Chapter 6

After taking Yelena home, Horatio went to the lab to look for Calleigh. He hadn't seen her since he left his mother's house earlier that morning and now with evening approaching, he was in dire need of her company. He had just stepped off the elevator when he was intercepted.

"Lt. Caine, just he man I've been looking for." Rick stood at the front desk, his arms spread out causally, looking like a vulture waiting for its prey. Horatio proceeded into the lab with extreme caution.

"And to what do I owe the pleasure?" He kept his voice low and some what civil, but it was forced, very forced.

"Unfortunately business brings me here. Why don't we go to your office?" The smug bastard smiled and oh, was Horatio tempted to knock him on his ass, but instead, he smiled and said:

"Lead the way."

Horatio's office sat on the second floor of the lab where he could oversee everything without being in the way, while still be accessible to his people. He shut the door once both had entered and even went so far as to close the blinds. No one needed to witness this.

"I first want to offer my condolences, Horatio. I know how close were to him." Steler said as he settled into one of the chairs in front of the large wooden desk.

"I'm sure you said the same thing to Yelena when you questioned her too." Horatio said as he sank into the large leather chair behind the desk.

"I'm only doing my job, Horatio. I meant no disrespect to Detective Salas." Horatio gave him a loaded stared.

"Just ask your questions and get out of my face." He growled, turning away from him.

"I just need to know how much you knew about what Raymond Caine was involved in." Rick pulled out a notebook and tried to look official.

"You mean do I know if Ray was dirty or not? Well, the answer is no. I don't know because he wasn't. He was doing his job-a job you sent him to do. He was a good cop and I will not have you ruining his name for your own personal satisfaction. Ray did what he did and there's no changing that." Horatio stated simply but sternly.

"It has to piss you off though. You warned Ray over and over about getting too involved, but he didn't' listen. He went right on with the show." Rick's voice bit right into Horatio's heart because he knew it was true.

"Tread very lightly, Sergeant." He warned.

"Is that a threat? Are you scared, Horatio? 'Cause I think you are. You're scared because you don't know what happened. You don't know what happened and you don't know how to fix it. Well guess what? You can't. You can't fix Ray's mistake this time!" Rage swelled up inside of him and he spun around to come face to face with him.

"Shut up." He growled.

"You were just doing what any big brother would do. You tried to protect him, but you couldn't save him. You can save all the innocent victims in the world, but not your baby brother." Rick shook his head sadly. "Ray sure knew how to screw things up, didn't he?" Horatio early temptation overtook him and without any hesitation, he knocked the IAB officer flat on his ass and then walked away.

"You'll pay for that, Caine! I'll make sure of that! Your ass is mine!" Steler stood in the doorway, holding his face and screaming. Calleigh, who was just coming up the stairs looked at him and then at Horatio with wide eyes.

"What's going on here?" He responded by taking her hand and leading her down the stairs.

"Let's just get out of here."

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"You hit Rick Steler?!" Calleigh paced in the living room while Horatio sat on the couch, icing his hand.

"I can't believe you. You hit one of them and you can kiss your career goodbye and let me tell you, losing your job is the last thing you need right now." She stopped and just stood in front of him. He didn't say anything; he just took her hand and brought her down next to him on the couch.

"I'm sorry, Handsome. I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at him. I told him to stay away from you. I wanted to protect you and be the strong one this time but I guess I failed." She snuggled up next to him as he wrapped an arm around her.

"No, Calleigh, I did. I failed a long time ago." Horatio kissed her forehead and then rested his head on hers. "I just want everything to go back to the way it was." He removed the ice pack from his hand and then shifted them into a lying position on the couch.

"You've still got me." She reminded him as she looked into his dark blue eyes. He looked down at her and smiled.

"And I thank God everyday for that."