Damned

A/N: This is the chapter everyone has been asking me for. Sadly, this part of the ride is coming to an end but please don't leave me yet! There still so much more to tell.

And I know that Im damned if I never get out and maybe Im damned if I do, but with every other beat I got left in my heart you know Id rather be damned with you.-Meatloaf, Bat out of Hell

The card shook in Horatio's hand as his soul literally tore in two. He couldn't do it. He couldn't go back into that resturant and pretend like he'd never read those heart shattering words. He couldn't keep playing this role that he'd cast himself in. No, this changed everything.

Placing the card back in his coat pocket, Horatio reentered the restaurant and made a beeline for the woman who was supposed to become Mrs. Lt. Horatio Caine in a mere 48 hours.

"We need to talk." He whispered urgently as he pulled Marisol aside. She stared at him widly.

"What it is, Horatio?"

"I can't do this." He stated simply. She looked at him for a long moment before breaking into a smile.

"You're getting cold feet. I knew it would happen eventually. But it's okay, you'll see. When you stand up there at the altar and see me walking towards you, everything will be fine." She reassured. Horatio shook his head.

"Maybe I'm not making myself clear to you so let me try again. I won't marry you, Marisol." Horatio painfully watched as a variety of emotions flashed in her dark brown eyes but one stood out clearly from the others; anger.

"How could you do this to me?" She growled, biting back bitter tears.

"Because it's the right thing to do. It would be fair to you or me to go through with this lie."

"Lie? Are you call our relationship a lie?" Marisol eyes narrowed and Horatio cold have sworn that he saw steam coming from her ears.

"It wasn't what it should have been." He admitted honestly. Marisol reached up and slapped him, hard.

"You bastard." She cried, tears now streaming down her cheeks. Horatio didn't respond. There was nothing more to say. So he turned and walked away from her. "I won't let her have you, Horatio! I won't let her!" She yelled after her. He didn't turn around.

Calleigh sat in the living room next to the big picture window. She was getting better, or so they all told her, and to some extent, she agreed. There were certain things like the empty space in the drive way or the pictures on the wall, that didn't hurt so much. But then there were things like the empty side of the bed or memories of that night that were just too much to face. So Calleigh wasn't sure if she'd called herself 'better' but improving.

A loud, insistant banging at her front door, brought Calleigh back to her surroundings. She glanced out the window and saw Horatio waiting impatiently on her doorstep. Sighing, she slowly wheeled herself over and opened the door.

"What are you doing here, Horatio?" She asked sadly. He held up her note.

"I made a mistake, Cal." Calleigh bowed her head, not wanting to look at him. Horatio had other plans. He took a step into the house, closing the door behind him. He then placed a hand under her chin and lifted it up to look her in the eye.

"Horatio, please." She pleaded, pulling away from him. "We've already have this conversation and I already know your answer. I don't need you to try and justify it to me." Calleigh wheeled herself back into the living room. Horatio followed.

"I broke off my engagement to Marisol." Calleigh stopped dead in her tracks and turned around.

"What?"

"I'm not marrying her, Calleigh." He stated calmly. She just stared at him dumbfounded.

"You're not?"

"No. Because, you see, you can't marry someone when you're in love with someone else now can you?" Calleigh shook her head, too shocked to speak. "I made a mistake, Cal. I choose Marisol because I thought it was the right thing to do. I had made a promise to her and you know I don't break promises. But I didn't love her, not the way I love you." Horatio explained. Calleigh closed her eyes.

"Do you know what you're saying to me?" She whispered. Horatio came and knelt before her.

"I love you, Calleigh Duquesne. I have always loved you. And if you can find it in your heart to forgive me for all the times I hurt you and let me back into your life, I promise to never hurt you or leave you again." Calleigh opened her eyes and looked at the man kneeling before her.

"I love you too." She chocked out as Horatio wiped away the tears she didn't even know she was crying. "And I forgive you." Horatio burst out into the biggest smile as tears filled his own eyes. "This isn't going to be easy. I've still got a long road ahead of me." She warned. Horatio placed a finger over her lips.

"We'll walk it together."

Fin