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Chapter 2
"We are willing to spend the least amount of money to keep a kid at home, more to put him in a foster home and the most to institutionalize him."
~ Marian Wright Edelman~
Calliegh rushed to the hospital after confronting that woman who seemed pretty nice, but law enforcement had taught her not to believe in appearances. Horatio was in surgery when she arrived. Eric was restlessly pacing in the waiting room with Ryan and Frank watching him with irritation.
"Any word?" Calleigh asked.
"Nothing," Eric said.
"Did you take the girls home?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah, and they sure don't like their foster mother. She seems nice but I don't know," Calliegh said and sat on a hard chair; she put her face in her hands. "Does Yelena know yet?"
"I called her," Frank said. "She should be on the way."
"Good," Calliegh sighed. They sat in silence for over two hours. At one point Calliegh fell asleep on a bench in the waiting room. She woke up when Alexx gave her a gentle shake. "How is he?" Calliegh asked.
"He'll be fine baby," Alexx said. "He had some broken ribs, a mild concussion and a little internal bleeding, but he'll recover." Alexx explained.
"That's great," Calliegh said sleepily.
"You need to go home and get some sleep honey," Alexx said.
"Can I see Horatio first?"
"Just for a few minutes, he's back in ICU." Alexx agreed.
"Thanks Alexx," Calliegh said and walked through the halls with her. Alexx left Calliegh alone in Horatio's room. The red head was unconscious with bandages on his head and hands. Calliegh sat next to him and gently took his hand.
"You scared me for a minute there handsome," Calliegh said softly. She rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb and stayed with him for a few more minutes, not sure of what to say. Alexx came to get her and Calleigh wearily headed home, thankful for the chance to rest.
"I think I have lost faith in all mankind," Tanya whispered to Shannon after Marilyn had finished her lecture.
"What does being out late have to do with anything?" Shannon asked.
"Don't know," Tanya shrugged.
In the morning they went out to the stable early for work. None of the other kids caught them on the way out. The girls ran most of the way and stopped at the alley where they found Horatio; it was cordoned off with crime scene tape. Ryan and Eric were working the scene.
"Good morning girls, what's up?" Ryan asked.
"We're just going to work. How is Horatio?" Tanya asked.
"He was stable last night," Ryan said.
"That's good," Tanya said. They talked for a few more minutes until the girls had to leave. They took a slightly longer route but ended up at the barn on time. It was a small stable right next to the beach. They rented out horses to people for up to two hours at a time for beach riding. Tanya occasionally was a guide but she mostly cleaned up around the stable and would train new horses. Shannon was too young to be paid but she liked to ride and help out anyway.
On the weekend and in the summer they worked all day for up to five days in the week. Tanya and Shannon opened up the barn and office. The horses greeted them with a chorus of whinnies, hungry for their breakfast. After feeding the girls cleaned off a few horses for the day.
A BOLO was put out on the Buick, which the tire treads left at the scene confirmed. A light cover was also busted off the headlights when it hit a trash can. After processing the scene Ryan and Eric headed up to the hospital again. Horatio had gained consciousness and Calliegh was sitting with him.
"You don't remember anything?" Calliegh asked.
"Glimpses," Horatio said with defeat.
"It will come back to you. You went through a lot," Calliegh said and gently squeezed his hand.
"I really don't want to remember," Horatio said and turned his head to look out the window. Even this small action sent waves of pain throughout his head and neck.
"I wouldn't want to remember either, but you need to handsome," Calliegh said. Horatio sighed and was silent for a moment.
"Who found me?" he asked.
"Two girls who work at the stable not far from the alley we found you in. Tanya Stewart and Shannon Heinz; they are foster kids."
" What were they doing back there?"
"Always the CSI aren't you?" Calliegh chuckled. "They were walking home from work. I took them the rest of the way home though."
"That's good. Can you thank them for me Calliegh?" Horatio asked.
"Of course, I was going to go out and see them anyways. And I think Alexx is going to make me leave," Calliegh said and peeked over her shoulder to see the kind woman in the doorway.
"I'm sorry sugar but Eric and Ryan want to get up here too," Alexx said.
"That's ok Alexx I have a few girls to see." Calliegh said and gave Horatio one last gentle squeeze on the hand. "I'll see you later handsome," she said and went out to her Hummer, and passed Eric and Ryan on the way.
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