Her head throbbed painfully, as her green eyes fluttered open, it took her a minute to realize she was not going blind; it was that everything around her was black. Calleigh Duquesne considered herself to be a brave woman, but a wave of fear seized her as she remembered what had happened.
Earlier that day a call had arrived from dispatch, some engineer had founded a death body inside a soon to be demolished old building, The Samsarah; Horatio, herself, and Erik had joined Frank Tripp and 3 uniformed officers outside the place, it was falling apart, that was why the new owners had founded a demolition company to get rid of it.
The Samsarah had been a beautiful building some 60 years ago, but after a fire the structure had become unstable, the only part still usable were the 4 underground parking levels.
They all have entered into the lobby, to find the body of a beautiful young woman shot to death, lying over a pool of blood, she had barely started taking pictures when the earth had disappeared from under her feet, the whole floor had caved in.
She sat up as a wave of pain sparked from her right leg climbing all the way to her hip.
Oh Lord! – She gasped looking down to see a piece of wood protruding from under her right knee, very little blood around it.
Ok, I need to get this out, and there is only one way to do it – she thought bracing herself, while she grabbed the end of the wood and pulled with all her strength. She had never felt so much pain and she couldn't refrain from yelling, a piercing scream broke loose from her throat, and she lost consciousness again.
Cal?, Calleigh? Wake up, please wake up – a voice said from what seemed far, far away, someone was shaking her, why was someone shaking her?
Calleigh, Calleigh? Open your eyes –
She knew who that was,
Erik!!, oh Erik! – she said opening her eyes, there staring down at her was Erik Delko, looking as horrible as she felt, he was covered in gray dust, his shirt torn and bloody, his face covered with bruises.
Cal, you scared me to death, are you ok? - He said, helping her sit
I am alive, and that is amazing, oh and my leg hurts like hell – she said looking at the blood coming out from her wound.
That looks painful, I don't have anything clean but we have to stop that blood- he said tearing a piece of his shirt to make a bandage.
While Erik bandaged her leg, she tried to scan the space around her, it was so dark she couldn't she much, but she was sure they were in one of the parking levels. Which one? She didn't know, rubble surrounded them, pieces of concrete, old furniture broken into pieces.
There, this should do for now – Erik said sitting next to her.
Are you ok?
Yeah, just cuts and bruises, nothing mayor.
Erik, have you seen Horatio?, and Frank?
No, no one, I heard you scream, that's how I founded you, I crawled from over there – he said pointing at several concrete blocks not far away from them.
Well, I am sure every rescue team in Miami is trying to dig us out, but we have to look for them Erik.
Of course, do you remember where were they before… before we ended down here?
Sort of, Horatio was standing behind you, and Frank was, I think stepping out to call Alex or something – She said massaging her aching head.
Ok, come on, lets see if you can walk – Erik said helping her up, her leg felt a lot better without the piece of wood, it hurt but it was manageable.
I can walk Erik, I won't race you, but I can walk – she said smiling a little - Lets hurry Erik, I am really worried.
We need some light, I can't see much
Calleigh could see Erik was worried too, they needed to find one of their kit cases, each had flashlights inside among other things.
Look for the cases, - she said feeling around her, rubble cutting into her hands
I can't see a thing, stay here Cal, I think I saw mine where I landed –
OK, hurry
Erik disappeared from her line of sight, leaving her feeling very alone, and terribly worried, They had been all close to each other, where could Horatio be?, Frank was probably out by the time the building collapsed on them, but Horatio was behind her, she was positive about that, what if he was….. no, she could not even said it out loud, Horatio could not be dead, he was to strong for that – she though tears shinning in her amazing eyes, she hated that, she didn't like to cry.
Horatio Caine, was her impossible love, she had never told anyone about her feelings, specially since he was not interested in her that way, she had seen how he cared first for Yelina, then for Marisol, never for her. She had learned to accept it, Horatio was not for her to have, but she couldn't help that, well, that she loved him, she loved him with desperation, with every inch of herself, and now, he might be…..
Calleigh!!!, I found my kit!!! – Erik yelled from the distance, and she could see a slim ray of light from behind the concrete pieces.
Great! Be careful Erik- she yelled back
In a few minutes Erik was back, carrying a very battered silver case in one hand and a small flashlight in the other.
Here, take one, he said handling her another flashlight from the case.-
Having light cheered them up for an instant, then the reality of their situation hit them, they were buried under tons of debris, hurt and dirty, and their boss was missing, maybe dead, they looked at each other, and hugged for a second.
They are looking for us Cal, we will get out- he said in a calming voice
I know, I am just so worried about Horatio, and the others, we haven't heard anything, no cries for help, nothing – she said pointing the light around her.
Well, lets start looking –
Calleigh followed Erik looking or any sign of Horatio, Frank or the officers, it was not an easy job, many things stood in their way, and her leg was a constant source of pain, not that she was complaining, the pain reminded her she was alive.
They slowly walked around what was left of the parking level they had fallen into, even with the flash lights they couldn't see much detail.
Suddenly Erik stopped pointing his light at something in the distance, Calleigh saw him become as white as a piece of paper, she turned around, feeling her heart pounding inside her chest, to see a figure lying over a pile of concrete, she couldn't see who it was, but for the unnatural position of the body, she could tell the man was dead.