Ups and Downs

As Horatio drove away from the prison and his meeting with Vogel headed back to the lab, he found it difficult to concentrate on the Sunday afternoon traffic in Miami. It was a bright sunny day, but to him it was one of the darkest days in his life as he considered Vogel's threat and for some unknown reason his physical pain seemed to be increasing as well. He wondered if it was stress related, but regardless of the cause it was not helping his mood.

Arriving back at the lab, he guided the Hummer into his spot and then turned it off and just sat there, for several minutes admonishing himself for even visiting the dirty lawyer in the first place; although now, it made him more aware of how dangerous the situation was…not for him, but now Calleigh was involved and potentially two innocent children. He was so deep in thought he did not notice Frank approaching his Hummer.

Frank tapped on the passenger side window, trying not to alarm his friend, but he wanted to make sure he was alright. With the sudden noise, Horatio jerked in his seat in reaction and the pain increased two fold in his left side.

Frank noticed Horatio's response and quickly opened the passenger door and shouted, "Horatio…man are you alright? You looked pale and were not moving and it scared the crap out of me!"

"Frank…" Horatio growled as he attempted to breathe, "I was…a hell…of a lot…better…before you did that!"

"Man I never intended to startle you," Frank said as he climbed up in the passenger seat and placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Horatio are you sure you are even supposed to be working this soon after being injured Friday night?"

Horatio was breathing slightly easier and replied, "Frank…don't you start too…I get enough of that from Calleigh." But Horatio smiled slightly with his comment.

"I'm really sorry man for causing you pain friend…how did the visit with Vogel go?"

"Between you and me, I wish I had never gone…but at least I am now positive he is behind everything that has happened."

"I know one thing…they shouldn't be wasting our tax dollars on that sorry son-of-a-bitch! A good thought is that maybe he won't last long in prison without money to buy favors."

Horatio chuckled slightly and responded to his friend's statement, "His kind live forever Frank."

Frank walked into the lab with Horatio and they parted at the reception area. Glancing at his watch, Horatio thought Calleigh would probably be wrapping up her tests by now so, he headed for the ballistics lab.

Noticing her packing up some evidence to put away in the vault with her back to him, he quietly walked to her and wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her golden hair.

Calleigh playfully commented, "Well…this better be my husband or you are going to be in big trouble buster."

Horatio chuckled, "I think I would kill any man who would grab you like this!"

Calleigh turned to face Horatio and gave him a brief, sweet kiss.

"Hmmm, I needed that, but not quite enough to satisfy…" Horatio softly said and then captured her lips in a deep, passionate kiss.

"Ahem…" someone said from behind them, "Hate to break this up, but…," Frank said.

"Frank…you need me?" Horatio asked smiling turning to face his friend.

"Uh, yeah H I wanted to let you know the guys got back from Antero's place and they found Talbot's personal things stashed there…billfold, watch and cell were in a plastic bag hidden in a cabinet."

"Thank you Frank…and bump the charge on Antero up to capital murder please."

"Will do H…uh, carry on," Frank said before turning and walking out smiling to himself.

Horatio turning back to his wife asked her, "I suppose you want to know how it went with Vogel this afternoon?"

"Yeah…it did cross my mind Handsome."

"To tell you the truth Cal, I wish I'd never gone to see him…he knows you and I married and our plans…to adopt the children."

Calleigh looked away for a moment, then replied, "Well, seems news gets around fast doesn't it?"

"Too fast sometimes Sweetheart, too fast."

"Did he threaten you Horatio?" For a moment she saw her husband hesitate for a fraction of a second…"Horatio…?"

Horatio hung his head and grimaced, "You know…the trouble with you is that I can't hide a thing from you."

"That's why I earn a paycheck Handsome!"

He chuckled and shook his head slightly, "The reason I hired you is because you are good at what you do…I didn't know that one day it would be so personal! But don't worry…I will be fine."

"I will be too Handsome…I am a trained police officer remember?"

"Haven't forgotten…but I still need to protect you Cal. What do you say when we wrap everything up here, we stop on the way home and find us a nice, relaxing dinner somewhere?"

"I'd enjoy that Handsome."

After arriving home from their dinner out, Horatio asked Calleigh to accompany him for a walk down the beach. They walked for a while holding hands, then with their arms around each other.

Finally stopping Horatio turned to Calleigh and could just make out her face in the moonlight and began saying, "I am sorry Calleigh that you have been dragged into my problems, you would have been better off if I had not ever made that advance toward you to begin with."

Calleigh attempted to respond, but Horatio placed his finger to her lips, "Please Cal…"

"What bothers me the most is that because of me, you may never be able to adopt the children…I'm afraid if anything else happens, your dream will be shattered and I wouldn't blame you for leaving." Finally able to say what he had been holding inside all afternoon, he couldn't stop the flow of tears down his face.

Calleigh could not stop her own tears from flowing as she raised her hands to Horatio's cheeks and began to wipe his tears away.

"Don't…" Calleigh was finding it difficult to talk but she managed to say, "Don't you EVER think that I don't want to be with you Horatio…I LOVE YOU! Our marriage vows said for better or worse and I did not take that lightly. I will NEVER leave you, no matter what happens. I do want those children, but I want you even more…don't EVER doubt that. My life began that night in my kitchen…I finally found out what true love feels like, and I love it…I love our life together…I love you. If we are fortunate that everything works out with the adoption, that will be wonderful, but either way, we will always have each other."

Horatio stared at his wife in awe before he stammered, "Oh Calleigh, oh Calleigh, I have never loved a woman like you…you are so special…you are my lifesaver." Horatio held her so tight that he felt the sharp bolt of pain run down his body, but he did not care, he was not going to let go of her. They wept some more and held each other close for some time before Calleigh leaned back slightly and pulled him down to her and they hungrily devoured each other's lips.

Breaking for air finally, Horatio managed to say in a husky voice, "As of tonight we have not been able to consummate our union Cal…what do you say we walk back home?"

"Are you sure you're up to it?" she asked smiling.

"I've never been surer in my life Sweetheart…and thank you Cal."

"Thank me for what Handsome?"

"For you," Horatio softly whispered and lightly kissed her forehead as he led her back home.

Horatio and Calleigh ended up in the shower together…as Horatio found his injuries would not afford him any other option for showing her his love.

Later that night, as they lay in each other's arms in their bed, Horatio felt himself totally relax like he had not been able to do since their wedding night.

Horatio softly said out loud, "Sweetheart, I will make tonight up to you soon."

"Make it up to me? What do you mean?" was her reply.

"That wasn't my best effort tonight, Beautiful."

"Well, I certainly found nothing wrong with it!"

"Thank you Sweetheart!"

Later in the week, the adoption board came by the house on the date which was set up by Horatio. He thought it would be best if he stayed at the lab because all of his facial injuries had not cleared up and he told Calleigh no need to give them anything else negative about the situation.

Eric was able to make a print comparison and get a definite match between Antero's prints and the partial on the bullet in the murder weapon. Antero finally broke down and implemented Vogel, which really locked the case down to where more charges could be brought before the judge.

It was Friday morning and Horatio was scheduled to escort Antero before the judge to make a sworn statement about Vogel's involvement in the murder of Talbot. Frank had ridden along with Horatio as extra protection and they used a patrol car to make the trip to the courthouse.

Arriving at their destination, Horatio and Frank exited the car and scanned the area for any unusual circumstances or people who looked out of place, just to be sure. Confident things looked normal Frank reached in the back seat of the car and assisted Antero out. As they were walking toward the front of the courthouse, a man suddenly appeared from Frank's right and stepped into their path with a .45 automatic and hastily aimed and fired.

The shot hit Antero square in his chest and he dropped to the steps immediately. Horatio screamed, "Stop MDPD as he pulled the 9mm out immediately and fired at the man running away, hitting him in his left shoulder.

Frank began cursing, "Damn Horatio…Antero is gone."

"Let's go see who we have in his place Frank," Horatio said as he began walking swiftly to the man sprawled out on the sidewalk.

Calleigh was just leaving their house when her cell jingled in her pocket. Answering she heard a frantic Eric telling her there had been an incident at the courthouse with Antero. Didn't Frank and Horatio escort him to the courthouse?" She asked Eric.

"Yeah Cal, they did and I haven't heard from either one of them."

"On my way down," then she jumped in her Hummer terrified as to what condition she would find Horatio or Frank when she got to the scene.

Driving up to the courthouse, Calleigh saw the ambulance with the paramedics working on someone on the gurney. The Hummer had hardly stopped when she jumped out, not bothering to close the door, and ran for the paramedics. Then she saw Frank standing nearby the ambulance pacing back and forth.

"Frank…," Calleigh screamed as she approached the group.

Frank looked up to see her running toward them and he moved a couple of steps toward her stopping her with his outstretched arms.

"That's not Horatio Cal."

Then from behind her she heard Horatio's voice, "Sweetheart…, are you alright?"

Turning from Frank and seeing Horatio standing there looking bewildered, she ran to him and he wrapped her in his arms.

"Calleigh…I'm ok Sweetheart."

"Oh Horatio…I was so scared when I got the call that an incident had happened at the courthouse and I knew you and Frank had brought Antero down for his hearing. Then driving up to the scene I saw the ambulance…oh Handsome…I was terrified it was you."

"Calleigh…," Horatio said softly, "We lost Antero, but the paramedics are working on his shooter…I just hope I didn't kill him with my shot or we are back to square one with Vogel."

As they stood there, the paramedics walked up to them and gave them the bad news…they could not save the man. Horatio just hung his head and shook it in disbelief.