Disclaimer: This is solely for the enjoyment of the readership. There is no intent to infringe on characters owned by CBS.
Rating: PG
Sharpshooter – 6
As she had anticipated Calleigh got very little sleep that night. There were whirls and swirls of things playing with her mind all night long. And it was a very long night indeed. Even Foxy refused to stay in the bed with this person who would not lie still. The only thing that gave her any rest was her sixth sense that Horatio would be okay. When she got to work, she was turned right back around and sent home to prepare for the board. There was no lab work for her to do that would not be compromised by her current situation. That was even more frustrating for the consummate profession that Calleigh Duquesne was.
Horatio had an easy night in comparison. At times he slept; at other times he tried with all his might to open his eyes. He wanted to know that he was still alive, and seeing was somehow believing. He was first aware of his life returning to some semblance of normal when they pulled the tube out of his throat. He gagged and drew in an extra deep breath of air. The next item of business was getting rid of the headache and chills.
Without work to occupy her time, Calleigh decided to see if she could slip in and see how Horatio was doing. It certainly beat sitting around at her apartment all day. She already had her plan for the board – just tell the truth. There was no question in her mind. The volunteer at the information counter informed her that Mr. Caine was in the Intensive Care Unit on the third floor. However, it was too early for visiting hours to begin. Nevertheless, she made her way to the unit.
Horatio was beginning to awaken and make his presence known to the staff. It wasn't that he intended to be a difficult patient; it was only that he wasn't a very good one either. Something inside him wanted to get up and get gone. The staff obviously had other ideas. His thrashing around was causing them to call for his attending physician. Dr. Garza got there just about the same time Calleigh did.
"You were Horatio's surgeon, last night, right?" Calleigh asked first.
"Yeah, I hear he's giving my staff a hard way to go, which is why I'm here. You want to see if you can get him to settle down?" Garza inquired. "I noticed you seemed to have a soothing effect on him in Recovery."
"I'm game, if you are," Calleigh was quite pleased with the turn of events.
Dr. Garza added, "I'm willing to break the rules for my patient's well being. Nothing like the feminine touch."
They stopped first at the nurses' station for Dr. Garza to pull Horatio's chart. He scanned the top three pages before handing it back to the record's clerk. He then led the way to Horatio's cubicle. They could hear the nurse cautioning Horatio about moving too fast, dislodging tubes, making his stay longer, etc. Dr. Garza drew back the curtain partway and found the nurse trying to empty the urine bag.
"So, Lieutenant, you've been giving my staff a hard time, have you?" he growled. "With one shot I can fix that, or…I can let you have some company. The choice is yours."
With that, he brought Calleigh into the space. Horatio's monitor registered it the moment his out-of-focus eyes found her at the foot of his bed. Desperately, he reached out his good hand.
"Calleigh," his voice was raspy from the tube and trauma of the last twenty-four hours.
"Easy there," she moved closer and took his hand. "You've got to lay still or you're going to rip out your stitches. I couldn't bear that. I've already seen you bleed once; I'm of no mind to see that again. Understand?"
Horatio thought he saw pools of tears welling up in her eyes at the thought of yesterday's shoot out. He nodded quietly, not wishing to stir up her hurt. As they grew closer, the nurse returned with a small chair for Calleigh to sit in. Dr. Garza told them so long as the patient behaved himself appropriately, listened to the nursing staff, and did what he was told, the lady could stay. They both smiled in relief. Certain now that his patient was under control, Dr. Garza returned to make some notes in the chart before seeing his next patient. The nurse pulled the curtain back around to give the smallest amount of privacy to Horatio.
Horatio closed his eyes for a moment and savoured the touch of Calleigh's delicate hand in his. For her part, she scooted the chair just as close as the railing would permit her to move. It was close enough for her to stroke his face and smooth his hair back into place.
Opening his eyes once again to behold her, "Calleigh," he whispered, "I'm so glad you're here."
"Shhh, Horatio. You need your rest. I'll be here for as long as you need or want me," she cradled his mind with her soft words. "Why not take a nap?"
He breathed deeply and watched her a few minutes more before sleep did indeed overtake him. Once he was asleep, Calleigh's eyes grew exceedingly heavy, too. She found a way to rest her head on his bed at the same time she kept hold of his hand. She was not about to let go. The picture was beginning to make more sense. She was family and more besides. Calleigh felt something for Horatio that had only been lurking deep inside. She had always reverently admired the man. She'd felt the sting of pain every time someone besmirched his beloved brother's name. Now, however, she had a sense that their relationship was at a turning point. If he needed her, she needed him, too. Her dreams were telling that to her nearly every chance they got. Up until this moment, that had disturbed the professional side of her character while teasing the hell out of the feminine side. It was late morning when Calleigh awoke to the hourly vitals being taken on Horatio.
"I'm sorry, Honey," a different nurse said softly, "I didn't mean to disturb you. You looked so peaceful there." She gently rubbed Calleigh's back.
Calleigh smiled at the nurse before looking at Horatio as he slept. "Thanks, but I'm okay. It was a bit of a rough night last night."
The nurse nodded approvingly, "I know, Honey," she paused. "He's going to be okay. You'll see. His vitals have been steadily improving all morning, since you got here. His fever is down. His pulse is rock steady. You're good medicine for him."
Calleigh was pleased and smiled shyly as the nurse retreated.
"You are good medicine," Horatio added, eyes shut. Carefully, he opened them to find that Calleigh was still there at his bedside, watching over him.
"I love you, Calleigh," he said softly.
"That's the pain killer talking," she teased.
"No, it's not. It's the real me. Look in my wallet. I have kept a photo there of you for some time now," he went on.
"I was wondering about that. I'm sorry I found it last night. I was being nosey," she admitted. "Oh and I forgot it. It's sitting on my bureau at home. I'm sorry…" she confessed.
Horatio smiled, "And you're not mad at me?"
"Oh, Dear Lord, no. Why would I be mad at you?" Calleigh responded quickly.
Horatio looked deep into her eyes as best his would focus, "I just thought that you and Hagen…"
Calleigh laughed, "I'm sorry. John and me? Now there's a good one. Not in this lifetime would I be the slightest bit interested in John."
She realized how harsh that sounded, "It's not that I don't like John. He's a fine man, very protective. Well, a little too protective at times. But that's just him. He's just not my type, that's all. John is like having a big brother around – all the time," she giggled a little.
"What about me?" Horatio needed to know.
"I don't know exactly. I do know that I care deeply for you, even more now than before," Calleigh started. "I'm thinking I'd like to explore those feelings with you when you're up to it."
Horatio held her hand, "I'd like to start right now, if you don't mind."
With that he tugged her closer. She did not resist him, but instead leaned closer to kiss his brow, his eyes, his nose, his cheeks, his lips. He gave a quiet moan of delight as he held her as close as the bedrail allowed.
"This has got to go," he muttered pointing at the railing as the nurse returned with his lunch.
"Not until you get him home," she smiled at them. "You hungry yet, Lieutenant?"
Horatio blinked and thought. Indeed he was hungry. The nurse placed a clear liquid tray down in front of him.
"Honey, you want to do the honors for your man?" she directed Calleigh's way. "I've got two other patients who need feeding."
"Sure I can do that," she unwrapped the Jello. "Let's see, looks like you've got some red Jello, green juice, and…"
"Ick. Can you get me a sandwich from downstairs?" Horatio replied.
"Nope. No can do," Calleigh stated matter-of-factly. "This is what the doctor ordered; this is what the patient eats. No if's, and's, or but's."
"You're a hard woman, Calleigh," Horatio began to tease, "But I love you dearly anyway."
By Sunday noon, Horatio was in a semi-private room on the Eleventh Floor. He lucked out; the other bed was empty. Dr. Garza had upgraded his meal options to just below "regular." If he continued to progress, he'd get a "regular" tray that night. By mid-afternoon, not only was Calleigh in the room, but so were Speed, Eric, Alexx, and Adele. Yelena had promised to bring Ray Jr. over later in the afternoon, too after everyone else had gone. Horatio was feeling pretty good until Eric let it slip that Calleigh's Shooting Review Board was Monday at eleven.
While Calleigh seemed not too worried about it all, Horatio was beating himself up inside. Why had no one told him? He should be there to support her. Before she left for the night, Horatio made Calleigh promise that she'd come and tell him how it went but not before it was over. He wanted her focused on getting past this event. No distractions – not even the pleasant ones. She condescended to his request, albeit reluctantly.
