Sing You Home

Horatio stopped at the receptionist's desk. "You said there was someone here to see me, Mel?" he asked the clerk sitting there.

"Yes," the young woman said, "You have a message from a Dr. Smith who would like to request an interview for the position of Forensic Specialist."

"Dr. Smith?" Horatio repeated confused, "I don't think I know a Dr. Smith. Can you give me more information on him?"

"Well actually it was a woman," Mel said as she shuffled through her paperwork on her desk. "She emailed me her resume. Here it is. Dr. Holly Elizabeth Smith; pretty impressive, too. She graduated at the top of her class from the University of Tennessee and studied law abroad in Germany. She's worked for the Naval Criminal Investigation Services in Washington DC as a Forensic Specialist, the Las Vegas Crime Lab as a Forensic Specialist and Crime Scene Investigator, the California Bureau of Investigation in the Forensics and AV department, and did some consulting work with the Philadelphia Police Department."

Horatio read over the resume. Something wasn't right, he just knew it. "When is she going to be here?"

"She said about two o'clock," Mel answered as she read over the email again.

Horatio looked at his watch. It was two o'clock. "Has she been in yet?"

"No, not yet," Mel said.

The elevator doors dinged and Horatio turned to watch them open. He felt his heart stop as the young woman walked out of the cart. Her blonde hair fell just past her shoulders and her skin was pale, revealing dark freckles across her cheekbones that were otherwise unnoticeable. He walked towards her, his heart now pounding inside his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her as close to his body as he could. Small tears ran down his face as he kissed her cheek.

"Jessie Bug," he whispered.

Ryan walked down the hall of the lab. Horatio's text had told Ryan to meet him at the front desk. He didn't understand why his boss wanted him to meet there, but Ryan figured he might as well do what Horatio said, since Horatio was allowing him to marry Jessica.

Ryan could see his boss standing at the counter of the reception area, talking to a blonde woman he didn't recognize. Horatio was turned slightly so Ryan couldn't get a clear view of the woman. She was kind of pale, with a round face, and her hair was so dark blonde it was almost brown. Ryan was sure he hadn't seen this woman sitting at the desk that morning when he checked in and he didn't recall Horatio saying anything about a new hire.

Horatio turned and looked at Ryan with the ocean blue eyes Ryan would recognize anywhere. Horatio looked back at the young woman and said something to her. She turned and looked at him. Ryan could see the blue from where he stood. He felt his heart stop and his feet stumbled to a halt. He looked long and hard at the young woman and then his heart started pounding in his chest uncontrollably. She smiled at him from where she sat at the desk and ran her hand through her hair to brush it out of her face, just as she always did.

Ryan started running to the desk. He couldn't believe she was back! Horatio hadn't told Ryan she was coming back!

"Jessica!" Ryan yelled, as he continued to run towards the love of his life.

Jessica began laughing and stood from the chair she was sitting in. She seemed to struggle a bit, but managed just fine. She walked around the other chair and came out from behind the desk.

Ryan nearly tumbled to the ground when he saw her. Jessica's stomach was huge! Her abdomen curved out and down, making the skirt of her dress flow away from her body. She continued to laugh at Ryan's confusion about whether to hold her, cry, or just pass out. Ryan finally made his decision and closed the distance between them.

Ryan embraced Jessica and kissed her passionately. He didn't care who saw them or who was there. He had his Jessica back and that was all that mattered.

When their kiss finally ended Ryan dropped to his knees and held Jessica's belly. He looked at her with tears in his eyes and she nodded to him. Ryan kissed Jessica's belly and laid his forehead against it. He felt the tears pouring down his cheeks and couldn't believe what was happening.

Ryan felt Jessica's hands run through his hair and down his temples, cupping his cheeks. She turned his gaze upwards so that his eyes met her own tear filled ones.

"Ryan," she quietly said, "We're going to have a baby."

Ryan stood and embraced Jessica again. He held her as close as he could and felt the baby kick against his own abdomen. Ryan kissed her and felt the tears start to stream down his cheeks again.

"Oh Jessica," Ryan managed to say as he practically sobbed in her arms, "I love you more than anything in the world! I've missed you so much!"

Jessica kissed Ryan lightly.

"I love you, too. And we missed you a lot, too."

Ryan anxiously walked down the hall to Horatio's office. He opened the door and walked inside without even knocking. There she was, sleeping on her back on the couch. Her head was cushioned by Horatio's suit jacket folded up and stuffed under her head. Her chest moved up and down in a rhythmic pattern as she breathed. He knelt beside her sleeping body and just watched her for awhile.

Ryan leaned in and gently kissed her. Jessica's eyes slowly fluttered open and she smiled at the sight of Ryan.

"Hey handsome," she whispered.

Ryan smiled and kissed her again. "Hello beautiful," he whispered.

His hand wandered down from her face, across her neck, between her breasts, and finally came to rest on her swollen abdomen. Ryan smiled brightly as he felt the body within her move.

"You're pregnant," he whispered.

Jessica smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, very much so," she whispered.

"How far along are you?" Ryan quietly asked.

"Twenty-eight weeks," Jessica quietly said, as she laced her fingers with his on top of her belly.

Ryan smiled and kissed her again. "That's incredible," he whispered, "We're going to have a baby."

Jessica smiled against his lips and kissed him back. "I know, isn't it amazing, Dad?"

The team had gathered by the pool at Horatio's house. Horatio had invited them over for dinner and a swim in celebration of Jessica's return. Natalia chuckled and looked towards the house. Horatio and Jessica were walking out onto the patio. Jessica was wearing a yellow bikini with a light blue sarong around her waist. Horatio walked next to her wearing long, blue swim trunks and a white t-shirt.

"Wow, there's something I never thought I would see; Horatio in swim trunks," Natalia said.

"Well at least I talked him out of the Speedo," Jessica jokingly said, tugging at the sleeve of Horatio's t-shirt and giving him a playful grin, which he returned.

Calleigh couldn't hide the laugh in her voice. "Well look who's talking little lady. Seven months pregnant and you still have a bikini body." She looked at Jessica, admiring her still sculpted body beneath the swollen belly. "How in the world do you do it?"

Jessica blushed and pretended to adjust the sarong around her waist. "Oh it's nothing."
Calleigh scoffed, "Please if I was pregnant I would look like a beach ball in a bikini rather than a hottie!"

"Well this hot momma needs to sit down," Jessica said as she sat in one of the longue chairs around Horatio's pool. She propped her feet up and sighed in relief, running her hands along her large abdomen. "I swear, the little tike's grown twice in size in the last two months."

"Oh my goodness!" Alexx exclaimed as she walked out of Horatio's house with Yelina and Kyle. "When Horatio told me you were home baby girl with a surprise he wasn't kidding!"

Yelina knelt beside the longue chair and smiled at Jessica. "I'm glad you're back, Jessie Bug," she smiled.

"What you didn't get enough of me this afternoon?" Jessica chuckled.

"Wait, you were at Yelina's house?" Horatio inquired.

Jessica blushed a little and gave him a shy smile. "Maybe," she quietly said.

Horatio chuckled and shook his head. "That explains why Yelina didn't sound that surprised when I called her and told her you were home."

Jessica smiled at him and settled into the chair. "Guilty," she chuckled.

"So, Jessie Bug," Yelina smiled, "You never did tell me how far along you are."

"Seven months," Jessica proudly said, "I'm due May 25th."

Yelina chuckled. "Nine days after your birthday."

"Nine months after someone else's," Jessica said. She smiled shyly at Ryan before she looked away.

Realization swept over Ryan as he knelt beside her. He placed his hands on her swollen abdomen and felt the baby move inside. Small tears formed in his eyes as he looked into Jessica's.

"Happy birthday, Ryan," Jessica said with a small smile.

Ryan leaned in and kissed her. His forehead rested against hers as he peered into her eyes.

"This is the best birthday surprise anyone's ever given me," he whispered.

"Even better than the whip and corset?" Jessica softly whispered.

Ryan chuckled and kissed her again. "Even better than the whip and corset."

The group stood around talking and drinking. They had eaten their food and were listening to stories from Jessica, as she chomped into another hamburger.

"Geez preggers," Eric laughed, "Had enough to eat yet?"

"Excuse me, but I'm eating for two," Jessica said between bites. "What's your excuse?"

"I like food," Eric chuckled as he drank his beer.

Ryan wrapped his arms around Jessica's waist. He ran his hands along her swollen belly. Something beneath her skin jolted and Jessica jumped. She arched her back a little and groaned.

"Always kicking, I swear that's all he does nowadays," Jessica said. Ryan's grip on her abdomen tightened and Jessica felt him nuzzle her neck. "Come with me," he whispered in her ear.

Ryan took her hand and led her around the pool. They stopped when they got to the other side of the pool. Ryan looked into Jessica's eyes and felt his heart surge with joy. He leaned down and kissed her.

"I love you," he said, "Everyday I was hoping I would walk into the lab and there you would be. Or I would walk into our condo and you would be sitting there on the couch waiting for me, like you were never gone. This has been the most difficult seven months of my life ever. I just wanted to hold you and be with you again. I'm so glad you're home, I don't know if I could have gone another day without you."

Jessica placed her hand on his face and kissed him tenderly. "I love you, too, Ryan. I wanted so badly to call you or email you, to tell you I love you one more time and that I was ok. I wanted more than anything just to hop on a plane and come home." Jessica jumped again and looked down at her belly. "Sorry, every time I think of you my heart beats harder, my stomach does back flips, and the baby starts kicking really hard." Jessica looked up at Ryan. "I think he's missed his father." Jessica took Ryan's hand and placed it on her stomach. "Can you feel that?"

Ryan's eyes light up as he felt his child move against his hand. He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. "Yes, and it's amazing."

Ryan knelt down on one knee and looked up at Jessica. He locked eyes with her and ran his hands over her abdomen. He leaned forward and kissed her belly. Ryan jumped when he felt something move against his face. Ryan laughed and looked at Jessica. "It must be your child; he just kicked me in the face!"

Jessica laughed and stroked his face. "I love you, Ryan."

Horatio breathed easy but couldn't help but feel disappointed. Alexx walked up and nudged him in the arm. "What's on your mind, Horatio?" she asked.

Horatio sighed. "Well I thought Ryan was going to do something but it seems I was wrong."

Alexx looked at him with a measured look, processing his statement. A smile spread across her face when she realized what was going on. "You thought baby boy was going to pop the question, didn't you?"

Horatio smiled and nodded his head. "Yeah, that's where I thought this was going. He said he was going to ask her as soon as she came home."

"Well maybe Ryan didn't want to ask her right away in fear that she would think it's because she's pregnant with his child. He doesn't want her to think it's out of obligation. Over the years I've figured out how that whacko mind of his works, with all the numbers and rituals caused by that damn disorder of his. He doesn't want her to think he's proposing just because she pregnant with his child, he wants her to think he's proposing because he loves her."

Horatio smiled. "Yeah, that's what I kind of figured. I just hope he doesn't wait too long."
"Why's that?" Alexx asked.

"Because," Horatio said with a wry smile on his face, "I have a feeling Jessica knows it won't be long."

Ryan stared at her. Something was different, but he couldn't quite place it. Then it hit him in the face like a sack of bricks.

He walked to her and looked deep into her eyes. His hand slid beneath the right cup of her bikini. She reached up and placed her hand over his, looking into his hazel eyes.

"It's gone," he whispered.

Jessica smiled shyly at him. "All but one," she whispered, taking his other hand and placing over the kidney transplant scar on her left side.

"Whoa, Wolfe, can't wait until you get home?" Walter joked.

"Why are they gone?" Ryan whispered, ignoring Walter.

"I had them all removed," Jessica quietly told him. "All except for this one." She pressed his hand against the scar on her back.

"Why?" Ryan asked again.

"Because those were parts of Izzy," Jessica whispered, "Not parts of me."

Ryan looked at her, gently stroking her cheek. He leaned in and softly kissed her.

"I love you," he whispered, "No matter what, I'll always love you."

Jessica swam around Horatio's pool, enjoying the cool water. She came to rest in a corner in the deeper end. Ryan popped up in front of her and smiled at her. He leaned in and gently kissed her. He held himself in place in the water using the edge of the pool with his forehead leaning against hers. "I found you," he whispered, kissing her gently.

"I'm so glad you're home," he whispered as he kissed her again. "I don't know if I could have gone another day without you."

"Sure you could have," Jessica whispered in response.

"You're right," Ryan smiled, "I just didn't want to."

Ice cold water dumped over their heads caused them both to shriek out in shock. They looked to see Kyle and Horatio holding the cooler that had previously been holding drinks, laughing at their misfortune.

"You bastards!" Jessica exclaimed as she pulled herself from the pool. She grabbed Kyle and easily threw him into the pool. She struggled with Horatio for a moment before they both fell back into the water together. They broke through the surface and Horatio held onto his daughter tightly.

"You dirty old man!" Jessica exclaimed as she struggled with him.

Horatio chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Maybe I just didn't like seeing my little girl being touched by an older man."

"Hey, I'm pregnant with his child, how much more trouble could I get into now?" Jessica teased as she struggled to get away.

Ryan came up and held her from behind, pinning her between his body and Horatio's. "Oh I can think of so many ways you could still get into trouble," Ryan said as he kissed her cheek.

"Maybe we're just trying to keep you safe from yourself," Horatio said with another kiss.

"Because knowing you, Jessica, you could get away right now," Ryan said as he kissed her cheek again.

Jessica suddenly slid down under the water and broke through the surface out of their reach just in time to see Ryan and Horatio's lips meet as they tried to kiss her at the same time. They flew backwards and kicked away from each other, a look of horror on each of their faces. Everyone laughed as Ryan and Horatio were mortified.

"Oh you're so going to get it for that one!" Ryan exclaimed as he swam after Jessica.

"What, you don't like kissing my father as much as you like kissing me?" Jessica called over her shoulder as she swam away.

"Well I can now say from experience that I prefer you over your Dad," Ryan said as he grabbed her feet. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. "You meany head," he quietly chuckled.

Jessica smiled and kissed him. "Don't lie," she chuckled, "You liked it."

"Well then in that case I'm leaving you for your Dad," Ryan chuckled as he kissed her again.

Ryan laid on his side in the bed looking at Jessica. She was on her back with her head propped on a pillow. Her camisole was pulled up, revealing her large belly. Ryan ran his hands over her tight skin, feeling the small body beneath it rise to the surface as it floated inside her.

"What are you thinking?" Jessica quietly asked. Ryan looked at her and smiled.

"You're home." He said, "You're home and we're going to have a baby. Nothing can go wrong. Everything's the way it's supposed to be. No one can ruin it now. We're going to have a baby and become the family we were supposed to be."

Jessica placed her hand on his face and smiled at him. "I love you, Ryan Wolfe. You're one of the best things to ever come into my life."

Jessica yawned and stretched her arms above her head. She looked back at Ryan with hazy, drooping eyes.

"Tired?" he asked her.

Jessica nodded her head and smiled. "Traveling makes me sleepy and being pregnant doesn't make it any easier."

Ryan pulled her into his arms. Jessica rolled over onto her side and pressed her body against Ryan's torso.

"I've missed this so much." she whispered, "I've missed being in your arms. The fist couple of weeks were so difficult. I was so cold and the bed felt so big."

"Well I had some troubles sleeping, too, but Lucy here," Ryan said as he nudged the sleeping dog with his foot, "Did her best to help me."

Jessica smiled against his neck and kissed his collar bone. Ryan nuzzled his face into her hair and breathed in her wonderful scent. "I love you Jessica," Ryan quietly said.

"I love you, too, Ryan," Jessica replied as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Ryan laid there for awhile just holding her. Jessica's body was so warm. He wanted to pull her as close as he could against him, but the large mass within Jessica wouldn't allow it. He watched her sleep and could hear Lucy snoring at the end of their bed. Ryan suddenly felt something move against his abdomen and looked down. He didn't see anything but he quickly realized it was the baby moving. Jessica twitched in her sleep slightly and Ryan held her closer. He continued to lay there and watch her sleep, with their child pressed securely between them.