I walked out to my car in the blistering heat of the Miami sun. I started unloading groceries from my car when suddenly, I was hit over the head from behind. Everything went black...
I woke up and found myself in some kind of small, contained space. I felt around and immediately recognized it: I was trapped in a car trunk.
I reached in my pocket, hoping my cell phone was still with me: it was. I opened it up and looked in my contacts for the phone number of the person who could help me in this situation. I found the number and dialed it.
* * *
In a house in central Miami, a tall, thin man seemed to rise higher then all the others around him. The man stood six feet tall, with fiery red hair and bright electric blue eyes.
A young Cuban came to his side and spoke in a whisper.
"H," he said,"this woman was really torn up, and it looks like she fought back."
"Okay," the man turned and looked over the crime scene," collect, bag, and tag."
"Right, H" the Cuban nodded and turned to walk away.
"And Eric," the redhead called after him,"make sure Alex gets all the stab wounds,this girl's been butchered."
"okay, on it," Eric nodded and returned to his work.
The redhead's phone went off without warning, he answered, "Horatio."
"Lt. Caine?" a panicked, muffled voice responded.
"Who is this?" Horatio's voice filled with concern.
"It's Hailey,a few months ago you worked on my husband's murder case," she whispered.
"Yes, Hailey, I remember..." Horatio recalled," what's wrong? Are you okay?"
" I don't know, I've been kidnapped..." a tear fled down her cheek, " I think..."
"Do you know where you are?" the red- head asked.
"Not really, I'm in a car trunk and my kidnappers are taking me somewhere..."Hailey answered.
"Okay," Horatio sighed," did they hurt you?"
"I was hit in the back of the head, hard," Hailey moaned and rubbed her bloody wound on the back of her head,"oh, my head hurts."
"Okay, don't panic," Horatio comforted," I'll track your call, don't worry."
"Thank you," Hailey began to sob,"please hurry."
"I'm on my way," Horatio flipped his phone shut.
"You being called out?" Eric called over to Horatio.
"Yeah, Eric," Horatio slid his sunglasses over his beautiful blue eyes," keep me posted."
Horatio rushed out the door and got into his Hummer.
* * *
I shut my phone and quickly shoved it in my bra, making it less noticeable.The car stopped and I heard two car doors open and close.
Before I knew it, two men were pulling me out of the car trunk.
"Please don't hurt me!" I pleaded as they dragged me into a warehouse and strapped me to a chair.
"Shut up," one of the assailants yelled.
"What do you want from me?" I sobbed behind the gag they had put around my head and in my mouth.
"Well, I guess you gotta right to know," the taller assailant toyed with the gun in his hands,"you see, the reason we killed your sweet little husband was because he witnessed a drug deal between me, my pal here, and some of our other buddies, so we couldn't risk him going off to tell the cops so we took care of him."
"And now, you see, we are going to make sure he didn't tell you so you can go off tattle-telling to the cops," the chubbier man spat out.
"But he never told me anything like that! I promise!" I cried,"Please let me go!"
"Well, it's too late now," the one holding the gun said,"there's only one way to be sure."
The taller assailant aimed the gun to my head and cocked it.

"That's good," Horatio sighed and set his hand on her shoulder,"come on, let's go."

"Wait," Hailey hesitated, "where are we going?"

"I'm going to drive you home, if that's okay," he smiled.

"Horatio," she laughed and shook her head," I'm fine, i can drive myself home."

"Hailey," he looked at her, pushing all the force of his blue eyes at her,"I want to make sure you are safe."

Hailey bit her lip, having difficulty resisting him."Fine," she rolled her eyes and walked out with him smiling.

* * *

We were a little less than a mile away from my house when it happened. Horatio was turning a corner when a black SUV came out of an alley and hit my side of the Hummer. The Hummer jolted sideways and flipped over on it's side. I heard glass breaking, tires screeching away, a scream rang out, and everything went black.

* * *

Horatio struggled unbuckling his seat belt and getting out of his seat. The red-head reached for Hailey, but couldn't seem to reach far enough. He could tell she was going into shock, her breathing was short, shallow, and fast and she seemed to be slipping away from him.

"Hailey!" he yelled after her," Sweetheart, stay with me!"

Through the back window of his Hummer, he could see a black SUV with a damaged bumper speeding away. Horatio quickly pulled out his cellphone and dialed for Calleigh.

"Calleigh," Horatio called into the phone,"It's Horatio."

"Horatio," she answered, " is everything okay?"

"Calleigh," the red-head panted, trying to crawl out of the sunroof of the Hummer, "my Hummer has been sideswiped, I need you to get Eric, Speed, and an ambulance down here."

"Okay, Horatio," she sighed, "is anyone with you?"

"Hailey is, I was driving her home and a black SUV sideswiped us and sped off; the Hummer flipped over on it's side."

"Is Hailey okay?" the blonde asked while paging Eric,Tim, and an ambulance.

"I don't know," he sighed, frustrated, " she's going into shock, and i think that she just lost consciousness."

"Okay, Eric and Tim are on their way with an ambulance." Calleigh informed Horatio, " did you get a license number from the SUV?"

"No," Horatio groaned, slipping out of the sunroof," it was going too fast, headed Southbound."

"That's towards the glades," Calleigh pondered," Okay, thanks Horatio, hang in there. The perp may have dumped the SUV."

The ambulance, Eric, and Tim arrived at the scene after many minutes of Horatio wanting to shoot something because Hailey wouldn't talk to him.

"H," Tim and Eric called as they got out of their Hummers.

"Eric, Speed," Horatio called back, avoiding all medical attention by many paramedics.

"H, you okay?" Eric asked.

"Yeah," the red-head shook his head, rebuffing another offer by a doctor," you guys bring your kits?"

Eric and Tim nodded, kits in hand and gloves on.

"Why'd you want us to bring our kits?" Tim asked.

"I want to see if we can catch the guy who did this," the red-head answered.

"Right," Eric nodded and they both went to work on the Hummer.

"Lt. Caine," an officer rushed to Horatio's side," a new work Hummer is waiting for you at the lab."

"Okay," the red-head rubbed a scratch on his forehead," thank you, and Hailey?"

"Hailey has been taken back to Dade General," the officer stopped to chuckle," which is where you need to go by the looks of those scratches on your head."

"It's just a scratch," Horatio gave the officer a 'shut-up' look, which made the officer's smile vanishimmediately," would you mind giving my a ride?"

"Of course, Lt." the officer said in all seriousness.

At Dade General, Horatio sat waiting in the lounge once more.

"Horatio, sweety," a pretty African-American woman came and sat next to the red-head," how are you?"

"Fine Alexx," Horatio sighed.

"You didn't get a doctor to look over you, did you?"

"The only one I'm worried about right now is Hailey," he frowned.

"Baby," Alexx gently laid her hand on his cheek, over some scratches," your all cut and bruised."

"I'll survive," he smiled, comforted, and held her hand.

"sometimes I really worry about you, Horatio," she laughed.

"I'm fine, really," the red-head reassured. Alexx just shook her head and smiled at the stubborn, brother-like red-head.

"Lt. Caine?" a man walked up to Horatio and Alexx.

"Doctor?" Horatio set Alexx's hand down," how's Hailey?"

"She took a hard blow,apparently," the doctor shook his head," she'scomatose at the moment."

Horatio sighed heavily in defeat and shook his head. Alexx squeezed the red-head's hand in both of her's.

"You can see her now," the doctor added.

"Okay, thank you doctor," Horatio dismissed the man.

"You really care about this girl, don't you honey?" Alexx said once the doctor had left.The red-head just gave her a weak smile, with his blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight pouring through the window.

"I've never seen you like this," Alexx looked at him in awe," come on, let's go see her."

Alexx helped up Horatio and they walked to Hailey's room. Hailey lay conciseness on the hospital bed with multiple scratches and bruises on her.

"I'm surprised shedoesn't have any broken bones," the doctor said when Alexx and Horatio entered the room," it didn't help that she already had a head wound."

Horatio gave the doctor a look which made the doctor begin a long lapse of silence; and, with a sigh, the doctor left Horatio and Alexx to themselves with Hailey.

"I feel responsible," Horatio frowned as he brushed a hair out of Hailey's face.

"Oh," Alexx set her hand on the red-head's tense shoulder," sweety, don't beat yourself up."

"It's all my fault, I should have been morecareful," Horatio sat down in a chair.

"Honey, it's not your fault," Alexx pulled a chair up next to Horatio's and sat down," your the most careful person I know, and the best driver."

Horatio shook his head in frustration and raked his hands through his red hair.

"How is she?" Calleigh asked as she rushed in the door.

"Well," Alexx sighed,"she's in a coma-like state right now."

Calleigh frowned at the sight of her boss's body leaned over with his head in his hands. She came and stood next to the red-head and set her hand on his shoulder. Horatio let out a heavy sigh, but didn't look up.

"Alexx," Calleigh whispered, trying to keep it from Horatio," can I talk to you in the hall?"

"Sure, of course , baby," she turned to Horatio,"I'll be right back sweetheart."

"What's wrong, hun?" Alexx asked Calleigh once they were in the hallway.

"I'm worried,"Calleigh frowned.

"I'm sure Hailey's going to be fine," she reassured.

"No...well," the blonde shook her head," I AM worried about Hailey-of course, but I was talking about Horatio. I'v never seen him so..."

"Sad?" Alexx corrected.

"Yeah..." Calleigh trailed off, not knowing how to explain how she felt at the moment.

"Calleigh, Horatio feels that it's his fault Hailey's in critical condition." Alexx sighed.

"But... I've never seen him show his emotions before, though," Calleigh shook her head once more.

"It's new to me too, honey," Alexx said. Calleigh just remained silent, looking through the doorway at her boss in concern.

"We just need to be here for him, like he has been for us on SO many occasions," Alexx added with a smile.

"Yeah," Calleigh sighed and nodded. Alexx lead her back into the room with Horatio.

Calleigh reached in her pocket, once her phone started ringing, and answered,"Duquesne."

"Calleigh," Eric's voice came from the other end of the phone,"it's Eric."

"Hey Eric," Calleigh slightly smiled," did you get anything off of the Hummer?"

"Is Horatio okay?" Eric abruptly changed the subject.

"Yeah...I guess," Calleigh frowned over at Horatio.

"'Cause his phone's turned off," Eric answered.

"Oh, um..." Calleigh blinked, taken aback,"he's just, well..."

"What?" Eric got a little more worried.

"Upset..." she sighed.

"Oh, well," the Cuban sighed in return,"maybe I have something to cheer him up."

"What'd you get?" the blonde smiled, her hopes rising.

"We got some paint transfer and a license plate imprint from the SUV," Eric smiled, feeling more accomplished.

"And?" Calleigh pressed.

"AND," he added,"It belongs to an Elizabeth Fulkerson."

"Did you find the SUV yet?" the blonde bit her lip in anticipation.

"Yep," Eric smiled,"we are pulling out of a pond next to the glades right now."

"Okay," Calleigh smiled back," get Elizabeth to the lab, and I want to question her myself."

"Sure thing," Eric said, and clipped his phone shut.

"What is it Calleigh?" Alexx asked.

"The SUV, they found it and the owner," the blonde informed.

"Good!" Horatio snapped up out of his chair,"I want to interrogate him!"

"It's a HER," Calleigh corrected with a giggle at how enthusiastic the red-head was.

"Doesn't matter," Horatio slipped his sunglasses on and began his journey out the door,"I'll get to the bottom of this."

"Um, Horatio," Calleigh called after the anxious red-head,"why don't you just take a break for a while?"

Horatio stopped in the doorway and took off his sunglasses-Calleigh had ruined his dramatic exit.

"But,"Horatio put his hands in their rightful place on his hips and glanced over at Hailey,"I want to find out who did this to her."

"And we will," Calleigh walked over to the red-head in the doorway,"don't worry, I'll call you."

"I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself," he tapped his gun in it's holster subconsciously with his index finger.

"Horatio," Calleigh set a comforting hand on Horatio's shoulder,"you were just in a car crash less than an hour ago, you didn't get a doctor to check you over, and now you want to go off in your newly acquired Hummer to go interrogate some girl?"

Horatio stayed silent, and pondered over what Calleigh had just said.

"Hailey needs you here," the blonde added,"and you need to get a doctor to check you out. It may be nothing, but you never know, you could have some other internal injury you don't know about, maybe something serious."

Once again, Horatio didn't reply, he just stood there looking over at Hailey sadly.

"Let me do this," Calleigh looked deeply into the red-head's eyes,"I'll take care of Elizabeth."

"Horatio," Alexx said quietly,"your being too hard on yourself."

Okay," Horatio sighed,"go ahead, Calleigh."

"Thank you," she smiled to the red-head,"I wont go easy on her." The blonde squeezed her boss's shoulder and left the room. Horatio came back to his seat next to Hailey and Alexx.

"I wish I could fix this myself," the red-head frowned.

"You did the right thing to let Calleigh take care of this for once," Alexx gently rubbed Horatio's back.

"Yeah, I guess," he sighed.

"Lt. Horatio Caine?" a doctor walked into the room.

"Yes?" Horatio answered,"that's me."

"Lt. Caine, an officer:Calleigh Duquesne requested that I check you over," the doctor read something off of a clipboard,"she said you were in a car crash?"

"Yes," Horatio rolled his eyes,"that's correct."

"Oh, Calleigh," Alexx laughed under her breath,"of course."

"Lt. Caine, if you wouldn't mind, coming with me?" the doctor gestured to another room next door.

"Fine," the red-head got up, gave Alexx an "I'll see you later" look and left with the doctor.

At MDPD Calleigh walked into the interrogation room and set a file on the table. Across the table sat a 27 year old woman with brown hair and tan skin.

"Miss Elizabeth Fulkerson," she glared as she sat down and opened the file on the table.

"Yeah?" Elizabeth sighed, "and it's Lizz."

"'Lizz,'" Calleigh retorted, pulling out a picture of the black SUV," do you recognize this SUV?"

"Yeah, it was mine," Lizz scoffed," so what?"

"It WAS yours?" the blonde raised a single brow at the woman.

"Yeah, it was stolen about a week ago," Lizz glared back at Calleigh.

"Did you report it?" Calleigh looked intently into Lizz's eyes.

"No..." Lizz frowned, unsure.

"Of course you didn't," Calleigh rolled her eyes," see, what I think is you drove that 'stolen' SUV into the side of a police department Hummer and later dumped the SUV in the glades."

"Nah," Lizz shook her head," your crazy, trying to pen this on me."

It was obvious to the blonde that the woman was lying."Elizabeth, just tell me the truth, be honest."

"Can't or wont?" Calleigh sat up, leaning closer to Lizz. Lizz didn't respond, she just gnawed on her lip, looking guilty.

"A police officer and another innocent passenger could have been killed!" Calleigh yelled, getting out of her chair.

"Hey! I didn't know that they was cops!" Lizz opened up her hands innocently.

"So you DO know what I'm talking about," Calleigh leaned against the table, leaning in on Lizz, pressing her to tell Calleigh what she wanted to hear. Lizz sighed, knowing she just ruined trying to not get charged with this.

"Why'd you do it?" Calleigh pressed.

"someone paid me to," Lizz crossed her arms over her chest,"he said to hit a tan Hummer with the Florida seal on it going down 27th street."

"Who's HE?" Calleigh sat back down, giving Lizz some room since she started spitting out the truth.

"His name's Will," Lizz sighed," Will Thompson; he paid me one."

"One grand?" the blonde asked in surprise.

"Yeah," Lizz snickered,"so what?"

"That's quite a lot to pay to hit a car," Calleigh pondered.

"Well I guess he was hoping they would've died in the crash," Lizz retorted smugly,"Blondie."

"Get her out of my sight," Calleigh spat to the officer in the room.

The officer came and took "Lizz" to a holding cell, giving Calleigh a moment to relax. When most of her anger was gone, she got out her phone and called Horatio.

"Horatio," he answered.

"Horatio, it's Calleigh," she smiled at his comforting voice, "Elizabeth was hired to hit your Hummer."

"By who?" he asked.

"A man named Will Thompson," she replied.

"Okay, good," he paused," I'll go see him."

"Can I come?" Calleigh asked, wanting to see him again, to comfort him.

"Sure," there was a smile in his voice,"but I'm driving!"

"Okay," Calleigh laughed," I'll meet you at the lab."

Calleigh shut her phone and started off to her Hummer to see some one that always seemed to be there for her. But she wondered, and worried, was this a forbidden love? Were they too far apart in age for love? But, she thought, age is just a number, nothing more; and she didn't care.

* * *

Calleigh hopped into Horatio's Hummer, that smelled faintly of his sweet callone. He smiled at her bright welcoming face.

"Hey," Calleigh smiled.

"Hey," he smiled back, drawn to Calleigh.

"Horatio," she sighed, some-what frowning.

"What is it, Calleigh?" a worried expression swept over his face.

"I have to Confess something..."

"Calleigh, you know you can tell me anything..." he held her hand in his.

"I feel as if we belong together..." her eyes filled with hot tears.

"What do you mean sweetheart?" he brushed back a lock of her blonde hair.

"I think I love you," she looked up at Horatio, a small tear rolling down her cheek.

"Calleigh..." Horatio seemed to gasp,"I..."

"I know," Calleigh shook her head and wiped away her tears," it's stupid..."

"No..." Horatio shook his head, holding Calleigh's chin up,"It's not... Calleigh, I feel the same way..."

This surprised Calleigh,"What? You do?"

"Yeah," he smiled," but I never did anything because I thought you and Eric..."

"No," she shook her head, another tear rolling down her cheek,"I don't love him."

"Calleigh,"Horatio frowned," please don't cry..."

"I'm sorry," Calleigh sighed as Horatio wiped away her tears," I just can't help it."

"Calleigh," Horatio held both of her hands in his," I love you."

"Horatio," she smiled," I love you too."

Horatio caressed Calleigh's head in his hands and gently pressed his lips to her's. Automatically, they both could feel the connection between each other, making Calleigh want nothing else but Horatio's love. After a while, Horatioreluctantly pulled away from Calleigh's lips and dropped his hands to her's.

"I'm sorry," Horatio sighed," we should probably get back to work now..."

Calleigh laughed at hie smug remark and buckled her seatbelt.

"Well," Calleigh sighed, still wishing she was still kissing his gentle lips,"lets go."

* * *

At Will's house, Will confessed to Horatio and Calleigh that he hired Elizabeth to hit the Hummer. They took him into custody and later found out that he had partners that helped him in Hailey's husband's murder. Will was later taken to jail, where he would stay for life.

Later, Horatio met Calleigh in the lobby of the lab.

"Hi Horatio," Calleigh smiled at his loving face.

"Hey Calleigh," he smiled back," I was wondering..."

"What?" Calleigh pressed.

"Would you like to come to my house tonight for dinner?" he asked shyly.

"I would love to!" Calleigh's visage brightened at the thought of going to Horatio's home.

"Come on, I'll drive," Horatio looked around , making sure no one was looking, and took Calleigh's hand and led her out to his Hummer.

At Horatio's house, Calleigh came inside, her mouth hanging open.

"What?" Horatio smirked at her awe-struck face.

"Your home is beautiful!" she looked around playfully.

"I'm glad you like it," he laughed.

Horatio's house was large, two stories, with a single bedroom upstairs and other guest bedrooms downstairs; there was a large kitchen and large fireplace with a living room with a large plasma screen TV.

"I have to show you something," Horatio tried to hide his smile. He led Calleigh out onto and large deck in the back of his house, something Calleigh didn't know about, which had a set of stairs that led to the wonderful beach of Miami.

On the deck, Calleigh nearly fainted from the sight of the setting sun over the ocean waves in Horatio's back "yard".

"Whoa," Horatio chuckled, catching Calleigh from falling," I take it, you like it?"

"No," Calleigh shook her head, looking into Horatio's beautiful blue eyes," I love it."

"Good," Horatio smiled, looking over at a table with rose pedals leading to it and candles on it and two plates.

"Oh," Calleigh gasped at the beautiful set up,"Horatio, you didn't have to..."

"Sit," Horatio urged, gesturing to the chairs at the table.

Calleigh took a seat on one of the chairs, sighing at the sight of the setting sun, smearing the colors of purple, pink, and blue across the sky.

"Calleigh," Horatio knelt on one knee in front of Calleigh, holding a small velvet box in his hands; he opened the box, revealing a beautiful, small ring with a shiny, white diamond in the center,"Will you marry me?"

Oh my..." Calleigh couldn't seen to form words, everything was happening so fast, "Oh, Horatio..."

Warm tears rolled down her cheeks, looking at her love kneeling before her with a ring.

"Yes!" Calleigh jumped into Horatio's arms as Horatio gently kissed her.

Horatio took the ring out of the box and gingerly slid it onto Calleigh's finger.

"Oh," she looked at the ring on her finger,"Horatio, it's beautiful, you didn't have to..."

"I did," Horatio smiled at his love,"you deserve it, I love you."

"I love you too," Calleigh wiped away her tears of joy.

"Are you hungry?" Horatio asked.

"Not anymore," Calleigh laughed," I'd rather just not leave your loving arms."

Horatio chuckled, taking Calleigh back into his arms and kissing her gently on the lips.

"I want to be with you for the rest of my life," Calleigh snuggled close into Horatio's embrace.

"I want to be with you for the rest of my life," Horatio replied, kissing her hair.

Horatio led led Calleigh upstairs to the master bedroom, not letting go of each other. With the way they were kissing each other, they both knew where the night was headed.

* * *

(two weeks later)

"Horatio," Calleigh gasped, holding a small device in her hand,"Oh no, I have to call Horatio..."

"Calleigh?" Horatio answered his cell phone," are you feeling better?"

"Horatio," Calleigh began to cry,"I know why..."

"Why what? Calleigh, sweetheart, what's wrong?" Horatio began to worry for his fiance.

"I know why I have been too sick to go to work," she sobbed.

"I thought it was just the stomach flu that was making you throw up..." Horatio paused," if it's not that, what is it?"

"Horatio, can you come home?" tears rolled down Calleigh's cheeks.

"Of course, sweetheart," he frowned,"I'm on my way,"

When Horatio got home, Calleigh was upstairs in their bedroom.

"Horatio," Calleigh hid in Horatio's embrace.

"Calleigh..." he hugged her close to him," honey, what's wrong?"

"Horatio, she looked up into his blue eyes,"I'm pregnant."

Horatio's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat or two.

"Are you sure?" he tried to catch his breath.

"Positive," Calleigh held up a few pregnancy tests," Horatio, what do we do? We haven't told anyone we are together!"

Calleigh startedpanicking, rambling about how they haven't told anyone of their secret relationship.

"Calleigh, sweetheart, calm down," he held her close to him," we can tell them, they're our friends."

"I've never imagined..." Calleigh started hyper-venalating,"I mean, to have a baby.... with you? I never thought..."

"sweetheart," Horatio sat her down on the bed,"calm down, don;t over-work yourself, you have a baby to worry about now."

"Horatio..." she cried,"I'm scared..."

"Calleigh," he kissed her,"it's going to be fine, we're in this together."

"How are we going to..." Calleigh paused,"how...? When did this happen?"

"You remember, the night I proposed to you?" Horatio said.

"Oh, my god," she raked her hands through her hand through her blonde hair,"I always said I wouldn't until I was married..."

"Honey," Horatio held her hands," we're adults, it's fine, we're engaged."

"But how will the team take it?!" a tear rolled down her cheek,"your our boss..."

Horatio took that harsh blow to his heart, not saying anything about it, knowing Calleigh was more important to him.

"Calleigh, it'll be fine," he frowned," age is just a number."

"When are we going to tell them?" Calleigh panicked.

"The sooner, the better," Horatio looked into Calleigh's green eyes,"I can take us over there not, is that okay?"

"Yeah, I guess," Calleigh sighed,"let's just get it over with..."

"It;s going to be fine," he reassured her again, holding Calleigh close to him. Calleigh got ready and they both left for the lab to spread their news.

* * *

"H," Eric entered the conference room, joining the others, "What you need us for?"

"Just sit down, Eric, please," Horatio tried to stay serious. Tim, Frank, Eric, andYelena sat facing them at the table, wondering what the "meeting" was for.

"As you all know,"Horatio began; holding Calleigh;s hand under the cover of the table,"Calleigh has been off of work due to being sick... and we wanted to tell you something that is long overdue..."

"Oh my God!" Tim blurted out,"You guys are totally together, aren't you?!"

"Speed, let me finish,"Horatio scolded.

"Sorry..."

"As I was saying," he continued," for two weeks now, Calleigh and I have been engaged and have been living together.."

"I knew it!" Tim blurted again. Horatio gave him a look to be quiet once more.

"You mean, you all have been engaged for two weeks, and haven't bothered to tell us?!" Eric stood up, angered.

"We didn't know when the right time would be..." Horatio gave Eric a look which made him sit down," we now know we have waited too long, since Calleigh is now pregnant..."

"WHAT?!" Eric yelled, standing up again.

"Oh, wow..." Tim eyes widened,"I wasn't expecting that..."

Frank and Yelena sat happily at the table, mouthing congratulations to the new couple.

"I can't believe this!" Eric yelled again, making Tim and the others fidget uncomfortably in their chairs. Calleigh squeezed Horatio's hand under the table, afraid of what Eric was going to say next.

"Eric, please calm down," Horatio said sternly.

"Calleigh!" he sat down, breathing deeply," I thought we had something!"

"I beg to differ," Calleigh said quietly, leaning closer to Horatio.

"I'm outta here," Eric stood up and left, leaving the rest of the team together.

"Well," Tim stood up, getting ready to leave," congrats and good luck."

Tim left, followed by Frank and Yelena after congratulating the new couple. When everyone was gone, Horatio turned to Calleigh, to discover she was now crying, small tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Sweetheart," he frowned, wiping away Calleigh's tears,"I'm sorry, Calleigh."

"I knew this would happen," she sobbed, leaning on Horatio's shoulder, he took her into his arms, muffling her quiet sobs

"Honey, we had to tell them sometime," he brushed his hand through her blonde hair," they needed to know. Just give them time."

"Can we please just go home now?" Calleigh sat up, wiping away her tears.

"Come on, sweetheart," Horatio helped her up, and they went home.

* * *

At home, Calleigh sat next to Horatio on the beach, watching the sun set over the ocean waves. Horatio glanced over to his love, noticing she was starting to cry again.

"Calleigh," he frowned, taking Calleigh into his lap, wrapping her in his arms," please don't cry."

"I'm sorry, Horatio," she sobbed into his chest,"it's just after Eric, your the only one I can turn to..."

"I just hate seeing you like this," he frowned, kissing Calleigh's hair.

"But Eric's reaction... to the news..." she cried.

"Honey, Eric doesn't matter," he cooed," we have each other, Eric will get over it soon enough."

"I hope so," Calleigh sat up, facing Horatio," I love you."

"I love you too, Calleigh," he smiled, wiping away her dried tears.

"How am I going to work, being pregnant? What if something happens...?" she shook her head.

"Don't worry about it," he reassured," I'll take care of it."

Horatio pressed his lips to Calleigh's, making them both dizzy with love. It started getting dark, Horatio led Calleigh back inside and up to their bedroom. Calleigh crawled into bed, shortly followed by Horatio. Horatio noticed Calleigh was a little paler than normal and shivering slightly.

"Are you cold?" he asked. Calleigh nodded, smiling with blush cheeks. Horatio took Calleigh into his arms, holding her close to his body, warming her. Calleigh pressed her lips to his, teasing him.

"How long have you loved me?" Calleigh asked with a smile.

"Ever since I met you, I loved you," Horatio smiled back.

"I've loved you ever since I met you," Calleigh whispered.

"Do you want me to stay home from work with you tomorrow?" Horatio asked, gently kissing Calleigh's neck.

"No," Calleigh giggled,"I'll be fine, go to work."

"But don't hesitate to call me if you need anything," he whispered softly on Calleigh's neck.

"I will," she laughed as Horatio became more engaged in what he was doing," what are you doing?"

"Showing you only part of how much I love you," he breathed.

"Horatio," she blushed," I'm already pregnant."

"Your point?" he panted.

"I never knew you acted like this..." Calleigh laughed,"I mean, at work, your so..."

"What? Boring?" Horatio insisted,"Because, I know I am." Horatio trailed from Calleigh's neck up to her lips.

"Your not boring-" she was interrupted by his lips,"- your just so serious."

"Sometimes 'serious' is just another word for boring," he chuckled, pulling away from Calleigh's lips.

"You sure aren't boring now," she smiled, kissing Horatio back.

"You know, if we aren't careful, we'll end up with more kids than planned," Horatio joked.

"But..." Calleigh furrowed her brow,"how will we take care of one with the hours we work?"

"I'll move some stuff around for us," he smiled,"don't worry about it, sweet heart."

"I sure hope you know what your doing," she laughed.

"Of course I do," he chuckled, kissing her gingerly on the lips,"go to sleep."

* * *