Disclaimer: Not my characters, alas.
A/N: This is Nath's fault. And I realize I've developed a tendency to kill Calleigh. I'll address that issue with my therapist.
Warning: Character death, lots of it.
i. high noon
He enters the jewelry store ahead of Calleigh, unaware of what the next few minutes hold. He's talking to the manager when she suddenly draws her weapon. He's instantly on guard, but it isn't fast enough. Before he knows what's happened, Calleigh's on the ground.
The gunman makes his escape while Horatio stands frozen in shock. It's only the sound of Calleigh gasping for breath that wakes him. He kneels at her side and calls for assistance. Then he looks at the wound.
He forces himself to smile reassuringly. "You're going to be fine."
She dies without saying a word.
ii. i do
He stares at Calleigh across the desk. She's beautiful, as she always is, and he wishes she would smile for him. He can't remember the last time he saw her smile.
"Calleigh—"
She shakes her head. He can tell she's struggling not to cry. "Don't."
With a sigh, he picks up his pen and signs the document in front of him.
"Cal." He tries again. If she would just look at him—
"I'm sorry, Horatio."
So is he, more than she will ever know. She walks out of his office, out of his life.
Goodbye, Mrs. Caine, he thinks.
iii. blue-eyed boy
The coffin is tiny. It isn't natural. No one should have to bury their child.
Calleigh grips his arm tighter and he pulls her closer to him. She needs him to be strong, so he'll be strong. He'll try not to dwell on the memory of his little boy's smile or the sound of his laughter.
Every thud of dirt on the coffin tears at his soul. He leans into Calleigh as much as she's leaning into him.
When he catches Otis, when that monster is where he belongs – either in hell or behind bars – then he can fall apart.
iv. nightmare
Alexx leaves the autopsy room when he enters. He approaches the table slowly, reluctantly, hoping against hope that this is just a bad dream. When he can't put it off any longer, he peels back the sheet.
His breath catches in his throat. It's not a dream.
There is a muzzle burn on Calleigh's temple, marking her as Hank Kerner's kill.
Horatio blinks back tears. He should have been looking out for her instead of trusting John Hagen to do it for him. But he'd always thought of her as untouchable, immortal.
He's never been more wrong in his life.
v. consume me
"Horatio, can I talk to you?" Calleigh seems uncharacteristically nervous. He nods and beckons for her to enter. She closes the door and sits.
"What's on your mind?"
"I need some time off." She doesn't meet his gaze.
"No problem." He pauses. "Vacation?"
"Not exactly." She sighs, and he just knows something's wrong. "The thing is, I found a lump and I went to the doctor—"
No. Not that. Anything but that.
"—So it turns out it's malignant."
He goes around the desk, puts his arms around her, and she bursts into tears.
Six months later, she's gone.