Promises and Threats

After the discovery of the dead body this afternoon, the CSI's workload increased, thereby prolonging their shift, but no one complained because it was important to them to find the connection between the dead young man and their boss.

While walking to the ballistics lab, after retrieving the bullet from Tom down in the morgue, Horatio's mind kept going back to the fact that the young man had been found with his residence address clutched in his hand. Why did he have it? He wondered.

Walking into the lab, Horatio thought about Calleigh and the fact that she was being interrogated by that adoption board. He chuckled as he knew they would not get her flapped in any way…she is one strong lady. He thought he would process the bullet himself, since he had always been the only team member she would allow to use her lab, besides the mandatory sharing it with the night shift.

After he entered the evidence into IBIS, he sat back and began to think about their upcoming nuptials Friday and how he was looking forward to making their union legal. Suddenly he was jolted out of his thoughts by a Bing! Staring at the computer screen he found a picture and information on a Randy Moulton. Priors were predominately misdemeanors with the exception of one glaring charge of armed robbery. Clicking on the robbery charge to obtain more details, he found that Randy had only spent one year in county lockup for his crime. His blood began to boil when he read the reason for the brief detention, early release due to overcrowding! Since he actually had not hurt anyone during the crime he was not seen as a violent offender and was placed under house arrest. But reading further, Horatio saw that he had failed to keep in contact with his parole officer, and he just fell through the cracks in the justice system, unfortunately like so many criminals do.

"Damn justice system is a joke today," Horatio muttered under his breath.

Let's see who your legal counsel was for the robbery charge Mr. Moulton. VOGEL! Bingo…Horatio thought. Now THERE's a connection worth pursuing!

Printing out the report, Horatio turned the equipment off and made his way up to the trace lab with the folder containing his results. Arriving in the lab, he found Eric and Ryan working on the victim's clothing.

Eric looked up and saw Horatio entering and asked, "You find something H?"

"Believe I did Eric," Horatio answered as he placed the file on the table for Eric and Ryan to examine.

"The same gun was used in an armed robbery 18 months ago here in Miami. There wasn't a victim, but a bullet was collected from the scene, undoubtedly from a warning shot. More important though is who Randy's legal counsel was," Horatio said waiting for them to notice the name on the report.

"VOGEL," both cried in union as their eyes zeroed in on the name. Shaking his head in disbelief, Eric vehemently said, "What do we have to do to get rid of this scum?"

Horatio spoke up and asked his CSI's, "Have you completed running the trace from our victim this afternoon yet?"

"Sorry H, we haven't completed everything…it will be tomorrow morning before I can have a report for you," Eric replied. "I am in the process of running the vic's fingerprints now so, I will finish that this evening to where we can ID him."

"Good…um, why don't you call it a day after you get the print results…it is already 6:30 and I appreciate you wanting to stick with this to finish it, but it has been a long day already. All of you need some dinner and rest to get back at it in the morning, ok? Walter will be back too to help with the load."

Ryan told them he would go check on Natalia's results in DNA and tell her to start shutting down when she came to a good stopping place.

"Hey Wolfe…want to go grab a beer somewhere after we leave? And see if Nat would like to join us," Horatio heard Eric ask as he himself started walking toward the elevator.

"Sounds good to me," Ryan called back over his shoulder as he walked down the hall to DNA.

As he waited for the elevator to take him down to the garage and his car, Horatio thought how nice it was to know Calleigh would be waiting for him at home. For the first time in years, he was actually glad to be going home.

It was after 7 before he arrived home and walked through the door with a bouquet of fresh flowers for Calleigh and a bottle of the best red wine for their dinner.

Calleigh walked toward him with one of her radiant smiles that lit up the room and said, "Hey Handsome…oh, that is so sweet for you to bring me flowers! What have I done to warrant these?"

Setting the wine down on the table, Horatio wrapped her in his arms and answered, "For just being you…AND being here to welcome me home!"

Then he kissed her with such passion that it made her legs feel weak.

Finally breaking for air, Calleigh weakly said, "Well, if this is how you are going to greet me after work, we might need to keep a fire extinguisher handy!"

Horatio leaned back slightly and grinned at his beautiful fiancée and replied, "I'll pick one up for us tomorrow!"

Calleigh giggled as she hugged him tight…a sound he loved to hear, her laughter.

Finally walking toward the kitchen with their arms still wrapped around each other, Calleigh began saying, "By the way, thank you for taking the time to go before the adoption board. When did you set that up?"

Horatio turned and grinned, "When I first heard of your desire to adopt the children, but I took great pleasure in going today and informing them of our engagement, much more pleasurable for me than as your boss."

Calleigh smiled and stared into his deep blue eyes and shook her head in disbelief and asked softly, "What did I ever do to deserve such a sweet man like you?"

"Just for being you Sweetheart…just being you. But I could ask you the same thing." Then he captured her lips again.

After dinner, as they sat on the couch, Horatio brought Calleigh up to date on the events of the afternoon. He thought to himself how good it felt to be able to discuss things at the lab and get her opinion. That was something he had never been able to do with any woman before.

"I think we need to be careful Horatio, until this gets straightened out…and it makes me shiver to think about how Vogel wanted nothing more than to destroy you and I have no doubt he is instigating this from inside the detention center. He has helped so many thugs in Miami it is no telling who he has employed to help him with this. If we could just find enough evidence to shut him down, I would feel a whole lot better."

"I agree Cal. I am going to make a request of you that you not ride with me while on duty until this is over…just in case."

Calleigh sat straight up and turned to look at his face, "WHAT? I am not doing any such thing…if someone is after you I need to be with you to watch your back."

Horatio looked down at his lap, knowing she was going to react to his request and in a moment he said, "Cal…"

"NO Horatio," Calleigh said, cutting him off. "So, you would rather Frank or Eric or any of the others on the team to be injured instead of me?"

"No, of course not Sweetheart," Horatio answered abruptly, "I am not letting anyone ride with me…if someone wants a piece of me…it will only be me if I have anything to do with it. I don't want anyone getting hurt or worse because of this."

"We are a team Horatio…don't shut us out and don't play 'hero' with us."

"Cal…I am certainly not a hero…I just won't take the chance of losing someone else in my life because of me…there have already been too many and I am not going to let it happen again."

Calleigh gently placed her hand on his chin and tenderly brought his eyes to hers and softly said with tears pooling in her eyes, "Handsome, if something were to happen to you it would literally devastate me…but it would always haunt me that if only I could have been with you, I might have been able to stop it."

"Don't ever think that way Sweetheart…you know as well as I do that sometimes there is just nothing that can stop some events from unfolding."

"Horatio…did you hear what you just said? You have never felt that way the entire time I have known you. You feel responsible every time someone around you gets hurt, no matter the circumstances!"

Horatio hung his head for a moment and then slowly looked into Calleigh's tormented green eyes and softly replied, "I can't let you Cal…I just love you too much."

"Arrgh," Calleigh exhaled as she clinched her fists, "Damn it Horatio…you are just too stubborn for your own good, you know that?"

"Do you know how beautiful you are Sweetheart when you are mad?" Horatio said with a small grin.

"Don't try to sweet talk me Horatio…it only makes it worse…."

Horatio wrapped his arms around her and gently pushed her back down on the couch as he gave her a tender kiss and stretched out beside her.

"Horatio…"

"Don't be mad at me Sweetheart," he softly whispered as he began trailing sweet, wet kisses down her neck.

"Oh…Handsome…I…am…not…mad," Calleigh managed to say between her soft moans, "I am…frustrated!"

"Hmm, I know just the thing for that…" Horatio whispered as his kisses became almost a narcotic to Calleigh's demeanor.

For the next three days, Horatio and Calleigh went to work and received many congratulations from the team and the patrol division upon hearing their news. Horatio found Eric's assumption to be correct in that surprisingly no one was taken aback about their plans.

True to his word, Horatio stood fast and did not allow anyone to accompany him while on duty.

Finally, Friday afternoon arrived and it was time for them to go to the courthouse to file the necessary paperwork to marry, then go to their home and change clothes for the actual ceremony.

Horatio had bought a new black suit with white vest and tie for the occasion. He wore a single white rose on his lapel. Already dressed, Horatio had appointed himself as doorman for receiving their guests. He knew Calleigh and Alexx, his former M.E. and dear friend, would be sequestered in the master bedroom until it was time for the ceremony to begin. He did see Natalia going in and out with items to help and he chuckled that they were going to wear the poor woman out with all the footwork.

Most of their family and friends had arrived when the doorbell rang once again. Horatio opened the door to find it was the Probate Judge's secretary standing before him.

"Mrs. Greenwald, please come in," glancing behind her he then asked, "Is Judge Franklin with you?"

"No, he was called away on an emergency and he sent me to perform the ceremony. I hope you don't mind?"

Horatio chuckled and assured her he did not mind at all, knowing she was a notary public, and an office which the state of Florida allows to perform marriages.

After being shown where the couple would like the ceremony performed, she asked if they would be ready by 5:00.

Alexx had come out into the living room and saw that everything was in place and told Horatio she would go and tell Calleigh and Natalia it was time. Even though they were having a small, private ceremony, the couple still wanted to follow tradition and not allow anyone to see the bride before the ceremony…including the groom. Calleigh looked forward to "wowing" Horatio with her dress.

Horatio and Frank took their places before the notary and someone started the music. Natalia entered the room first and she looked lovely. Horatio didn't fail to notice Ryan looking at her and chuckled that perhaps he had started something.

Then the music changed and Kenwall, Calleigh's father, escorted the beautiful blonde woman into the room on his arm. Calleigh had chosen a white, silk, knee-length dress that was cut low between her breasts with lace trim around the cut and neckline. She had her long blonde hair loose down her back, with soft whispers of curl around her face. She carried a bouquet of six white roses, and wore her radiant smile that seemed to brighten more when her eyes met Horatio's. As promised, she took his breath away.

Vows taken, rings exchanged and at last he could kiss his bride. Cheers and clapping erupted from the onlookers and Kenwall looked at the new couple with a broad grin. For the first time the couple was introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Horatio Caine.

The wedding party moved out to the patio and beach to enjoy champagne and heavy hors' derives. The bride and groom cut the cake while the photographer captured another memory. A variety of soft love songs emanated from inside the house as the guests enjoyed the affair.

As evening came, all the guests gradually filtered out except for the team members who were waiting to take their leader and his new bride out on the town to celebrate. They planned to go dancing in "Little Havana" at a premiere club.

Horatio instructed the caterers on where to store the food as he and Calleigh escaped to their bedroom to change into more casual attire.

"You are still Handsome, even in kaki's and a chambray shirt, which I love Babe!"

"Thank you and you are still gorgeous in all black, Sweetheart!"

"Thank you sir, I am wearing this outfit just for you." Calleigh told him.

Holding her for just a moment so his eyes could enjoy her beauty once more, Horatio leaned in and gave her a tender kiss and asked, "How does it feel to be Mrs. Caine, Sweetheart?"

"It feels wonderful Handsome…something we should have done long ago."

As he playfully kissed her on her neck he only said, "Umm, I agree Sweetheart." he

"I love you Horatio," was her reply.

"I love you Calleigh."

The night of dancing was enjoyed by all and before they realized it the clock read 2:30 am.

"Excuse me everyone," Horatio said to everyone at the table, "My bride and I must call it a night…and I would suggest you all do the same…especially you Eric. You are in charge of the lab tomorrow. Thank you for a wonderful time on our special day and night! We have thoroughly enjoyed being with all of you."

"Yeah, guess we better break it up," Eric agreed.

Arriving home, Horatio and Calleigh reached their door and Horatio scooped her up in his arms and carried her inside.

"How sweet Handsome…we are very traditional. Oops, I just realized I left my purse in the car and I would hate for someone to break out a window overnight to get it. Let me just run back out."

"You…get ready for bed…I will get it," Horatio said and kissed her lightly on her nose as he set her down.

With that he was out the door and she went to the bedroom.

Reaching inside the open car door for the purse, Horatio suddenly felt an excruciating pain in his back and he couldn't breathe. Then he was grabbed from behind and held by a big man while another man began to hit him in the stomach with a baseball bat.

Then a deep voice growled, "I suggest you forget about your case against Vogel, you hear me or next time we have our little 'discussion' with the blonde…got it?"

"Go to Hell," Horatio managed to say through gritted teeth as he struggled against the other man's hold.

Then Horatio felt a fist connect to his face a few times before the man let him go to slide down the side of his car to the concrete. He tried to see the tag on the car as they drove away, but he only saw the last three numbers before he lost consciousness.

Inside the house, Calleigh began wondering what was taking Horatio so long so she went to the door and opened it. Her brain, taking a moment to register what she saw, she then screamed, "HORATIO"…and ran out the door to where he lay beside their car.

To be continued…thanks for all the wonderful reviews, very encouraging to me!