Chapter Fourteen
A/N: Thank you all for the continued support and all of the fantastic reviews. You are all appreciated very much!
Eric sat on the park bench with his head hung low. After being backhanded with such emotions at the hospital, he needed a breath of the renewing Miami breeze. Delko's pride was wounded; He worried that he and Calleigh were growing apart, but now he knew. When Horatio and the original team had gotten their start, he continuously noticed the effervescent sparks flying between the Bullet Girl and her superior.
Maybe it's for the best, Delko. Things happen for a reason, right? Let H be happy for once. The man deserves it.
He sat for so long, plainly thinking. Whether or not he over thought, he didn't know, and certainly didn't care. At that moment, he came to realize something. Perhaps the care and comfort that Calleigh had to offer for the Lieutenant would draw him out of the dark shadows. Horatio's grief-stricken heart needed to heal, but Eric supposed that the man could not do so by himself. At least, not after losing Mari.
The Cuban lifted his weary head high as the previous feelings of dread and disbelief began to subside.
"H deserves to be happy." Delko murmured on his way back to the Hummer.
Doctor Tyler stood at Horatio's bedside, his eyes skittering across the medical chart that he held in his hands. Calleigh had left after an hour or so, and promised to return after work. The Caine man had lost track of how many days it had been since Jason Hardenslo mercilessly attempted to end his life. Those around him detected a sense of petulance her and there.
"Lieutenant, you've made great progress, I have to say it. You show no signs of infection, and you're healing nicely. I find it only right that you go home in about two days. Perhaps less, considering how much your condition has improved."
The thought of being able to leave this seemingly Godforsaken environment excited the redhead. He thought of Calleigh, and how he could properly spend time with her once that he was home. After all, it had to get tiring, ping ponging back and forth on a constant basis. Over the past few days, she wasn't the only one devoting her time to him. The entire team made a daily effort to visit whenever their hectic lives at the lab would allow it.
Horatio murmured his thanks before the young physician exited. He brought the straw to his lips and took an exceptional swig from the cup of ice water and set it back on the nearby table. His infamous strength was gradually returning, especially since they had shifted his diet back to solid food. No longer was he restricted to only what the IV had to offer. The days began to grow longer and longer, but it now seemed that patience really was a virtue.
The idle hum of the surrounding monitors and equipment grew distant as Horatio's mind wandered, thinking back to his first date with Marisol. A warming smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, a surprising wave of happiness flooding his heart. He remembered her iridescent smile, and how bright it was the first time they met. While their meant-to-be encounter wasn't exactly under great circumstances, it was something he would never forget.
It was clear that the burdened Caine man hadn't moved on from his wife's devastating passing, and it honestly didn't seem like he ever would. Ridding Miami of its demons provided some solace, if any at all. While he drifted into the uncertainty that was his newly found intimacy with the Bullet Girl, he felt a sense of hope for the future. Although the man himself was convinced that moving on was out of the question, he knew that he would not be alone anymore.
He had Calleigh.
The southern beauty eyed the never-ending stack of backlogged cases next to her comparison microscope. Between splitting Horatio's paperwork with Eric and dealing with cases of her own, her work was getting the best of her. Until the redheaded Lieutenant recovered, everyone played their own game of catch-up. Ryan was busy in Trace, while Natalia practically swam in overdue evidence to run. Walter had to soon join Wolfe just so they could make a dent in the caseload.
Overworked and already exhausted, she let the pen in her hand settle while she leaned back in the moderately comfortable swivel chair. Before too long, she permitted her weary mind to sail away. Time melted away, but she could care less.
Eric strolled by the Ballistics laboratory, but not without noticing the sound-asleep CSI resting on the desk. He allowed himself a smirk before quietly entering.
His gentle hand nudged her shoulder softly, waking her on the third try. The alarmed look on her face told all, and he hushed her with an ever generous smile.
"Don't worry, Cal. I got everything covered. You need to go home and get some rest. The couch in the break room doesn't count like it has for two days, you know." Delko chuckled. She began to protest, but he insisted.
"Go get some real sleep, Calleigh. I'll cal in a few favors from night shift so you can get caught up faster." The Cuban did not hide the calming tone to his rhythmic voice.
"Alright, but I'm going to go see Horatio first. Thanks, Eric." The CSI hung up her lab coat and made her way to the locker room. Her Colt .45 handgun sang a melodic song as she unloaded it and sat it in the top shelf along with her badge. With a heavy sigh, she swung the door shut and headed for the parking garage.
TBC