A Father's Heartache
Chapter 12
After arriving at the hospital, Horatio couldn't get to the second floor fast enough. Instead of waiting on an elevator, he took the stairs, reaching the nurse's station near Kyle's room breathing harder than normal due to his bruised chest.
A nurse not familiar with Horatio noticed his labored breathing and the fact he was sweating, and generally not looking well inquired, "Sir are you alright? Here sit down in this chair for a few minutes," she offered, but he quickly declined.
"Is Chief Armstrong here?" Horatio asked as he leaned on the desk.
"Lieutenant…," Armstrong called out as he saw Horatio at the desk.
"Chief, have you picked them up yet?"
"We are under lockdown and are in the process of checking every floor right now…it will take time given the size of the building, but we are doing all we can to locate them. I have already called CPD and a team is on its way, this event is beyond our capability."
As his breathing became more regulated, Horatio responded, "That was a good decision, we need a team familiar with hostage situations and SWAT. Your men are doing a good job securing the building, at least at the door where I entered. Has anyone checked the basement?"
"Not yet, do you really think he would go down there knowing he would be trapped?"
"I wouldn't count it out." Just then Detective Wilson called out Horatio's name as he quickly approached the two men.
"Horatio," Wilson quickly greeted.
"Mark, glad you and your men are here. Johnson is holding my son and fiancée," Horatio smiled slightly at his choice of description for Calleigh, "possibly in the basement of the hospital. They were last seen leaving this floor via a service elevator."
Chief Armstrong pulled out a blueprint of the building and spread it out on the nurse's desk. "That particular elevator would put them in this quadrant of the basement," pointing to the plans.
Horatio noticed a small enclosure in a back corner of that section and asked, "What would this be?" As he traced the plans with his finger from the elevator to the enclosure, thinking Johnson could be using it to hold his two captives.
"It's the chief custodian's office enclosed by glass walls," Armstrong answered.
"So a phone would be located there?" Horatio asked.
"Yes."
"Would you have the number?" Horatio further inquired.
Armstrong pulled out his cell phone and began perusing a list of numbers, "Here it is, the number highlighted." Horatio took the phone handed him and said,
"Let's see if our lunatic will answer," touching the number on the phone's screen.
After three rings, a connection was made. "I can only hope this is Lieutenant Caine," Johnson answered.
Kyle and Calleigh turned their heads in the direction of Johnson, their ears attempting to pick up the slightest sound from the other end of the conversation, hoping it was Horatio assuring them he was alright after going to the fake meeting site. They were each sitting in chairs, handcuffed at opposite front corners of a built-in metal shelving unit in the office, which was causing Kyle excruciating pain in his shoulder having his arms pinned behind him. Their mouths were covered with duct tape so they couldn't shout out, but Calleigh was making noises in her throat as loud as possible, hoping whoever was on the other end would hear her sounds.
Horatio replied, "Unfortunately for you it is." That comment caused Johnson to laugh heartily.
"I would say just the opposite, my good Lieutenant…especially when I have the two people who seem to mean the most to you in my possession," glancing over at his hostages, smiling evilly. "Why don't you come and join the party?"
"I intend to Johnson, and when I'm through with you, hopefully you won't be breathing." Horatio growled.
Horatio's remark elicited an angry response from Johnson, "Just like you killed my brother…well, I may be a more formidable opponent for you Caine, unlike my brother, Edwin Chambers. You do remember him don't you? He was sick, he needed help, yet you played god and determined he needed to die instead."
Horatio was taken aback by that statement and suddenly it all made sense.
***Chambers was the husband of a beauty pageant creator for young girls. A pedophile that preyed on the contestants and subsequently fell to his death, after being cornered in a movie theater in Miami last fall, when Horatio refused to help pull Chambers up as he dangled from the balcony above the main floor.***
At the time, Horatio thought the sick bastard got what he deserved and still did. But now Horatio thought, my actions brought this horrible situation on the ones I love. Horatio felt sick to his stomach, with the realization.
"You will pay for your sins Caine," Johnson goaded and disconnected the call.
Horatio stood frozen to the spot, still holding the cell phone in his hand.
"Horatio, what did Johnson say?" Detective Wilson asked.
Finally Horatio handed the phone back to Armstrong and answered the detective, "He intends to kill them along with me."
"I'll get a team wired for radio contact and…"
"NO…I…I need to go in alone," Horatio cut in locking eyes with Wilson, "too many people going in will mean sure death for the hostages."
"Horatio…it would be suicide for you to go down there without backup."
"I need to finish this…I will wear a radio and contact you if your team can assist, but otherwise I'm the only one going in…it's me he's after."
"HORATIO…" Sam screamed out as she ran toward him and he turned just in time to catch the distraught young lady in his arms.
Between sobs she began relaying to him about what she saw happening in Kyle's room, "I had walked down to the vending machine area to get Kyle a candy bar and soft drink, but when I got back and pushed the door open, this…this man had a gun up against Miss Duquesne's head and the security officer was lying in a pool of blood." Her body racking with sobs as she begged of him, "you've got to help them…please."
Horatio clenched his jaw in anger listening to her recall the details to him. Johnson will pay if it's the last thing I do.
"Sam…Sweetheart, I'm going to find them…don't worry." Horatio softly said as he gently pushed her away from his chest. "Stay here with the nurses and I will be back with both Kyle and Calleigh, ok?" He assured her. Sam nodded her head and wiped her tears from her red, swollen eyes and cheeks, as Horatio led her to Bonnie, asking her to take care of the young lady for him.
"You be careful Horatio…we want to see all of you safe," Bonnie said as she put an arm around the trembling young lady.
Horatio nodded, "I want that too, Bonnie." Horatio then turned and spoke to the chief of security, and Wilson, who helped him place the the wire to the microphone down his shirt sleeve and then Horatio put the earpiece in place. When everything was ready, he walked toward the stairwell, thinking that would be the best way to get to the basement without making as much noise as an elevator arriving.
Horatio spoke to test the pickup of the earpiece and microphone, hearing Wilson loud and clear and they said the same. Easing down the stairway he was thankful he had on his soft-soled loafers. Arriving at the door to the basement, he gradually pulled the heavy door open just enough to get his bearings on his location. Then he opened the door enough to slip in, careful to close the door gently, making the minimum of noise. The element of surprise was the only good thing going for him at the moment.
Raising his gun with both hands and tilting his head to sight it with his dominant left eye, he began to cautiously move in the direction of the custodian's office. Horatio could feel the sweat on his forehead as apprehension attempted to take over, but he kept his mind sharp, looking behind every stack of shelves and all the equipment held in that area, realizing it provided Johnson with excellent cover, and a great advantage.
Thinking he was halfway to the office, Horatio stopped and listened for any sounds his ears might pick up. For a moment, he thought he heard the sound of a grunt like noise, and his ears knew it was Calleigh.
Calleigh and Kyle would talk to each other with their eyes as she kept trying to reach an object behind her on the shelves that if she could manage to reach, would help to unlock her handcuffs. She struggled with everything she had, knowing all their lives depended on her getting free and helping Horatio.
Horatio began to slowly start walking again when something hard slammed into his lower back causing his knees to buckle underneath him sending him, and a section of loaded shelves down to the floor hard. Gasping for breath, he quickly realized he had managed to hold onto his gun and turned to his left, catching a glimpse of Johnson halfway behind a low storage cabinet, and fired toward his target unsuccessfully. Calleigh heard the crash and subsequent gunshot and reached as far as she could, desperately feeling for the metal wire, then finally capturing it with her hand.
Horatio groaned and pulled himself up with the help of a forklift parked close to him and took a moment to catch his breath before starting toward the office again, but changing his course. As he gingerly stepped down the rows of storage, he saw Johnson to his right. Taking advantage of being behind him, Horatio eased closer with his gun raised. Just as he squeezed off a shot, Johnson moved slightly causing the bullet to strike the man's left arm.
"ARGGHH…" Horatio heard Johnson scream as he went down to the floor, but just as quick, Johnson spun around and fired a shot in Horatio's direction, narrowly missing his head. Diving for cover behind stacked crates, Horatio grimaced as he fell against one of the crates.
Wilson was shouting into Horatio's headpiece that they were coming in, but Horatio told him no…for them to give him more time…Kyle and Calleigh were still vulnerable. Horatio got to his feet and saw Johnson was gone and knew he needed to get to that office quick because that last encounter probably changed the situation from cat and mouse to a dangerous finale.
As Horatio approached, the glass walls afforded him a direct view, and saw Johnson enter the small office, grab Kyle's left arm causing him to writhe in pain and pull him up out of the chair while pointing his gun to Kyle's head. Calleigh was on the other side of Kyle, alarmed by Johnson's actions.
Horatio stepped out from behind shelves, just a few feet from the door in plain view of Johnson and called, "Let him go Johnson…it's me you want." Calleigh was relieved to see Horatio standing, but noticed he was fighting pain. She was almost to the point of getting the handcuffs unlocked so she could hopefully cause a diversion long enough for Horatio to get a shot off.
"I'm going to make you feel the pain of losing a family member Caine…you are going to feel what I felt when I lost Ed."
"I know how it feels Johnson…I've lost two members of my family, but I don't intend losing any more. Why don't you quit hiding behind my son and come get me? This is between you and me." As he said that, Horatio felt uneasy and the room began to spin slightly, but he fought off the feeling.
Horatio was trying to get Johnson thinking, hopefully he would make a mistake and he could get off a clean shot as he held his gun up, pointed directly at Johnson. Then unexpectedly, Calleigh leapt from the chair with her hands free causing Johnson to quickly change the angle of his gun and fired a shot at Calleigh which found its target sending Calleigh lurching backward. In that split second, Horatio's heart stopped, but his finger squeezed off his shot hitting Johnson directly between his eyes, triggering him to release Kyle who slumped to the floor beside Calleigh. Johnson fell in the opposite direction like a sack of flour to the floor. The room began spinning worse for Horatio as he took a step, requesting paramedics into the microphone before he fell to the floor.
He fought off unconsciousness, by sheer determination to reach Kyle and Calleigh staggering, clutching the door frame and furniture as he made his way to Kyle and quickly unlocked the handcuffs, freeing his arms.
Kyle whispered, "I'll be ok…check on Calleigh."
Horatio pulled himself over to Calleigh and saw the blood on the side of her head. Alarmed he collapsed on the floor in a sitting position against the shelving, gathering her into his arms he cried, "Calleigh…Sweetheart…" he quickly pressed his fingers to her neck and found a strong pulse, "thank God", he whispered as he pushed her hair back from her face. Horatio then pulled Kyle to his other side after Kyle stumbled over to him, holding them both against his body as he whispered, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…," as he kissed each of their foreheads.
SWAT entered the office first and checked to make sure Johnson was dead. Behind them Wilson entered with Dr. Leroy Mitchell, Kyle's doctor. Leroy and a male nurse took Calleigh from Horatio's grasp and laid her gently on the floor. After examining Calleigh's head wound, he motioned for the male nurses, who had come with him to place her on the gurney and get her to trauma, STAT.
Turning to Kyle, he determined that the incision was still closed, but could tell his shoulder had been stretched further than it should have been.
Kyle was feeling a little better and told Dr. Mitchell he was ok, but his dad needed help. Two orderlies helped Kyle into a wheel chair to take him upstairs, but he insisted on staying with his dad.
Dr. Mitchell could see that Horatio was in pain and eased him from a sitting position down flat on the floor. "Horatio, stay with me, I'm going to give you a quick exam."
Finding no external injury, he believed Horatio may have suffered some type of internal injury. The doctor moved to allow two policemen to lift him up and place him on a gurney.
Arriving back upstairs with the injured, Dr. Mitchell called in their lead surgeon to examine Calleigh's head injury. Kyle was placed in an examination room with pain medication being administered by IV while, Horatio was taken down for a CT scan to check out his injuries more thoroughly.
The scan showed Horatio had a badly bruised left kidney and a couple of fractured ribs. The sternum bruise also showed up from the previous encounter with Johnson. Against Dr. Mitchell's advice, Horatio declined getting into a hospital bed instead; he went to Kyle's room and checked on how he was doing. Sam was with Kyle comforting him and Horatio smiled at how much she seemed to love his son.
"Dad, shouldn't you be lying down…you don't look very good." Horatio had a film of sweat on his forehead and he was disheveled looking, unlike his normal self.
"I'm good Kyle…I'm good. I just hope this hasn't set your recovery back."
"Dr. Mitchell doesn't think it has. How is Calleigh?"
"The bullet just grazed her temple…they say she's going to be alright. They told me she would be in a room within the hour and I'm going to stay with her until she wakes up…."
"She is one tough lady Dad…she got hurt trying to save my life."
Horatio smiled and replied, "She is quite a lady Son." It hurt Horatio deep inside to bring back that image of Calleigh's body jerking back with the impact of the bullet and he hung his head thinking he would never forget the sickening sight as long as he lived.
"Go check on her Dad…and when she wakes up, tell her I love her. By the way, I didn't realize just how good you are with a gun, 'til tonight…great shot Dad."
Tears welled in Horatio's eyes at his son's statement and he and softly said as he touched Kyle's cheek, "Thank you Son…have a good night. I'll see you in the morning." He leaned over the best he could and hugged Kyle, then Sam before slowly walking out, leaving to go find Calleigh. As he walked Horatio thought, that was the most important shot I've made in my life.
Horatio found Calleigh's room and sat in a chair next to her bed. Leaning over slightly, he picked up her hand with his and squeezed it whispering, "Sweetheart…I…I am so sorry I caused this horrible situation for you. Please open your beautiful green eyes…please." Horatio didn't attempt to stop the tears slowly making their way down his cheeks as he reached with his other hand and softly caressed Calleigh's cheek.
Eventually, Horatio leaned back in the large chair and thought he would just close his eyes for a minute as he tried to find a comfortable position for his aching back. Soon he was completely out, missing the moment when Calleigh opened her eyes.
Everything was blurry at first, but she kept closing her eyes and reopening until they began to focus. Realizing she was in a hospital room, flat on her back with a horrific headache, her first thought was about Horatio. Where was he? Is he alright? God please don't let me find out he…he didn't survive. She continued staring at the ceiling as tears formed in her eyes, threatening to escape from the corners. She tried to turn her head, but the movement sent a searing pain through her head so, she kept still.
Dr. Mitchell walked in and proclaimed, "Nice to see you back with us Miss Duquesne. You had us all worried…especially him." She saw the doctor indicating someone was to her right. Slowly she turned just enough to see who he was referring to. HORATIO! Thank God! She smiled as he looked so disheveled, his hair mussed and sporting a growth of stubble on his face. He was sound asleep in the large chair.
Keeping her gaze on Horatio she asked, "Is…is he ok?"
"Not really, but he is stubborn – adamantly refused to follow my orders that he needed to be admitted. Said he had to make sure that his son and you were alright." Calleigh smiled.
"How is Kyle?"
"He is fine…just sore, unlike Horatio," That information startled Calleigh.
"What's wrong with Horatio doctor?"
"The CT scan revealed a badly bruised left kidney and an older sternal injury. He evidently has suffered blunt force trauma to his left flank which also fractured two ribs in his back. He should be lying flat in a bed with heat or cold therapy for his kidney and be monitored for loss of blood in his urine."
"Could a bed be placed in here for him?"
Dr. Mitchell looked taken aback and told her he could arrange that.
"I will make sure he follows your instructions." Calleigh softly told him.
Dr. Mitchell left to go arrange the setup.
Horatio stirred and groaned loudly when he shifted his body in the chair. Opening his eyes, he saw Calleigh smiling at him. Jumping up a little too quickly, feeling light-headed he steadied himself on the arm of the chair.
"Hi Beautiful," Horatio said as he stepped closer, "it is wonderful to see your beautiful eyes again Sweetheart." He gingerly sat down on the bed, placing his right hand on the bed beside her to brace himself as he slowly leaned down softly kissing her lips.
"Cal…I'm so sorry this happened to you. I…I…" she pressed a finger to his lips silencing his apology.
"Just tell me you got him."
Horatio's blue eyes locked with her green and answered, "I did…he won't ever bother us again."
About that time, a hospital bed came rolling into the room with Dr. Mitchell walking in behind the orderlies, accompanied by a nurse holding some tubing.
Confused, Horatio turned from watching them set up a bed next to Calleigh's, and looked back at her beautiful smile and asked, "Getting a roommate?"
"I am Handsome," she winked at him.
"Horatio," Dr. Mitchell said as he placed a hand on Horatio's shoulder, "I want you to lie down and let us monitor your injury for a couple of days." Horatio looked around at the doctor, about to protest and Calleigh placed her hand on his arm and said,
"Horatio, you are hurting. I want you to stay with me, please." Horatio chuckled and smiled down at her sighing,
"You know I can't say no to you Sweetheart." Slowly Horatio got to his feet.
Dr. Mitchell escorted him over to the bed and the nurses got him out of his clothes down to his boxers and put him in a hospital gown. After he had lain down in the bed, he realized just how much he was hurting. Then he felt someone lift his gown in the front and pull his boxers off, as a male nurse began preparation for inserting a catheter.
Horatio's eyes flew open and he grabbed the young man's hand and with alarm in his voice said, "Oh no…you're not doing that….Leroy is this necessary?"
"It is Horatio. We need to monitor how much blood your kidney is losing and I'm afraid this is the only way. You won't have to endure it for long."
Turning to look over at Calleigh, he heard her say, "Handsome…you do want to get better don't you?" She said smiling at him.
TBC…
