Author's Note: I hope you guys like this one! :)

Running his fingers through his red locks, Horatio Caine looked out into the world from the inside. He watched as men in uniform walked past and gave him a dirty look. They were treating him like one of those scums they arrest. Sitting on the metal bench, he leant himself forward and cradled his head with both hands. His mind wandered to the possibility that Natalia might already be dead. What a luck he had. Every woman who came near him would die. They had just gone for a night out and this had to happen. If he had known this were to happen, he wouldn't have agreed to go out with her. He should have stick to his initial rejection of the dinner proposal. He shouldn't have given in.

'What if she's blaming me right now? I should have warned her that anyone who comes near me would get hurt.'

"Horatio Caine. No one is blaming you. And neither is she." Recognizing the voice to be of his second-in-command, he raised his head and stared at her with a defeated look on his face. He sighed aloud as he noticed from the corner of his eyes the number of officers staring at him when Calleigh came up to him.

"What are you doing here Calleigh?"

"I just need to know something from you."

"If I kidnapped her? If I sexually abused and killed all those women?" With slumped shoulders, he sighed dejectedly. He clasped his hands together, leaning forward, elbows on knees.

"Think what you want Calleigh. I'm in a holding cell…officers are staring at me like I'm one of those people they arrest. I deserve this."

Calleigh Duquesne drew in a deep breath then releasing it calmly before speaking up. "I need you to stop feeling sorry for yourself. This is not the Horatio Caine we all know."

She called out to one of the officers in sight. The dirty look on his face was obvious. Calleigh glared at him and asked him to unlock the holding cell so she could talk to him without barriers in between them. Before the officer locked the gate, Calleigh stopped him.

"He's the most respectable man in the police force. Don't you dare give him that look if you don't know him."

Taking a seat beside her boss, she reached out to his clasped hands and held it in hers. He looked back up at her. She was feeling sorry for him but there was nothing she could do to help him. He knew that look very well. It was that look they gave to every living person who just lost someone they loved. He forced a nervous laugh. He pulled his hands away and retreated.

"I just need to know if there was anything you saw was suspicious during that night you went out with her. Anything at all."

"I don't think so. It was just dinner and then we left."

"Anyone followed you? Or anyone suspicious?"

"No…" He heaved a sigh. "Except—"

"Except what?"

"I had an argument with a man who provoked her because she accidentally bumped into him. That was it. He left shortly after I mentioned I was going to call the cops."

"Do you remember how he looked like?"

"Roughly, yes. But what has he got to do with the case?"

"We're just looking at every angle possible. Like you always taught us to. We''ll bring in a sketch artist okay." He nodded. "We'll find her. I promise."

Still spread-eagle, Natalia resigned to her fate. The weakness in her muscles stopped her from fighting against her captors. Hours passed by and her surrounding was quiet. Night turned to day and now the day had turned into night. Twenty-four hours have passed yet Horatio and the team hadn't found her yet. She was still in the dark and dirty torture dungeon. After hours in the room, she was now immuned to the stench of the room. She had stopped pulling against the restraints and had stopped shouting for her shouts were only contained within the room.

Her eyes focused and trailed every movement of her captors; both busy with their own tasks. Man and wife targeting women to satisfy their sick minds. The man was busy arranging his whips, ropes, cuffs and gags. Then he moved on to pick his toys; the different types and sizes. Having left in her bra and underwear, Natalia felt exposed and shuddered in fear. Just by looking at those things arranged on the table made her dizzy.

"Please. I beg you. Don't do this."

"Shut up!" The wife now stepped up and stuffed the ball gag into her mouth then secured it around her head with the leather strap. "No matter what you do, you're never getting out of here alive. Don't you ever get that?"

The wife left her with tears running down her cheeks. Natalia followed every move she made. Eyes widened, she whimpered softly; hoping and praying silently that Horatio would come running and kicking the door down then hold her close to him. The wife was unpacking a gimp suit and straightening it out before bringing over.

"Lieutenant Caine, I think it's time for your book-in." Pretending to be remorseful, Rick Stetler unlocked the gate himself and insisted that Horatio walk on his own to his book-in, uncuffed.

"Stetler, you have no warrant to arrest Lieutenant Caine."

"Yet, Eric. Yet. I have yet to get the warrant but I will. I'm still waiting for it but I assure you that you'll be the first to know."

"Till then, you need to release him. It's been twenty-four hours now and you no longer have the rights to hold him." Jaws clenched, Rick Stetler glared at the Cuban. Jutting his chin slightly, Eric smirked with confidence.

"I'll get the warrant and I'll shove it to your face, Caine." He thrust a finger at Horatio's face as a pointing gesture, reassuring Horatio that he would get the warrant.

Walking out of the holding cell, Horatio turned back to look at Sergeant Rick Stetler whose face was reddening with anger. His team waited outside for him with smiles on their faces. Those were smiles of a victor. Frank Tripp was the first to pull his friend into an embrace.

"Let's go save your girl." He pat Horatio on his back and chuckled at the flush creeping across his best friend's cheeks.

"Have you found her?"

"You're going to find her yourself. Techs found hair sample on your jacket that didn't belong to Nat and we ran it across the system and came up it Melissa Dancy."

"What about the sketch I gave?"

"You were very brilliant at that. We found a match on a James Parlow, 38. History of sexual assault."

"They're a couple."

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

"She was there at the restaurant with him. I should've known."

"Come on H. We're gonna get her now. We managed to trace his last known address. We've sent back-ups over." Horatio nodded. "Oh another thing, the judge won't be signing your arrest warrant. So here's your gun and badge, Lieutenant."

"Thanks Francis."

Horatio Caine was back in action. He clipped his badge onto his left side then holstered his gun on his right with pride. Putting on his jacket that Calleigh handed him, his lips rose into a satisfied and proud smile. Keeping his badge and gun in check, Horatio strode off.

Pressing on the brakes, Horatio made a quick park on the side of the road. The night was quiet and dim-lit. The officers were instructed not to turn on the lights or sirens so as not to alarm the captors. The rescue mission had to be a success. Men were positioned at every corner of the house and at every entrance. There was no way out for them. An ambulance arrived shortly after, in case they needed medical help.

Putting on their bulletproof vest, Eric Delko, Frank Tripp and Horatio Caine prepared themselves to break down the door and ambush. With guns in their hands, they made a move swiftly yet silently. According to the blueprint obtained, they found a basement and headed straight there. At the door, Horatio stopped dead at his tracks. He heard scuffles and whimpers from inside. He heard her voice; begging. Then he heard it. He heard his name. Horatio.

Filled with anger and rage, he kicked the door open. Right before his eyes was the woman he almost lost. In gimp suit, gagged and strapped spread-eagle to an X-cross bar. He gulped hard at the scene before him. Eric and Frank stepped forward with cuffs and pushed the two captors against the wall then cuffing them up. As they walked the culprits out, they turned back to look at Horatio who was still grounded at the same spot. Eric noticed his boss' eyes tearing up.

"H…" Eric tapped his shoulder. Shaken back into reality, Horatio rushed to her side, releasing the snatches of the strap on the gag.

"I knew you'd come for me."

"Always sweetheart. Always." Horatio continued to release the straps on the bars then carried her down; pulling her close to him and wrapping his arms around her, holding her tight. With as much energy left, she clung onto him as if she was clinging onto dear life while he, he held her tighter, never letting go.

"Bring me out please." Cupping her face with both hands, Horatio laid a soft and delicate kiss on her forehead.

"We'll get you checked out okay?" She nodded.

"They didn't get to do anything to me."

"Doesn't matter. I want you checked out."

"Could you please get me out of this? I—"

Without her saying another word, Horatio understood. Eric came back into the basement with a blanket in his hands which he handed over to Horatio. Assisting her, Horatio unzipped the gimp suit then at his own initiative, took off his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt, leaving an undershirt.

"Wear mine?" Natalia stepped out of the suit then walked towards him. Horatio held the shirt for her to slip in then waited for her to button it up. He then draped the blanket over her shoulders and walked her out as quickly as they could and made their way straight to the hospital to get check out.

Horatio Caine sat at the side of the bed, just watching his angel sleep like a baby. He smiled to himself. He saved her. She was still alive. Reaching out for her hand, he took it in his and caressed the back of it in circles. Listening to her steady breathings and watching as her chest rise up and down calmed him down.

"I'm glad you're still here, sweetheart." He said as he raised her hand and laid a gentle kiss on the back of her hand.

"Hmm…Horatio…" She woke with a tiny smile on her face. He returned it with a charming smile of his own.

"Hey. Feeling better?"

"I don't want to lose you." His lips tugged into a glowing smile that showed in his sapphire eyes.

"And you won't. I promise." Once again, he raised her hand to his lips but she pulled away. Confusion was clear in his eyes.

"Really?" He frowned yet again. "Don't you think you should be giving this fairytale with a happy ending?" With that, he understood. He smiled shyly as the tip of his ears reddened.

He leaned forward, right hand bracing and supporting himself as his left cupped her face ever so gently. His lips on hers, tender and delicate. Her soft lips parted slightly for him. Shutting his eyes, he pressed his lips against hers with a little bit more pressure. He felt her graze her tongue on his lips. Unconsciously parting his lips, he tugged gently at hers. She brought her hand up against the back of his neck, then running her fingers through his locks, pulling him closer to her. He pulled away slowly, reluctant to break the kiss. His pulse raced, his skin flushed red. He smiled, looking deliriously smitten with the woman before his eyes. She returned with a smitten smile of her own.

"This is our fairytale ending."

"It's just the beginning, Sweetheart."

Every beginning has an end and we have reached our journey has reached the destination. Hopefully most of you enjoyed this whole crazy ride and a smitten pair. Once again, thank you for following the story from the start to the finish. Have a great day everyone! :)

Care to tell me your opinions or any critics you have? Just hit the review button! Thanks! :)