Chapter 9

"Okay and now carefully…I said carefully," Horatio instructed his driver and looked out of the side window to make sure the car wouldn't bump something.

"It's not the first time I've parked a car, Dad," Eli complained and did his best.

"Yes, but now you could bump my colleagues' car and that wouldn't look good…," Horatio answered him and was relieved that they were sitting in the GMC and not the Hummer. For one thing because it was less conspicuous and for another thing people would have thought that he was drunk.

"Mission accomplished," the boy said proudly and pulled the automatic on park.

"Well it's a bit crooked, but fine," Horatio nodded and reached for the case file on the back seat.

"But you need to hurry, Dad. The game will start soon and I can't be late."

"I know, I know. I offered to drive you, but you didn't want to hear that," Horatio replied and got out of the car. "Stay seated and don't open the door, okay?"

"Dad, this is a police parking lot. What could happen to me here?" the boy groaned in annoyance.

"Just do what I tell you and you better not change my radio stations."

"Who me? Never." At least as long as his dad was nearby. Besides he had brought a CD with him that was much better. "Hurry."

Horatio just rolled his eyes and hurried over the parking lot to the lab. Today was Saturday and normally it was his day off, but he had taken an important file with him, which needed to be back today. Consequently he just wore jeans and t-shirt, which didn't fit to the normal attire he wore in the lab. The looks he got as a response went from confusion, over shock to appreciation. Especially from the female staff, who probably had never thought that their boss would own such clothes. But since he didn't have much time, he didn't stop for conversations, but went straight to his office where he put the file on his desk and made his way back outside. Elijah had his last game of the season and he didn't want to miss that. Not to mention the fact that his son was waiting for him.

The fact that Horatio Caine was wearing casual clothes in the lab, had quickly made its way to the break room and therefore to Calleigh, who was drinking a coffee there. She knew what he looked like and so she couldn't blame the ladies drooling over him. She almost had a heart attack the first time she had seen him like this. However she didn't care about that right now. She had taken Alexx' advice to heart and since she had nothing to do, she wanted to take the chance to talk to him. Without thinking she followed him to the parking lot where she called his name.

Surprised Horatio stopped in his steps and turned around. This was the first time since their break up that Calleigh talked to him by her own choice.

"I'm glad I caught you..," she stopped breathlessly. "I..uhm…"

Curious but also a little bit impatient Horatio looked at her. "Calleigh I.."

"Horatio…I'm sorry…"

Intrigued he tilted his head. That sounded like fun. "Yes?"

"I..uhm…could we talk? In private?"

Sighing, Horatio looked to the GMC and back to Calleigh. "No."

Taken aback she stared at him. "No?" she repeated dejected. "But…"

"Calleigh, I don't have much time. My son has a baseball game and is sitting there in the car," he explained and pointed to the GMC. "And we're already a bit late. If you want to talk to me, you can come to my house later. And now…I need to go." Though he didn't believe that Calleigh really wanted to talk to him. A simple 'I'm sorry' wouldn't be enough. She had hurt him badly and he showed her that by giving her a cold shoulder.

Confused Cal looked to the car and thought that she could just make out a figure in the driver's seat. So this was Elijah. She just could make the outlines. "I..I'll be there..," she promised.

"Mhm, okay. See you," Horatio replied half hearted and walked to the car.

"Who was that, Dad?" Elijah greeted his father curiously, the second he got into the car. "Calleigh?"

"Yes," was the short reply.

"And what did she want?" Interested he looked at the lady. His father liked blondes, that was for sure.

"That's not worth mentioning. And now let's go, or we will be too late."

"Aye-aye, Sir," Eli saluted and started the engine. "Too bad it's not the Hummer, we could use the sirens then."

"Elijaaaah."

***

Being in high spirits the Fisher/Caine family celebrated a successful ending of a great season in the garden.

"Did you see how I curved the last ball? I didn't even know I was able to do that," Elijah laughed and imitated the movements again.

"Considering you aren't a Pitcher, it was really good," Amber praised her boyfriend. "Maybe you should ask the coach, if you could specialize on this position?"

"I don't know, I also like the home plate," he shrugged and sat down next to her.

"Anyway, you all played great and deserved the win," Samantha interposed.

"Dad, when is the dinner ready? I'm starving."

"Nothing new, Junior," Horatio laughed. "It will take a few more minutes."

"Hmph, great. I'll be too weak to eat then."

"That's great, so the others have more then," Horatio teased and reached for his glass. Just as he was about to drink something the doorbell rang.

"Huh? Did you invite someone else, Elijah?"

"Me? Why me? Maybe it's Paul?"

"No, Paul isn't in the city."

"I'll have a look," Horatio stepped in since he knew who it was, or so he thought that is. She was indeed here, well that was a surprise to put it mildly.

There weren't many situations in which Calleigh got nervous, but this one definitely belonged to them. She tried to calm her shaking nerves by taking some deep breaths, but only with a doubtful result. She had repelled the urge to drive back home several times, but decided against it. When she heard someone's footsteps, she held her breath and made step back.

Through the open patio door, Horatio could hear the laughing of the others and he could imagine that Elijah was making jokes. He must have that from his mother's side. Arriving at the front door, he looked through the peephole and got his affirmation – it was Calleigh. Outside calm, but inside tensed, he opened the door. "Calleigh…"

"Hi," she breathed out audible and gave him a small smile. The fact that she had gone through the whole conversation while driving was getting her nowhere now, because it surprised her that Horatio had actually opened the door, since he had been a bit unkind on the parking lot. "Uhm…I hope I didn't interrupt anything.."

"Oh well, I.."

"DAD, I think the steaks will be charcoal soon," Elijah called through the garden and house. Why should he go to his dad, when a nice shout would do the same?

"Then turn them or get them off the barbecue," Horatio called back.

"I can? Cool!!"

Horatio just rolled his eyes and dedicated his attention to Calleigh. "His team had won and since it was the last game of the season…we have a small BBQ here..Elijah, Samantha and me," he explained her.

Calleigh had heard every word and could smack herself. Why had she assumed to find Horatio alone? "Oh, well then…it's unfortunate..," she murmured. Just as wrong as the assumption to have a undisturbed conversation was the belief that this talk would run smoothly. If there would be a talk at all, because at the moment it looked like Horatio had better things to do.

"Not favorable, but not impossible," Horatio replied and got interrupted again.

"DAD, could we start dinner?? Or I'll be famished!!!"

"Horatio this is absolutely you. No one in my family is that theatrical," Samantha laughed.

Horatio groaned. "Gee, yes, eat something..and the others too. There's enough food…," he called back and grinned. "Still..," he added quietly and shook his head. "I'm sorry, they're both badly brought up. Where were we? Right, if you want to you can come in. If we hurry, we can probably get something to eat."

"DAD"

"GOSH YES."

By this time all courage had left her, because it became more and more clear that an easy and clarifying talk with Horatio wouldn't be possible. At the same time, Alexx's words were running through her mind and confused her. Because Alexx had told her that Horatio was down and full of self-reproach, but she saw nothing of that. Either she had misunderstood Alexx or Horatio had fooled the doctor, like he had done with her. "I should better get going…your…family…is waiting for you." This was useless. With every minute she realized that Horatio wouldn't leave his family. Why should he?

"And there you are mistaken," Horatio shook his head and slouched his shoulders. "I had a family. For three months. And this family…broke into pieces a week ago.." And he still didn't know the reason why when he thought about it. "Elijah is my son, Samantha is his mother and my ex-wife, but that doesn't make us a family…at least not the one I want." And he would probably never have the one he wished for and that hurt a lot.

"Dad are you coming?" Elijah called again and Horatio didn't answer.

"I'm sorry Calleigh, but I need to go back to the garden.."

"That's okay," she put him off and not only looked disappointed, she really was. "I..I don't want to hold you back." She didn't want to admit it, but Horatio's explanation hit her hard. Apparently, Horatio had seen something more in their relationship and due to her ignorance she had destroyed it. With slumped shoulders and sad face, she turned around. "Have a nice time…see you.." To make things worse, she would see him every day in the lab.

"Thanks," Horatio replied quietly and closed the door behind him. Inside, he leaned against it and needed to take a few calming breaths. This whole situation was one big mess and he had no idea how or even if he should fix it. It didn't look good right now.

"Dad are you still here?" Elijah entered the house and saw his father standing in the hallway. "Dad?"

"I'm coming…"

"Who was that?"

"It was..uhm…Calleigh," he said honestly and walked to his son.

"Doesn't she want to have dinner with us?"

"This isn't…no she doesn't," he shook his head slowly.

"Dad, maybe you should-"

"Elijah, please. Just let's get something to eat and enjoy the day, okay?" He didn't feel like talking about this relationship.

"Yeah…it's okay…Mum has set something aside for you," he tried to cheer up his dad. He didn't like the way his father was only half of a man, except when he had someone around him who kept him occupied. Something had to happen, there was no mistake about it.