Chapter 9

Does anyone want to know how terribly sorry I am for the massive amount of time since my last update? All I have to say now is thank you for all the reviews I got for the last chapter.

Eric woke as the sun glittered through the curtains. Shielding his eyes momentarily, he looked over to see Calleigh, his beautiful fiancé, asleep with her hair fanned out on the pillow. He took his hand and lightly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, he watched her squirm a bit before settling back down. He smiled at her.

Everything was perfect…quiet.

"Uncle Eric?"

Never mind.

Eric looked over his shoulder and saw little Sophie standing before the bed, clutching a stuffed bunny close to her chest, "I'm hungry," her large eyes were so full of innocence, almost as if she's spent the last few days begging for food. God he wanted Hank Kerner dead so bad.

"All right," he threw the blanket and comforter off him. Sophie outstretched her little hand, he took it carefully and let her lead him towards the kitchen to their newly rented condo. Courtesy of Horatio Caine.

"What would you like to eat?"

She looked up at him and shrugged her little shoulder, "I, um…I don't know," Eric gave her a reassuring smile.

"How 'bout some Fruit Loops?" he saw the eagerness flash into her eyes but they immediately left. Yep, Fruit Loops it was. He fought himself tooth and nail to keep him from chuckling out loud in front of the small girl, "It'll just take a second."

It didn't take long for him to take the box and pour it into a bowl, place milk in it and place it in front of the child. She gave him a huge 'Calleigh-like' smile before she took her spoon and started to eat. He could not wait until he and Calleigh had a child of their own, taking care of Sophie was already a fantastic experience by itself.

He heard someone clear their throat, straining his neck, he turned to see Calleigh, wrapped in a large bathrobe at the doorframe. She gently rubbed her eye and smiled at him, "Good morning," she drawled a bit, yawning slightly. She moved towards him, standing up on her toes and placed a soft peck on his lips.

Of course, Sophie pretended to gag.

Children could be so predictable.

Pulling away from him, Calleigh moved towards the counter, removing two pieces of bread and placing them in the toaster oven. She set it and leaned against the counter, flashing a quick smile to Eric.

But then there was the horrific urge to vomit.

"I'll be right back," her voice sounded slightly a higher pitched as she placed her hand over her mouth and ran out of the kitchen. Eric took one last look at a now confused Sophie and moved quickly after his fiancé.

"Cal?" he cringed slightly at the sound of the horrible retching sounds coming from the toilet, "Cal, are you going to be all right?" he pushed the door open slowly, now seeing her resting her head against the seat. Quickly he moved towards her, pulling her hair back and holding it in place as she turned to vomit once more.

She heaved another time after that, then he found himself rub her back soothingly. He felt her shudder beneath him before she reached for a piece of bathroom tissue, using it to wipe her mouth. Eric took notice, pulling away from her and grabbing her a bottle of mouth wash.

Calleigh gladly took it.

"Aunt Calleigh! The….weird lookin' microwave's stopped!"

…

After breakfast, Calleigh quickly made herself look composed as she waited for Horatio to arrive at the condo. Apparently Alexx was to arrive as well with him, she had been so worried about both Calleigh and Eric as they have been fighting to get away from Henri Remilly and Kerner.

Eric came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, "Relax," he whispered into her ear.

Calleigh took in a deep breath, "I'll have to try."

Then there was a knock at the door. Calleigh moved away from Eric and towards it. Looking in the peephole, she saw a glint of red hair. Smiling she pulled back, unlocked it and pulled it open. She smiled at Horatio, moving aside so he could enter their 'temporary home'.

Horatio stood front and center behind the door once it closed, extremely straight, not a kink in his posture, "We found your brother, Andrew," there was a slight pause, "He's all right, just a little scratched."

"Where are the kids?" Calleigh grew more frantic as her heart beat rapidly in her chest, "Are they with him?"

Horatio nodded, "Yes, Caroline and Daniel were with him unharmed."

"And my mother-," Horatio's face was grave, "Oh god," she placed her hand over her mouth, "Oh my god," she fought back against the tears that were now pricking in her eyes.

"She was found on the side of the road, Calleigh I'm so-."

Calleigh felt Horatio place a hand on her arm; she pulled herself slightly violently away from him, "No! We have to find him! We have to find Hank!" she wanted to scream, she wanted to yell. She wanted to kill Hank Kerner more than anything.

Emotional pain engulfed her at the very thought. Everything was going downhill, going bad. She covered her face with her arms and backed away slightly, in an attempt to get away from Horatio and everyone around her.

She had wanted to stay strong for Sophie and to show both men currently in this very condo that she wasn't weak or vulnerable. That was how she was feeling besides the sadness…the vulnerability. She was in a fragile state, she wanted nothing but to be alone.

Calleigh opened her eyes and felt her vision blur. Feeling a hand on her shoulder caused her to look down at the hand that was now placed on her shoulder, she followed it up to its owner. Eric. He slowly pulled her into an embrace, pressing her face into his shoulder. Then the dams broke. She couldn't stop the tears. She didn't care anymore.

It was all too much.

Yeah, I'm doing angst again, what can I say…I like angsty situations.

Reviews are more than welcome =)