Chapter 37

Friday had come round too slowly for Damien. It was time for his hospital appointment. Horatio drove Damien and Natalia to the hospital.

Natalia had recovered from events earlier in the week but still couldn't look Horatio straight in the eye. Horatio found this rather amusing but had been told by Calleigh not to wind her up. Damien had found the whole episode hilarious and couldn't help but laugh when Natalia was talking to Horatio or was sat at the dinner table with everyone, she didn't look at Horatio once.

Horatio parked the hummer near the entrance and got Damien out of the passenger side and into his chair.

"Hopefully this will be the last time you'll have to do this," Damien couldn't wait to get this over and done with.

"Pity, I've not had to go to the gym since you've been here. Getting you up and sorting you out everyday has kept me fit."

"So I hear."

Natalia knew this comment was aimed at her, "ha, you're not funny anymore Damien," she was getting weary of his jokes.

"I thought it was," Damien smiled.

Horatio rolled his eyes and pushed Damien's chair into the hospital and Natalia followed.

When they got to the clinic they needed to be in, Natalia excused herself while she went to the bathroom.

"Don't forget to pull up your shorts," Damien joked.

Natalia flashed him that look that she had done earlier on in the week. Damien's face dropped instantly. Natalia carried on to the ladies bathroom.

"What's with her? I was only joking around."

Horatio parked the chair in the waiting room and sat next to him.

"Maybe you should lay off the jokes Dammo. She's not finding them funny anymore and I don't think anyone else is either. The more you carry on with the jokes, the longer she's going to be embarrassed around me. I feel bad enough about the whole situation without you making things worse."

"Sorry Horatio, I didn't realise you felt like that," Damien grinned to himself, "I do take things too far sometimes, don't I?"

Horatio lowered is head, "Yes Dammo, you do. And you have taken this too far. If you carry on, Natalia may not want to go back to Chicago with you. I have got her transfer sorted, Natalia has sorted things out with her apartment and you have sorted things out in Chicago. Do you really want all of that undoing?"

Damien shook his head, "no I don't. I can't wait to take her back to Chicago with me. She means so much to me, I don't want to lose her."

"You know what you have to do then, don't you?"

Damien understood what his cousin was telling him, "I do," he smiled slightly once again, "you see, this is why you're the older one, you have more sense than me and you can kick my ass when I need it."

Horatio chuckled. Natalia came back and looked at the pair of them, she got nervous as they looked like they were up to something.

"Natalia, don't look so worried," Damien noticed Natalia's look on her face.

Just then, a doctor came into the waiting room, "Damien Caine."

"Right cuz, looks like you're up," Horatio stood up and took Damien into the office with Natalia close behind.

At the lab, Calleigh and Eric were just finishing interviewing a white, Caucasian male suspect for the shooting at the mall. The suspect had been very sloppy at covering his tracks. He had no priors, which surprised the whole team. When Calleigh had asked why he had done it, all that he replied was "the stupid Chink wouldn't get rid of that baby". Eric was pleased to inform him that his son was alive and well. The baby was going to make a full recovery. The suspect was shocked. That baby was the reason why he did this and he had survived.

After Frank took the suspect into booking, Ryan was waiting to see Calleigh and Eric.

"So let me get this straight, he open fired on the Chinese shop because his girlfriend had gone through with the pregnancy?" Ryan confirmed.

"Yeah looks like it," Eric answered, "she wouldn't abort the pregnancy because of her beliefs. She risked being disowned by her family if she did go ahead with the abortion."

"That's what happens when two completely different people from different cultures collide," Calleigh thought out loud, "it can get messy."

Eric and Ryan agreed wholeheartedly.

"So what happens to the baby boy?" Ryan was a bit concerned.

"The mothers grandparents are going to take him home when he's well enough," answered Calleigh.

"Right, I'm off to finish off the paperwork for this case. Stetler is going to talk to the press in Horatio's absence and he'll need the report, so I'll catch you two later," Eric wandered off.

"Hey Ryan, how did it go last night with Kerry?" Calleigh got all excited and waited for Ryan to answer.

"She's a nice girl," Ryan started.

"But?"

"But we decided that we're not right for each other. We're going to stay friends though."

Calleigh looked a bit disappointed.

"Don't worry about it Cal, I'm happy to be free and single at the moment. I know it means that I'm the only one that has no love interest but I honestly don't mind. Besides, I like to keep my options open."

"Oh okay then," Calleigh pouted slightly, "it was worth a try I suppose. You never know what's round the next corner."

Ryan suddenly nodded towards the lobby, "yes we do, it's Dammo and Natalia. Come on, lets go see how Dammo got on at the hospital."

Calleigh and Ryan headed towards the lobby to where Horatio and Natalia were stood with Damien.

There was no wheelchair in sight. Damien was using a crutch with his good arm. His broken arm was in a sling but no splint on his arm but his leg was still strapped up. His ribs were healing perfectly. Everyone had gathered round, including Eric who had realised that Damien had entered the building.

"The doctor has told him that he still needs to take it easy and try not to do too much at once," Horatio explained.

"Yeah, right, like that will happen," Natalia exclaimed. She was still mad at him for teasing her at the hospital.

"If I have anything to do with it, he will be taking it easy," Calleigh joked.

Stetler came wondering through to see what was going on.

"Ah, Horatio, the press are waiting for answers for this mall shooting. Do you still want to do it or shall I?"

Horatio looked round at his team, "I take it you have him?"

Eric grinned, "yeah, Frank hasn't that long ago booked him in."

"Nice work," Horatio looked at Stetler, "I'll take it from here but thank you anyway Rick."

"Anytime," Stetler was quite relieved actually, he hated dealing with the press. He wandered back to his office.

The elevator arrived at the lab floor and out stepped Julia. Natalia saw her walking out of elevator into the lobby. She made a bee line for her.