Hey everyone! I'm back and finishing this one up! YAY! So sorry it took so long!

Thanks so much to KatieC!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Emily Taylor. So don't sue me.

Appendicitis chapter 4

Horatio shifted as he reached for his cell phone, which was vibrating annoyingly in his pocket.

He had promised Emily's mom he would stay with Emily after she had been chased out by an angry nurse at the end of visiting hours. The same angry nurse had tried to chase him out, but he had flashed his badge. That had made her stop.

He flipped open his phone.

"Caine," he answered.

Eric winced from his end of the line, Horatio sounded pinched and strained. He was on his way to the hospital now. Ryan had told him to go ahead, promising the paperwork would get finished from the latest case.

"Hey H. How is she?"

Horatio shifted and stared quietly as Emily's still-sleeping form.

"She hasn't regained consciousness. There was some sort of complication with the anesthesia. She's going to be alright, she'll just be out for a long time."

Eric sighed as he maneuvered through Miami traffic. "That stinks. Listen I'm on my way. Oh and Calleigh said to send you home."

Horatio sighed. "No arguments right?"

Eric grinned. "No arguments. See you when I get there."

Eric walked into the hospital room to find Horatio asleep, his head tipped back against the chair he was sitting in. He smiled as he went over and shook his boss' shoulder.

Horatio looked up, blinking a couple of times as he tried to focus.

"Oh. Hi, Eric."

Eric grinned.

"Go home, H."

Horatio nodded and stood up. He walked over to the door and paused, turning to look at Eric.

"You'll call if anything happens?"

"You bet."

Horatio nodded and walked out.

The drive home was thankfully short. He half-stumbled into the house. He removed his shoes by the front door and hung up his jacket. He walked to the kitchen. Calleigh was there, cooking something. Trust her to know he would be hungry, even this late at night. She turned and smiled at him.

"Hey, Handsome."

He only gave a tired grunt in response.

She grinned and set a plate of chicken alfredo pasta in front of him and gently pressed a fork into his hand.

Horatio suddenly realized just how hungry he was and began chowing down on his side of the breakfast bar.

Calleigh calmly moved around the counter and ate quietly, keeping one eye on her husband, who had already nearly finished his pasta.

She watched his posture as he got up and rinsed out his bowl in the sink. His shoulders were slumped forward in a somewhat defeated stance. His head was bent and he was half-leaning on the tall counter. She wasn't surprised, he had had to deal with a lot of stress lately, and she knew he had barely slept the last few days because of work.

She watched him carefully set the dishes in the dishwasher and close it as he slowly straightened up.

She walked over to him and grabbed his hand, her calm green eyes beckoning him to follow.

He didn't resist.

Calleigh smiled as she changed into her pajamas. She could hear Horatio struggling with his own clothes next to her. She repressed the urge to laugh, he really was quite funny when he was this tired.

She turned to find him crawling into bed, pulling the covers over his bare shoulders.

She smiled as she slid into the bed next to him. She rolled over to turn off her light and was just settling into her pillows when she heard Horatio's voice.

"Calleigh," he was whispering. "I love you."

She smiled as she scooted closer to him, allowing him to wrap his arms around her.

She snuggled into his chest, feeling the strength of his warm embrace.

"I love you too."

Eric sighed as he stared at Emily, who was still sleeping.

It was nearly six in the morning, and Emily had barely stirred all night. He had spoken with a nightshift doctor who had informed him that Emily might be out for a while. He had slept after that, until now.

He had woken up when he had thought he had heard movement from the bed. Now he was sure he had been hallucinating. Emily was lying as still as she had been.

And then he saw it, the unmistakable movement of a finger.

He moved closer and grabbed Emily's hand.

"Can you hear me, Emily?"

Emily squeezed his hand and shifted slightly.

"Come on. Open your eyes." Eric pleaded.

Emily's eyelashes fluttered for a moment. Her eyes opened to a mere slit as she blinked, trying to focus. Her green eyes finally came to rest on Eric.

"Wha…"

Eric smiled and spooned some crushed ice into her mouth.

Emily swallowed and moaned, her hands feebly reaching for her stomach.

"Hurts…" She mumbled.

Eric pressed the call button. Within 20 minutes a nurse had outfitted Emily with a morphine drip. They hadn't put her on any medication after her surgery because of the anesthesia complications.

Emily was asleep again, relaxed against the pillows. Eric smiled as he watched her. He knew she would be all right.