A/N's: Awww, another chapter and he still isn't home. I thought I couldn't do this, this kind of writing, but somehow I keep on adding stuff. I will get him home, though. I promise. I hope you're still enjoying this. Thanks for reviewing.

20. Turning the tides.

It had taken Calleigh some time to fall asleep during the day, but somehow she must have managed, as suddenly it was four thirty in the afternoon.

Yawning, she got up, anxious to get back to the hospital. First, however, she took a hot shower to freshen up.

Quickly grabbing some food from the fridge, she prepared something to eat while dialing Alexx's number, the phone wedged between her ear and her drawn up shoulder.

"Dr. Woods," Alexx announced herself.

"Alexx, it's me," Calleigh said. She dropped the knife and grabbed better hold of the phone.

"Hey, there," Alexx spoke gently. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, I did," Calleigh replied impatiently. "How is he, Alexx?"

"Well, he slept quite some time this morning, although a bit restless, but his temperature could be the cause of that," Alexx informed her. "I stayed until a quarter past eleven, and we even had a little chat. Timmy and Eric visited him around lunch time, and they complained to me that Horatio had been questioning them about their next case followed by a whole row of instructions on what they were supposed to do. I know Frank was going to drop by this afternoon, but I haven't seen him yet."

"Good," Calleigh nodded despite Alexx couldn't see her gesture. "I'm quickly eating something and then I'm on my way over to the hospital."

"Take your time, honey," Alexx advised. "What's another thirty minutes, you should eat properly. I'll be back tomorrow morning before I go to work, so I guess I will see you then."

"Yes, all right. Thanks, Alexx." Calleigh broke off the connection, put her phone aside and finished preparing her meal. She allowed herself another twenty minutes to finish before she threw the dirty plate, knife and fork in the sink. She'd clean up some other time. Grabbing her jacket and the phone she rushed outside and hopped in the Hummer then drove to the hospital.

She found Horatio awake, struggling with his dinner. "Hey there," she greeted him brightly.

He smiled at her. "Calleigh."

She studied him closely. His eyes were clearer and his skin less flushed as it had been that morning. One glance at the monitors told her his fever had dropped to just above 103. "You're looking much better," she commented while stepping closer to grab his plate. "Here, let me help you with that," she said as she reached forward and took the cutlery from his hands.

"It's okay," he slightly protested. "It's okay, I can do it."

"I'm sure you can," Calleigh told him while she prepared some smaller bites. Rearranging it so he could easily scoop it, she shoved the plate back. "But now you can just use your spoon. Hungry?"

"No," he admitted, pulling a face.

"Hmm, no surprise there," she said. "But eat it anyway. You need to regain some strength."

"Yes, ma' am," he joked, but did as he was told. He didn't finish two bites before he had to ask, "So what case are you working on?"

Calleigh rolled her eyes. "You're not in charge of the crime lab at the moment, Horatio. Let it go."

He sighed. "That's what Eric and Speed said this afternoon as well," he admitted. With a trembling hand he managed to shove another bite into his mouth. After swallowing he continued. "But lying here doing nothing isn't really my thing and my head is working just fine."

She laughed out loud, and then hastened to explain. "Horatio, this morning you could barely keep your eyes open and I'm pretty sure you slept most of the day..."

He looked at her in an apologizing manner, realizing he wasn't being very patient.

Calleigh's laughter stilled as she stared at him, and she suddenly took pity on him. "You're right. There's nothing wrong in showing interest in your colleagues' work and if it gives you something to think about when there's nothing else you can do it should be okay. As long as it's not interfering with your recovery."

Horatio gave a slight nod. "So? How was your day?" he asked, before taking another bite of his meal.

"Hmm," she started carefully, thinking fast on how she could get away with this. Quickly she decided however not to lie. "Actually, I was at home today, sleeping."

Immediately Horatio frowned in concern. "Why? Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, don't worry," Calleigh reassured him. "I just didn't get much sleep last night, so I had to catch up. That's all."

He looked at her, questioningly and she defiantly looked back. He shoved his plate aside, indicating he had enough, then lowered his gaze. "So it wasn't a dream," he muttered.

Her eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"The bits and pieces I remember from last night are all very vague and confusing, but somehow I recall you being there." He threw her a meaningful grin. "And of course Eric said you weren't at work today."

"Well, well, Lieutenant," Calleigh spoke up, laughter shining through her eyes. "I should have remembered you are a CSI."

"I'm glad you got some sleep today," Horatio said. He wasn't sure yet whether he felt pleased, annoyed or embarrassed. For the moment, he settled for all three of them.

Sensing he was struggling with his emotions, Calleigh tried to distract him. She stood up and reached for his plate, placing it on the night stand and asked casually, "So, Frank was here as well?"

"Yes, this afternoon," Horatio acknowledged. "He told me about Barbosa's influence on those kids, and how he'd set them up to this." He stared at the wall, his eyes suddenly distant and dark. "Too bad he left Miami..."

Calleigh cursed inwardly at the direction her distraction had unknowingly headed. "We'll get him, Horatio. You know we will." She sat down again, grabbed his hand and gave it a slight squeeze. "Relax." Having said that and seeing him not respond to her, Calleigh wondered if he ever could, with the knowledge that the Colombian interrogator was still out there.

They remained silent for a long time, Horatio lost in his private world, not ready to let anybody in, and Calleigh waiting, not willing to push him yet, but wondering what she could do to help.

In the end, it was him breaking the silence, as he turned his head towards her, although he still couldn't look up. "Thank you for putting up with me."

"Why, Lieutenant," she responded firmly. "You can thank me for being here, for caring, for wearing my hair down, for anything, except for putting up with you because that's not what I'm doing."

He stared at her, a little taken aback by her unexpected outburst. She was looking at him, with fiery eyes daring him to argue. As he always did, he apologized. "Sorry."

She wasn't done. "And you can stop the sorry's as well. Stop saying sorry when you grimace because you hurt. Stop apologizing for falling asleep, or waking up. Nobody is blaming you for anything that's happened so stop blaming yourself." She looked at him, her eyes wide open, trying to determine if she was getting through to him.

He stared back, unable to respond as he tried to decipher what had just happened.

Then, her face relaxed into a broad smile. "Oh, Horatio, I'm sorry. It's just... I'm not here because I feel sorry for you, or because I'm putting up with you. I'm here because I care. I care a lot about you and I'm worried about you, all right? You're reliving everything that's happened in your nightmares, which is only natural, and if I know you as well as I think I do, you're going to pretend you're fine because you don't want us to worry. Well, I worry, I can tell you're not fine and I'm staying tonight."

Overwhelmed, Horatio dropped his gaze and looked down at the sheets. "I..." he started softly, then paused for a while before he was able to continue, "I guess I'm used to looking out for others."

"I know," Calleigh responded softly. "But right now, you just have to let us look after you for a change." Bending forward, she pressed a faint kiss on his forehead, then smiled at him. "Why don't you try to sleep for a while? You're tired, I can tell. I'll just sit here and read the book I've brought. How does that sound?"

"Fine," he said with a ghost of a smile. Drained of the little energy he had left his eyes drooped shut and no sound came over his lips but they moved, only a bit, as he mouthed a silent thanks.