She found herself standing outside in the warm sun. She was high up overlooking the beach and the beautiful sunset. She leaned her arms across the railing, admiring the beautiful view. She closed her eyes now, just listening to the sound of waves crashing down and the cool breeze that followed. It gave her a chill and she stood up and rubbed her arms now, to warm herself up. Suddenly from behind her, another pair of hands moved on her arms now, masculine hands, gently rubbing up and down to create warmth.
He put his arms around her and softly squeezed, she let her head fall back onto his chest and closed her eyes again. It felt so good to be in his arms, she thought. She had waited so long for this and now she wanted to stay there... forever. Soft music began to play as he held her,lovingly. Soft guitar strings followed by a beautiful smooth trumpet played. It was beautiful and perfect she thought, with her eyes closed, leaning back into him.
"This is beautiful, who is it Horatio?"
"Mmm. Chris Botti." He said lowly, seductively, breathing it into her ear. "To Love Again" He said, his voice deep, husky.
"Mmmm, it's beautiful, I never heard anything like it, it's… soothing. She smiled now.
"Not as beautiful as you." He whispered into her ear now, softly kissing it.
He lowered his head to her neck and gently slid her hair back with his hand. He placed soft kisses down her exposed neck and she moaned ever so lightly at his caress. She turned around now, into his embrace and smiled at him. She leaned back on the railing now with both hands holding on. He move forward, closing the distance and put one hand on the railing besides her left hand. She reached up and traced her fingertip over his lips, he smiled. She looked down shyly and he lifted her chin with his right hand now.
He leaned in and softly captured her lips with his, endless sweetness, he thought. She pulled back now and broke the kiss; she smiled back at him now, with a twinkle in her eye. She began to move to her right, when he quickly grabbed the railing with his right hand now. Trapping her, between his arms, he smiled and raised his eyebrows to her now. He moved in even closer now and pressed his body into her, his arousal evident. She reached up and kissed him with forcefulness now, her tongue probing, her body aching for more. He responded and deepened the kiss, she moaned into his mouth with longing.
She coiled her arms around his neck and he slid his arms around and down to her rear. He pulled her into him, kneading her rear, softly moaning in pleasure. He slowly stepped back still kissing and holding her, she moved with him, following his lead, never breaking the kiss. He sat down on a chaise lounge and gently pulled her down on top of him. She smiled to him now and cuddled in close to him; he quickly stole another kiss and held her tight in his arms. She heard her name being called, she thought.
"Calleigh, Calleigh" Her name being called in a whisper.
She picked up her head and opened her eyes, dazed. It was the doctor.
"Is everything ok?" She looked at Horatio and then the monitors.
She was dreaming, it was all just a dream. Tears began to fill her eyes as she realized it.
"Easy Calleigh, everything is fine, he's doing fine. Joe said.
"Here, get up a second" and Maria wheeled over a reclining chair for her to be more comfortable on. She gave her some blankets.
Calleigh went to move but Horatio's hand held on to her tightly.
She stopped and just looked down at his hand in awe. Horatio's hand
holding hers, she smiled. Maybe it wasn't just a dream, she thought. Calleigh sat down in the recliner and now, Joe sat down in the chair. He rubbed his neck with his hand and leaned his head forward.
"Long day huh?" Calleigh asked him.
"Yes. Very long… too long. It started out badly but… looks like it's going to end… Promising." He smiled to her.
"Yes, it is." She answered smiling now, thinking of her dream and that beautiful song. It still played in her mind as he was holding her close. She closed her eyes bringing the memory clearer. She wanted to go back to sleep and dream again, of him and her, together.
"What time is it? She asked him.
"2:00 in the morning"
"What are you still doing here?" Calleigh asked him yawning now.
"Late emergency, just finishing up now. I just wanted to check on him one last time and figured I'd say goodnight."
"Thank you for the chair and thank you for stopping by again so late." She continued. "Thank you for everything docto…, I mean Joe." She shook her head with a smiled.
"No problem Calleigh. You better get some rest yourself" He said, and stood up stretching his back. He was getting lost in her eyes again and realized he should be going.
"I'll stop by first thing in the morning and see how he's doing. Good night."
"Night" Calleigh answered him. "Thank you again!"
He smiled and went over to Maria and they spoke for a while, when he looked back over, Calleigh was fast asleep again. He hoped that this time she was a bit more comfortable.
Horatio's monitor beeped, Joe and Maria went over to check.
Maria said, "His O2 is getting better".
Joe looked at Maria and whispered "She's good medicine for him."
They walked away quietly. Calleigh still holding on to his hand as she slept.
Joe said good night to Maria and left but not without taking another glance over to where Calleigh laid.
"Hmm, he's one lucky guy, he thought to himself and left.
Three days passed and Horatio was in and out of consciousness. They gave him medication that kept him sedated and relaxed. They wanted to keep him asleep so that his body could heal and he could sleep off the pain. Another reason of course was the breathing tube; people usually tried to pull it out first chance they got, especially when they first wake up. So they kept him sedated and asleep, the breathing tube was to be taking out on the fourth day if all went well.
Alex picked up some clothes and things for Calleigh. She stood with him and did not leave to go home. Eric, Ryan and Frank came to visit a little each day, still working on the case. Alex would come by, pay a visit, and they would take a little coffee break together.
Calleigh saw Joe a few times everyday and was becoming friendlier with him now. He gave her scrubs to wear to bed one night and brought her coffee in the mornings. He heard bits and pieces of what had happened and never pushed Calleigh to tell him.
She began looking forward to seeing him everyday, he made her smile. He also was taking excellent care of Horatio and she really appreciated that.
He had a great personality and was funny, she really liked that. He was about 5'10 with brown hair and blue eyes. His body was solid, a bit muscular.
"How is he today?" Alex asked Calleigh.
"Well he opened his eyes last night for a few seconds and Joe thinks we can maybe take the breathing tube out today."
"That's great news Cal. Did Joe come in…..."
"Ok, let's see how he's doing today." Joe said walking into the room with Maria.
"Now that's, what I call timing." Alex smiled and said hello.
Joe greeted them and began to examine Horatio's vitals and O2 level,
everything was looking good. He tired to talk to him now. He took out his penlight and checked his eyes.
"Lieutenant Caine, can you hear me?" He asked. Opening his eyelids, with his thumb.
Horatio's eyes closed when Joe shined the light into them.
"Well he's up!" Joe said.
Calleigh and Alex were at attention, waiting with anticipation.
Joe warned them "Ladies, he made still need it." He did not want them to get their hopes up.
"Maybe, maybe not," Calleigh said with a grin. Alex turned and smiled to Calleigh. She loved how positive she was, never doubting Horatio for one moment.
"Ok, Lieutenant I am going to pull and I want you to take a deep breath and push it out for me, ok?
Horatio's eyes fluttered opened, Joe was leaning over him now.
"You with me" Joe asked him. "Nod you head,… You with me…
lieutenant?"
Horatio nodded and now groaned. His eyes were glazed but he seemed to understand. He nodded yes again, stronger now and his eyes stood open.
"Here we go." And Joe pulled the breathing tube out.
Horatio's eyes went wide and he starting coughing and choking, he groaned and his right hand came up to his chest and ribs. He placed his hand on his chest and winced. He moved it lower to his ribs and rested it across his abdomen. He was trying to protect his ribs, he was in pain.
He tried to lift his head and the room spun, he was feeling dizzy. His head dropped right back down onto the pillow. He closed his eyes, wishing the spinning would stop; he tried to take a deep breath but realized too late, it was a mistake.
The pain shot right through his chest and lungs. When he tried, his rib cage expanded, causing him more pain. He tensed into the bed and groaned in pain, clenching his jaw now.
"Hey easy, take it easy, your ok." Joe put his hand on Horatio's left shoulder, keeping him down. "Here, I'll lift the bed for you, ok? Joe said.
Horatio nodded to him and tried to talk but was to dry.
"Joe, can he have some water yet?" Calleigh asked holding a cup in her hand now.
Horatio heard her voice "Ca..l..le" He started coughing again and held his ribs, with both arms now.
"Here try this." Joe said to Calleigh and gave her a sponge stick to wet his lips and mouth.
She leaned over him on the right side and began moving it across his lips. He opened his eyes wide and saw her.
"Better?" She asked.
"Umm." Horatio moaned to her nodding yes.
"Open your mouth Horatio." And she wet his mouth and tongue with it. He tried to clear his throat to talk, it came out in a low gruffly whisper.
"Cal,.. you… ok?" He asked, looking at her now, nervously.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She laughed and smiled at him shaking her head.
"I'm not the one in the hospital bed, Horatio." She smiled to him, lightly rubbing his arm up and down.
"Hey sugar, how you doing? You gave us quite a scare Horatio." Alexx said softly to him.
"I..'m… o..k." He answered Alexx hoarsely and began coughing again,
holding his ribs.
"Wha..t happened,... what about…." Horatio held his breath in pain now and closed his eyes.
"Ok, that's about enough, and NO, you're NOT ok!" Joe stated to Horatio, seriously.
"Maria, when did he get his last shot of morphine?"
"20 minutes ago Dr. Gannon."
"Ok, I want to give him another shot now and double the dose, he's in too much pain." I want him to sleep it off. I want that CT scan of his ribs and chest by the end of today Maria."
"I'll get right on it Dr. Gannon."
She gave the doctor the syringe and picked the phone up, "CT Dept? She asked.
" Dr. Gannon needs a stat CT scan of the chest and ribs. Ok, thank you." She answered.
"How's 1 pm today sound? " She asked the doctor. "Great, thank you Maria."
"Wait,… I don't…" Horatio started when he saw the needle. Then he went into another coughing fit, holding both his arms tightly to his body.
"You ok, you'll be feeling better in a moment, hang on? Joe said.
Horatio closed his eyes in pain now and groaned. "Ummm." Was all Horatio could muster.
"No more talking now, I mean it lieutenant, and yes you do need it!" He finished Horatio's sentence for him.
He injected the morphine into the IV line and in seconds Horatio was fast asleep again.
"I get this feeling, he's not going to make this easy?" Joe said, as he looked at Alex and Calleigh now. He shook his head asking the question. Calleigh shook her head no but remained quiet. Alex spoke.
"Horatio make it easy? No sugar,..he's definitely not! Alex snickered to him.
TBC...