Chapter 22

"No! Absolutely not!" Samantha exclaimed as she pointed a threatening finger at her husband. "Two weeks. The doctor said you should stay home and rest for two weeks, Horatio. It hasn't even been a week and you want to go back to work? No! Absolutely not!"

"Anybody ever tell you how cute you look when you're angry?" Horatio responded with a smirk.

"Don't you try and sweet talk me, Mr. You are staying home!"

Horatio groaned and leaned back onto his fortress of cushions Samantha had set up for him on their bed. "I feel like an invalid."

"You are an invalid."

"Not funny." Horatio responded with a slight smirk still on his lips.

Samantha sighed and crossed her arms, slowly walking to the bed and sitting next to Horatio. Horatio peeked open one eye at his wife. "Horatio…" Samantha said softly. "Less than a week ago I thought I might have lost you forever. That damn stubbornness of yours is probably what kept you alive. But even you need to rest after something like that. For once in your life, BE an invalid and just relax!"

Horatio opened both eyes and raised a sarcastic eyebrow. "And I suppose when you deliver our child you'll stay home for as long as the doctor recommends?" He challenged.

Samantha smirked, knowing he had a point. "If I promise I will, you'll stay home and rest?"

"Yes." Horatio responded instantly. Sometimes the best course of action for two strong willed people was compromise.

Samantha nodded once. "All right then. If you stay home like the doctor says, I'll stay home the recommended time after the baby's born." She stuck out her hand. "Shake on it?"

Laughing, Horatio shook her hand. "You drive a hard bargain, Mrs. Caine."

Samantha smirked. "And don't you forget it. Now go to sleep!"

Horatio laughed and settled back into the bed, surprised to find himself drifting off to sleep rather quickly. Perhaps Samantha is on to something with this rest thing he thought just before he drifted off.

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"Hey, welcome back H!" Ryan called out as he noticed Horatio and Samantha step off the elevator.

Horatio smiled and nodded at Ryan, his hands going to his hips. "Thanks Ryan… good to be back."

Samantha smiled up at him. "I'm going to head right to ballistics… you going to be ok Mr. Invalid?"

Horatio blushed softly and lowered his voice for only Samantha's ears. "You didn't think I was such an invalid last night…"

Samantha's face turned scarlet as a wave of lust shot through her body. "Point taken… ummm… ok off to ballistics." And with a quick peck on his cheek, Samantha darted off towards the lab.

With a slight self-satisfied smirk plastered to his face, Horatio walked the trek to his office where a mound of exciting paperwork awaited him. While he was loathe to admit it, he was already feeling a bit sore and tired after being out and about for the first time in two weeks. Paperwork might be just the thing he needed.

The closure he and Samantha needed came three days ago when a full confession was finally drawn from Horatio's attacker. The sixteen year old gang member had panicked when Horatio had walked innocently around the corner that chilly Miami evening. Convinced Horatio had been out to bust him for the marijuana he had purchased not more than twenty minutes earlier, the gang member had shot because Horatio "looked like a cop." Unarmed and off duty, Horatio had been gunned down and nearly murdered simply for "looking like a cop." Luckily for Horatio, shooting a cop didn't bode well for the young man, especially not one so respected as Horatio Caine. The shooter was being tried as an adult, and he was most certainly going away for a very long time.

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"Sam… don't take this the wrong way but… for only 2 months along your pregnancy is really starting to show."

Samantha turned from her microscope to shoot Eric with a death glare that would make a convicted serial killer shrink with fear. "Eric Delco! I don't care how true it is… you just don't say that sort of thing to a woman! Ever!" She glared at him again, but wasn't able to prevent a teasing gleam from entering her eyes.

Eric saw the twinkle, but still looked pretty sheepish. "Sorry, Sam…" He cleared his throat and attempted to change the subject a bit. "Have you been in for your first ultrasound yet?"

Samantha shook her head. "No… with the last couple weeks and all I had to keep rescheduling. I'm heading over there after shift tonight."

Eric nodded. "Good luck."

Samantha raised an eyebrow at Eric. "Thanks Eric… now get back to work."

"Yes ma'am!" He responded smartly as he obeyed Samantha's order.

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"Mrs. Caine? Mrs. Caine?"

Samantha snapped out of her stupor and realized the doctor was speaking to her. She still couldn't believe what he'd told her. It wasn't possible. "Are you sure?"

"Quite sure, Mrs. Caine." He pointed to the monitor. "One. Two. Three. You're going to have triplets, Mrs. Caine. Congratulations." He smiled. "Do you want to go get your husband?"

Samantha nodded slowly. "Umm… yeah." Horatio had fallen asleep in the Hummer on the way from work to the hospital. Samantha didn't have the heart to wake him. "I'll… I'll just go tell him. Can I have that?" She pointed to the picture the doctor held of the three tiny specs growing inside her. Triplets. Dear god in heaven Horatio is going to have a heart attack Samantha thought worriedly.

"Of course." He handed the print out to Samantha. "My congratulations again, Mrs. Caine, to you and your husband." He smiled comfortingly. "I know this is a shock. Try not to worry, all right? We'll keep having you in for regular check ups so we can make sure things are progressing normally with your pregnancy. If you have any questions or concerns in between check ups, you call me ok?"

Samantha smiled and nodded. "Thank you very much doctor. Just umm… well make sure you have the shock paddles powered up in case I need to bring Horatio in after he has a heart attack in the car."

The doctor chuckled. "They'll be ready."

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Horatio awoke to the sensation of Samantha gently nudging his shoulder. He grumbled sleepily and rolled over in his seat, letting his head fall to rest against the window.

Samantha smiled softly, watching her husband mumble as he attempted to drift back to sleep. "Horatio… you can't sleep in the Hummer all night. Let's go inside."

Horatio groaned his objection but nodded slowly. Opening his eyes, Horatio smiled softly as his wife before opening the door and getting out of the vehicle.

Once inside, the fog in Horatio's sleep filled mind cleared enough for him to notice Samantha's restlessness. "Something wrong?" He asked softly, his eyebrows raising with concern.

Samantha's eyes snapped to Horatio's and she smiled shakily. "No… no nothing's wrong."

Horatio nodded softly. "Is this about the ultrasound?"

Samantha nodded in response. "Yes… Horatio… I think you'd better sit down for this."

Horatio sighed. "I'd rather stand. Please Samantha… you're starting to worry me. Just… just tell me you're all right? Tell me the baby is all right."

"Babies." Samantha whispered softly.

Horatio frowned in confusion. "What?"

"Not baby, Horatio. Babies."

Horatio's heart skipped a beat. "T—twins?" He stuttered.

Samantha shook her head. "No."

"Then what---."

"---Triplets." Samantha interrupted. "You're going to be the father of triplets." She said softly, feeling her eyes well up with happy tears.

Samantha could tell the exact moment when her words officially sunk into to Horatio's shocked mind. His eyes bugged open and he swallowed several times. It appeared as though he was trying to speak, but only small gasping noises managed to issue from his throat. Finally, he groped blindly for the coach and all but fell atop it. Only then was he able to speak. "Triplets?"

Samantha smiled and knelt before Horatio, taking his hands in hers. "Triplets…" She reached up with one hand and brushed a red curl off his forhead. "Those are some powerful swimmers you've got there…" She said with a smirk.

Horatio let out a short laugh. "I can't believe it. Triplets… that's… that's so wonderful." He swallowed hard, feeling hot tears prick behind his eyes. Concern registered suddenly in his eyes as he looked down at Samantha. "Are you going to be ok? Did the doctor say you'd be ok delivering triplets?"

Samantha nodded and smiled softly. "He gave me as much assurance as he could. Of course there's a risk involved with this many… but with regular check ups, we should be able to catch any problems if they surface." She was touched by the look of concern on her husbands face. "It will be fine Horatio… I will be fine."

Horatio smiled finally, bringing his wife's hand up to his lips and kissing it firmly. "I love you, Samantha."

Samantha beamed. "I love you, Horatio." She looked thoughtful a moment. "Do you think we'll be able to afford three children on our pitiful salaries?"

Horatio burst out laughing. "I think we'll manage my love." He smiled. "I think we'll manage."