"Just wait here." Calleigh said when they walked into the bar. Horatio nodded and Calleigh walked over to the bar. "Hey Rob."
"Calleigh." Rob came over. "Who is your friend?" He nodded in Horatio's direction as he dried a glass.
"My boss, we were supposed to be having dinner, it's going cold half cooked in my oven." Calleigh replied glancing over her shoulder at Horatio.
"Date?" Rob questioned.
"Was trying to be."
"I'm sorry I called and interrupted." Rob apologised.
"Where is he?"
"The corner." Rob pointed out. "We've feed him a couple cups of coffee, so he's lucid as possible. He knows you were coming to pick him up."
"Does he owe anything on his bar bill?" Calleigh asked.
"Twenty-three fifty." Rob replied. "We'll throw the coffee in for few."
"Thanks Rob." Calleigh handed over some money. "Keep the change. I'll get him out of here."
"No problem Calleigh."
"Hey Daddy." Calleigh walked over.
"Lamb chop." Kenwall Duquesne greeted her.
"Daddy why do you keep doing this? Come on I'll drive you home."
"Lamb chop, what are you doing here?"
"I'm driving you home. Come on lets put your jacket on." Calleigh picked up his suit jacket and held it out so he could slip his arms in.
He slipped his arms in. Calleigh smoothed out the lapels before taking his arm to make sure he stayed upright.
"Everything okay Cal?" Horatio asked.
"Horatio this is my father Kenwall Duquesne, Daddy this is Lieutenant Horatio Caine."
"Lieutenant?" Kenwall said. "Do you work with my little lamb chop?"
"That's right Mr Duquesne. I'm going to give you and Calleigh a ride home is that okay with you?"
"Sure, more the merrier." Kenwall said.
"Let's take it slowly so we don't trip."
Calleigh stood back and watched as Horatio escorted her father to the car.
"Calleigh are you coming?" Horatio asked over his shoulder.
Calleigh walked over and slipped in the back seat next to her father.
"Here Daddy you need to take these and drink all this water before you go to sleep." Calleigh said holding out two aspirin and a glass of water.
"Lamb chop."
"Daddy please?" Calleigh begged. He reluctantly took the aspirin and down with the water. "Now lie down and go to sleep. I've left the bin next to the bed in case you need to throw up." Calleigh tucked him in and dropped a kiss on his forehead.
She switched of the light and closed the door when she left his room.
"Is everything okay?" Horatio asked.
"He's going to sleep. He'll sleep through until the morning. We can leave now." Calleigh said.
"Are you sure?" Horatio questioned. "I don't mind staying for a while."
"He gets drunk and then he sleeps it off. It's his M.O. He'll be fine. Let me get my purse."
"Can we stop?" Calleigh asked as they drove along the beach towards her apartment. "I need some air."
"Of course." Horatio pulled over. Calleigh hopped out while he locked the door and walked down the shore. "Do you want to talk about it?" Horatio offered.
"What's there to talk about?" Calleigh asked. "He's an alcoholic."
"Has he tried AA?"
"Eight times, he even managed a couple of months sober in a row, then he lost a big case and he started drinking again."
"How long has he been drinking?" Horatio asked.
"For as long as I can remember. I've spent years trying to protect my brothers from it. But I guess that my mother and I were just enabling him."
"Cal, he's your father for good or for bad."
"I know and you can stop an addict unless they want to stop, I know. But it doesn't make it any easier." Calleigh sighed.
"How often do you have to go and pick him up?" Horatio asked.
"Once every couple of weeks. Most of the bars in the area know not to give him more than a couple drinks. He threatens to sue them for breach of his human rights if they don't serve him one drink at least and they know to call me if he gets very drunk."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Because he's my father, I need to deal with it. It doesn't affect how I do my job."
"I'm not saying it does, but we're all here for you. I'm here for you."
"Thank you." Calleigh smiled.
"Come here." Horatio wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hug. Calleigh's stomach rumbled.
"That's embarrassing."
"I guess we missed dinner." Horatio said.
"The only thing edible would be desert." Calleigh said.
"How about we pick up some take out?" Horatio suggested pushing a hair behind her ear. "We have some research to discuss."
"I'd like that." Calleigh smiled.
TBC
