"The Road I'm On" Miami fic

6AM

Calleigh reentered the room where she had left Eric with Rick.

“I’m tired of asking. Now who is it that you work for?” Eric was saying.

Rick rolled his tongue around in his mouth and looked away.

“When’s my lawyer getting here?” he asked.

Eric sighed and looked to Calleigh. Neither had ever liked Stetler—they had just put up with him. No one could ever stand him for long. He was like a bad song that was stuck in your head. No matter how much you hated it, you could not seem to keep it away, even if you want to.

“We’ve called him,” she nodded.

Calleigh then indicated to Eric that they needed to speak in private and they stepped outside of the room. They stood at the glass, with Rick in the background touching ice to his sore head.

“How’s Yelina?” he asked.

Calleigh restated what Frank had told her.

“Horatio’s on his way. He wants to talk to Rick,” Calleigh explained.

Eric looked wildly from her to Stetler.

“He’ll tear him apart!” he hissed.

Calleigh held out a hand to calm him.

“That’s why we’re going to put more officers in the room. Now, I’m going to go up and talk to Tyler—see if he’s gotten anywhere with the calls made from Rick’s cell. Can you handle this?” Calleigh asked.

Eric hesitated for a moment.

“Yeah,” he nodded, finally. “Yeah, we’ve got it.”

Calleigh nodded and looked down the hall to see Horatio, Ryan, and Frank approaching.

“I’ll be back. Good luck,” she sighed.

…………………..

Horatio clenched his jaw. The professional side of him told him to stay calm and act in a trained manner. The other half of him wanted to get information out of Stetler any way he could.

“He talk?” Horatio asked Eric.

Eric shook his head no.

“H, you know we have to go in there with you,” Eric explained.

Horatio hesitated to answer.

Frank stepped in front of Horatio.

“Horatio, you know we all care about Yelina and want to go in there and kick his and those German whatever’s asses, right? Let’s do this the right way. Huh?” Frank asked.

Horatio stared into the room. Rick was oblivious to him standing outside of the glass…too busy tending to his swelling head.

“Frank, you know I can’t guarantee anything,” Horatio spoke slowly.

Frank nodded.

“I know,” he sighed.

……………..
6:30 AM
Rick stood quickly from his seat and hurried across the room away from Horatio as he entered.

“What the hell?” Rick exclaimed.

Horatio pointed to the chair Rick had been sitting in.

“Sit down, Rick,” he ordered.

Rick cowered near one of the field officers as Frank, Ryan, and Eric entered.

“You’re letting him in here? You can’t do that--,” Rick spoke.

“Don’t make me put you in it. You know I will,” Horatio ordered again.

Rick slowly made it back to the chair.

“He tried to kill me. He knocked me unconscious with a--,” Rick began.

Horatio gave looked at his hands for a moment.

“Rick, you were working with the gunmen. The same gunmen who were in this building last night, and shot Yelina,” Horatio spoke slowly.

Rick seemed confused.

“What? W-wait a minute—Yelina?” Rick frowned searching the faces of the men around him.

Frank took the opportunity to speak.

“Yeah, she’s lying up at Baptist Hospital as we speak,” Frank nodded.

Horatio walked behind Rick’s chair.
“And there’s no way you’re getting out of this one, so you mine as well talk,” Ryan tried.

Rick hesitated.

“How’d you screw up the signals on the cell phones?” Horatio asked.

Rick frowned and searched the cold faces around him.

“What do you mean? I didn’t—all I was supposed to do was take you two to a boat. Where’s the crime in that?” Rick answered.

Horatio scoffed.

“What then? What did you think they were going to do with us, hmm? You were taking us to be killed Rick,” Horatio said, not controlling the anger in his words.

Horatio pulled Rick from the chair and everyone in the room moved to try to stop him. His anger was seeping through his calmness and he could not control it. All of the confusion and sadness he had felt all at once when sitting in that hospital hall were becoming rage.

“I’m okay, let me go,” Horatio said a few moments after they pulled him away. “I can do this.”

Horatio straightened himself up just as Calleigh entered.

“Can we talk out here?” she said, from the doorway.

They all walked towards the hall. Horatio hung back for a moment glaring at Rick.

“You better hope she lives—for your sake,” he promised.

Rick was silent, watching Horatio leave the room. He remembered what Horatio had said about Yelina’s black eye.

Touch her again and I’ll kill you.

The words would not stop ringing in his ears. He had never seen anyone who would readily sacrifice his life, his career, and his freedom for one woman.

Horatio entered the hall.

“Any luck on tracing Rick’s cell calls?” Eric asked, glancing at Horatio.

Calleigh frowned.

“Yep, the last five calls from his cell were made to a hotel room at the Mandarin Oriental. At the time of the calls the room was rented to a Ferro Carper,” Calleigh explained.

Ryan sighed.

“Not the Carpers who own the BellSouth phone company?” he frowned.

Calleigh nodded.

“The one and the same,” she smiled.

Horatio nodded.

“Explains the knowledge of how they scrambled the cell phone signals. Calleigh, dig up everything you can on this guy,” Horatio spoke.

Calleigh nodded.

“I’m already on it. Horatio, we can handle this. Go be with Yelina we’ll call,” Calleigh suggested.

Horatio hesitated then finally nodded. He would sit it out… for now. He wanted justice for what had happened, and as much as he tried not to admit it—he wanted revenge as well.
There were so many unanswered questions. Were the gunmen linked to Raymond’s killing? If not, who did kill him? How did Rick get involved? Why? He’d get the answers alright.
 
brilliant... im so enjoying reading this fic...
guess i need to update mine too :D
 
I called the sun and he answered me
I called the moon and she treasured me
I called the stars and they cried for me
When I called your name only silence came back to me.

I called the earth and she befriended me
I called the sky and she watched over me.
I called the seas and they refreshed me.
When I whispered your name only silence
came back to me.



Baptist Hospital of Miami
7:30 AM

Horatio was just making it down the hall when the exhausted surgeon who had operated on Yelina met him.

"Mr. Caine," he smiled.

Horatio offered his hand, regretting that he had not shook the man’s hand earlier. The relief that she was alive had clouded his senses then.

"How is she?" Horatio asked, as the man took his hand.

The man sighed and looked down the hall.

"I can safely say that she's going to make a full recovery. She has been progressing by the minute. In fact, I just let Dr. Woods and Ms. Salas' son into the room. She will stay under anesthesia for a couple more hours," the Doctor nodded.

Horatio smiled.

“Thank-you, sir,” he nodded.

The surgeon then led the way to the critical care recovery room where Yelina was.

Horatio was ushered inside the door. He had tried to prepare himself for seeing her again. He had seen his share of gunshot victims after surgery—and had even had his own recovery once. However, no matter how much he had seen and experienced he could not have prepare himself for what he saw.

Yelina appeared emaciated from where he stood and hard to recognize. The night before, she had been a picture of perfect health—if only he had made her stay somewhere safe.

On the night, he had gotten her back they had shared tender moments and professed their love for one another. He had kissed the palm of her hand and she had raked her hands through his hair.
However, he would give up all the reality if this could all be a dream. It would hurt, waking up to find himself alone and with Yelina in Brazil—but the pain would not be this bad.

He swallowed hard and looked across the room.

Ray Jr. stood quickly and ran to Horatio, encircling his waist.

“Is Mom going to be okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, she just needs time to heal, okay buddy?” Horatio nodded.

Ray Jr. nodded.

Horatio joined Alex and received an embrace.

“She’ll be fine, Horatio,” she whispered.

Horatio nodded quickly. He knew she had to be.

“I know… I know,” he sighed.




Yelina could hear their voices as she lay there but could not make out what was being said. All she knew was that she heard Horatio and Ray Jr. and that was all that mattered then. After awhile the voices faded and dreams came—dreams of memories from years ago.

She was standing on her front porch, wearing shorts, and holding Ray Jr. who was barely six-months-old. Seeing a yellow taxi pull into the driveway, she walks onto the walkway.

Horatio steps out. He is arriving in Miami from New York for a job opportunity. He is coming from his apartment where he dropped off his luggage. He needs to see her. They have not seen each other since Ray Jr. was two weeks old when Horatio came for a visit. It made her happy that they would be seeing him more often.

He walks to meet her.

“Hey,” she smiles, shifting the baby in her arms to hug him.

Horatio holds her close and sighs. It was good to see her again. New York, despite all the hustle and bustle, was lonely without her. She usually came to Manhattan with Raymond on Christmas using the defense that she liked, ‘Having white Christmases.’ He did not care what reason she came, just that she did.

“How’re you two?” he asks.

Yelina pulls away from him, much to his dismay, and touches the bandage on his forehead. He was still recovering from a run in with a suspect and his two-by-four.

“We’re fine. What happened to you?” she asks.

“Nothing that Miami won’t heal,” he says, matter-of-factly.

Yelina eyes him and looks down at Ray Jr. Horatio follows her gaze.

“How’s Raymond?” Horatio forces himself to say.

Yelina turned and started walking towards the house.

“He’s at work, as usual. Called and said he would not be able to make it home—that he would sleep at the station. You know the story,” she frowned.

Horatio nods sympathetically.


Yelina is pulled from her dream by someone taking her hand in his or hers. She wants to open her eyes and see who it is but cannot. Patiently she waits for someone to speak, but no words come.

NOON
Horatio held Yelina’s hand. Alex had to leave over three hours ago and Ray Jr. slept in the chair across the room. Horatio would not sleep—could not.
He held her hand to his lips and bowed his head. A painful feeling was building up in his stomach: sorrow, fury, and a newfound knowing of the love he felt for her.

“Yelina,” he spoke, not knowing if she could hear him or not. “I’m sorry.”
 
this is one awesome fic! I love this so much... The best scene is when Horatio loses it on Stetler in interrogation. I could just see that..... I'm glad Yelina will be making a full recovery..... fantastic job!
 
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.


For Yelina the sounds from the voice she heard were just starting to become words, but she could not open her eyes yet. She wanted to see Horatio and tell him that what had happened to her was not his fault.

Her mind played back bits of the night before, but everything was still hazy. She remembered standing behind Horatio as they entered the hallway. Remembered faces over her, fading scared faces…

“I couldn’t keep you safe,” Horatio continued over her. “I’ve failed you, and I’ve failed myself.”

Yelina wanted to talk but she could not get her tongue to move. She felt like a captive in her own body. Her mind ached as she tried to make her hand squeeze his—nothing. As much as she wanted to reassure him, she could not, and that was even more painful for her then any gunshot could be.
Her mind screamed what her voice could not:

“It’s not your fault, Horatio! I made my own decisions.”

She struggled to keep consciousness, but she was so tired. Just lying there, trying to move her hand or open her eyes was arduous. She wanted to dream and remember the past.



It is only some days after Horatio’s previous visit to Yelina’s home. She is laying Ray Jr. down in his crib for a nap. Raymond stands behind her straightening his tie.

“I’ve gotta work late again tonight. Maybe we can have our anniversary dinner later—the weekend.” Raymond suggests.

Yelina trys to smile, and not look let down by his words. It was to be their first wedding anniversary since the baby had been born. She had planned the night all month: dinner, wine, dancing. It was supposed to have been the night where he made up for lost time with them.
“You can’t have the night off?” she asks.

Raymond rolls his eyes and sits on the side of the bed to put on his shoes. He does not like it when she asks questions. Didn’t she understand that he could not just throw away his career for one measly dinner?

“Yelina don’t start, okay? What matters is that we have the dinner. Hmm?” he says, sounding on the edge of irritation.

Yelina sighs and looks around the room trying to keep her composure.

“It’s called an anniversary, Ray. We’re suppose to have the dinner ‘on’ our anniversary.” she rebuttals.

Raymond shoves his shoes onto his feet and ties them. He wants to get out of there as soon as he can.

“I want to spend the night with you two, I really do. However, if I don’t go in tonight we may never get off the case we’re working. I can’t sacrifice tonight,” he says, standing.

Yelina moves away from him as he reaches for her.

“What about all those days and nights I sacrificed so we could have the baby? I have put my own career on hold so we can build a family—our family. What about me Ray?” she asks.

Raymond frowns and stares at her for a moment.

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise,” he says, not sounding very sincere.

With that, he kisses her on the forehead and leaves the room. Yelina nods silently to herself. Raymond did have a job. Was she being selfish?

It was hours later when she sat at the kitchen table feeding Ray Jr. that Horatio arrived. He was bringing her and Raymond a bottle of wine.

“Horatio,” she asks, surprised when she opens the door.

He raises the wine and smiles.
 
Shouldn't let you close to me
Shouldn't have this hold on me
No I shouldn't be so weak
But a heart can only be so strong
Every time I try to go
Just one look in your eyes I know
That a heart can only be so strong
A heart can only be so strong

A hundred ways you have captured my soul
I can't hold on but I can't let go
Your spell on me is a spell I can't break



“For you and Raymond,” he says.

Yelina looks away from him then steps back to let him in.

“Ray’s working tonight,” she speaks.

Horatio raises his eyebrows as he steps into the room. He can’t believe his ears. Couldn’t his brother have had the dinner earlier?

“Working?” Horatio asks.

Yelina nods and closes the door behind him.

“He gets in about six hours ago, sleeps two, then tells me has to work,” Yelina says, shrugging as if it didn’t mean anything to her.
Horatio can tell that she is affected deeply. It was their first anniversary since Ray Jr., had been born. He knew this dinner was supposed to have been special.
Yelina takes the wine from his hands and examines the label. Their hands brush. She doesn’t want to look at him, for he always seemed to read her thoughts through her eyes. Horatio watches her anyway.

“It’s a tough job that he has to do,” Horatio states.
He is trying to see what reaction his words will get. All he wants is for her to open up to him. Didn’t she know that he’d understand?
“Thank-you for this, Horatio. I’m sure we’ll enjoy it,” she thanks him, raising the bottle as if it was an award.

He gives a short nod. “You bet,” he nods.

He then makes his way into the kitchen to see the baby. Yelina sighs and follows. Horatio wants to stay for as long as he can.
Ray Jr., is clutching green peas in his hand and watching the vegetables squeeze out between his fingers.

“Hey buddy,” Horatio says, leaning over the baby.

Ray Jr. attempts to wipe his hand on Horatio’s face. Yelina laughs as Horatio barely dodges the attempt. The two of them looked so right together. She knew he had a special gift with children—never awkward and always playful. The bond that he and Ray Jr. had already built was even stronger then the one between father and son—as much as she’d hate to admit it.

“You wouldn’t happen to be hungry?” Yelina asks, thinking of all the food that she’d prepared.

Horatio lifts Ray Jr. from the highchair and cleans the baby’s hands with a handkerchief from his coat pocket.

“I don’t want to be in the way,” he says, not looking at her.

Yelina leans against the doorjamb and sighs. Why was it that they looked so perfect together? She shakes her head in attempt to clear her mind; she walks further into the kitchen to set the wine into ice.

“You can never ‘be in the way’, Horatio. You know that,” she affirms.

Horatio looks from her to the baby in his arms. He was hesitant. Why was it that he was attracted to his sister-in-law? It wasn’t right…he knew that, but he could not just shut down his emotions.

He tries to ignore it now, as he stood within arms length of her. Struggling to ignore the rose smell of her, the way her eyes shone, the way her voice made his heart flutter—it was completely impossible. His trained mind told him to leave, gather his logic, and keep his distance.
However, his heart said that it wouldn’t hurt to stay with her for dinner—after all, she was lonely. Even if he could never have the chance he wanted, he could still be the friend she needed.

“Hmm?” Yelina asks, drawing his thoughts back into reality. “There’s no sense in wasting perfectly good food, right? And someone needs to eat it.”

Horatio nods. He knew that she wanted him to stay. Maybe she was lonely, as he thought, or perhaps she wanted his companionship.

“In that case,” he smiles. “I’m starving.”



3:20 PM
Yelina opens her eyes to see the brilliant white ceiling over her hospital bed. Memories are still lingering from her dream as she tries to pull herself completely into reality.
She wriggles her feet first and smiles to herself when she discovers that they still work. It had been terrifying earlier when she could not move any of her muscles, and it was good to know she could now. Everything was now mainly numb, but she could still move to an extent.
Turning her head, she sees Horatio asleep with his head next to her hand and his face turned away. She raises her hand and places it in his hair. For a moment, he does not move, but then he stirs and straightens his position.
He is at a loss for words. Tears form. Their eyes meet and they both are able to form relieved smiles.
“Horatio,” is what she says, as her hand slips down on his shoulder. “It’s not your fault.”
Horatio takes her hand and clasps it in his. Bowing his head, he inhales a shaky breath. There are so many things that he wants to say, but the words won’t come just yet.
Not even 24 hours earlier had he gotten her back and they’d embraced in the Crime Lab hallway. God, so much had happened since then. Knowing that he had no control over what happened was a fact that he still could not face.
He knew, that if he ever truly believed that he did not have a say in what happened, that he would not be the same person he had worked so hard to become. In his own mind, he believed he could have protected Yelina. He should have put her somewhere safe—out of harms way. However, ‘could haves’ and ‘should haves’ never changed the past.

Horatio nodded in reply to Yelina’s statement, but in his heart and mind, he still felt the burden of guilt. He’d nearly lost the one woman he ever really loved. If only he had forced her to stay somewhere else—somewhere not dangerous—and not keep her with him. He had been under the illusion that he could protect her. Be her shield. Her hero. God knew he would take her place if he could.
He stretched his arm out to sweep a curl from her face and smiled warmly. He did not notice the tear, running down his cheek, until Yelina raised her hand to brush it away with her thumb.
 
oh im so loving this.. Sherry, you are awesome! you absolutely should continue the dreams i think. I love em SO MUCH!!! waah... im so moved...
 
Wow..speaking of keeping the Hoyay love alive. I'm definitely feeling the love in that story of yours Sherry. Great emotion elaboration.. Won't believe it if I say I was at the edge of my seat.. :lol: :p
 
The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the empty skies, my love,
To the dark and the empty skies.



8:14pm
Eric gently shook Calleigh awake as they entered the hospital parking lot. They had tried to reach Horatio, via cell phone, but chances were that he had it off while he was in the room with Yelina. They were arriving to update him on what they had found—and hadn’t found.

Calleigh sat up straight and rubbed her eyes. Everyone at the Lab had been working overtime the last 24 hours and surviving off catnaps. Not only had they been working on the case but had also been pitching in to help get the Lab building back in order. Machines and equipment were damaged—some beyond repair—and a lot of the technology they used everyday could not be used. Ryan was staying back to see about borrowing some apparatuses until they could get some ordered. They were lucky that the gunmen hadn’t destroyed the stuff Tyler used on the second floor.

“Maybe you should head home after this. I can handle it from here on out,” Eric suggested as they get out of the car.

Calleigh adjusted the gun on her hip and scoffed. Eric rolled his eyes. He knew that she wasn’t even considering that. She was like that, stubborn as hell. Sometimes it was an annoying quality about her—then again, most of the time it was a major turn on.

“Eric, I think I can handle it too,” she smiled.

They walk the remaining length of the parking lot in silence. Above them, the full Miami moon continued to glow.

It was the same magical moon as the night before and many, many nights years earlier.



Horatio sits down at the table with Yelina across from him and Ray Jr. in his highchair to his left; giggling at just about anything. He can’t help but smile when Yelina talks baby talk to the boy. It was like glimpsing another side of her that he had never seen before. A blissful moment for him. An hour ago, he had been driving over, struggling with inward emotions, and forcing himself to try to accept that the woman he loves is married to his brother and that he should be happy for them.

“Aw, look at you! With that witty-bitsy nose,” Yelina talks, wiping food off Ray Jr.’s nose.

Horatio chuckles. He couldn’t ignore her presence right then even if he wanted to. There she was leaning across the table, dressed in a pair of shorts and wearing a sleeveless shirt, barefoot, and smiling.

For a moment, Horatio openly thinks of how life would be for him if he had married her instead of Raymond…how happy he could have made her. He would never miss their anniversary—not for the world.
Yelina deserved someone who would put her before everything else. As much as he hated to admit it, his brother was the biggest fool of them all. There were men all over the world looking for their motive, their importance, and someone to share and experience life with them. Raymond’s purpose was right there, at the dining room table, spending their anniversary night virtually alone. Horatio knew he could do better. If only, there had been a chance.

“How’s the job coming along?” Yelina asks, turning her head to look at him.

Horatio shakes his head to attempt and clear his thoughts. He needed to be there for her tonight. As a friend. He had to stop letting his thoughts drift off and analyze the ‘what might have beens’.

“Um, the pace is a little different then what I’m used to,” he shrugs; now looking at the lasagna on his plate. “But I’ve adapted.”

He knew that he could never say that things were going ‘good’ at the workplace. He dealt with blood, death, and people who made the wrong decisions. As much as he wanted it, he would never have a day where there wasn’t a crime scene—a good day.

Yelina nods and leans back in her chair and picks up her fork. She acts as if she is examining the tips of it for a moment before leaning forward. Horatio knows she wants to say something.
“Something wrong?” he asks.

He tilts his head, trying to read her expression. Usually he could evaluate her emotions more easily, but tonight she was more guarded then usual.

“Yelina?” he nudges.

Yelina sighs and lays the fork back next to her plate. He waits for her to talk.

“Um, the lasagna has Camembert cheese in it. I know that it isn’t usually put in lasagna—in fact its French cheese—but it’s, um, Raymond’s favorite,” she finally says.

Horatio nods and looks at the dish. Yelina had always been a talented cook and it was amazing how much she knew about the culinary arts.

“I’m sure it’s delectable,” he says smelling of what he has on his fork.

Yelina smiles, he looks awkward and sweet sniffing his food. The word choice had also been a surprise to her. She knows he is just trying to lighten her mood. Horatio always to her emotional and physical rescue.


He places the food in his mouth and instantly he smiles.

“Mm-hmm,” he says, affirming his approval.

Yelina watches him eat for a moment before beginning to eat her own food. Tonight she was going to enjoy herself, whether Raymond wanted her to or not.

For a while they sit and laugh, make small talk, take turns feeding the baby, and a smile never leaves their faces.

“You have everything unpacked at your place yet?” she asks, after a few moments of silence.

Horatio grins and dips his bread-stick in his pottage.

“Actually,” he answers. “Circumstances haven’t allowed me to have gotten around to much of it.”

For another moment, he is silent. Waiting for the right time to say what was on his mind.

“You deserve better then the way Raymond has been treating you,” he finally states.

Yelina appears awestruck by the suddenness of his words. He bows his head to look at his food, hoping he hasn’t ruined the evening.

Finally, she nods and leans across the table to pour herself more Cotes de Provence wine into her glass.

“So I keep telling myself,” she shrugs.

Horatio doesn’t like that she is taking it with a grain of salt. He looks away, at anything but her face.

“Horatio,” she sighs. “I know how you must feel about this, but every marriage has its tests. If I can’t overcome them—especially the small ones lately—how can I live with myself. All right, Ray has to work on our anniversary. Fine. He is trying to support a wife and child. I have to support that.”

Horatio nods. He still doesn’t like the idea of it. Instinct told him something else was up.

“Yelina, I didn’t mean…,” he begins.

Yelina nods understandably before standing to clear the table. Horatio stands immediately to offer his help. For a moment, they feel awkward.

“Really, I can do this,” he nods, picking up their plates.

Yelina frowns and walks around the table to join him. They exchange warm smiles and the tension that was between them a moment ago is forgotten.

“Horatio, you’re my guest. Let me,” she argues.

Horatio laughs as she playfully pokes him. She has never seen this side of him before. So teasing, open, and content—it made her feel light-hearted just being with him. It was if there was a warm light burning in his eyes…happiness?

“Fine, you win—this time. I’ll go lay the baby down,” she finally gives in.

Horatio watches her as she picks up Ray Jr. from the highchair. He never thought he could envy what his brother had so much: a beautiful wife and child, a home to back to at the end of the day, and something to look forward to every morning. Maybe it wasn’t his destiny to have ever given the chance to show Yelina how he felt, but he still felt cheated.

Standing at the sink, a towel over his shoulder, and sleeves rolled up he closes his eyes. He can hear Yelina singing as she walks through the living room. The voice of an angel.

“Sail your boat to hush-a-bye Mountain, hush-a-bye Mountain is waiting for you--,” is what he hears her singing, as her voice begins to fade…
 
Brilliant Sher! Very inspiring and absolutely true to the essence of all that is H/Y. :)
 
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