A/N: To my loyal and terrific readers. ;)

Chapter 9: Just a matter of time

Freshly showered, Horatio strode down the hall towards the kitchen while securing his holster on his hip.

"Hi," Calleigh said, crossing his path and stopping to kiss him before continuing on her way. Having been in the shower earlier herself, she smelled like her shower gel, Horatio noticed; the very alluring vanilla.

"Good morning," he reciprocated the affection, then walked off in the direction opposite to her.

Walking in the kitchen, he picked up his coffee mug from the counter, taking a first sip, hearing Calleigh talking on the phone. He was fairly certain that it was Susie.

Mug in hand, he walked back down the hall to find Calleigh getting dressed.

Feeling his gaze, she glanced back at him.

Barely holding back a smile, he inquired, "Mind if I watch?"

Calleigh turned back to her task, replying, "Sure, whatever."

Horatio jumped out of his skin for a mere second before, setting his coffee aside and walking up behind her, asking, "What's wrong?"

"Darian didn't sleep well last night. I've got to go get him before Susie is late for work and my car is still in the shop… I called yesterday and they said there was a problem of some sort-" Calleigh let out a frustrated sigh.

"Calleigh, slow down," he tried to slow her movements with his touch.

She ignored him, continued getting ready, and briskly entered the bathroom. At the sight of her masters, Ella who had been lapping the residual water in the shower fled the scene.

"Why didn't Susie drop him off and then head for work?" Horatio asked, following her.

"It's out of her way. She's dropping Madison off at school on her way to work." Calleigh hastily brushed her hair. She never displayed the slightest discomfort to her rapid brushing. Even Horatio winced at the speed she encountered tangles of still damp hair and worked through them.

"Careful, you'll hurt yourself." He tried to stop the damage she was doing to her hair by grabbing hold of her hand and the brush. "I'll go get Darian."

He stepped out into the hallway and left a bewildered Calleigh staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.

She stormed out after him, "what do you mean you're going to get him? You'll be late for work." She glanced at the time, "In fact, you're already late."

She caught the door as Horatio pulled it open and turned in the threshold.

"I don't want you worrying about it, okay?" he kissed her and realized how tense she was. "I'll be back in ten."

"Horatio—" she stood outside of their condo, but Horatio just kept walking waving a hand over his shoulder as if to say he was deliberately ignoring her.

Calleigh huffed and went back inside. I swear to God, if he doesn't tell me what's going on with him soon, I'll just have to squeeze it out of him, she thought. She knew it has something to do with his job. How long was she going to be kept in the dark?

Horatio held Darian up, "here, go see Mommy," he handed him to Calleigh.

"Hey sweetheart," she cuddled Darian. "Mommy missed you."

Shortly after, Calleigh's attention went back to Horatio and her eyes met his in complete understanding; they were pretending that everything was fine - and most of the time they were – but tension was building no matter how hard they tried to disintegrate it with love.

Losing strength to strike Horatio again and attempt to hold her ground longer than she had with her previous tries, she gave in and wrapped her free arm around his body. Burying her face in his shirt collar, she closed her eyes as tightly as she could, forcing herself to cry inwardly.

"Go-" she pulled back, holding Darian against her.

There was so much sadness in his eyes.

Not wanting to disclose anything until absolutely necessary, he dropped his gaze.

"I love you," his voice nearly failed him.

She nodded and replied almost inaudibly, "just go."

And, she shut the door on him. Back against the door, she waited wondering if he'd fess up and say it through the door, but he stayed there for a moment, then slowly walked away.

"Hello."

"Hi Calleigh, is uncle Horatio there?" the young boy's voice, she recognized, was Ray's.

"No, I'm sorry, Ray, he's still at work."

"Oh."

There was a short silence.

"Do you want me to leave him a message?" Calleigh scrambled for a piece of paper, if needed.

"Yeah, uh, just tell him to call me back. I need to talk to him."

She really needed to talk to him, too. Actually, she rectified, Horatio needed to talk to her.

"Okay. I'll be sure to let him know."

"Thanks, aunt Calleigh."

"No problem," she hung up the phone. Irritated, she ran a hand through her hair. Where was he?

It was late in the evening when Horatio got home. Obstinately, she hadn't called him, but had stayed in the living room waiting for him – no matter how tired she felt.

"Horatio, is that you?" she asked.

"Yeah, it's me," Horatio announced in a subdued way because he wasn't sure if Darian was asleep yet or not and their last parting hadn't been peaceful. He walked into the living room to find Calleigh sitting down holding Darian.

"Hey," she greeted him with forlorn.

He wavered a bit on his feet wondering if still stood by her actions. He wouldn't approach if there were any indications that he might be rejected.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

"You have absolutely nothing to be sorry about. You deserve so much more than this, Cal."

"Just tell me."

"I can't," he looked to his feet. "I don't want to hurt you."

You're already hurting me, she thought.

"Come here," she requested.

He went around the table and slumped back in the couch next to her, head falling back against the back of the sofa. After a moment, he turned his head towards her, his tired eyes telling her he was beat. By the rise and fall of his chest, though, she could tell he was starting to relax. With two fingers, she brushed back a rebel lock of red hair drooping over his forehead. "How was your day?"

He let out a deep sigh. He really was exhausted, but he loved his job. For him to be in charge really amplified his confidence and his critical, practical nature flourished from it.

Thinking ahead, and wanting her to firmly believe his job was part of the worries he carried, he answered, "It was okay."

The 'okay' attitude was thinning out, at any rate, and he was starting to dread going to work in the morning, knowing it would soon be over; that every day brought him closer to resignation and the triumph of his personal feelings against it.

"Are you going to elaborate or do I have to pry it out of you?"

"I don't feel like talking about it, Calleigh."

"Okay, well, can you watch Darian for me?"

"Yeah," he took the small child.

"Can I have the keys?"

He handed them to her without hesitation, but asked, "Where are you off to?"

"Grocery store – there's barely anything to eat in the house and I need to buy some provisions for the trip. That is, if we're still going…"

Horatio nodded, "I've made reservations to stay at the resort." She was right; they needed to get some food. She was always right. Where would he be without her?

"I won't be gone long." She reached for the doorknob. "There's some formula in the fridge if he gets fussy."

"Okay. See you later," he said, rubbing his son's back.

She left and was back a minute later.

"I almost forgot… Ray called. He needed to talk to you. It's kinda late, though, so you probably should call him tomorrow when he gets back from school."

Horatio nodded, "yeah."

"Okay. I'm off," she walked out.

Calleigh came back home to find Horatio, bare-chested, snoozing in his leather armchair with Darian lying against him on a towel. 'His' chair because Calleigh never sat in it and it looked like he had owned it forever; the leather was worn and even torn in certain areas.

She dropped the two bags she carried and leaned over Horatio's flaccid frame to kiss his forehead. His face reacted to the touch - brow creasing and eyes coming open.

"Hey, sleepy," she said softly.

"Calleigh," he wiped the sleep from his eyes and started to get up.

She held him down, "You're staying right where you are – I'm perfectly capable of bringing the bags up myself. I'm glad you got Darian to sleep… I seriously thought we'd need to take him for a drive to make him fall asleep."

"Mmm."

"I'm glad you're getting some rest too."

"Well, it wasn't my intention to fall asleep… I was just hoping it might make it go away."

Calleigh frowned, "Make what go away?"

Horatio looked to the floor; his words had betrayed him. He had no choice but to explain. "My stomach ache. It's nothing."

"Have you been hurting long?"

"It's alright, Calleigh. I took Antacid when you left for the store… I didn't want to worry you. I'm fine."

"Want me to fix you something to eat? Maybe you're hungry and don't realize it."

"No, I'll be fine."

"You sure? I'll get you some water, at least."

There was no stopping the stubborn blonde. She rushed in the kitchen and came back with a glass of water. "Here you go."

"Thanks, pumpkin," he gave her a faint smile and took a few gulps of water.

"Don't mention it. I'll go put the groceries that need refrigeration away and come back to be with you after, okay?"

"As opposed to what you may be thinking, I ate something for dinner and I'm fairly certain this is nothing. Cal, really," he said with earnest eyes, "I'm okay."

She touched his forehead with the back of her hand. "Yes, I know you are," she said as if she were talking to someone younger than her.

After having sorted through the groceries, Calleigh came to take Darian from Horatio and gently carried the little boy to his crib. She came back, moments later, to find Horatio sprawled out on the couch, this time, eyes closed, hand holding his head.

She quietly approached him, touching his arm, "Are you okay, honey?"

She kneeled beside him and ran a hand through his soft hair. He opened his eyes, humming affirmatively, but she wouldn't take that as an answer.

Calleigh sat by him on the edge of the couch and he closed his eyes. She started rubbing his stomach in hopes of making him feel better, all the while watching his eyes move in response under his eyelids. After a short while, he placed his hand on hers, stilling her massage.

"You don't have to do this."

"I know," she answered truthfully, "I want to."

"You don't need to take care of me. I'm supposed to take care of you."

"Oh, is that what you think?" she scoffed, "You think that when I need you, you're supposed to be there, but that when you need me, I'm supposed to just leave you on your own?"

"I've done just fine alone - all these years…"

"Horatio—"

"No," he smiled ruefully, knowing he needed to correct himself because he wasn't alone anymore. "I know. It's just –"

"Nothing, Horatio." She picked up his hand, placed it on his chest, and went back rubbing his belly again. Calmly she asked, "doesn't it feel better?"

Horatio nodded.

"Then stop being stubborn," she scolded him.

"Yes, ma'am," he dropped his gaze.

Calleigh grinned and lightly traced his trim abdomen.

"Calleigh," he warned. "Stop that," he chuckled.

Her smile simply got wider as she continued to tickle his sides.

His stomach stiffened and he winced.

She pulled back, guiltily, "did I hurt you?"

"No."

"I'm sorry."

Horatio shook his head, "you have got to stop apologizing."

With a slight decline of her head and a smile gently adorning her countenance, she muttered an okay.

"I promise you'll have a great time in Orlando."

Calleigh forced a bright smile. He was avoiding the problem.

TBC…