Chapter 13

The first ring hadn't stopped before Horatio was upright in bed. It was pitch dark in the room and he didn't know what time it was, but in this very moment he could care less. Just like that fact that he was probably waking up Calleigh due his reaching for the telephone and almost dashing the bedside lamp onto the floor in his commotion. He had other priorities. "Caine?" he answered nervously and clutched his blanket with the other hand. "He is?? Really?? Oh my god…oh my god…," he stammered and listened to the woman on the other side. "Thank you, thank you very much…yes I will…thanks again..," he said goodbye and hung up.

Calleigh was also awoken by the ringing and was sitting in the bed too after she had turned on her lamp. While he had been on the phones she had stayed quiet, but now after he had hung up it, she couldn't contain herself. "Tell me already…what did they say?" She didn't assume that it was bad news, because her friend's no, partner's expression was more than happy.

"He woke up. He's conscious and is of sound mind. He had answered every question they had asked him without hesitation," he told her happily and let the phone drop onto the bed. "Isn't that fantastic??"

"More than that actually," she said relieved. "That's wonderful. I'm so happy that he's doing fine." Until now she didn't know anything about Elijah's injuries, but didn't want to be too nosey. But after last night, where a lot of things had changed, it probably wasn't all that nosey. "So he doesn't have serious injuries?"

Sighing Horatio leaned against the headboard and looked at her. "He has a whiplash, excoriations in his face, bruises from the seat belt and a broken leg. But no internal bleedings and this is very, very good."

"Yeah it definitely is," she nodded and leaned against his shoulder to have a look at the alarm clock. "5:30...visiting time starts at 8, right?"

"Yeah, for a usual visitor maybe," Horatio grinned and wrapped his arm around her. "However…we still need some time, aren't we? You have to get ready for work and if it's possible giving me a lift to the hospital, because my car is still waiting there…hopefully."

"Right. That's why I asked. So we have enough time for breakfast and I don't want to hear any excuse, Mister. You will eat something before we take off, got that?" she playfully tipped her finger against his chest. "I don't want you to pass out or something." This could happen faster than one preferred.

"Aye, aye, Ma'am," he grinned broadly and kissed her temple. He was in such a good mood right now, that he would comply with her every wish.

***

"Okay then, give Elijah my regards, although we haven't met, okay? And if something occurs, don't hesitate to call me," Calleigh briefed Horatio in the hospital's parking lot. They had taken their time this morning, had their breakfast and only then they had taken off. In a jiffy Calleigh would drive to her apartment when she had to change and then drive to the lab, hoping that Eric hadn't had other crazy theories during the night. She had made a deal with Horatio to keep silent and therefore Lt. Caine would take some personal days and keep away from work.

Much as she would have liked to visit Elijah, she knew that this wasn't the best moment for it. His mother would be there too and since she officially didn't know the boy, she knew it could get quite awkward. "I have to go, otherwise I'll be late and Eric has a new bet," she smiled flatly and stretched herself to give him a goodbye kiss. "I'll see you later? Just give me a call and we can arrange everything."

"Mhm, I will," he murmured against her lips and gave her a proper kiss. "Don't let yourself get teased by Eric and if he does, tell him that he can salvage the floaters next month, hm?" he smirked cheekily and hugged her. "And yes, I will pass along the regards."

This was the old Horatio and Calleigh loved that. "Oh Eric will be ecstatic about that," she giggled. Satisfied she nodded at him and waited until he entered the hospital.

***

With a "Hey" he entered the room and smiled broadly when he saw his son awake.

"Dad," the boy greeted him quietly and was overjoyed to see his father.

"Good morning, Samantha…"

"Likewise," she nodded and couldn't leave her boy's side.

"How are you feeling, Eli? Are you in any pain?" Horatio asked while he sat down onto the bed.

"No, I'm not. I..Dad…I.."

"Hey...what's wrong?" he asked worried and saw that his son was fighting with himself.

"Dad, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Eli blurted suddenly.

"You don't have to be. It's not your fault, okay? Do you understand, Elijah? It's absolutely not your fault..," Horatio talked insistently but soothing to him.

"It is. I knew that Tom didn't have his license for long and still I drove with him…and we turned up the music and laughed and..," the boy sobbed and that stung Horatio.

"Eli…son, it's not your fault. No one is mad at you. We're just glad, that you're doing fine and nothing worse has happened, okay? Everything is going to be fine," H shook his head. His son was jazzed and agitated.

Samantha felt that it would be better to leave the two men alone and so she decided to get herself a cup of coffee.

"I'll never able to play baseball again, Dad."

Astonished and shocked Horatio looked at him. "But why not? Your leg is just broken. You can play again, as soon as it's healed."

"Definitely not."

"But of course. Or are you throwing with your leg? No you aren't. Everything is going to be fine, Son, I promise."

More and more tears found their way out and rolled over Elijah's cheek, and caused Horatio to go all dewy-eyed.

"I'm just so happy that you're with us Eli. There's nothing more important than that, okay? You'll soon get well," he told him and leaned down, so he could clasp him in his arms without hurting the boy. That his son was crying in his presence hadn't happened for a long time, but for Horatio it felt wonderful, because it was big act of faith. And he reciprocated the gesture wholeheartedly; only with him it was relief that his son was more or less okay. Carefully he held him and stroked his hair, just like he had done when Elijah had been a baby. "Shh, we'll make it partner. Soon you're out of here and then it won't take long until you're on the field again."

As good as he could Elijah nodded and wiped away his tears. "O-okay," he muttered and let his arms fall. "I love you, Dad."

"Me too, Junior..," H smiled and grasped a hanky.

"Dad..I don't want this any longer."

Horatio looked at him confused and wiped away his tears. "What do you mean?"

"I don't want to be hidden any longer. Every time the doctors mentioned my dad, I didn't know if they meant you or Paul; and I never knew what to say." New tears loomed. "Dad I don't want this any longer."

This sting Horatio's heart even more. "I..I know, but-"

"No, Dad. No buts. This is my life and I don't want that," Elijah interrupted him. "Dad please…don't you want that too?"

"Of course I do; you're my son."

"So why don't you do it then?"

This was a reasonable question Horatio had to admit. And when he remembered that Samantha had called him and not the hospital, because they hadn't associated him with Elijah, it turned his stomach. And now when his son was looking at him with teary eyes and just wanted to belong made him feel like a criminal. "I.. I will get the required forms as soon as possible and fill them in with your mom, okay? And if you still want to do it, you can sign it and you'll be a Caine…by name."

"Indeed??"

"Yes. But you're going to concentrate onto healing, deal? We can take care of the other things later."

"It's a promise?"

"Yes, it's a promise, Elijah."

"Then it's settled," the boy smiled.

"What's settled?" Samantha asked curiously when she appeared again with her coffee.

"Oh just something we should have dealt with a long time ago, right Son?"

The boy couldn't help but grin. "Yep."

***

Horatio's kitchen was still a new arena for Calleigh and therefore the cooking proceeded a bit slower than normal. But she was sure that this would change soon and this encouraged her. Just like the fact that he had called her in the afternoon to tell her that Elijah was doing fine so far and the doctors didn't expect any complications. Furthermore they had arranged to meet at his house tonight, so it would be easier for the hospital to reach Horatio. But she didn't mind at all. She was with him and she didn't need more to be happy. Oh well…they were separated again at the moment, but this time only spatial, because her partner had taken a call and had disappeared with the phone into the living room.

So she had to set her hand to the salmon casserole alone. She got this receipt from Tim, but Horatio didn't need to know, if he ever came back into the kitchen.

"Yeah okay, thanks I wish you a nice evening too," Horatio said goodbye and put the telephone onto the kitchen counter. "So how far did you get?" he asked curiously and stood right beside her to examine her progress. Since Cal knew the receipt he was nothing more than a handyman in his own kitchen. And the worst thing was, that he didn't mind it a bit.

"I'm almost done. You just have to explain me this infernal machine of an oven," she smiled and layered the last charge of the cheese into the gratin dish, where could already be found potatoes, salmon, herbs, garlic and a shot of oil. "You need to get grocery shopping with Tim..you need a good olive oil. That's an essential thing in a good kitchen." She had learned a lot from Tim. After she had put the lid onto the dish, she wiped her hands onto a towel and turned to him. "So who was that?"

"Michael and Janet," he answered her dutifully and saw in her questioning gaze that this wasn't enough information. "My ex-in-laws? That's a mouthful to say. Anyway, they're Elijah's grandparents and they wanted to make sure if everything is all right. As well with Elijah as with Samantha.. and probably with me too," he smirked. "You can go shopping with Tim for me," he joked and regulated the oven. "It's not that complicated."

"I'd rather do a DNA analysis than see through this machine," she laughed without meaning it seriously. Then she told him about the news from the lab. "Speaking of Tim, he asked me if he should cook you a chicken soup. The poor guy is afraid of you not coming back…"

"He's afraid of the paperwork," Horatio laughed softly and got serious again. "As good as the soup tastes…I don't think I'm such a good actor," he shook his head and leaned against the oven, which needed to get warm. "And what did Eric do? Did he invite himself to taste the soup too?"

"Tim had talked with me alone prudently," she said while she thought about the other information Horatio had told her. "You're still on good terms with your ex-in-laws? That's good. There are so many families at loggerheads…you constitute a nice exception."

"Well I don't have that much contact with them which is natural. But we meet every year on Christmas and Elijah's birthday and it certainly wouldn't be good for the boy if we don't talk to each other. At the beginning they weren't enthusiastic about the divorce…but meanwhile they accepted it. Especially since Samantha has found someone else," he explained to her with a neutral tone in his voice. "Good thinking of Speed, you never know when it comes to Eric."

"It's nice to hear that about the in-laws." She herself came from a family that was anything but perfect and so she knew that an intact environment was very important for children. "I hope you can wait till the casserole is ready, it will take about 30 minutes."

"Of course. There's something I want to talk with you anyway," he nodded and reached for this wine. "Should we make ourselves comfortable in the living-room?"

Wondering she looked at him. "What do you want to talk about?" she asked worried.

"Nothing bad in case you assume that. It happened in the hospital today," he told her and grabbed her hand to drag her out of the kitchen.

"Wait," she laughed and stopped him. "I should probably put the casserole into the oven, or we can wait for a long time for dinner." That done, she once again took his hand and followed him even though she had no idea what he was talking about.

"You're always thinking with your stomach, Cal," he chided her lovingly and sat down on the couch. When she tried to sit down next to him, he shook his head and pulled her into his lap so she was straddling him. "Much better," he grinned mischievously and took a sip of his whine. "Elijah confessed something to me…which gave me a hard fight and still does actually," he started with the topic and laid one arm around her to give her some support.

Startled she looked at him. "Has it something to do with the accident?"

"Indirectly, yes," he nodded and tried to find a good beginning. "You remember your question? About the non-existing kids? If I would hide them like Eli? Well he confessed to me that he doesn't want to be hidden any longer. That he didn't know if the doctors meant me or Paul when they were talking about his dad…"

She nodded. It was already hard to understand for an adult, but for a teenager? "It stands to reason. He wants to find his place in the family."

"Yes…and I promised him that he will have a place in the Caine family most of all. Technically I wanted to permit that when he turns 21, but after today…I changed my mind. I'm going to make the necessary calls, request the documents and make it possible for him to change his name as soon as possible. So he will be a Caine.. not Fisher."

Calleigh watched Horatio's face closely and she saw that he was very proud. "Then it's like it should have been from the beginning. It's wonderful and I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you, but I should actually be ashamed of hiding my own son. I still have an uneasy feeling I have to admit, but I think it's the right decision. If it makes Elijah happy, it makes me happy too." It was that easy. "And this also answers your question, hm?"

Tenderly she rested her arms on his shoulders, so her hands met behind his neck, bent forward and nudged his tip of the nose with her own. "Yes, this answers my question." This would have been an issue of dispute.

"Very good," he leaned forward to kiss her, but couldn't since she bent backwards. "Meanie."

"Who me?" she giggled.

"Yes you, Ma'am," he nodded, but couldn't hide his own smile. "I've been a very good boy today."

"And you should get your reward for that…," she grinned and added in a whisper, "…later."

"Mhm, that's more than mean," he laughed and leaned back again. "I'll get you back to that."

"I'm counting on it."

"I keep my promises, Ma'am. Scouts honor," he winked at her and had a very good time.

Tbc

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