Mind of a Fanatic
Chapter 13
Calleigh lay on her left side, eyes shut. For once she was alone in her hospital room, and for once, she was glad. She was in no mood for visitors. Calleigh pressed her face into the pillow, letting out a small sniffle.
A soft knock and then Horatio pushed open her door and entered. He swiftly took in the scene and knew something wasn't right. "Calleigh?" he asked softly.
"Hey," she whispered her voice thick with unshed tears. She rubbed her face on the pillow and opened her eyes.
"What's this?" Horatio sat on the bed and brushed the hair away from her face.
"I've had a bad day," she said unsteadily. "A really bad day."
"Ok, tell me about it," Horatio coaxed gently.
"I had my first physical therapy session today." She carefully shifted onto her back, rubbing her eyes with her left hand; she couldn't hold it back any longer. Her face crumpled and tears rolled down her cheeks. "I can't do anything! I can't stand; I can't walk. I can't even use a single crutch to help bear my weight. I'm as weak as a kitten, Horatio. I can't-"
"Easy, Sweetheart; it's just the first day." Horatio gently gathered her into his arms, always taking care to not jar her healing shoulder. "You have to be patient with yourself."
"Last Friday I ran ten miles; now I can't even walk ten steps. Don't tell me to be patient with myself." Anguished sobs wracked her slight frame. Damn him! "How am I supposed to go to court on Monday and give my testimony if I can't do anything for myself?"
"Show the jury that; let them really see what he did to you." He stroked her hair as he held her. "You ran in the MDPD marathon last year and was the only CSI to cross the finish line in under 5 hours. We'll make sure that the jury knows that."
"Four hours and forty minutes," she said, and then began to cry harder, remembering the slow and painful way she had tried to walk less than an hour ago. She had fallen on her first step. The therapist didn't let her go very far, but it was still painful and disheartening.
"I know...I know." Horatio began to gently rock her, becoming very aware of just how upset and demoralized she had become. His heart ached to see her this way, his own eyes beginning to well. He kissed the top of her head. "We'll get your PT's testimony as well. It can only help put him away," he said hoarsely.
"I hate being helpless and such a crybaby. Horatio, I'm sorry-"
"You are not helpless or a crybaby, Sweetheart. You've been beaten and tortured and you have to give yourself time to heal and regain your strength. You're used to doing things for yourself, and I bet it's been that way for a very long time. You have every right to be upset, but go easy on yourself. You'll regain your strength and things will be the way they were before. It's just going to take time." Horatio soothed. "When is your next session?"
"Tomorrow morning at ten," She looked up at him. "Why?"
He kissed her still damp cheek. "I'll be here."
"Ryan, here, hang this," Natalia said, tossing him the end of the garland. "I bet she's not expecting any of this."
"Yeah," He hung the garland around the bathroom doorway. "You know, with everything that's happened to her, I know she doesn't remember what today and tomorrow are. I almost forgot, myself, with finding Calleigh and her being in the hospital and all. It just hasn't felt all that much like Christmas, not that it ever does in Miami."
"I know. If Alexx hadn't reminded me, I'd have totally forgotten all about it. It's not like I've been to the mall or anything before yesterday to get all this stuff." .Natalia stood back and ran a critical eye over the decorations.
In the last 45 minutes she, Alexx, Ryan and Eric had made Calleigh's hospital room a winter wonderland, even if it was 85 degrees outside. Tiny Italian lights twinkled on the small Christmas tree they erected in the corner. The two doorways glittered from the bright garlands they hung, more Italian lights twinkling merrily there as well.
"We are some kick-ass elves." Alexx nodded approvingly. She turned the warming plate a little lower. Everyone had contributed to a nice holiday dinner and she did not want it to burn. "Don't worry, baby, my mind hasn't been on Christmas, either. My kids wouldn't let me forget."
"Turn off the lights!" Eric pulled his head back in from where he had been doing lookout duty. "Here they come."
Horatio stopped the wheelchair just outside her door and squat down next to her. "I know I just saw Eric so you have at least one visitor. Do you want to take a minute?"
Calleigh nodded eyes downcast. Today had been almost as bad as yesterday; the only thing making it any better had been Horatio's presence. She raised a hand to wipe away a few frustrated tears. "One day at a time, right?"
He gave her uninjured shoulder a little squeeze. "Right; are you ready?"
"Yeah."
Horatio pushed the door open and wheeled her inside, knowing full well as to what awaited her.
There was no cries of 'surprise!'; no one jumping out and making noise, just the soft glow of the Italian lights, the warm scents of a well made meal and Christmas carols playing softly somewhere in the room. Calleigh let her gaze wander around the room, eyes taking in the lights and garlands, eventually landing on the small tree in the corner.
"Oh my God; I'd forgotten." she whispered hoarsely, the decorations blurred through welling eyes.
"Then I'm glad that we didn't," Eric said. He knelt by her wheelchair and brushed a light kiss on her cheek. "Merry Christmas."
She sniffled a little. "You really shouldn't have gone to all this trouble."
"We wanted to, Calleigh. Look, Horatio said that you were feeling a little down about your physical therapy, so we thought maybe a little Christmas cheer is what the doctor ordered," Natalia said, handing Calleigh a small, light cup of Egg Nog.
"Then thank you guys. Your presents are under the tree in my living room." Calleigh sipped the cold, thick liquid. She set the cup in her lap and wiped her tearing eyes. "I don't know what to say. I really don't."
"Then don't say anything." Horatio wheeled her over to her bed. "Do you want to try this on your own or do you want me to pick you up?"
Calleigh considered for a moment. I guess it's put up or shut up. I might as well try. "I'll give it a try, but-"
"I'll be right here."
Horatio took her left arm to steady her as she attempted to rise. She unsteadily got to her feet, knees trying to buckle beneath her. She wavered and then couldn't hold herself up any longer. She slumped against him, shaking from the exertion.
"That's good. You stayed on your feet longer this time," Horatio said as he scooped her up and gently deposited her in the bed. He drew the covers up over her.
"Yeah; that really hurt, though." she said softly, then realised that she had a roomful of very special visitors. She raised her voice. "Do I smell honey ham?"
"You bet, sugar," Alexx said, already dishing it out. "We have the whole works here including pumpkin and pecan pies for dessert. You're going to be the envy of the floor."
"Check it out, Delko got a hold of 'A Christmas Carol'; the one with Alastair Sim," Ryan bubbled.
"Yeah, I remembered that's your favorite one. But Wolfe remembered your favorite Christmas Carols." He looked over at Calleigh, who was wiping her eyes. He sat down on the edge of the bed. "What's wrong?"
She gave him a watery smile. "Nothing at all. I just love y'all so much."
"You know, you don't cry. I'm not used to it and so I don't know what the tears mean. So these are happy tears?" Eric asked.
"Yeah."
"Then let's eat," he grinned.
Dinner was accompanied by laughter and stories. Hearing the merriment, several of the nurses poked their heads in to see what was going on. More often than not, they were sent away with some sort of treat to enjoy. Even when Calleigh's doctor, Doctor Webber, came to check in on her before leaving for the evening, she was treated to a snack and some egg nog. The meal over, they set up Calleigh's laptop where they could all see it and, piling on or near the bed, sat and watched 'A Christmas Carol'.
At the end of the movie, Horatio looked down at Calleigh, whose head rested on his shoulder and smiled. "Uh, guys, I think we'd better go."
Alexx smiled, affection for her friend shining in her eyes. "Looks like someone isn't waiting up for Santa this year."
Quietly, she and the others cleaned up the remnants of the meal, turned out the lights and left.