Title: Not All Bad
Author: innocent choir girl (ff-dot-net), shannyfish (From Out of the Lab/Miami Heat/LJ)
Summary: A challenge that I sort of issued to myself. CBS blames "Born to Kill"'s suck factor to the fact that they had no budget. So, I figure that an episode done solely in one room couldn't cost that much. This story involves the whole team, and only one room. But what will they face in this room? Post "Born to Kill".
Category: Ship Ahoy! Calleigh/Horatio
Genres: Angst, Drama, Episode Related, Established Relationship, Friendship, Hurt Comfort, Suspense
Characters: Horatio Caine, Calleigh Duquesne, Eric Delko, Natalia Boa Vista
Rating: PG-13
Chapter: 4 "Hallucination"
Author's Notes: and it continues…
…………………….
The elevator not only shook, but dropped. It didn't fall far, but it felt like it did. Bodies collided against each other and the metal of the elevator. Screaming echoed off the sides of the metal prison until it finally stopped.
The only one who ha been somewhat spared from further injury was Calleigh. Horatio had grabbed her, holding her close, and keeping his hand protectively around her head. When Horatio peeled his hand away from her head, he noticed blood was soaking through the cloth. He took one of her hands and pressed it back into place hoping the pressure would stop the bleeding.
"Aren't these things equipped with safety brakes in case the original ones fail?" Eric asked as he rubbed his arm, he was trying to rub the pain away.
"I think those are broken, too," Horatio told Eric as he settled Calleigh back in the corner. He noticed as he pulled his arm from around her that it was throbbing and making a fist not only caused pain to shoot up his arm, but was also quite difficult to do. He kept the pain inside, though, and stood up.
"How are you doing, Talia?" Eric asked kneeling down next to her.
"I'm alright, I think," Natalia responded. "I think I'm just going to be bruised and sore."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
Eric turned to see Horatio once again studying the opening in the ceiling. "So, H. What do you do when the safeties start to fail?" Eric asked hoping the older man had an answer.
"You get out anyway and as fast as you can," Horatio responded. "Did you see a ladder running along the inside of the shaft?" he asked trying to come up with a working escape plan.
"I think I saw one…actually I think there's one on each side."
"Good."
"You're not suggesting we climb out?" Natalia spoke up. "That level up there might not even be intact."
"We have to try something," Eric told her.
"And what about Calleigh?" she asked. "She's in no condition to be doing anything like that."
"Let me worry about Calleigh," Horatio told her.
"Okay, so eve if we all get out of here and to the ladders…what happens when the elevator drops? Won't the ladders shake like crazy, too?"
Eric looked worriedly over to Horatio, "She's got a point…"
"We could use our belts to strap ourselves to the railing," Horatio suggested.
"We'd just slide right down," Natalia pointed out.
"Maybe we should just strap two people together," Eric spoke up. "Wanna be my partner, Natalia?"
Natalia shook her head with an amused smile on her face.
"Why don't we stick with being optimistic about the situation," Eric told her.
"Horatio," Calleigh called quietly. She knew they were all trying to figure a way out, but something was bothering her.
It didn't take Horatio long to move over to Calleigh and kneel down next to her. "Yes, Sweetheart?"
"Your arm's hurt," she whispered and then closed her eyes as she let her head lightly hit the metal wall.
"Your head still hurting?" he questioned and noticed she wasn't putting pressure on her head wound any longer. The bleeding had slowed, though. That was a good sign at least. He didn't bother to make her put the cloth back up in place. He'd just make sure he kept a close eye on her.
"Fine," Calleigh responded before extending her arm out to Horatio, grabbing the injured arm, and pulling him closer.
Horatio gritted his teeth determined not to let out the pain he was really feeling. "Honey…are you in pain?"
"Your arm hurts," she said releasing her hold on him.
"I'm fine, Calleigh."
"No, I'm fine."
Horatio smiled, she wasn't all there, but she was still Calleigh. "Alright," he said quietly and then straightened. He was still worried about her, but she seemed to be hanging in there. He left her and walked to the other side of the elevator to talk to Eric and Natalia. It was time to get out of there. They just needed a plan.
Since the elevator's shaking, everything seemed louder to Calleigh. Something was nagging her; there was a sound coming from above her. And then there was whispering. Finally, the voices turned into one…and Calleigh could make out the words.
"Calleigh, Honey?"
Calleigh's head tipped upward and stared into the black darkness overhead and listened.
…………………..
TBC…
