AN: Thanks for the reviews and the continued support. Warning: Implied/Suggestive adult behavior.

Chapter 13: Needing a break

May, 2005

"Horatio, what are we doing here?" Yelina asked the redhead as he pulled in and stopped near a private airport. He nods towards the plane just as a man stepped out in view, causing Yelina to follow his line of sight and gasped when she saw who it was while Ray Jr. was already rushing out of the car, shouting. "Dad!"

Yelina looked at Horatio again with tears in her eyes as she whispered. "Horatio, how is this possible?"

"He should explain it to you, and I know apart of you will be furious with him, which you aren't alone with that sentiment, but remember, at the end of the day he's alive, and despite every negative feeling you have or might have, I know you still love him, you never stopped loving him."

She could never move on from him, no matter how hard she tried, not that she tried too hard anyway, her heart was still with Raymond Caine, and it always will be, no matter what.

Yelina places her hand on Horatio's arm with a small smile. "Just as you have."

Horatio nodded with a small smile of his own while placing his hand on top of hers. "He's my brother, that's never going to change. Please take care of him and be safe, all of you."

Yelina nodded with a smile before asking. "This isn't goodbye forever, right?"

Horatio sure hoped not, thinking of never seeing them again really hurt, especially his brother after just finding out he was still alive. But the important thing to him was that they are safe, and if never seeing them again makes that happen, so be it, so he was truthful in his response.

"I really hope not Yelina, but if means keeping you all safe, it might be."

Yelina shook her head with more tears in her eyes, not accepting that. "We will find a way to see one another again because I can't imagine not seeing you again, and I know Ray Jr. feels the same." She then smirked. "Besides, I still need to see you as a father."

Horatio smiled shyly while looking down, causing her to chuckle, then he cleared his throat before speaking softly. "You better go."

Yelina nodded and after wiping her tears away, she whispered while they were sharing a hug. "You and Calleigh be safe too. I love you, thanks for everything that you've done for me, especially the last several years."

"I love you too, Yelina, and I'll always help with anything, not matter what."

After they pull back from one another, she opens the vehicle door and gets out. She gives Horatio a smile while shutting the door before heading towards her husband and son, not sure where this new adventure will take her, and while so many emotions were going through her, her heart felt better than it had in years the moment Ray wrapped his arms around her.

Horatio gets out of the Hummer, taking his sunglasses off while seeing Ray and Yelina pull back from their embrace, then while Yelina joined her son in the plane, Ray smiled and pointed at him, which Horatio just did a nod and smile in return before Ray walked back into the plane to join his family.

Horatio sighed as the plane started moving to get into position, then once it took off, he placed his sunglasses on and got back into his Hummer.

As he was driving home, he was still dealing with the shock of what happened today.

Flashback

A few hours earlier

Before the brothers parted again, Ray cleared his throat and spoke softly. "Horatio thank you for saving my son, and..."

Horatio nodded. "Always." He wished he could have a longer reunion with his brother but knew that wasn't possible, so he continued with a little more urgency. "Now get out of here, you get caught all bets are off."

Ray nodded and hugged Horatio, and while he hugged his brother in return, Ray whispered. "Congratulations on your marriage, bro. I wish I could've been there."

"Me too and thank you."

The brothers release one another before Raymond took off as the police sirens could be heard.

End of Flashback

By the time he comes back to the present, he was pulling in the driveway to his and Calleigh's four-bedroom beach house, which had two full and one-half bathrooms. It was a present he had gotten for them a few months after they were married. In fact, their two-year anniversary was in a few days.

Horatio turned the Hummer off with a sigh before looking down at his wedding ring, and he couldn't help but smile and shake his head. He just can't believe it's already been two years since he married the love of his life.

Flashback

2 Years ago

After a five month engagement, their day was finally here, and while they said their vows and exchanged rings, everyone they cared for, including the now Captain Derek along with his wife and their five kids, and his ex-captain Jennings with his wife, was watching with smiles and misty eyes, happy for the couple, especially for Horatio, knowing he finally had that happiness and peacefulness that he had been searching years for and that wherever life took him, he wasn't going to be alone anymore.

At the reception, once the speeches were made and the food eaten, Horatio stands up from his seat and looks down at his wife, which made his heart racing thinking of her in that way, then smiled while holding out his hand. "May I have this dance, Mrs. Caine?"

Calleigh's face lit up like never before, well maybe not counting today since she had looked like she had been walking on clouds from the moment she woke up this morning, as she took his hand. "Always, Mr. Caine."

Once they made it on the makeshift dance floor on the beach, they wrap their arms around one another, and he asked with loving eyes. "So, how does it feel to be Mrs. Caine so far?"

She sighed in content. "Amazing, I can't believe it has finally happened, and I'm never giving it up."

He nodded with a smile. "I like the sound of that, sweetheart."

She smiled while he leaned down so they could share a sweet kiss.

Once the dance was done, they spent a few hours around those they care about before they headed to their apartment.

They barely walk in the apartment before their lips connected passionately. She even pushed him lightly against the door to close it, and as her hands went to his tie, he slowly pulled to them back and whispered. "Wait, sweetheart."

But she shook her head with a smile as she continued untying his tie. "I can't, whatever you have planned can happen another time." She then cupped his cheek as she continued with a little more passion in her eyes and tone. "I just want you, Mr. Caine."

His eyes get dark with passion as he whispered in return. "Is that so, Mrs. Caine."

A pleasant shiver ran down her body with him calling her that, and while she couldn't do much earlier when he had called her that before, since they were around other people, she brings him into another passionate kiss and this time her fingers went to his dress shirt but had only gotten a few buttons undone when she was interrupted by him picking her up and walking them towards their bedroom.

End of Flashback

Before he could continue with his thoughts, there was a knock on the window, he gently shook his head before looking towards the left to see Calleigh looking at him in concern.

He gives her a soft smile, hoping it would ease her worry, but it didn't do much, and considering from the moment he got back to the lab after going to his crime scene this morning, he's been distracted and hadn't talked to her about what happened today. In fact, he even let her calls go to voicemail all day, so he didn't blame her for the concern, and even small confusion on her face.

He took a breath while taking the keys out of the ignition, then opened the door, and after he gets out, she immediately cups his cheek and asked softly, knowing the man she loved pretty well by now. "Handsome, what's wrong?"

He took another breath as he placed his hand on top of hers before replying softly. "There is something I need to tell you, but it's very important that it stays between us."

And really the only reason he was going to tell her was because they had promised to be completely honest with one another, no matter what. Besides, as strong of a man Horatio might be, he doesn't think he could carry this big of a secret around all by himself anyways, especially when it came to Calleigh.

Calleigh's concern only deepened, knowing this had to be pretty big if he asked her to keep whatever he wanted to tell her quiet, but of course there was no hesitation, he could tell her anything, so she nodded and cleared her throat. " Of course."

He took her hand from his cheek, slipped his fingers through hers and walked them to their front door, and once they were inside, he made himself a drink, which was a lot stronger than he usually gets, something he only does when he's had a really rough day, then they sat on the couch before he told her about his surprising day.

When he was done, she probably had the biggest shook on her face that he had ever seen, so he gave her time to process what had just been revealed, and when she did process it, she shook her head and asked, still not believing what her husband just said. "Your brother is really alive, he's reunited with his wife and son, and they left the country."

He nodded and took a sip from his drink before replying softly. "We felt it was the only way to keep them safe."

Now she looked at him with sympathy, knowing his emotions were probably all over the place, as she took his hand into hers. "I'm sorry handsome. I can only imagine what you must be feeling right now. And despite everything your brother put you through after he 'died' this has to feel like a miracle to you."

He gives her a smile and slipped his hand out of hers to cup her cheek and ran his thumb up and down it. "Probably the biggest miracle of my life, outside of you coming into it, of course." She looked down shyly, and he brings her face back up as he continued with emotion. "If I don't say it enough or show you enough how thankful I am to have you in my life..."

She cuts him off as she moved closer to him. "You do."

A moment later their lips touched, and not much longer after that, his glass was on the coffee table and they were heading to the bedroom hand in hand.

Sometime later, while cuddled in each other's arms, he takes a breath, and she asks while running her thumb up and down his bare, smooth chest. "What's going through that head of yours?"

He ran his hand up and down her bare shoulder as he spoke. "I think after everything that's happened, I just might need a break. I know it doesn't sound like..."

She cuts him off with a smile. "You deserve a break, heck I believe we both deserve one, so I don't blame you for wanting one." She made sure the sheet was secured and moved from his chest so she could look down at him and smiled. "In fact, I know a certain anniversary coming up we could celebrate outside of Miami."

He smirked with a raised eyebrow. "Oh really, Mrs. Caine?" She nodded with a brighter smile, then he nodded with a smile after a few seconds. "I like it, do you have a destination in mind?"

She paused for a moment before suggesting. "How about Vegas, I hadn't been there in years."

"Ok."

After one more pause, she asked. "And what if we ask Derek and Felicia if they want to come?"

Even though he liked the idea of it just being them, he hadn't seen Derek in over a year, so he liked that idea as well, but wanted to make sure, so he asked with a smile.

"Really? You don't mind?"

She shook her head with a loving smile as she cupped his cheek. "I don't mind at all. Besides, we can always have the nights to ourselves."

He nodded with another smile as he moved so their lips were aligned with one another before whispering. "I love how your mind works."

It was a short peck before she whispered in return, both of their eyes turning passionate again. "I get that from my handsome husband."

He just smiled again before they shared another kiss, this time it was longer and it grew even passionate as he moved them so he was above her again, letting their loving feeling take them wherever it wanted to go for the moment. Both still needing it.

A few days later

Even though it was a little short timing, they did manage to get the time off and Derek and Felicia were able to make arrangements for their kids and get time off their work, so before they knew it, Horatio and Calleigh got off the plane in Las Vegas and we're hugging Derek and Felicia at the airport.

After they pulled back from the hugs, they smiled at one another before Derek spoke. "Thanks for the invite, guys. It felt like forever since we've seen one another, let alone Felicia and I on a vacation, especially without the kids."

Before Horatio could speak, Calleigh did with a smirk. "And I wonder why, you got five kids roaming around. Unless you got any news for us?"

Both Felicia and Derek shook their heads with a chuckle, knowing what Calleigh was asking before Felicia spoke. "No, we believe we are done "

Derek then smiled as he wrapped his arm around his wife with a beaming smile. "Unless we do get a surprise."

She gave him a look with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, only in your dreams at this point."

They all laughed again before heading off to baggage claim to get their bags before walking to the desk where they could rent their vehicles.

Once they were checked in their hotel rooms and unpacked, they did a little sight-seeing around the city, bought some souvenirs, did a little gambling but not much since that wasn't really their thing, then headed back to the hotel to drop off the souvenirs before going to a restaurant to eat.

They arrived to one of the more spendy ones, and while they did have a reservation, they still had to wait, so they sat down at the bar to wait for a table to become available.

They weren't there for more than five minutes when they heard a woman's voice. "Horatio Caine, is that really you?"

Horatio and the rest of the group turned around to see a short blond, thin woman with blue eyes, smiling, and Horatio smiled in return as he stood up from his seat to greet her with a handshake. "Catherine Willows, it is nice to see you again, and this time in better circumstances."

They first met three years ago when her and another colleague of hers, Warrick Brown, showed up in Miami for a joint case.

Catherine nodded with another smile as they release hands. "Yes, I would agree."

Horatio turned to Calleigh then back at Catherine. "You remember Calleigh..."

Catherine cuts him off while she held out her hand towards the other blond. "Duquesne, right?"

While shaking Catherine's hand, Calleigh gets a shy look while replying. "It's actually Caine now."

Catherine smiled wider as she looked at Horatio then back at Calleigh. "Congratulations you two."

After they both said thank you, Derek and Felicia was introduced to her.

They had just finished their introductions when Catherine gets a phone call, she says excuse me before answering her phone, already knowing who it was. "You are cancelling on me again aren't you, Gilbert Grissom?"

"Sorry Catherine, I have a lot of paperwork to go through before next shift. But fear not, you won't be alone, Sara should be on her way."

Catherine smirked. "And what did you promise her for taking your place tonight?"

"Ha Ha, very funny."

"Alright, I won't give you too much flack, but raincheck for sure. I miss hanging out with you after work."

Her and the nightshift supervisor Gilbert Grissom were great colleagues and friends who actually did hang out quite a bit after work in the early parts of their careers here, but lately that hasn't been happening, so this would have been the first time in months since they hung out after work.

"Me too, Cath. I'll see you at work later."

Once she hung up, Horatio asked her if she wanted to join their "party', and after the rest of them encouraged her after she told them she didn't want to intrude, she agreed, then not long after, they were finally seated at a bigger table to accommodate for the two extra seats that will be needed.

A few moments after they had been seated, Calleigh excuses herself from the table and headed towards the restroom.

While she was in one of the stalls, she hears someone come in, then heard a woman's voice, who seemed to be talking on the phone.

"I hope you know you owe me big time for this." The woman laughed before continuing in a soft voice after a sigh. "I know this is a good chance to become closer to her since we didn't exactly get on the right foot when I first started at the lab...yes, I knew it would take time...
I miss you too, but you know this is your fault, right? I could be helping you with your paperwork...oh I'm I really that much of a distraction?"

(Now Calleigh couldn't see the woman's reaction but could assume she had been blushing at whatever the person she was talking to had said.)

The woman cleared her throat before finishing up her conversation. "Yeah, I'll be by later before shift. And I love you too, Gilbert Grissom."

Calleigh then heard the woman go into the stall, so she walked out of her stall with a smile on her face as she washed her hands, feeling like she just found out a secret.

And that feeling only grew when the woman, who happened to be Sara, joined the table and there was no indication that Catherine knew about her and this Grissom person, so the blond was practically giddy by the time their dinner was done and they were in their rented vehicle, causing Horatio to ask, sensing something was going on with his wife for a while now.

"What's going on with you, you look like you have a secret that you can't wait to share."

Calleigh looks at his husband with a nod and smile. "I think I do have a secret, and it involves Sara Sidle and Gilbert Grissom, which I don't think Catherine knows about it."

"Really?"

She nodded again. "I heard Sara in the restroom talking to him and as they were saying goodbye, she told him she loved him. Plus, the tone she was using during the phone call suggested that they were more than colleagues, if you think you can really explain away the I love you part of their conversation."

Horatio didn't doubt his wife on anything, so he just nodded with a smile before replying with love. "Well, I just hope they find that true happiness together that we found."

Calleigh leaned over and kissed him softly before pulling back and replied softly. "Me too, handsome."

After one more kiss, he started the vehicle so they could go back to the hotel to finish off their anniversary celebration alone.

AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. And no, I haven't forgotten this story, real life has been kicking my you know what lately and I just haven't had the time to write, but I am trying, so thank you for the patience. A new chapter will hopefully come out a lot sooner than this one did, but no promises. In the meantime, I hope you are all being safe out there.