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: Once again I send my thanks out to my reviewees (muddpuppy19; daxy; Pinkyster; ajay1960 and littlehappyrock).

As she stepped across the threshold Calleigh's reached out with her left arm and grabbed the SIG Sauer 9mm she kept hidden in her coat rack. Once her hand settled on the handle of the gun she pulled it out and inserted it into her holster, just in case. Dropping her bags on the floor was all she managed to do before the walls broke and the waves of emotion crashed down. First to hit her was fear, an in controllable fear and even as made her way to her bedroom, hand still resting comfortably on the handle of her gun, Gunnar's face loomed out of the darkness. As she made it into her bedroom the last of her strength left her and she collapsed and she sank down with her back against the wall.

Here, alone, free from the confines of the CSI lab and the facade she had to put on whilst there was no longer necessary. It dropped to the floor about as fast as she fell to it and she quickly became a sobbing mess. Unlike back in the lab no feelings of guilt or shame came with this episode just the next wave which was disgust. As she leaned against the wall she could literally feel his hands creeping across her stomach and she heard the sharp intake of breath as he undid the button of her pants. She could feel his excitement building as he pressed the gun sharper into her temple.

She fingered the growing bruise and suddenly a flash back over came her:

"Calleigh!" he called out angrily, his voice echoing around the small apartment "Calleigh, god dammit where are you?"

Scrambling to her feet, she practically fell off the couch and made a loud thumping noise in the process which only helped to piss Gunnar off even more. He walked, loudly and (if possible) angrier than when he had walked in the apartment "Jesus" he sand strode over to Calleigh and roughly grabbed her arm.

He pulled her to his feet and even as she was on the rise she could smell the whiskey, it was basically dripping from his pores. Their eyes met and she saw that familiar glaze, the glaze that meant she was going to be his punching bag, again. His fist connected with her stomach and if not for his vice-like grip on her arm she would have crumpled to the floor. He laughed, more like a merciless bark with a hint of amusement "You that weak Calleigh baby?" he asked "Maybe you're just tired? Let's go to bed, shall we?"

She closed her eyes trying to find a place that wasn't this damn apartment, in his iron grip but she her childhood memories were not the greatest nor were anything as of late, she had nothing. He dragged her to the bedroom and threw her onto the bed. Her head hit the headboard, hard, and the world began to flash and spin as she sunk (almost willingly) into the darkness.

Calleigh's eyes snapped open and she was met with the almost darkness of her own room. The only light came from the streetlight and now, for one of the first times, she appreciated its normally bothersome orange glow. However, for this was not the time for appreciation of lighting for the city of Miami butshe was still in full on panic mode.

Barely able to control her own thoughts she leaned against the hardwood frame of her doorway unable to control neither the tears rolling down her face or the ever increasing thought of how nice her gun was sounding right about now. Her fingers twitched towards it and rested, briefly on the trigger and for a long moment she seriously considered ending it all, all the pain and anger, everything. Then she saw John lying on the floor a pool of blood spreading on the floor by his head. In a single movement she pulled out the gun and hurled it across the room, flinching as it clattered and slid across her bathroom floor. She took a deep ragged breath and another set of uncontrollable emotions coursed through and she was lost in the haze.

Horatio Caine had done a few things in his life that were questionable, morally. However he always had a reason to justify them if not to himself then to the always vicious public eye (aka the IAB). This was on a whole different level then anytime he could think of. No, no ones life was in danger by his action. He didn't intend for anyone to get hurt. In fact, unlike the other times, he wanted to prevent something very bad from happening to someone he cared about deeply. Perhaps deeper than he understood in the present.

He watched, without seeing, the light bounce off the object in his hands. The rays of light that came from the lamp on his desk reflected off of the curved edges and ragged mountain like parts of the key to Calleigh Duquesne's house. They had traded years ago, for professional reasons, and neither had ever used them since the switch. However now, as he sat in his office, his started at the shining silver key wondering if he should use it.

Ever part of him was screaming to leave this god damn building and drive, faster than was safe or legal, to her house and taking her up in his arms. He wanted to hold her and let her cry, or scream or whatever she needed to do. He just needed a reason. He had plenty of reasons but nothing that really struck him as honest.

I'm worried about her.

She shouldn't be alone.

Calleigh just got attacked in the one place that she uses as her Mecca, by a man who used to abuse her, that's got to have had nasty affects on her.

Horatio cursed under his breath and decided that he didn't need a reason (actually he had one but there was no way he was going to use it, not yet). Striding out of his office he gave a curt nod to the night shift guard at the front desk and stepped out into the fresh, night air. The night air was strangely refreshing and it cooled his flaming emotions as he walked to his Hummer. Sliding inside her turned on the monster (not to mention gas guzzling) engine and sped out of the parking lot. He drove, wildly, with one hand and in the other hand was clenched the key that would take him to Calleigh.

He arrived on her block and decided that slowing down might be in the best interest of both his life and the well being of Calleigh. He parked his car and walked up the front steps, pausing for a moment as he considered what he was about to do. He could step back, go home and get a good nights rest but his ears caught the sound of something clattering made up his mind for him.

He put the key in the lock and stepped inside the dark house. He listened for any sound and hearing none he quickly checked the first floor and seeing nothing he headed up to her room. The sight that met his eyes tore his heart out. Calleigh was in a ball on the floor, shaking and crying. The source of the clatter, he discovered was from the gun that now lying on the floor of her bathroom.

"Calleigh." He said quietly and a pang of guilt as she flinched and turned to look at him. Her eyes were still streaming with tears and he could see what Gunnar had done to her had damaged her to an extent he rarely saw. He was amazed and impressed that she had remained as in self control as she had.

He crouched down next to Calleigh and gently wrapped one arm around her shoulder "Sweetheart." He said quietly and fully sat down next to her.

The presence of Horatio was not unwelcome in fact at this point Calleigh was glad that there was anther person here with her. Of course of all the people it could have been, Horatio was the best case scenario (apparently she still had some luck left in the world). She felt his arm wrap around her shoulder and she just fell into his chest. She lost herself in the comfort he provided without even trying.

This chapter was the first part of this night because I just wanted to get them together. The next chapter will be, well, I hope you like it.

Question of the chapter:

Best Horatio one liner?