Healing
Anger still gnawed at Aimee at how Julia was given bail after she had hired a man to try and murder her. This was how Horatio had almost been killed.
How he could have died without even knowing whether the child Aimee carried was a girl or boy.
How her children almost grew up without their father.
In the immediate months after her attack, focusing on her pregnancy and getting ready for the arrival of their daughter Aimee had suppressed many emotions. With the excitement the arrival of Faith had bought, plus the trial being delayed so long, it put her trauma more on the back-burner.
Everyone who knew her, knew she had yet to totally break down. The arrival of the trial date they all suspected would bring everything to the surface.
They were right.
The morning of the trial Horatio could tell Aimee weren't herself. Kyle would bene all day on a trip with the day-camp group he attended. At least Aimee were to get upset, Kyle wouldn't have to see it. When Horatio arrived home at 2:00pm, the house were silent. He knew his wife was home because her car were still in the driveway. Faith was usually taking a nap at this hour. When he went upstairs Horatio heard a sound from their bedroom.
Sobbing.
He knew everything his wife had bottled up for months had finally come out
"Sweetheart," he said, moving swiftly to the bed where she was, concern showing in his eyes. "Are you okay?" He wrapped an arm tightly around his wife and put one hand to the back of her head, guiding her to lean on his shoulder. Aimee's body was shaking so bad she were almost spazzing. Her breathing was so fast she were nearly hyperventilating. Tears poured down her face. Her husband knew she having a full-blown anxiety attack.
Finally.
This had been a long time coming. Not that it was a good thing she was so very upset the fact that she finally let out all her emotions was positive. It was the start of dealing with what happened.
Horatio held her tightly, rocking her gently, talking to her softly. He helped her take deep breaths to calm her breathing and heart rate.
"I'm right here, baby," He whispered. "I'm not going anywhere. There you go. There ya go." he said as she started to settle.
After ten minutes Aimee were calm enough to speak. She knew she didn't have to explain anything to her husband.
"When did this start, baby?" Horatio asked her softly.
He hoped she weren't frightened too long before he got home.
"I don't know. What time is it, now?" Whenever I put Faith in for her nap."
That was nearly an hour ago.
He knew he couldn't have been, but Horatio apologized for not being home.
"I think you need a nap, now, yourself," he said, kissing Aimee's lips softly.
After a snack and taking something for the massive headache she now had, Aimee did decide to take a nap. By then Faith was happily playing with her baby gym, her dad laying on the floor on his side next to her. Faith was laughing as Horatio did "the itsy bitsy spider" on her belly. Her two tiny hands grabbing his big one, she rolled over onto her stomach. The baby had been rolling on her for two weeks now.
"What did you and mommy do while I was gone, huh?" Horatio asked his baby.
She cooed and babbled at her dad.
"Oh my," Horatio replied to her. "Sounds like you had a fun morning."
When Aimee came downstairs nearly two hours later she smiled at the sight in front of her; Horatio sitting on the floor, their baby daughter between his knees, him reading Faith the book I Love You Through and Though.
Both Eric and Calleigh were wiping tears from their eyes. Today Calleigh had her first ultrasound. The image of the little one, who was currently about the size of a large lime and his or her strong heartbeat was like a dream for the parents-to-be. It was now totally real for them their love had created a child.
A child they already loved.
Both had been in the courtroom, sitting along side Tim, to hear Horatio's testimony regarding Julia and Rick. Then Jack Lewis's They had left just before Ryan was called to the stand. After Ryan's testimony, the trial was adjourned for the day.