CSI:Miami

Season 11

Episode 18

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Cal

Eric and Horatio sat in a visitor's room awaiting Memmo's arrival. They were attempting to keep their anger in check. Horatio hadn't seen the man since he captured him after his prison break. He'd wanted to kill him at the time, but once again his sense of right and wrong took over. The guard brought him in and slammed him into the chair, cuffing him to the steel table.

"Lieutenant Caine, CSI Delko, what can I do for you?"

Horatio glared at him. "What do the names Ricardo and Diego Fiero mean to you?"

"Ricardo and Diego? They are my sons. I haven't seen them since before I got locked up. Why? What kind of trouble have they gotten into?"

"What makes you think they're in trouble?" Eric was trying to control himself.

"You wouldn't be here otherwise. They were always good kids, their mother kept them away from me, moved around so I couldn't find them."

Horatio looked up slowly, no matter what he felt for this man, he was truly sorry for what he had to tell him. "I'm sorry, Memmo. They attempted to rob a drug house this morning. They were armed with assault rifles that were registered to you, and there were five young men inside. They fired back and both Diego and Ricardo were killed on the scene. They killed three in the house and there are two more in intensive care."

Memmo sat quietly on his chair, as if numb. "I don't know where they would have gotten those guns, Horatio."

"One of the guns was proven to be the one that killed my wife."

"I'm not calling any shots from in here, I'm in solitary since I broke out."

"I know that. Do you think the Noche is active again and recruited your sons?"

"That's the only way those boys would've gotten the guns. I'll give you a list of names, maybe it'll help."

Eric stood up and leaned over the convict. "Why help now? Where was your help when you killed my sister?"

"It wasn't personal, I was just following orders. Now I understand what you went through, someone else was following orders and my only sons are dead. Now it's personal to me."

They spent another hour discussing the Noche, Memmo provided names, potential hiding places and types of crimes they were likely into. They had recruited boys before, letting them take the fall as juveniles. Once Memmo was lead back to his cell, Horatio was drained.

"Can you run me home, Eric? I told Calleigh to take the Hummer. She arranged for the school van to bring the kids to the lab so she could work as long as possible.

"Sure, H. She's got to be exhausted. Her first day back was super busy, and pregnant besides."

"I'm sure she is, Eric."

Eric dropped Horatio off and headed home. He opened the door, expecting two children to run into his arms and a kiss from his wife. He was greeted with silence. Calleigh was sleeping on the sofa, open box of half eaten pizza on the coffee table. He checked the childrens' rooms and found them both sound asleep as well. He took the pizza into the kitchen and heated up a couple of pieces. When the microwave beeped, it startled Calleigh. "Horatio? Is that you?"

"In the kitchen, Sweetheart, sorry I disturbed you."

"I didn't mean to fall asleep. I put the kids to bed early because I was so tired, I didn't expect you to be so late. How did the visit go?"

"It was actually very productive. Those young Fiero boys were Memmo's sons. He hadn't seen them since before he went to prison. Even then their mother kept moving around to hide them from him. He thinks the Noche is back and is recruiting minors again. He gave us lots of information...names, places, that sort of thing. He's pretty shaken up about the boys. He's been in solitary, so he had no idea what was going on with the Noche. He's actually willing to cooperate all he can. He practically apologized for Mari's death. Said now he understands about just following orders, this is personal to him like Mari's death was to Eric and me."

"And to me." She rubbed her abdomen. "These two really wore me out today. I had planned on a warm bath and waiting up for you."

"How about a warm bath and I'll take you to bed. I'm in need of some extra comfort tonight."

"Then I'll skip the bath and shower afterwards."

"I like the way you think, Mrs. Caine."

He led her up the stairs and into their bedroom. Horato began by massaging her tired muscles, and then they spent time worshipping each other's bodies. They made love again in the shower, and then fell into bed, exhausted. Horatio took his wife into his arms and rubbed her abdomen, feeling the gentle movement of the twins. Soon, her breathing became relaxed and she drifted off to sleep.

Horatio laid in bed next to his wife and let his mind wander back five years, when Marisol was still alive. He felt the familiar tear trickle down his cheek as he remembered the plans they had made, and then looked at his wife with even more love and admiration. He pulled her closer to him and rested his hand over her swollen abdomen. Was Calleigh right? Would little Marisol look like her namesake? This is what Calleigh hoped and prayed for. He closed his eyes and tried to picture his twins. Calleigh wanted her son to have blue eyes, and her daughter to have Mari's brown hair and eyes. They would be beautiful children, especially if his son looked anything like Calleigh.

The next morning Horatio was up early and decided to let Calleigh sleep in a bit. He got the children up and made breakfast, and then left the kids watching television while he showered. He made his way back downstairs and made a tray for his wife, and returned to the bedroom, where she was just waking up. He watched as she stretched, and then felt his side of the bed.

"I'm right here."

She smiled at looked at the clock. "Horatio, we're going to be late!"

"No we aren't. The kids have eaten and are watching TV, and we are going to eat up here. All you have to do is shower and get dressed."

"You are such a sweet man." She sighed as he place the tray on the bed. "Gee, do ya think you made enough food?"

"I want you to have a good breakfast, the twins zapped your energy yesterday."

"They sure did. I'm going to make sure I eat a better lunch today."

"I'll make sure I take you to lunch."

"Mmm-hmm. You say that now, but you're going to be busy with the Fiero case."

"For the next four months, I'm not going to be so busy I can't take care of my wife and babies."

"Four months, seems like forever."

"Almost halfway through. Now, eat." He took a bite of the blueberry pancakes, then smiling as she pulled the plate away from him.

"Mine. The babies want the pancakes. You can eat the eggs." She giggled as she stabbed a slice of the fruity treat. "These are so good." He watched her as she proceeded to clean the plate, and then wolf down the bacon, dipping it in the maple syrup first. "What?"

"Nothing, I've just never seen you dig into your food like this."

"Not my fault. I told you the twins were hungry."

"Did you get enough to eat?"

"I did, thank you so much." She glanced at the clock again. "I'd better get into the shower. I'll be down in a few minutes."

"Don't rush, you've got enough time. The place won't fall apart if we're a few minutes late."

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Of course, why?"

"Horatio Caine, not worried about being late." He could hear her laughter continue as she turned on the shower. Pregnancy definitely agreed with her.