Chapter 7, the final chapter, is up!!!!

Horatio spun around, needing to get away from his love's grave and started to walk away when he heard Eric and Ryan whoop. He paused a moment, and then kept walking, deciding that he didn't want to know. Then, he heard Alexx shout,

"Horatio!" He paused and said over his shoulder,

"Yes Alexx?"

"Turn around!"

"Do I have a choice?"

"No!" Alexx and Natalia choroused. Horatio sighed, slipping his sunglasses back on to hide his eyes as he turned around. He nearly choked when he saw an angel standing there next to Alexx.

An angel whose name was Calleigh Duquesne.

She looked at him and bit her lip, remembering the note she had written him, and wondering if he already got it. She decided to play it safe, in case he didn't get it yet. She walked up to him and smiled.

"You okay?" He managed to say, without losing his control and hugging her fiercly.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm gonna take tomorrow off, okay with you?"

"You are taking a week off, mandatory, maybe more."

"Awww, Horatio..." She started, but he said sharply,

"No arguing. A week. Now get home before I make it two. Try to relax." He softened his tone at the last two sentences, but those words made Calleigh doubt he had gotten her letter, and doubt that he would feel the same way when he did get it. She nodded, saying,

"Yes sir." She waved at the others and walked around Horatio, striding to her car that she had left in the airport parking lot.

Horatio closed his eyes for a moment and then walked away, going to his own car to think.

--

Later, Horatio went to Calleigh's house and knocked on the door. She answered, and her eyes immediately became wary as she invited him in. He heard the stereo blasting, "Gunpowder and Lead" by Miranda Lambert, and turned to see Calleigh watching him.

"Why do you always wear your sunglasses? Sometimes I just want to rip them off to see what you're really feeling."

He smiled at her and ducked his head, saying,

"I always wear them, don't I?

"Mmm hmm."

"Ah," He said, and they stood there for a moment. Slowly he reached up and took off his sunglasses.

He looked up and their eyes locked for the moment. Calleigh saw the hurt, pain and agony he had experienced earlier, and Horatio saw the frayed nerves, emotional turmoil and the vow to not let it show in her eyes. He was at her side in an instant and she locked her arms around his neck in a stranglehold, while he encircled her waist with his strong arms, crushing her to him. They drew strength and comfort from one another, and then Horatio felt Calleigh tense, trying to keep her tears at bay. He scooped her up in his arms and sat on her couch, cradling her and telling her that it was okay to cry. She started crying, silent tears coursing down her cheeks, but then it became full-blown sobs wracking her body while she clung to Horatio. A few tears made their way down Horatio's cheeks when he recalled how close he had come to losing her. She sensed this, and she eased back a little, and wiped his tears away with her hand. He smiled at her, and she smiled back, starting to laugh.

"What?" He asked, wiping her tears away with his thumbs.

"I look like hell, don't I?"

"You were in a horrible ordeal; you have more than the right to look like hell. Besides that, you don't. You've always been beautiful, and you still are."

She half-smiled at him, and then looked downwards, saying,

"Well, you, um, got my letter, huh?"

"Yeah, I did,"

"Am I going to get a reply?" She asked softly, scared of the answer.

He thought about it for a moment, and then swiftly bent his head and pressed his lips to hers. She was surprised, and then began to kiss him back. When they both eased back, Horatio murmured,

"Does that count as a reply?"

"Uh, yeah, I do believe it does," Calleigh said, hugging him tighter.

He leaned back until he was laying down, Calleigh next to him, snuggled together. He turned his attention to the TV and said,

"You like country music?"

"Uh huh. I grew up down south, Horatio, it just grew on me."

"Oh. Who's this?"

"Reba McEntire singing 'Forever Love'."

"Ah," He said, and they lay there, watching music videos until Horatio felt Calleigh's deep breathing that meant that she was asleep. He carefully got up and picked her up. She snuggled against his chest in her sleep, and he smiled. He carried her to her bedroom and laid her down, covering her up. Then, her arms locked around his neck when he was about to leave and Calleigh's sleepy voice said,

"Stay, please, I, want to feel safe,"

"For you, Beautiful, anything," He whispered back and laid down next to her, wrapping her in his arms and they both fell asleep, smiling slightly.

THE END

Hope you liked the ending, I just love country music, so I had to put that in there. I LOVE Reba!! You know the show, "Everybody Loves Raymond"? Well, there should be a show called, "Everybody Loves Reba." That would be perfect, as everyone loves Reba! If you don't, you will. Listen to her and you will. Please review, pretty please!!! Oh, and thanks so much for reading!!!