"You're beautiful. You're beautiful.

You're beautiful, it's true.

There must be an angel with a smile on her face,

When she thought up that I should be with you."

"You're Beautiful"

James Blunt

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A rain-dampened, sand-encrusted Calleigh straggled around the corner of her condo hallway. The sight that awaited on her very own doorstep threw her backwards with shock, much like the recoil of a double barreled shotgun. The wall stopped her, smacking her shoulder blades flat, the force of the impact expelling most of the air from her lungs. Calleigh didn't even feel it but she did put two and two together in two seconds flat.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

Calleigh was screaming but there wasn't enough air in her lungs for that to happen and it came out as a hoarse croak instead.

"That I wanted to talk to you, make sure you were okay," Horatio answered from the floor where he sat, leaning against her door.

Puzzled, he tilted his head. At some subconscious level the scream had registered and Horatio wondered what the hysterics were all about. He wasn't hurt that badly and he had never actually seen Calleigh behave any other way but rationally. Even matching him drink for drink at Julie's after a particularly rough day she could still out think him, every time. This wasn't his bullet girl, not even close.

"I'm sorry. I just didn't feel steady enough go looking anywhere else," he confessed. "I knew you'd come home eventually."

"We got to your room and the bed was empty," she whispered. "We thought you died, Horatio."

He blinked for a moment while that sank in, then awkwardly braced a foot underneath him and tried to stand. About halfway up a serious wave of vertigo threatened to plant him flat on his face and he slid carefully back down with his spine pressed flat against the door, gritting his back teeth until the waves of blackness ebbed from the edges of his vision. Passing out on Calleigh at this moment in time probably wouldn't earn him a lot of extra brownie points.

"Calleigh, I am so sorry," he phrased with extreme care. "That was incredibly stupid of me. I never thought…"

"Well finally something we agree on!"

Calleigh's voice was back but her anger vanished in an explosion of absolute joy as it hit her. Horatio was alive. Zeroing in on the beautiful blue eyes she actually saw him for the first time since she'd rounded the corner. The expensive gray silk suit was rumpled and stained beyond the help of the best dry cleaner in Miami. The paramedics had ripped the teal green shirt open all down the front and a surgical drain peeked out from underneath the collar. Horatio's head, wrapped in a heavy circlet of bandages, was sagging sideways against her dark cherrywood door. Not to mention the fact that he was dripping wet, bandages and all, and actually sitting in a puddle on the hallway floor. Full of remorse Calleigh flew to his side and knelt down.

"Could we just go inside for a little while?" he wondered wistfully when her fingertips touched his cold, wet face. "I really would like to apologize properly."

"Oh sweet Jesus." Calleigh clamped her eyes shut as two conflicting lines of thought slid on a collision course through her mind.

He's in bad shape. Look at him…he's gray, for God's sake. You know what you have to do…

He's alive! He made it all the way here on his own in the rain. I can call Alexx, we'll talk while we wait for her. I'd like that so much but…

"…I don't want to make the same mistake twice," she whispered out loud. "You should go back to the hospital, Horatio."

"I don't want to make the same mistake either," he assured her. "So just to set the record straight, no, I'm not all right nor will I be in a minute."

"Glad to hear it," she sassed, half-teasing half-truth and feeling half-way-human for the first time in twenty four hours.

"But I honestly do think it'll be okay if I just come inside for awhile and dry off," Horatio coaxed as only he could. "You can drive me back to the hospital later if you want. I'll go quietly. Promise." He tipped his head a bit and the intense blue eyes, diluted but still compelling, wormed their way into hers and wriggled around, looking for a comfy spot.

Biting her lip she nodded, fishing blindly through her bag for keys. Horatio was still leaning against the door and he very nearly collapsed inward with it when it opened.

Calleigh grabbed his shoulder. "Can you stand?"

"Think so," he muttered.

"Put some weight on me," she ordered, pulling his arm around her neck, and he did. Together they took a couple of halting steps into the condo. Leaning heavily on Calleigh Horatio suddenly realized that his sopping wet suit was rapidly draining all over her perfectly polished hardwood.

"Don't worry about it," she told him.

"All right," he answered blankly. "What now?"

"I want you in my bed," she said firmly, gesturing towards the hallway. "Can you make it that far?"

The crooked smile caught her off guard until she realized what she'd just said and blushed prettily. She was wearing one of those mysterious cowl neck tops that clung to her upper arms and apparently used some combination of gravity and good luck to stay there. Horatio glanced down shyly at the puddle forming around his feet.

Calleigh sighed. "Let's get your shoes off. Here, hold onto the door frame." She switched to high efficiency mode and Horatio was amazed to find his shoes off and his soaking wet suit jacket deftly removed and hanging on the door knob before he had time to think. Without a word Calleigh helped him into her bathroom, stripped him down to his boxers, toweled him dry while resisting his feeble attempts to fend her off and tucked him into her bed. He looked rather rakish, she thought, propped up against a stack of pillows with the raggedy bandages circling his head at an angle and a day's worth of stubble actually long enough to look red on his chin.

Then Calleigh noticed how violently he was shivering. Quickly she pulled the quilt up to his shoulders, feeling a shiver herself when the backs of her fingers accidentally brushed his bare chest. "You'll catch pneumonia if you're not careful," she muttered in disgust to distract him from her sudden reaction. "How in God's name did you get so wet?"

"Waiting out front of your building," he chattered. "Finally when you didn't come I held the outer door for those two charming elderly ladies who live down the hall. They didn't even notice when I followed them inside."

Calleigh rolled her eyes at the ceiling. "Oh, they noticed all right. Don't worry, I'll be getting an earful next time we meet in the elevator." Calleigh shook her head and went out of the room then, leaving Horatio to glance around guiltily at the perfectly dusted perfection of her most private space. He sighed, wishing he could just bask in the simple delight of being here. It would be wonderful to just close his eyes and drift off to sleep on a pile of Calleigh's pillows but his head was throbbing far too badly for that.

Calleigh reappeared in a minute, snapping her cell phone shut. "Alexx was all ready on her way. I haven't been answering my cell," she confessed guiltily. "Someone at the hospital remembered you leaving in a cab and Alexx tracked the address down. She's still pretty shaken up and I told her she shouldn't be driving herself. She said she wasn't."

Horatio swallowed dryly. "She thought the same as you? That I was…that I...?"

Calleigh moved her head up and down woodenly, tears welling.

Horatio groaned. "It got so late. I honestly didn't think anyone was coming back."

"My fault, actually. It took eight peach belinis to sort me out," Calleigh explained with a rueful grin.

"You broke my record," he observed. "I'm impressed."

"No need to be. Thanks to Big Julie the last three were more or less ice."

Horatio attempted a smile but he couldn't quite fake it. The intensity of his headache was pounding out through every pore and Calleigh winced in sympathy. "I'd get you some 292's but we should wait for Alexx." She did bring a tall glass of cold water and gingerly sat down on the edge of the mattress to watch him drink it. Acutely aware of the three feet of empty air that separated them from each other Calleigh stared, fascinated, at a single water droplet that slid from under the bandages down his cheek, crept across his chin and vanished somewhere underneath her quilt. Dangerously seductive sky blue eyes wandered accidentally into hers and Calleigh shook her head, the tips of her tied back hair sliding across her bare shoulders. Horatio clearly saw her swallow, hard.

"I am so sorry," they both said at exactly the same moment and while Calleigh tried to figure out what on earth to do next she noticed another droplet follow the first one down, and then another. The one after that was pink and by the time the droplets became of narrow snake of moisture it was red.

"You're bleeding!" Calleigh gasped. She jumped up and darted into the bathroom, coming back with a towel which she held gingerly at the base of the bandages to absorb the blood. "I don't want to apply any pressure to your head, Horatio. I need to …"

Something metallic nudged her fingertips and she glanced down to see him pressing his cell phone into her hand. Calleigh would have been absolutely delighted if she hadn't been so worried. She raised panicky eyes to find Horatio's calm, steady gaze and they were still riveted to each other with mutual approval when a musical tone announced someone at the condo's main entry.

"Oh thank God, it must be Alexx. Here, can you hold this?" Calleigh guided his hand to the towel before jumping up to get the door. Horatio heard her buzz Alexx up and there was a lot of rapid talking in quiet tones in the hallway. When Calleigh reappeared with Alexx literally in tow Horatio honestly had no idea what to expect. He braced himself for another tongue lashing but the M.E. simply crossed the room in silence and sat down lightly on the edge of the mattress, as businesslike as he was used to seeing her in the autopsy theatre on a normal day at work.

"Take that away, just for a second," she instructed him, signalling him to move the towel so she could judge the severity of the bleeding. "Did he lose consciousness, even briefly?" she asked Calleigh who was hovering anxiously.

"No. At least not since I got here. Horatio?"

"No. Never."

Suspicious of the quick answer both women glared daggers at him and he shifted uncomfortably. "Scout's honour, ladies. No."

"You can hold that up again," Alexx instructed, guiding the towel back into place for him. "We might just be okay here. Calleigh, can you get my bag, please?"

Calleigh took off for the front entry while Alexx stood up to do a quick, visual check of the bandages all around. When Calleigh returned with her bag she listened to Horatio's heart and took his blood pressure.

"Vital signs are fine and you're not actively bleeding," Alexx said reassuringly, as much for Calleigh's benefit as his own. "It's just the surgical drain that's causing the problem. If you're comfortable with me doing it I can change these wet dressings for you and empty the drain. It has to be done, but if you'd rather someone else …"

Horatio stopped her with a hand on her arm. "I'm fine with that, Alexx. The question becomes are you comfortable doing it? In light of everything that's happened lately you're putting yourself way out on a very shaky limb here."

"Only if this leaks out." She smiled at him gently. "It seems to happen a lot lately, I'll grant you that much. But it's just us, honey. Who exactly were you planning to tell? Or is it Calleigh you don't trust?"

A small grin tugged the corners of his lips but he still looked worried. "Who drove you here?" he wanted to know, covering every angle.

"Eric did," she told him. Horatio relaxed then but Calleigh had the complete opposite reaction, jumping backwards and banging her hip sharply into the dresser. Spinning around she grabbed a wobbling vase full of tulips and steadied it. When she didn't turn back to them Horatio pushed himself up on an elbow, looking alarmed.

"She socked him," Alexx informed Horatio evenly. "Six stitches to close the cut and I must say the bruise is all ready quite impressive."

Horatio eased back down, the half hidden grin once again twitching his lips. "I didn't sock him," a small voice protested from the direction of the dresser. "I just elbowed him in the gut. He's the one who fell into the truck."

Horatio snorted with suppressed laughter which quickly brought tears to his eyes. He closed them and tried to keep his expression neutral but a flinching cheek muscle gave him away. "Let's get you fixed up, honey," Alexx sympathized. "Time enough for that lecture later."

"What can I do to help?" Calleigh volunteered. She had let go of the vase but still showed no signs of turning around to face them.

"I brought bandages and whatever else I need but I could use a basin of warm water and some clean wash cloths. After that you need to see to yourself, sugar," Alexx said gently. "You're shaking like a leaf. Have a hot shower and fix something to eat for both of you."

Calleigh brought the requested items and then vanished into the adjoining bathroom. A disgusted sound erupted from the other side of the door as she caught sight of herself in the mirror and a moment later the water started running in the shower. Alexx very gently began to unwind Horatio's bandages.

It went pretty well at first but the inner layers were badly stuck down and she had to soak the gauze free in places with warm water. Eventually the last strip eased away and Horatio felt the merest breath of cautious fingertips explore the area around the surgical site. When Alexx was satisfied she emptied and checked the drain for him and then expertly began to wind fresh, white bandages into place.

"Do you want a shot of morphine?" she asked evenly when she was finished. "I just happen to have a dose with me."

Horatio's eyes pricked with gratitude. She was taking one hell of a risk just being here and he dragged up reluctant lids to find himself looking straight into expressive black eyes brimming with sympathy. "You have no idea how grateful I am, Alexx. For everything. But Calleigh mentioned 292s. That might be safer."

Alexx nodded. "Wise choice in the long run. Must be the chemist in you."

"No, it's the cop. Lose the morph, Alexx," he advised, "as soon as possible. And please be careful."

She nodded, suddenly looking as exhausted as he felt. "I will. But right now I'm going to go home and crash. It's been a long night. I'll come by and check on you this evening. Eric's waiting downstairs, he has some questions about what happened at the parkade. I'll tell him to hold off until then as well. Unless you need to talk to him sooner?" Alexx ended on a question.

Something flickered briefly in the blue eyes but Horatio quickly pushed it away. "Tonight will be fine," he assured her but when Alexx made a move to stand up Horatio placed a hand on her arm. "Alexx, before you go I … I'm sorry for causing such a commotion. If I had just thought…"

"Start now and all's forgiven." Alexx glanced at the still closed bathroom door. "Just look after her, Horatio. I have a feeling we're very lucky to have Calleigh here with us safe and sound this morning."

Horatio paled visibly, quite the accomplishment since he was all ready three shades whiter than the bandages. "Alexx, you don't mean… you don't think she might have considered…"

"Yes. I do."

"No. You're wrong," he countered with complete certainty. "Not Calleigh."

"Yes. Calleigh." Alexx reached out and lay a finger across his lips. "Don't say anything, else, honey. Not now. We're all far too tired to make any sense. I'll see you tonight."

Silently he watched as she gathered up her things and packed them in her bag. She left Calleigh's bedroom with a soft "sleep well," and a moment later he heard her let herself quietly out the front door. Horatio closed his eyes and tried not to think at all until he felt Calleigh emerge from the bathroom in a humid wave of lavender scented air. He couldn't resist opening his eyes then and smiling. Still damp hair fell around her face in soft waves and she was wearing pink PJ bottoms and a tank top with the tiniest spaghetti straps he'd ever seen.

"Hungry?" she wondered, and he moved his head very slightly to indicate no, still smiling.

"Me neither," she confessed. He looked so much better with the crisp white bandages setting off the red stubble on his chin and the blue of his eyes. They were just a little bit dazed and unfocused, though. "Did Alexx give you anything?" she worried.

"No. She offered but I thought…"

Without a word Calleigh turned back to the bathroom and returned a few seconds later, depositing two white capsules in the palm of his hand and handing him a glass of water. She stood there watching while he popped the painkillers into his mouth and swallowed. When he finished the water she reached for the glass but Horatio took her hand and drew her down to sit on the edge of the bed beside him.

"You need to sleep," Calleigh faltered. Carefully she extricated her hand and tucked his back under the quilt, pulling it up to his chin.

"Where do you think you're going?" he protested when she got up and padded in bare feet towards the hallway. "You're not sleeping on the couch. This is your bed and you need to sleep as badly as I do. There's plenty of room."

Calleigh very slowly turned around to find Horatio lifting an eyebrow as well as a corner of the quilt. "I'll give up a couple of pillows," he offered, jiggling both the eyebrow and the quilt, "and I promise to snore quietly."

Calleigh's face lit up with a grin. "Me, too," she giggled, just loudly enough that neither one of them heard the small scrape of metal on metal as a lock pick stealthily slipped inside the front door deadbolt.

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Hope you guys liked it. This is shaping up to be a very long fic, I hope everybody's okay with that. Enjoy! and please keep the reviews coming, you have no idea how much I LUV them.