21. One week later.

Horatio was woken by a ray of sunshine entering the bedroom through nearly closed curtains. Careful for the healing, still tender skin he rolled from his side to his back. He had been home for a few days now. Actually, he was at Calleigh's home, since both she and the doctor had agreed he shouldn't be alone yet. Not that he minded, he felt comfortable here and was glad to be out of the hospital.

Calleigh had been great. He smiled at the memory of her little outburst at the hospital last week. She'd refused to leave him and, true to her worth, she'd been there when he needed her.

The nightmares were bad. He'd had them before, about that horrible day when he'd come home to find his mother lying on the floor in a pool of blood, but those nightmares had loosened their grip over the many years that had passed. Now they had returned again for different reasons, about a different scenario, robbing him from the rest and sleep his body needed.

He shivered, recalling the times he'd woken up gasping for air, soaking wet from sweating and shaking all over. Every time she'd been there, remaining silent, but holding him until the tremors eased, or softly talking to him until he had regained his grip on reality. He hadn't been able to talk about it, but she hadn't pushed him, instead, she'd just waited patiently, encouraging him to go back to sleep.

Being out of the hospital was easier. It gave him more privacy and, with his injuries healing, he was able to get out of bed and hobble around, although handling the crutches with his weakened muscles wasn't easy.

His day was pretty much a routine. In the morning, Calleigh spread a special ointment on his back to help the healing skin. After that he spent quite some time in the bathroom, attempting to freshen up, while Calleigh prepared breakfast. They ate breakfast in the kitchen, and then Calleigh guided him to the living room, where he pretty much every morning fell asleep on the couch again until the physiotherapist arrived.

His therapy, concentrating only on his arms since his leg was still in a cast, lasted for an hour and by that time he was sore, tired and barely able to eat lunch and get back to bed, where he slept till three or four in the afternoon. The rest of the afternoon he spent on the couch again, flopping through television channels until Calleigh had prepared their dinner. Most days he'd dozed some more on the couch while Calleigh used that time to clean up. Together, they spent the rest of the evening watching a movie. That was unless Alexx or Tim and Eric dropped by to say hello.

Today, three weeks after he was kidnapped, Calleigh had gone back to work. It had taken a lot of convincing from his side as she was reluctant, but she was needed for another case and he really could manage, after all he was sleeping most of the day anyway.

Horatio pushed the blankets aside. Slowly, he maneuvered until he was sitting up in the bed before dragging his casted leg off the bed. His crutches were waiting for him within reach so he took them then struggled to get up. It was hard work, but he was getting better at it each day. He hobbled over to the curtains and, taking two crutches in one hand, he pushed them open with the other. That taken care of he started his painfully slow trip to the living room.

Suddenly the house felt strange and empty, with Calleigh not there. Glancing at the clock on the wall he knew he wouldn't have to wait for long however before she'd be home. Using the remote control, he turned on the TV and switched through the channels until he reached a science program, which he usually enjoyed watching.

He must have dozed off again, because next thing he knew was the front door opening.

She was there in an instant, smiling as only she could. "Hey, sleepy head," she greeted him. "How was your day?"

Horatio struggled to sit up straighter and rubbed his eyes. "Hey. I think I missed most of it."

She laughed. "That's good. You need your beauty sleep. Did therapy go well?"

"Hmm," he answered. "I think so. There is some improvement, he said."

"That's good," Calleigh nodded, intently looking at him. "I know you are impatient and that you want more progress, but it's really going well, Horatio."

"I know," he agreed, although reluctantly. "So how was your day?"

She sat down next to him. "Fine. They were all asking how you are, you know... Gina, from the reception, detective Bernstein, Adele, Johnson and Ramirez send you their greetings... night shift was waiting for me, anxious to hear how you're doing, the lab guys, the technicians... everybody told me to say hi and wish you well."

Smiling, Horatio dropped his gaze. He wasn't used to that much well-meant attention and it made him kind of shy.

"Lieutenant Willis told me to tell you to get well soon as well. He's having a hard time, you know."

"Why is that?"

"Everybody misses you. They keep mentioning your name and doing things the way they know you'd want it," Calleigh grinned. She knew how much everybody at HQ admired and respected the head of CSI, he just wasn't aware of it himself. "Anyway, I'm hungry. I'm going to fix us something to eat." With that, she rose to her feet and headed for the kitchen.

Thirty minutes later she returned, carrying two plates. She'd made him Italian, knowing all too well that was his favorite. She told Horatio all the details about the case she was working on while they ate, knowing he was interested. Glancing at him between talking and eating she was pleased to see he was finishing his meal without trouble.

"Thank you, that was delicious," he said, as ever polite.

She shrugged it off. He didn't have to thank her for everything, but she knew he would anyway. "Do you still have room for some desert?" she asked. "I brought you some tiramisu."

His eyes lit up. "I always have room for tiramisu. You are spoiling me, Calleigh."

"Why, Lieutenant, you haven't seen all of it yet," she teased, her eyes twinkling. Gathering the now empty plates she got up. "I'll be right back."

It didn't take her long to return and she handed him his bowl and spoon before sitting down with her own share. "So... you think you can stay awake? I think Eric is coming over tonight."

"Hmm," he responded, after licking the chocolate from his spoon. "I have slept enough for today, I think."

Calleigh grinned. She'd heard that a few times over the last couple of days, yet he'd managed to fall asleep at the weirdest moments. She didn't mind, though, knowing that his body needed the sleep to heal. Especially since his nights were still frequently interrupted by the nightmares that were still plaguing him.

"In that case, I'll clean this up and make some coffee."

He stared after her as she left the living room. It was what he hated the most. Balancing on one leg handling two crutches with the muscles and nerves in his arms still not fully recovered was a challenge as it was, so helping her out in the kitchen was out of the question. He'd tried to get them a drink from the fridge once that weekend and had ended up dropping the bottle and breaking one of the glasses at the same time. She'd been there in an instant, startled by the sound, worried that he might have hurt himself. "Nothing but my pride," he'd responded and she'd maneuvered him back to the living room before cleaning up the mess.

He debated about switching on the TV but didn't get the chance as Eric Delko arrived. "Hey, H," he greeted his boss. "How's it going?"

"Fine, Eric," Horatio responded. "And how are you doing?"

"I'm good," Eric said. "Tim said hi, he had a date tonight. Alexx said she'll stop by tomorrow morning... Frank is coming, though. He has something to tell you."

"Something to tell me?" Horatio frowned, wondering what that could be.

Eric smiled mysteriously. "Yes. You'll find out in a minute, H."

Horatio looked at Calleigh, but she refrained from looking back. Instead, she fled to get the coffee from the kitchen. When she came back the doorbell rang again and Eric opened the door for Frank.

"Eric, Calleigh, H," Frank greeted his colleagues then stopped to take a closer look at his friend. "You're looking better than last week, H. How is your back?"

"It's fine, Frank," Horatio responded. "Calleigh tells me the skin is healing really well. It itches a lot."

"Oh, although irritating, I guess that's a good sign. And how's the arms?" Frank continued, knowing he had to keep asking for details if he wanted some answers other than the casual "I'm fine".

"Slowly getting better," Horatio answered. He clenched and unclenched his hands. "I can eat and drink without spilling so that's an improvement. It's going to need much therapy to get all of my strength back, though."

"Horatio wants it all in three days instead of three weeks," Calleigh responded, rolling her eyes.

Eric chuckled. "Oh, I know that. He's too impatient to be a good patient."

Horatio glared at him.

Eric looked back, still laughing. "Well, it's true. Isn't it?"

Smiling now, Horatio gave a slight nod. "Yes. Yes I guess I'm impatient. Sue me."

Sipping from his coffee, Frank had remained silent, but couldn't withhold the information he had any longer. "Horatio, I came here to tell you that we have caught Barbosa on Miami international this morning."

Horatio's eyes widened as he stared at his friend. "Did you? How?"

"Well, we had an APB out on him of course. And the jerk just chose today to try to get back into Florida. He was in custody before he knew what was happening."

"We had the testimony of Giny Taylor and ... Both of them have explained to us how Barbosa had set them up to do this," Eric filled in. "Today, Speed and I spoke to the other students as well and they are now willing to testify this as well. They were too afraid to do that earlier."

"I confronted Barbosa with this, of course, and it took some time and work, but he told us enough in the end. We've got him and he's not going anywhere for the rest of his life." Frank smiled, knowing this was something Horatio needed to hear.

"Nice going," Horatio commented softly after a long pause. He looked down at his hands. "So now it's really over, isn't it?"

"Yes, Horatio, it is," Calleigh moved closer and grabbed his hand to give it a gentle squeeze.

Horatio tilted his head and glanced at Tripp. "Thank you, Frank."

"Any time, H. Any time."

>

A/N's : I got him home! I promised, didn't I? Was this what you wanted? All rightie, working on the final absolute final chapter and then this story is finito. So hang in there just a little while longer. As always, thanks for the feedback. You feed my pen!