A/N: If Eric Delko really dies with the next three hours, I will cry…
DISCLAIMER: I don't own CSI: Miami. If I did, I'd be really rich.
He sat by his bedside in the hospital room, staring at him with those deep, piercing blue eyes. It had been moments before when he saw his best friend and partner get shot by that madman, Cruz. Of course, when he got shot, he rushed to his side. The bleeding wouldn't exactly stop, per se, but he did all he could to make it stop in its tracks.
That's when he phoned in.
Now he was in the hospital by Eric Delko's bedside. He didn't want to be anywhere else.
Horatio Caine knows what it's like to lose a family member, a friend. A victim.
He bit his lip. This brought back to many memories of Speed's death. Sitting by him in his final minutes, final seconds of despair. He felt something on his cheek. What was it? He touched it…
And felt water. A tear. A teardrop of nature was brushed on his face. He felt the sadness of the one he cared about, the one he knew the most, on his face.
He flashed back to the time in Brazil, where he and Eric had faced Riaz together. It had seemed like a lifetime ago. More like an eternity. The sun, the mountains, the fact they both went to find Marisol's killer made his eyes well up again. It had been Eric's idea in the first place.
'H. It's our move.'
He had been close to losing him many times. The marijuana ordeal where the Internal Affair got involved, the tsunami. He didn't want to lose him now.
There was a groan from under him. Eric was awake. The underwater diving expert smiled wearily. "That was some shot, huh?"
Horatio shook his head. "I want you to save your energy, Eric. Okay?"
He sighed. "We all have our time to leave, H. Mine might be today."
"Don't say that," the lieutenant insisted. "I am not going to let you die, Eric. I won't let you. Not yet."
Eric took another shuddering sigh. "I want you to tell Calleigh something. And Wolfe and Alexx and Natalia.
"First, tell Calleigh I love her. She meant the world to me. We always got along. I never want her to think it might've been her fault.
"Tell Wolfe that no matter what, I'll always be there for them in spirit. He's a great guy, H. You are lucky you got him on the team.
"Tell Alexx I'll miss her. And her medical stuff.
"I wish Natalia would've never made out with me to get that info. She still is trustworthy, H. Don't lose your faith in her. Please.
"And you? Thanks for everything… Horatio… Cai…"
With a sudden gasp, Eric was gone.
And Horatio Caine of the Miami CSI: knew he had lost more than a friend. He had lost a part of life in general and his soul.
Wherever Cruz was, he had better be ready.
Because he was just going to be another Antonio Riaz.
He got up, Eric Delektorsky's voice ringing in his ears with those famous words.
'H. It's our move.'
A/N: If this happens tonight, I will cry. Please review!
