DISCLAIMER: CSI: Miami and its characters are the property of Jerry Bruckheimer and CBS.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
So I’ll have to Say I Love You in a Song
By raven_christina
Yeah I know it's kind of late
I hope I didn't wake you
But there's something I've got to say
I know you'd understand
-----
She's not moving. Oh fuck, Calleigh's not moving.
I turned my back for one second and shots rang out. I spun around to see my lover lying on the ground, bleeding.
"Officer down, I repeat, officer down!" Horatio is screaming into his radio as Eric charges the guy waving the gun wildly. He knocks it out of his hand and onto the ground then punches him.
I'm still standing there, staring at the form on the ground. After a moment I finally react and run forward scrabbling to Calleigh's side. "Calleigh," I whisper, "Calleigh, can you hear me? Calleigh, wake up."
Finally, even through the sounds of the guy screaming as he's arrested, the sirens of the police cars and Horatio yelling for someone to call a paramedic, Calleigh whimpers softly, "Natalia…?"
-----
Cause every time I've tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I'll have to say I love you
In a song
-----
"Yeah Calleigh," I reply as I take her hand, "I'm here. Don't worry; the paramedics are on their way. I have to check for other wounds, ok?"
She nods and I look up and down her body. All I see is the gunshot wound on her shoulder, the scarlet blood staining her blouse. I put my hand on the injury and gently press down to slow the bleeding. I can't let her go into shock so I keep talking to her. "Don't close your eyes Calleigh. You need to stay awake, ok?" I fight to keep the trembling out of my voice as the green eyes I love so much fight to stay open.
-----
Yeah I know it's kind of strange
But every time I'm near you
I just run out of things to say
I know you'd understand
-----
"Hey listen, it looks like you're going to be all right; it's just a flesh wound." I whisper. "You'll be just fine."
"I love you Nat." she says, smiling that smile that makes my heart flip even now.
I brush a strand of blonde hair from her eyes and smile back. "I love you too."
-----
Every time I'd try to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I'll have to say I love you
In a song
-----
"She's going to be fine."
There's a collective sigh of relief from all of us as the ER doctor gives us the news. I slump into my chair, most of the tension gone from my body.
"Can anyone see her?" Ryan asks, standing up.
The doctor smiles, "Only one at a time, and only for a few minutes, we're going to keep her overnight for observation."
Horatio stands up and motions for me to go in. "you first Natalia."
I get up and go through the door. She looks so fragile lying there on the bed, and I hesitate to wake her up when her eyes flutter open and she smiles at me. "Hey."
-----
Yeah I know it's kind of late
I hope I didn't wake you
But there's something that I've just got to say
I know you'd understand
-----
"Hey," I reply as I walk forward and take her hand, squeezing it. "Welcome back. How're you feeling?"
She licks her lips and says, "Thirsty."
I see the glass of water beside the bed and give her some through the straw. After she has taken enough, she lies back and smiles tiredly, her face beautiful. "That was close, huh? I'm sorry Nat."
A lump forms in my throat, tears springing to my eyes as I realize I could've lost her tonight, and if I don't say it now I'll regret it for the rest of my life. "Calleigh, I…"
-----
Every time I try to tell you
The words just come out wrong
So I'll have to say I love you
-----
"Marry me Calleigh."
Her eyes widen. "What?"
-----
In a song
-----
I gently stroke her face. "I almost lost you tonight, and I have no intention of ever leaving your side again. Marry me… please?"
After a moment of silence, she smiles again and nods. I let out a sob and bury my face in her shoulder, crying happily.
"I love you, I love you, I love you…" I chant as we both cry, holding each other close. When we've calmed down she pulls my face to hers and kisses me tenderly.
We pull away when we hear a wolf whistle, and look towards the door to see Ryan, Eric and Horatio standing there.
Calleigh, my Calleigh, who's hardly ever shy, blushes a bright pink as Horatio chuckles, "congratulations."
Our colleagues come in and talk to Calleigh, congratulating her and me, making jokes and laughing. Her eyes catch mine, and I smile back at her. I'm never letting her out of my sight ever again.
The End