AN: thanks for all the reviews guys. And I never said this was going to be an H/C story….Grins

Chapter Two: Confession of a Southern Belle

Ryan opened his locker and grabbed his bag. He was very, very glad that H had given them the day off, even though it was a little strange. On that note, Horatio had been acting weird lately anyway…happy.

Ryan shook his head, deciding not to dwell on Horatio or Horatio's private life. Ryan shut his locker and snapped the lock in place. He turned to leave as Delko stormed in.

"Whoa. Bad day?" Ryan asked as Delko kicked a locker.

"They got married."

Ryan frowned. "Who got married?" Ryan had rarely (if ever) seen Delko act like this. Delko slumped onto the bench, Ryan standing above him.

"My sister…"

"Something tells me congratulations aren't in order?"

Delko sighed and closed his eyes. "How 'bout we go for drinks, and you help me drown my sorrows."

Ryan arched his eyebrow. Although they had been at odds since Ryan was hired, they had finally moved beyond it and were toeing the line at friendship. "Sure. You want me to drive?"

Delko exhaled sharply and stood up. "Yeah, I'll crash if I drive."

"No problem," Ryan said. The men walked out, neither one saying a word until they reached the front desk.

"Did you think it was odd how H gave us the rest of the day off?" Ryan asked the older man.

Delko grunted, "Yeah."

Ryan fell silent again as they walked outside.

"My hummer is over here," Ryan turned and started walking. Delko grabbed his arm and pointed.

Leaning against the hummer, crying as if her heart were broken, was Calleigh Duquesne.

CSI MIAMI

Calleigh's head rested on her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. She needed to move. Someone had to be coming out of MDPD soon, and they would see her, crying.

But she couldn't bring herself to get up.

"Cal?" she heard someone whisper. She looked up. Ryan and Eric stood there, blocking the sunlight. "What's wrong?" Delko asked.

Calleigh used the side of the hummer to pull herself up. Her cheeks were lined with salty tears. Ryan frowned, not ten minutes ago Calleigh had seemed okay. What had changed?

"Calleigh?" Ryan asked. With a strangled sob, she flung her arms around his neck. Ryan dropped his bag in shock, his arms automatically going around Calleigh's waist. Eric set his own bag down and gently patted Calleigh on the back.

"I'm thinking drinks are cancelled…" Eric muttered. "We should get her home."

Ryan nodded and began to pry Calleigh off of him. "Cal? We're going to take you home, okay?"

Calleigh nodded and stumbled back. Eric grabbed her and waited while Ryan unlocked the hummer. He opened the door and helped Calleigh in. Eric walked around and climbed into the passenger seat.

"You ever been to her house?" Delko asked.

"A few times, for beer," Ryan said as they pulled out of the parking lot. Ryan glanced in the rear view mirror. Calleigh's head was resting against the window, her eyes staring blankly into space.

"Almost there, Cal, almost there."

CSI MIAMI

Ryan put the hummer in park as they pulled up in front of Calleigh's house. Calleigh hadn't moved, her eyes still staring blankly at nothing. Delko reached back and grabbed her purse. He dug through it until he found her house keys.

"Here, go unlock her door, I'll get her to the house."

Ryan nodded and took the keys from Delko. He climbed down from the hummer and walked up the small path to her front door. He slid the key in and turned the knob.

The air conditioner hummed quietly. Ryan dropped his hummer keys and Calleigh's house keys onto the table. He held the door open as Calleigh and Delko came in.

"Let's sit you on the couch, eh Cal?" Ryan said, steering her forcefully over to the couch. He sat her down in the middle and sat next to her. Delko dropped onto her other side.

"Cal, what's wrong?" Delko whispered, "I've only ever seen you cry when Speed died…"

Ryan glanced away uncomfortably. He always felt a little uncomfortable when they talked about Tim Speedle.

"How could he do this to me?" Calleigh moaned softly. Ryan glanced over her head at Delko. Their eyes met.

"Do what? Calleigh, what's going on?" Ryan asked. She was tense, sitting in between them. Ryan reached out and grasped her hand; Delko did the same on the other side.

"We're right here for ya, Cal, you can tell us anything," Delko said.

Calleigh took a deep breath and looked straight ahead.

"I'm pregnant."

CSI MIAMI

Ryan and Delko stared at each other over Calleigh's head.

"Who is the father?" Ryan whispered.

Calleigh opened and closed her mouth, trying to answer. Tears welled in her eyes again.

"Holy shit," Delko whispered. Ryan glanced sharply at him. "It's Horatio, isn't it?"

Calleigh nodded slowly. Ryan squeezed her hand. Delko gave Calleigh a half hug.

"Ryan and I will be right back. You want some water?"

Calleigh nodded again as Ryan stood up. Ryan followed Delko to Calleigh's kitchen.

"Shut the door," Delko muttered.

"What's going on?" Ryan asked after he shut the door.

"Remember how I told you that my sister got married?"

Ryan nodded slowly.

"Well…"

"Holy shit," Ryan hissed, repeating Delko's earlier words, "Horatio married your sister, and got Calleigh pregnant?"

"It gets better…" Delko said. Ryan turned and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.

"Marisol is pregnant…with Horatio's child."

CSI MIAMI

Ryan tapped the bottle of water against his forehead. "This sucks."

Delko laughed shortly and nodded. "Yeah, it does. We don't even know if Marisol will make it another nine months."

Ryan nodded and began to pace. "You know what we need to do?"

"Stop pacing, you're giving me a headache."

"Sorry," Ryan stopped and looked at Delko, "We need to call Alexx. She'll know what to do."

Delko whipped out his cell phone and hit Alexx's number. She answered.

"Alexx Woods."

"Hey Alexx, its Eric."

"Eric, what's up? I thought we had the day off?"

"We do…Ryan and I are at Calleigh's…we need you to come over as soon as you can."

"Is Calleigh okay?" Alexx's voice grew sharp with concern.

"Depends on your definition of okay," Delko said dryly. "Physically, yes. Mentally, well…let's just say she's had a nasty shock."

"I'm on my way." Alexx hung up.

Eric looked at the phone, "I think that's the first time she's ever hung up on me."

Ryan smiled bleakly, "Let's give Cal her water."

CSI MIAMI

Ryan shifted slightly on the couch. Calleigh was dozing in between him and Delko, her head on Ryan's shoulder. He frowned. Pin needles were shooting through his arm, but he didn't want to disturb Calleigh.

"Arm asleep?" Delko asked as Ryan shifted again.

"Yeah… but I don't want to disturb her. Feeling will come back."

Suddenly, there was a loud screech from outside and running footsteps. Someone started banging on the door.

"Alexx," Delko and Ryan said together. Delko stood up and moved to the door, opening it to reveal a harried looking Alexx.

"Sorry, traffic was bad. Where is she?"

"On the couch, with Ryan."

Alexx stalked off to the couch with Delko trailing behind her. She knelt before Calleigh and prodded her gently. Calleigh groaned and sat up straight.

Ryan gasped as feeling began to rush back to his shoulder. Delko grinned as the younger man grimaced painfully. Ryan rotated his shoulder.

"Sorry…" Calleigh whispered.

"No problem Calleigh," Ryan said. Delko flopped down into another chair while Alexx took his former spot on the other side of Calleigh.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"Alexx, I'm pregnant."

Alexx reared back. "Pregnant? How?"

Calleigh smiled wryly, "Do I need to explain how it works?"

Ryan shared a quick look with Delko. She seemed to be composing herself.

Calleigh took a deep breath. Maybe it would help to get this off her chest. "You remember that case a few weeks ago? When Jennifer Wilson dismissed the protection unit assigned to her? Well…"

CSI MIAMI

Calleigh stepped into the bar. The case had been tough, and she felt she deserved a quick drink before heading home. She smiled at the bar tender as she sat down.

"Margarita, strawberry, please."

"Comin' right up," the bartender got her drink and set it in front of her. Calleigh dropped the money on the bar and swiveled to watch the patrons. She loved watching people in places like this. Especially this bar. It wasn't a high class, tourist bar, but instead a small locals bar.

Her eyes widened when she saw the very familiar red hair sitting at a booth, alone. She grasped her drink and stood up. She walked over to him.

"Hey Handsome," she smiled, she hadn't called him that in a long time, "mind if I join you?"

Horatio looked up. "Of course you can join me, pretty one."

Calleigh frowned slightly as she sat down. "Horatio, are you drunk?"

Horatio smiled and nodded. Now Calleigh was worried. "Are you alright?"

"N'ver been bett'r," Horatio slurred slightly. Calleigh felt a wave of despair rush over her. She hated dealing with drunks. Horatio leaned forward and took Calleigh's hand.

"Take me 'ome?"

"Sure Horatio. Let's go." Calleigh finished her drink and stood up. Horatio pulled himself to his feet and nearly fell over. Calleigh grabbed his arm and led him slowly from the bar.

As she began to drive towards his house, he shook his head violently. "Your home, Cal."

Calleigh shrugged and uneasily turned on a different road and headed for her house. They pulled in the driveway and Calleigh got out. It had been a long, long time since Horatio had been over. Too long.

Calleigh opened the door and let Horatio in. She locked it behind her. Horatio looked around, seemingly a little more sober.

"I's been too long, Cal."

"Yes, it has," Calleigh whispered.

"Why don't we talk anymore?" Horatio muttered, pressing his hand against his head.

"I'm around," Calleigh said simply, not wanting to delve too deeply in her relationship with Horatio while he was drunk.

Horatio stepped close to her. She could smell the whiskey on his breath and she involuntarily took a step back. His lips crashed down on hers, hands roaming freely. Calleigh tensed, but slowly relaxed.

She had wanted this for so long…

CSI MIAMI

"When I woke up the next morning, he was gone," Calleigh looked down, feeling slightly ashamed.

"Why don't you tell him, honey?" Alexx asked.

"Because he's married," Delko said. Alexx's head shot up.

"What!"

Delko smiled grimly, "To my sister."

Calleigh sighed and looked up. "I don't know what to do…"

Alexx squeezed Calleigh's thigh. "We're here for you, even if Horatio isn't. Right boys?" Alexx said sternly.

"Absolutely," Delko said. "Even if I do feel a tad awkward in this situation…"

"We're right here with you," Ryan said, "'til the end."

AN: okay, ending this chap there cause it's getting long (for me, at least). Reviews feed my soul.