CHAPTER 26: SWEET MOTHER OF GOD
-Calleigh? All hell broke loose, I need your help, please!-, Flavia pleaded on the phone.
-Is it…?-, Calleigh began, but the girl interrupted her.
-Yeah. It's pretty bad. Take the emergency kit, will you?-, the redhead asked, nervous.
-Sure. Later. –
*
Horatio had collapsed as soon as Yelina had left with Ray Jr., turning to human form. A naked human form. Flavia dragged his lifeless body to his car, then as quickly as law permitted drove them home. She struggled to take his body inside, for he had gained weight in muscles; it took her a while, but she managed to lift Horatio on the couch, then covered him with a blanket. It was then that she had made the call. Now, she waited.
Horatio had been heavily wounded. He was bleeding from his side, from a leg and from a large gash on his left temple. He was currently unconscious, Flavia couldn't say if due to the physical or emotional trauma; probably both. Unable to stand the inactivity, the girl retrieved a sponge and a basin filled with warm water, then started washing the blood away from her brother's body. Calleigh arrived just as she was finishing up.
-Hi. What happened?-, the blonde asked as soon as Flavia opened the door, then, upon seeing Horatio's still form: -Oh my God, is he okay?-, she demanded, rushing to his side.
-No, he's not. We stumbled upon a little problem in the parking lot of the restaurant. -, Flavia explained succinctly, putting it mildly.
-Werewolves?-, Calleigh asked, even if she already knew the answer to that. Flavia nodded, smart girl.
-What can I do for him?-, the blonde demanded then.
-Well, you could help me patch him up. I hate needles. -, the redheaded girl replied.
-You should have asked Alexx to come, then. -, her friend observed, opening the emergency kit she had taken with her. –Find me a lighter to sterilize the needle. I got the thread in the kit. -, she ordered, busing herself with alcohol.
-Sorry, Handsome, that's gonna hurt a little. -, she whispered, starting to disinfect the wounds. Horatio growled, but apart from that remained quiet.
-I never did anything quite like this. -, Calleigh commented while sterilizing the needle once Flavia had returned.
-I know Alexx would have been the logical choice for this, being a doc and knowing of Horatio's condition, but, well, we'll have to supervise him once you've patched him up. Once his wounds will be closed they'll start cauterizing pretty fast, so we'll have to remove the thread before it gets eaten up by the cauterizing tissue. -, Flavia explained. Calleigh immediately caught on the subtle meaning: you've got no family, no one will miss you tonight.
-Besides, the last time you were able to soothe him better than anyone. I think his beast has connected with you. -, the redheaded girl added, watching as Calleigh was working her magic on her brother. The blonde stopped mid-action.
-His what had done what?-, she sputtered, bewildered.
-His inner beast, y'know, the part of his brain where all the fun starts when he changes; we don't know where exactly it is, but we know it's there somewhere. I think that part of his brain finds you… well… appealing? It likes you, in short. -, the girl explained, pointing to her brother's head.
-Oh, goody, part of Horatio Caine's brain likes me!-, Calleigh joked bitterly. Those words stung, somehow.
-Come on, Calleigh, stop being so pigheaded! He likes you when he's conscious, but he also likes you when he's unconscious, that was my point. -, Flavia replied, hands in the air.
-Shouldn't Yelina be here, anyway?-, the blonde barked in order not to ask the question that was obviously gnawing at her mind: did Horatio really like her? 'cause it didn't seem like that those days, they had barely seen each other. It hurt, a lot.
-The bitch dumped him as soon as he transformed. He did that to protect her, I'd underline, but that's my miserable point of view. –, Flavia answered, bitterness and anger in her voice. Calleigh's heart constricted in pain for Horatio, she forgot all about him neglecting her: he had barely reached a piece of happiness, and it was ripped from him so soon. Poor guy sure was unlucky.
She watched his handsome face. It was damp with perspiration, but didn't otherwise betray signs of pain. He was totally out of it. She caressed his forehead, reflecting on how much he gave to others and how little he received in turn. He was handsome, smart, caring, loyal, passionate… she could go on for hours; was it really that difficult for him to find a decent girl and settle down, start a happy little family of his own?
She snapped out of her reverie. She wanted to know the whole story before starting cursing Yelina's name, for she was sure at the end of it she would curse the Columbian's name.
-Tell me the whole story. -, she asked Flavia, while reaching for the blanked pooling on Horatio's midsection.
-Calleigh, no, he's…!-, the girl tried stopping her friend, having foreseen her intention, but it was already too late: Calleigh had already exposed Horatio's naked form.
-Oh, sweet Mother of God!-, the blonde exclaimed, throwing the blanket back on the man's body, but she had already seen… well, everything there was to see. There were tons to see. She blushed deep scarlet, then turned towards Flavia. –You know you could have warned me, right?-
-Sorry, I tried… too late at that, I know. It's just I'm used to keeping in mind that when they transform, werewolves destroy their clothes, they just explode! Such a freaking show… anyway, sorry. I forgot to warn you, I took it for granted. -, Flavia blabbed, embarrassed herself.
-Hey, no worries. You just gave me images for my next x-rated dreams. -, Calleigh joked, tending to Horatio's leg without exposing his body too much; luckily, she had to deal only with his right calf.
-So you do like him! Good to hear…-, Flavia teased.
What the hell, might as well tell her the truth, well, some truth, Calleigh reasoned with herself. She was sick and tired of hiding her attraction to her boss, she wanted to tell someone or she might implode. Wasn't Flavia her best friend? Besides, she knew she wouldn't be upset by her news… if they were news, that is.
-Well, he's a handsome guy, and I'm a woman… you do the Math. -, she grinned impishly.
-That's exactly my theory! I might love you a little bit more… So, can I organize a date for you two?-
***CONTINUES***
A little déjà vu, isn't it? Hope you liked it anyway….
Read and review, guys, you know I like your comments, they're very stimulating! And help me write faster…
