"Love's Burden" - Chapter 7
Chapter: 7 ~ “Not All Happy Campers”
*~*~*
“This is gonna be a long flight,” Calleigh mumbled when Emma got upset just from going through TSA checkpoints. The doctor had given them some medicine to give to her to ease the pain, but Emma was still not a happy camper. Calleigh felt horrible, and wondered all of the sudden if traveling with a little one was a good idea. She held Emma close as they headed for the terminal. She was at least happy that they’d have pre-flight boarding priority having a little one. “Next time we should just drive,” she told Horatio.
Smiling, Horatio carried along the car seat for Emma, which he swore weighed more than his daughter. Calleigh really needed the vacation and her unusual grumpiness was a testament to that. He looked over at Sheryl, who was walking with Madison nearby who just smiled back at him. “It was your idea to go as far away from Miami as possible, Sweetheart.”
“Oh! If we drive somewhere on a vacation next time, we should SO take the Hummer! That is SO cool! I mean, it’s goldish and that’s usually so not my color, but it totally works… Plus, show up somewhere with ‘Crime Scene Investigator’ stamped on the side of your car door and you get all kinds of perks,” Sheryl voiced excitedly.
“Do I get to come, too?” Madison asked. She was so excited. She didn’t remember ever going on a vacation. Sheryl and Calleigh had taken her to the store the day before and bought her all kinds of fun clothes. She had enough to fill all the drawers in the dresser in her room along with mostly fill her closet. She remembered her uncle saying something about overkill, but she loved it! She felt like she belonged there.
“Of course ya do, Darlin’,” Calleigh said trying to take breaths to calm. “You’re family,” she said looking back over her shoulder at the eight year old. She smiled trying to think about how much fun it would be when they were finally there. Madison had lit up when they had been shopping and then more so when Horatio had told her that they’d be going to Disneyland. The poor girl had lived in Florida for a while and had never even been to the Disney World there. Calleigh thought that if you were a resident and a child that it really was something that they needed to do once.
Horatio walked ahead of Calleigh when they neared their terminal check-in point and had all the tickets and forms of ID needed out. He talked with the woman who gladly accommodated their early boarding. He had to explain that they were both law enforcement and that settling in would ease his ‘wife’s’ nerves, and flash his badge, but it was well worth it.
After about ten minutes, they were on the plane, and the car seat had been strapped in. Sheryl even gave Horatio and Calleigh a quick tutorial on car seat strap-in, so that perhaps they’d be able to do it later. Emma was next to the window (since that’s where they wanted small children), and then Calleigh and Horatio were next to her. Behind them, Madison and Sheryl shared the row. Horatio had ordered an extra seat, just so that they wouldn’t be cramped at all and no one odd would be sitting next to any of his girls. He checked on Madison and Sheryl who were both listening to Sheryl’s iPod, before turning back to Emma and Calleigh. He noticed that Emma had calmed down and was drinking a sipper cup with water in it. Reaching over, he took Calleigh’s hand and smiled at her. “You okay?”
Nodding, Calleigh sighed and leaned back against the seat. “Shoot me next time I decide to do this,” she told him. She felt his arms pulling her over, so that her head was on his chest and her head tucked under his chin. It felt nice, and she was starting to feel a bit better. She just hated Emma being so upset and uncomfortable; it made her feel helpless and it resurfaced the memory of when Miller used to lock her in the closet and she couldn’t get to Emma.
He kissed her forehead and held her close, happy that the arm rests lifted and they didn’t need to be buckled in just yet. “It’ll be over soon enough,” he told her. “And you’ll forget you said that once we’ve started the vacation.” Horatio smiled and stroked her hair lightly, he was happy that they were doing this…that they were going away…and pretty much work was forcibly taken away for that time.
The lab would survive without them for a week…
*~*~*
Almost eight hours later, and they were in Anaheim, California at the Disneyland Resort. They had taken a shuttle there, and Horatio had already arranged for the shuttle to return them to the airport when they needed to leave. Their rooms were all ready and perfect at the Grand Californian Hotel that was connected to Disney’s California Adventure park and the Downtown Disney District. Horatio walked out onto the balcony to find Calleigh there, leaning against the railing and looking down at all the people, he walked up behind her. “Was it worth it?” he asked quietly.
Smiling, Calleigh turned around, “Very worth it.”
Horatio closed the distance between them and smiled, “I’m glad… Sheryl and Madison are next door bouncing on the beds. So, it seems everyone’s doing okay.” He leaned in and let his lips brush hers, “You’re doing okay, right?”
Giggling against his lips, Calleigh nodded a bit before responding, “Yes… I’m okay. I’m happy.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear,” Horatio told her before deepening the kiss this time.
*~*~*
“Uncle Horatio! It’s time to wake up! The park opens at eight!” Madison said as she quickly ran into her uncle and Calleigh’s room. Madison had already gotten dressed and was all set to go, and had already woken up Sheryl, who had gotten into the shower.
Horatio opened his eyes, and then realized he really wasn’t ready for the vacation if it included all the screaming and bouncing that his niece was doing. “Hey, hey…we don’t want to wake Emma,” he told her sighing a bit as he carefully moved Calleigh to her pillow and sat up. “The park will be open until midnight and we have two whole days…” he explained as he got out of bed and started to walk her into the adjoining room. Sheryl and Madison were sharing the one room, while he and Calleigh shared the other with Emma. He closed the adjoining door and went over to the room service menu by the phone in that room. “How about we start with ordering breakfast for you and Sheryl and then we’ll go from there?” he suggested. He knew that he and Calleigh could use a bit more sleep.
“But you’re not getting dressed,” Madison pointed out.
He smiled and ran his hand through his hair. “Emma’s still not feeling well with those new teeth coming in. I already have the tickets and everything ready. I thought that maybe you’d be okay with going with Sheryl and then Calleigh and I would meet up with you once Emma’s up and we’ve given her medicine to make her feel better. Is that going to be alright?”
Madison nodded, “I guess there are rides that Emma can’t go on because she’s a baby.” It made sense, and it wasn’t like he was saying no… “But you’ll go on rides with me later?”
“Yes, I’ll go on rides with you later…and…I’ll need yours and Sheryl’s help for a secret later.”
“A secret?!” Madison practically screamed.
Horatio laughed lightly, “Shhh… Later. Okay?” he said with a smile. “Now, how about a nice big breakfast for my girls?” He held out the menu so that Madison could see, too and started to look it over.
“Awww, so sweet! I’m included in the family!” Sheryl said as she stepped out of the bathroom with wet hair. She was already in jean capris and a teal tank top. She dried her dark hair with a towel as she neared them. “So, the kiddo woke you up, too, huh?”
“We made a deal, right?” Horatio said looking over to Madison.
“We’re going to go and then they’re going to meet us,” Madison told Sheryl. “After breakfast.”
“I could use some coffee,” Sheryl told Horatio.
Horatio nodded and lifted the phone as he’d figured out what to order the two. He ordered helpings of eggs, pancakes, and fruit for the two plus orange juice and coffee. He wanted to make sure that they were well cared for on the trip and that they’d all remember it. “Yes, go ahead and charge it to the room. Thank you,” Horatio said before hanging up.
“Okay, food is coming,” he told Madison and then looked up at Sheryl, “And coffee.” He got up and headed towards his bedroom, “Wait here…” He hadn’t thought about this all before hand or else he’d have had things planned out a lot better. He brought back a small bag that fit in his hand, “You have your cell phone, right?” he asked Sheryl and when he got a nod he went on. He handed the bag to Sheryl, “Here’s a camera for you two, there’s a memory card in it, so that you can take…quite a lot of pictures. There’s also a credit card in the pocket, so if you two need some things go ahead of use that. The tickets for the parks are also in the pocket.”
“Thanks so much, Uncle Horatio!” Madison said excitedly and hugged him tightly.
He returned the hug and found himself being hugged by Sheryl as well. At least they were happy. “Alright, you two have a good morning and we’ll call to meet up with you later, okay?” He handed Sheryl a five to tip room service when they got there before going back over to the other room and closing the adjoining doors.
*~*~*
Hours later, Horatio awoke again before Calleigh. He didn’t want to wake her; she deserved to sleep in peace. He noticed though that Emma was awake and went to the adjoining room with her and called for room service. He figured if room service delivered to Sheryl and Madison’s room that he could surprise Calleigh. He ordered a full breakfast selection along with coffees and orange juices for them both.
Going back into the other room, he got into Emma’s bag and pulled out a set of clothes and a diaper. He changed Emma quietly in the port-a-crib and got her all cleaned up before finishing it off with putting her shoes on her. “There we go, Sweetie,” he said before picking her back up. Reaching into the bag, he pulled out some of the baby foods Calleigh had packed for her along with the Cheerios that were there. Going back to the other room, he sat there feeding Emma and getting some of the food on his pajamas and waited for room service.
Luckily, he managed to get Emma fed by the time food service arrived. He tipped the man and then got things ready. He put Emma back into the crib with a couple toys to keep her occupied and then moved the trays to the bedside tables and started to sip his coffee. Usually the smell of coffee woke Calleigh, and so he figured she’d rouse without his prodding. Surely enough, she started to wake on her own, he watched as she stirred and then her eyes slowly opened. He smiled as he watched her. She was so beautiful and whenever he made a comment to the effect, she always brushed it off, but she always blushed. “Morning, Beautiful,” he greeted and sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down and kissed her. He smiled as he pulled back, breaking the kiss. It was a great way to start…or in his case…re-start the morning.
“Mornin’,” she greeted with a matching smile. “It’s awful quiet,” she commented as she spied her cup of coffee on her bedside table along with orange juice and food. He’d obviously already been busy.
“Sheryl and Madison have already had breakfast and are in the park. I told them we’d call them once we were ready to meet them,” Horatio reported, “And Emma’s been fed and changed…”
Calleigh sat up and started to sip her coffee. “Thank you,” she told him as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She watched as Horatio moved the trays to the small table in their room before she got up and went over to join them. It was nice to have quiet time. She sat down at the table and waited until he sat down, too, before started to pick at the food. It was still hot, so at least he hadn’t waited too long.
*~*~*
TBC…
*~*~*
“This is gonna be a long flight,” Calleigh mumbled when Emma got upset just from going through TSA checkpoints. The doctor had given them some medicine to give to her to ease the pain, but Emma was still not a happy camper. Calleigh felt horrible, and wondered all of the sudden if traveling with a little one was a good idea. She held Emma close as they headed for the terminal. She was at least happy that they’d have pre-flight boarding priority having a little one. “Next time we should just drive,” she told Horatio.
Smiling, Horatio carried along the car seat for Emma, which he swore weighed more than his daughter. Calleigh really needed the vacation and her unusual grumpiness was a testament to that. He looked over at Sheryl, who was walking with Madison nearby who just smiled back at him. “It was your idea to go as far away from Miami as possible, Sweetheart.”
“Oh! If we drive somewhere on a vacation next time, we should SO take the Hummer! That is SO cool! I mean, it’s goldish and that’s usually so not my color, but it totally works… Plus, show up somewhere with ‘Crime Scene Investigator’ stamped on the side of your car door and you get all kinds of perks,” Sheryl voiced excitedly.
“Do I get to come, too?” Madison asked. She was so excited. She didn’t remember ever going on a vacation. Sheryl and Calleigh had taken her to the store the day before and bought her all kinds of fun clothes. She had enough to fill all the drawers in the dresser in her room along with mostly fill her closet. She remembered her uncle saying something about overkill, but she loved it! She felt like she belonged there.
“Of course ya do, Darlin’,” Calleigh said trying to take breaths to calm. “You’re family,” she said looking back over her shoulder at the eight year old. She smiled trying to think about how much fun it would be when they were finally there. Madison had lit up when they had been shopping and then more so when Horatio had told her that they’d be going to Disneyland. The poor girl had lived in Florida for a while and had never even been to the Disney World there. Calleigh thought that if you were a resident and a child that it really was something that they needed to do once.
Horatio walked ahead of Calleigh when they neared their terminal check-in point and had all the tickets and forms of ID needed out. He talked with the woman who gladly accommodated their early boarding. He had to explain that they were both law enforcement and that settling in would ease his ‘wife’s’ nerves, and flash his badge, but it was well worth it.
After about ten minutes, they were on the plane, and the car seat had been strapped in. Sheryl even gave Horatio and Calleigh a quick tutorial on car seat strap-in, so that perhaps they’d be able to do it later. Emma was next to the window (since that’s where they wanted small children), and then Calleigh and Horatio were next to her. Behind them, Madison and Sheryl shared the row. Horatio had ordered an extra seat, just so that they wouldn’t be cramped at all and no one odd would be sitting next to any of his girls. He checked on Madison and Sheryl who were both listening to Sheryl’s iPod, before turning back to Emma and Calleigh. He noticed that Emma had calmed down and was drinking a sipper cup with water in it. Reaching over, he took Calleigh’s hand and smiled at her. “You okay?”
Nodding, Calleigh sighed and leaned back against the seat. “Shoot me next time I decide to do this,” she told him. She felt his arms pulling her over, so that her head was on his chest and her head tucked under his chin. It felt nice, and she was starting to feel a bit better. She just hated Emma being so upset and uncomfortable; it made her feel helpless and it resurfaced the memory of when Miller used to lock her in the closet and she couldn’t get to Emma.
He kissed her forehead and held her close, happy that the arm rests lifted and they didn’t need to be buckled in just yet. “It’ll be over soon enough,” he told her. “And you’ll forget you said that once we’ve started the vacation.” Horatio smiled and stroked her hair lightly, he was happy that they were doing this…that they were going away…and pretty much work was forcibly taken away for that time.
The lab would survive without them for a week…
*~*~*
Almost eight hours later, and they were in Anaheim, California at the Disneyland Resort. They had taken a shuttle there, and Horatio had already arranged for the shuttle to return them to the airport when they needed to leave. Their rooms were all ready and perfect at the Grand Californian Hotel that was connected to Disney’s California Adventure park and the Downtown Disney District. Horatio walked out onto the balcony to find Calleigh there, leaning against the railing and looking down at all the people, he walked up behind her. “Was it worth it?” he asked quietly.
Smiling, Calleigh turned around, “Very worth it.”
Horatio closed the distance between them and smiled, “I’m glad… Sheryl and Madison are next door bouncing on the beds. So, it seems everyone’s doing okay.” He leaned in and let his lips brush hers, “You’re doing okay, right?”
Giggling against his lips, Calleigh nodded a bit before responding, “Yes… I’m okay. I’m happy.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear,” Horatio told her before deepening the kiss this time.
*~*~*
“Uncle Horatio! It’s time to wake up! The park opens at eight!” Madison said as she quickly ran into her uncle and Calleigh’s room. Madison had already gotten dressed and was all set to go, and had already woken up Sheryl, who had gotten into the shower.
Horatio opened his eyes, and then realized he really wasn’t ready for the vacation if it included all the screaming and bouncing that his niece was doing. “Hey, hey…we don’t want to wake Emma,” he told her sighing a bit as he carefully moved Calleigh to her pillow and sat up. “The park will be open until midnight and we have two whole days…” he explained as he got out of bed and started to walk her into the adjoining room. Sheryl and Madison were sharing the one room, while he and Calleigh shared the other with Emma. He closed the adjoining door and went over to the room service menu by the phone in that room. “How about we start with ordering breakfast for you and Sheryl and then we’ll go from there?” he suggested. He knew that he and Calleigh could use a bit more sleep.
“But you’re not getting dressed,” Madison pointed out.
He smiled and ran his hand through his hair. “Emma’s still not feeling well with those new teeth coming in. I already have the tickets and everything ready. I thought that maybe you’d be okay with going with Sheryl and then Calleigh and I would meet up with you once Emma’s up and we’ve given her medicine to make her feel better. Is that going to be alright?”
Madison nodded, “I guess there are rides that Emma can’t go on because she’s a baby.” It made sense, and it wasn’t like he was saying no… “But you’ll go on rides with me later?”
“Yes, I’ll go on rides with you later…and…I’ll need yours and Sheryl’s help for a secret later.”
“A secret?!” Madison practically screamed.
Horatio laughed lightly, “Shhh… Later. Okay?” he said with a smile. “Now, how about a nice big breakfast for my girls?” He held out the menu so that Madison could see, too and started to look it over.
“Awww, so sweet! I’m included in the family!” Sheryl said as she stepped out of the bathroom with wet hair. She was already in jean capris and a teal tank top. She dried her dark hair with a towel as she neared them. “So, the kiddo woke you up, too, huh?”
“We made a deal, right?” Horatio said looking over to Madison.
“We’re going to go and then they’re going to meet us,” Madison told Sheryl. “After breakfast.”
“I could use some coffee,” Sheryl told Horatio.
Horatio nodded and lifted the phone as he’d figured out what to order the two. He ordered helpings of eggs, pancakes, and fruit for the two plus orange juice and coffee. He wanted to make sure that they were well cared for on the trip and that they’d all remember it. “Yes, go ahead and charge it to the room. Thank you,” Horatio said before hanging up.
“Okay, food is coming,” he told Madison and then looked up at Sheryl, “And coffee.” He got up and headed towards his bedroom, “Wait here…” He hadn’t thought about this all before hand or else he’d have had things planned out a lot better. He brought back a small bag that fit in his hand, “You have your cell phone, right?” he asked Sheryl and when he got a nod he went on. He handed the bag to Sheryl, “Here’s a camera for you two, there’s a memory card in it, so that you can take…quite a lot of pictures. There’s also a credit card in the pocket, so if you two need some things go ahead of use that. The tickets for the parks are also in the pocket.”
“Thanks so much, Uncle Horatio!” Madison said excitedly and hugged him tightly.
He returned the hug and found himself being hugged by Sheryl as well. At least they were happy. “Alright, you two have a good morning and we’ll call to meet up with you later, okay?” He handed Sheryl a five to tip room service when they got there before going back over to the other room and closing the adjoining doors.
*~*~*
Hours later, Horatio awoke again before Calleigh. He didn’t want to wake her; she deserved to sleep in peace. He noticed though that Emma was awake and went to the adjoining room with her and called for room service. He figured if room service delivered to Sheryl and Madison’s room that he could surprise Calleigh. He ordered a full breakfast selection along with coffees and orange juices for them both.
Going back into the other room, he got into Emma’s bag and pulled out a set of clothes and a diaper. He changed Emma quietly in the port-a-crib and got her all cleaned up before finishing it off with putting her shoes on her. “There we go, Sweetie,” he said before picking her back up. Reaching into the bag, he pulled out some of the baby foods Calleigh had packed for her along with the Cheerios that were there. Going back to the other room, he sat there feeding Emma and getting some of the food on his pajamas and waited for room service.
Luckily, he managed to get Emma fed by the time food service arrived. He tipped the man and then got things ready. He put Emma back into the crib with a couple toys to keep her occupied and then moved the trays to the bedside tables and started to sip his coffee. Usually the smell of coffee woke Calleigh, and so he figured she’d rouse without his prodding. Surely enough, she started to wake on her own, he watched as she stirred and then her eyes slowly opened. He smiled as he watched her. She was so beautiful and whenever he made a comment to the effect, she always brushed it off, but she always blushed. “Morning, Beautiful,” he greeted and sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down and kissed her. He smiled as he pulled back, breaking the kiss. It was a great way to start…or in his case…re-start the morning.
“Mornin’,” she greeted with a matching smile. “It’s awful quiet,” she commented as she spied her cup of coffee on her bedside table along with orange juice and food. He’d obviously already been busy.
“Sheryl and Madison have already had breakfast and are in the park. I told them we’d call them once we were ready to meet them,” Horatio reported, “And Emma’s been fed and changed…”
Calleigh sat up and started to sip her coffee. “Thank you,” she told him as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She watched as Horatio moved the trays to the small table in their room before she got up and went over to join them. It was nice to have quiet time. She sat down at the table and waited until he sat down, too, before started to pick at the food. It was still hot, so at least he hadn’t waited too long.
*~*~*
TBC…