Title: Because The Night

Author: Melanie-Anne (melsie04hotmail.com)

Rating: PG-13

Archive: Anywhere, just let me know so I can visit.

Summary: Follows Twilight Time. Horatio and Calleigh prepare for their wedding, Tommy shows up with issues of his own, and an old enemy reappears on the scene. [H/C]

Disclaimer: Only in my dreams do they belong to me ::sigh::

A/N: Fifth in my series. The other stories are Kryptonite, But She Breaks, Bulletproof and Twilight Time. Thanks to Hgirl for betaing.

Yeah, I know, it's been a while. My muse has been a little uncooperative :o)

with love we sleep

with doubt the vicious circle

turns and burns

without you I cannot live

forgive, the yearning burning

I believe it's time, too real to feel

so touch me now, touch me now, touch me now

because the night belongs to lovers

because the night belongs to us

Patti Smith, "Because the Night"

Calleigh hung up the phone and returned to the couch. She and Horatio had been taking a break from packing up her belongings when Marjorie Duquesne had called. She curled up next to Horatio and sighed. "I think we should just elope."

He laughed. "Why?"

"My mother doesn't understand what I mean by a small wedding. She wants something big and elaborate . . ." Calleigh groaned. "I have a headache just thinking about it. Let's save everyone the trouble and just run off to Vegas."

Horatio pulled Calleigh onto his lap. He nuzzled her neck. "Vegas, hmm?"

"Mm-hmm. But not to just any chapel. I want Elvis to perform the ceremony."

He dipped her back and rolled on top of her, brushing wisps of hair away from her face. "Calleigh, I love you, but I am not getting married by Elvis."

She couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. "Spoilsport. Okay, fine. Next time my mom calls, you can talk to her."

He smiled. "Elvis it is, then."

She chuckled, the sound low and sexy in her throat. Horatio planted kisses from just beneath her jawbone to the hollow at the base of her throat. He was distracted by an untimely knock on Calleigh's front door.

Calleigh slid out from under him, a teasing grin on her face. Horatio rolled onto his back, smiling as he thought of how far they had come. Was it just seven months ago that he'd almost lost Calleigh for good?

There was a squeal of delight from the direction of the door and Horatio sat up to see what was going on. Calleigh returned to the living room, leading a man Horatio didn't recognize by the hand.

"Horatio, this is my brother, Thomas. Tommy, this is Horatio." Calleigh made the introduction and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving the two men to get acquainted.

"So you're Horatio," Tommy said. He stared at Horatio as a slow smile spread across his face. He reached out and shook Horatio's hand. "It's good to finally meet you."

"Likewise. Calleigh's told me a lot about you."

Tommy made himself comfortable in the armchair. "Whatever she said, I didn't do it."

Horatio laughed as Calleigh came back bearing a tea tray. She placed it on the coffee table then sat next to Horatio. "It's great to see you again, Tommy."

"You too, Cal." Tommy glanced around the room, his eyes settling on a pile of boxes. "Looks like you've been busy."

"Yeah. I'm in the process of moving in with Horatio."

"Hmm. Moving in together? I'm not sure I approve." Tommy was aiming to sound stern, but couldn't keep the smile off his face.

"Tommy!" Calleigh moved to sit on the arm of his chair and gave him an affectionate lug on his shoulder. Then she hugged him close, turning serious. "I've missed you. You should visit more often."

Watching them, Horatio thought of Ray. They had loved each other, but there had always been a competition to be the better brother; more from Ray's side than his own. Even when they were in the police force, the rivalry had been there, and Horatio often wondered if it had contributed to Ray's decision to go undercover, to prove himself better than his big brother.

"I went back to India," Tommy said, and Horatio's thoughts returned to the present.

"And?"

"And nothing. Nothing had changed. She's still married. So I came back."

Calleigh squeezed her brother's hand, sympathizing with Tommy. She knew what it was like to love someone you couldn't have, except in her case, she had gotten her happy ending. Arundhati had broken Tommy's heart and Calleigh, always the big sister, wanted nothing more than to make it better for him.

The diamond from her engagement ring caught the light. Tommy lifted her hand closer to his face. "I know this ring. It's—"

"Grandma Sue's," Calleigh finished and smiled at Horatio.

"I can't believe Mom parted with it."

"Horatio's very persuasive."

Tommy laughed. "I think he's a keeper, Cal."

"Yeah." Calleigh looked down at her ring, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"So how did you manage to get our mother to let you have it?" Tommy tilted his head expectantly.

Horatio gave that wry chuckle that Calleigh so adored, and said, "I just promised her a couple of grandchildren. Who could resist an offer like that?"

Tommy turned back to his sister. "He's a smart man, your Horatio."

"My Horatio. Hmm, I like the sound of that." When she met Horatio's eyes, she saw he liked it too. "Oh, Tommy, I've been meaning to ask. Will you take our wedding photos?"

"I don't know that you can afford me."

Calleigh nudged him in the ribs. "Black and white, and color, okay?"

"No problem."

"But you have to make me look pretty. It's a very special day."

"All I have to do then is point and shoot."

Calleigh blushed at the unexpected compliment. "Alright, charmer. Horatio and I were just about to get dinner. You want to join us?"

Two days after Tommy arrived in Miami, Calleigh took him out to lunch. "Have you seen Dad yet?"

Tommy pretended to study the menu. "No."

"He's been sober for a while now. He's doing really well—"

Tommy raised his eyes and met Calleigh's gaze. "And we're just supposed to forget everything that happened before? We're supposed to be one big happy family again?"

"That's not what I meant." Calleigh was instantly on the defense. "I just think he'd really like it if you went to see him. Or called, at least. He's going to be at the wedding."

"That doesn't mean we have to talk to each other." He lowered his voice. "God, Cal, have you forgotten how awful it used to be? Every time he came home drunk I prayed that it would be me he'd pick on instead of you or Mom—"

"Tommy—"

"Do you remember your prom night? Or is it far enough in the past to be okay now?"

Calleigh leaned across the table. "I'm not excusing what he did. He's not perfect, but he's still our father. And he's trying really hard to keep it together now."

"Can I take your order?" Their waitress, a bored-looking blonde, stood next to them, notepad and pen in hand.

"We're not ready yet," Calleigh said. When the waitress left, she continued. "He wants to see you."

Tommy ignored that. He focused on the salt- and pepper-shakers in the middle of the table. "What does Mom have to say about all of this?"

"She's happy that he's finally getting the help he needs."

Tommy shook his head. "Because she's still in love with him."

Calleigh wisely decided to drop the subject. Her tone softened. "How are you doing? How's the depression?"

"I'm coping." He was still in a foul mood.

Her beeper went off. When she saw the code, she closed her eyes and sighed. "Damn it."

"What's wrong?"

"I have to get back to CSI. Can I get a rain check on lunch?"

Tommy shrugged. "Sure."

Calleigh stood. On her way out, she laid a hand on Tommy's shoulder. "Don't stay mad, Bug."

The childhood nickname elicited a smile, and Calleigh left, her spirits lighter.

Calleigh lugged the last of the boxes into Horatio's house -- her house now, she thought with a smile. She set it down just inside the living room. When she straightened, she couldn't help staring at the spot Horatio's old couch had been. The new one had been there for months, but every now and then Calleigh would look at it and think of what had happened on the old one. Despite the summer heat, she shivered at the memory.

Warm arms enveloped her from behind and she relaxed against Horatio. "Hey," he said, his breath hot against her neck.

"Hey."

"You know, we're all dusty and sweaty from moving."

She bit back her smile. "Umm."

"I think a shower's in order. What do you think?"

"Why, Lieutenant Caine," she said with all the innocence of a debutante, "I do believe that was a proposition."

He scooped her up, causing her to laugh out loud. "I do believe you're right."

"Well, only 'cause we're dusty and sweaty . . ."

"Of course."

Much, much later, Calleigh stood in front of the bathroom mirror, wrapped in a towel, combing her freshly washed hair. She saw her toothbrush and Horatio's toothbrush standing side by side and grinned, wondering how on earth she could have thought she deserved less than this.

Horatio appeared in the doorway and held up the red dress Calleigh had worn when he'd visited her in Darnell. "Look what I found in the closet."

"It's pretty," Calleigh said, "but I don't think it'll fit you."

"Funny, Cal. I want you to wear it—"

"We're not even married and already you're ordering me around." She shook her head.

Horatio continued, non-plussed. "I've got this fantasy involving this red dress."

"I already said it won't fit you."

He sighed. "I guess I'll cancel the reservations at Rosinella's, then."

Calleigh finally turned to face him. "Reservations? Rosinella's?"

He held out the dress. "Will you wear this?"

She grinned. "Tell me more about this fantasy."

Delko sat in the break room at CSI, enjoying a moment of peace before he left for the night. It had been a long day, especially with Horatio and Calleigh now on leave. Speed was in charge until their return, and Delko was enjoying giving him a hard time.

Yeah, he thought with a smile, the next three weeks were going to be fun. He took a sip of coffee and leaned back, closing his eyes.

"—This just in," a voice said from the television.

Delko only half-listened; thinking it wouldn't be anything important. As the newscaster spoke, Delko sat up straight, his coffee forgotten. His eyes wide, he watched footage of the prison break, his heart beating double-time. When the image changed to show photographs of the escapees, Delko pulled out his cell phone.

Neither Horatio nor Calleigh picked up. He tried the house phone and got the answering machine.

Delko glanced at his watch; it was ten-thirty. He called Adele.

Horatio unlocked the front door and ushered Calleigh inside. He had his arm around her waist, keeping her against him. "Home, sweet home," Calleigh murmured against his neck.

"Mmm." He pulled the pins from her hair, smiling in appreciation as it tumbled free. As they made their way to the bedroom, too intent on divesting the other of clothing, neither of them noticed the light blinking on the answering machine.

They tumbled onto the bed, a tangle of clothing and arms and legs and hair. Horatio lifted Calleigh's dress up over her head and tossed it to one side. She giggled, still light-headed from champagne.

"I think I like this fantasy of yours, Lieutenant."

"Well, I aim to please." He spoke against her skin, and the hairs on her arm prickled in excitement.

The lights went on suddenly, stunning both of them. Horatio sat up and instinctively moved to protect Calleigh. He heard her sharp, indrawn breath and a slow, familiar laugh, then raised his eyes to meet the intruder's gaze.