"No-no baby, don't even start that, he's a grow man... Stubborn, but a grown man. I just don't see how you two didn't stop him." Frank looked down and Eric spoke.
"You know H, Alexx. What should we have done, cuff him to the bed?"
"Well yeah, that would have worked, and we wouldn't be here right now."
"So are we calling for an ambulance?" Frank asked now.
"No, I'll keep an eye on him for now and see how he is in a few hours. That injection will keep him out for a while and help with the pain too."
"Ok, I'm heading back to the scene; I have to process it still. I'll talk to you later. Calleigh, Alexx." Eric said goodbye.
"You gals want me to stick around a while, just in case?"
"No Frank we're fine."
"Ok I'm going to book this guy and find out what the hell's going on. I call you later to check on things, ok?"
"Ok Frank, see you later." Calleigh said softly.
"Calleigh, I'm sorry this happened, I never..."
"It's not your fault Frank, but thanks. I should never have let him leave here."
"Yeah well, I don't think anyone could have stop him. If H gets his mind set on something you can bet nothing is going to change it! Alright, I'll see you both later." Frank left.
Alexx and Calleigh took off his pants and pulled up the sheets and blankets. Covering his bare chest now. They quietly went out side and talked a while. Calleigh now telling Alexx how she tried to stop him, but knew it was no use. Alexx seeing how guilty Calleigh was now, trying to reassure her, it would not have made a difference.
"Well honey, when he gets better, he can expect a serious tongue lashing from me."
"You think he'll be ok till tomorrow, Alexx?"
"Yes, I do... Calleigh. Horatio will be fine."
They sat and talk for hours now and the bell rang. It was Ryan, coming by to check on Horatio.
"Hey Ryan, how ya doing?"
"I'm ok Calleigh. Hows, H?"
"Baby, what happened to you're hand?" Alexx now seeing it cut up and swollen.
"Oh, it's nothing...really." Ryan looking at his hand now.
"That's not what I heard Ryan, and thank you for helping him?" Calleigh said.
"That dirt bag had it coming; he has some pair going after Frank and H like that." Ryan said.
"He should be waking soon, I think. Lets go check on him, alright." Alexx said.
Alexx feeling his forehead now. Horatio groaned, waking from his sleep. His eyes slowly coming into focus now, seeing her.
"Hey sugar, how you feeling?" Horatio tried to lift his head, but quickly realized he was going no where. He groaned and closed his eyes, trying to clear his head.
"Umm... I'm... What happened?... What, did you give... me?" He was Feeling a bit drugged up, his voice rough from sleep.
"Just a little something to help you rest and control the pain." Alexx answered now.
"Oh, my head is..." He groaned again, closing his eyes.
"Just give it some time to adjust, its the meds working on you, that's all."
Alexx looking across at Calleigh now, surprised, waiting for him to say something about his ribs hurting.
"What time is it?"
"Here we go; the meds must be wearing off already Alexx." Calleigh said now, shaking her head in disbelief.
Horatio now turning his head slowly to the left, to see Calleigh sitting there, smiling down at him now.
"Hey, you feeling any better now?"
"Yes... I am thank you. Calleigh I'm..."
"Ssh, not now, please just rest and lay still, ok?" She squeezed his hand and he returned the gesture.
"Well it almost 11pm now, why are you going some where?" Alexx asked him now.
"11:00...at night? What happened to the ..." He slightly shifted in the bed now and quickly clenched down, groaning in pain. His hand was in Calleigh's and he quickly snapped it over to his ribs, dragging hers right along with him.
"Easy Horatio, don't move, try to keep still." Groaning still in pain now his eyes squeezed shut, Alexx gave Calleigh a nod.
"I... hardly move..d, I can't just lie still..." He gasped in pain now, as he felt an overwhelming sharpness hit him in the ribs and run up into his chest. He gasped for a breath now and Alexx tried to calm him."
"Ok, I need you to listen to me, ok? Horatio, listen. Breathe small breaths, don't try to take a deep breath in again, ok?"
"Umm." He groaned and nodded his head to her now.
Calleigh now holding his hand again. "It's a good thing you are going to see the doctor tomorrow. That's the only reason Alexx let you slide, you know?" She was trying to get his mind off the pain.
"Umm, thank.. you... Alexx." He groaned and she nodded to him. He tried to give her a grin, but the lines in his face showed he was in extreme pain now. His jaw bones showing, as he clenched down, each time in pain. She knew and already had another shot ready for him. She smiled at him now.
"Ok, I just want you to rest for tonight and tomorrow we get you check out, ok? I'll see you in a few hours, nice and early. Calleigh and I will give you a hand, ok Horatio?"
"Mmm, yes. It's late, I know Alexx... Thank you so much for ... Everything. Drive safe."
"Well thank you, but I am not going anywhere Horatio."
He gave her a confused look now, thinking to himself, these meds must have him all screw up.
"I was saying goodnight to you because you're the one going to sleep now."
His eyebrows furrowed in question. She showed him the needle and he now realized what she meant.
"I just woke... Up." His puppy dog eyes now looking at Alexx and over to Calleigh for help.
"Don't look at me, she's the doctor." Calleigh said softly, with a small smile. He looked back over to Alexx now, with his best puppy dog expression, begging.
"Forget it mister! That look is not going to help you tonight. You're just lucky I didn't hall your ass right down to the hospital, when I got here! I let you slide today, but not now, you're resting, you have no say in the matter anymore! First thing tomorrow morning, you're going to see Joe." She glared at him and took a breath, calming herself. "Just what were you thinking, Horatio?" She followed up softly now.
His eyes looking down now. "I thought, ... you were being extra nice to me?"
She grinned now to him. "That's right I was and when your better, you're gonna get a real scolding. Then you'll see just how nice I can be mister!"
Calleigh now laughing a bit. Horatio turned to look at her. She covered her mouth now trying to stifle it. He gave her a small grin.
"I'm sorry I worried you both and... AHH!"
Alex just stuck him in the hip with the needle, he gasped and his eyes looked over to her in shock.
"You could have warned me, Alexx."
Calleigh held his hand now.
"I just did WARN you, Horatio." She gave him a smirk now and he nodded, realizing what she meant. Everything she just told him, that was his warning.
He gave her a small grin and nodded. "Point.. Taking.." His eyebrows going up.
"Yes, in more than one way." She laughed and held up the needle to him. He gave her a smile.
"Thank you..." His eyes already beginning to close now, his head relaxing more into the pillow. "Al...lexx."
"Goodnight, Horatio." She gently ran her hand over his forehead and over his hair. Smiling now, she could never stay mad at this man. His hand now relaxing in Calleigh's as he quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
"Calleigh, why don't you go get some sleep as well. I'll take the first watch on him, ok honey?"
"Alexx, you're really not going home?"
"No honey, this is, my home for the night, I already spoke with my husband and kids. Now that we have that straighten out, go get some rest. This man is a handful and I'm sure you really haven't had much sleep since he's been here, right?"
Calleigh nodded to her now, thinking she should only know. She would kill her... and him even more.
"I'm going to take the chase lounge over there, why don't you lay on the couch, we'll hear him if he needs us Alexx."
"No you won't. He's out for the night Calleigh, trust me, I gave him enough to knock out a horse. So get some real sleep while you can sugar." She smiled to her.
Calleigh gave Alexx a blanket and pillow for the couch and went to lay on the Chase lounge now.
"You're just as think headed as he is."
"You'll wake me if..."
"Yes, of course I will, Calleigh."
"Thanks for everything Alexx; really, you don't know how hard ..."
"Yes I do baby, I know Horatio a lot longer than you, and I do know how hard...headed he can be. This was not your fault and trust me, you're gonna hear it from him when he's well enough to think about it. He knows what he did was wrong, but his... righteousness gets in the way and well, that's Horatio, right?"
"Yeah, sure is. The funny thing was he had me convinced and I knew he had to do it. I knew it was wrong but I still knew he had to. Like it was a part of him to just get up and go, he's so... complicated." Calleigh's eyes searching for the right word.
"Yes, he is Calleigh. Complicated indeed!"
Alexx just stared at him sleeping now, thinking how he saved her life and how he helped her so many times before. She laughed a little to herself thinking about the time when Delko and she were caught in the glades and the fire almost burned them alive. Horatio took care of her then and played doctor, as he put the saline drops into her eyes, to help her see again clearly. He was so gently and caring she thought. She held his hand in hers and thought again, complicated indeed.
Calleigh quickly fell asleep and Alexx stood sitting up with Horatio for a while. About an hour passed and she went to lie on the couch. Not really allowing herself to fall into a deep sleep, just in case. She awoke, it was about 7:30 In the morning, the night went smoothly and Calleigh was still fast asleep.
She got up and checked on Horatio now. She took hold of his wrist and felt his pulse. It seemed fine, she lowered the sheet and looked at the bruise. It seemed to have grown more. She knew now he was bleeding again and that was a sure sign of it. Her cell phone rang and she jumped, startled. She quickly picked it up now. Calleigh beginning to wake now.
"Hi sweetly, no mommy will see you later, ok?"
"Of course I'm coming home tonight, sweetheart, yes. I love you too, baby. Ok, we'll get your favorite tonight then, pizza. Pizza it is. Ok, have a good day at school, bye." Alexx closed her phone sitting next to Horatio now. Calleigh stretched out on the couch sitting up now.
"Everything ok?"
"Yep, that was just my baby, calling to say hello."
"He sleep the whole night?"
"Baby, don't you trust me yet? Of course he did." She smiled now.
"Coffee, we need some coffee. I'll go put a pot up, ok Alexx?"
"Sounds good, Calleigh."
Horatio beginning to wake now. Alexx leaning over to him, smiling now.
"Good morning."
"Mmm, Morning. His voice rough.
She poured him some water and he graciously accepted and downed it. Her hand helping his head stay up.
"Well it looks like someones awake. How's the pain?" She asked, slowly releasing his head now."
"So far so good, I haven't moved yet, doctor." He smirked at her now.
"Ok, well either way you have to sit up a bit, we have to get you ready for the doctor."
"That's not until 10am... Just what time is it, exactly?"
"Well, it's just going on 8am, but its gonna take some time for you to get ready and I really don't care about a time. The sooner the better."
"What's that supposed to mean?" She looked over to the doorway now, checking for Calleigh.
"It means you're bleeding again and the sooner the better, Horatio." She whispered now.
"Alright Alexx, let me get up and see how..."
"Whoa... were are you going? Just lie back a second and relax."
He stilled and listened to her now. Calleigh came walking in with two coffees in her hands.
"Horatio, your up?" Calleigh smiled to him. She walked over to the end table and put them down. "How are you feeling?"
"Well, if I had one of those, I can guarantee, better." He smiled.
"I'll be right back with one for you." She bolted out of the room smiling now. He chuckled and held his ribs, forgetting for a moment.
"Good, don't forget again." Alexx snapped at him. She pulled the sheet back up on him and put her hand under his arm.
"You ready to try and move?"
"Yes, umm. I'll use my right arm Alexx, don't worry."
"I'm not worried baby, but you now have a problem on the right side too. Hold on a minute." She called Calleigh.
"Calleigh we need to help him sit up."
I can do this Alexx, I..." She cut him off.
"When you feel the pain hit you just stop and take a break, ok? Ready, here we go."
They pulled and Horatio pushed his right arm down and into the bed, lifting himself. He froze in pain, his arms going to his ribs and his head dropping back down now. He groaned.
"Alright, easy, Horatio."
"Calleigh, give me those pain killers you have..."
"No. No more drugs... I can't...think straight." He gasped out, trying to breathe.
"Will you relax, here just take one, it will take the edge off. One isn't going to do much, trust me." His eyebrows now rising at her statement, he put his hand out and she dropped it in. He took it, and Calleigh handed him the coffee she just fixed for him. He gave her a smile.
"Umm, delicious... The coffee, I mean." Calleigh smiled and Alexx rolled her eyes now.
"Calleigh, um, could you hold this a minute?"
He handed her the coffee now and began to lift himself again. He groaned in pain and closed his eyes now, but he was now sitting up in the bed.
"Are you, ok?" Alexx now asking, seeing his face red and stressed.
"Just, give me a minute, I'll be fine."
"Baby, I'll give you a few days and you won't be fine."
Calleigh chuckled.
Horatio reaching his hand out now to Calleigh, she took hold of it. He grinned. "My coffee?"
She gave him a quick glare and quickly reached for it and handed it to him now. He took a mouthful and relaxed his head back.
"You hungry?" Alexx asked.
"No, no thank you."
"Ok, you just relax a bit with Calleigh here. I need to go freshen up a bit and then we can help you."
"Help me what?" He said, swallowing the coffee down, a bit taken back at her statement.
She gave him a look and walked away, with the wave of her hand at him.
"Calleigh, help me what? You two are no..." He put his head back again and took a small breath.
"Will you just relax, already. Drink your coffee!" She gave him an annoyed look now.
"Good morning... Beautiful." He smiled. "I love it when you get angry."
"Then you should have stayed awake yesterday! I don't think you would have liked it much then!"
Horatio looked down now and Calleigh quickly felt bad, she didn't mean to say that to him. It was nasty and mean, she knew.
"Horatio... I'm..."
"No Cal, I deserved that... and more. I'm very sorry for the way things turned out yesterday. You were right but I, ... I couldn't see that, at the moment, you know?"
"Yes, I do Horatio... I knew you had to try, that's why I couldn't stay mad at you. I do understand you, Horatio."
"I'm glad you do Calleigh. I'm sorry, to have worried you so much; I'll try not to... do that again, ok?"
"Try? You had better not, Horatio!"
"Mmm, I kept my promise, I came right back." He said sincerely, looking into her eyes.
"Yes you did, although, a bit worse for wear, I'd say." He tilted his head to her and she leaned in and kissed him softly.
"Good morning." She said back now, breaking the kiss off.
"Mmm, yes, its beginning to look like one." His eyebrows teasing, moving up and down now.
She kissed him again and he moaned his approval to her "Mmm."
Alexx came walking in the room now. "Ok, break the lip lock, you two; we have to get a move on."
They quickly pulled apart, Calleigh turning red, embarrassed now. Horatio had a grin on his face.
"Well, I am glad to see you're feeling better, Horatio." She lifted her eyebrows now to him. Calleigh still not looking at Alexx.
"Hmm, well a little TLC, never hurts, Alexx." He gave her a mischievous look.
"Ok well, to tell you the truth, it's about dam time! You two were driving me insane and I couldn't say anything to either of you about it." Horatio looked at Calleigh and now Calleigh back at Horatio in awe.
Alexx now threw up her hands and began to walk out of the room, laughing now. Her words walking out were, "These two are just two much."
"Does anything, get past you Alexx? Horatio quickly stated.
"No it doesn't, Horatio, you should know that by now!"
His face now turning red and Calleigh beginning to laugh. "Hmm, well you want to give me a hand..."
"No you don't!" Alexx said coming back in the room now.
"Ok, I want you to slide yourself over and we'll both help you up, ok?"
"I'm sure I can handle..."
"Horatio, listen to what I am telling you." He began to slide over and groaned in pain. His hands grabbing at his ribs again. Now he huffed and forced himself into a sitting position on the side of the bed.
Alexx just looked on in shock and Calleigh told him to slow down. They both couldn't believe how he just managed that.
"Ok, I'm up... you can both let go now. Really... Ladies, I'm ok."
They both just stared, with wide eyes at him now.
"Ok, so I'm going to take a shower and..."
"Whoa... I not sure that's a good idea for you right now."
"Why not?" He gave Alexx a look.
"Well, we can't have you falling in there and..."
"Alexx, I'm ok, alright. I feel better. I'll feel even better, after a nice shower, ok?"
"I'll stay with him Alexx." Calleigh shot out quickly.
Now Horatio and Alexx both stared at Calleigh. Horatio had a grin on and Alexx looked confused.
"Mmm, sounds good to me. What do you think Alexx?" Horatio joked.
"You two are ... Fine, alright, but leave that door open, just in case."
"Ok Alexx, I'll get some things ready for him and..."
"And I take care of the Coffee and breakfast. Call me if you need me, honey."
"OK..." They both answered her in unison, and look at one another.
Alexx now laughing gave them both a wave of her hand and walk out of the bedroom, dismissing them.
Horatio slowly got off the bed and Calleigh helped him, he was a bit wobbly but ok.
They walked into the bathroom now, Horatio only in his boxers.
She gave him a fresh towel and washcloth.
"Ok, so you need anything else? Can I help you with anything?"
"Hmm, well I can think of a few things you can help me with... " A big grin now on his face.
"Horatio!" Her voice rose, and he smiled.
TBC...
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