Chapter 24

Three months later

The three months that followed were getting better between everybody involved, of course to Calleigh it was a little weird seeing another woman pregnant with her man's child, but she dealt with it the best she could because she loved him, plus it made things better for her when Horatio split the time evenly with her outside of work, and Sarah and the baby. This time around she felt like they had more time to do the little things like cooking dinner together, cuddling on the couch and talking or just watching movies, she loved it, especially when she saw how happy his face looked, which was because he realized he could still be a good father and get to be with Calleigh, life was good for him, even if he was going about this in a way he wasn't expecting.

"Alright, enjoy your time away from Miami, and I'll see you Monday evening, call when you made it to your friend's house safely."

Sarah's long time friend was getting married in Tallahassee in 2 days and she decided to drive up there early so she could visit her and a few other friends that she hadn't seen in awhile because after their High School graduation they've kind of scattered all over the place, and it was nice that a special occasion was bringing them all together again.

"I will, bye Horatio."

"Bye Sarah."

After Horatio hung up the phone, he got out of his vehicle and started walking to and in the bar where Calleigh and him were meeting up with the guys. Calleigh and Horatio smiled at each other as he walked closer to their table, then after he sat down, she asked. "Everything ok?"

Horatio moved his arm over her shoulder, brought her closer to him and kissed her temple, happy he could finally do that in a public place, then after pulling back, he smiled at her and replied. "Everything is great."

She gives him a little smile, then a few seconds later the guys finally showed up so they could enjoy some time with their friends/family.

After Sarah hung up from talking to Horatio, she placed her phone on the passenger seat before running her hand over her five month pregnant belly, then she started her vehicle, and after turning on some music, she pulled out of the parking lot to a gas station/convenience store and headed out on the road, knowing it was going to be a long drive, but wanted to take in the scenery.

She had just gotten on the freeway, which she picked up a little more speed, when her phone started to ring. Still keeping her eyes on the road she reached for her phone, but as her fingers felt it and she tried to pick it up it fell on the passenger side floorboard.

She cursed a little and sighed, then after making sure she had a good handle on the steering wheel she looked down for a second to see if she could see it, she looked at the road again while she moved in her seat to the right, then with one hand on the steering wheel she leaned and reached with her other hand to pick up her phone.

When she touched it she looked down for a second and picked it up, but when she looked up and settled back, she gasped as she slammed on her breaks because the two cars in front of her had accidentally hit one another, so with the combination of her speed and slamming on the breaks so suddenly her car veered out of control and it started to roll as her life felt like it was flashing before her eyes, and when it finally stopped, her last conscious thought was the baby.

After Calleigh, Horatio and the guys walked out of the bar they wished one another a good evening before Horatio and Calleigh walked to his vehicle hand in hand since she had rode with him. When they stopped at the passenger side door, he opens it, but before she gets in, she wraps her arms around his neck and asked. "So how about we go home, put on a movie, cuddle up on the couch and don't leave until we have to."

He smiled with his blue eyes sparkling. "Sounds like a plan, sweetheart."

After a peck on the lips, she smiled as she removed her arms from his neck, then got into the passenger seat, and after Horatio shuts the door he walked over to the driver's side. He had just gotten in and shut the door when his phone rings.

They look at each other and she does a small sigh. "I hope it isn't work." She understood the job of a CSI all too well, but sometimes it could be a real buzz killer.

As Horatio looked at her, feeling the same way, before he got his phone from his suit pocket and looked at the caller ID, but he looks at it a little confused on who was calling him. "The number doesn't look familiar." Then he answered it in his regular professional way. "Caine."

"Hi Lieutenant Caine, my name is Elizabeth, one of Sarah's cousins, and there isn't an easy way for me to say this but she has been in an accident."

Horatio's heart stopped at those words and he asked a little afraid, which Calleigh saw his face turn a little white and she looked at him with concern, not knowing what was going on until he started speaking again. "How is she and the baby?"

"I don't know yet."

"Ok, what hospital."

After she gave him the information, they hung up the phone, then after putting his phone back in place he didn't waste time getting the vehicle started and getting out on the road.

Calleigh was still looking at him with her heart racing a little, even though she didn't know what exactly was going on, he did mention hospital and that could be a bad sign, so wanting to show her support in anyway that she could, she placed her hand on his thigh and kept there while hoping for the best.

When Horatio and Calleigh made into the hospital building a woman said his name, they look toward the waiting area, and they see a woman with a striking resemblance to Sarah.

They walked toward one another and the woman speaks. "My cousin had spoken of you fondly, I'm Elizabeth." Horatio shook the young woman's hand before introducing Calleigh, then once the pleasantries were done, she tells him that one of the nurses told her that Sarah was put on the operating table, and their hearts pounded a little more as Calleigh tightened Horatio's hand with her own, fearing that the situation was more serious than they had thought.