Stay With You

Chapter 12

Calleigh looked up from the her paper to see Horatio walking through the hall, his eyes fixed in one direction. She got up quickly and opened the door, feeling the intensity that wafted off of him. His gait was all business as he came to the elevator and waited for the lift to open.

" Hey there handsome," she whispered as she came up behind him.

" Calleigh..."

" I take it you've been to see Stetler."

" You know, sometimes I wonder just what it is about Rick? Do you know that he has started a file on everyone, including yourself?"

" Really? Why?"

" He says... He says that there is suspicious activities going on, and he wanted to catch it before it began to hinder the job."

"Suspicious activity? We have the best conviction record in all of Miami Dade, possibly the state. What's gotten into him?"

" I don't know, but I requested a meeting with the Commander for this afternoon. I want to get this all in the open, maybe he can reign in Rick," he said as he let out an exhausted breath.

Calleigh placed a gentle hand on the shoulder in the sling, and lightly smiled at him, " So Matt released you today?"

" Yes, but the sling has to stay on for another week. Speed's going to have to take the scenes until then," he returned with a tone of disappointment.

" Hey, look at it this way, at least you can come to the office," she said perkily. The elevator slid open and they both got in. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She reacted , letting a small laugh escape as he bent down to kiss her, " Lieutenant, you're not supposed to be fraternizing with your employees."

" Well some one should've told me about seven years ago," he replied as he inched closer to her face, his clear blue eyes inches from her sparkling green eyes. He found refuge in them just like he had always been able to. He kissed her softly as the lift came to a close and the doors slid open. Parting, he smiled at her lightly, and stepped off of the elevator, glancing behind him, " I'm just going to go to the office for a moment. If you see Speed, tell him to come and see me."

" Will do, Horatio. Take it easy," Calleigh said as the door closed. She leaned back on to the wall of the elevator, feeling satisfied. When the doors opened to the atrium, Calleigh saw Tim as he strode through the door. She smiled inwardly and walked to meet him. There was something about him that struck Calleigh. Just the same, she kept the smile .

" So, where have you been? You know, lunch ended about fifteen minutes ago," she teased.

" I'm sorry, but something required my attention," he returned uneasily.

" How is she?"

" How'd did you know?"

" Our daughter talks when she is upset, Tim. So?"

" So she's fine, she's coming home this afternoon."

" Is that all?"

" What's with the twenty questions?"

" I know when something is bothering you, Tim. I just wanted to know if there is anything that I could do?"

Tim shifted his weight awkwardly and adverted his eyes. The drive from the hospital was nothing if unnerving, he thinking about how Sam's illness would change things. It wouldn't change how he felt about her though. If anything, it solidified his love for her, and she needed him more than ever, which in a way, gave him a nervous feeling.

" She's got a rare heart disease, Wolfe Parkinsons White disease. It's hereditary, apparently, her grandmother had it, and it skipped her mother, so she got it."

" What does this mean for the baby?"

Tim looked at her with surprise , he hadn't told anyone about Sam being pregnant, not even Sascha. How could she possibly know?

" Honestly, Tim, I don't know why you discount our daughter," Calleigh intoned with her accent. She saw the scowl that was surfacing on his face and decided against chiding him any more, "She saw the napkin."

He nodded then dropped his head, " The doctor prescribed some medicine for her that will be safe for the baby. The main issue is for her to remain calm."

" Sounds like she got the same tag line I got from my doctor," Calleigh stated as she touched her stomach.

" Is there something wrong?"

" Just that my blood pressure is elevated. She wants me to take it easy. Let's see if the twins will understand that."

Tim smirked at the comment and then started to walk , saying, " Oh, I almost forgot. I want you to come to the wedding."

Calleigh stopped walking and stared at him as if he was painted neon green, "Wait, 'I almost forgot?' How is that a wedding invitation?"

" Well, Calleigh, I just said..."

" Alright I heard you. So is this some prank or something?"

"No, I really want you to be there." Tim sighed.

"And you're serious? What about Sam?"

"She's the one who suggested it. She says that she realizes how much apart of my life you are and she wants me to be able to share this with those I love."

"How grown up of her," Calleigh stated almost sarcastically as she started walking again. " If it is okay, then I don't see why not."

" Good," Tim said as he got to the elevator. " if anyone needs me, I'll be in the morgue."

" Oh, I forgot," Calleigh retorted as she held the elevator ,smiling sweetly, " Horatio said that he wanted to see you in his office."

" Cute. When did he get back?"

" Just today. He's been released, but you are still going to have to take the scenes, until at least next week."

Tim sighed a breath of relief as she let go of the door. One thing off of his chest.

" That's great news Calleigh. See ya later." When he was alone in the elevator, he checked his watch. He would go talk to Horatio, finish some reports and then head over to the hospital to pick up Sam. He knew that just because he was going to be busy, didn't mean that he wasn't going to be thinking of her. She would never be far from his mind.

S/S

Tim knocked on the door of the room before pushing it , hearing silence, then the sound of gagging. His adrenaline kicked in and he pushed the door open quickly to see Sam kneeling at the toilet. She glanced up to see him , and tried to put on a happy face, but she knew that she was failing.

"Why is it that you can catch me at the rarest moments?" Sam said humorously as she wiped her mouth with a damp cloth.

Tim ignored her attempt to make the situation lighter, and moved to her with a mixture of concern and irritability written on his face , "Are you okay?"

" I'm fine, Tim. Really, it was just a sudden wave of nausea. I'm ready to go home," she said as she tried to stand up, teetering slowly while holding on to Tim. He caught her and she rested easily in his arms. It felt as if she was made to be there. She could smell the faint hints of his cologne that had worn off and her heart began to beat slightly faster.

His touch could be fatal to me, she thought as she mustered a smile. The hardened look that he was giving her , melted as he helped her to the bed.

" What are you thinking about?" Tim asked as he kept her gaze.

" How ready I am to be your wife."

" Oh, really?"

" Yeah ,really," she replied with a certain tone in her voice.

" Then , you wouldn't mind going to bed when you get home," he said as he kissed her on her forehead and moved to collect her things. He zipped up the bag and walked to the door to open it, feeling a sudden thud , as a pillow connected with the back of his head. He spun around with a smirk on his face, and dropped the bag, picking up the pillow simultaneously . " You are going to wish that you never did that."

" Yeah? Well come and get it," Sam said as she grabbed another pillow. Soon they were engaged in an all out pillow fight. Sam felt her chest tighten slightly as she swung, connecting with his head once more , just as the door creaked open.

" I swear, you two need to grow up,"Sascha said as she walked in. Tim dropped the pillow in mid swing and smiled at her, as she came to the foot of the bed. " I see you are feeling better, Sam."

"Yeah... I am," she said breathlessly. She saw Tim's demeanor change and she put a hand up to stop him. " I'm fine... I just ... just have to catch my breath."

They looked at her as the attack subsided and a small smile appeared on her face. Sascha gave her a tight hug as her father went to the door, and whispered in her ear, " There's a message waiting for you at home."

Sam looked at Sascha and saw the seriousness of the moment in her dark brown eyes.

"Anyone important?"

"He said his name was Martin..."

" Hey what are you ladies whispering about over there?" Tim said as he turned to face them. The silence in the room had provided unwelcomed tension.

Sam glanced to Sascha and then to Tim. She would not hold anything from him, she promised him that , " Sash says I have a message from Martin. I wonder what he wants?"

" I can think of a few things," Tim replied as he turned back to the door. It somewhat still stung that she had spent a night in another man's arms. But who was he to criticize? Hadn't he come a step too close to doing the same thing?

" Tim, no matter what he wants, he's not going to get it. I'm yours." Sam said as she got up and walked to him.

" I know."

" Then don't worry about it. I'll call him and let him know what the deal is, okay?" Sam asked as she lightly touched his arm.

Tim nodded and let his eyes find hers. There was truth and beauty in them. He took her in a strong embrace, prompting Sascha to roll her eyes in mock disgust.

"Alright, alright, alright already! I think that this can wait until we get home."

" Sascha..."

"I'm ready to leave this place. Hospitals give me the creeps."

" I can understand where she's coming from," Sam replied with a bright smile on her face.

"Well, since we are in agreement, shall we?" Tim said opening the door. Standing there in the hallway was an orderly with a wheelchair, waiting.

" I can walk perfectly fine," Sam said to him.

"Sorry, hospital policy," Tim returned sarcastically, motioning for her to sit. She started to protest, but thought better of it, sitting down.

"Alright, I'm ready," Sam said as she held on to the sides of the wheelchair. As the family left the room, Sam instantly felt her energy return. She was going to live her life to the fullest, she owed it to them.

Tbc...