Title: Solace

Author: AllOverTheWorld

Shippers: Horatio/Calliegh

Summary: Calleigh takes solace in firearms, as strange as it seems to most; she finds comfort amongst Sig Sauers, Colts, Sniper Rifles, and Shot Guns, Machine Guns, exploding rounds and gun powder. Most, if not all, on the CSI team know where to find her after a particularly long or hard (most times both) case: her ballistics lab. What happens when that solace is shattered? When her one sanctuary is no longer what it was? Where will she go? Who can she turn to?

Authors Notes: Thank you to zzsydneyzz, lusiana88, ajay1960, Pinkyster and littlehappyrock all of who reviewed my first chapter! Quick warning for this chapter: hints to abuse.

Enjoy!

As Horatio entered the break room he instantly noticed a change in Calleigh's behavior. She was no longer crying or shaking and she was sitting tall in the chair. Sighing inwardly he knew that this could only mean that Calleigh was trying to hide her true emotions from everyone (herself included) and still come off as the strong willed ballistics expert. The internalization would only lead to a massive breakdown, probably, Horatio thought grimly, when she is alone.

He knew why he was bothered like he was about Calleigh not freely expressing her emotions and why he was sure she would have an emotional and mental breakdown. It was, he told himself, because they were coworkers and he cared deeply about everyone he worked with. Although Calleigh and Horatio were different, he knew that and she knew that. They had worked together for a number of years and seen each other (not always knowingly or intentionally) through the worst of times. What he couldn't quite reason out was why he didn't want her to break down alone.

Of course, like any good person, he had multiple reasons for this but none that seemed to fit. In his own opinion they seemed more like excuses for something bigger, something that was eluding him as of right now. Some of these were actually quite logical: the foremost being that Calleigh's house was perhaps the best armed house in Miami, giving her multiple, painless and effective ways to end the pain that he knew she was feeling. Another, less prominent one was that was his best ballistics expert and having a complete breakdown with no one there would affect how she worked. (The latter reason, he concluded was utter bullshit but nevertheless it was a reason)

Natalia looked up as he entered the room and seemed almost relieved that he had come and it wasn't hard to figure out why. Knowing Calleigh she had probably shrugged off all attempts of comfort from the young CSI and Natalia no doubt felt awkward because she wanted to know more but knew better than to push Calleigh for information. As she walked out Horatio muttered his thanks before turning his full attention to Calleigh.

She was sitting a little too straight in her chair and just by looking in her eyes he could see that her heart was still racing. Also, he noted, she had jumped ever so slightly as he had pulled open the door. A detail he knew she was sure that he had missed. Deciding that taking a seat on the sofa opposite the chair she was currently residing was probably his safest option Horatio sat down. A silence lapsed between the two colleagues as Horatio studied Calleigh for a moment, gauging best how to handle this. It was crucial that he know the past between Matthews and Calleigh but at the same time it was painfully obvious that she didn't want to talk about it.

To his surprise, at yet it wasn't so surprising, Calleigh initiated the conversation "I met Gunnar when I was seventeen, he was eighteen at the time but I didn't care."

Horatio nodded but internally he knew that this was yet another bad sign. Calleigh was speaking in a flat voice and was allowing no emotion into her words, however he didn't say anything. At this point Horatio just wanted to know what Matthews had done to reduce Calleigh to a shaking, crying mess in her own lab.

"Basically the three years we dated he beat the shit out of me on a daily basis. In the end I took my fathers gun and when he started to attack me I pulled it out. Let's just say he wasn't too pleased when he got sentenced to twelve years in prison, thanks to a few priors."

Horatio suspected, more like he knew, there was more to that story than she was telling him this was not the time to push her for details. It was clear that she wasn't letting her walls down for anyone, not even him. Also, that was all he needed to write his report on the incident because he could pull Gunnar Matthews' rap sheet and other records from the database, no need to stress Calleigh out anymore.

They lapsed into another silence this one Horatio took the liberty to break before she got to comfortable in her thoughts, the last thing he wanted to do was make her jump again "Frank wants a report by tomorrow, if you feel up to it." He said quietly

Her green eyes flashed and she said, somewhat angrily "Of course I'm up to it. What? I've gotten shot at before, what makes you think this time is any different?"

Well Horatio thought to himself For starts Matthews broke into your lab and tried to shoot you. Not to mention the history the two of you have. Knowing it was beyond unwise to voice his real thoughts at this particular moment he instead said "Calleigh" he started and their eyes met as she listened to what he had to say "I know from experience that no matter how many times you get shot at you never quite get used to it. I was simply offering you the chance to recover a little before having to relive the moment."

She shook her head, rejecting his reasoning "I'll be fine."

Lies. They both knew that what she had just said was a lie but neither on acknowledged it, at least not at in the present.

"I'll write up my report for Frank and the IAB then I'm going home."

Horatio, rather desperately, wanted to say 'Let me come with you' but again, this was not the time to try and comfort her. She would only take it as an insult and throw up more walls between herself and the outside world. "Okay." He said and stood up "I'll be downstairs." If you need me he added mentally

"Okay." It was a simple farewell, needed no explanation or showing of emotion and to be honest Calleigh wasn't quite sure how long she could hold up this 'tough girl' persona.

Horatio rose and silently exited to break room.

SNAP

Natalia peered down at the picture she had just taken, checking that everything was in focus, before looking back into the tiny window. Framed in that window was the face of a dead man, not her first by any means but her first one in the ballistics lab. He had golden brown hair that was up in the classic 'bad boy' spikes, in a not so desperate attempt to look tough. His eyes, still open (even in death) were a shining shade of emerald green. They had a familiar sparkle that took Natalia a moment to place but then, even if it was an assumption, she understood why Calleigh was acting as she had.

He had the perfect face and the perfect eyes to attract the attention of any girl in any bar he walked into. Shame it had to be Calleigh who fell into his trap. Natalia knew how it had been for Calleigh, whenever their relationship had been, because she had been through the same thing herself. At first he seemed like the perfect guy, charming and attractive and he did quirky romantic things that made you fall even more in love with him. This would all last for a few months but then, one night; it would be like a switch had been flipped.

He might have been drunk or he might not have been, when it first happened. In her experience the first few incidents happened while he was drunk, therefore he had the perfect excuse. It would be a slap or a rough shove into a wall, nothing major. She would temporarily be in shock and, knowing Calleigh, she probably fought back, which only proved to further agitate him.

Then the incidents would become more and more frequent and as they did the marks he left would last longer than those of the time before. Soon she would be trapped in the constant cycle of abuse, apologies, abuse, apologies. It was endless. There would be moments when they would act like they had but most of the time she was creeping around, fearing the next attack.

This could continue for weeks, months or, more likely, years until finally she had the courage to leave or do something that ended the violence. However at that point she was beaten into a shell that separated her self from the outside world. Walls were built that prevented anyone from getting that close again and all emotions and fears were shoved into a corner, pushed aside to be dealt with at a later date.

Snap

Once again she peered at the picture that popped up and as she looked at it she noticed something on his chest. Transferring her gaze from the picture to the real body Natalia looked at the collar of Gunnar Matthews' shirt she pulled it down with a single gloved finger. Her keen eyes had spotted not a button or some other smudge but the top curve of the word "Revenge", tattooed in black in just under his collar bone.

In a way the cryptic prison tattoo was a good sign for the investigation the IAB was already opening. It provided more evidence that Horatio's kill shot was warranted well that and the security camera footage of the entire attack. It was going be an open and shut case for them but, Natalia suspected, it was going to be a long road for Calleigh.

A tad bit shorter than last time but nevertheless it is another chapter. I deeply appreciate any and all reviews I receive.

Thanks for reading,

AllOverTheWorld