Shot in the Dark

Jessica had hardly slept at all. She paced around her condo, scratching at where her skin crawled. She stopped and stared out the window at the city below. Somewhere out there in the darkness her father was hidden.

Her skin crawled again and the desire was almost unbearable. She wanted it so badly. She knew it would make her nerves relax and help her sleep. If only she could get her hands on it. Surely there had to be a dealer somewhere near by.

Ryan walked down the stairs and looked at his fiancée standing by the large windows in the living room. She was shaking and clawing lightly at her skin. He walked up behind her and gently placed his hands over hers.

"Jess," he whispered, "What are you doing?" He pulled one hand away and looked at the bright red streaks against his palms. "Jess, you're bleeding. What happened?"

"There's bugs under my skin," Jessica quietly said.

Ryan closed his eyes and held her hands firmly in place as he tried not to panic.

"Jess, there's nothing under your skin," he whispered. "It's all in your head."

"No, they're there!" Jessica snapped, trying to pull away from him. She stormed across the room, still scratching at her arms.

Ryan pulled out his phone. There was only one person who could help, but no one knew where he was. He dialed a different number and listened to the ring in his ear.

"Dr. Loman," a sleepy male voice sounded on the other end.

"Tom," Ryan whispered, "I have a problem and I need help."

"Ryan, what's wrong?" Tom inquired, now wide awake.

"I think Jess is relapsing."

Horatio's breathing was slow and steady as he stared at the floor from where he laid on the ground. There was a pulsating sensation in his side where the knife was pierced through his skin. Gibbs's hand continued to stroke over his hair and down his back.

"Something's wrong," Horatio whispered.

"What is it?" Gibbs quietly asked.

"Something's wrong with my baby," Horatio continued to whisper. "Something's wrong with my Jessica."

Jessica laid on the couch motionless as Tom injected something into her arm. She stared off into space as her heart began to slow down and her skin quit crawling.

"All these years later and she still had a relapse from heroin," Tom said, shaking his head as he bandage the injection sight.

"Well it was three years ago when James kidnapped her," Ryan quietly said. "Do you think that had an effect?"

"Probably, that and stress," Tom said as he began packing his things up in his bag.

"That's not going to hurt her, is it?" Ryan inquired, looking at the vial in Tom's hand.

"No, it's not heroin; a sedative that has the same effect and calms the craving. She should be fine, but if she relapses again call me and I'll give her another injection, but only if she really needs it. I don't want this to become something that controls her life."

"Daddy," Jessica suddenly whispered in an almost inaudible voice.

Ryan knelt beside her and gently stroked her hair.

"Everything's going to be alright, Jessie," he whispered. "We're going to find them."

The men kicked at Horatio as he gasped for air. They managed to miss the knife sticking out of his side but their blows still hurt.

"Where is he?!"

"Where did he go?!"

"Tell us now!"

Horatio was silent as they continued to pound their feet against him. Gibbs could only silently watch from where he hid beneath the couch, his chest hurting just at the mere sight of the other man in pain.

They finally stopped and looked down at him. One man stomped onto Horatio's groin and he gasped in pain, clutching at the source of the pain. They laughed as they walked out of the room.

Gibbs slid out from under the couch and rushed to the cabinet with the emergency kit. He activated the ancient looking ice pack and knelt beside Horatio. He carefully placed it against his groin and Horatio whimpered in pain.

"It's ok, Caine," he whispered in his soothing voice. "It's going to hurt for awhile but the pain will go away."

"Gibbs," Horatio's straggled voice sounded.

"Caine, you have to relax," Gibbs continued to say. "I need you to calm down so I can get us out of here."

The shaking of Horatio's body began to subside and he breathed easier.

"Who's your favorite singer?" Gibbs asked him. "When you're all alone in your house, what album do you put on and rock out to and dance like no one's looking?"

Horatio continued to struggle for air as he felt his nerves slowly calm. "I like Sting," he whispered.

"What's your favorite album by Sting?" Gibbs inquired, adjusting the ice pack's position.

"If on a Winter's Night," Horatio's weak voice said.

"If on a Winter's Night?" Gibbs said with a chuckle. "Caine, that's a Christmas album."

"I like Christmas music," Horatio quietly said.

Gibbs couldn't help but chuckle as he stroked Horatio's back and head once more.

"The tough as nails Lieutenant Horatio Caine likes to listen to Christmas music," he said with a light laugh. "I would have never guessed."

Ryan's fingers flew across the keyboard as he worked on the picture. He stopped and felt himself shuddered at the sight of Horatio's ghastly appearance.

"It's real," he quietly explained to Calleigh and McGee. "There doesn't appear to be any photo shopping or alterations."

"What about the paper?" Calleigh inquired.

"Pretty standard photo paper," Ryan explained, picking up the original copy of the picture. "You could get this crap just about anywhere." Tears suddenly formed in his eyes and his bottom lip quivered.

Calleigh gently grasped his shoulders and massaged them. "Ryan, do you need to recluse yourself from the case?"

Ryan shook his head as he tried to fight back the tears as he rubbed his eyes with his left hand. "I want to work this case. I want to find Horatio and Gibbs."

"But are you going to be able to handle this?" Calleigh gently asked.

"I don't know," Ryan whispered, "I really don't know anymore."

"You promised me you would return them if we paid the ransom," Walter argued with the man on the phone again. "We paid up so now you need to hold up your end of the deal."

"I never said you could have them back right away," the man's quiet voice said in the receiver. "Besides, one of them got away. The Special Agent is missing and the Lieutenant won't tell where he's gone."

Walter sat there confused, trying to process what he just said. "Gibbs is missing?"

"Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs from the Naval Criminal Investigation Service from Washington DC is MIA. And now Lieutenant Horatio Caine from the Miami Dade Police Department Crime Lab is going to pay."

The line clicked and Walter was left dreading the worse.

"So they're not going to return them," Jessica repeated as she paced the layout room. "What do they want? More money? I can pay them as much as they want. I have plenty of it. I don't have a price limit on the life of my father."

"Jess," Ryan whispered, gently grasping her shoulders, "Relax, we're going to figure this out."

"You keep saying that, Ryan," Jessica hissed, pulling from his grasp, "but we haven't found them." She spun on her heels and glared at him. "In kidnapping cases we have to assume that if the victim isn't found within the first twenty-four hours that they're dead! My father is most likely dead and you keep saying we're going to find them! Yeah, we're going to find them, but they'll be a shallow grave by then!"

"Jessica," Ryan said, stepping forward, "Please just try to remain calm. You know panicking like this isn't going to solve anything. Come on, let's go for a walk, it'll help clear your head."

Tears began streaming down Jessica's face. She looked at Ryan's out stretched hand for a moment before she silently slipped hers into his.

They walked down the sidewalk in the bright sun, their fingers intertwined and palms pressed together. Ryan leaned over and kissed her temple.

"We can do this," he whispered, "because we're stronger than them. Horatio's stronger than them."

"I just wish I knew," Jessica whispered.

They continued on in silence, the only sound the rumble of cars driving down the street.

"Want to know a secret?" Ryan whispered to her.

Jessica hesitated but silently nodded her head.

"Sometimes when I'm home alone I put on my wedding band and I imagine we're already married," Ryan quietly said. "Sometimes I even wear it when I'm out in public. And when people compliment me on it I happily tell them I'm married to the woman of my dreams. I stare at it all day, and then, just before you get home, I take it off and tuck it away with yours, like nothing ever happened."

Jessica smiled. She stopped and pulled him into her arms and just held him.

"We're going to find him," Ryan whispered in her ear. "We're going to find Horatio because I think Uncle Ron would get lost halfway if he had to walk you down the aisle to me on our wedding day."

Jessica couldn't help but chuckle. She kissed where his pulse beat and nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck.

"And I don't think I want anyone else to give me away on my wedding day besides my Daddy," she whispered.

Horatio laid on his left side. His breathing was labored, but he knew if he gave up he would die, and he wasn't ready to leave this world. Gibbs gently stroked his hair. Horatio could see the sorrow in his eyes.

"Why won't you tell them?" Gibbs whispered to him.

Horatio looked at him with hazy eyes. "Because if I do," he whispered, gasping for air, "they'll kill you, too."

Thundering footsteps on the stairs meant Gibbs had to hide again. He ducked behind the sofa end table and peered over the top.

One of the men walked into the room. He smiled an eerie grin at the sight of Horatio. He placed his hands on Horatio's hips and Gibbs watched Horatio recoil in disgust.

"Come on, Lieutenant," he said in his whispery voice, "I know what things are like at boot camp. Gary told me what they did at the boot camp up in Virginia."

The man began fiddling with Horatio's belt buckle. Horatio weakly batted at his hand, unable to really move or fight. The man slapped Horatio's hand away as he began yanking Horatio's pants off.

"Oh hell no!" Gibbs snapped. He sprung up from where he was hidden behind the end table and leapt over the table. He grabbed the heavy brass lamp on the table and swung at the man. There was a loud crack noise as the base of the lamp made contact with the man's skull. His body slumped to the ground as blood began to trickle from his scalp.

Gibbs pulled Horatio's pants back into place and gathered his body into his arms.

"Sorry, Caine," he said as he ducked into the crawlspace, "but I'm not waiting any longer for you to calm down again. We're getting the hell out of here."

Eric rushed from lab to lab, trying to keep busy as they continued their search for Horatio and Gibbs into the second night. It had been almost two days since they were captured and there was still no sight of them.

"We have absolutely no leads," Eric angrily said as he joined the rest of the team in the layout room.

"We're trying, Eric," Calleigh said, her voice weak. Eric looked at her. She had dark circles under her eyes and she seemed frazzled. "There's nothing more we can do with what we've got. I think it's time we came to the realization that we may never find them."

Eric's chest tightened at her words. "We can't," he whispered, "We just can't give up hope yet."

"But we're running out of resources," McGee said in an exhausted voice. "We have nothing that will help us move forward from this point. Unless something crazy extraordinary happens, then this is it. We can't make something out of nothing, Eric. I'm sorry, and as much as it pains me to say, I'm not sure we're ever going to find them."

"Fine," Eric hissed, "but you guys have to tell Jess."

Jessica and Ryan were lying together on the couch in Horatio's office. Jessica held one of Horatio's lab coats tightly against her chest. She pressed it to her nose and inhaled the scent of her father as tears welled in her eyes again.

Calleigh and McGee appeared in the doorway. They stood there silently and just looked at the young lovers.

"Jess," Calleigh finally said, "We need to talk to you."

Jessica turned her head and looked at them. She turned away when she could sense their dread.

Ryan leaned in and gently kissed her. "Do you want me to stay with you?" he whispered.

Jessica slowly shook her head. "Someone needs to pick up Oliver before Uncle Ron starts teaching him how to swear in ASL."

Ryan smiled and kissed her again. "Ok, I'll be back in about an hour to pick you up. Just call me if you need anything."

"Ok," she whispered.

"I love you," Ryan quietly said to her.

"I love you, too," Jessica whispered in response.

Ryan stood and walked out the door, knowing exactly what Calleigh and McGee were going to tell Jessica.

Calleigh sat next to Jessica on the couch. She smoothed out the lab coat and read the name "Lieutenant H. Caine" embroidered over the left breast pocket.

"Jessica, I think it's time we discuss a very real possibility," Calleigh quietly said in her gentle voice.

Jessica began to shake as tears crawled down her face. "Please," she whispered, "No."

"I'm sorry, Jess," Calleigh whispered, "but I think it's time we assumed the worse."

Jessica doubled over, resting her forehead against her thighs.

"Please," she said in a voice so soft Calleigh thought she imagined it. "Please, no."

Gibbs struggled slightly under Horatio's weight as he carried him through the ragged neighborhood. It seemed all the houses were falling down or just barely standing. The sun was setting and Gibbs walked in its fading glow. He was weak and tired, but he had to keep moving. He didn't know where he was, but he knew he just had to find someone. He needed to get Horatio to the hospital.

He wandered through an alley and the street opened up to a more civilized looking area. He stopped and leaned against a blue city mailbox, trying to catch his breath and maintain his strength. Horatio groaned in his arms and Gibbs tightened his grip. His arms ached and his back strained under the effort. Horatio was the same size as Gibbs, making it difficult for the older man to carry him. But Horatio was far too weak. He could hardly breathe on his own.

"Caine," Gibbs said as he caught his breath once more, "If you could be any animal in the world what would you be?"

Horatio was silent in Gibbs's arms. Gibbs looked down at his glazed over eyes.

"Come on, Caine!" Gibbs roughly ordered, "Talk to me! Don't give up on me now! What animal are you?"

"I'd be a white rhino," Horatio softly whispered. "Because they're an endangered species, strong yet graceful, and have a caring, paternal side." He was silent for a moment as he blinked in the bright light before his eyes drifted shut again. "And I'd be able to beat the fuck out of those hairy bastards."

Gibbs chuckled lightly and suddenly felt a second wind of strength flood through him. He began slowly walking down the sidewalk, hoping someone would see them and stop.

Ryan sighed and turned down the crappy looking street. There was construction on his normal route so he had to take a detour through a shady looking part of town. He didn't particularly like the looks of it, especially with his young son in the backseat, but it was better than driving two hours out of the way to get back to the lab.

He shook his head at the sight of the scruffy looking man and tried to veer farther away from him. He was probably homeless, and, going by the way he was limping, probably sick or injured. Ryan had learned through his years in law enforcement that no matter what he should never stop to help someone like that, even if it sounded cruel.

Ryan hit his brakes when he got a better look at the man. He was carrying something in his arms. It was another man, with red hair.

Ryan put the car in park and ran towards the man. Gibbs looked at him with his worn, dirty face.

"Wolfe," he whispered.

"Oh my god, Gibbs," Ryan said, rushing to him. He gasped and looked down at the sight of Horatio in his arms. "Oh god, Horatio!"

"We need to get him to the hospital," Gibbs said through his dry, scratchy throat. "He's injured, and badly, too."

Horatio's head turned and he looked up at Ryan.

"Ryan…" he said in an almost inaudible voice.

"Come on!" Ryan exclaimed, running towards his car. He opened the passenger door and helped Gibbs lower Horatio onto the seat. Ryan jumped into the driver seat while Gibbs climbed into the backseat with Oliver.

Ryan hit the accelerator and sped off down the street. He pulled out his phone and dialed.

"Dispatch, this is CSI Wolfe. I have an injured officer who needs immediate medical attention! Requesting a police escort to meet me at the corner of County Road and Palm Avenue!"

"Copy that CSI Wolfe, Officer Davidson will be waiting for you."

"Ten-four," Ryan muttered as he hung up his phone. He watched as almost immediately a police cruiser pulled out in front of him. His lights and sirens cut through the late Miami evening, bringing hope once again to Ryan's heart.

"Wait," Jessica said, standing from the couch, "What did that just say?" She walked over to the police scanner on the table behind Horatio's desk. She grabbed the receiver and held it to her mouth. "Dispatch, this is CSI J. Caine, can you repeat that last transmission?"

"Copy, CSI Caine, repeating. CSI Wolfe is requesting a police escort for an injured officer seeking immediate medical attention. Officer Davidson is responding."

Jessica stood there silently for a moment, her heart hammering in her chest. She dropped the receiver to the floor and ran from the room.

"CSI Caine, do you copy? CSI Caine?"

Calleigh and McGee stared at each other in silence. McGee slowly stood from where he sat on the couch and crossed the room. He grabbed the receiver and answered for her.

"Ten-four, we copied. Can you tell us the name of the injured officer?"

"Negative, CSI Wolfe didn't say."

McGee swallowed hard as his nerves started to buzz. He looked at Calleigh. The expression on her face probably wasn't much different then his own. Hope and fear.

"Ten-four," he quietly responded.

The sirens pierced through the quiet, empty streets as Jessica sped down the street in her Hummer. What few cars were out pulled off to the side, making room for her large police vehicle. She pushed down on the accelerator, forcing the Hummer to go faster. She grew impatient when she ran into construction yet again. This time, though, she clattered over their deserted work areas, demolishing many of their tools and supplies.

She pulled into the hospital parking lot and stopped the Hummer in the emergency vehicle section. She threw the keys at the parking attendant, ordering him to only move it if necessary. She skidded into the reception desk and looked at the nurses with a frenzied gaze.

"Where's the injured officer CSI Wolfe brought in?" she demanded.

The nurse looked at her confused. "We haven't had an injured officer come in, ma'am."

Jessica slammed the leather wallet holding her credentials and flat badge onto the desk. "I need to know where the injured officer is!" she yelled.

"Officer Caine, I'm telling you, we haven't had an injured officer tonight," the nurse snipped at her.

Jessica growled in frustration and turned away from the desk. She stuffed her wallet back into her back pocket and turned towards the door, intending to call dispatch.

She recognized the red Venza as it screeched to a halt at the entrance to the emergency room. The doors glided open as Special Agent Gibbs ran into the building, with Ryan by his side and Horatio in his arms.

"Daddy!" Jessica shrieked as she ran towards them. A nurse stopped her and held her back as ER workers clattered through with a gurney and hauled Horatio away. "Daddy!" Jessica screamed as tears poured down her face.

More nurses and physicians helped Gibbs onto a gurney and started to roll him away, but he stopped them. He reached out and took Jessica's hand in his own.

"He's alive," he gasped, the pain evident on his face. "He's alive, Jessica."

Tears poured down Jessica's face. She bit her bottom lip and nodded her head in response, words too heavy for her.

The nurses pushed Gibbs away and Jessica was left standing alone with the strange nurse's arms still wrapped around her. She looked at the woman and shoved her off.

Ryan was suddenly at her side, wrapping his arms around her slender body as she began to shake violently.

"He's alive," he whispered.

"Where did you find them?" Jessica quietly asked.

"County Road," Ryan answered.

"That's the same place as the drop off sight," Jessica said. "That means they weren't that far away from Eric and McGee yesterday."

Ryan nodded his head and buried his face into her hair. "Yeah," he quietly said. "We found them, Jess. They're both alive. We found them."

"Um, excuse me, Officer Wolfe?"

Ryan turned and looked at the parking attendant standing just inside the doorway. He was holding a car seat with Oliver sitting quietly in it.

"Ah fuck, I forgot my baby!" Ryan exclaimed as he rushed over to the attendant.