Coming Around Again

Chapter 2

Wishin', Hopin', and Prayin'

A/N - Thanks to everyone who has read and/or reviewed. Your support, time, and patience with me are appreciated. Hope you continue to enjoy!

Horatio placed his forearms on his knees as he shifted uncomfortably on the thinly padded metal chair in the waiting room of Emergency Medical Services at Dade Memorial Hospital. He had been watching the large metal doors that led to the treatment area intensely but to no avail. He hadn't uttered a word since seating himself, he'd just been silent…his blue eyes imploring someone to tell him something…anything.

The chairs around him were noisily overflowing with those waiting to be treated for almost every condition imaginable. Babies screamed incessantly despite being comforted by their exasperated mothers. Small children with snot-crusted noses climbed on and off their weary parents' laps while sneezing on those around them becoming more irritable as their wait time lengthened. Obnoxious, verbally belligerent twenty-somethings made frequent trips to the check-in desk berating the clerks for the inconvenience of not being placed at the head of the line while elderly people shuffled on tired feet as they pushed their walkers around the room complaining loudly that their age should allow them the priority of being next to be called to an exam room. Based on their combined stares, he knew that most were angry that his 'emergency' had pushed them farther down the pecking order.

Doctors, nurses, and medical technicians were scurrying in and out avoiding eye contact with him, the man who, three long hours ago, had rushed through the mechanical doors via the ambulance bay cradling a semi-conscious whimpering young girl barking at everyone within earshot for immediate assistance.

The support staff had said very little since he, Frank, and his tiny victim arrived and that was just as well. The only voice he preferred to hear was that of his trusted friend Dr. Alexx Woods. And hopeful news of that small child was the only thing that could relieve the quiet frenzy that his mind had become since pulling her out from underneath his Hummer.

Hospitals had always been frustrating to him. Despite having been around them while interviewing or visiting crime victims, he found that the only thing one could truly do while there was to wait, hope, and…pray. The waiting and hoping part was something he was being forced to accomplish at the moment. It was the praying part that seemed impossible.

Prayer shouldn't have been particularly hard for him. Sarah Caine had been a devoutly Catholic mother who wore a cross pendant around her neck, attended Mass every Sunday, and led him in the rosary each night. He had enjoyed serving as an altar boy as a youth and was educated along with Raymond in the parochial schools of New York, his maternal grandparents struggling to pay the tuition.

He'd strayed considerably from the faith as a young man but still found that he believed in a higher power. He believed that there was something out there that held mankind together despite the violence, mayhem, and misfortune that the wickedness of the world brought their way. Still, he hadn't really prayed since he'd quietly asked the angels to welcome Marisol home on the afternoon she eased her grip on his hand and slipped away.

Moments later, the doors suddenly swung open and Alexx appeared in sight giving him a tight smile and a small shake of the head as he rose and strode over to her.

"Alexx, talk to me. What's going on? How is she? Is she…is she dead?" he demanded.

"Now, Horatio, you understand how this works. The investigating officers are waiting right over there and they are entitled to all information first. I'll talk to you when I'm finished with them. Go back and sit down."

Watching her turn her attention to the pair of uniformed patrolmen standing by the vending machines, he became more than a little perturbed. But, Alexx was correct…the tables were turned now. He was not the investigator in this situation and had to be as fully cooperative as he was earlier in the afternoon when he had first given his statement.

'This is kind of strange for us, Lieutenant. You completely outrank us, and we respect that. But, we have to do this by the book. We're sure you want it that way.'

'Absolutely! Completely by the book…first question Officer.'

'I need you to state your full legal name and legal address. This is for the record.'

'Horatio Anderson Caine, 4423 Oceanside Drive South Beach – Miami, Florida.'

'Lieutenant Caine, were you the driver of the vehicle that hit the pedestrian?'

'Unfortunately, yes. I was the driver. And she is not just a pedestrian, she's a little girl!'

'And the vehicle you were driving was not your personal one. It was department issue, correct?'

'Correct. It's parked right outside.'

'Okay, it's under an immediate impound for processing.'

'Understood.'

'We've interviewed Sgt. Tripp, but we need to hear your version of events. Tell us what happened?'

'Sgt. Tripp and I were leaving a crime scene in the Glades. We were traveling down a dirt road. I wouldn't even call it a road, actually. It was more like an overgrown path. I never saw her until it was too late. She must have come out of nowhere. I hit her, but I never saw her. I swear on all that's holy…I never saw her.'

'Approximately at what speed would you say you were traveling at the time of impact?'

'30 to 35 miles per hour maximum. The pathway was a mess…poorly maintained. Speeding was impossible in those road conditions.'

'The instrumentation of the Hummer will verify that. Why didn't you wait for medical transport? Why did you bring her in yourself?'

'I thought I could get her here faster. Officer Tripp called the accident in while we were in route. Time was of the essence.'

'Ok. Were you distracted by anything before the impact…cellular device, perhaps?'

'No…my phone never went off and was not used until after the accident.'

'Did your phone happen to be in your hand at the time of impact?'

'No, it was on the console.'

'Alright, Sgt. Tripp confirms that. If there's anything else you need to tell us, Lieutenant, you'd better do it now.'

'What do you mean?'

'Is there a possibility that you were then or are now under the influence of something…drugs…alcohol? Were there any additives to your coffee this morning?'

'No, Sir! 'I take no prescription medication and use no illegal substances.'

'My former Lieutenant used to keep a flask around for 'emergencies'. How about you, Sir? When did you consume your last alcoholic beverage?'

'My last alcoholic beverage was a beer I drank while watching the Marlins game last night around 9 PM. My desk and pockets are clean!'

'So we'll find nothing we shouldn't find in your system?'

'Absolutely not…I'm completely and totally sober.'

'You know we will have to verify that. Your breathalyzer did blow clean, but a breathalyzer isn't the most reliable measure. We need additional tests. It's standard procedure, Lieutenant. We're making no accusations against you, Sir.''

'I totally understand. Give me a cup and I'll provide a voluntary urine sample. I'll submit to a chemical blood test as well. Tell me where to go.'

Alexx's slender arm embraced his shoulders as she eased down in the chair beside him and brought his thoughts back to the matter at hand.

"Alright, my buddy. Now it's your turn. What do you want to know?"

"Alexx…is she dead?"

"No, she is not dead. And won't be for a long time I hope. As a matter of fact, none of her injuries are life-threatening. She is a blessed little girl!"

"Thank God for that! How bad is she?"

"Neurology read her MRI and they find no evidence of any internal bleeding or any type of swelling or bleeding on the brain at this time. That is a very good thing when you consider the size of the Hummer and the size of that child. Radiology says that she does have fractures to her left arm and both legs. And she is bruised and battered of course. But…overall…she's a miracle."

"Any long term problems? Spinal cord damage or anything?"

"She has feeling in all extremities and there appears to be no damage to the lumbar region. You were very lucky since you moved her without medical assistance. You did it, but as a doctor, I definitely would have advised against it. You should have waited for transport. You've been blessed my friend!"

"So…she's going to be okay."

"In due time and with good medical attention I think so."

"Who is she? Is her family here? I need to talk to them. I…uh…need to explain. It's the least I can do."

"I was hoping you might know something about her family. Isn't she a part of what you were investigating in the Glades?" Alex questioned with raised eyes.

"Not that I know of. A Park Ranger discovered a dead body and called in around mid-morning. We went to the call-out and completely canvased the perimeter. There wasn't anyone else around that crime scene."

"Then how do you account for her?" Alexx countered.

Sighing heavily, Horatio rubbed his forehead and answered, "I don't know just yet. What I do know is that I am responsible for her being here. But, God as my witness Alexx, I never saw her! She just showed up out of nowhere!"

"I believe you, Horatio. Don't beat yourself up over an accident. We'll take good care of her. She'll be fine…just give this time."

"What's going to happen tonight? Can you share your treatment plan?"

"She's understandably scared and in a lot of pain. That's to be expected so we've started a round of pain meds that will relax and sedate her for the night until the orthopedic team can schedule her surgery. That will probably be sometime tomorrow I'm thinking. We are admitting her into the Shock-Trauma Unit overnight for observation just in case we've missed something and need to make a quick move."

Noting the concern etched in Horatio's eyes, Alexx continued, "Shock-Trauma admittance is just a precaution. Oftentimes, traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding can take a while to show up. So, we want to be prepared for all scenarios. We'll do another MRI in the morning to check on things and then I expect her to be moved into a regular room in the Pediatric Unit sometime tomorrow afternoon."

"Will she be alone, Alexx? She's a child…I don't want her to be alone in that type of place," Horatio said with worried eyes shaking his head.

"Shock Trauma will assign a specialized nurse to her who will be at her bedside as long as she's in the Unit. The day nurse will be with her until around 7 PM and then the night nurse takes over until 7AM. Shock Trauma nurses are out of this world good…she won't be alone. We have to make sure we've covered all bases."

"I understand, Alexx. I want to keep abreast of this. I'll stick around until her parents get here. I have to talk to them. I really need to speak to them."

"You can join the crowd on that one! There's nobody here who can make legal decisions regarding her medical care. Horatio, you are not the only person who needs to talk to them. We need parental permission to treat this child. Right now, she's classified as an emergency admittance for surgery, but questions are being asked about her circumstances. We don't know who to call because she will give us no information."

"Not even her name?"

"She says her name is Becca Jordan and she is this many years old," Alexx answered holding up five fingers. "And that's basically all we are getting."

"So why is a 5 year old wandering around alone in the Everglades? She couldn't possibly have wandered away from home. There are no residential areas out that far. A five year old might get mad at Mother and try to runaway to Grandma's house, but not out there,"?" Horatio pondered aloud. "Where did she come from?"

"We asked about her mother and she tells us that her mom is in a house where the people do bad things. She won't say anything else."

"Hmmm. A house where the people do bad things? Well it can't be in the Glades. There are a few abandoned shacks, but people haven't actually lived there for decades. What's left out there is basically uninhabitable. Someone had to have taken her there…and left her there."

"Horatio you know from your years on the force that the gators aren't the only wild life that hangs out in the Glades. There's some bad mojo that goes on in that place!"

"I'm guessing that her mother is into some major shit and somehow this child is collateral damage," Horatio stated giving Alexx a sideways glance.

"And that mother of hers has neglected that sweet baby for quite a long time. You brought her in wearing just her underwear. Are the rest of her clothes in the Hummer? As her attending physician, I'd like to see for myself the condition of the rest of her clothes."

"No, nothing is in the Hummer. She was wearing just the pink cotton panties and worn-out sneakers. Frank and I didn't see anything else."

"Did you happen to notice that she is filthy? Not to mention being covered with insect and flea bites and being extremely malnourished. Neglect of a minor child…criminal neglect of a minor child in my opinion!"

"To be totally honest, Alexx all I noticed was that she was breathing. So we have a half-naked, abandoned child is running around in the Glades. A mother who is in a house where the people do bad things. Are we thinking along the same lines?"

"Lieutenant Caine…we are totally on the same page."

"Can you conduct one more examination? I think you know what it is."

"Yes, I do. We're already ahead of you on that one. We're waiting for the sedation to take effect. She becomes hysterical when we attempt to remove her panties."

"And that speaks volumes. Alexx, can you stay with her? I gotta go. I have to work this."

"Horatio, I think you should re-think that. This investigation needs to be clean and without any hint of conflict of interest. We have no idea if or when 'Mother of the Year' might stroll in here and call a slick talkin' personal injury attorney demanding a financial windfall. Let the others work this. Think of yourself this once," Alexx stated firmly patting Horatio on the hand.

"I'll stay behind the scenes, Alexx. I won't do the basic stuff. But I have to work this."

"You need to go home, my friend. Please listen to me on this matter. If something goes wrong in this investigation, IAB will have your badge and God knows what else the courts might do to you personally. You could be seen as interfering with an investigation concerning something you were responsible for...accident or not. No police department allows that, Horatio! Go home...try to rest. I'll call you if anything changes overnight. We're going to get her cleaned up and moved into Shock-Trauma. But you should go home! You can do nothing more here today."!"

"Can't do it, Alexx. I just can't do it," Horatio replied with a tilt of his head as he speed dialed Frank for a ride to the Lab.

"Just go home…please!" Alexx called out shaking her head as he walked out the door.

TBC