Chapter 22
3 Weeks later
Horatio was in his office working on paperwork at the end of the shift when his cellphone vibrates, indicating he had a text message. He takes the phone sitting on his table and read. 'How much longer are you going to be at the lab?'
He smiled as he text Calleigh back. 'A couple more hours.'
'Ok, just curious, I'll see you then.'
'Alright, love you, Sweetheart.'
'Love you too, Handsome.'
As he was putting his phone back, he sighed at the endearment he just received, it had been awhile since she called him that and it felt nice.
He was just getting ready to start back on his paperwork when his phone vibrates again, but this time it was a phone call, so after he pick up his phone, he answered it. "Caine." A few seconds later he gets a shocked look, then replied. "I'll be right there." Then he hangs up as he stood up from his chair grabs his suit jacket and raced out of his office, barley having time to lock up before running out of the lab and heading for his vehicle.
When Horatio arrived home later than was expected, he opened the door and stepped inside, then after shutting the door his eyes automatically went to the deck out back, and there he saw the table with candles, two plates and wine glasses. He sighed remembering that tonight's dinner wasn't a regular dinner, it was a special one because they were celebrating their one year together.
They both agreed that, even though their relationship did go through that rough patch and they had technically broken up, they didn't want to wipe away the good stuff that happened before it turned, so they didn't change their anniversary date.
He eyes then moved to a sight he had seen a lot in the past three weeks, Calleigh sleeping on the couch with her arm covering her closed eyes.
With him wanting to be as involved with his child as much as possible he took his duties really serious, he would go shopping with Sarah to pick out things for the baby and help her set it up in her apartment, go to the routine check-ups with her and ultrasound appointments, so on top of going to work, Calleigh had spent a lot of time by herself. He had talked to her about it, but she assured him that she was fine.
He mentally shook his head, and after putting his jacket in the closet, he walks over to the coffee table and couch, then after sitting on the coffee table, just like he did when he told Calleigh the news, he softly moved her shoulders and whispered. "Sweetheart, wake up, I'm home."
After she opened her eyes, she removed her arm so he could really see her face and it looked like she had been crying and that tore at his heart.
Before he could speak though, she spoke, but even though she asked the question, she somehow knew the answer. "Where were you?"
"Calleigh, Sarah was..."
She shook her head as she got up from the couch, and replied as she walked to the kitchen. "So what did she need this time?" sounding annoyed
Calleigh very much understood the responsibility that Horatio had to deal with, but she thought he would at least inform Sarah that today was a special milestone in his relationship with her and couldn't miss out on it.
Horatio gets up from the coffee table and followed her to the kitchen. "There was an emergency, she had to go to the doctor because of spotting."
She turned around looking worried. "Is the baby..."
She knew how much this baby had meant to him, even though they didn't go into a deep conversation about it she knew one of his dreams was to have kids of his own, and as much as this situation wasn't ideal to her, she would never want anything to take make him miss a chance at fatherhood.
Horatio immediately assured her. "The baby and Sarah are fine."
Calleigh nodded, then with the combination of relief and everything she had been feeling lately a tear came down her cheek.
This time he looked at her worriedly as he walked up to her. "What's wrong?" She tried to stop crying and the tears, but they wouldn't and a sob broke out while she looked away from him. He puts his hands on her shoulder and felt her tense, so he turns her head so it was facing him and cups her cheek while asking again. "What's wrong?"
Calleigh sniffled a few times as tears continue fall on her cheeks then replied, finally telling him exactly how she felt. "Don't get me wrong... I'm not mad at you for wanting to be there for your child, but every time you had to go, do something with Sarah, like going to the appointments and shopping, I can't help... but feel that it should be with me."
She started to cry a little harder as she finished. "You should be doing those things with me and that should be our child" "It should have been me not her, it should have been us, Horatio"
Horatio brings Calleigh into his arms as she continued to cry in his chest, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head trying to give her as much comfort as he could. He could tell that she wasn't having the best of time these last three weeks, but for the most part, he thought she was handling this as well as can be expected, but now seeing the hurt and pain coming out in front of him, he realized she was hiding what she had really felt pretty well.
While he continued to comfort her, she was calming down, then after a few sniffles, he kissed the top of her head again and whispered to her. "I'm so sorry Calleigh, for everything, my actions these last three weeks and tonight..."
Before he could continue, she puts a finger to his lips and continued softly while looking into his eyes. "Like I said I understand why you were doing what you had to do, I guess... I'm just a little insecure because I don't know if I'll be able to be blessed with your child."
Horatio gives her a little smile and asked. "I didn't know you wanted to have children."
They never talked about her having children, so this news was a little surprising.
She shook her head. "Not that much until I met you, then that feeling became stronger as I got to know you more." Then she bit her lip as she moved her eyes down so she was looking at the floor.
He ran his thumb up and down her cheek as he spoke softly. "When the time comes and we are ready, I would be honored for you to give me a child." She moved her eyes up so she was looking into his blue eyes as he continued. "But even if we're never blessed with one of our own, nothing is going to stop me from loving you or wanting to be with you, I'm in this with you forever."
She gives him a little smile as she replied. "Me too."
He leans down and gives her a kiss on the forehead before bringing her in his arms, feeling the tension finally dying down. After a few minutes, he kissed her head again and said. "I am sorry, sweetheart, I'll make it up to you."
She smiled as she ran her hand up and down his back. "I like that idea." He chuckled a little, then she pulls back, looks into his eyes again and continued. "But in the mean time we can still have dinner, it might be a little late than planned, but..."
Horatio cuts her off. "I'll warm it up, go light the candles."
She nodded, and after a long look, they stepped back from one another and went to do their own tasks.