Ok guys, here is the final chapter to Fallen. I felt that it had come to a natural end at this point, I know some of you will be disapointed that there won't be any more after this chapter but I may very well write a sequel in the future...
The next few days seemed to rush by in a blur for Horatio; Calleigh declaring her feelings for him had given him an extra incentive to put more effort into his physical rehabilitation. After each session with his therapist Calleigh had come to meet him with coffee and cake, they sat in the same spot in the hospital gardens each day enjoying each other's company. He still for the life of him couldn't work out what she saw in him, all he saw was a tired and frail old man. Each time his bitterness got the better of him she would kiss him passionately to remind him of her promise to him, she seemed to be able to reach places in him that he had though had been closed off many years ago. She had the ability to see through his emotional barriers and she was breaking them down one by one until she got to the true man underneath. Each day he lived in fear that if she saw who he really was that she would leave him; unable to understand why he had done the things he had.
Sitting on the edge of his hospital bed in an old MDPD t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants he smiled as Eric and Calligh entered his room, they were followed shortly behind by Paddy who was pushing a wheelchair. "Right, Horatio. Time to take this lovely lady for one last spin"
Horatio looked at the other man and shook his head, "I don't need that thing. I'm walking out of here" he told the therapist, staring firmly.
"It's hospital policy I'm afraid" Paddy replied, motioning for Horatio to get in the chair. "You can either get in the chair or stay here for another day. Your choice" he raised an eyebrow at the redhead.
Horatio continued to stare at Paddy, hoping to win the battle of the glares. Calleigh walked up to him and placed a hand on his arm, distracted he turned to look at her. "Come on Horatio, get in the chair and let's go home" she gave him a sweet smile.
He knew he could deny her nothing, sighing softly he gradually raised himself from the bed and sat in the wheelchair meekly. "Fine" he told them huffily, "But as soon as we get outside I'm walking to the car"
True to his word he walked the dozen or so paces to Eric's hummer on shaky legs. He was glad for the physical support from Calleigh as he knew he would have fallen flat on his face had she not been there to lean on. Eric jumped out of the vehicle and helped Horatio get in the back despite the protests from the older man that he could manage by himself. By the time Eric had pulled into his driveway Horatio was asleep, his head resting against the door window. "He looks so peaceful when he sleeps" Calleigh whispered to Eric, gazing lovingly at the man in the back of the car.
Eric had seen that expression on her face before; he gave Calleigh a pointed look but said nothing. "I guess we better wake sleeping beauty up then" he said good-naturedly as he got out of the car and walked around to Horatio's side. He placed a hand on the sleeping man's shoulder and shook him gently. "H, wake up. We're home, let's get you inside. Ok?"
Horatio opened his eyes and groaned softly, rubbing at his face he turned to look at the younger man, "Ugh, Sorry Eric. I must have dropped off" he said, trying and failing to look alert and awake.
"No problem, man. Let's get you inside and settled" Eric helped Horatio to exit the vehicle and kept a hand on the other man's elbow as he weaved his way to the front door on wobbly legs.
Despite Horatio's protests Eric was insistent that the older man took his master bedroom whilst Eric transferred his own belongings to his guest bedroom. Eric and Calleigh helped Horatio settle in to the room and left him to his own devices whilst they went to the kitchen to make coffee. Calleigh was quietly day dreaming when Eric's deep voice jolted her from her thoughts, "You love him, don't you?" he said softly.
Stunned by Eric's intuition Calleigh took a moment to gather herself before replying. "Is it that obvious?" she smiled wryly.
He smiled at her, "Pretty much"
She took a deep breath and ran a hand through her long blonde hair, "I guess I've always had a soft spot for him. Seeing him almost die made me realise that life's too short to not take chances"
"Does he know?"
Her eyes closed as she thought back to their first kiss under the shade of the oak tree, "Yes" she replied, "Yes he does"
Eric drained the last of his coffee and put the cup back down on the counter, "Good" he said as he smiled at Calleigh and left the room.
Three weeks later Horatio was finishing getting dressed when he heard a soft knock at the bedroom door, "Come in" he said softly as he finished buttoning up his shirt. He looked up and smiled as Calleigh entered the room, "Hello beautiful" he said as she walked over to kiss him softly on the lips. Today was the day that he was finally able to go back to his own house, the last six weeks had been some of the most challenging of his life, there had certainly been more downs than ups but things had really been improving in the last week or so. He had successfully completed his physical rehabilitation, the muscle weakness and shakes only returning when he pushed his body too far beyond its limits. His doctor was happy that his memory and emotional stability were improving but warned once again that if Horatio pushed himself too far that they were likely to falter along with his physical strength.
The team had stood by him through everything, there were times when he lashed out at them, frustrated at his lack of independence and physical frailty but they stood firm throughout the storm of his volatile emotions. The more he tried to push them away the tighter they held on to him, unwilling him to let him face his demons alone. There were times when he all he wanted to do was curl into a ball and give up but each time he did Calleigh would take him in her arms and kiss some sense into him. He realised now that he was completely addicted to her, he needed to see her each day to get his fix, she made him feel like he could be a better man when she was by his side.
Calleigh drove him the short distance back to his own house; they sat in the car together in comfortable silence. "Here we are" she said as she pulled into his gravel driveway, "Home sweet home"
He got out of the car and gazed up at his house, it seemed like an eternity since he had been here. Together they walked to his front door, it was only then that he realised that he didn't have his keys. He looked at Calleigh, embarrassed. She smiled sweetly at him and pulled a set of keys from her pocket, "Looking for these?" she teased. He returned her smile with one of his own and took the keys from her, he felt a jolt of electricity go through him as their fingers brushed together lightly.
Calleigh took his bag from him and let him enter the house first, he sighed contentedly as he took in the familiar surroundings. He turned to look at Calleigh; her heart soared at the peaceful look on his face. He was home. "I need a coffee" he told her as he made his way to the kitchen. She smiled as he stopped halfway through the kitchen door.
"Kyle?" he said hopefully, praying that his eyes weren't deceiving him, "What are you doing here? How did you get here?" he babbled as he walked closer to his son, wanting to touch him to make sure the moment was real and not a fantasy.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner, Dad" his son told him remorsefully. "My C.O is a complete ass, I wanted to come back as soon as I heard what had happened but he wouldn't let me. I tried to go AWOL but they caught me trying to sneak off then base and threw me in the brig for a month"
"That doesn't matter" Horatio replied, "You're here now, that's all that counts" they came together and embraced firmly.
"Jeez, Dad" Kyle said as he broke from the physical contact and regarded his father, "You're skin and bones, they really did a number on you didn't they?"
"It doesn't matter, Kyle" he told him as he looked from his son to Calleigh, "I'm getting there, with a little help"
He knew that it would still be at least another two weeks before he would be fit for work and even then he would probably be restricted to desk duty, he was aware that he probably wouldn't be able to push himself as much physically as he had before he got hurt but somehow he was strangely ok with that, he took strength from the fact that he was surrounded by people who loved him just the way he was.
*Sob* That's the end of Fallen, I hope you guys have enjoyed the ride!
Don't be too sad though, a sequel to Fear and Loathing is on its way very soon...