Chapter 21.
As Horatio went home for the night along with his granddaughter, Jake and Isabel took his place at Calleigh's bedside. Jake was sitting in the chair next to her bed, and Isabel was standing behind him, hands on his shoulder.
Jake slowly took his hand in hers, but not after getting a nod that it was OK by Isabel. Tears were slowly finding their ways down the old man's cheeks. Isabel gently let her hand reach to stroke some away, holding her own tears back.
She might have had her differences with the blonde in the past, but suddenly they didn't seem to matter anymore. She knew Jake now loved her as his spouse now, and even if he should happen to love and respect Calleigh deeply, they would never have the connection the two of them had.
"BG, please wake up, we need you here. That silly old husband of yours is soon going crazy with grief, along with your daughter. And well to be fair, we miss you too. I can understand why you did it, and I will even forgive that, but please wake up," said Jake, his otherwise steady voice was now shivering.
Isabel didn't speak, but Jake let his free hand grab one of hers, only to kiss it and gently stroke it against her cheek.
"Do you want to stay her tonight handsome?" Isabel asked.
"To be honest I don't know if it would do much difference," he said with a sigh.
"We can if that is what you want," she said, gently kissing the top of his head.
"To be honest I rather be with you, I need to feel you," he said, gently letting his cheek stroke her hand again.
Isabel didn't answer, but as he slowly got up, she gave him a kiss and let her hand slide into his before they left the sleeping beauty.
"Jake, what are you doing here?" Calleigh asked, seeing him outside the school. It was Cassidy's first day, and both she and Horatio had taken time of to be there for her.
"Well to be honest my boys have to in rule too, and this is the school they belong in," he said.
"Your boys," Calleigh frowned.
"Yeah twins, same age as your daughter, it's them over there," said Jake, pointing towards two young boys that were at the moment tossing a tennis ball back and forth.
"Since when did you have two boys?" Calleigh wanted to know, still shocked.
"Well they are born a bit later then Cassidy, so since then," he said.
"And their mother?" Calleigh asked.
"I raised them by myself," he answered, looking away.
"You, Jake Berkley raised two young boys by yourself," said Calleigh, in disbelief.
"I did," he said, without further explanation.
"Incredible," said Calleigh.
"Not really, people do it every day," said Jake.
"Mummy, are we gonna go inside?" Cassidy asked, tugging her mother's skirt.
"Yes of course my shooting star, well see you inside Berkley," said Calleigh and followed her husband and daughter inside the building, wondering how she never knew Jake had a family as well.
"Grandpa, what is this?" asked Cora, as she pulled and old teddy bear out from the closet where Calleigh kept her dresses and shoes.
"It's her old bear Henry," said Horatio, Calleigh never managed to throw him out. He had seen her use it for comfort more than once, but after her father's death he had ended up in the closet.
"Grandpa, can we bring him to her and can I please stay with her the whole day, instead of school. I don't want her to be alone while you are at work," she said.
"I guess I can agree to that if you don't tell your parents," he said Horatio and winked at her.
"I won't if you don't, so let's go, grandma needs her Henry," said Cora happily, and dragged Horatio with her. He couldn't other than smile at her enthusiasm.
Horatio gave Calleigh's nurses order on keeping an extra eye on Cora and told them he would come back for her later.
He couldn't help but watching the young girl that crawled up in bed with his wife, her hair in pigtails, like Cassidy once had had.
He smiled, knowing even if his wife was still asleep; Cora would be safe with her. And his granddaughter was maybe the one that actually should be in there with her as she was at this point the only one that didn't fell apart, and like him that could actually talk with her.
Cora snuggled closer to her grandmother and whispered, "I brought you someone to keep you sad, and you remember Henry right. I want him to stay with you until you wake up. Don't worry; I know you will when you are ready. The others are not thinking that, but me and grandpa, we know you will. I'm tired, so I'll just rest with you, while old Henry watches over us."
The very old bear didn't answer, he just looked quietly out in the air, perhaps he was watching over his owner and the young girl, or perhaps he was simply just thinking and relaxing like them.
When Horatio arrived at the crime lab he saw Cassidy, Isabel, Jake, Dean and Natalia joke about something in the hallway. He couldn't help, but smile as it was the first time since the accident he had seen her daughter smile.
"You all sure are cheerful today," he said, when he came close enough.
"Well it's all Natalia's fault," said Cassidy still giggling.
"Well then I should thank you Mrs. Valera for making my family smile," said Horatio and gave her a friendly nod.
"You are more than welcome, any news?" she asked.
"No, not yet," said Horatio.
"Don't worry, she'll snap out of it," said Natalia in an encouraging tone, gently stroking his arm.
"I know she will, so any news on that lost sister of yours Jake?" asked Horatio, knowing Jake had worked on finding out the if Jason was related to him or not.
"Actually yes, he is my nephew, her and his birth records confirm that, so I am gonna try to tell him the news and hear if he wants to live with us and if I can get custody," Jake answered.
"You… you cannot do that," Cassidy managed to get out.
"Is there any will?" asked Dean.
"No, nothing, I've checked, and why not Mrs. Duquesne," said Jake, looking over at Cassidy.
"Well you are simply too old to have a child his age, no offense. And what will happen if you should die," said Cassidy.
"Cassidy," Horatio snapped in a warning tone.
"So you are saying I am not capable of taking care of my own granddaughter," he snapped back at her.
"Of course you are, but that is a couple of nights here and there, not for life, I don't think you have any idea what it takes to raise a child," she said.
"Cassie," Dean snapped.
"No idea what it takes to raise a child, no idea what it takes. In case you haven't noticed I raised two boys alone, so I do know what it takes. And if I were you I would look at myself before pointing the finger at others, because I remember right you dumped Cora plenty at Horatio and Calleigh when she first came into this world, so do not lecture me on what it takes to be a parent," he snapped at her.
"You were younger then Jake, face it you are an old man, you cannot do this, it's not good for you or that little boy," she snapped back.
"You damn spoiled little rich girl, just go to hell," he yelled at her and stormed out.
Everyone looked shocked at Cassidy that simply snapped, "What?"
"Too far Cassidy, too far," said Dean and left as well.
Cassidy looked at the three elder ones, Natalia just shook her head and went back into DNA.
"Daddy," Cassidy whispered, looking at his angry face in terror.
"I agree with Dean, this time you went too far. You have no right in talking to Jake like that. He knows what he is doing and this time he's not alone. He can do this and you know it. If I were you I would apologize young lady. And if you weren't too old I would ground you," he said and walked away.
Cassidy looked at the highly decorated admiral. She knew that Isabel now had most likely lost all the respect for her. She expected Isabel to snap at her like the others had, but instead the old admiral said, "Cassidy, I know things hasn't been easy for you lately, and I know what you wanted the most was another child. Sadly it didn't turn out this way. Horatio is right, Jake know what he is doing, or he would have stepped aside. I cannot tell you what to do, but if I were you I would apologize, because if I am right, he has had your back more than once in the past. You owe him that much and you should also trust him to do the right thing when it comes to Jason."
"I…I know, can you forgive me for acting stupid just now," she said, looking at the older woman with regretful eyes.
"I can child, but I am not the one you have to ask forgiveness from, I have to go as I have to make damage control, but will you think about what I just said?" she asked.
"I will, thank you admiral," she said and gave her a dignified nod. Isabel nodded back, before she slowly started to walk out of the lab.
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