A/N: Sorry for the long delay, guys. I started Uni last week and it's been hectic. I tried posting yesterday afternoon before work, but wouldn't let me. Please, forgive me! I'm going to do more writing this weekend because even though some parts are already done, it has to be stitched together. Anyway, here's a short chapter. Oh, and please don't kill me: the thing that's going on between Calleigh and Horatio will be explained soon. You know Calleigh's side a bit from the previous chapters, but it's Horatio you need to know about.

Chapter 4: One last beat

Horatio strode down the hallway, heading straight for the break room.

"Calleigh," he called, summoning her to turn in the chair where she sat at the table bottle-feeding Darian. She glanced his way.

Madison, sitting nearby, stood instantly and ran over to him.

"Horatio!" she exclaimed, hugging him with a huge smile on her face. "Look, I got stung by a mean bee." She showed him her finger.

Horatio, too engrossed in seeing Calleigh here, took a quick look at Madison's finger and lifted her in his arms as he made his way over to his wife.

"Claudia told me you were here. What are you doing here Everything okay" His furrowed brow, clearly displaying worry.

Calleigh stood with Darian, holding him upright on her shoulder, gently patting his back, saying, "We're fine, Horatio." She came closer to her man and stroked his forehead with a gentle hand, smoothing his features. He leaned in to kiss her and Madison covered her eyes, giggling.

Horatio, pulling back from Calleigh's kiss, tickled Madison's side with the hand that held her and she squirmed sideways, resting more fully on his chest in an attempt to flee his amusing onslaught.

Her head considerably close to his, he butted heads with her. "So," he inquired, "how did the mean bee get you"

Madison stuck her finger out looking at the now red dot as she recalled the events and Horatio listened intently.

"Hmm. You know what, Madison" He lowered his head slightly to catch her low gaze, "I think that the bee didn't mean to hurt you and that it simply likes sugar just like you." He smiled at her dubious look. "But, it still hurts, doesn't it"

Madison nodded, pouting.

Horatio took her small finger and kissed it. "There." She smiled and he mirrored it. "Better?"

Madison nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Alright, I'll get you ladies home-"

"And Darian." Madison corrected.

"And Darian," Horatio stated. "I've still got some work here to finish up." He put Madison down and fetched the diaper bag, carrying it out the door after his family.

He kept a hand on Calleigh's back as he spoke: "Did you get to see everyone?"

"Yeah, pretty much. Eric, Speed, Alexx, of course, Tyler then Valera."

"Good." He pulled the door for Calleigh and Madison, saying, "Yelina is going to stop by with Ray Jr. tonight. Is it okay with you?"

Madison spiked up at the idea of playing with Ray and expressed her enthusiasm.

"Yeah, it's no problem." Calleigh responded once outside. "Hey, listen, I'm going to come back here at the lab next week while Susie watches Darian for me."

Horatio nodded, leaning forward to catch Madison's hand, seeing a car pull out in the parking lot. "I know how much you miss being in your beloved gun lab," he told Calleigh.

They reached the Hummer and, while Madison hopped in the back, Calleigh settling Darian in his seat behind the front passenger's.

Horatio had placed the diaper bag in the trunk and came around. "Buckle up," he reminded Madison and jogged to the other side of the Hummer to open the door for Calleigh.

Calleigh smiled at his chivalrous ways.

"Oh, you're never going to guess who I saw today," Calleigh started as Horatio pulled out of CSI.

"And yet you make me guess." He kept a straight face and noticed, from the corner of his eye, that she was looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Kyson."

"Who" Horatio kept his focus on the road.

"Kyson. Kyson Mackenzie."

"Your prom date"

He remembered.

"Yeah." Calleigh kept her eye on him, surveying for a response.

There was none.

"I invited him for dinner…"

"Not tonight, I hope," he replied, "you'll have a lot of people over and I won't be there to help."

"No, I said I'd call him."

Horatio nodded and pulled into a gas station. "Hang on, a second."

Calleigh turned her head, checking up on Darian who had fallen asleep again.

Madison looked at her and then moved closer to Darian, stroking his cheek, "He sleeps too much."

Calleigh smiled, "He's growing. He needs to sleep a lot."

"Oh."

Calleigh eyes moved from Madison to Horatio. She followed him as he went in to pay for the gas and then sat back in her seat, thinking.

She was startled when the driver's door came open and Horatio got in. He turned the ignition and reached for his seatbelt. Once clicked on, he handed Madison what he had bought while paying for gas.

"Smarties!" Madison grinned, taking the box.

"Horatio, we're gonna have supper soon," Calleigh informed him.

He looked back at Madison. "Your aunt's right – not before supper, okay, Maddie?"

"Mmm hmm," the little girl retorted, looking over the box of candy.

Horatio drove off, getting back on the road and Calleigh touched his arm. "So, you don't mind if Kyson comes over and has dinner with us?"

"Of course, not. Why would I?"

She shook her head, "No reason."

"I'm looking forward to meeting him. Has he changed much?" Horatio asked, interested.

"Um, no I guess he hasn't that much – it's just that he's, well, older."

"Not the teenager you remember."

"Right." She suddenly felt the need to let him know her feelings. "I liked him a lot back then, but when I ran away from my parents, I also ran away from him." She stared out the window, "And, I've always wondered if I had made the right decision."

"You think he's still upset with you about that?"

"No. I know he isn't."

It dawned on him. "But you are."

Horatio stopped at a red light, looking ahead, refraining from looking at her.

Calleigh took his hand in hers. "Hey," she said softly, requesting his attention. "I'm here now. I love that I'm here."

He turned towards her, unable to retain the emotions that had been stirred within him, and tightened his hold on one of her hands. "I love you so much, Calleigh."

"Me too." She wondered what he was keeping from her, what he was holding back because she just knew he was. Something was happening between them and she wished they could talk about it and settle it right now.

But nothing was going to happen at that moment and they fell silent.

Madison suddenly broke the silence in the car. "Why do they call 'em Smarties Do they make you smart" Calleigh glanced back with a faint smile. Horatio looked at Madison in the rearview mirror, "Maybe. And, in any case, you don't need them."

Horatio pulled up in front of the apartment building and turned the Hummer's engine off. He helped Madison hop out and made his way over to Calleigh who was getting Darian out of the car seat. He kept his head low, but watched her even so, while fingering his badge.

She turned, with Darian in her arms, surprised to see him standing there.

"Are we okay?" he asked, gently.

She knew he had to get back to CSI thus, she didn't say what she wanted to say which was: I don't know - you tell me. Instead, she nodded.

He took her by the shoulders, bringing her closer, and kissed her forehead, wordlessly thanking her for her answer. He wanted to stay and tell her, but so much was left to do at work.

He slowly pulled back. "I'll try not to get home too late." He rubbed Darian's back.

She nodded once more and looked away.

"I've ah, I've gotta get the diaper bag out of the trunk."

"Let me get that," he said, moving away to bring action to his words.

He placed the bag down beside her on the walkway and took her hand to place it against his chest, "I'll see you when I get home."

"Okay," she said softly, and watched as he patted the top of Madison's head, saying, "Be a good girl," and slipped out of her reach.

"Horatio-" she called after him.

He stopped dead in his tracks, turning immediately.

"Nothing," she shook her head, "it's alright. I'll see you later."

TBC…