"Earth to Horatio! Earth to Horatio!"

"Wha-what?" I couldn't help but startle at that voice.

"Come on H. What's wrong with you? You've been zoning out. This is not like you at all Horatio. Ever since you came back from the hospital. I'm pretty sure the doctor cleared you right?"

"I'm fine Frank. I've just got too many going on in my head. But I'll be just fine. Don't worry." I gave a weak smile as I brushed off the questions.

"You always say that."

With that, I walked off and put on my sunglasses. It didn't matter. Why should it matter anyway. I am THE Horatio; always the strong one. Although deep down I know it myself that I'm not always strong. Especially when it comes to that very one person; Calleigh.

"Morning guys!"

I turned to that chirpy and lively greeting. It was Calleigh. Always the one who's cheerful and lively. We needed that. The department needs that. Solving murders everyday isn't all too great and so we need some life in this "dead" department. Or was it me that needed that?

"Morning H."

"Ah. Morning Cal. You seemed… very bright today." I remarked to her. And she smiled.

Bright. Cheerful. That's my Calleigh. Always. She smiled at me. Does that mean…does that mean she forgive me? Oh don't be ridiculous Caine. It must be something Eric did to make her smile like that. Why can't I be that person? I know I've promised I'll let her be happy with the man of her choice but at the same time, I secretly wish I can be that man. Again.

"Alright. I'll see you at the scene then." I walked towards the lift, trying to get away from her as quickly as possible.

I can't stand being near her. Having to inhale her scent; her sweet scent. I love the smell of her musk. I always have and it reminded me of how she smelled everytime we were together. Everytime I would comment on her scent and I would always snuggle into her neck. Especially after our love-making sessions… the smell of sweat mixed with her sweet smelling scent created the Unique-Calleigh-Scent. Oh how I would give everything up to have her back into my arms.

"Imagine Caine. Imagine. You can only imagine and visualize about her. But you can never get her back. Never. You're nothing to her Caine. Nothing at all." That little voice speaks.

Damn.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"H. You gonna go to come and see the scene or what? Or are you gonna sit there in your car?"

"Sorry. Yes yes. I'm coming. So what have we got there?"

"Andrea Johnson. 36. GSW to the head."

"Any witnesses?"

"Nope."

"Alright. Calleigh, Mr. Wolfe, I want you to canvas the scene. And Miss Boa Vista, let's go break the news to the family and find out more about the victim. Eric, I need you to see if those surveillance cameras are working and get the tapes." I ordered the team as I walked to the hummer with Natalia.

"Got it H." They all answered in unison.

As I drove to the Johnson's, I can't help but to think of Calleigh once again. Her eyes, her smile, her voice, her scent, her touch, everything about her has clouded my mind. She's all over and all I can see is her. Just my "Bulletgirl"; Calleigh Duquesne. I can't help but smile at that thought. My "Bulletgirl". Mine.

"H. What are you smiling at?"

"Wha-at? Oh nothing. Nothing at Miss Boa Vista."

"H, can I ask you something? I've been wanting to ask you but I hasn't had the chance to." I think I know her question. It doesn't take a genius or a psychic for that.

"Sure. What is it?"

"What's going on with you? I mean, the team has been seeing you act differently. Ever since you came back from the hospital."

"What do you mean by that? I don't really get what you're trying to say."

"You're different H. A totally different man. You've been zoning out, always not here with us. Your mind is always somewhere else. It doesn't take a genius or a psychic to know that you're having some problem H…."

Ahhhh. Great. Just what I've thought. Yes. You're right Ms. Boa Vista. It doesn't take a genius. At all.

"…H come on. We're family and you know that." She continued.

"Yeah. And if I told you what it the problem is, there's gonna be more problem." I spoke under my breath.

"What was that H?"

"Oh nothing. Ahh. We've reached. So let's go in and see if the Johnsons are in." I avoided her question.

"Are you Mr. Johnson?" I asked as a man opened the door. Still in his pajamas.

"Yeah. And what the hell are you doing at my doorstep so early in the morning?" The man yelled.

"I'm sorry to disturb your beauty sleep this afternoon….bu-" I remarked sarcastically but before I could finish my sentence, the man had interrupted me.

"I work night shift! So right now I need my sleep! Now get the hell out of my doorstep!" the man yelled again, this time with a much angrier tone.

"We wished we could sir, but we're here to tell you that your wife was found murdered this morning. Now you can go back to your 'beauty sleep'." Natalia responded sarcastically to the man as she sees me getting angrier and pissed.

"Whaa-what? My wife has been what? Murdered? How can that be? She's such an angel! Who would want to do that to her!" he asked in ultimate disbelief.

"We don't know that but we're going to find out. Now we want you to write down a list of people who might want to hurt her, or might have had any arguments with her. Maybe at work or personal." Natalia ordered and asked him to come along with us for further questionings.

During the ride back downtown, there was just silence. Silence that was needed to bring me back to Calleigh.

I really don't know what to do with my life without you, Cal. I feel like giving up, Cal. Giving up everything. Right now everything seems to be a mess. To whom or where should I go to when I really missed you? I really want to go to you Cal, but you're happy with him. The only thing I can do about it is to hang on to the memories we had together.

"H, you alright?" Natalia asked, confused.

"Oh yes. Why don't you go ahead with the questioning? I've got something urgent to attend to right now." I really didn't want to be in there to do the questioning. All I want to do right now is crawl into a hole and disappear.

"Alright then. I'll see you later then."

I needed some space to think. I needed to go to the beach to think. I needed the peace and the calmness of the beach. I wonder what made Calleigh so happy in the morning. What had Eric done? Propose to her?

"No. No. Eric cannot propose to her. Calleigh's mine. I love Calleigh. Please don't do this to me Calleigh. Please don't. I need you." I whispered to myself, making sure no one could hear me.

I can't possibly go to her to ask what made her so happy this morning. I can't. That's her personal life. I can't invade that territory. I am in no position to do that. I have no rights to do that. I've lost that rights when I decided to leave her to marry Marisol. My thoughts were distracted when I was brought back to reality with the cry of a small boy.

"Hey there buddy. Are you hurt?" I asked the small boy with full concern.

"I want my mommy!" the small boy screamed.

"Oh my. Patrick! Are you alright? I told you not to run didn't I?"

"He's alright. Just a little scratch from the fall. He'll be fine." I reassured the mother.

"Oh thank you Sir."

"No problem. I have to go now. Take care alright buddy. Listen to your mommy alright." I walked off as the boy nodded.

The moment I checked my phone, there were several calls from Eric and Calleigh. Oh damn. I must have been too busy thinking of Calleigh that I didn't realize the calls. I decided to call them back and rushed to the lab as the team has got a lead on the Johnson's case. They have indeed found the murder weapon.

"H! Where were you? We've been trying to contact you! We found the murder weapon at the Johnsons'. Not surprising right?" again, I've been bombarded with questions. I knew this was coming.

"Johnsons? That's not exactly surprising, but rather, interesting. Alright. Let's go in and ask Mr. Johnson in there."

"No! I didn't kill my wife! I love her! Why would I do that to her! I've been married to her for 5 damn years! Why would I kill her now!" He shouted so loud the whole department heard him.

"Who knows Mr. Johnson, maybe you got sick and tired? Or maybe because you haven't had any kids after 5 years of marriage?" I asked him in a mocking tone.

"Oh don't you dare speak of that Lieutenant! I loved her for who she is! It doesn't matter if we didn't have kids! We could've adopted one. We have even agreed on that! We were going to adopt one except…" he paused.

"Except what Mr. Johnson?"

"My mother. She didn't like the idea and had even asked me to divorce Andrea. Just because she couldn't get pregnant. Oh.. Wait.. She was at my house earlier this morning. When I came back from work she was already there..NO! NO! My mother couldn't have done this! She loved me! I am her only son and she wouldn't do this to me!" He spoke as he was sobbing.

"Well then, we might need to check on that."

Calleigh brought in Mrs. Johnson for questioning and did the GSR test on her which had popped positive.

"So.. Mrs. Johnson, it's positive. You killed you daughter-in-law." There was firmness in Calleigh's voice. One of those reasons why I loved her. She's strong.

I watched her questioning Mrs. Johnson. She's flawless. She's beautiful. She's perfect in her own way.

"Horatio. Am I right to say that?"

"Sorry. What? What were you saying?" I asked apologetically.

"As I was saying 'Lieutenant', Mrs. Johnson here was being too judgmental and shallow that she wouldn't accept an adopted child into the family." She replied, emphasizing on the word 'Lieutenant'.

"Oh. Right. Yes. Indeed. So Mrs. Johnson, were you really that shallow to kill for a stupid reason?" I asked.

Mrs. Johnson was already starting to cry. "Alright. Alright. I killed my daughter-in-law alright. I want my own grandchild. My own flesh and blood. But she couldn't and my son wouldn't divorce her because he said he loves her so much. I just couldn't stand it that my son, my ONLY son will never have his own bloodline! I had to kill her off. Get her out of the picture so that he can have a child of his own with another woman!" She explained as she broke down.

"Things parents would do for their kids…" I murmured to myself as I left the interrogation room, allowing the officers to take Mrs. Johnson for booking.

"Horatio! What the hell is wrong with you!"

"Excuse me Calleigh? You came into my office without even knocking on the door and you're yelling at me?"

"Yes! We were in the interrogation room, questioning the suspect and you weren't even listening! You weren't even concentrating on the questioning! Zoning out as usual! Don't think I haven't heard about it from the team alright! If you need time off, you can tell me and I'll take charge of the lab while you're gone. You know that don't you, Horatio? I'm your second in command for god sake!" Calleigh yelled, not giving me a chance to speak.

As I finally get to speak, I just spoke the truth.

"Calleigh, will you please calm down? The whole lab can hear you."

"I don't care Horatio. I seriously don't."

"Calleigh. Listen to me. I'm sorry if I caused the team to worry. But I don't need anyone to worry about me. And that includes you. Yes I know you're my second in command and that I trust you in taking care of the lab…but I just don't need to go away alright. I'll be fine." I talked to her in a soothing tone.

"You're not fine Horatio. I know that. We all know that. You may be THE Horatio…but you're still human Horatio. And Horatio, don't think that I don't know what's bothering you. It's me isn't it?"

Author's Note: R&R

So what do you think will happen? You might even want to give your ideas :)

Hope you enjoy. Stay tuned and we'll see.