A/N: Thanks for your reviews! In this chapter, I felt like heating things up a bit between Horatio and Calleigh. Enjoy!
"Calleigh, when I get outta here, do you want to come over to my place for dinner sometime?"
"Are you cookin'?"
"If you like."
"Then count me in. I love good home-cooked food."
When Calleigh went home that night, all she could think about was her upcoming dinner with Horatio. She wondered what he would make. Because she was so preoccupied with thoughts of Horatio, Calleigh didn't notice that her front door was standing ajar. Calleigh just simply walked in without a clue as to what was going on. She deposited her purse on her dining room table and proceeded up the steps to her room. "Hey, bitch. How's life treating you?" Calleigh spun around to see Hagen's best friend and Yelina's ex-boyfriend standing next to her closet. "What are you doing here, Stetler?"
"Your precious boyfriend put Hagen in jail. I'm here to get revenge. I almost got it before, but unfortunately my bullet hit the wrong target and didn't even kill the one that it hit."
"You shot Horatio?"
"Yes. But since that first plan didn't work, I'm here to put my second plan to work."
"What do you think you're gonna do?"
"You'll soon find out, Calleigh. You'll soon find out." Calleigh turned to run, but Stetler, being closer to the door, stopped her. "Unh-unh-unh. Don't try to run. You'll only prolong your pain." Calleigh froze. Pain? What was he going to do to her? She couldn't pretend to be brave anymore. She was terrified beyond that point. Then she remembered what she had told Hagen. "Horatio's here. As long as he's here, no one will ever hurt me." Calleigh shivered. "That's right, blondie. Your beloved Horatio isn't here to protect you. And while he's not here, I'm gonna hurt you." Calleigh turned and ran to her window. She tried to open it, but Stetler pulled her away just as it started to slide open. Stetler threw Calleigh onto her bed. What is he going to do to me? Horatio! I really need you right now! I wish that I had never said that to Hagen. At first Calleigh struggled with Stetler, but when he ripped her shirt off of her despite all of her struggles, Calleigh gave up and forced herself to become numb. An hour later, Stetler was done. He simply finished and walked out of Calleigh's house. Calleigh went over what had happened in her head. She had been raped. Stetler had also taken out his knife and had cut the words "THIS ISN'T THE END" on her stomach. Those words were aimed at Horatio, which frightened Calleigh. Stetler used the knife to chop Calleigh's hair off to her neck. The next day she'd have to go to the beauticians and get her hair evened up. Stetler had started to cut off one of her fingers, but Calleigh kicked him in the groin area before he got very far. Not wanting that to happen again, Stetler gave up on dismembering Calleigh's hand. Then he decided that he was finished and left. Calleigh then went and took a shower. After she got out of the shower, Calleigh haphazardly threw on some clothes, ran downstairs, grabbed her purse and got into her Hummer. She put her keys into the ignition, but hesitated on deciding where she would go. It was nine o'clock, so that meant that visiting hours at the hospital were long over, but she didn't want to go to Eric or Alexx's house. Alexx would know what to do for the cuts, but she couldn't provide the sense of safety that Calleigh needed. Eric would treat her as a guest, but seeing as how he was strong, Calleigh would feel safe there. When Calleigh saw Stetler, she just started the engine and drove off, not knowing where she would go, just knowing that she wanted to be away. Before she knew it, Calleigh found herself in front of the hospital where Horatio was being treated. Might as well go in. What have I got to lose? As Calleigh headed up to Horatio's room, a nurse stopped her. "Where are you going? It's pass visiting hours."
"I know, but there's something important that I need to tell Horatio Caine. It's CSI business."
"Alright. Do you know how long it will take?"
"I'm afraid not. There's a lot of details so it may take awhile. Do you think that I could stay the night? That would insure that I got all of the information to him."
"Fine. Obviously you know hospital rules and seeing as how it's so important that you come even though you know visiting hours, I'll let you. You'd better not make me regret this."
"Ma'am, I assure that I will not be the cause of anything going awry."
"Good. I'll be up there with a bed as soon as possible." The nurse started to walk away. "Ma'am, actually, I was hoping that maybe I could spare you the trouble and share the hospital bed with Horatio. It's rather large and I could fit without doing any harm to him."
"I appreciate that. If anyone gives you any trouble about that, just tell them that Arleene told you it was fine. That'll shut 'em up quick."
"Alright. Thank you." Calleigh turned and walked to Horatio's room. What would he do when Calleigh told him about what Stetler did to her? Calleigh wanted to wait to find out, but knew if she did, Horatio's reaction would be much worse than if she had just told him straight out. Calleigh carefully scooted Horatio over and made room for herself. "Mmmmph. Calleigh? What are you doing here? It's after hours."
"I know, Handsome. Arleene told me that it would be fine. There's something that I have to tell you, but don't get overly angry. Okay?"
"That depends on what you tell me. By the way, why is your hair so short? It was so pretty when it was long." Calleigh couldn't hold it in anymore. She had failed to make herself numb. She told Horatio what had happened to her in between sobs. When she finished, she completely broke down and cried on Horatio's shoulder for half an hour. Horatio forced himself to not get too angry so that he could comfort Calleigh. Calleigh fell asleep with her head on Horatio's shoulder and her arms around his waist. Horatio resolved that when he got out of the hospital he would give Calleigh the best dinner she'd ever had, and then he'd go after Stetler himself. Horatio then fell asleep with his head on Calleigh's, one arm around her waist; the other on her shoulder.