Episode 2
By the time Horatio arrived at the club, the crew was into full on party mode. Even Tom showed up, and was proudly showing around a picture of his new girlfriend that he met in a chat room.
"Hey, I told you he'd show! Want a drink, H?"
"Only if Mr. Wolfe is buying." He smiled and ordered a club soda and chatted with the crew for a while, occasionally stealing glances at his watch.
"You got somewhere else you need to be, H?" Frank looked over and smiled, slapping his friend on the back.
"Actually, I do. I'll see all of you on Monday. Anyone with too much to drink, just call a cab and bill it to Miami Dade County." He chuckled as he pulled out his phone, push the button for Calleigh. He waved and began to move from the bar as his bride answered the phone. "I'm on my way, go ahead and call for dinner."
"Are you sure, if you want to stay a bit longer, we can eat later."
"No, I'd rather come home and eat with you. I'll see you in fifteen."
"Do I need to come get you? How much did you drink?"
"I had two glasses of club soda, Sweetheart, I'm fine...but it's nice that you care." He clicked his phone shut and turned to find the group standing quiet behind him, their finely tuned CSI skills on high alert. He knew they all were trying to figure out who he was talking to. "Have a nice weekend, everyone." He quickly exited the bar before they could follow and ask questions. He smiled as he turned the key, revving the Hummer to life. He had a family to go home to.
Inside the bar, the entire conversation had taken a new turn. Instead of Tom's love life, everyone was now speculating who the new person in Horatio's life could be.
Tom was the first to speak up. "I didn't know he was seeing anyone. With the extra hours he works, it doesn't leave much time for a love life."
"Yeah, and what's up with coming 'home' to eat with you." Natalia made little air quotes.
"Sounds like he's got somebody waitin' at home for him, you know anything about that Delko?"
"Why would I know, you know how private H is."
"You're his brother in law!"
"I'll talk to him. In the meantime..." He downed the rest of his beer. "I'm gonna give Calleigh a call and see if she's up for a visit. I'm dyin' to meet those kids."
"Oh, they are so precious, Eric. I met them when I was trying to help Randy keep custody of them."
"Yeah, and see what that got ya, Nat."
"I know, right? Now they have a great mom. You really think you should go over on her first night with the kids? She's too nice to tell you no."
"That's what I'm counting on." He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed Calleigh's number.
Calleigh picked up her phone and looked at the caller ID. Eric. "Hey"
"Hey, Cal, have you and the kids eaten yet?"
Calleigh took a deep breath and exhaled softly. "No, but I've ordered pizza."
"How about I pick up some dessert and come over and hang out for awhile."
"It's really not a good night, Eric. It's our first night together and I really want some time to bond with them alone."
"Ok, I'll call you over the weekend and we can get together and do something with the kids."
The front door opened and Horatio stepped inside. The children immediately got up and ran to his waiting arms. Calleigh covered up the phone to muffle the screams. "Daddy!"
"Eric, the pizza is here, I have to go." She pushed the button on her phone before Horatio could say a word.
"I was supposed to pick up the pizza?"
Calleigh giggled. "No, it'll be here any minute. Eric wanted to come over, when I told him not tonight, he said he'd call over the weekend. You're gonna have to tell him. The secret's gonna be out the first time someone drives by and sees the Hummer out front. I don't care, but they should hear it from us."
"I agree, Sweetheart. You're right as usual." He was saved by the doorbell announcing the arrival of dinner. The children quickly picked up their toys while their parents set the table. Dinner was noisy and fun. Horatio and Calleigh couldn't remember having this much fun at a meal. It reminded Calleigh of meals back in Louisiana with all her nieces and nephews around.
After dinner the children changed into their pajamas and the family snuggled on the sofa to watch a movie. By the time it was over, Patty was sleeping and Austin's eyes were fluttering. "We'd better get these two to bed. You just sit there, and I'll come back for Austin." He stood with Patty in his arms and carried her to her bed, then returned for her brother, who was now sound asleep.
"I guess we kept them up too late." Calleigh rose from the sofa and padded into Patty's room to make sure she was covered and had her doll, and then followed Horatio into Austin's room to tuck her son in. As they headed back up the hall into the living room, the doorbell rang. "Who could that be at this hour?"
It's only nine, Sweetheart." He looked out the peephole and shook his head. "It's Eric."
"What? I told him he couldn't come by tonight."
"You also told him you wanted to be alone with the kids, and my Hummer is out front."
"We shouldn't have to hide." She sighed deeply. "Go ahead, let him in...but if he wakes our children up, I'm going to shoot him!" She flopped on the sofa, crossed her legs, and then folded her arms across her chest.
Horato opened the door slowly. "Eric."
"What are you doin' here. You've got somebody at your house."
"What are you talking about?"
"We all heard you. It was obvious you were talking to a woman, and you said you'd be home for dinner."
"Well, what the hell do I look like, Eric?" Calleigh was standing now, hands on her hips. I told you I didn't want to see you tonight.
"You said you wanted to be alone, but you let him come over!"
"Quiet! If you wake the children up you are going to be so sorry!
"Calleigh, Sweetheart, let's sit down. Eric, have a seat."
"Sweetheart?"
"Shut up, Eric. Look, I know you didn't mean to, but when you went to social service to tell them I wasn't gonna be alone with the kids, they took it to mean we were getting married. They ran a background check. Did you know that DCFS can open sealed police records? I almost lost the kids today."
"Well, you got them, everything turned out alright."
"That's because Horatio took care of it. He thought all we'd have to do is make it look like we were getting married in Louisiana. The caseworker took one look at the date on the marriage license and called our bluff."
"Called your bluff? What are you talking about?"
Calleigh looked at Horatio, biting her lower lip, and nodded at him. "Eric, you know how much I love Marisol. Before you came to work at MDPD I was engaged to a beautiful woman. The wedding never took place, but our love for each other has lasted all these years. It developed into a very strong friendship, she even became good friends with Mari. I promised Mari that I'd try to be happy and find my way back to her. Today I did just that. When Calleigh called me and told me she might lose the children and why, I did what I always do...I hurried to her side. We thought the license was going to be enough, but we were told they thought we were lying, based on what you said to them, so we went to city hall and got married this afternoon."
"That's why you left us all at the bar? To get married?"
"No, there wasn't time to get everyone together at the chambers. Calleigh brought the children home and I went to visit with all of you. Calleigh and I were already married."
"I can't believe you two. Calleigh, you know how I feel about you...and Horatio, you're supposed to be my family!"
"Keep your voice down. Eric, we were never like that. You have to know that. I'm sorry, but I've always loved Horatio.
"Even when we were together?"
"Eric, we were not together, not like you wanted."
"You loved him when he was married to my sister?"
"If I had married him years ago, he never would have been with Marisol. Yes, I loved him then, loved him enough to want him to be happy with her. I even tried to hate her. Instead she became one of my best friends. I miss her every single day!" She angrily batted a tear that was snaking down her cheek. Horatio stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him.
"Eric, Marisol knew of our past, and she knew that's exactly what it was...past. She knew that we were able to remain friends without letting the past get in the way. Now...now it's time for us to come back together, with our family."
"Eric, please, just go home and think about all of this. It's been a rough day and I'd like to crawl into the tub and then into bed."
He shot an angry look at both of then. "This isn't over."
Horatio released his wife and took several steps forward. "Yes, Eric...yes it is. Now go home and go to bed. You're on duty at the lab tomorrow."
Eric rose quickly and hurried to the door, slamming it as he left. Horatio turned and took Calleigh in his arms. "You said a bath?"
"Absolutely."
"How about you go run the bath and I'll make you a cup of tea to help you relax?"
"You read my mind." He kissed her softly and watched as she disappeared down the hall and into the master bedroom. He looked around the kitchen and found her chamomile tea and honey dust. When the tea was ready, he walked quietly down the hall, and tapped on the bathroom door. "It's open."
He set the tea cup on the side of the tub and ran his hand over her head. "Mind if I shower while you are in the tub?"
"This is your home, too, Horatio, you don't need to ask for anything." She picked up the tea and took a sip. "Mmmm. You found the honey dust."
"I did." He stepped behind the tub and removed his clothes, and then stepped in the shower, letting the steam fill the room. "Is the steam bothering you?"
"No, it feels good, actually." She released the plug and let the water start flowing down the drain before getting out of the tub. She wrapped a large bath sheet around her, grabbed her tea and headed into the bedroom. She dried quickly, applied her lotion, and then pulled on her nightshirt and climbed into bed to sip her tea.
Horatio emerged from the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist. Calleigh's breath caught, she'd forgotten what an amazing looking man he was. "I need to get my bag from the Hummer, hopefully your neighbors are sleeping." Calleigh giggled. "Unless you want to go outside."
"I think I'd better. I just need some pants." She pulled on her jeans and hurried outside to retrieve his gym bag, stripped off her jeans and climbed back into bed.
"I'm going to go make sure the house is secure." He went from door to door and to all the windows, once convinced everything was locked, he made his way to the bedroom and climbed into bed. Calleigh turned off her light and snuggled next to her husband, still not sure how to react. He held her chin and lifted it up and kissed her gently. "Calleigh..." He kissed her again, deeper this time, and this time she responded with all the pent up love she'd felt for him all these years.
"Mommie?" Patty was at the foot of the bed.
Calleigh sighed. "What's the matter, Baby?"
"I had a bad dream." She started to climb into the bed. "I want to sleep with you and Daddy."
The couple looked at each other and smiled. Not much of a wedding night, but there would be other nights. Nights that didn't involve nightmares. Horatio placed one last kiss on his bride's lips, and then kissed his daughter's forehead. For better or worse, this was now his life, and he wouldn't have it any other way.