Chapter 24

5 months later…

"Samantha!" Horatio exclaimed with alarm when his wife stepped off the elevator to the MDPD Crime Lab. He strode over to her quickly. "You're supposed to be on bed rest. What are you doing here?" He asked quietly, concern evident in his eyes.

Samantha smiled up at her husband. "Relax, Horatio. I just came by to pick up a few things… then I'm going home, I swear."

Horatio lowered his head, eyebrows rising while his hands fell to rest on his hips. "You could have called me… I would have brought you whatever you needed."

Samantha nodded. "I know you would have." She looked thoughtful a moment. "I seem to recall a certain handsome Lieutenant telling me once in his time of need that he didn't like feeling like an invalid. Well neither do I."

Horatio sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "A bullet to the chest pales in comparison to being over eight months pregnant with triplets, I'm sure."

Samantha shrugged. "I'll just get what I came for and leave. I promise to sleep for the rest of the afternoon."

Horatio nodded and pointed a finger at Samantha. "All right… but I'm driving you home."

"Yes sir!" Samantha tiptoed up to kiss her husband softly, not an easy task with her large protruding belly. Smiling up at her husband, she winked once and strode down the hall and away from Horatio.

Sighing and shaking his head softly, Horatio headed up to his office.

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Eric Delco walked the trek to the ballistics lab with one clear mission. To quote his boss directly, Delco was to "Fetch my wife and tell her it's time to go home." Eric chuckled. It still warmed his heart to see Samantha and Horatio together. Horatio was still the same old Horatio when it came to his determination for the job. But he was happier now, he had an extra spring in his step, and a few years appeared to have been taken off his face. No doubt about it, a Horatio in love was an amazing sight to behold.

Walking through the ballistic lab doors, Delco announced, "All right Sam… H says it's time to go---." His voice died in his throat as he took in the most horrifying sight his mind could imagine. Samantha was sprawled out on the lab floor with a pool of blood forming at the lower half of her body. "Oh my God…" Delco dropped to his knees beside Samantha. "Somebody call 911!" Delco yelled, turning his attention back to Samantha who moaned softly. Her eyes fluttered open.

"The babies…" She whispered softly, groaning as an intense wave of pain ripped through her body. "Horatio…" She whimpered. "Horatio…"

Ryan who had heard Eric's frantic cry popped his head around the corner. "Oh my God…" He flagged down a passing criminalist. "Call 911… tell them Samantha Caine has gone into labor and she's in trouble. Go now!" He yelled.

Eric snapped his head towards Ryan. "Go get H… NOW!"

Ryan took of running down and hall and up the stairs to Horatio's office. The door as always was open and Ryan didn't hesitate to fly through the opening and straight to his boss's desk.

Horatio looked up with alarm. "Ryan?"

"Samantha collapsed. I think she's gone into labor."

Horatio flew out from behind his desk. "Where is she?"

"Ballistics lab. Delco's with her and the ambulance is on its way."

Without another word, Horatio and Ryan ran to Samantha. Skidding around the corner, Horatio bolted through the ballistics lab doors and straight to his knees beside his wife. She was crying, but clearly relieved to see him there as she immediately reached up for Horatio. He held her hand tightly. "Horatio…I'm sorry… I shouldn't have left home… I'm sorry…"

Horatio shook his head. "Shh… don't apologize. At least here there was someone to find you…" He smiled down at her, bending over briefly to kiss her forehead. "You're going to be fine… the paramedics will be here soon and before you know it, you're going to have three beautiful babies to love."

Samantha cried and squeezed Horatio's hand. "I'm scared."

"I know, honey. I'm scared too." Horatio whispered softly. The paramedics came through the door, immediately tending to Samantha and loading her gently onto the stretcher. Samantha cried out when Horatio's hand slipped from her own. "I'm going with her." Horatio said firmly, taking Samantha's hand back in his own.

"Sir, we'll take good care of her. You can meet us at the hospital." One of the paramedics responded.

Horatio's expression hardened. "I... am going with her." He ground out dangerously.

The paramedics looked to one another, nodded briefly, and then allowed Horatio to walk alongside the stretcher as they wheeled Samantha towards the ambulance.

Calliegh and Alexx, who were previously occupied in autopsy, walked into the lobby in time to see the scene wheel by them. Ryan and Eric trailed along behind the stretcher, stopping beside Calleigh and Alexx.

"What's happening?" Calliegh asked softly. "Has Samantha gone into labor?"

Delco nodded. "Looks that way. She passed out on the lab floor. We don't know how long she was there, but she's alert and talking. Horatio said he'd call us from the hospital but… I think we're going to head over now. You coming?"

Calleigh and Alexx both nodded. "It's a slow day and our pagers are fully functioning. Let's be there for Horatio and Samantha"

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Horatio smiled down at his beautiful wife. "How's my brave girl?"

Samantha snorted. "How do you think?"

Horatio smiled, nodding his head. "I wish I could take the pain away."

Samantha's head fell back and she groaned as a contraction tore through her body. "I know you do…" She gasped.

"OK, Samantha…" The doctor called out. "We're going to deliver these babies now, all right?"

Horatio looked over with alarm. "She's delivering them naturally?"

The doctor nodded. "It's rare with multiple births, but from what we can tell, all the babies are in the proper positions. We are of course ready to perform the caesarian section if necessary, Mr. Caine." He turned his attention back to Samantha. "OK Samantha… one… two… three…push!"

Squeezing Horatio's hand so hard he was certain it had broken in several locations, Samantha cried out and pushed with all her might.

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Calleigh, Ryan, Alexx, Eric, and what appeared to be half the Miami-Dade Crime-Lab waited in the lobby for word regarding the Caine's new arrivals.

After a much-anticipated wait, Horatio Caine walked into the lobby wearing the widest grin anyone had ever seen on his face. He continued to beam as he announced, "Three healthy baby boys. Mom and babies are doing fine."

A collective cheer erupted in the lobby as well wishers came forward to pat Horatio on the back and offer hugs and handshakes of congratulations.

"Do you have names for them yet?" Calleigh asked.

Horatio nodded. "We do… but I have been asked not to divulge that information. Mom wants to introduce them properly when she looks a bit better." He laughed. "Her words exactly."

Calleigh smiled. "A girl always wants to look her best, Horatio. Even after delivering triplets!"

Horatio nodded. "You're right I'm sure. Now, if you will all excuse me, I'd like to get back to my wife and children." Horatio waved briefly and turned to return to Samantha when a voice caught his attention.

"H!" Eric yelled, watching Horatio turn. "We've got to know, H… are they a bunch of carrot tops?"

Horatio laughed and smiled. "Carrot tops all around, Eric." He chuckled and started walking back towards his wife and children. "Carrot tops all around."