Horatio sat on the bed they shared, his heart thumping loudly in his chest. It seemed like the longest three minutes of his life. They'd stopped by the pharmacy on the way home and picked up a pregnancy test kit, the one that Yelina was currently using in the bathroom. He played with his fingers, trying to will the time to go faster. It wasn't the first time, they been confronted with such news, and Horatio was glad, they didn't neeed a gunshot to find out this time.
Horatio decided he'd waited enough. He stood up and made his way softly to Matt's room. He stood watching the gentle rise and fall of his son's chest. Matt was almost two now, getting too big for the cot. Horatio made a mental note to get Matt a bed soon, perhaps his present cot would be inherited by a younger sibling. Matt looked so peaceful sleeping. He smiled to himself, then bent over to kiss his son gently, careful not to wake the boy.
Horatio made his way back to the bedroom. Surely three minutes had passed already. Yelina was seated on the bed, waiting for him. She wore a smile on her face. Horatio raised his eyebrows, but he already knew what she was going to say.
"We're going to have another baby."
Horatio smiled. He took his place beside Yelina and they shared a long kiss.
"I'm not sure I want to have all those late night feeds and diaper changes again." Horatio commented.
"Should have thought of that when we decided to stop using protection." Yelina smiled, brushing his hair with her hand.
"But," Horatio grinned, "I'm happy."
"So am I."
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The remaining seven months of pregnany flew by in a flurry of morning sickness and midnight cravings. Something Yelina didn't have when she had Matt. And then another Caine baby was born. A baby boy they named Joshua Enrique Caine. And the house seemed just right, all the bedrooms were filled and they were happy. Little Josh looked just like his father, down to the red hair on his head. A contrast to his dark-haired older brother. A year passed and Matt and Josh, now three and one were their parents pride and joy.
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Yelina stared at the IAB seargent standing in front of her and wondered why he was always the bearer of bad news.
"I can't have you working the day shift anymore. You understand my concerns about this." Rick Stetler explained.
"I just don't understand why I'm paying for my partner's mistake." Yelina said, not wanting to back down.
"I'm just doing my job, not trying to win a popularity contest." Rick replied. "The decision was made by the chief not me."
Yelina sighed. Being on the night shift again meant she would hardly get to see Horatio, something she loathed. At least she'd get to take care of Matt and Josh during the day she consoled herself.
Horatio's day had ended, and as always he headed to his wife's desk, ready for their ride to pick their sons then home together. He saw her talking animatedly to Rick. The man who had laid hands on her, the man who had treated her like dirt. Horatio seethed inside. He still had not gotten the oportunity to "repay" Rick for hitting Yelina years ago, and it was something Horatio wasn't about to forget. He knew whatever it was they were talking about poilcework, and he should not interfere, but he decided to anyway.
"Everything ok?" Horatio asked as he stood next to Yelina.
Rick ignored Horatio, only shooting him a glance of contempt. He continued his conversation with Yelina as if Horatio was invisible.
"So you start tomorrow."
Yelina nodded, and Rick left, satisfied that Yelina understood what she had to do.
"Sweetheart, what's going on?" Horatio asked turning to his wife in concern.
Steter! He makes H/Y unhappy, he'll have to deal with us! Task Force, I think it's just about time to get Stetler. Any last-minute plan changes, things we need to go over, anything else important?
