Combination of Pleasure and Pain

Horatio awakened the next morning before Calleigh and he always loved it when he had a chance to watch her sleeping. She seemed like a young child as he lovingly observed her, in contrast to her spitfire personality she exposed at times. It was hard not to take her in his arms and smother her with kisses, but he thought, she has to be exhausted from yesterday and last night and she needs her rest. He decided to ease out of bed and walk out on their balcony to look at the gardens below.

As he stood leaning onto the railing with both hands as he admired the beautiful area, he felt Calleigh's arms wrap around his waist and he felt her warm body hugging him against his back.

He straightened, wrapping his arms around hers, turned his head toward her and murmured, "Good morning Sweetheart…did you sleep well I hope?"

"Hmm, I slept wonderfully…how about you?"

Turning to face her they continued to hold each other as he leaned down and softly kissed her lips, then her nose and up to her forehead and huskily answered, "Most restful night I have had in some time Sweetheart, thanks to you. How about…taking a shower with me?"

"I would love to."

Taking her hand and leading her to the bathroom, he untied the sash on her robe, allowing it to fall on the floor, revealing her beautiful body underneath. She began pushing his pajama pants down and he reached and helped her so he could speed up the process. Wrapping her in his arms he began attacking her with warm, moist kisses all over then quickly opened the door to the large tiled shower equipped with dual showerheads at both ends and guided her inside.

As the old proverbial saying goes, 'The Honeymoon's Over' was going to ring true for Horatio and Calleigh real soon. The days of casual sightseeing and local cuisine, followed by a night or two of pleasurable live jazz sessions in the Quarter, then late night love and enjoyment of each other was coming to a close, but both admitted they missed their children and were anxious to be reunited with them.

Their time together was so engaging, both of them had temporarily neglected their police training and were totally out of their normal work ritual, or else they would have picked up on the obvious indications they were being followed each day.

Ben Duquesne had loaned the couple a vehicle, which they did make use of when Calleigh drove them both out to Evergreen Plantation, the most historically designated of all of south Louisiana's plantations. Horatio marveled at the condition of all the buildings and the grounds were immaculate, he could just imagine it as a working sugar cane plantation in the 1800's and was surprised to find out it was still active today.

The day to return to reality arrived and as Horatio checked them out of the hotel, Calleigh waited in the car in the garage when her interest was piqued as she noticed, in the rear view mirror, a man sitting in a car a few cars behind theirs, seemingly just sitting and watching her.

Horatio opened the driver's door and as he sat down said, "Sorry it took me a bit longer than I thought…the desk clerk had trouble…"

Calleigh cut him off, "Horatio, there is a man sitting in a car in the next row behind us and he has been watching me ever since I got in the car."

Horatio glanced in the rear view mirror and saw a car driving away and he mentally made a note of the model and color, just in case.

"Well, I think he just left. Let's keep an eye out for a dark gray, Ford Taurus, although, it could be something as innocent as talking on his phone before driving," Horatio said attempting to reassure Calleigh, and perhaps himself as well.

Arriving at the Duquesne house, Calleigh and Horatio entered the front door and were greeted by Samantha.

"Here's the happy couple, I don't have to ask if you enjoyed your honeymoon, I can see it on your faces!" Calleigh smiled radiantly while Horatio smiled and glanced down at the floor momentarily. She hugged both and told them they were just sitting down for lunch and there was enough food for everyone.

"Are Patty and Austin around somewhere?"

Just as Calleigh finished her question, they all heard Patty's squeal of delight. "Mommy…Daddy you're back!" As she ran and hugged Calleigh so hard, it almost knocked her over backwards.

"Hey you…have you been having a good time?" Calleigh inquired of the little girl.

"We have had SO much fun…I can't wait to tell you and Daddy about it!"

Horatio bent over and scooped the girl up into his arms and kissed her on the cheek, "Hi Sweetheart…don't tell me you've been crawdad hunting again!"

"We did, but we saw a BIG alligator this time! I was scared, but Uncle Jeff picked me up and made everybody else walk back to the truck and we had to stop hunting crawdads."

"Well, I'm glad Uncle Jeff took care of all of you. Mommy and I have missed you and Austin, but we are glad you have been having a good time."

Calleigh brushed Patty's hair out of her face and asked, "Is Austin around anywhere Sweetie?"

"I think he and Steven went to the store with Uncle Ben, but they will be back in a little while," Patty answered.

"Are you hungry Sweetheart," Horatio asked his daughter.

"I am STARVING Daddy!"

"Me too…let's all go and eat lunch with everyone," Horatio said as he put the little girl down and took Calleigh's hand in his as they began to head to the kitchen.

"Lunch was fantastic as always Sam…" Calleigh barely had time to say before Austin and Steven came barging through the door into the kitchen.

"Mommy, you and Dad are home!" Austin excitedly declared.

"Hey Austin…we missed you guys," Calleigh said as she hugged him.

Horatio grinned as he watched them and then Austin came and hugged his Dad, "Missed you Dad."

"I missed you too Son…heard about the gator ruining the hunt."

"Yeah Dad…he was HUGE! If you'd been with us you could have shot him."

"Um, I think that would be illegal son…but I'm glad no one got hurt."

They all continued enjoying their lunch together as Ben and Samantha brought them up to date as to what had been going on.

"Harry took Natalia out for breakfast Sunday?" Calleigh asked in shock.

Samantha grinned at her shock and said, "Yep, the old sly dog seems to have his sights on her, he took her out on the town after you guys left the brewery and she didn't get back here until 2:30 the next morning…later he took her and your team to the airport."

"Umm, I think if this is going into girl talk, the children and I will go outside and see what we can get ourselves into," Horatio said as he leaned over and gave his wife a kiss on her cheek.

"I'll join you Brother," Ben said as he stood up from the table. "Never want to know what the girls gossip about!" He laughed as Calleigh and Samantha glared at him.

As they walked outside, Horatio asked the children, "You have not told anyone about our surprise have you?"

Both children looked at him and grinned, "No Daddy, we haven't said anything."

"Good, what do you say about us telling Uncle Ben right now?"

"YES…YES DADDY…CAN WE TELL HIM?"

"Tell me what?"

"Well Ben, Calleigh and I planned to make the announcement tonight at dinner when all the family would be present, but since the girls are having their talk, I thought we would fill you in on some news…go ahead kids."

"We are going to have a new brother or sister!" Austin and Patty excitedly shouted.

"What?" Ben exclaimed looking at Horatio as his brother-in-law stood grinning back at him.

"WOW, congratulations everybody," Ben said as he slapped Horatio on the back.

"How far along is Calleigh?"

"Nine weeks…we have a long time to go yet, but we are all excited about it," Horatio commented, "I just hope it is easy on her."

"Let's see…oh, a December baby…maybe around Christmas?" Ben inquired of Horatio.

Patty chimed up, "Santa Claus could bring the baby Daddy! That would be sooo cool!"

"The doctor told us about the middle of the month, but from what I understand, the first one could be late so, we'll see what happens," Horatio grinned as he commented and held Patty close to him.

"I just hope it is a boy," Austin exclaimed, "Dad and I need it to be…we would have too many women around if it was to be a girl!" Horatio and Ben started laughing while Patty slapped her brother on the arm and answered, "I want a sister!"

"We will just have to wait and see children, now remember, we can't tell anyone else," Horatio managed to say between chuckles.

Austin replied, "We know Dad, we don't want to spoil Mommy's fun…we won't tell anyone else."

Ben and Horatio continued to walk around the place talking while Austin and Patty went inside the house to put on their bathing suits to join their cousins at the pool.

That night after supper, Horatio allowed Calleigh to announce their big news. Everyone was elated and Samantha took Calleigh's arm and said, "I knew there was that glow on your face since y'all arrived, but I just chalked it up to being newlyweds. This is wonderful…do you know what the sex is yet?"

"Not yet," Calleigh answered, but I think on our next visit to the doctor we will know.

Everyone in the family was elated and congratulated both of them and the children.

That night as Calleigh and Horatio were putting the children to bed, each asked if they could stay longer, Calleigh answered both, "Sweetheart, I wish we could, but Daddy will have to go back to work when we get home, but you know what, I am going to take the summer off so I can be with y'all and we will have fun! Daddy will be able to have fun with us on the weekends too!"

Horatio was so glad he had approved her leave of absence before they had married, otherwise it would have smacked of favoritism. Calleigh had requested the time on the stipulation if she was awarded custody of the children so, she could get them acclimated to their new home.

"Goodnight," both Horatio and Calleigh said and kissed each child on their forehead and the cousin sharing the bed with them.

Horatio and Calleigh walked back to their room and were quiet as they readied for bed themselves.

Horatio was the first to speak after getting into bed, "I don't want this time to end either Sweetheart…it has been wonderful."

"It has, hasn't it," Calleigh replied. "I never have enjoyed coming home as much as I have this time…it must be because you are with me," she said as she nuzzled his neck while they held each other tight.

"Oh Cal, I love you," and then gave her a tender kiss.

"I love you Handsome…I am looking forward to our dream that we plan to live together," she managed to say before she passionately kissed him back and then they fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, Horatio was helping Jeff unload their bags at the airport, after the teary good-byes at the house. He noticed the children were still dejected with the fact they were leaving their cousins and all the fun they had enjoyed.

Calleigh was enjoying a conversation with her brother as Horatio looked over at their children and thought he needed to do something to help with their pain of separation.

After giving the skycap their luggage, Horatio walked over to them and said, "Maybe your cousins could come visit us in Miami this summer…would you like that?"

Immediately Austin and Patty brightened and Austin said, "Could they Dad? That would be so cool!"

"We'll work something out son." Horatio knew he would have to get the ok from Calleigh as she would be the one to handle the children while he was at work.

They said their goodbyes and thanks to Ben and walked inside the terminal to check-in and find their gate for the Miami flight that was scheduled to leave at 12:40 pm, with an arrival into Miami at 3:30pm EDT. They had plenty of time and did not have to rush as it was only 11:15am now so after arriving at the gate, the children wanted to walk around and look in the shops so Calleigh agreed to walk around with them while Horatio watched the carry-ons. At least there was not as much to carry home with them as in contrast to when they arrived and they had been able to condense their bags down to two, with more things being put in their checked luggage.

Horatio was feeling slightly anxious as it was approaching 12Noon and Calleigh and the children had not appeared back at their gate. Horatio decided he needed to walk down the concourse to see if he could find them so, he took their bags to the counter of their gate and asked the young ladies working it if he could leave the bags behind the counter, explaining the situation. They gave him permission and he began walking down the concourse in the same direction he had noticed his family going.

Walking for some distance and glancing in every store he passed, he could not locate them. Then he noticed Austin standing in the hallway outside of the restrooms. It was not a busy area and there were few people milling about as the gates in the area were not being used at the moment.

"Austin, are you alright," Horatio asked as he hurried to his son.

"Yeah Dad, but I don't know what is happening with Mommy and Patty, they went in the ladies room a good while ago and asked me to wait on them. Then they heard Patty scream, "MOMMY."

Horatio managed to tell Austin to stay put as he ran into the ladies room to see what was going on.

He saw Calleigh standing against the wall holding Patty close by her side as a young man held a knife to her throat.

"HORATIO…WATCH OUT!" Just as Horatio was running toward his wife and daughter he felt a tremendous pain hit the back of his head like the concussion of an explosion. He immediately fell to the floor, but desperately fought losing consciousness attempting to push up off the floor to try to help his wife and daughter he felt another blow and then darkness.

Patty began screaming and the man put his hand over her mouth which terrified the girl and caused Calleigh to renew her struggle against the two men, unsuccessfully. One of the men told her they were walking out and she had better make it look like they were family or the little girl would suffer the consequences. As they walked around Horatio lying on the floor, Calleigh began sobbing and Patty looked at her daddy in shock.

Then Calleigh heard the terrifying words of the man tell the other one to finish him off after they left and come to the van when he was through. Calleigh felt her legs beginning to give out under her, but the man jerked her up by her arm and reminded her not to try anything funny.

Austin was confused when he saw his mother and sister come out with a strange man. Then he suddenly heard the man tell him to come over there with them and they were going to walk out together, quietly. The man allowed Austin to see the gun he had concealed under a jacket draped across his arm as the large weapon pointed directly at his sister's head. Austin knew something had gone terribly wrong in the restroom because his father was not coming out and he noticed his mother's tears flowing down her cheeks and the frightened look on her face and Patty's. Austin reluctantly joined them, thinking about what he could do to get them away from this man, but the guy was just too big, plus he had a gun and could hurt his mother or sister.

They reached the van in the parking garage and he opened the back door and shoved Calleigh in first and then grabbed Patty's arm and almost threw her in on top of her, then he shoved Austin in and slammed the door and they heard it being locked. There was a solid wall between them and the cab with just a small open hatch in the roof. Then Calleigh's heart sank when she heard both doors of the cab open and the van began moving. Holding Patty and Austin tight against her Calleigh sobbed and called Horatio's name, over and over, still picturing him lying helpless on that bathroom floor wondering how they were going to get out of this.

TBC…