchen and it didn't sound as if the judge was changing his position. The call abruptly ended with Horatio slamming the cordless phone down on the counter.
Calleigh walked over to Horatio sitting at the bar and began kneading his tight muscles in his neck and shoulders.
"That… feels wonderful Sweetheart."
"You're as tight as a drum. I take it the prick didn't co-operate."
Horatio wiped his face with his hand before answering, "You got it. He's one of the worst judges this city has as far as I'm concerned. Hopefully I'll have better luck with my snitch."
Later that night, as they lay in their king sized bed, Horatio held a sleeping Calleigh in his arms, the lightning flashing outside as more storms swept in off the Atlantic. His thoughts travelled back to his dream last night. God don't let that horrible dream return tonight… Even in my dreams, I can't stand the thought of anything happening to Calleigh.
The next morning, the alarm awakened Calleigh and she reached to shut it off as quickly as she could so as not to wake Horatio. She lay back down for a moment and then she heard his velvet voice,
"Good morning Sweetheart."
Rolling over she smiled, "Good morning to you Handsome. Sorry for waking you… go back to sleep."
"Not on your life Calleigh. I'm going to," he stopped before putting emphasis on the next word, "see you off to work this morning."
"I'd like that."
They were finishing their coffee and Calleigh reached for Horatio's hand and squeezed it with hers.
"I'll call you later in the morning."
Horatio smiled, "I'll be waiting Sweetheart. You be careful out there in this storm."
After exchanging a long hug and a kiss so sensuous that it made it hard to pull away, Calleigh turned and peered through the glass doors leading out to the balcony and then turned her attention back to Horatio,
"Yeah… it's promising to be another nasty one. I just hope SWAT won't be called out in this weather."
A half a mile down the beach inside another condo, the same scene was playing out between Frank and Alexx.
"Alexx, you be careful going to the hospital. It'll be a bear driving out there."
"Sure you don't want to stay with Horatio some today? You could ride with me. I'm dropping by there to check on him before going in for my shift."
"Nah… he's not much on having a babysitter and I can understand, grown man and all."
"Ok…" Alexx hugged Frank and stretched up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss. "You, take it easy today. You were shot after all and while you are getting around good on that broken ankle because it's in a cast, you still don't need to be on your feet a lot."
"Yes ma'am, Dr. Woods," Frank playfully responded, laughing at the face she gave him.
Alexx strode off the elevator juggling her purse and satchel of medical supplies while checking the messages on her iPhone as she headed for her car, thankful for the garage parking in inclement weather. Suddenly, as if she walked into a clothesline, a hand across her mouth stopped her dead in her tracks causing her to drop everything in her hands. When her phone hit the slick concrete floor, it slid under a car parked close to hers.
She struggled against her attacker, but was no match physically and then she felt herself slipping into darkness.
One of the two men nervously asked, "She's not dead is she? Ricardo will…"
His voice a low growl, the other man snapped, "Shut up! - help me get her in her car. Pick up her stuff."
TBC…
