A/N: Hold on tight, guys… for the last scene. Thanks for the reviews! I love ya ;) See, Mel, I'm keeping my end of the deal. grin

Chapter 5: Color the silence

"True love is like the sea; we can see where it begins, but rarely where it ends." -unknown

When Susie arrived to pick Madison up, Ray was showing his half-sister how to ride his skateboard in the parking lot beneath the building. He held on to her hand, telling her what to do. When Susie got out of her parked car, Madison was eager to show her mom what Ray had taught her.

"Look, mommy," she pushed off the ground with one foot, the other firmly in place on the board and, for a brief moment, she placed both feet on the board and steered it in the right direction.

"Hey, she's doing it by herself," Ray smiled, proudly.

Susie applauded, walking in their direction from where she had parked. "That's great, but, sweetie, it's time to go home." She looked at the boy, "Hi Ray, how are you?"

"Okay," Ray Jr. replied, "My mom's inside with Calleigh."

"Yeah, I noticed her car there." Susie had parked not far from it.

"Can we stay a while longer?" Madison pleaded.

"No Maddie, we're going home." She made her way over to the door leading to the elevator. "I'm just going to say goodbye to Calleigh and then we're leaving."

"Oh, okaaay," Madison replied with disappointment.

Susie used her key to unlock the door and used the elevator to get to Calleigh's floor. Exiting the elevator, she walked passed the locked off stairwell leading down to the pool, reaching her destination. She knocked three times then waited.

"Hey," Calleigh smiled, pulling the door open.

"Hi," Susie smiled back.

"Hi Susie," Yelina peaked her head out from around the wall separating the living room to the entrance and got up to join them at the door.

"Hi," Susie repeated for Yelina this time who was, she noticed, carrying Darian. "Sorry to intrude, I just came up to make sure you know I picked up Madison. Thanks for taking care of her."

"No problem."

Susie started to leave, but stopped, saying, "Oh, I wanted to tell you, Cal – They've switched my day off at work with this other girl so I have tomorrow off instead. I can still take Darian off your hands tomorrow, if you'd like."

"Are you sure it's no bother?" Calleigh hesitated.

"Positive. Drop him off whenever. I'll be home."

"Okay, thanks." Calleigh smiled and Susie nodded and left.

Calleigh closed the door and her and Yelina went back to the couch to continue their conversation.

"So, as I was saying, he's been acting strange lately," Calleigh picked up where they left off, having sat comfortably with her guest.

"Well, from what I know about Horatio, he waits until the time is right to do anything. I'm sure when he feels he's ready, he'll open up to you. Don't you think so?"

"Yeah, you're right. I know he will." Calleigh smiled, shaking her head, "I can't believe, after all this time, I can't figure out what's wrong."

"The man's a mystery, Calleigh. You know something's wrong – you picked up on that much. I work with him everyday and hadn't even noticed. We all have our secrets, but, trust me, you're his wife, you know him best." Yelina looked down at Darian in her arms. "It's strange. He reminds me of Raymond in many ways." Calleigh bit her lip at the thought. Yelina continued, "they were very different, but alike in certain ways."

"From what I know of Raymond, he was a good man."

"He was. I think it's the drugs that changed him. He reached a point where he wasn't undercover anymore and the role he played suddenly became a reality. At least, that's what I tell myself and that's what I told Ray Jr."

"How's Ray doing in school?"

Darian whimpered in Yelina's arms.

"He's doing alright." Yelina answered and tried to soothe a fussing Darian. "Shh, shh."

"Oh, here," Calleigh extended her arms. "I think he needs a diaper change."

"Mom." Ray Jr. startled the two women and they both froze and turned their head in the boy's direction.

"Ray, how long have you been standing there?" Yelina asked, handing Calleigh her son.

"Uh, not long." Skateboard in one hand, he scratched the back of his head with the other, "I just got here. Maddie's gone. Are we going to wait some more for Horatio? I can see him another time…"

"Yeah, I guess he wasn't exaggerating about his workload." Yelina eyed Calleigh.

"I'll be right back." Calleigh left to change Darian.

When she came back, Ray was petting Ella and Yelina rose from the couch. "We're going to take off, Calleigh. Tell Horatio we'll think of something to do some other time with Ray."

"Okay. Well, it was nice of you to come."

"It was nice of you to have us over for supper. We'll have to try it the other way around sometime." Yelina sauntered towards the door.

"Yeah, I'm sure you're a much better cook than I am," Calleigh smiled, walking behind her.

"Mm, I'm not so sure," Yelina retorted, happily.

"Mom makes good Tamales," Ray commented, walking passed her and opening the door. "I like your Pizza better, though, Calleigh."

"Well, yeah, considering I ordered it."

The two women laughed.

"Too bad I don't remember much about cooking with my mom as a little girl because I would have made you try some Cajun cuisine. Pecan pie is about the only thing I remember how to make ."

"I'd love to try some."

"Okay," Calleigh held the door as Yelina stepped out.

"Take care, Calleigh."

"I will." She nodded. "Bye Ray," Calleigh said loud enough for him to hear. She heard a muffled bye from down the hall as he continued to walk away.

Yelina rolled her eyes, "Kids."

Calleigh smiled, stroking Darian's head, rocking him from side to side.

"Well, bye." Yelina left.

Horatio carefully entered his bedroom, expecting to find a sleeping Calleigh. Keeping his footfalls light, he made it to his side of the bed without waking her. It was late, or early, depending on how you looked at it. The case had gone on very late into the night and Horatio wasn't about to leave it unfinished. Not that his family wasn't important, but the victim's family needed him more.

He sat on the edge of the bed and undressed in the dark. Calleigh felt his gentle movements, but more so, smelled his cologne, and said groggily, "I didn't hear you get in."

Horatio removed his shirt and turned, "I tried my best not to disturb you." The tension when he had left for work was gone. They were back to being their happy normal selves again. For now. He raised an eyebrow, "what gave me away?" He hadn't turned on any lights, easily feeling his way through his home.

"I knew it was you," she said softly. The cologne had been a gift from her and he wore it as often as he could to please her. The fragrance with spiced notes of ginger and black pepper mixed with Horatio's unique scent was sublime. It certainly sent Calleigh over the edge.

Using his arms as leverage, he moved in closer to kiss her. He loved to experiment how a lover's lips always knew their way to its other half even in pitch black.

"Horatio, careful!" she sounded alarmed, so he instantly moved back.

"What?" he asked, bewildered. Initial surprise dispersed, he gently inquired, "why?"

Calleigh took his hand and placed it on the sleeping infant at her side.

"I wouldn't have guessed that there was someone else in our bed-" Horatio fought to keep his voice steady, but Calleigh distinctly uncovered the smile in his speech.

She laughed softly, moving to carry Darian into his crib.

"Calleigh," he held her back with his calm but firm tone, "I wouldn't mind holding him for a while-"

She took the small diaper clad boy in her arms and waited until Horatio was settled between the sheets before giving him the baby.

Horatio sunk back into bed with Darian. The baby stirred a bit from being moved around, but as soon as Horatio held him on his chest, the little boy was lulled back to sleep by the rhythmic beating of his father's heart.

Calleigh snuggled next to her husband, placing her head on his shoulder.

"You okay?" she asked. Horatio couldn't see her eyes, but felt her gaze on him. She never was the type to leave things unsaid, undone and, although he was much the same, this thing he kept from her, he wanted to keep it that way for as long as he could.

"Yeah. Just a little tired." He eased into the subject, knowing sooner was better than later, "I was thinking I could take Friday and Monday off and we could go on a little trip."

Calleigh, thoroughly interested, waited before soliciting what he had in mind and, embraced her new role as a mother asking, "What about Darian?"

"We can bring him along. I thought we'd take Ray, too and give Yelina a break."

"Hang on there, mister," she sat up, "where exactly are you taking us?"

"Disney World."

"I beg your pardon?" She had at least tried to hold back her surprise. "Don't you think Darian is a little young to-"

"I'm not getting any younger…"

She frowned, at first. Then, assessed the issue; they had been over this before. "I know that, but I mean, what brought this on?" She really wanted to know what was up with him.

"I just want to get away for a few days." He looked down at his son.

"And, why exactly?" He could almost see her eyes tightening.

This was the driven Horatio we were talking about… why was he taking days off from work when there wasn't any reason to? Calleigh was starting to get upset.

He wanted to say the right thing and tell her it was to be with his family, but that wasn't it and she'd see right through it. After all, she could read him like a book.

His felt his cheek twitch and was thankful for the obscurity. "I'm not retiring, Calleigh. Although…"

"Don't even think it, Horatio," she interrupted. Something was wrong and she couldn't stand by and watch him throw away his career so easily. What had happened to make him say something like that? Why would he want to retire, she wondered. Was living with her and working with her going to be too much all of a sudden? They had worked and lived together while she was pregnant with Darian…

"What's up with you?" Calleigh questioned.

He sighed. "Being a father has changed me. Has changed my view on life. You have to live every moment to the fullest…" He continued talking, but she wouldn't hear it.

Tired, feeling like she wasn't listening, he closed off and fell silent. They both knew he was lying to her face.

Damn you, Horatio Caine, she thought as she rolled over, turning her back on him. Don't you try to hide anything from me. I'm a CSI and I'm your wife. Horatio listened to their fast breathing in the stillness of the room, glancing over at her, knowing what she had silently said by turning away.

She didn't know that it was because he was slowly brushing off the responsibility of her, not wanting it any longer. She didn't know that he'd feel ashamed if he became that kind of man- a man that would stop his wife from doing her job because he worried about her safety now more than ever especially for that young child still dependant of her care. The only answer was to quit and not stand in the way of her doing her job. He trusted Eric and Speed to take care of her at work. He didn't trust himself- if someone ever pulled a gun on her or threatened her life in any way, he was afraid to even think what that would make him do, how he'd react. He could kill. Kill with his bare hands. He came to understand the fine line between love and hate.

Horatio held his son against his chest as he rose to go rest him down in his crib. He was afraid that he'd end up hurting the child in his sleep and he didn't exactly approve of the concept of sleeping with his kid anyway - though, he didn't mind Calleigh keeping Darian, like this with her, until he got home.

He quietly returned to bed, turning on his side to face Calleigh's back. He wanted to touch her, to place a hand on her shoulder – anything, something – but he knew she'd shrug him off.

TBC…