Chapter 25

Natalia had saved breakfast after Horatio almost ruined it. Everyone sat around the table, as Horatio and Damien came through the door.

"Uncle Dammo!" the girls chorused together.

Natalia flashed Damien a look that could kill a man on the spot. Damien knew he was in trouble.

"So you managed to save Horatio's disaster?" Damien knew that his humour wouldn't shift Natalia's mood. She was too stubborn for that. She just plated up breakfast with Calleigh's help. The atmosphere could have been cut with a knife. Even the twins stayed quiet throughout breakfast, except for a few mutterings to each other.

After it was all finished, Horatio took all of the plates into the kitchen and placed them in the sink ready to put in the dishwasher but he had to empty it from the night before. So he started on that. Calleigh took Donna and Daisy Jo upstairs to get them ready for kindergarten.

"Do you need a hand Horatio?" Natalia offered.

"No thank you. I may have almost ruined breakfast but this is one thing I can't ruin."

Natalia smiled, Damien looked at her, "I love it when you smile."

Natalia suddenly turned to Damien with a straight face, "what the hell do you think you were up to?" She tried to keep her voice quiet.

"Nat, I'm sorry. I should have waited for Horatio, but you know what I'm like, I'm impatient. It's just that…" Damien suddenly paused, "oh it doesn't matter."

Horatio walked out of the kitchen and through the dining room to the stairs, "sorry, I just need to go get ready for work," and he scuttled off upstairs feeling rather relieved that he wasn't in that argument but hoped that Damien would talk to Natalia about how he was feeling at the moment.

"It's just that what?" Natalia stood in front of him waiting for an answer.

"Nothing, you don't need to worry, I'll sort it."

"Typical Caine, bottling everything up and not wanting to let anyone in," Natalia knelt down in front of him and placed her hands gently on his knees, "Damien, how can we have a two way relationship if you don't talk to me? Tell me what's bothering you, I don't want to be kept in the dark."

Damien gave a deep sigh, he knew he'd have to tell her sooner or later.

"It's just that, I feel like a burden to everyone. I just want to be back to normal now, not in a few weeks' time, but now," he went on to explain about his conversation with Horatio.

"You can't do everything at once, you'll injure yourself even more," Natalia's voice was softer. She stood up and walked round the back of Damien and wrapped her arms round him and rested her head on his shoulder, "Damien, honey, these things can't be rushed. I know it must be hard right now but in time, things will be back to normal, you'll see. And you'll be back in Chicago before you know it."

"But I don't want to go back to Chicago alone. I want to stay here with you."

"You know you can't, you can't just leave the Chicago PD just like that. Besides, could you work in the same building as Horatio?"

"You do and you seem okay about it."

"That's different, I've worked for Horatio for a few years now, even before Cal and Horatio got together."

"That's true," Damien thought for a few moments, "well, if I can't come here, why don't you come live with me in Chicago?"

"Chicago! Wow! That's quite a big step, are you sure the concussion isn't still playing you up?"

Damien grasped Natalia's hand brought her round to the side of his chair and looked straight in her eyes, "I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't sure. After the attack, no-one was sure if I was going to make it or not. Even after I was shot at the wedding, it was then that I decided that I wanted to settle down. Life's too short to be messing around, that was confirmed even more after everything that has gone on in New York. I don't want to leave you behind."

"In that case, I will."

"Really?" Damien sounded surprised.

"Of course, I'll have to arrange it with Horatio to transfer to Chicago, that's if they'll have me."

"And why wouldn't they? A gorgeous, talented woman like you, I would jump at the chance," Damien grinned.

"Well you would, wouldn't you?" Natalia leaned in for a kiss and Damien responded.

"So you have kissed and made up then? Literally!"