Eric felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him. He still couldn't believe what H just told him. Blind, H is blind.
Apparently the additional tests the doctor wanted to run were to find out if this was a permanent condition or just temporary, caused by the concussion. He could only pray it was temporary.
Stepping out into the hallway, Eric decided to try Kyle again. Even if he had to leave another message, he didn't want Kyle hearing it on the evening news. After several rings, Kyle's voice mail picked up.
"Kyle, this is Eric again. Your dad's in the hospital, there's been uh, an accident. He's gonna be okay but they're keeping him overnight for observation. Listen, Kyle. Don't worry. I'll take care of your dad. Just please, call me when you can."
Ending the call, Eric decided to check in with Calleigh.
"Duquesne."
"He's blind, Calleigh. Doctors are keeping him overnight to run some tests, to see if it's permanent."
"Oh, Eric. That's awful. Are you okay?"
"I should've gotten to him sooner. I should've stopped Argento from planting that bomb."
"Stop it, Eric. You got to Horatio as fast as you could. This is Argento's fault, not yours. You hear me?!"
Eric sighed. "Yeah, I hear you."
"I'll call Tripp. Get him to post a guard on H's room for the night."
"Ok. I'll take him home tomorrow."
"Call me if you need me, Eric. He's gonna be okay."
"I hope you're right."
Sitting out on H's balcony overlooking the ocean, Eric felt guilty. He could watch the pelicans dive for fish and the kids building sandcastles. But H couldn't. And the tests had been inconclusive, so he may never see those things again.
H hadn't said anything since the doctor delivered the news except to politely refuse Eric's offer of a cup of coffee. He knew behind H's stoic façade was a genuine concern of what life would be like if the blindness was permanent. Being a police officer gave H purpose. It always had.
Finally, Eric couldn't stand the silence any longer. "You okay, H? Is there anything you need me to do?"
"Did you call Kyle?"
"Yeah. I got his voice mail. Told him not to worry."
"His unit's on a training exercise. He wasn't sure how long they'd be gone."
That explains why I can't get him on the phone.
"I'll try him again later. Unless you want to try now."
"No, not now. What am I gonna do, Eric? What if I can't be a cop anymore?"
Eric placed his head in his hands and sighed. What would he do?
"It's too soon to figure it out, H. Doc said it could be anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks before we know about your vision."
"I know. But that's all I can think about. What am I gonna do?"
Eric could hear the barely controlled fear in H's voice. He was afraid too. What would he do if H wasn't at the lab anymore? There was still much he could learn from H. Learn. "Maybe you could teach at the academy."
"Teach? Me?"
"Why not? You've been a homicide detective, in the bomb squad, and head of the crime lab. You could teach those cadets a lot."
Eric looked at H praying the idea had given him hope. He was relieved when he saw a small smile begin to form.
"Remember the first case we worked together. How you found the murder weapon. I thought it would have floated away but you knew right where to look. I knew then you'd make a great CSI."
"H, if you can turn this tow truck driver into a CSI, you can certainly teach those cadets."
Eric's cell phone rang bringing them both back to the present.
"Delko."
"We got him."
Eric turned to H. "It's Tripp. They got Argento."
"Where?"
"Hold up at his dad's old workshop on Flagler. Thought you'd want to be there when we arrest him."
"I'm on my way."
"H, I'll be back. They got him at that old warehouse on Flagler his dad used."
"Be careful, Eric. It may be a trap."
"I will." Eric stopped and laid his hand on Horatio's shoulder. "I'll be back soon."
Lights flashing and siren blaring, Eric sped towards the warehouse. He was anxious to put this part of the nightmare behind them.
Maybe we can still have the surprise party. Without Argento to worry about, Eric hoped it would be great for H's morale. All his friends would be there. If I can just get ahold of Kyle.
Eric's cell phone rang. "Delko."
"It was a false alarm."
"What do you mean?"
"The anonymous tip. Argento's not here."
Eric forced his Hummer into a hard u-turn that left a lot of rubber on the road. Somehow Argento managed to lure him from H. The nightmare was far from over.
"The cop who took the call…" Tripp began.
"Never mind that now. Get backup to H. I'm at least ten minutes out. Argento could be there now."
"Already dispatched. We're heading that way too."
Eric hung up and then tried H's cell phone.
"Come on H. Answer!"
Horatio had always enjoyed this balcony. Many times he'd sat out here in the evening enjoying the cool breeze and the sound of the surf. It had a calming affect after hard days of dealing with criminals and the aftermath of their crimes.
But calm was the last thing he felt today. Ever since he awoke to darkness, he'd felt as if it was closing in on him. Like a prison cell with no key. And the ray of hope that Eric's suggestion of teaching had brought him left the moment he realized he couldn't help bring in Argento. Or have Eric's back.
He heard his cell phone ringing. Hoping it was Kyle, Horatio headed inside; thankful he knew his way around. Even in the dark.
But two steps inside, H stopped. He knew something was wrong. He felt it.
"Looking for this?"
It had been six years, but Horatio recognized that voice. "Damon."
"Yeah. I'm here to keep my promise. I told you I'd get my revenge."
"So blinding me wasn't enough?"
"No, that's not enough. And don't worry. This time, my gun has real bullets."
"Damon, I always told you that you had a choice. If you do this, you're a murderer. Just like your dad. Is that what you really want, son?"
"Somebody has to pay."
Horatio could hear the rage in Damon's voice. He clearly remembered their meeting in the abandoned warehouse all those years ago. How he completely emptied his gun, hoping one of those bullets would kill Horatio. He knew he couldn't talk him out of his desire for revenge. All Horatio could do now was try to keep him calm and pray Eric was on his way back.
Then Horatio heard three clicks. There was no mistaking that sound. He didn't need his sight to know Damon was cocking his gun. That meant he had it aimed at H. Come on, Eric. I need you.
"Damon, I have a son. Kyle. Do you really want to take away his father?"
"You took away mine. It's only fair I take away his."
Bang.
