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Chapter 21

"Samantha honey?"

Samantha snapped out of her thoughts when she realized her mother was calling her name. "Yes mom?"

Samantha's mother and father had flown down to Miami on the first flight they could book. Samantha had insisted they didn't need to rush down to Miami, but they could tell by the look in her eyes when they arrived just how much Samantha needed them there with her.

"I asked if you wanted to grab some breakfast?" Deb repeated, looking worriedly at her daughter.

"I'm not really hungry." Samantha whispered softly, turning away from her mother and staring at the spot on the wall she'd been focusing on for the better part of an hour. She felt her mother's hand on her shoulder and closed her eyes, fighting back the tears.

"You need to eat something, Samantha. If not for you… for the baby."

Samantha nodded, absently running her hands over her belly. "I know." She paused a moment before turning to face her mother. "Why hasn't he woken up yet?"

"I don't know honey."

"The doctor told me he was going to be fine."

"And he will be."

Samantha's lower lip trembled. "What if he's not?" She whimpered, feeling a tear slide down her cheek. Samantha allowed herself to be wrapped into a tight hug by her mother. "What if he's not?" Samantha repeated, her voice muffled.

"You'll keep on living… one day at a time."

"Samantha?" Don's voice called out from the open doorway to the waiting room. "They caught the guy that shot Horatio."

Cold fury shot through Samantha. "Where is he?"

Don sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "He's at MDPD being interrogated. Listen Sammy… Calleigh, Eric, AND Ryan all told me that if they catch you anywhere near the building they are going to physically haul you off the premises. And I'll help them. You don't need to be there."

Samantha sighed, fighting down the fury inside her to remember the most important thing was being there when Horatio woke up. "I want to get back to Horatio…" Samantha said quietly, rising to her feet and leaving her mother and father in the waiting room. Don and Deb exchanged glances and allowed their daughter her privacy.

"Wake up soon, Horatio." Don said quietly. "Wake up soon."

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Just after twenty-four hours of being shot, Horatio woke up. As his mind fought through the drug-induced haze, he recognized a voice coming through the darkness. As the voice became clearer, he realized they were singing. He smiled softly. His beautiful wife was singing.

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the night and the empty skies my love
To the night and the empty skies

The first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth turn in my hand
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command my love
That was there at my command

The first time ever I lay with you
And felt your heart beat close to mine
I thought our joy would fill the earth
And would last 'till the end of time my love
And would last 'till the end of time

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the night and the empty skies my love
To the night and the empty skies

Horatio smiled softly, trying hard to open his tired eyes. Though his mind was screaming to wake up, his body was shutting down again telling him he needed to rest. Feeling himself slip back into unconsciousness, he squeezed Samantha's hand.

Samantha's head shot up and her eyes frantically searched his face. The smile was still there. She hadn't imagined it. Horatio had squeezed her hand to let her know he was all right. "Horatio?" She waited a moment. "I don't know if you can hear me, Horatio… but I love you." She gently pushed a lock of red hair off his forehead. "I love you… please come back to me soon." She glanced down at her swollen abdomen. "Come back to us."

For the second time that evening, Horatio squeezed her hand.

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When Samantha re-entered the waiting room to tell her parents the good news, she was surprised to find it empty. She frowned as she heard raised voices coming from the lobby and quickly walked out of the waiting room to investigate.

"I have the right to see him!" A woman's voice yelled indignantly.

It didn't take Samantha more than a moment to recognized the voice. Horatio's ex had come calling.

"I'm sorry but only family are allowed." A nurse with graying brown hair said calmly.

"I'm his ex-wife… that still makes me family!" Elizabeth yelled back.

"She can see him." Samantha said softly, catching Elizabeth's shocked expression. "I don't know why you're here, Elizabeth, or why you think Horatio would want you here. But if you want to see him, you can."

Dumfounded, Elizabeth stuttered. "T—thanks."

"Room 419." Samantha said softly as Elizabeth brushed past her.

Samantha's mother shook her head disapprovingly. "Why would you let her see him after the fight you had?"

Samantha sighed. "I'm letting her see him because of the fight we had. After tonight, I won't think about her again." Samantha smiled softly. "He squeezed my hand mom. I was holding his hand singing… and he squeezed my hand. Twice. He's trying to come back to us."

Samantha's mother and father came forward to hug her warmly. Her father kissed Samantha's head softly. "I'm so happy to hear that honey… I can't stand seeing my baby girl hurting." He smiled down at her. "I knew you loved him the first time I saw you together that day in Minneapolis." He paused a moment before adding, "I knew he loved you too."

Samantha smiled as her eyes filled up with tears. "I love him so much…"

"Samantha?" Elizabeth's voice broke into the tender moment.

Samantha turned. "Yes?"

"Horatio's awake. He's asking for you."

Samantha fought down the wave of fury that ripped through her at the thought of Elizabeth being the one there when Horatio woke up. But that didn't matter now. Her Horatio was asking for her. "Thank you, Elizabeth." Samantha hugged her mother and father again briefly before rushing off towards Horatio's room.

Horatio almost broke down crying when his wife came into the room. Instead he opened his arms and smiled as Samantha rushed towards him and came into his arms. She was careful not to hurt her fragile husband, but she still clung desperately to him as she cried her relief into his shoulder. For several minutes Horatio held her while she cried. Ignoring the pain in his chest Horatio inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of his perfect wife.

Finally, Samantha pulled back her tear-streaked face. Horatio reached up and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I'm so sorry…"

Horatio shook his head, effectively stopping Samantha from speaking further. "There's no reason to apologize."

Samantha sighed and wiped her nose with her sleeve. "Yes there is… if we hadn't fought you never would have…"

"…Samantha, please. Please don't." Horatio pleaded. "I won't have you blaming yourself for this."

"I behaved like a moron."

Horatio smiled softly. "Yes you did… but I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel good to see Elizabeth sprawled out on the floor like that." Samantha let out a short laugh and allowed Horatio to continue. "All the same… I don't like airing our personal laundry out at the lab."

Samantha sighed. "I know… I'm sorry. I need to change that about myself. I'm too hot headed."

Horatio shook his head. "Don't change anything about yourself. Don't ever change. I love you just the way you are… hot head and all." Samantha watched mesmerized as Horatio let his hand trail down to her abdomen, gently caressing it as his eyes filled with tears. "And how's my little one?" He whispered softly to Samantha's belly. "Mommy and daddy are always going to be here for you, little one." He turned his eyes back to Samantha's. "Always." He repeated firmly.

Samantha promptly burst out into tears.