Chapter 25

Three months later...

Friday evening 9th November, Aileen and Tommy both suffering with heavy colds and not feeling at all well, were in bed. Tommy had been off school for the past three days and Aileen hadn't been well for the last two. After making sure they were both as comfortable as they could be Horatio was at a bit of a loose end, and too early for bed himself so he poured a glass of whiskey, took it to his study, sat down in his leather swivel chair and stared out of the window overlooking the patio which was well lit as there was a bright moon cloaking the garden. He leaned back in the chair, relaxed, and reflected on the happenings of the last three months following his marriage to Aileen.

The wedding had been magical and he thought of it often. Following the wedding, the remainder of August had been very hot, so in their spare time they hadn't rushed around too much, but had been to the beach a couple of times, on slightly cooler days.

At the beginning of September Tommy had started his new school and was by all accounts doing very well. He had made some friends very quickly. "Well, why wouldn't he?" Horatio thought, he was a dear likeable and lovable boy.

But there had initially been some problems at school with his surname being Casey instead of Caine. He had only been at school two weeks when he came home having clearly been in a fight and with what was obviously going to be a black eye. After gentle probing by Aileen it came to light that the fight had apparently been over the fact that some other boy by the name of Mark Clayton had taunted him about his name being Casey instead of Caine. He said the other boy told him his mom couldn't be married to Lieutenant Caine, if his name was still Casey so he hit the other boy for lying. And the other boy had hit him back.

When he came home from work that evening, Aileen told him what had happened and just for a minute he had had to smile, as it was clear the boy had been defending his mom. Who was he to blame him for that...he knew all about trying to defend a mother albeit it for very different reasons. He was surprised though; this was totally out of character for the boy.

However, he had made Tommy sit down and explained to him that he couldn't go around hitting people just because he didn't like what they said, and Tommy had told him he was sorry. Then they found out Mark Clayton's address and took Tommy there to say sorry. But Marks mother had told them not to worry, she thought it was a case of each giving as good as they got, bringing her son to the door, also sporting a black eye and had said, "It's my boy who should say sorry Lieutenant Caine. I have explained to him how wrong he was." From that day on Tommy and Mark became good friends.

When they got back home though Tommy had repeated he was sorry, but sobbing said, "I want my surname to be Caine ...please Horatio. I want my name to be the same as yours, and moms and Kyle's."

So after discussing with Aileen and getting her agreement he decided he would adopt Tommy which is something he had wanted to do anyway, but had been waiting for the right time to bring this up. However, adoption took some time even though the lad's biological father had died and his mother remarried. So as an interim measure they changed Tommy's name by Deed Poll. Thus the school records were changed and this had made Tommy very happy and he had settled down.

This had also pleased Mrs Cole the school principal, as she told them that they had being having some small problems with Tommy not answering to the name Tommy Casey. It seemed that Tommy just simply blacked it out of his mind.

From that moment on Tommy had started calling him Dad.

Aileen had become friendly with some of the mothers of the kids at the school, but no one she was interested enough to invite home. He was however pleased that she particularly liked Alexx. They had quickly become good friends following the pre wedding party night back in August. He guessed this was probably because Alexx was nearer to Sharon's age and Aileen had more empathy with people older than herself.

Then coming to for a moment and sitting up straight reaching for his whiskey he laughed and speaking out loud uttered, "That's why she fell for me I suppose," and boy was he glad about that.

Taking a sip of whiskey and leaning back in his chair again, he returned to reflective mood.

They had successfully managed two Skype sessions with Kyle. The second of the two had been on Tommy's 9th birthday, 25th October. Kyle had looked tired, but had been cheerful, probably for Tommy's sake he thought. Just over 6 weeks to Christmas now and keeping fingers crossed his son would be home for good. If he was honest he had been very perturbed about Kyle's tired look, but he kept it to himself.

As Tommy was on mid-term holiday on his birthday, Aileen had taken him and a few of his friends for a birthday picnic on the beach, and Alexx had gone along with her to help out. He hadn't been able to go himself as they had had a murder investigation going on at work.

Tommy had continued going to his basketball sessions with Walter, and was now a regular player in one of the two under 10 years of age youth teams that Walter had developed over the last three months. Tommy was happy under Walters's guidance and had also grown a little taller in the last three months as well.

James Burton had mentioned in passing one day early in October that their legal department receptionist was going to be away for two weeks, and knowing that Aileen had been a solicitors receptionist, James had asked him if she would be prepared to help out in their legal department for a few hours each day to suit her. Aileen had been happy to help, and worked for five hours each day working around taking and picking Tommy up from school. James had been more than pleased with her. So much so, that with her consent, he added her to a list of contacts for temporary help in the legal department whenever it was required.

The Miami crime rate had kept him busy most days as usual, and he still had bad days when he got frustrated or upset about some cases, this would never change. However, he tried not to take his mood home with him when he had a bad day, but this was not always possible. But now, instead of going home and brooding by himself, he went home to be greeted by his darling wife who understood him so well. He could talk to her about anything. She was a good listener, and she knew how to soothe talk his moods away. "How lucky I am to have her in my life," he said out loud.

Getting up out of his chair, he picked his whiskey glass up, moved across to the window and stood gazing out of the window for a while, not really thinking about anything now.

Then he sensed a movement and turning saw Aileen standing in the doorway.

"Are you okay Horatio? Do you have something on your mind you want to talk about?"

"I'm okay Sweetheart. I was just relaxing thinking about the last three months. They have been really good haven't they?"

"Yes, truly wonderful." Aileen replied, managing to smile despite feeling so rotten. Her eyes were pouring water and she was really flushed.

Walking over to her and putting an arm around her he asked, "Why are you worrying about me when you should be in bed Sweetheart?"

"I just felt so restless and couldn't go to sleep. I feel so darned uncomfortable."

Horatio lifted her up in his arms saying, "Well, I'm taking you back to bed now; you have a fever and shouldn't be wandering about." Laying her on the bed, he covered her up and asked, "How about I make you a chocolate drink, and I'll come and join you with one?"

Aileen nodded her head, and when Horatio returned with the drinks, she sat up and Horatio moved her pillow behind her back to make her more comfortable. Then he joined her with a pillow behind his back, and with legs stretched out flat on the bed, he placed an arm around her shoulders and she laid her head back against him feeling comforted by his closeness.

When they finished their drinks Aileen mumbled wearily, "You should sleep in the spare bedroom Horatio, I will keep you awake and we don't need you catching this damn virus as well."

"I'm not sleeping anywhere, but with you. If I catch, it could be from anywhere right now...one by one they have all been going down with it at work as well. This one seems to be a particularly bad virus." Then at that moment they heard Tommy coughing his heart up.

Aileen went to get out of bed, but Horatio pushed her back down, "Stay where you are. I will see to him."

When he opened Tommy's bedroom door Tommy croaked, "It hurts Dad."

Horatio helped him sit up and placed his pillow behind him. "Sit up for a while Tommy. I'll get you some linctus. He didn't really believe it cured coughs, but it did seem to help soothe the throat for short periods of time. When he returned he gave Tommy a spoonful of linctus, and rubbed some good old fashioned Vick Vapour Rub very thinly on his chest. He always kept some in his bathroom cabinet. His mother had always sworn by it, and he did as well; inhaling the vapour helped the breathing.

Horatio then lay on the bed with his arm around him, and Tommy eventually fell asleep. Horatio kissed him on the forehead, gently removed his arm and made sure Tommy was lying on his side and then returned to Aileen, undressed and got into bed and tenderly placed an arm over her pleased that she was also now asleep.

From that moment on the night passed peacefully.

...

Saturday morning Horatio phoned Walter to let him know Tommy couldn't make basketball as he wasn't well. Walter told him half the kids were down with the virus that was going around like wildfire and he hoped Tommy would be better soon.

Aileen and Tommy did get up on Saturday, and while Tommy seemed to be feeling better Aileen wasn't up to doing much so they had a real lazing about day. Horatio tended to their needs throughout the day. He was more worried about Aileen at the moment, she looked dreadful. He gave Alexx a call to sound her out, and she told him the virus would have to run its course, but to make sure Aileen and Tommy didn't get dehydrated.

Yelina had suddenly phoned out of the blue to see if she could visit, but he put her off when he saw Aileen shake her head, she had heard the call. When he saw Aileen's look of relief he stopped to wonder why for a minute. But quickly put it to the back of his mind. He hadn't had contact with Yelina since the pre wedding party. She still worked as a private detective and had a contract with the MDPD, but he hadn't had cause to work with her directly for a while now.

...

Three days later Tuesday 13th November, Horatio had gone to work as usual after taking the now fit Tommy to school for Aileen as he didn't want her driving in her state, she still wasn't at all well. He would make sure he could get away from work to pick him up as well.

At 11.30 am Aileen was feeling rough, her head was aching and she was thinking the virus was never going to leave her. After making herself a coffee, she sat down on the sofa in the lounge took a few sips and laid her head against the back of the sofa, and had just shut her eyes when the phone in the hallway rang.

She struggled up out of the sofa and when she picked up the handset a voice she recognised, tersely asked, "Is Horatio there?"

TBC