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Chapter 16

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Calleigh had been edgy all afternoon, Eric and Speed had noticed. They both had made attempts to find out what was wrong, but had failed to.
Eric, convinced this wasn't just her having an off day, ultimately asked Alexx for her help. She, of course, accepted.

Alexx strode in the trace evidence lab and saw Calleigh, "Hey, hun."

Calleigh was busy at work, looking over evidence gathered from their recent case.

"Hey," she replied and Alexx knew something was up.

That wasn't her usual chirpy greeting.

"Calleigh, are you okay?"

Calleigh kept working and looked at her friend just for a second to say, "Yeah, I'm fine, Alexx."

"You don't look fine."

"I'm just tired, that's all," she took the opportunity to change the subject, looking at her watch, saying, "Time for a coffee break." Calleigh pushed herself back from the counter and got up from her stool.

"You were tired this morning. There's something
else -" Alexx walked after her as Calleigh made her way to the layout room.

Alexx took a spot beside Calleigh by the coffee machine, "The boys are worried about you." Alexx looked over her face, "So am I."

"Don't be," Calleigh gently shook her head. "Coffee?" she asked nonchalant, as she poured herself a cup.

Alexx didn't bother answering, "This has somethin' to do with Horatio, doesn't it?" She didn't wait for an answer, "What happened, Calleigh?"

Calleigh sighed, putting her cup down, unsure about whether or not she could keep a firm grasp on anything lately. "Horatio told Yelina who Madison's father is."

"What?" Alexx placed a hand on her hip, "Why'd he do that?"

"He was forced to by Stetler..."

Alexx shifted her weight in discomfort, "I've always hated that guy. Been looking for trouble ever since he got here."

"I had some part in it too."

"Well, I'm sure Horatio isn't mad at you."

"Horatio," the name rolled off her tongue and died. "I don't know - it's like he shut down."

Alexx wrung Calleigh's hand, "Give him time, honey."

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Calleigh walked out in the CSI parking lot, making her way towards her yellow Jeep. She hadn't gone up to see Horatio after her shift, thinking it was best to leave him be. He would have to be the one to come forward because she couldn't help someone who didn't want help. It didn't surprise her at all that Horatio acted like this. He'd rather suffer in silence than risk affecting another person.

He was incredible - like a financially deprived man giving his money away - remarkably good at helping other people and this took precedence over his own well-being.

She unlocked her door and climbed in. It was a bit warm in the car, since the windows had been up all day through the muggy weather, but she enjoyed the heat, leaving her windows up. Turning the key to start the engine, she placed her handbag on the seat next to her. She shifted in reverse and peered in the rear view mirror, letting out a breath, instantaneously pushing down firmly on the break pedal, seeing a tall frame standing behind her car. All she could see were his clothes were lit from her tail lights.

She wanted to switch hands and reach for her gun, but she felt vulnerable, maybe this guy was an ex-con wanting revenge. She kept a shaky foot on the break pedal, not wanting to turn around, but needing to take another look, she slowly adjusted the mirror and saw he was holding something. But, he wasn't moving - not diplaying a menacing pose. Then, he started forward around the car and she briskly unlatched her gun from her holster, fingering her firearm, ready to protect herself if he turned out to be a threat. Glancing back quickly, she saw his face and the prominent red hair... She, then, lurched back into her seat.

What was he doing there?

He came beside her car and gently tapped on her window with his sunglasses.

She rolled down the window, and said, breathing still erratic, "How did you - " she tried to ask, but concern seeped through her, "You scared me! I could have run over you or shot you - "

"I'm sorry." He'd seen her leave the lab and walk to the locker room. So, he had gotten ready to leave himself, making his way to the parking lot, intending to catch her before she left.
"Not only about scaring you," he clarified.

She tipped her head towards the passenger seat, "Get in."

He went around and put her handbag in the back before sitting next to her.

She started to back up and Horatio wondered where she was taking him, "Where are we going?"

"To the beach."

He smiled. She knew that old habits died hard. It was his place to find peace. Whenever sadness or anger overcame him, he'd always find equanimity within himself by watching the surf come in, the waves constantly crashing to shore. There always seemed to be blue skies up ahead. Tonight, though, the moon was his promise.

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Horatio was sitting in the sand, legs brought up, forearms resting casually on his knees. Calleigh rubbed shoulders with him, slinking a hand down his arm to take his hand. It rejoiced her to see him turn to her and gaze at her with scintillating eyes. The cool salty breeze blew over her bare skin and she broke into shivers.

"You're cold," Horatio said more as an affirmation than a question.

"It's okay."

Horatio took his suit jacket off and draped it over her shoulders.

"I'm undeserving of your love, Calleigh," he murmured.

"Don't say that." She looked him in the eye, "Wanna know where my place of comfort is?"

He nodded.

"Right here," she minced closer, giving him an unctuous smile, looping an arm around his neck to kiss his face.

His heart went soft at her solicitous ways. He looked out, pensive, "I don't know what to do next - "

Calleigh sighed, "Yelina has to take matters into her own hands. You've done everything you could."

He turned his head, etching his face closer to hers. Holding her face, he kissed her the way he hadn't done in a while. "Thank you, Calleigh."

"For what?" she questioned and it made a faint smile loosen his features.

"For putting up with me."

"You're a driven person, Horatio and it's something I love about you," she brushed a hand through his hair, "Just remember that there's two of us now and you don't have to deal with anything by yourself anymore."

She knew he'd been alone since the age of seventeen when his mother passed away. His father had died years before and now he struggled to keep his remaining family: Yelina, Ray, Susie and Madison.

For him to stop self-inflicting would take some getting used to, he clued her in, "It will take some time - "

"Time I've got."

At least he wasn't stoical.

Weeks passed and they adjusted to living together. Well, Horatio mostly did. Once in a while, they had a dispute and were happy to each have their own place, but soon after they made up, they were back together, literally inseparable. Alexx often commented on how beautiful a bond they had. She knew from her experience that love sprung from friendship created relationships that would most likely survive through thick and thin.
Yelina ended up telling Ray Jr. about Madison and the two kids became very close. He protected her and cared for her like any older brother and Yelina was proud of him. He definitely was a Caine, she thought. The children spent more and more time together and Yelina got to know Susie. It took another woman who'd been in an abusive relationship to give her the courage she needed to leave Stetler.
Horatio had been particularly involved in the case Yelina had opened against Rick in court.
Rick Stetler lost his job and was sentenced to eighteen months in prison. Stetler stared coldly as the police officers cuffed him and walked him out of the courthouse. Horatio simply held his own stare thinking where he was going, he'd get what he deserved.

"You and Ray gonna be alright?" Horatio asked Yelina on the steps of the courthouse.

"Yeah," she said lowly, diverting her eyes from him.

"Yelina - "

"I just don't feel safe yet," she gave him a faint smile with watery eyes.

"Hmm. I know," he stepped closer and stroked her shoulder, "Remember that I'm just a phone call away."

"Thank you," she hugged him.

Yelina had forgiven him for keeping Raymond's Madison a secret. Horatio knew you could only watch over people, but that you couldn't make choices for them and that's exactly what he had done for his brother Ray and Yelina. He decided that it wasn't his fault and he was going to stop blaming himself.

He released Yelina, "I'll see you both next week."

Yelina nodded and walked off, motioning to Ray, who'd been leaning against the black rail, to come. She took Ray's hand and turned to look back at Horatio. They exchanged a smile and Horatio waved goodbye to her and Ray. He reached for his sunglasses in his pocket and stood, holding them in his hands, before turning to look at Calleigh standing a few feet away, waiting for him. His beautiful Calleigh.
Life was good.

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Everything had been planned. Horatio stopped at the club Hives on his way to Calleigh's to pick up the bottle of honey he'd ordered a few days earlier. That was promising a good time...

They were going to celebrate Calleigh who was with child for just about eight weeks now. He'd been surprised because they both agreed on protection and Horatio was in charge of that. He had been careful because he felt he had passed his time to be a father and he'd come close to being a father, years ago, with his ex-wife, but she lost the baby and he had never been the same since. Cases involving an unborn child touched him on a personal level, even more so than children.

He hummed merrily, using his key to her condo. Stepping inside, he went in search of Calleigh.

"Calleigh, sweetheart - " he called, smiling at the thought of the evening to come. He just hoped she hadn't been serious about the leather chaps and nothing else. It had been a joke, a year ago, during a case, but if that's what turned her on, he'd do it. He was grinning now, thinking of how ridiculous he'd look in them.
He moved through her home, looking for her and saw the light on in the bathroom. She was surely getting ready so he walked over, slowly leaning against the doorframe to watch.

Finding her on the floor, clenching a towel around her body, sobbing, he dropped the bottle of honey, rushing towards her. The bottle broke into pieces and honey slid slowly on the hardwood floor.

Crouching down at her side, he tried to help her up, but she pushed him away, evidently not wanting to be touched.
He knew better than to ask what had happened. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't answer him anyway. On his knees, Horatio noticed the pink bathtub water and an awful déjà vu feeling swept over him. Calleigh snivelled, grabbing her abdomen with trembling hands. Horatio took another towel from the wall fixture and draped it around her shoulders.

His heart plummeted.

"Honey," he murmured and she suddenly latched on him. He rocked her gently as she cried.

"We have to get you to the hospital," Horatio explained, but she shook her head. "You don't want to go to the hospital?" He spoke for her. "Okay, but you need to lie down and I'll get you a hot water bottle to put on your stomach." He'd been through this before. "If you start loosing too much blood, I'm taking you to the emergency room." He knew once it was over, he'd need to call the doctor and get Calleigh examined to prevent an infection.

Horatio used all his will power to keep himself from crying with her.

Running to get a hot water bottle and a pillow, he came back a few minutes later and placed the pillow behind her.

"It will hurt less if you lie down."

She wanted to stay in a sitting position, but he took her in his arms making her lie comfortably with the pillow and towels. He took the hot water bottle he had left aside and placed it on her belly.

Brushing her hair back, his eyes never left hers.

TBC...