A/N: I don't own them. Don't remind me. Anyway, please review. I love reviews; they are my human catnip. And forgive me, I am working on four different stories at once. So now you know why if I don't update quickly.
Horatio sat next to Calleigh's bed, listening to the rhythmic beeping of the machine that was hooked up to her. He held her hand and unconsciously stroked her knuckles.
"Wake up Calleigh, talk to me." He whispered to her.
"Are you Mr. Horatio Caine?" A doctor asked as he walked into the door.
"Yes." Horatio answered simply.
"Ms. Duquesne has you listed here as her next of kin. This allows me to show you her test results." The doctor said, handing him the papers.
"Thank you. When can she leave?" He asked solemnly.
"As soon as she wakes up. But she'll need plenty of rest."
Horatio flipped through the papers, learning of Calleigh's condition. 'Three broken ribs, a fractured arm, a broken leg, and many old scars on her back! My god, who would do such a thing to her?' he thought.
"Horatio?" Asked a raspy voice from behind him.
He turned to find Calleigh awake and looking at him with a worried expression.
"What's wrong?" she questioned.
"Nothing, nothing I was just looking at your test results." He answered as he returned to his seat next to her.
Calleigh's eyes went wide and quickly changed the subject.
"So, when can I go home?" she asked, her voice getting higher with each syllable.
'God I hope he doesn't read it all. Please let him not read it all.'
Calleigh quickly hopped off of the bed, ignoring the pain that shot through her body, and grabbed her clothes, bolting for the bathroom, using the crutches next to her bed.
"Tonight." Horatio called to her. "But someone has to stay with you, doctors orders." He lied.
"What!" she complained. "Horatio, you know I don't have any family near enough for that."
"And that's why I'm staying with you." He said, closing the folder.
"Horatio, honestly, you don't have to do that. We could just tell the doctor that my brother's staying." Said Calleigh as she walked out the same way she walked in.
"Calleigh, I'm staying with you and that's final. You can barely maneuver yourself to the bathroom. And I assume you went to change, you found it difficult didn't you?" he questioned.
"Fine, but can I see my results?" she asked, returning to the bed.
Horatio handed her the folder and continued to ponder.
'Old, thick, scars that run across her back. Hmmm, previous relationships, previous unknown attacks, or old home problems.'
"Lovely. These casts will be a wonderful fashion statement." Calleigh said, trying to get humor into the situation.
That was how Calleigh Duquesne always handled her problems. Hide them, and then when someone found out, put humor into it to make it seem like it wasn't a problem. But now she was against the master problem solver- Horatio Caine.
"I'd like to let you know that John is in prison. His trial is in a month. You're going to have to testify." Horatio informed, bringing her back to the subject.
"Horatio, can I just please go home. I don't want to talk about this right now. Besides, I have a huge mess I need to clean up" Calleigh said as tears started to slowly slide down her cheeks.
'What have I done? I shouldn't be talking about this with her now! Just take her back to your place and get her settled in.' he thought.
"Calleigh, sweetheart, you can't go back to your apartment now. It's a crime scene and I don't think you should go back there. Not after today." Horatio said in his most gentle voice.
He strode over to her bed and sat down on the edge, gently hugging her from behind. He started to rock her and hush her, trying to make the tears go away.
"If you ask me, I think you should buy a new apartment." Horatio commented softly.
"Thank you Horatio. I don't know what I'd do without you." Calleigh smiled.