Title: Mistakes
Author: Little Horatio
Warning, filled with: Angst, Humor, General, Tragedy, more angst, more humor
Summary: Emotions run high as a kidnapping gets personal for Horatio Caine. One of them makes a mistake that took a life. How will that CSI pay the price? And new meat comes in MDPD with a purpose of playing more than his role.
Disclaimer: (Sigh…) I do not own CSI: Miami in any way…which angers me every time I am reminded so.
Note: This is the sequel of my first fanfic "All Over Again." Good for you if you have read and finished the story because it'll make a lot more sense and it'll be easier for you to comprehend everything; if not, then read it, if you don't want to, it's your call, not mine.
Thinking of adding a lot more twists, I have created a character that will have a huge role and effect on everything. I hope you like him. It's not what you think, trust me, I know. Read the last sentence in the summary again and let your brain stimulate. Try to figure out what I meant by "playing more than his role." Who knows? Maybe, you're right, but, then again, maybe you might be wrong.
What can I say? I love to let my readers think. Look on the bright side—stronger brain power!!! Yay!!
By the way, I suggest that as you are reading; remember every detail, even the little ones, for it will be very important for you, the reader, to know everything. As I have said in "All Over Again," I've left clues for you to find that'll help you predict or let you know what's to expect in the upcoming chapter, or even sequel. Now, I did the same here, so good luck and I hope that you'll get pleasure from what you are about to experience. Enjoy!
The main characters are: Horatio Caine, Calleigh Duquesne, Eric Delko, Ryan Wolfe, Alexx Woods, Natalia Boa Vista, Rick Stetler and Alexander Cage.
Chapter 1: Hospital Bound
"For the last time, Horatio, I'm fine."
"No, because of me, you got hurt."
"It's just a graze, handsome," Calleigh said, revealing her bandaged arm and waving it frantically. "It's nothin'."
"But, Cal—"
"No, buts, handsome, stop arguin'," she said, laughing at how they've been at it for almost an hour now. "It's okay, I'm fine."
Eric, who slid the glass door open just in time to hear what Calleigh said, brought his face up and said, "Trust her, H. She's doing well."
Sitting up on his new hospital bed; Horatio laid his eyes on his brother-in-law and couldn't help but stare. Finally, he asked, "What happened to your face?"
Finding a vacant chair on the far end of his boss' new glass-walled room, he sat down, and said in an I-don't-want-to-talk-about-it tune of voice, "Long story."
Ryan, who was close behind the Cuban, said as he went past him, "Hey, H."
"I'm going to guess," the redhead said as he saw his youngest CSI's face, "that you don't want to talk about your face, too, Mister Wolfe."
"Uh-huh," he replied with a monotonous tone as he sat next to Eric.
Horatio perceived Calleigh stifling a laugh in vain and said, "Calleigh, would you like to do the honor of telling me what happened?"
"It'll be my pleasure, handsome," she said all-too cheerfully. She shifted on her seat next to his bed and said, "Okay, long story short, their pranks went a little out of hand. Wanna guess how?"
Horatio glanced at Eric and Ryan, then back to Calleigh. "I'm not even sure if I want to."
Calleigh sniggered and continued, saying, "Well, Eric bribed me with a complete copy of Natalia's diary to help him pull a prank on Ryan. And sadly, I fell for it, but what can a girl do? I found out that I was in it. Anyway, as we were settin' up for the prank, Nat found out and punched him."
"Which resulted to this," Eric added, pointing out his swollen black eye using his index finger.
"And Mister Wolfe?" Horatio asked, turning to him.
"With Ryan," Calleigh said with a little laugh, "he convinced Cooper to help HIM pull HIS prank on Eric. But then, dear Mister Wolfe saw Eric being assaulted by Natalia and laughed his butt off, causin' him to trip and fall into his own trap and crash inside the janitor's closet."
"Which resulted to this," Ryan inserted, pointing out the numerous scratches on his face by waving a hand rapidly on his face, going up and down.
Horatio couldn't help but laugh with Calleigh at this one. Just leave it to his two youthful male CSIs to make a fool of themselves.
Eric and Ryan exchanged looks, then without another moment to waste they joined in, laughing at their own idiotic actions with their redheaded supervisor and bullet girl.
Feeling a tinge of pain creep up at his side, Horatio stopped himself from laughing. He cradled his sling-clad right arm and held it close to him inconspicuously, saying, "So…gentlemen…what have we learned?"
"Never laugh at your colleague when you're standing next to your own trap," Ryan answered first with a small grumble then massaged his cheek. "It hurts."
"How about you, Eric?"
"Never violate the sanctity of an angry woman's diary," Eric said, shaking his head a little and wearing an I've-learned-my-lesson smile. "Especially if it says 'Property of Natalia Boa Vista…if found, give back, and if stolen, copied and put back, prepare for a beating.'"
"You're lucky Natalia's only says that," Calleigh told her Cuban friend. "Mine's kinda different."
"Really?" Eric said questionably, his interest caught. "Why? What does yours say?"
"I think it's kinda obvious," she said in a come-on-guess look.
Ryan took a guess. "'I'll rip your head off if you touch my diary'?"
"Nope."
"How about…" Horatio said, thinking, "…'Hands off or you will be shot'?"
"Wow," Calleigh said, sounding impressed. "You got it, handsome."
"Looks like everybody's having fun."
Calleigh turned around and saw Alexx close the door behind her with a smile on her face.
"Oh, hey, Alexx," she said.
"Hey, Alexx," muttered Eric and Ryan.
"Good morning, ma'am," greeted Horatio, wearing a soft smile.
"The head nurse gave me directions," said Alexx before anybody could ask her how she found Horatio's new room. "So, how are my babies?"
"Fine, thank you," replied Horatio.
"Great," said Ryan with mock enthusiasm, rolling his eyes.
"Terrific," answered Eric as sarcastically as Ryan, leaning back on his chair.
"These two still bummed about what happened?"
"Yup," Horatio and Calleigh said in unison without meaning to. They exchanged smiles.
Eric, caressing his swollen eye, complained, "Why did she have to punch my face? She could've just whacked me at the back of the head with a centrifuge, but, NO, she just had to punch my face. Doesn't she know that I get women using this face?"
"Trust me, Eric she did," Calleigh told him. "That's why her fist struck your face."
"Great," Eric said with a pout. "My good looks are at a temporary stop right now."
"I should've just stuck to the water and the mop," whined Ryan, flinching as he kept rubbing his cheek. "Why did I have to use all the equipment in the janitor's closet?"
"Honey, you look like you've fought with your girlfriend," said a laughing Alexx.
"HA! He wishes," Eric exclaimed.
Ryan gave Eric an exasperated look and heard Calleigh say, "Don't worry, Ryan. You have what girls look for; you'll find her one day."
"You'll find SOMEONE one day," Eric butted in, grinning.
"Shut up, Eric," said a frustrated Ryan.
Seeing Horatio's smile, Alexx said, "I see you're doing well, baby."
"I'll do a lot better away from this hospital," the redhead said in a suggestive manner.
"Oh, no, you won't, mister. You need rest."
"Alexx," Horatio started, shifting to get comfortable, "I've been lying in bed, wearing my pajamas for over a week now. I've had more than enough of rest. I need to move. You know how I hate wasting time."
"You're not wasting time, baby," she contradicted. "You're healing."
"I can heal," he said, defending, "at work."
"And there he goes again," Alexx sighed, rolling her eyes.
Calleigh smiled, knowing what Alexx meant. Horatio had been pestering them about letting him leave Miami-Dade Teaching Hospital ever since he regained the energy he had lost quite some time ago. Now, he was at it again.
"Horatio," Calleigh said in a soft voice, care glistening in her eyes, "we know you hate hospitals, but you've been through a lot these past couple of days. You need to relax and get your strength back."
"Trust me, Calleigh," the redhead told her, "I'm done with relaxing."
"Come on, H." Eric spoke this time. "Just think of this as a…paid vacation."
"A paid vacation?" repeated Horatio in an are-you-kidding-me tone. "In a hospital? Wearing my pajamas?"
"Wow…" Ryan said, wearing a lazy look. His chin rested on his palm as he placed his elbow on the steel arm of the chair, leaning. "That turned out right, wouldn't you say?"
"Shut up, Ryan," Eric replied with a glare.
"You can't do anythin', handsome," Calleigh said, getting up from her seat beside the bed and crossed her arms. "You'll be stayin' here 'til the doctor says otherwise."
"And speaking of doctor…" mentioned Alexx, looking through one of the glass walls of the redhead's new room. "…here comes Ben right now."
Doctor Ben Sanz came in the room followed by a nurse Wendy Oswald, who was carrying a tray filled with cotton, spare bandages, and antiseptic.
"Good morning, ladies…gentlemen…" He turned and eyed the person before him. "…Horatio."
"Mornin'," Calleigh greeted with a smile.
"Hey, Doc."
"And how is Lieutenant Caine today?" the doctor questioned.
Horatio could feel Alexx's eyes all over him, so he said, "I'm fine, thank you."
"Good, good," the santa-waisted doctor said. "It's time for another physical today, lieutenant. And after that we'll change your dressings."
Horatio merely nodded as he lowered his head.
Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Eric got up and said, "Um…I think we better get going."
"No, Eric," Horatio said in a gentle voice, gaze still lowered. "It's okay."
"You sure, H?" asked Ryan, the youngest in the room. "We can stay."
"Well," he said, raising his head and looking at his team with his cerulean eyes, "if only you guys want to."
Ryan swapped looks with the others, waiting for a response. Finally, Eric ad Calleigh nodded and the four of them stayed close to their boss and friend.
"Now, Lieutenant," Doctor Sanz said, "you know the drill."
"It's the only thing I've been doing for over a week, Doctor," Horatio said, giving him a look as he swung his feet to the edge of the bed and shifted as he sat there.
"Horatio," Alexx said in a scolding tone. "Behave."
"It seems that…" The doctor looked around. "…everybody knows how you feel towards hospitals."
"More than you know."
"He hates 'em," smiled Calleigh.
"That fact has been very obvious; it's even an understatement, wouldn't you say, Nurse Oswald?" he said, slightly frowning. "The lieutenant's been giving us a hard time ever since he had the strength to walk."
"A hard time?" Calleigh reiterated.
"Yes," the doctor nodded. "In fact, tell them what you did last night, lieutenant."
"I'd rather not," Horatio said, giving him a you're-going-to-get-me-in-trouble look.
"Come on, H," said Eric, "The Doc's got me going here."
Looking suspiciously at the redhead, Alexx, an eyebrow raised, "What did you do?"
"I'll never tell," Horatio said, his lips curving to a small you'll-never-find-out smile.
"I will."
Horatio turned to him so quickly that he felt a jolt of pain erupt from his neck and side, but he still managed to say, "Ben…"
Ben Sanz leaned forward and whispered to the lieutenant's ear; making him feel his mischievous smile as he did so. "Consider it payback for what you did."
Horatio saw Alexx give him a you're-so-in-trouble look as the doctor leaned back and straighten his posture, while his CSIs grinned merrily behind the two of them.
"Yesterday, the lieutenant here, I assumed, got bored so he decided to entertain himself."
"How?" young Ryan asked.
"By making us look like patients that had escaped from the psyche ward while we frantically ran around the hospital looking for him," Ben answered, rather quickly.
Eric, Calleigh and Ryan burst into silent giggles as Alexx gave Horatio one of her shocked oh-no-you-didn't look.
"I gotta hand it to you, lieutenant," said Ben, placing his hand gently on the redhead's shoulder, "you sure know how to make people move."
"You got that right, Doc," Eric chuckled, shaking his head.
"What happened next?" Calleigh asked, listening intently. "Did 'y'all find 'im or did Horatio just go back?"
"Yes, Calleigh, we found him," the doctor answered. "It took us over an hour of searching, but, yes, we found him."
"Where?"
"Let me guess," Alexx said, before the doctor could reply. She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "At the rooftop."
"How'd you know?" blurted out Ben.
"She knows me too well," explained Horatio, wearing a small smile.
Doctor Sanz pondered for a bit. "Well, does Doctor Woods know you were sitting at the very edge of the roof?"
"Oh, my god…" Calleigh let out.
"Horatio!" Alexx exclaimed, in utter disbelief.
"We found him sitting at the far corner," Ben told them, ignoring Horatio's pointy looks. "We thought he was going to end it all."
"No, I wasn't," said Horatio in an annoyed sigh.
"Jeez, H!" Eric let out. "You could've gotten yourself killed!"
"What were you doin' sittin' at the roof, of all places?" Calleigh asked in a reprimanding tone.
"I was…star gazing?" Horatio said with a shrug.
"H, you could've fallen!" Ryan said.
"But, I didn't," he replied calmly.
"My god, Horatio!" shouted Alexx, massaging her forehead. "What were you thinking?!"
"Nothing, apparently," Ben said, thinking that he answered for the lieutenant. "Though I'm rather astonished as to how he snuck out of his room and walked up the stairs to the rooftop without being seen or even noticed. I mean, MDTH is pack-full of doctors, and nurses, and…everybody!"
"H does the disappearing act at MDPD all the time and we still have no idea how he does it," Eric inserted happily.
"Not only that," Ben added, "you have no idea how we found Lieutenant Caine."
"Ben, stop," muttered Horatio, thinking the doctor had such a big mouth.
"Do we really need to know?" Ryan said, unsure of himself.
"Blood trail," the doctor blurted out happily.
All of them stared at him, with the exception of Nurse Oswald, who was preparing the bandages, and Horatio, who was silently praying that the doctor's mouth would suddenly go numb for a good 5 hours or more.
"Luckily, one of the doctors saw the trail and pointed it out for us," elucidated the Ben. "It was typically rude of House to point it out with his cane and sarcasm.
"Anyway, Horatio reopened the perforation on his ankle," Ben continued. "I don't know why or how, but he didn't even feel a thing. There were trails of blood all over the hospital. Normally, a person with that kind of wound would've felt the pain and the blood the instant it reopened…"
"But, not H," Eric said, feeling awkward that he felt somewhat proud.
"That's why we're a day early with the physical," said Ben. "We want to know if the lieutenant reopened other wounds or tore up his stitches without his being aware of it. And I think we should start with the cut on his temple.
"Nurse Oswald," he motioned, "if you please."
"Yes, doctor," she said, and started to unwrapped the light bandage around the lieutenant's forehead.
"Well, thank god you found him, Ben," sighed Alexx with relief. "Otherwise, he'd still be up there, I bet."
Ryan stood up from his seat to look at his boss more closely. Still eyeing him, he said, "You really didn't…feel anything?"
"If I did, Mister Wolfe," Horatio said, feeling kind of uncomfortable with all of them in the room. "I would've stopped the bleeding."
"And still continue to escape from your room," Calleigh continued for him.
Horatio gave her a small smile, and then realized that the bandages on his forehead were already off. Doctor Sanz began his examination.
"Come to think of it," the southern blond added, "that must've been the reason why they gave you a new room."
"That's right, Calleigh. Glass walls are meant for sneaky patients, wouldn't you say?" he said as he was checking the patient's temple. "You're cut is healing nicely, lieutenant; the stitches aren't loose either. And the swelling's almost gone."
"Wait a minute," said Ryan, turning to Eric, "didn't Stetler leave security for H?"
"He did," responded Alexx. "But, two days after H woke up; they were ordered by SOMEBODY to get back to their regular routine.
"I don't suppose you know anything about that, now, do you, Horatio?" Alexx said further, eyeing the redhead intently.
"I suppose so," answered Horatio, looking away.
"Speaking of Stetler," said Eric, changing the subject. "He said something about owing you."
"Excuse me?"
"During the search," Ryan added, letting the confusion lessen. "We kept asking him why his ass was even with us, so he said he owed you something."
"Must be why he was so keen on helpin'," Calleigh shrugged.
"I, um…I don't seem to…" Horatio didn't know what to say. "I don't recall anything about a debt, especially a debt involving Rick."
"He did say that it was a very long time ago," Ryan said, taking his seat again.
"Or maybe, he just made the whole thing up," alleged Eric as he opened a can of soda and took a sip. "You know, maybe he just really wanted to help with no apparent reason and didn't want to show that he at least cared."
"Maybe…"
"Doctor Woods," Ben said, "would you mind helping Wendy and I?"
"No problem."
"Easy now…"
The three of them were careful in removing Horatio's sling and became cautious about not hitting or even touching his right side. After they were done with his right arm, Wendy started unbuttoning Horatio's pajama top, whereas Ben went for the clipboard that hung on the foot of the bed.
"You okay there, baby?"
"I'm fine, Alexx."
Alexx and Wendy worked together and warily slid the left sleeve off his arm before doing the same with his right. The removal of the pajama top revealed the hell that Horatio went through that was now covered in bandages. Quietly, they took their time taking each of them off, one by one.
Horatio become aware of his CSIs looking away or dropping their gaze as his injuries were bit by bit exposed. He couldn't blame them.
"What's this, honey?" Alexx saw a long horrendous scar on the left side of his stomach. The mark looked considerably old.
"It's, uh…"
"Walter Resden."
"Yes, Calleigh," Horatio said in a low tone. "Walter."
Fortunately for Horatio, before the conversation about his past with Walter came any further; Doctor Sanz instructed Alexx and Wendy to continue on what they were doing. The nurse went for the redhead's pajama bottoms.
Eric and Ryan immediately turned red as they realized what the nurse was doing, so they shifted awkwardly, feeling very, very uncomfortable.
Alexx, becoming aware of all the shifting noise behind her, looked over her shoulder and said, "What's the matter with you guys? You act like you haven't seen someone undress before."
"Well, Alexx, we kind of, um…" Ryan scratched his head.
"It feels weird watching your boss strip, you know," Eric spoke.
Horatio, now boxer-clad, bowed his head and chuckled, saying, "I'm sorry."
"I'm not," Calleigh let out giddily. She could feel the eyes staring at her. "What? It's not everyday you get to watch your L.T. strip. Back off."
That must've hit the spot. With Calleigh's statement floating in the air, everybody eased up and just laughed. Horatio felt relieved that they weren't looking at his body like the Devil had played with it. He was internally thankful for his CSIs' reaction towards him.
Once the bandages were completely off Horatio, the southern belle looked in awe, her eyes trailing every surface of her boss' body. She couldn't suppress a grin of silent fulfillment.
Alexx saw Calleigh's expression and couldn't stifle her laugh. "One of the once-in-a-lifetime chances, huh, baby?"
"Mm-hmm," Calleigh answered, still staring at her boss
Ryan rolled his eyes and whispered to Eric, "Women…"
Eric smirked.
Observing the patient's mid-section and chest area, Ben said, "The bruises are already fading, that's good."
"Why didn't you tell us, H?"
Horatio seemed to freeze at the question while the others were stunned to silence.
"Didn't tell you what?"
"How you do it?" Calleigh asked further.
Horatio felt confused. "Do what?"
"You know…stayin' sexy…"
Eric choked on the soda he was drinking and accidentally spat some of it on Ryan.
"Delko!!" Ryan shouted, immediately getting to his feet.
"Calleigh!!" exclaimed Eric, wiping soda off his mouth and chin.
"What?" let out Calleigh, wearing one of her innocent, angelic smiles.
"Nice one, honey," Alexx said, laughing along with Ben and Wendy.
"Guys," Horatio said, lowering his gaze, aware of the fact that his cheeks were turning scarlet. "Please."
"Looks like your hair isn't the only thing that's red, sugar," said Alexx and saw Horatio give a sheepish smile.
"No, seriously, you guys," said Calleigh, her smile getting wider. "I mean, look! He's hot. Wouldn't you say, Alexx?"
"All that and more, baby." She turned to the nurse. "How about you Wendy?"
Nurse Oswald blushed embarrassingly.
"I thought so," Alexx said with a smile.
"Ladies," Horatio uttered, turning a deeper shade of red. "Please, stop."
"No, handsome," Calleigh stopped him. She couldn't resist looking at the redhead's body; the hard chest, complete with formed abs. "I'm enjoyin' myself too much. Why didn't you tell me you spend time at a gym? You look steamin'"
"That's because I don't, Calleigh," Horatio told her as Nurse Oswald was removing the bandages on his back. "And I'm anything but…that."
"We beg to differ, Horatio," Alexx told him. "Don't we, boys?"
"I suddenly feel overweight," Ryan said, placing a hand on his stomach. He felt a bit self-conscious, because of the fact that he was younger than his boss but his boss had the body of an athlete.
"I think I need to eat less and work out more," Eric said, feeling intimidated by his brother-in-law's body. Not once in his life did he expect something like this. And here he thought his boss was just lanky.
"And you were coverin' all that up under those suits of yours?" questioned Calleigh. "I can't believe you. I don't know why you would want to hide anythin' that pretty hot and temptin', handsome."
"Let's just say…" Horatio's smile was slowly vanishing. "I'm not…I'm not proud…of my body."
The happiness slowly evaporated from the room, and silence soon replaced it. Doctor Sanz and Nurse Oswald continued with their physical examination on Horatio, who was now quietly just sitting still.
"The lacerations are mending properly, that's a sign that you're kind of a fast healer, don't you think, lieutenant?" Ben said with a small chuckle, trying to lighten up the mood again. He then, took the stethoscope, wore it, and said, placing the cold metal on Horatio's back, "Take a deep breath for me, please."
Ryan watched Horatio taking a deep breath and, in the process, caught a glimpse of some of his scars. He suddenly felt agitated. And a nagging voice popped in his head, letting him remember their conversation.
Eric must have noticed and asked in hushed tone, "What's eating you, man?"
"The question…"
"Don't you dare, Ryan," Calleigh hissed, overhearing them.
The three of them had a conversation about what had happened to their boss and how everything just went wrong. They kept asking questions but to the wrong people. And the only way their questions were to be answered was to ask their boss, Horatio. But, throughout their discussion, they've reached the conclusion that they would just ask him if he was ready.
"We've talked about this," Eric reminded him in a low voice. "We won't ask or force H to tell us anything, remember?"
"I know but…"
"It's all buggin' us, too," Calleigh admitted, "but, we need to give him more time."
Ryan pondered for awhile but eventually made up his mind, saying in a quick manner, "H, can I ask a question?"
"Wolfe!!" Calleigh and Eric hissed in unison.
"You already have, Mister Wolfe," said Horatio, not even looking up. He knew where he was heading, and he expected it. But, he was not sure if he was ready enough to answer…nor were they.
Ryan suddenly thought it was a bad idea that he asked, but he went further anyway. "Come on, H, seriously."
Horatio lifted his gaze and was now looking at his youngest CSI. Then, he said in a gentle tone, "Go ahead."
Ryan, Calleigh, and Eric felt a rapid rush of relief pour down there stomachs as Horatio said those two words. Now, they were all ears.
"I just want to get this out of my system," clarified Ryan.
"I'm sure you do…" Horatio said, giving them a small wry smile. "…all of you."
"Okay…" He took a deep breath. "Why didn't you tell us about what was happening to you? We could've put a stop to all of it."
Horatio stared for awhile, and then said, "I didn't tell you because…I thought…I thought I could face my fears and…do it by myself. And, that I didn't want any of you to get involve with my problem and get hurt."
"You know better than that, Horatio!" Alexx said, a little angry. "The man almost killed you!"
"It didn't matter."
"Yes, it did," she said firmly. "What were you thinking?!"
"I deserved it…everything that I've received."
"No, you don't," said Calleigh forcefully. "You haven't done anything wrong."
"I'd like to think that way," Horatio said, recalling everything he had experienced.
Stillness was all the room had at that moment and nobody wanted to say anything. Before Silence could dominate the room again, Ryan asked another question.
"What went inside your uncle's head when he…you know."
"That's a good question, Mister Wolfe," Horatio told him, while the doctor and nurse were cleaning his wounds. "Unfortunately, I'm not even sure if I have an answer for it."
"You must know something."
"Yeah," Eric said. "Your uncle went all through that trouble to look like your dad and do those god-awful things to you…why?"
Only one word kept on ringing inside Horatio's head. "…Vengeance."
"For what?" asked his brother-in-law.
"What could you have possibly done to turn your uncle into such a…monster?" Ryan said thinking and finding it hard to believe that his boss might have done something unimaginably wrong it resulted in someone's insanity and misconception.
Well, that was what he believed.
"Simple…"
Horatio looked at his CSIs, sadness, now evident on his countenance. And he thought of nothing else but to answer the question straight-forwardly and honestly.
"…I killed his brother."
Little Horatio: Sorry, I took so long in posting this. (Clears throat!) So? How was it? Let me know what you think by leaving me a review!!
Again, remember, I left some clues! Hope you find them! And, oh yeah! Keep in mind…the details!