Chapter 2

Do you remember telling me you'd found the sweetest thing of all, you said one day of this is worth dying for

Head hung, hands loosely clasped he listened intently to her words, "I remember you told me once that your wish came true, that you were in love again for the third time in your life, after your first high school girlfriend, your first wife... you said that you'd give everything and anything for one day of being able to not fear that love. Do you remember?"

"I do."

"Tell her that."

"She said she didn't want to see me."

"And you believed her?" Calleigh asked.

Jaw clenched, his head swiveled as the realization dawned on him.

"Horatio-"Calleigh placed a hand on his knee, "You don't have to tell her everything, but tell her how you feel, and if that's not enough to bring her back than I don't know what is-"

He shook his head, rising and walking towards the patio door. He stood there, watching the waves crash to the shore. Calleigh rose and stood along side him. "I know what you're scared of, but you have to decide what you want your life to be- how you want to live it."

"You're right. I have to go find her."

She gave him one of her loveliest smiles.

He placed a kiss on her forehead and told her, "You're an angel."

She laughed gently, "I know."

He left determined to tell Yelina and hoping everything would be okay.

And you probably don't want to hear tomorrow's another day but I promise you you'll see the sun again and you're asking me why pain's the only way to happiness and I promise you you'll see the sun again

The overcast sky was esthetically matching Horatio's unsure thoughts. He stood before her door. This wasn't going to be easy.

He knocked a few times and waited quite impatiently, yet, at the same time, resisting the urge to leave before it was too late to turn back.

It was already too late as the woman he dreamed of stood in the doorway. He couldn't tell if she was angry or disappointed with him for not respecting her wishes to leave her alone. One thing for sure, she'd been crying and that tore him up inside.

Trying to avoid the obvious oncoming question of what the hell are you doing here, Horatio took the initiative and asked: "Is Ray Jr. around?"

She shook her head, "He's at my sister's." After a brief pause she explained, "I didn't want him to see me like this."

He knew what that meant. Her son had witnessed his mother's sadness too many times.

"Why?" she asked desolate.

"There's something I need to tell you and, well, ah, it's not easy."

"I'm not sure I want to hear this," she told him, dropping her gaze to the porch.

He had a feeling she wanted to shut the door on him, but he pushed himself because it was important for her to know.

"I really wish you would."

"Okay," she crossed her arms, shielding her heart, prepared to take on an attack.

"If I, ah, put everything aside, everything about my life except my feelings for you, it um, it couldn't be clearer to me how I feel. I wish I could ask you to do the same, but I just want you to hear me out-"

Arms tight around her chest, she, nonetheless, listened to his words.

"Yelina, I honestly have never loved a woman as much as I do you. I wish you could feel how fast my heart is beating right now, because no matter what happens," his gaze went south, hand on his heart, "this is real and, it's for you and it always will be."

As crystal trails slid down her cheeks she said softly, out of breath, "Hold me."

Horatio stepped forward and took her in his arms.

"Hold me," she repeated more desperately and he tightened his grasp. What had happened no longer mattered- what mattered was that he was here now, willing to do anything to make her happy.

"You said it was more complicated than Suzie and you- what did you mean by that?"

"Please Yelina, I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have."

"If you won't tell me then I'll ask Suzie."

"I'm not going to stop you from doing that, but I think it would be best if you left it as is."

"I want to know, Horatio. I feel like I've been kept in the dark all this time..."

He decided to do one of the hardest things he ever had to do. "I'm going with you."

"What?"

"I won't interfere in any way, I just think I should be there."

"Alright." She went back inside to get her keys and came back out. She stepped down from the porch after locking her door saying, "Let's take my car."

Horatio didn't argue. She wanted to have her way and he was okay with that.

She didn't understand why he made it clear that he was coming, because he'd just refused to tell her anything.

On the second knock, Suzie's voice was heard from behind the door of her new condo (rented with the help of Horatio), "Yeah, who is it?"

Yelina met Horatio's eyes and took a step left so as to not let Suzie see her right away.

"It's me," Horatio replied and Suzie unlocked the door, taking the bolt off even before he had time to finish his sentence. "Horatio and... Yelina."

Suzie froze in the doorway. Yelina caught sight of the eagerness the blonde woman had to plow the door open when she identified Horatio and, now, as she saw the other woman, Suzie gave Horatio a look as if to say 'you could have warned me'.

Susie remembered the beautiful Colombian. Ray's widow.

Horatio removed his sunglasses- eyes just roaming over Suzie on their way to focus on his hands holding his shades.

"May we come in?" he asked gently.

"Sure," she replied, trying to do so gracefully. She didn't mind letting Horatio inside, but Ray's widow was not welcomed. She knew this meant trouble.

Having stepped aside, Suzie closed the door behind the couple and ushered them to her living room.

Horatio took an armchair while Yelina sat on the couch and Suzie stayed standing.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" Suzie offered.

Horatio looked over at Yelina and said, "Um. No. Thank you."

He knew from what he saw in Yelina's eyes that she was going to get Suzie to tell her what Horatio had been keeping from her. Trying to limit the damage, he asked, "Suzie, is Madison around?"

"No," Suzie smiled gently, "She's at a friend's house."

Yelina saw how Suzie could have fallen for him; saw the love in her eyes. Yelina diverted her eyes to the photographs of Madison on the living room table and said, "That's a shame... I'm sure she would have liked to see her father..."

Yelina sent a poison arrow to both Horatio and Suzie, unaware of the repercussions of igniting a fire would have.

Suzie's gaze locked on Horatio and he shook his head at her. Suzie understood immediately what this was about and, even though she knew Horatio didn't want Yelina to know, she felt she needed to stand up for this honorable man.

"Madison isn't Horatio's," Suzie explained.

Horatio wanted to interrupt, but he'd promised Yelina he wouldn't.

"He didn't deny it because he wanted to protect you," Suzie continued, "Madison is Ray's."

The embarrassment flushed Yelina's cheeks. Everyone knew except her. She felt so stupid. She'd been so mean with both of them when she should have been mad at herself.

"I'm so stupid," she muttered.

"No, you're not," Horatio tried to comfort her. "It's not your fault." But she thought it was. She had driven her husband away, probably unconsciously because she was in love with Horatio. She hadn't been a good wife and her husband had seeked love elsewhere.

A/N: I'm trying to get some more written. Sorry for the wait, guys. My muse had left me stranded for months on this one... I'll update whenever I get more done. Again, my apologies. You guys are terrific! Thanks for the reviews!! Hgirl