Title: Life has it's reasons

Author:Chickee1

Rating: PG-13, language

Summary: Marisol has news for Horatio, but with obstacles in her way will she be able to tell him in time.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone from CSI Miami. I am only a fan who enjoys writing stories that take an interest in the show.

Authors Note: This is my take on what should happen after the episode 'Drive'. Spoilers included. I am a H/C fan, but H/M makes for an interesting story line. H/C later on...possibly.

"You can explain...explain how the second I walk out of here you telling the father of my baby that you love him...Calleigh you were being a friend to me earlier, why would you do this after everything that I told you", cried Marisol. "I told Horatio because I thought it might mean something, but it doesn't. After everything that happened today I was scared...scared that I might lose him. But I realized...that I've already lost him...to you. You have him not me..your having his baby..not me." Calleigh said as she tried to hold back her tears.

Pushing her way passed Calleigh, Marisol headed towards Horatio. "And you...calling out for Calleigh just after I tell you that I'm pregnant." "Marisol...I don't know what to say...I'm sorry." Horatio tried to explain but was cut off by Marisol. "Horatio I need to know what is going to happen. The baby isn't going away, and I wont stop you from being apart of the baby's life but I need to know. I need to know where you stand". Everything hit Horatio so fast, 'I wish I could turn back time...things would be different' he thought to himself. Taking her hand in his, Horatio smiled. "I want to be apart of the baby's life...as well as yours. Calleigh and I...we have a strong bond, a friendship which is nothing more, nothing else."

Looking up at Calleigh, Horatio saw the hurt in her eyes as she headed for the door. Pulling Marisol into a hug, he looked up once more 'I'm sorry' he mouthed to her as she gave him a weak smile and said 'So am I' as she closed the door. "Horatio, I'm sorry if I sounded...harsh...I was just worried that I was going to have to do this on my own...and I was afraid. I don't want to be alone anymore" cried Marisol. "You will never be alone, you have me".

Heading back to CSI, Calleigh couldn't hide the tears that she had cried on the way back. 'Nothing more nothing else' kept repeating in her head. "Calleigh, honey are you okay?" asked Alex as she moved out of Calleigh's way who wasn't paying attention. "Yeah...umm I'm fine" she said. Grabbing her by the arm, Alex pulled Calleigh into the coffee room. "Your not fine, your eyes are red, your not paying attention to anything, tell me what's going on? Wait didn't you just get back from seeing Horatio? Is he okay..did something happen?" asked Alex.

"Yah, Marisol happened", whispered Calleigh. "What's that suppose to mean?" "I didn't find out until today that Horatio was seeing her, I also found out that she's pregnant..I've lost him Alex. I waited too long", cried Calleigh as Alex pulled her into her arms. "Shh honey it's going to be okay...do you love him?" asked Alex. Pulling away from Alex, Calleigh was speechless, "I..I...told him I did, bur than Marisol heard and so I said that it didn't mean anything". "Honey you didn't answer my question...do you love Horatio?" "Yes" she whispered.

"I do..but I've lost him". As Alex pulled Calleigh back into a hug, neither women noticed a shadow figure standing beside the door listening. 'This just keeps getting easier and easier for me' Stetler thought to himself.

It had been a long hard 2 weeks for everyone, things were beginning to go back to normal but everyone could tell that there was still tension in some places. "So H is finally being released from the hospital today?" Ryan asked as he entered the coffee room. "Yah, Eric and Marisol are going to pick him up, he's not due back at work for a few more weeks yet." answered Calleigh. "Well at least we got one of them back, Eric is able to join us again. Horatio gave a statement to Stetler, which he didn't like. Accidental shooting, no charges pressed."

"I guess things have their way of working out for the best. So any new leads on who that fourth shooter was in the building?" Ryan looked up at Calleigh and shook his head, "No and it's driving me nuts. We got an ID on the guy a Bradley Connor. Never been convicted before, just seems weird that he'd be there at the time. Unsolved case. Anyway's I have to get back to work. I'll talk to you later Cal". "Bye Ryan".

"I thought you weren't suppose to be in for another couple of weeks", asked Alex as she walked into Horatio's office to find him sitting at his desk. "I'm not here...just needed some place to think...about things". "Horatio are you okay?" "I'm fine Alex...it's just the past 2 weeks things have been off. I mean Marisol is planning for the baby...I have nothing to do...and Calleigh...she and I haven't' talked about..."

"About what she said...and what she said afterwards?". Questionably Horatio looked at Alex, "Don't give me that look honey, I saw it before you both did. Now I can only assume that one of the things you have to think about would be Calleigh" Nodding his head, Horatio turned to look out the window, "Things are complicated Alex, with Marisol ,and Eric and with Stetler breathing down everyone's necks".

"Do you love her Horatio...and I mean really love her" "What?" "Just answer the question...do you love Calleigh or not". Slowly Horatio turned around looking at his feet nodding his head, "I do, I do love her but with Marisol and the baby..". "Why is it easier for you both to admit to me, but not to yourselves or one another. You both need to tell each other how you feel, and than you need to tell Marisol. It's not fair for that poor baby to be dealing with this, as well as being pregnant".

"Thanks Alex" Horatio said smiling as he watched the ME leave. "Alex wait...do you know where Calleigh is?" he called. "Where she loves to be", answered Alex as she walked out the door. 'Ballistics' thought Horatio.

Please R/R, enjoy.