A/N: See the first chapter for the standard stuff. Please R & R.
All I can say is hang on.
Horatio stirred and shifted in the bed. He sat up suddenly, realizing Annabel wasn't beside him. His gaze swept the room. Horatio slumped back. He closed his eyes and raked his hand through his hair.
"I'm sorry." Horatio looked up to see Annabel standing in the doorway with two mugs of coffee in her hands. She looked down. "I was supposed to get back here before you woke up. I…I..I didn't mean to upset you." Horatio smiled and held his hand out to Annabel. She walked over. He took the mugs and set them on the nightstand. Horatio took Annabel's hand and drew her down to the bed. She wouldn't meet his eyes. "You don't usually wake up."
"Neither did you. You up early…and me late. We'll have to work on getting our cycles back in sync." Horatio glanced over at the mugs. "You made coffee."
Annabel looked at Horatio. "I considered sneaking out to get something for breakfast, but I didn't want…" She dropped her eyes to their linked hands. "…to upset you, by not being here when you woke up."
"But you are here now." Horatio picked up her hand and kissed it. "And you didn't really leave."
"But you thought I had," Annabel whispered sadly. She gently touched Horatio's face. "I'm sorry."
Horatio smiled reassuringly at Annabel. He leaned back and brought her along side his body. He shifted so the lay face to face. He bent forward and kissed her lightly. "But you didn't leave." He caressed her face. "It's been a long time since that coffee maker got used." He kissed Annabel again, this time a little firmer.
Annabel smiled and rolled to her back. "Hmm. I might have to make a fresh pot later." Horatio ran his hand down her side, sliding it back up under her cami.
He grinned at her. "You might have to do that. These are going to get cold." The ring of a cell phone shattered to mood. Horatio closed his eyes. "Your or mine?"
"Dunno. Have any idea where either of them went?"
"You weren't wearing yours so it might be easier to find." The ringing stopped. "Then again…" It started again with a different tone.
Annabel sighed. "Either they're looking for both of us..." The phone stopped and she paused. Both started ringing.
"Or trying to call any phone to reach one of us," finished Horatio.
"Damn. OK." She slid off the bed to track down her phone. "We gotta take things a little slower, Love. We're losing stuff," she teased. Horatio got up, pulled a pair of boxers on went in search of his phone. "Ah-ha!" Annabel held her phone up just as it started to ring again. She flipped it open. "McGinty-Caine." Horatio paused in his search as Annabel listened. She grabbed a pen and paper and scribbled something down. "Got it. You do know my shift doesn't start… Oh. On my way then. Mmm-hmm." Annabel snapped her phone shut. She looked at Horatio and sighed. "I guess my coffee's to go. I'm…
Horatio shook his head. "We're past that. Get dressed. I'll get your coffee ready."
Annabel gave him a crooked smile. "I'd rather be making a fresh pot." She disappeared into the bedroom. Horatio heard the shower running. He finally found his phone under the couch and checked to make sure he wasn't being called in too. Just Annabel. He grabbed Annabel's mug from the bedroom and transferred her coffee into a travel mug. He grabbed his mug and did the same. He rinsed the mugs and stuck them in the dishwasher. Horatio turned around. Annabel was leaning in the door way watching him.
"That was quick."
Annabel sighed heavily. "I love when you get all domestic." Annabel tried to smile. She pushed away from the doorway, walked over and gave Horatio a brief kiss. He handed Annabel her mug. She nodded at the other one. "Did you get called in too?" Horatio shook his head. "Then?"
"I'm just going in," he shrugged.
Annabel rolled her eyes. "I'd be getting a little more sleep."
"No, Bella, you wouldn't." He gave her another quick kiss. "You'd better head out."
"Later, love." Annabel waved as she dashed out the door.
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Annabel came quietly into the condo. The entry was dark and she left it that way. She kicked off her shoes and dropped her bag. Laundry would wait until morning. Annabel padded into the living room. She stopped when she noticed Horatio waiting up for her. He sat in a small pool of light, flipping through a journal. He looked up when Annabel entered.
"I didn't think you'd still be up," she whispered. Horatio just set the journal aside and held out his hand. Annabel bit her lip and wrapped her arms around her body. Horatio didn't movie. He just waited for Annabel. She blinked rapidly as her eyes filled with tears. Horatio stood up and wrapped his arms around Annabel. She sobbed into his shirtfront. He rubbed his hands up and down her back.
"Ssshhh." Horatio was at a loss as Annabel fell apart in his arms. He felt her tense as he took her hand. Horatio pulled Annabel over to the light and held her hand where he could examine it. Her knuckles were red and starting to swell. "Oh, Bella." He got her seated on the couch and went to the kitchen for ice. He returned to find her sitting holding her one wrist and staring unfocused in front of her. Horatio knelt in front of Annabel, took her hand and wrapped it in ice and a towel. Annabel didn't react. Horatio sat on the couch and pulled her into his lap. Annabel curled up, tears flowing again. Horatio kissed her hair. "Didn't you wrap your hands?"
"Most of that was before I went to the gym." Horatio didn't know how to answer. He had no answer. Annabel tried to burrow closer to Horatio as a fresh round of sobs wracked her body. Horatio knew when heard the scene had she pulled two days ago that things weren't going to be good. Infanticide was one of the worst cases they could draw. Then her text came today. He rubbed his cheek hard against her hair, his heart breaking along with hers. He should have drug her home as soon as the bastard had been arrested and taken to booking, but he knew she need to burn off her rage at the injustice of it all. To take the edge of her pain. And Horatio couldn't face her right then either.
Horatio rocked her in his arms. "Bella…Bella…"
Annabel turned a tear stained face toward her husband. "So many people would have been thrilled to take care of that sweet, little baby. If he didn't want her… If they didn't want her…" Annabel just shook her head. "Three weeks late, Horatio. Three weeks."
Horatio cupped her face, caressing her cheek. He placed his lips against her forehead. "I know, Bella."
"I'm not going in tomorrow. I took…I took a couple of days. Please let them think it's the case." Horatio tucked her in close. He knew it took a lot for Annabel to walk away from the job. She prided herself on being to stand up to anything. For her to take a hit... He wouldn't share their secret. Annabel detached herself from Horatio. She stood up. "Come to bed."
Long after Annabel's breathing softened and deepened, Horatio remained awake. When he knew she was finally asleep, he let dam burst on his pain. Burning tears soaked his pillow. People who had didn't want and those who want didn't have.
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