AN: Thanks for the reviews and support, here is the next chapter, sorry for the delay.

Chapter 3: A close call

1 year later

June 22, 1990

Horatio and Derrick Miller, his work partner the last five years, which their bond has only grown tighter, was sitting in a booth at a diner enjoying their lunch break when Horatio finally asked a question he had been wanting to before they left the station earlier that morning but hadn't gotten a chance until now. "I couldn't help but notice how happy you looked before we left the station this morning."

Derek smiled after taking a sip of his soda. "Yeah."

When he didn't expand, Horatio asked with a raised eyebrow. "So?"

After a moment, and not able to hide it much longer, he leaned in forward and whispered. "Felicia's pregnant."

To say that Derek was serious in his relationship was an understatement. Horatio watched his partner, turned best friend, fall in true love and get married. And the one thing that had been missing was seeing him become a father, which it looked like that was about to come true now.

Horatio smiled at his friend. "Wow, congratulations, Derek. I know how much you and Felicia have been wanting this."

When Derek and Felicia first started out, they were being cautious about it, then as things got more serious between them, they fell hard for one another, so they got married about two years into their relationship. After their 1st year of marriage, the baby discussion was brought up. Now after two years of trying and failing, they finally got their dream come true, well a good start of it that is.

Derek took a breath, trying to hold back his emotions from the news he had gotten from his wife this morning. "I just can't believe it is finally happening, I'm going to be a father."

Horatio nodded while holding out his hand. "And a great one."

Derek nodded with a beaming smile on his face as he took his best friend's hand. "I really hope so, and thank you, partner."

After they released hands, they finished off their drinks, and as they stood up, pulling their wallets out of their pants pockets, Derek asked with a smirk. "So, when is it your turn?"

Horatio chuckled while pulling money out of his wallet. "I would have to be pretty serious with someone for that to happen, wouldn't you say so?"

While Derek had seen his partner date through the years, including a cousin in his wife's family, which ended on good terms, he never really saw him look like he was that happy, at least not as happy as you should be when you're really, truly in love.

Derek nodded his head with a small chuckle before he spoke with a little more sincere tone. "I'm sorry, man. But trust me, someone will come along, probably when you least expect it."

Before Horatio could respond, the next turn of events happened so fast, the diner door opened and three men with masks came in with guns in their hands and the leader of the group instantly told everyone not to move.

Going on instinct, Derek pulled his gun out of his holster and aimed it at the leader, but he wasn't playing any games and shot at Derek in the shoulder, causing him to not only fall to the ground in pain, but Horatio gasped and turned around with his gun now in his hands, so the leader had turned his gun on him. "Do you really want to play hero right now?"

Horatio paused, then shook his head and dropped his gun on the floor before turning back around to his friend, kneeling down and placing his hands on the bullet wound while the three masked men finished robbing the diner before rushing out.

Derek grasping for air, said. "Go, go after them, I'll be alright."

Horatio made sure someone else was there putting pressure on the wound and told the cashier to call the cops/ambulance, as he took his gun and stood up before rushing out of the diner. Seeing the car in the distance, he pointed his gun, but since it was too far to do anything, he lowered it with a sigh before he rushed back into the diner as everybody heard the sirens coming closer.

At the hospital

Once the ambulance came and took Derek to the hospital, and after Horatio talked to the detective for his statement, he was standing in the waiting area looking out the window when he heard Derek's wife, Felicia.

"Oh my god, I got here as quick as I could, please tell me Derek is ok, I don't know what I would do without him."

Horatio turns around and immediately walks up to the African American woman, who was of average weight and height with medium length black hair and green eyes, then brings her in his arms for a hug to calm her down, who was now crying.

"It's ok Felicia, he's going to be ok."

After a moment, trying to calm herself down the best she could, she sniffled before she asked. "How do you know that for sure?"

They pull back and he replied with determination. "Because he has a lot to fight for."

There was a pause while looking into his eyes, then a moment later, having known him almost as long and as well as her husband, she asked. "You know, don't you?"

He was going to play it off, but he was just as excited as they were, so he couldn't help but show her his smile and nod. "Yes, and congratulations."

Not really that surprised her husband would tell Horatio before he even told his own family, which they were going to wait a few months before they even shared it with their families, she nodded with a smile, then she started to have tears in her eyes again. "I just don't want to do this alone. This isn't how we planned this."

As Horatio was placing a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder, a 40-year-old Caucasian man, who was close to six feet, above average build, brown hair and brown eyes spoke after clearing his throat. "Mr. Caine?"

Horatio looked at the doctor as he placed his hand back to his side with a nod before speaking. "This is Mr. Miller's wife."

They shook hands in greeting before he told her the good news, her husband should make a full recovery and is now resting, causing both of them to sigh in relief, and after telling her what room her husband was in, the doctor turned and left them alone, which they smiled at one another before sharing a hug, then as they were pulling back, Horatio spoke. "Now, let's see that lucky husband of yours."

She nodded as she wiped her tears away, and as they were walking towards the elevator to take them up, they were stopped when a young man said his name. "Horatio."

Horatio looked to the side to see one of the young detectives walking towards him, so he looks at Felicia and said. "Tell him I'll see him soon."

Felicia nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Horatio."

Horatio just nodded and stepped away while Felicia stepped in the now opened elevator.

Horatio stopped in front of the 25-year-old Caucasian man, who had been the one that had taken his statement earlier, tilted his head and asked. "Did you get an address?"

There had been some pretty good eyewitnesses who saw the make and model of the car, not to mention the licenses plate number.

The young man nodded with a smile while handing him the file. "Yes sir."

Horatio took the file, opened it up, seeing one of the suspects name and picture, closed the file and started walking towards the elevators, but instead of going up, he was going down to the lobby so he could exit the hospital.

As Horatio stepped in the opened elevator, the young man, Rick Williams, with bright blue eyes, asked. "Can I come?"

There was a small pause before Horatio stopped the elevator from closing, and the young man took that as a sign, so he rushed to the elevator and got in right before Horatio let the doors close this time, looking like a man on a mission.

The drive to the address was silent, and when they got to the correct apartment building, the floor and stood in front of the door, Horatio knocked on it, and after hearing the same toned voice on the other side of the door that spoke in the diner earlier, he pulled out his gun, Rick following suit a second later.

A moment later, the door opened, and Horatio grabbed a hold of the guy and pushed him back into the apartment and placed him so his back was against the closest wall as he pointed his gun to one of the other guys that was in the apartment since he was reaching for his gun that was on the end table next to the couch, and with Rick's gun pointed in the same direction, Horatio asked in a hard tone. "Now it's your turn, do you really want to play the hero?"

The guy moved his hands up a second later, seeing the fiery look in Horatio's blue eyes so he knew he wasn't playing any games, and while Rick was still pointing his gun at him, Horatio turned to the guy he had against the wall, and the guy looked at him like he recognized him, especially with the words he used. "The cop, I should have shot you at the diner when I had the chance."

Horatio smirked as he turned the guy around and handcuffed him. "And thank you for confirming you were there."

The mid-30's, blond haired guy with a beard started his cussing tirade at him while Rick took care of the second guy, and by the time they walked out of the apartment building, backup had showed up, so Horatio handed his guy off to one of the other cops, and just as they were placing him in the car, Horatio sees a guy a few feet away, he stops, they share eye contact, then the man turned and stated running towards the alleyway, Horatio following him as quickly as he could.

After about a two-minute chase through the alleyway, Horatio stopped, pulled his gun out and took a shot at the man's leg, causing him to fall over and scream out in pain, adding cuss words here and there as Horatio walked up to him, mostly so he could catch his breath, then pointed his gun at him as he got on his radio to tell his team his location.

Once everything was taken care of at the scene, Horatio took Rick back to the hospital so he could get his vehicle while Horatio visited Derek for a couple of hours, then he went to the station to finish some paperwork before heading home to his apartment.

After walking in the two bedroom apartment with spacious rooms, he tossed his keys on the table next to the door, went to the kitchen, opened the fridge door to grab a beer, then after opening it, he took a sip as he headed for the end table, where his answering machine was. Seeing the red light flashing, indicating he had a message, he pressed play, hearing his brother's voice a second later as he sat down on the couch, leaning back and closing his eyes with a deep sigh, thankful this day was done and considering the circumstances, ended how it should have.

"Hey big bro, you're never going to believe this one, and I really hope you're sitting down for this, but guess what? I am finally going to be off the market for good because on July 4th I'm going to be a married man. And I want you to be my best man, ok? I couldn't ask a better person. I'll talk to you later, bye."

By the time the answering machine cut off, Horatio was looking at the device with a shocked look on his face, then he sighed again, for a different reason this time, as he looked at the picture of Yelina and Ray that was sitting on a mantel.

There was no doubt he was happy for his brother, and loved him like an older brother should, but he just hopes he doesn't go back to his old ways, and treats her like she should be treated because she deserved nothing less.

AN: Thanks for reading, and please reviews. Next Chapter will be out soon. Hope you are all safe.