A/N: Sorry to keep everyone waiting, but I have been too busy to write another chapter as my husband and I adopted two 3 month old kittens (brothers) and they have been keeping me busy getting them acclimated to their new home! They are rescue kitties and we have fallen in love with them!

This chapter reflects the personal 'dark hole' Horatio has to deal with.

The Dark Hole

Chapter 7

Calleigh sat beside Horatio's bed holding his limp right hand in hers with Frank and Eric sitting across the room waiting for Horatio to waken from the anesthesia. The doctors had told them that Horatio was brought in just in time as he was on the verge of having seizures from the subdural hematoma caused by his head injury in the car accident. The trauma team had rushed Horatio into emergency surgery after he arrived at the hospital via a medical helicopter from the scene, now everyone was anxious as to whether he had suffered permanent damage to his brain because that was a definite possibility. The doctors mentioned that Horatio might have neurological damage and the three of them knew if that were the case, Horatio's career would essentially be over.

All of them were exhausted from the events of the last 36 + hours and were resting as much as they could in the chairs available which were not really conducive to sleep when Calleigh, having laid her head down on the edge of the bed, felt Horatio's hand squeeze hers slightly. Abruptly raising her head after feeling the movement she stared intently at Horatio's face and saw his eyes begin to flicker.

Calleigh softly called his name and lightly rubbed his cheek as he stirred even more. "Horatio…can you hear me Honey? I want you to open your eyes…c'mon you can do it, I'm right here."

Frank stirred at the sound of Calleigh's voice and struggled to his feet which woke Eric. Frank and Eric rushed over to the other side of Horatio's bed and met Calleigh's concerned expression with their own.

Horatio's eyes opened slowly and Calleigh could see the alarm register in them as he realized a tube was down his throat and he couldn't talk.

Calleigh, trying to soothe him, gently brushed some red locks of hair back off his forehead then lightly rubbed his cheek and said, "Handsome you can't talk right now, but the doctor said you would not have to be on the ventilator long. It is helping you to recover quicker. Blink your eyes if you are in pain and I will go get a nurse."

Horatio didn't blink, but had a confused expression as if he were attempting to understand what was happening, where he was and why was he lying in a bed surrounded by machines. Then Horatio drifted back into the anesthesia induced slumber and Calleigh was relieved, knowing he was better off right now not lying awake with everything that was being done to him.

Calleigh suggested that Frank and Eric ought to go home and get some rest, as she was planning to stay with Horatio and hopefully later tonight he would be more alert. The two men reluctantly agreed, but only if she would assure them she'd call immediately if they could do anything at all or if anything about Horatio's condition changed. She told them she would and hugged each one and thanked them for staying with her as long as they had.

After they left, Calleigh sat in the small room in ICU and listened to the monitors surrounding Horatio…all their little clicks, wheezes and beeps had a somewhat lulling effect on her. But her heart ached seeing Horatio so helpless…she was just thankful he was alive. The doctors had told her a high percentage of people suffering from subdural hematomas died, especially the ones who did not have aggressive treatment early after the injury. Horatio had battled through the pain, dizziness, blurred vision, and headache along with his injured knee and bruises, but more horrifying was the stabbing at the hands of Vina, thank God she did not drive the knife deep enough to cause major injury. He endured all of that to find her, to save her- -as always, putting those he loved ahead of his own welfare.

Her eyes went to the bandage wrapped around his head that held a catheter inserted into his skull that was allowing drainage. During surgery, doctors said they drilled two "burr holes" into his skull and sucked the blood out to reduce damage to his brain attempting to avoid permanent injury.

The neurosurgeon had already talked to her about what to expect after Horatio woke up. They knew he had paralysis on his left side, but further testing would have to be done, after Horatio was out from under the effects of the anesthesia, to verify if it was permanent or temporary. The doctor had also warned her that it was normal for survivors to have a difficult time controlling their emotions and performing their normal tasks especially with the injury on the right side of the head as that side of the brain was the area that controlled emotions. His memory would also be affected either long term or short, but they would have to wait for the results of the tests to be sure. He had also warned that Horatio was going to require a great deal of patience from those around him to help him work through all of the changes. He told her if neurological damage was mild, Horatio would recover sooner, but he would still need to wait 6 months at the minimum to return to duty and also to be able to drive. He explained that if Horatio did not have a seizure during that length of time, the probability for one to occur after that would diminish significantly. He would also be prescribed an anti-seizure medicine just like they were currently giving him as a preventative for seizures.

Calleigh was deep in thought going over all that the doctors had told her and didn't notice the door opening or who stepped in until she heard Alexx say, "Sugar…are you alright?"

Alexx's voice startled Calleigh momentarily, until it registered who was standing before her reaching out and touching her shoulder.

Calleigh looked up and saw her close friend Alexx standing there with a very concerned expression and jumped to her feet wrapping her dear friend in a big hug and broke down in tears.

"Oh Alexx, I am so glad you came by…Horatio…"

Alexx quickly said, "I know Sugar…I know."

She leaned back and softly asked Calleigh to step out to the small waiting room close by so they could talk. She knew, even though Horatio appeared to be out of it, patients could sometimes hear everything going on around them and she didn't want him to hear the two of them talking about his condition.

Alexx guided Calleigh over to a sitting area and motioned for her to sit while she poured them some coffees from the pot that was available for those waiting on loved ones. At the moment, they were the only ones in the room because of the late hour.

Calleigh began softly talking as she wiped her tears from her cheeks, "Alexx, I've never seen Horatio like this…he…he looks so helpless lying in the bed with all the tubes coming out of him and connected to so many machines. It breaks my heart."

"It is a difficult sight to see Calleigh because he is always the strong one…but his strength is what's going to make a difference in the outcome in this situation. He is going to need to fight to overcome what has happened to him and you are going to need strength and patience like you've never had before."

Alexx took Calleigh's hand in hers and asked, "Are you going to be able to deal with that, plus take over at the lab?"

Calleigh looked at Alexx and replied, "I have to Alexx I love him more than anything or anyone on this earth and I will continue to regardless of how this turns out. I just don't want to lose him…I came close this time, I know so, we will work through whatever happens together."

"I just want you to know, he feels the same about you Calleigh, no matter how he acts once in recovery. He will be angry…not at you, at the situation he will find himself in, just always keep that in mind. I just pray his side effects will be mild, they can be you know, regardless of how severe his condition seems now."

"Oh Alexx, I hope so. I don't think Horatio would be able to handle being dependent on others the rest of his life…and not being able to go back to work. He has made that crime lab the best in the state and needs to be there, to be a part of it because in a way, it is a very important part of him."

"I know it is Sugar. Why don't you go home and get cleaned up and catch a nap. I'll stay with Horatio…he's not going to wake up until tomorrow anyway."

"I don't have a way to get home Alexx."

Then as if on cue, Frank walked up and asked, "Calleigh, let me take you home, ok?"

Calleigh looked bewildered as to why Frank suddenly appeared and looked at Alexx who smiled, "I called him Sugar…he said he would be glad to take you. I knew you needed a break."

"I will go if you promise to call me when Horatio wakes up."

"I will call you Calleigh now let Frank take you home."

Frank helped her to her feet and they both walked out as Alexx stood and walked back to Horatio's room.

It was 9 o'clock the next morning when Horatio began stirring slightly and Alexx walked over beside his bed and watched as he opened his eyes.

"There you are my friend," Alexx said smiling at him as she softly touched his forehead.

Horatio looked confused and was attempting to talk, but found it was impossible.

"Horatio, the doctor was in earlier and told me to call when you woke, they are planning to remove your breathing tube this morning so, let me just step out and tell the nurses to call him. I will call Calleigh too as I sent her home to get some rest. I will be right back Honey."

After Alexx left, Horatio attempted to shift in the bed, but found his left side wouldn't cooperate and he couldn't understand why. He felt uncomfortable with the tube down his throat and the sounds of machines that seemed to be all around him to wondering what had happened to him, he couldn't remember anything.

Then Alexx came back in the room with a doctor and nurses in tow and the doctor began looking at all the machines and checking a chart in his hands. The doctor then leaned over him and smiled and said, "Lieutenant, I am your doctor, Dr. Rosen and I think we can remove this uncomfortable tube out of your throat now. When we start, I need you to help us, ok? I'll tell you what to do."

The tube was removed, but Horatio's throat was extremely sore and dry hindering him from talking, but he managed to ask in a whisper what had happened to him…why couldn't he move part of his body?

About that time, Calleigh walked into the room and walked to Horatio and leaned over then smiled saying, "Good morning Handsome," kissed him on his cheek sat down in a chair by his bed as she held his hand.

"Miss Duquesne, I'm glad you are here, Dr. Woods would you join me in explaining the Lieutenant's condition," asked Dr. Rosen.

Horatio looked at the doctor and Alexx, then at Calleigh searching their faces for clues.

"Lieutenant, you suffered a bad blow to your head in a recent car accident and developed what is called a subdural hematoma, meaning the small blood vessels between your brain and the dura mater, which is the tough outer layer surrounding the brain, were damaged and blood leaked out into your brain causing a dangerous situation. We were able to relieve the pressure on your brain by draining the blood and fluid off, and the subsequent swelling by medication. We left a tube inserted into your skull to drain off any fluid that continued to collect. The blood and swelling of your brain caused paralysis to the left side of your body."

Horatio squeezed Calleigh's hand so tight, it was almost to the point of pain for her as he looked away from her face cried out in a loud whisper, "Noo, please tell me it won't be perm…permanent."

Dr. Rosen looked at Alexx for support and Alex was on Horatio's left side and began, "Honey…" as she placed her hand tenderly on his bandaged forehead, "we won't know until they run some neurological tests…there is a possibility the paralysis will only be temporary. We will just have to wait for the results of the tests."

Calleigh couldn't hold back her tears as she saw Horatio's tears begin flowing down his cheeks and she choked out, "Horatio…look at me," and she gently put her fingers under his chin and gently turned his face toward hers and said, "Handsome…I am going to help you through this, I'll always be here for you," and she leaned in and kissed his bruised lips softly. Her touch soothed him as she wrapped her arms around him as good as she could and held him as they both cried. Alexx motioned for Dr. Rosen to follow her out and give Calleigh and Horatio their privacy.

TBC…