CSI:MIAMI SEASON ELEVEN

Episode Fifteen

A/N: Sorry this is so short, and so long in coming. I've had all kinds of real life drama going on. This is basically a filler chapter, to help me move into the next section. Thanks to all of you for your continued patience.

Cal

Calleigh's eyes fluttered open and she moved her leg gingerly. She looked at the clock and realized it was past time for her pain pill. She threw back the covers and swung her legs over the side. On her nightstand was a pill and a glass of water. When had her wonderful husband done that? She swallowed the bitter pill and downed the full glass of water, and then carefully strapped her leg into her cast. She pulled a one piece swim suit out of her drawer and slipped it on. She turned up the monitor, and could hear her family still playing. "Horatio?" No answer. She tried a bit louder. "Horatio!"

"Dad, mom's calling you."

He stopped helping his daughter with her swimming lesson and put her up on the side of the pool. "Thank you, son. Are you ready to come down, Calleigh?"

"I am. I found the pill you left for me, and I put my suit on in case the kids decide to splash me."

"I'll be right up. Kids, up on the chairs, do NOT move until I come back, do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." Austin climbed out of the pool and helped his sister up, and they each climbed up on a lounge chair.

Horatio kissed the tops of each of their heads before heading upstairs. "Well, look at you." He took her hands and helped her to stand. "Do you want to try to walk, or should I carry you?"

She rolled her eyes. "I need to try to walk, Horatio. You can't keep carrying me all over the place."

"I offered to get you a wheelchair."

"Ugh, the walker is bad enough, Handsome. How about I promise to use the walker downstairs and I just walk up here and you help me up and down the stairs?"

"Alright, let me help you, then, before our little ones get impatient and get back in the water."

She smiled and snaked her arms around his neck, placing a gentle kiss on his lips. "I'll sit and watch for a little while, and then I'll make us all lunch."

"Calleigh, you should rest."

"It's just going to be sandwiches and fruit, don't worry. You need to be with the kids, since I can't jump into the water if there's a problem."

She slowly started making her way down the stairs. "Speaking of problems, you were right. Patty doesn't swim well. We've been working on it."

Horatio wheeled Calleigh's walker to her and she smiled and stuck her tongue out at him. He chuckled and shook his head, blushing bright red. "Horatio Caine, does everything have to be dirty to you?"

"It's not dirty at all. Just hoping it's a glimpse of things to come." He raised his eyebrows at her, and now it was her turn to blush.

She wheeled her walker slowly toward to back door and peeked out on the patio. "Did you super glue them to those chairs?"

"No, I just told them not to move until we came back."

"Hello, my angels!" Calleigh moved onto the deck.

"Can we get up now?"

"Of course you can, Son, you aren't in trouble. I just didn't want to take a chance of anything happening to either of you."

"So we can swim some more?"

"Yes, Patty." She stroked her daughter's hair. "Daddy will swim with you for a little while longer, and then I'll make lunch."

Both children made a bee line for the pool and jumped in the deep end, Horatio hot on their heels. Austin started swimming for the shallow end, but Patty was floundering a bit. Horatio tried to help her, but she paddled away from him. "No, Daddy, let me try!"

"Alright, I'll stay close to you though, OK?"

"OK, Daddy." She paddled with little strokes all the way to the shallow end where her brother was waiting with a high five. "But I didn't do it good, Austin."

"Yes, you did. You tried and you finished, right Dad?"

"Absolutely right, Son."

"I'm proud of you, Sis!"

"Thanks, Austin."

Horatio's phone rang and he got out of the pool to answer it, after instructing the kids to stay seated on the stairs. "Caine." He listened to Eric filling him in on what was going on in the lab. "Ok, let me get Calleigh settled and I'll be right in."

"You have to go to work, Daddy?"

"Yes, Sweetheart, I do. Out of the pool, let's get dried off so I can get your mom inside."

"Does she have to go to?"

"Not with her broken foot. She'll stay home and take care of you." He finished drying both of his children and sent them to their rooms to get dressed while he moved Calleigh inside.

"What happened?"

"I got a call from Eric. There was a huge gang shoot out on the causeway, so it's all hands on deck, I have to go in."

"If it's a shootout, I need to be there, too. The kids can wait in the break room." She swung her legs off the sofa and as her feet hit the floor a pain shot up her left leg. "Damn, I forgot. I should be fine once I put my brace on and take another pain pill."

"You are not going into work impaired. Night shift is coming in to do the ballistics, and you are going to stay here and look after our children. I'll try to get back as soon as possible." He kissed her softly and hurried upstairs to get dressed. When he came back down Calleigh and the children were at the table ready to eat. "Sweetheart, I need to hurry."

"You NEED to eat a sandwich, it won't take you long. Now sit."

"Yes, Ma'am." He smiled and winked at her, and then quickly ate his lunch. "You two mind your mother, remember she can't run all over the house after you. Austin, you help her out while I'm gone."

"Yes, Sir."

He dropped a kiss on all three heads and headed for the door. "Be careful, Horatio."

"Always. I'll see you all tonight."