Chapter 16

There was a lot of activity going on the moment that Calleigh closed her eyes that he couldn't keep track of what was going on around him, but before he knew it an ambulance showed up and the paramedics took Calleigh so they could try and save her life. And after Ryan took Horatio to the hospital, he was getting checked out by a nurse before he walked to the waiting area and sat down so he could wait on the news about Calleigh.

After many hours later with his team and Frank coming and going from hospital to get updates from Horatio and to tell him news on what they found out about Jake, Alexx woods walked in the waiting area and sits down next to the broken man in many ways than one, puts her hand on his shoulder and asked. "How bad is it?" The guys had told her what happened, but she wanted to hear it from Horatio.

He winced as he looked over, then replied softly. "She took a bullet for me then she lost consciousness shortly before the paramedics came, but I haven't gotten an update yet. For me thankfully, I only came away with a few fractured ribs." His cheeks and right eye did look a little beat up, but his ribs took most of the damage and he felt very fortunate he didn't receive more damage than that.

She gave him a little smile and replied. "She saved your life."

He shook his head as he looked down at his folded hands. "She shouldn't have been there, if only..." He sighed, which winced because of the pain and shook his head again.

She eyes the man and finally asked the question that they all had been thinking for awhile now. "You two, something happened between you guys, didn't it?"

He turned his head to look at her, then not wanting to keep it a secret from her anymore, does a short nod. "Yes, it was good for a long time, then Jake came and fractured it and I completely destroyed it."

Before Alexx could ask, she saw him wince again and she asked. "Shouldn't you be laying down?"

He shook off her concern. "I'm fine the pills just hasn't kicked in yet."

Right as he finished talking, he saw a doctor coming toward the waiting area, so his attention was on him, which made Alexx look in that direction too. Then after the young, slim build, short brown haired, doctor stopped and asked for the family of Calleigh Duquesne, Horatio slowly stood up with Alexx's help and said. "You can talk to me."

The doctor looked at the older man and asked. "And you are?"

"Her emergency contact and her boss, Horatio Caine."

"Ok, good enough for me." Horatio nodded as the doctor continued. "The surgery was a success, she was lucky nothing major was hit or else it could have been a different outcome, it also helped the paramedic's acted quickly."

Alexx breathed a deep sigh of relief as Horatio did a little one because of the pain, then asked. "So she's going to be alright?"

The doctor nodded with a smile. "I expect her to make a full recovery."

Horatio smiled as he held out his hand. "Thank you, Doctor."

As they shook hands, he smiled and replied. "Just doing my job." Horatio agreed, but when he saved Calleigh's life, that wasn't the only life he saved today, he mentally shook his head as the doctor continued. "Once we get her settled into her room, you are free to visit her."

"Ok, thanks again doctor."

The younger man nodded before turning and walking away.

When it became just the two of them Alexx smiles before brining Horatio into a hug, unfortunately she squeezed him a little too hard and he said painfully. "Uhh, Alexx, ease up there."

She pulled back immediately and said. "I'm sorry Horatio, I'm just so happy."

He smiled, despite the pain he was feeling and replied. "Me too, so it was worth it a little."

Alexx smiled a little in return before their moment was interrupted when a short, slim build, blonde-haired nurse came over toward them. Alexx tells Horatio that he should go see her by himself, which he told her she was welcome to come, but she waved it off and said that it would be good if him and Calleigh had finally talked about what happened and should have their privacy. So after Horatio nodded, they hugged, softly this time before pulling back, and after a warm look between them, he followed the nurse to Calleigh's room.

When they got there and she had opened the door, Horatio walked in as she spoke. "She should be waking up soon."

Horatio nodded before the nurse walked out of the room, leaving Horatio and Calleigh alone, and once the door clicked shut, he let a little sob break out as he saw her laying in the hospital bed on her side so she wasn't laying on the wound, then he sniffled as he walked up to her bed after grabbing a chair from the corner and moving it closer to her.

When he had the chair in place, he sits down and moves his hands so it was over hers and said brokenly. "I'm so sorry sweetheart. Somehow, someway, I'll make things right between us again, I promise." He squeezed her hand a little, then just sat there waiting for the woman that he loved to open her eyes again.